94 
MADAGASCAR 
the island of Reunion. * It is well worth while, however, 
to bestow a few words of consideration on that now 
defunct kingdom, if it is only on account of its unique 
character. It is an evidence of the equality in the position of 
woman in the family, and the high outward respect accorded 
to her, that besides the Kings, several Queens have borne 
sway among the Hova; the monarchy, however, was not 
without limitation, for the strange custom had arisen that 
when a Queen ascended the throne she was obliged to 
marry the prime minister. During recent decades the 
King-consort was the ruler of Madagascar in reality, if 
not in name. This system led to abuses which in some 
measure explain the ease with which the French were 
able to make their way to Imerina with a relatively small 
body of troops and to gain possession of the capital, 
Antananarivo, without any effective resistance. 
When a sovereign came to the throne, persons of high 
rank and representatives of the several tribes had to take 
an oath of allegiance. The ceremony was accompanied 
by “Calf-sticking”. During the taking of the oath the 
parties concerned had each to hold a spear, standing 
round a calf, that was then put to death with the spears. 
This was to signify symbolically that the oath-breaker 
would have to expect the fate of the calf. For the 
poorer persons the ceremony of Veli-raiio or water-beating 
sufficed. When the Queen went out, a scarlet umbrella 
was always held over her head; the crowd had to make 
room and bow reverentially with outstretched hands as 
Ffer Majesty passed. 
A similar honour had to be shewn to anything 
belonging to the sovereign which was being conveyed 
through the streets ^ the people made way and uncovered 
their heads, and any one who failed in his duty in this 
respect was reminded of it by a lance-prick from a 
spearman who preceded the convoy. 
* We believe that this queen is now living in Algeria.— Trans. 
