356 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
As a proof of the contaminating influence of the martial 
feeling that was thus created, a youthful regiment was 
formed, consisting of about one hundred, who learned the 
military exercises, using bamboos for guns, under the 
command of Rakotobe, son of Rataffe. Most of these 
were afterwards taken into the army; but their young 
leader was cut off a few days after the death of 
Radama. 
This martial feeling appears also to have been cherished 
and extended, not only by the eloquence of the rulers, but 
by the songs of the women, who are thus described as cele¬ 
brating one of their sovereign’s warlike expeditions. On 
the day when Radama was supposed to be entering the 
territory of the Sakalavas, all the females at and near the 
capital, of every rank and class, arose by daylight, and 
having formed themselves into small parties, each under a 
leader, commenced the 66 mirary,” singing war-songs, in the 
form of prayers and benedictions, for the safety and success 
of the king and the army, accompanied with imprecations 
upon the enemy. They stood with their faces turned 
towards the west, the direction of the Sakalava country, 
holding rods in their hands, and brandishing them like 
spears, with warlike motions, calculated to excite them to 
enthusiasm. This practice was continued every morning 
and evening, until the war terminated. It sometimes 
lasted through the principal part of the day. The expres¬ 
sions consisted chiefly of the praises of the sovereign, such 
as “ God is gone to the west—Radama is a mighty bull”— 
closing with “Dead is the country to the west—dead is it,” 
the last sentence forming a sort of chorus. 
This practice of singing was continued until the year 
1824, when the king gave directions, that instead of these 
warlike exhibitions, the women should go home and attend 
