HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 103 
he has been hurled. The place is called Ampahama- 
rinana. 
The usual place of execution for ordinary criminals is 
at the southern extremity of the hill on which the town 
is built. It is designated Ambohipotsy, It is a dreary spot, 
adapted to excite deep and melancholy feelings. Numerous 
skulls are scattered over the ground, the only remains of 
unhappy victims, who having suffered the sentence of the 
law, were left as they fell, to be devoured by dogs and 
birds. These animals appear familiar with the place, 
and the scenes of terror it so often exhibits, and, as if 
instinctively attracted to it, flock to the spot whenever 
there is an execution, and seize their prey almost before 
the executioners have left the ground. No one dares 
remove the body of a criminal for interment, without pre¬ 
viously obtaining the express permission of the sovereign. 
Descending the hill by the high road through the town, 
after leaving Antsahatsiroa, the next place of any public 
importance is Andohalo, where the principal kabarys, 
or public assemblies, are held. It is a large open space, 
well suited, by its natural formation, for the purpose for 
which it is used; and will continue to be esteemed as 
such, so long as the custom obtains of assembling the 
people en masse to receive messages from the sovereign, 
and to transact all public affairs. On the north, south, 
and east of this spacious area, the ground gently rises, 
giving the site somewhat the appearance of a natural amphi¬ 
theatre, and where from eighty to one hundred thousand 
persons may conveniently assemble, and witness all that 
passes. The high road from the west runs through the 
centre of this P'ikabariana,—“ place of holding kabarys.” 
The eastern side is bounded by a row of fig-trees; and 
the elevated ground in front of these is occupied during 
