113 
CHAP. XI. 
Ancient Form of Government — Ampansacabe , or Sove¬ 
reign—His Privileges—Present Constitution—Kings 
— Chiefs — Filoubeis— Republics — Voadziri—General 
Code of Laws . 
The form of government has already been hinted 
at. The division of the island into a number of 
petty provinces, necessarily involves an aristocracy. 
Tradition relates, that the island was formerly divided 
into four kingdoms, and afterwards into six : but 
upon the arrival of the race of Ramini, their leader 
was chosen Ampansacabe, or Sovereign of the whole 
island, which form of government was continued 
without intermission through twenty-four generations, 
ending with Ramini Larizon, who, as we have before 
mentioned, was slain by the natives in an insurrec¬ 
tion, in which they were assisted by the French. 
Since that period the title has been extinct. 
The privileges attached to the office of Ampansa¬ 
cabe were considerable. He had the right of nomi¬ 
nating the Rhoandrians to assist at his cabar or 
council, at which all those whom he cited were bound 
to appear; and upon any question arising of a doubt¬ 
ful nature, the judgment of the Ampansacabe was 
decisive. 
i 
