364 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
dants. Next morning, by break of day, a great number of 
cattle belonging to the people are driven into the court¬ 
yard. The king makes his appearance at the sacred stone; 
a coarse block, about twelve or eighteen inches square, 
planted in the ground, near Besakana. A speckled heifer, 
previously selected as fit to be offered in sacrifice, is then 
killed near the stone, and before being perfectly dead, 
a small piece is cut out of the rump, which the king 
receives, and with it touches his forehead, the tip of his 
tongue, and right knee, generally saying, “ I have tasted of 
the blessings of the year. May we continue to enjoy them, 
and taste of the same at the expiration of this.” Part of 
this sacrifice is then put aside, and kept for the next annual 
festival; which the Malagasy have a method of preserving 
perfectly sweet and palatable, although no salt is permitted 
to be used in keeping it. The animal being next cut up, 
small fires are kindled before the royal tombs in the court¬ 
yard, and small pieces of this sacred beef are fixed on pieces 
of wood, and put into the fire by the sovereign himself, as a 
sort of burnt-offering to his departed ancestors. 
After this, the king enters the palace, where he changes 
his apparel, and, again coming out, approaches the tomb of 
Andriamasinavalona, holding two rods in his hand. He 
supplicates that chieftain of former times as having ‘‘gone 
to god, and seeing him, and talking with him to intercede 
with god in his behalf, and to prosper his kingdom, to 
grant him success in arms, to extend his dominion, and to 
confer happiness on him and his subjects.’’ He then leaves 
the capital, and visits Ambohimanga, accompanied by a few 
attendants. At the tomb of his father he performs similar 
ceremonies, and supplicates similar favours. This visit is 
sometimes omitted, but not when there is a prospect of any 
important military expedition being undertaken. 
