LIFE IN MADAGASCAR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1137, 9 February 1884, Page 3

LIFE IN MADAGASCAR.

The following story is told of Queen Ranavolona I, of Madagascar, as illustrative of the sweetness of the royal disposition : —‘ Another little incident will serve to show the sweetness of therooal disposition. Ranavolona took a fancy once to have some silver dishes made, and summoned a silversmith, to whom she gave general directions, causing to be handed to him the requisite number of dollars to be smelted down for the purpose. The man made the dishes, and went with them to the palace, but they did not hit her Majesty’s taste at all. She ordered them to be remelted, telling the man he had better please her in the next attempt, or he should lose his head. With that gentle incentive to exertion he returned home, melted down the dishes, remodelled them, and exhausted his skill in elaborate chasings and ornamentation. He took them to the Queen a second time, and she was gracioulsy pleased to commend the workmanship, which now met her full approval. But checking herself in the midst of the expressions of her royal satisfaction, she remarked that the dishes before her were the man’s condemnation, as it was evident he had not exerted his skid the first time. Therefore, for the crime of attempting to pass off upon her an inferior article, ho should die all the same. His head was sliced off accordingly'