A NATIONAL CEREMONY IN MADAGASCAR.
(Fbom our Paeis Cobbrspondbnt.)
Despatches from Madagascar bring graphic accounts of a singular aud picturesque national ceremony m which ths Qaeen plays the plnolpal part, It Is oalled tha Festival of the Bath, aud la oelebrated annu.lly. The Queen sat on her throne surrounded by the representatives of Foreign Powers, all seated except the French Resident, who stood. Bahind her sat the attendants. Her Majesty was wrapped In a simple robe of red silk , Presently appeared a procession of natives bearing water and other necessaries for the bath, Including firewood.' These they conveyed Into a quadrangle surrounded by our tains. When tbe water wis warm, the Qaeen stepped down and entered the curtained space. In a few minutes salvoes of artillery announced to the people that the Qaeen was taking her bath. In a few minutes more ; she reappeared, sumptuously o'othed with jewels. She oarrled a horn filled with the bath water, with whioh she sprinkled the oompany. Then complimentary speeches were exohanged. Again the boom of cannon waa heard, and the paople gave themselves op to festivity. Daring the day of the feast oo animals are allowed to be slaughtered, whioh means that no meat oan be eaten, aa meat will n t keep twentyfour hoars ln Madagascar. Bat the next day scores of oxen are slain, and the fast is broken with great good-will.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2088, 15 March 1889, Page 2
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231A NATIONAL CEREMONY IN MADAGASCAR. Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2088, 15 March 1889, Page 2
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