460 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
and he was dragged off from performing the last offices of 
filial affection, to the scene of ignominious and protracted 
trial. 
The deception practised in the whole transaction is evident 
to every sensible native. The parties administering the poi¬ 
son have it in their power to permit any criminal to escape, 
and for a reward they often exercise this partiality. They 
frequently recover slaves who have been pronounced dead, by 
giving them copious draughts of water, in which certain herbs 
have been boiled. The individuals so saved are sent to a 
great distance, and sold, as they cannot be suffered to remain 
in the place where the ordeal had been administered to them 
unless when proved innocent; and they are disposed of as 
prize-property, their own fears preventing them from ever 
disclosing the transaction to the families of their new masters. 
It is equally certain that the administrators can sacrifice 
whom they please. The fruit, which appears very red, is 
protested against by the friends of the accused, on the tacit 
understanding that such a fruit will destroy, whether innocent 
or guilty. Sometimes the fruit acts as a poison, though gene¬ 
rally as an emetic. It is known that a visible difference does 
exist between that which occasions vomiting, and that which 
destroys; the latter always presenting a slight appearance of 
redness. The people declare that this hue is miraculously 
assumed, and regard the change as an infallible sign of death 
to the accused. Yet if this redness be exceedingly plain, 
the relations who are present desire that such a fruit may 
be rejected, and another chosen; this proposal is probably 
agreed to, but the next fruit exhibits the same ominous pre¬ 
sage ; and the victim dies. 
The plant or tree has been described scientifically by 
several eminent botanists and among others, by Professor 
