HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
369 
the hind-feet placed where the fore-feet were, and the fore¬ 
feet put in the place of the hind, the carcase cut open, and 
a spear thrust into the bowels. 
A number of the heads or chiefs of the parties to be 
sworn, then take hold of the spear, so many as can con¬ 
veniently grasp it, and then standing around the animal, 
thus barbarously mangled, listen while the senior judge 
pronounces the oath, which includes many terrible curses 
on all who may perjure themselves. He then sum¬ 
mons, as witnesses, heaven and earth, the four cardinal 
points, the deceased kings, the idols, and the vazimba, the 
most ancient villages of Imerina, god, and all that is con¬ 
sidered sacred ; and after a long recapitulation of these, 
and a tedious multiplication of words, to render the cere¬ 
mony more imposing, the speaker adds, “ If any of you 
ever retract, if any of you ever refuse allegiance to the 
sovereign appointed to reign, whether all has been spe¬ 
cifically named or not, whether present or absent, great 
or small, old or young, male or female, newly brought to 
life or still unborn, whether holding the spear or not 
holding it, behold this glittering spear ! behold this young 
bullock ! and let the perjurer be as this bullock; let him 
be speared of god; let him not be favoured in any thing, 
but let him be wholly accursed !” 
Those who have taken hold of the spear, then express 
their assent to the oath, by thrusting the spear repeatedly 
and violently into the body of the mangled animal, and 
thus closing the ceremony. 
On the death of Radama, allegiance was sworn to the 
present queen by both these ceremonies, and by the addi¬ 
tion of drinking a small quantity of muddy water, which 
it was supposed would operate upon them as a curse in 
case of treachery or treason. Those who dared to refuse 
2 B 
i. 
