The herald., 1895-10-13

would have little trouble in disposing of
| tb, m, but the Hovas appreciate their
weakness and refuse to allow the French
to draw them INTO an open night.
| All of the rich cities OF Madagascar are
| inland among the healthy highlands,
| but to reach these the French must
march through low country reeking
| with teyer and disease germs. The most
| potent aid of the Hovas are these low
| countries, which Kill off the invaders BY
the hundred. 1t is almost lmposslole 70
| move heavy guns from the coast 10 the
| highlands because the intervening coun-
| try is little better than quagmire. The
| question of transporting rations Is also
| serious one for the French, as the ma
! tives destroy food before allowing IT. TO
| fall into the hands of TIVE invaders. They
| have also threatened to destroy all OF
| their cities by fire rather than see them
| in possession of the French.
J The Hovas worry the French in the
marches through the low countries by an
Initiating detained parties ana placing
roads. No decisive victory has yet been
! gained by the French, although the war
| has been going on in a desultory way for
nearly year.
On November 18th begins the new year
| in the Malagasy calendar. and the tenth
| day of the new year is always celebrated
| in extraordinary fashion. business IS
| suspended and the sovereign commands
| that enemies become friends for at least
that day. So literally is the command
I obeyed that wives return to thelr al,
vorccd husbands. Gifts are exchanged
| the country over. at O'Clock, on the
evening of November Dist there is
! salyo OF artillery, and the native dignl-
tares, along with distinguished Euro
peans, hasten to the palace OF silver.
| There the queen is found enthroned upon
a dias covered with red velvet. The serv-
ants OF the queen file past Offering p es'
! ents. 1hen the prime minister makes
long Speech reviewing the events of the
year lust closed, praising the virtues OF
the queen and holding up to the people
| the wisdom of her government, Which IS
I his own. As be reviews eajh act OF gov
ernment he asks whether it was just and
right and the shouted reply rom the as.
sem bled company is Mariner izay!"
(''lt is true!)
When the speech is done the relatives of
the queen. from her oldest uncle to her
tiniest nephew, file before her bearing
spoons for preparing the traditional rice.
Before the rice is presented. the queen
disappears behind a curtained screen,
| where basin of warm water has been
| made ready, and taxes bath. The cam
non announce that the publication Of the
royal person is complete, and the queen,
! having dressed, returns to the throne.
She bears now an OK horn filled with wa
| ter from her bath. Having wet her fin
gers with thu water, she streaks her tore
head with different taste marks and hav-
ing sprinkled those round about, she SOL
emnly eats several spooniuls of rice, the
first cooked in the country since the
| opening of the new year. This ends the
official fete, but it is continued next day
and for several days thereafter by the
people throughout the country with vari-
Gus observances and much zeal. The
queen let's loose in the streets of the cap
ital half dozen fat cattle. which are
madIy pursued by the people, the first
man to bring down and seize one of the
beasts becoming its possessor.