Tangena ordeal Ranavalona I

a 19th-century artist s depiction of tangena ordeal

one of chief measures ranavalona maintained order within realm through traditional practice of trial ordeal of tangena. poison extracted nut of native tangena (tanghinia venenifera) shrub , ingested, outcome determining innocence or guilt. if nobles or freemen compelled undergo ordeal, poison typically administered accused after dog , rooster stand-ins had died poison s effects, while among members of slave class (andevo), ordeal required them ingest poison themselves. accused fed poison along 3 pieces of chicken skin: if 3 pieces of skin vomited innocence declared, death or failure regurgitate 3 pieces of skin indicated guilt. according 19th-century malagasy historian raombana, in eyes of greater populace, tangena ordeal believed represent sort of celestial justice in public placed unquestioning faith, point of accepting verdict of guilt in case of innocence unknowable divine mystery.

residents of madagascar accuse 1 of various crimes, including theft, christianity , witchcraft, ordeal of tangena routinely obligatory. on average, estimated 20 50 percent of underwent ordeal died. in 1820s, tangena ordeal caused 1,000 deaths annually. average rose around 3,000 annual deaths between 1828 , 1861. in 1838, estimated many 100,000 people in imerina died result of tangena ordeal, constituting 20 percent of population. although outlawed in 1863, ordeal continued practiced secretly in imerina , openly in other parts of island.