HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
251 
great drum was then struck, and continued to beat in the 
manner usual at European military funerals. 
By eleven o’clock the body was brought out, covered with 
a splendid scarlet pall, richly ornamented with gold lace. 
This was carried towards the throne by sixty officers of 
rank. The corners of the pall were held by Mr. Brady, 
major-general; Corroller, prince and general; Louis Gros, 
king’s architect; and the Rev. D. Jones, missionary. All 
the Europeans were present, and joined in the procession. 
The sight of the coffin, at the moment it was brought out of 
the palace, awakened afresh the lamentations of the people, 
and renewed their loud and frantic groans and wailing, as 
if they had a second time lost their sovereign. 
The whole of the passage along which the corpse was 
carried, was carpeted with blue cloth; a fine bull was also 
killed near the throne, just before the arrival of the body; 
and over the expiring animal, weltering in its blood, the 
corpse was carried.* The queen, surrounded by a strong 
guard, stood at the door of Maso Andro, while the body 
was carried to the throne, and appeared much affected. 
Raketaka, the infant daughter of Radama, sat, dressed in 
the European manner, with her nurse, at another door. 
The coffin, covered with the scarlet pall, was placed on a 
bier in the house, which was strongly perfumed with fragrant 
gums, and surrounded by a guard kept on duty through the 
night. 
* The origin of the custom of killing the bull on the occasion, is, like 
that of many others practised by the Malagasy, involved in impenetrable 
obscurity. It does not appear to be a sacrificial service, as there is no 
prayer nor invocation offered, nor any priest to officiate; it is merely 
shedding blood. But the natives have an idea of something emblematical 
in it. The lion being unknown in the country, a bull is with them the 
recognized emblem of courage and strength, and hence becomes with the 
people an emblem of the monarch. One of the most noble is selected 
for the occasion, and over it, while just expiring, the corpse is lifted. 
