The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-04-17
Coronation of the Queen of Madagascar.

The following extract from n letter written by
the Rev. W. +. Cousins, and published in the
English HldcD.HGsnf, Will be read with interest :
On Thursday. September Sd, We found Ando-
halo crowded, with the exception OF the roads
preserved for the Queen and her attendants.
Every piece of ground on the rising ground sur
rounding ii was filed with spectators. Soon
after nine guns announced that she had left the
palace, and soon parts Of the procession began 10
arrive. All the female members of the near
branches of the royal family were clothed in
scarlet from head 10 foot. The wives Of the
officers, etc, (sOme 100 or 1907 were dressed in
European clothing, some of them looking very
nice. and others. as YOU may well imagine. per-
fcctly hidcous. Then came two brass cannons-
then soldiers in their different uniforms. Great
advance has been made in the dresses of the sol
dicrs since we have been here. and they really
looked very well. Then came the officers of
higher rank, in most expensive dresses, velvet of
all hues, and gold lace in protusiOn. Then came
the Queen, in n handsome gilded palanquin. with
the scarlet umbrella, and her usual attendants.
When she reached Il stone, upon which for
generations 1t has been Gust mary for new soyer-
eigns TO stand, she alighted, and walking over
the stone, accompanied by the Prime Minister
and other high officers, she went To the throne
prepared for her. The canopy under which she
sat was in excellent taste. The pillars were of
green with gold molding, and the h~angings of
green and gold too. The dOme-shaped roof was
of scarlet velvet prettily ornamented with silver
spear heads crossed ut the corners. Beneath the
dome were inscribed on the four different sides
the following words: "Glorv to God-Peace on
earth-GoOd will to men-May God be with us
At the side of the Queens seat was Il small
gIlded table, upon which was placed n very hand
sOncly bound Malagasy Bible, and Il copy Of the
laws of Madagascar. As soon as the Queen had
taken her place the scarlet-clothed ladies above
mentioned were taken TO seats to the south of the
Queen, on the platform, and the French and our
selves were placed on the north side of the same.
We thus had 4 very honorable position, and one
from which we could see the whole proceedings.
The Prime Minister, as first subject, took his
place among the people below. He was dressed
in n white velvet suit trimmed with gold, with
blue leather boots. \ little boy about II or Il
acted as his shield bearer. Behind him stood
some 200 officers, dressed chiefly i'm velvet. AssOon
as the firing of cannon had subsidized, the Queen
stood zap and delivered her speech. The sentence
in which she alluded to Christianity was as fol-
lows,
And rs to the praying, it is not compulsory
nor il there any hindcrancc, for God made YOU"
The Queen was very collected, and spoke dis
tinctly. but of course she could not be heard by
thousands who were present. We are happy TO
know the speech is to bc printed, and circulated
freely. After the Queens speech the laws were
proclaimed. upwards Of so in all, and these too
are to be printed. After this the presentation of
- basina commenced. The heads of the differ
cnt tribes came forward III parties, and made
their short c0ngratulatory addresses one by one.
and presented their dollars. The dresses of some
of these chiefs we've most rich and yet grotcsque;
the colorr Of some of their lambas were magnii-
cent. and many wore colored silk turbans.
After some few had presented their basina,
the French, and then we followed the exam
pie. Speeches and assurances of loyalty continued
till nearly ; o'clock, and were closed with 4 most
energetic and well received speech from the
Minister, and then the proceedings ter
minated, having lasted about five hours. The
mass of people was Il splendid sight as we looked
down upon it. Ii was variously thought to COM
prise from 300, 900 to SOC, 900. The day follow
ing the coronation the Queen went down to
I~mahamasina. which was filed with people
together to hold what is called a lauo-
mana, Il kind of festival or time of general re-
ioicing. As soon rs the Queen had taken her
place, 4 general dancing commcnccd-or what is
allied dancing. Hats and hands were waved and
very ones body was in motion, the Queen
standing mp and answering the people by n con-
inual motion of her hands. This was kept up
or about five minutes, and then all was still
l.lin. The effect of this dancing was strange.
There was not the energy and enthusiasm of Eng
iSh cheers, but it was rather exciting, neycrthc-
css. For about three hours different parties
anne and danced before the Queen, and then the
assembly broke up.