266 
MADAGASCAR. 
attendance, and they left in their palanquins; hut even 
now it seems a wonder how they got through the tre¬ 
mendous crush of the home-going crowds. The Queen 
left directly after, hut it was two hours after that, at 
about half-past five p!m., before she re-entered her palace. 
Thus closed what must have been a very trying day. 
The only refreshment the Queen was seen to take was 
a drink of cold water out of a gold teapot. Her attend¬ 
ant, as he handed it to her, poured some into his own 
hand and drank it off. 
“ On the evening of the next day the Queen gave a 
grand banquet to a very large number of her subjects, 
and about twenty-five foreigners. The guests included 
members of the royal family, the ministers, most of the 
subordinate officers of the government, heads of the 
various tribes, and teachers of the principal schools in 
the capital. The Queen was present, though she did not 
partake of the banquet. The prime minister, assisted 
by Bavoninahitriniarivo and Kamaniraka, the late em¬ 
bassy to Europe, and other high officers, personally 
waited on the guests. A few days later another grand 
banquet was given in the royal palace to the principal 
officers in the army, as well as to many of the privates ; 
and thus commenced, with appropriate surroundings and 
festivities, a reign which cannot fail to be the dawn of a 
new and brighter era for the country over which the 
young Queen has been called to exercise authority. 
May length of days be hers, and peace and prosperity 
the inheritance of her people ! ” 
