HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
379 
when from his opinion there was no voice bold enough to 
dissent 
The next council to this was the assembly of the heads 
of provinces, districts, and towns only, when the judges and 
military officers were deputed as the king’s commissioners, 
to make known his will; and the judges carried back to 
the king the opinion of the assembly, again receiving orders 
from the king, which they were to make known to those 
over whom each presided. After the formation of a dis¬ 
ciplined army, however, these councils of the nation became 
less frequent, and are now mere matters of form. 
The business of the judges at the capital is to sit in 
the court-yard, in the open air, on an elevated place near 
the gate, to hear and to try causes. Military officers some¬ 
times sit with them, to hear the parties and the witnesses 
examined publicly. There was, till very lately, no es¬ 
tablished code to which appeals could be made; each case 
was considered on its own merits. If the case be clear, 
the judges then deliver their opinion before the people. 
If otherwise, they retire into one of the royal houses within 
the court-yard, to consult and to decide on the judgment 
to be pronounced. But if the case be too difficult for 
their decision, they lay it before the sovereign, stating to 
him fully the pleadings of the parties, with the evidence 
of the witnesses; and his decision is final, whether right 
or wrong. The parties must abide by the word of the 
king, and can make no further appeal. The fines and 
expenses of the trial are divided amongst the king, his 
wives, and the judges. If any one is condemned to be 
put in irons, or to be publicly flogged, there is a division of 
property; but in cases of execution for treason, murder, 
or any great crime, the property of the criminal is confis¬ 
cated to the king, who permits the informers, witnesses, 
