The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-12-05

insipid to the taste, and which emits an effiu-
via OF the same nature and even worse than
that emitted by spoiled egg. As the boy
said about the skunk, when ripe it can be heard
at quite distaace. Olfactories unaccustomed
TO the smell can scarcely endure it. Notwith-
standing, however, the natives pronounce it
the best fruit OF the season, and we are sorry
to say the taste OF some of the older mission
aries has become SO vitiated as really to enjoy
it.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE QUEEN.
Before the great annual festival of New
Years we went in body to the Queen to ten
der our congratulations, and offer the 'hasina,'
or customary dollar which each party offers
on going into the presence of the sovereign on
| such occasions. was requested to be spokes-
man, and in Malagasy addressed her Majesty,
as she sat surrounded by her court, as follows !:
INLAY you live long, sovereign lady, without
affiiction, and be happy with your friends. We
rejoice in being presented TO you at this sea-
son OF fragrant good, or pleasure; for the new
year comes to us with many blessings-the fa-
yorable season-the abundant produce-the
peace of the country. We thank God for ia
vorable seasons; fruitful fields, peace and even
life itself are all bestowments from God. We
also thank you that you allow no impediment,
and give protection to all the Christians and
we confide in you, sovereign lady, that this
good treatment of the Christians by you will
not be changed. We ask God continually to
bless your Majesty, to prosper your Govern
ment, the mobiles, the officers, and all your Ma
jesty's people-for we wish, and we have no
other wish in reference to your country than
the prosperity of your Government and the
happiness Of your people. We present our ha-
sina, and offer our congratulations The
Queen, who wore splendid native lamba, re-
piled briefly, expressing her pleasure at seeing
US, and returned our congratulations with the
gently spoken ~ eloma,D or May you be hap
py." She then offered us her hand and retir-
ed, attended by the chief officers Of the palace
and others. .a taaa .g.
A CURIOUS CEREMONIAL. s-e
The great ceremony of the festival-the
bathing of the sovereign, the cooking of the
rice and the jaka and the eating of the same
took place on Saturday. l went at the re-
peated invitation of the prime minister. 1t
was near sunset, and we had to wait full
hour before we gained admission to the pal
ace. The ministers and many of the mobiles
were also waiting. At length we entered the
great room in the palace. AT the north end
was a brightly burning fire on hearth. The
room was filed with people, ali in red silk
lamdas with different colored borders, proba-
bly, two or three hundred people present AT
ter while the Queen entered from the north
door, wearing a small ornament like silver
oells on her mead, and wrapped In tne folds Of
nne large scarlet mantie: her majesty sa-
iuted the people, received tnelr congratula-
lions IN return, ana tnen say down on scarlet
couch or ioiueo carpet. Inc room was lignt-
ca " giass enanaehefs, Wnicn did not Durn
very well; and the vast assembly, when the
queen Was seated, SAT Gown on the ground.
We, We sas !. uae placAs assigned Us. hepresenta
s yves Q. tne royal family, tne MOBILES, the Of
,uo ,snueu tns Judges ana
$500 tI snSn apploaenSu lAe pace
.sa.. sno nio "as DIinins' anu presented
0nI au1 Sne1 naIina " Ine queen.
Fra,cb novt - No 80 =; ~ IA auu sne
so,.,s ~ .;,,, ~ - aTth' ~ uS.
a,s 1oaSa, i.., oal 9a,.nS Vessels eaiieu
shaII with woodan 70 ~ "
with "raat coror,a,,r ,.S .Se ~
aast eorar ~ tlo -oo Ssla,. ~ slaI n4.
ter yere ,hen hro,,cSt n ,u;ts, osseas ~ wa
~bcb ware NJ r7,a, tha ar:,,ot poss, .s
Are Tn thesa ster a,d r;eo ,,,o ~ ..1
sr,o tha -;o Ss,,-;,, tS 2, p-'s anu
and at.andad h,s az" nf,ae, sno 9qsSi as losc,
waited to tba northasst cornor of III .5o p@aac'
,,aro ~ 4e.ll- "a a. ra :. ,no Luol'
yh;oh uas .ho, MA hsc,.a - - pa
o,,tstratched arms scrsen;nc 10 M on wiz "
Svhich nc O,ean bsd rat;rad IL oIi ~
"A +b;s ana ,ho ,,ra,,srs,ss. - ,i, Eio Da.l
st;no th Zoo ~, - anu
~ ~ ,he nccssion .a ias ~ ~
sl S ~ ne .o .S ,;a suo .a..s1 Dsins syMpon
S"A VI enO ohbiSApoeON plCu1J VI buC ocaSOu.