CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
ARRIVAL AT THE CAPITAL--QUEEN RANAVALONA'S TROUBLES AND PERPLEXITIES.
Towards sunrise on the following morning our travellers, on passing outof a rather dense piece of plantation which crowned the brow of a lowhill, came in sight of the capital--Antananarivo. It was still in thefar distance, with many a rice-field and garden between, but distinctlyvisible, for it occupies the summit and slopes of a considerable hill.
"Here, then, through the goodness of God, we have reached the end of ourjourney," said Ravonino, halting, "and I must remain behind, while you,my friends, push on to the city. Fain would I go with you, but thatwould ruin all, for I am a known and marked man. Laihova will now guideyou, and tell you what to do. I have just one word for you at parting.Be peaceful, do not take offence. Interfere not with our customs. Usenot the fist, and commit your way to God."
The guide looked so pointedly at Ebony while he spoke that that sablecomrade could not help noticing it.
"What you looks so hard at me for, hey?" demanded the negro.
"Because you are somewhat hot-tempered and apt to get people intoscrapes," answered Ravonino, with a slight twinkle in his eye.
"_Me_ 'ot-tempered!" exclaimed Ebony, in surprise, with an appealingglance at his comrades. "I'd knock you down, Ravonino, for sayin' dat,only it would be like as if what you say's true! Ob all de niggers on'art' I's de meekest, quietest--jest like a babby; why, my moder alwayssaid so, an' surely _she_ ought to know!"
"No doubt she knew, whatever she said," observed Hockins, with a laugh.
"We will be careful," said Mark. "But are your people, then, soparticular, that we should require this caution?"
"Well, they are not very different from other people," replied theguide, "and if things had been as usual I should have had no fear; butwhen Queen Ranavalona has one of her bad fits, there's no saying whatshe may do. Her banishing the Europeans is a bad sign. I would that Ihad not brought you here, but there is no help for it now. We have beenseen by many people. The news will spread to the town, and if you didnot soon appear you would be suspected as spies, and the country wouldbe scoured in search of you. No, there is nothing for it now but a boldface and an honest purpose."
"Humph!" ejaculated Ebony, "you's a fine feller to talk 'bout bold facesan' honest purpusses, w'en you're goin' to steal a young ooman out ob depallis, fro' under de bery nose ob do queen!"
"To help Rafaravavy to escape of her own free will is not theft,"replied the guide, gravely. "When we are persecuted in one cityScripture advises us to flee to another."
"Das true, Ravonino. No offence meant. Gib us your flipper, old boy!"
Grasping the guide's hand, the negro shook it warmly, and at the sametime vowed that he would be most "awrful careful," and that he wouldbring Rafaravavy to his feet, dead or alive, though he should have tofight the whole town single-handed to effect his object.
It was a Thursday evening when they stood thus conversing. They hadkept count of the days because of the guide's quiet but firmdetermination to rest in camp on the Sabbath--a plan which, althoughthey had no very strong principle on the subject, commended itself tothe rest of the party because of the pleasant effect of the day's reston both soul and body, for it afforded opportunity to have long andearnest talks with Ravonino about the former days of persecution, aswell as quiet strolls, alone or in couples, and--it must be admitted--occasional slumbers in the cool shade of bush or tree!
"I have purposely contrived," said the guide, "that, by walking allnight, you shall arrive early to-morrow--Friday--because it ismarket-day in the town, and you will be less noticed, as well as moreamused by what you see, than if you were to arrive on any other day.Go, and God go with you! I shall be found in the cave that Laihovaknows of. Farewell."
He turned, with a wave of his hand, as he spoke, and re-entered thebush, while the others, taking the most direct route to Antananarivo,descended into the open country. Soon they were involved in the crowdswhich were passing along all the roads leading to the city. The peoplewere either taking their goods for sale or going to make purchases--mayhap to meet friends or kindred.
All night Laihova led his friends at a smart pace. Next day, as thefirst object of our travellers was to get into the town withoutattracting attention, they kept in the thick of the throng all the wayup to the market-place. Of course the people nearest them took specialnote of the two Englishmen, and some were inquisitive, but, by tellingthe simple facts regarding their arrival in Madagascar, Laihova removedany unpleasant suspicions that might have arisen regarding them.
The crowds increased as they advanced, and the numbers were stillfurther augmented, as well as diversified, by the Hova army, which theycame upon exercising on a plain just below the city. Ascending thesides of the steep hill on which Antananarivo stands, they obtained amagnificent view of the animated scene, which conveyed the impressionrather of a grand holiday than an ordinary market-day. This, no doubt,was largely owing to the operations of the soldiers, whose manoeuvresHockins watched with a critical eye, for his father, having been asoldier, had made him intimately acquainted with the drill as practisedin the British army at that period.
"Why, I do believe the fellers are speakin' English!" he said, in somesurprise.
"Not wonder much, for Ingleesh drill'd um," said Laihova, who, sincethey parted from Ravonino, had begun to use his broken English to thebest of his power. It must be said that that power was not great, evenat the best.
He explained to his friends that Radama the First--that wise king whohad been so fond of the English, and had done so much to aid themissionaries, abolish the slave-trade, and civilise his people--had,among other changes, remodelled his army after the British pattern, andhad obtained the services of non-commissioned officers from theMauritius to drill his troops. These organised them into divisions,brigades, regiments, companies, etcetera, and as they found no nativewords suitable to express military evolutions, they introduced their ownEnglish words of command, which have remained in use ever since.
By means of this army of Hova troops, and the flint-lock weapon knownfamiliarly as `Brown Bess,' Radama succeeded in subduing all the nativechiefs of Madagascar, with only a few exceptions, and thus became therecognised king of an island considerably larger than Great Britain.Being an enlightened and well-disposed monarch, he made good use of thepower thus acquired. It was only after his death in 1828 that aretrograde movement set in, as we have said, under the wicked QueenRanavalona.
It is one of the misfortunes of our fallen condition that rectitude inany course, however good, cannot long be maintained--at least inreasonable perfection. The army which had enabled Radama to pursue onthe whole a beneficent course, ere long began to make its creator knowits power. Feeling his dependence on it, Radama adopted the unwisepolicy of increasing the military influence, and weakening that of thecivil officials, the heads of the people, and other functionaries whoseposition was derived from ancient political arrangements. Publicoffices of honour and importance were given to military officers ratherthan to civilians, and this unfair exaltation of the military over thecivilian class led, as it always does, to tyranny and injustice.
The system of service was in itself a gross form of injustice to thepeople, for, although the theory of service does not at first sightappear unjust, the practice of it was very much so. More than thehalf--perhaps nearly two-thirds--of the whole effective male populationof the central province were enrolled either as officers or privates.These received no pay, except an occasional gift of a lamba, and about aweek's rice during the year! The soldiers were indeed freed from moneytaxes in consideration of their service, but this was small compensationfor the hardships that it entailed. Although the drills at ordinarytimes did not occur more frequently than for a day or two everyfortnight, much time was taken up in passing to and from the exercises,especially in the case of those who lived at a distance, and thus foundit almost impossible to cultivate their own rice-fields. Freque
ntly,also, the officers would not allow the men to return home without amoney bribe. In short, the private soldier was little better than aslave--in some cases worse--while the officers of the highest rankpossessed unreasonable power.
Military rank was founded on a system which led to some absurdities. Itwas reckoned by numbers, commencing with _one honour_ for the private,_two honours_ for the corporal, three for the sergeant, and so on up tothirteen for a field-marshal of the higher rank--a few having sixteenhonours! Those thus highly _honoured_ were not numerous; but the numberof officers of lower grade was much greater in proportion to privates,than in the British army. Indeed from a third to a fourth of the armywas composed of officers, so that "ta Phairshon," with his excess ofpipers over fighting men, would not have appeared very outrageous in theeyes of the Malagasy troops!
These officers had an eye to profitable business when not on service.It is stated by the missionaries that when engaged in building theirchurches and schools they sometimes found they had a field-marshal for aforeman, a colonel for mason or carpenter, a major for bricklayer, andso on! Above the thirteenth rank the numbers were very few, and of thesixteenth there were not above half-a-dozen.
Good, stout, courageous fellows were the men whom John Hockins and hiscomrades saw that day manoeuvring below them on the plain ofImahamasina; men who, although by no means comparable to European troopsin precision of movement, understood their work nevertheless, and wouldhave proved themselves formidable opponents to deal with in war.Laihova further informed them that the first man who organised the forcewas a Sergeant Brady, who began his work in the year 1816, carried it onfor many years, and rose to the rank of major-general in the service ofKing Radama. After General Brady's death, the native officers continuedthe work on the same lines.
But in costume and appearance these soldiers were what is familiarlyknown as "a queer lot!" The uniform of the rank and file consisted of atunic and trousers of white material, with a narrow-brimmed straw hatpainted white, cross-belts and cartouche-box--by no means an unbecomingdress. But it was worn only at drills and reviews and state ceremonies.At other times, when on duty, soldiers went about almost naked, and thecontrast of their dirty-white cross-belts with their brown breasts wascurious, to say the least, while their straw hats and slovenly gaitsuggested anything but soldierly bearing.
The variety of dress indulged in, however, by the crowd of officers wasoutrageous as well as mirth-provoking.
"Why it seems to me," said Mark, "that every officer may put on whatseemeth right in his own eyes! I see old regimental red coats andpantaloons; hats and shakos that must have been worn a hundred yearsago. I even see what looks at this distance like naval uniforms andcocked hats, and no two of them seem to be dressed alike."
Mark looked inquiringly at Laihova as he spoke, but that dignifiednative merely smiled, and made a slight inclination of his head, as ifto say, "Just so, that's the way we do it here!"
"Why do they let civilians mix wi' them?" asked Hockins, pointing to aparticular part of the field.
"To keep 'em cibil, I s'pose," suggested Ebony.
"Where?" asked Laihova, with a puzzled look.
"There--don't you see 'em? Fellers all in black--with bell-toppers--beavers--chimney-pots on--I don't know what you call 'em here."
"Them be officers too," said Laihova.
And this was true, for the higher grades of officers usually appeared atdrill in a full suit of black cloth, with the common black silk hatdoing duty as a helmet, and contrasting oddly enough with the roughhome-made scabbardless sword, which was carried naked in the hand.
On some occasions, as our travellers afterwards learned, these regimentsturned out in every variety of costume, with coats, hats, vests, andtrousers, of all colours and patterns--as if they had been got up by anextensive dealer in old clothes. This passion for variety even extendedto the officers of the palace, with whom, however, the material was ofthe best as well as gayest--for they were all gorgeously clad in blueand scarlet cloth; and velvet, with gold and silver lace, embroidery,feathers, etcetera,--but what nation, even in the so-called civilisedworld, is free from barbarism in this respect?
One pair of eyes beheld this review on that Friday with something offiendish satisfaction. These belonged to no less a personage than QueenRanavalona herself. High up on the balcony of her palace she sat underthe shade of a scarlet umbrella.
That very day she had had an angry interview with her Prime Minister,Rainiharo, in reference to her only child Prince Rakota, who was a youngman of mild gentle disposition, as kind to the Christians as his motherwas cruel and unjust. Indeed it was believed that he himself was amongthe Christians, for he dared openly to defend them before his mother,and often protected them secretly from her violence. Rainiharo, thePrime Minister, on the contrary, was their bitter foe, and in hisinterview with the Queen above mentioned, had ventured to accuse theprince of aiding in the protection of those who practised the proscribedreligion.
The one redeeming point in the character of Ranavalona was her love forthis son. When asked to punish the prince for his conduct, she wouldsay in tones of tenderness that seldom issued from her lips, "Is he notmy son--my only son?" Alas! she had little pity for the son or daughterof any one else, whether "only" or otherwise!
The dress of Ranavalona, as she sat in her balcony under her scarletumbrella observing the troops, was gorgeous, but the greater part of itwas hidden under the voluminous folds of the scarlet lamba of finestEnglish broad-cloth, with which her person was enveloped. Here andthere, however, portions of a rich silk dress of European manufacturecould be seen, as well as various gold and silver rings, bracelets,chains, charms, and ornaments of ivory. Scarlet being the royal colour,only the Sovereign is entitled to wear the scarlet lamba or use thescarlet umbrella. The Queen's lamba was ornamented heavily withgold-lace. Her head was not much decorated, but her hair was anointedwith that hideous horror of the sick-room, castor-oil! the odour ofwhich, however, was disguised, or rather mixed, with a leaf which smeltlike nutmeg.
"I will submit to this no longer," said the Queen, with a stern frown."Have I not said it? Is the will of Ranavalona to be thwarted?"
This remark was, in the conversation above mentioned, made to the PrimeMinister, a stern old man, dressed in a scarlet coat with huge goldepaulettes, and profusely braided with gold-lace, blue pantaloons, alsogold-laced, and a magnificent brazen-sheathed sword. He stood at theQueen's elbow with a perplexed expression of countenance, being thebearer of news about the effect of which he felt uncertain. ButRainiharo was a bold man as well as a bad one.
"Your will, madam, is sure to be thwarted," he replied, "as long as yousuffer Prince Rakota to act as he pleases. Your son is a Christian. Heprays with the Christians and encourages them in this new doctrine. Weare lost if your Majesty does not stop the prince in his strangeself-willed ways."
"But," repeated the Queen, "he is my son--my only, my beloved son! Lethim do what he pleases. If he wishes to be a Christian, let him--he ismy beloved son!"
"But, madam," urged Rainiharo, who hated Rakota, "if your son resistsyour will what becomes of the Government? I know that Rakota--"
"Cease to speak to me of Rakota," interrupted the Queen, impatiently."He is my son, I tell you. I love him. Let him alone--he will notdisobey me."
"Prince Ramonja, it is said, has also joined the Christians," continuedthe minister, with a slightly cynical expression.
"Is this true?" demanded Ranavalona, fiercely, while she seemed to grindher teeth in wrath.
"I have reason to believe it."
"Let inquiry be made, and if it proves to be true," said the Queen,sternly, "let Ramonja be deprived of all his military honours, reducehim to the ranks, and fine him heavily."
"But he is your own nephew, madam," returned the Minister, simply, yetwith a touch of sarcasm in his tone.
"It matters not. It is of our mercy that he does not die, as manyothers have died before him. Let my orders be o
beyed if Ramonja isguilty. Let him be a warning to others in the palace, for it has cometo my ears that some of our courtiers are hankering after this religionthat seems to have turned my people mad. Indeed it is said that somerelated to yourself are among them."
She looked pointedly at Rainiharo as she spoke, and the prime ministerwinced, for he had lately discovered that his own son was among thenumber of the "praying people." Recovering himself in a moment,however, he merely said that he was not aware of any of his kindredhaving fallen away from the customs of their ancestors.
"I hope not," returned the Queen, darkly, "for degradation and slavery,if not death, await them if they do. Go. Let a proclamation be madeto-day in the market-place. Let my people and the army know that I haveresolved to extinguish Christianity. Tell those officers who havebecome Christians, or have taken any part in religious teaching, thatthey shall lose their honours. They have transgressed my laws anddeserve death, but through the supplications of the people of Imerinatheir lives are spared. But their honours, I say, shall be thrown intothe river and carried over the cataract of Ifarahantsana, for they aretrying to change the customs of our ancestors. Of some, half thehonours shall be thrown into the river. Of others, one-third of theirhonours shall be thrown in, and some shall lose all their honours; theprecise number shall be in proportion to their offences. Moreover,"continued the angry woman, as she worked herself into a state of greatwrath, "there must be no more praying; no more psalm-singing among mypeople; no more--"
She stopped suddenly and listened, while the veins in her neck andforehead seemed to swell almost to bursting, for at that moment theclear notes of a sweet female voice came from some distant part of thepalace and broke softly on her ear. There was no mistaking the natureof the music, for the Queen had long been familiar with the music of thepsalms, in which the "praying people" were wont to sing praise to thename of Jesus.
"Who sings?" she asked, with a fierce look at Rainiharo.
The prime minister again gave vent to a very slight touch of sarcasm ashe replied, "I think it is Rafaravavy."
This time the queen noted the tone, and sharply ordered her minister tobe gone and do her bidding.
Now, Rafaravavy was a lady of the palace, as we have said, and a greatfavourite with her royal mistress, but the queen's affection for thegirl had been severely tested since the latter showed symptoms of aleaning towards the Christian religion. It is probable that Ranavalonawould have cared little as to what her favourite thought aboutChristianity if she had only kept quiet, but Rafaravavy was one of thoseearnest straightforward souls who are prone to act in accordance withtheir conscientious beliefs without regard to consequences. She did notindeed go about endeavouring to proselytise the household, for she wasnaturally timid, soft-hearted, and meek, but she made no attempt toconceal her opinions and her sympathy with the persecuted Christians.She had even gone the length of interceding for them once or twice whenshe found her mistress in an amiable mood, but the explosion of wrathwhich resulted warned her not to presume again in that way.
For some time Ranavalona sat brooding over the mystery of that religion,which, notwithstanding all her power and cruelty, she had, after so manyyears of tyranny, been unable to suppress. Then she sent forRafaravavy.
The girl, who in a few minutes entered her presence, was possessed of noordinary beauty. Her delicate features and oval face were much lighterin complexion than those of the other ladies of the court, resemblingrather those of a Spanish brunette than a Hova beauty. Her eyes werelarge, soft, and lustrous; her nose was straight and thin, and her mouthsmall, with an expression of habitual gravity which made her smile, whenit came, all the more attractive. Little wonder that poor Ravonino hadlost his heart to her, for, besides beauty of countenance, the girl wasendowed with a sylph-like form, a sprightly disposition, and the sweetgrace of humility.
"You have disobeyed me, Rafaravavy," said the Queen as she entered.
"Forgive me!" answered the girl in a low musical voice. "I did notthink my song of praise would reach your ear. It was meant only for myGod and Saviour."
"Is your God then deaf, that you must sing so loud?" asked the Queen,sharply.
"He is not deaf, blessed be His name!" exclaimed the maiden, withenthusiasm, "neither is His arm shortened that it cannot save. Oh! ifyou--"
"Stop!" cried the angry Queen, "you have presumed to talk to me thus toooften. You deserve to die for singing psalms. Have you given uppraying since I forbade it?"
There was that in the voice of Ranavalona which alarmed the girl, andcaused her to tremble as she replied, with some hesitation, that shestill prayed.
Instead of giving way to another burst of passion the Queen adopted abantering tone, and said--
"Come, Rafaravavy, tell me what you pray for."
"I pray for the pardon of my sins."
"Is that all? Surely you pray for something more than that. Somethingnice that you want very much."
"Yes," continued the girl, becoming somewhat pale, yet praying silentlyfor courage even while she spoke. "Yes, I pray for the pardon of--of_your_ sins, and--"
"Go on! Why do you stop?"
"And that your eyes may be opened that you may `see the King in Hisbeauty,' and be drawn to Him by the cords of love, so that you may ceaseto persecute the Christians and learn to join with them in praising thename of Jesus who redeemed us from destruction, and is ready and willingto save us from our sins."
While Rafaravavy was speaking Ranavalona put her hand over her eyes.When the former ceased, she did not remove the hand, but said, in a tonewhich the poor girl could not quite understand--
"Go! Enough. Leave me!"
As Rafaravavy left the balcony, a prepossessing youth of delicate formand gentle mien emerged upon it by another door.
"Mother," he said, earnestly, "do, _do_ give me leave to recall yourproclamation. I have just heard of it from Rainiharo. Believe me, manyof the nobles are not so good--I mean so guilty!--as you think. And thepoor Christians--why should they not pray and sing? It is all that youhave left to them, for they no longer dare to worship together in thechurches."
"No, Rakota, I will not recall it. Your constant pleading worries me.It is enough to say that the people shall be examined--by the tangenaordeal if necessary--and they shall be punished according to theirdeserts. Is that all that you come here for, my son?"
It was evident from her tone that Ranavalona relented a little, thoughher words were firmly spoken.
"I came also to tell you," said the prince, "that the Europeans whomyour spies brought news of some time ago have arrived. They are evennow in the market-place. By my orders the guards have let them passwithout question."
"Always interfering, Rakota!" said the Queen, angrily. "Why were theynot seized and guarded till I should find time to speak with them?"
"Because, mother, that would scarcely be a civil way of receivingstrangers."
"Strangers! Spies you should have said. Have you forgotten theungrateful Frenchmen who so lately tried to overturn my government?"
"But these are not Frenchmen. They are English," said the prince, "andI will answer for them being good and true men."
"No doubt English are better than French--at least I hate them less; butthey are all pale-faced liars and Christians, and none of them shallremain in my land. But how can _you_ tell, boy, that they are good andtrue men? Have you had speech with them?"
"Not I," returned the prince. "I have only seen them as they enteredthe town, but that was enough. One glance satisfied me of their beingtrue men. When the sun rises it needs not much wisdom to know thatthere is heat and light. An honest face is like the sun. You cannotfail to know it."
"Go, foolish boy. You are too confident. I will not tolerateEuropeans. These men shall be arrested. Hence, and send hither anofficer."
Finding that the Queen was not in a temper to be trifled with, Rakotawisely made no reply, but bowed and went his way. In delivering themessage to the of
ficer, however, he whispered such words to him assecured a little delay in the execution of the royal commands.