HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
411 
to reside in a cave not far from the top of the mountain. 
The principal altar is on the summit; and, of course, higher 
than the residence of Ranakandriana himself. 
The inhabitants of a neighbouring village, on being 
recently questioned as to whether they had really ever 
heard any salutations responded to, honestly answered they 
had not; but warily added, they had been informed that 
their ancestors had been favoured with responses from the 
god. They were asked, again, “ If what their ancestors 
had told was true, how was it that no replies were given 
now when they saluted Ranakandriana ?” “ Because his 
awaker is dead,” was the reply. “Does he then sleep, 
since some one is required to awaken him?’’ “We do not 
know of ourselves, but so we have been informed.’ , “ But 
is there no one to replace his awaker ?” “ No ; we know 
of no one else who is able to awaken him.”* 
His majesty Radama, aware of the reputed fame of this 
idol for answering those who saluted him, resolved, some 
years since, to visit his altar, in order to ascertain the truth 
of the reports. On arriving at the spot, he entered the 
dark cavern, the supposed residence of Ranakandriana, and 
saluted the invisible divinity. A low and solemn voice 
answered, “ Tsara hiany.” He then offered to present a 
hasina, or small donation of money ; and on a hand being 
gently moved forward to accept the offering of the monarch, 
the king instantly seized it, and exclaimed, “ This is no 
god—this is a human being !” He immediately gave orders 
to his people to drag out the impostor; and thus the spell 
was broken in the minds of many, and the disbelief of the 
king in the superstitions of his country confirmed. No 
* “ Cry aloud, for he is a God: peradventure he sleepeth and must 
be awaked.” 1 Kings xviii. 27. 
