Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/554

 Farther on the boulevard descends into the new town which has sprung up to, the north of the ancient city. Beyond this quarter it stretches away between the rice-fields for some twelve miles across the plain to the town of Ambohimanga, one of the "twelve holy cities," and the most venerated of all. Ambohimanga stands on an isolated gneiss eminence which is shaded by large trees, and at the foot of

which rise some much-frequented thermal springs. Europeans seldom receive Permission to penetrate into this city, cradle of the forefathers of the present dynasty and summer residence of the royal princes. Here the court takes up its abode every year for a short period, during which all affairs of state have to be suspended, the whole time being devoted to feasts, sacrifices, and supplications to the deities.