chap. xiii. PROCESSION OF THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS. 365 
eastern side of the hill. Judging from the multitudes of 
the people, and the general excitement, this must have been 
quite a holiday. 
The procession occupied full half a mile. There were a 
dozen or more officers on horseback, and the horses, though 
not well groomed, were strong and spirited. There were 
fourteen palanquins, ornamented with variously coloured 
drapery. In one of these, a beautiful youth, the son of the 
Prince Eamboasalama, attracted my attention. When the 
procession moved, eight or ten officers on horseback led the 
way, and others rode by the side of the palanquins. Then 
came the officers of the palace, in palanquins or on foot; and 
after these the prince’s band of nineteen musicians, including 
five clarionets, five flutes and fifes, one bassoon, four bugles, 
a bass and a smaller drum, and a triangle. The musicians 
were preceded and followed by two officers with drawn swords. 
Then came the prince’s palanquin, with three or four officers 
walking on each side with drawn swords. Next to the prince 
came the princess, her palanquin covered with scarlet cloth, 
ornamented with gold lace, and bordered with rich gold 
fringe, like that used for officers’ epaulets, and the inside 
lined with pink satin. By the side of the princess a man 
carried a large umbrella of pink silk, surmounted with a gilt 
ball; and immediately behind her palanquin, a dozen or more 
female slaves followed, clothed in broad-striped blue and 
white cotton lambas. A daughter of Prince Ramonja, but 
adopted by the princess, an interesting girl, about seventeen, 
occupied the next palanquin. Three other palanquins fol¬ 
lowed with the ladies in waiting, or attendants on the prin¬ 
cess. After them a few officers, and then the crowd. 
The whole road from some distance before the horses in 
front, to two or three hundred yards after the last palanquin, 
was so crowded that it was difficult to proceed. The prince, 
who wore a black coat with a silver star, had a broad silk band 
