The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-29

sKvyCH OF HER CAREER-RELI0ioUs RI
FORMS INSTITUTED DURING HER REIGN.


sryv<p ny uEe CAREER-RELIGI0Us RE-
FORMS INSTITUTED DURING HER REIGN.
The reign Of Queen Ranavalona, whose
death was reported Yesterday, began In
1865. II marked q new era In Malagasy
history. A series OF important reforms
were nj once set on foot. The term OF
military service was reduced to five years.
The corrupt and vexatious system OF legal
procedure was exchanged for trial by jury.
National education was so vigorously pro-
noted thai the native schools In the pro-
vinces Of Imerina and Betsileo alone now
muster total, according to some authori-
ties, Of To. 900 pupils. Allpersons engaged
In educational work were declared exempt
from the compulsory government service,
which Is the native substitute for taxation.
| The cruel practices OF native superstition
were unsparingly swept away, and in 1877
all the slaves from the Mozambique coast
who still remained In the country were
freed at one blow. The spread OF Chris
tianity was encouraged and the domestic
condition OF the people ameliorated In
every way. Under Queen Ranayalonas
sway idolatry was forever extirpated.
BURNING TUE IDOLS.
Early in her reign the Queen embraced
Christianity and built q royal chapel.
Meanwhile the wooden fence around the
temple of the great national idol had been
pulled down. and the priests assumed
threatening aspect, even limiting that theiI
god had medicine which would ayengt
him on the hereto sovereign. On the Stl
OF September, 1870, they came In force tc
the capital to claim their rights as mobiles
A council was called, and II was de-
cjded TO send the Chief Secretary
Of State and other high officials to
the sacred village. seven miles from
the capital, and burn the idol before Its
keeper returned. They set off the same az
ternoon, and by an authority from the
Prime Minister seized the IDOLS house.
| The wood of the fallen fence was collected
and fire was made and the contents oil
the temple were brought out to he burned.
First the long cane carried before the idol
i'm professions was thrown in; then twelve
bullocks' horns, from which incense or
holy water had been sprinkled; then three
scarlet umbrellas and the silk robe worn
over the idol by the keeper, who carried II.
Then came the idols case-the trunk OF
small tree followed and fitted with cover,
and last OF all the idol itself.
| THE GOD.
| Hardly any OF the present generation had
seen the god, and great was the surprise
when he was produced. Two pieces OF
scarlet silk abou; three feet long and three
inches wide, with small piece OF wood
about as big as a mans thumb inserted IN
the middle between them, so that the SILK
formed, as 1t were, two wings, was the
great god Of Madagascar, whose touch was
sanctiiying and whose nearness was pre-
sentative. "You cannot burn him, he is
god" said the people. "If he be god he
will not burn" said the officers 1--WE are
going to try" and held it on It stick in the
| fire. that the people might see as it was con-
sumed. The victory was complete. Next
day four other idols shared the same fate,
and the rest followed. One was little bag
OF sand another consisted OF three round
pieces OF wood united by a silver chain.
The people looked on in wonder, and when
the process was over. seeing that they had
no gods to worship. they sent to the Queen
to ask what they were to worship for the
future. The Government, says the Eng
Ksh Independent. adding to the informa-
ton contained in Mr.. POOLS letter, there
upon appealed to the native Christians to
send Christian teachers, and they at once
responded. 1t was found that OF $50 towns
and villages in Imerina 12O already had
Christian churches, and teachers were at
onco found for all tho rest