Context (CMS Context)
(Bio) Lieutenant Samuel Pasfield Oliver, (Captain: 1871), Royal Artillery, visited Madagascar during 1861-2, and witnessed King Radama II’s coronation at Antananarivo (23 Sept 1861), and returned later in 1863 on HMS Rapid following the King’s presumed assassination, (12 May 1863).

The Annual Report for 1893 notes that Captain S. Pasfield Oliver, late R.A., gave a collection of "fifty-nine sketches and finished drawings in pencil, in;, and water colours, of prehistoric stone monuments, tumuli, and burial places, sketched by the donor in England, the Channel Islands, Brittany, Etruria, Sardinia, Greece, the Troad, Madagasgar, Japan and" as well as a number of books to the library". It is likely that the Madagascan material here accessioned as 2011.96-232 is part of this donation. Transferred from the Haddon library in a card folio in 2010.

The caption refers to the coronation of King Radama II and Queen consort, Rabodo, (Rabodozanakandriana), 23 Sept 1861. Rabodo later ruled as Queen Rasoherina, (1863 to 1868), following Radama II's presumed assassination. Andohalo park was a meeting square for the people, where the royal "kabary" (Malagasy public discourse or speech) was performed in a pavilion in the centre of the park. See the Illustrated London News, 21 Feb 1863, for print titled, 'Coronation of the King and Queen of Madagascar: the procession passing Andohalo, the Kabary Ground of Antananarivo'.
Event Date 5/10/2011
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Lithograph of processional scene with buildings in the background. Caption is given as though cut from a newspaper. Inscription: 'Coronation of the King and Queen of Madagascar: the procession passing Andohalo, the Kabary Ground of Antananarivo'. Marked in pencil '32'.
Event Date 5/10/2011
Author: maa