THE CORONATION OF RANAVALONA III. 263 
were invited to precede her, and join their companions 
already assembled there. 
“The scene before ns, as we slowly descended the 
steep paths from the city to the plain, was of surpass¬ 
ing interest. The roads on either side were crowded, 
but there was no confusion; the women and children 
were gently clapping their hands, keeping time in so 
doing. Half way down another troop of school-boy 
soldiers were awaiting their young Queen; and as we 
got fairly in view of the plain, and were descending the 
last hill, the view was almost overpowering. The prime 
minister told us that there never had been such a 
large assemblage of people in Madagascar. The plain 
itself was closely packed with people; the hills to the 
north, south, and east were also crowded. Counting 
all these, there could not have been fewer than half 
a million of people present. It was about one o’clock 
when the Queen arrived under the last triumphal arch 
in the centre of this vast assembly ; the foreigners who 
were collected close to this point giving her three 
ringing English cheers, which seemed considerably to 
astonish her. 
“ Preceded by four hundred girls, scholars from the 
principal schools in the town, all joining in singing 
a pretty song of welcome to their new queen, she was 
conducted to a large stage in the centre of Imahama- 
sina, the prime minister leading her up the steps to 
her chair of State, which was placed on another large 
holy stone, over which there was a splendid canopy. 
On a small table by her side was a large, handsomely 
bound Bible, whilst overhead were inscribed in letters 
of gold such texts as ‘ God is with us; ’ ‘ Peace on 
earth,’ &c. Immediately after the queen had taken 
