chap. xiii. HOMAGE WITH THE PRODUCE OF THE SOIL. 367 
not unpleasing native tune. The queen had come out upon 
the terrace, to see the prince and princess pass. In a few 
minutes the scarlet umbrella disappeared, and the procession as 
represented in the frontispiece moved on. The arrangement 
which placed me during the day next to the queen’s secretary, 
who, having been educated in England, speaks English well, 
was to me peculiarly gratifying, as he kindly pointed out 
and explained several places and objects of interest observed 
on our way. 
As we passed the south end of the capital, a number of 
soldiers appeared on a rising ground. I was told they were 
the artillery. We also saw over a hollow between two moun¬ 
tains, and at a considerable distance, the wide ground at 
Isoaierana, where a large body of men, apparently several 
thousands, was assembled. I was told they were the troops 
in the neighbourhood of the capital, who are exercised toge¬ 
ther once a fortnight. On reaching the village of Androndra, 
the prince and princess, accompanied by their followers, 
looked over a tract of rice-ground which the queen had 
recently given to them. This had been one of the objects of 
the excursion, and as soon as it was accomplished, we turned 
to the eastward, passing along a road between low flat rice- 
fields. As we approached the villages, I frequently saw a 
number of the inhabitants coming out of their gardens with a 
bundle of sugar-canes freshly broken off, or a small basket of 
manioc roots or sweet potatoes just dug up, and running with 
eager haste to the side of the road, waiting there, often spade 
in hand, until the prince and princess came up, when they 
presented to them the produce of the ground, and offered 
their salutations, — an interesting and primitive species of 
homage. The prince acknowledged their gifts, which were 
delivered to his followers as the party moved along. 
At length we reached Mahazoarivo, the country residence 
of the late king. While passing under the gateway leading 
