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Updated: May 12, 2025
She renewed her commands as to the necessity of every one coming forward, on pain of instant death in the event of disobedience, and accusing themselves, with the reiterated assurance that if they failed to comply and they were afterwards accused by others they should be subjected to the ordeal of the Tangena, and slain or reduced to perpetual slavery if found guilty.
Of course it was very easy to make the potion strong enough to kill, or to dilute it with rice-water until it became almost harmless. Now, when Mark Breezy heard that Mamba was condemned to swallow the Tangena he went straight to his friend Rakota. "Prince Rakota," he said, earnestly, "if your expressions of gratitude to me are sincere you will save the life of this man."
Some came who looked like praying people, but I was afraid to ask them, and perhaps they were afraid to speak; for, as you know, the Queen's spies are abroad everywhere now, and if they find one whom they suspect of praying to Jesus they seize him and drag him away to the ordeal of `tangena' perhaps to torture and death.
It is enough to say that the people shall be examined by the tangena ordeal if necessary and they shall be punished according to their deserts. Is that all that you come here for, my son?" It was evident from her tone that Ranavalona relented a little, though her words were firmly spoken.
We once found a tree in a village, with many pieces of the bark chipped off, closely allied to the Tangena or Tanghina, the ordeal poison tree of Madagascar; but we could not ascertain any particulars about it. Death is inflicted on those found guilty of witchcraft, by the muave. The women wail for the dead two days.
Then he vomited violently, and, fortunately for him, the three pieces of skin which he had swallowed made their appearance. He was at once pronounced innocent and set free. Poor Mamba had to witness all this before his own turn came. Once more he was questioned, but continued dumb. Then he was made to swallow his three pieces of skin and to drink the Tangena.
To die he would rather not! To escape he could not! At last he hit upon an idea. He would refuse to answer. He would take refuge in absolute silence! As might have been expected, this course of policy did not avail him much. When it was found that he would not say whether he was a Christian or not, it was resolved that the matter should be settled by an appeal to the ordeal of the Tangena.
Alas for both innocent and guilty subjected to either trial! But the ordeal most universally in favour was that of the Tangena. The Tangena is in fact a poisonous nut about the size of a chestnut which derives its name from the tree that bears it. If taken in small doses it acts as an emetic; if in large doses it kills.
Now tangena is a fruit of which a little vomits the patient, and a good deal poisons or kills him; a quality which sufficiently explains how they manage that ordeal. Ordeals by fire and water are still practiced, with some variations, in Hindostan, China, Pegu, Siberia, Congo, Guinea, Senegambia and other pagan nations. Some of those still in use are odd enough.
"Now I decree that all Bibles and books of the new religion shall be delivered up to be destroyed, that all who are guilty shall come in classes, according to the nature of their offences, and accuse themselves of having been baptized, of being members of the church, of having taught slaves to read all shall come to the officers and confess; but those who conceal their offence and are accused by others shall be subjected to the ordeal of the tangena, and those who resist my commands shall die, saith Ranavalo-manjaka."
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