Màhamàsina, Madagascar
July 3, 1884
For several days after the orders were issued for the assembling of a great royal kabàry on the plain at Màhamàsina, the town and neighborhood are crowded with people flocking in from the country, and everyone is anxiously expecting the queen's discourse. Màhamàsina is a large plain at the foot of the mountain on which the capital city of Antanànarìvo is built. Very careful arrangements has been made for the order and marshaling of such a vast concourse of people, who assemble in their thousands, and a platform erected for the sovereign and her ministers, from which the discourse is to be delivered.
Crossroads, some ten feet wide, are kept open in every direction by fences and large prominent arches at each entrance enable the people to steer their way in and out of the crowd without disorder or inconvenience. Doctors are stationed at intervals, their positions denoted by a little white flag bearing a red cross.
By ten o'clock the people are already crowding to their places, and some twenty to thirty thousand are already on the field, while every house and terrace, wall and balcony, overlooking the plain, is covered with women. Among the spearmen are bands of children of all ages armed with spear and shield, one band especially attracting notice as consisting of children between six and ten years of age. Their spears are about five feet long, and their shields of wood fifteen inches in diameter. All the schools of Antanànarìvo are drawn up in arms, and palace school makes a very show in their uniforms.
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| A great royal kabàry |
There are also countless regiments of recruits armed with muzzle-loaders, flint-locks, and native-made guns. The regular city regiments, consisting of 5000 troops, march on to the field at half-past eleven, and took up their positions along the central enclosure and along the different avenues dividing the plain. They are dressed in white tunics, dark blue cotton trousers, and brown helmets, and were all armed with breech- loading rifles which looked exceedingly bright and clean.
Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony is waiting for the queen’s arrival. Queen Ranavalona III is supposed to leave the Rova at twelve o'clock but the crowd is so thick that it probably will require more than an hour to pass through the city and descend to the plain.
In his twenty years as prime minister, Rainilaiarivony has been through many royal kabàry, but today’s will go down as one of the most important, as Queen Ranavalona will declare war on France. The Prime Minister gently stroke his favorite white mare’s neck to calm her nervousness. A direct descendant of the first houses presented to the Merina court by the British, she’s a reminder of the beginning of the friendship between the two kingdoms some seventy years ago.
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| Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony, in the 1880's. |
Madagascar was once in a strategic position on the route to India around the Cape. During the Napoleonic Wars, a naval expedition was sent to capture the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean from the French, in order to prevent them being used as a base to attack Britain's Indian colonies like during the American Revolutionary War some thirty years earlier. In addition, another goal was to get rid of Mauritius-based French privateers who have attacked Britain’s East India Company’s fleet and caused millions of pounds in losses.
After the war, Britain had to return Réunion and Comoros to France but got to keep Mauritius and Seychelles. Robert Townsend Farquhar, a former Lieutenant-Governor of Penang and Britain’s first governor of Mauritius, sent a mission to the Merina court to request help to end the slave trade and was embraced by King Radama the Great’s reception and cooperation.
Rainilaiarivony thinks. The English expression “a friend in need is a friend indeed” is just empty air to them. When they needed something from us, then we were their friends – only to be conveniently discarded when no longer in need. If he had given any benefit of the doubt to Britain for her inaction regarding France’s war on Madagascar, his conversation on June 16 with the new British consul Mr. Hicks Graves while waiting for the queen’s arrival in the throne room would have finally confirmed to him that the old Malagasy expression “as false as the British” is true.
PM: I hope you have fully recovered from your eight-day travel from our French-occupied port, Consul.
Consul: Thank you, Prime Minister. I had a couple of days to recover. If this is the good season to make the journey, I don’t want to imagine what it’s like in the bad. Thanks to the eight men who carried me in filanjana or I would not have survived it really. I didn’t expect most of it to be long arduous climbs through such thick forest. With the sunlight only filtered through like tiny stars and the sounds of the lemur throughout days and nights, it seemed like another world.
PM: You are in another world, Consul. Our island, animals and plants are different from anywhere else. Consul: I was hoping to see some Malagasy Baobab trees which I have read about, but didn’t see any.
PM: They are usually found along the dry western coast, Consul. You must have read the story of how they look as though they appear upside-down and grow in dry land?
Consul: No, please tell me. I’m fascinated by native legends and how they tie the peoples to the land.
PM: Oh, you will love this one. It goes like this. After having created Earth and the animals, God was going to cover the land with trees and plants. The hyena, fancying itself the smartest, proposed to help God so that it can claim the title as chief of all God’s creatures. Then God gave him baobab seeds to grow, saying, “These are Baobab seeds. They are strong but grow very slowly. They will stand the tallest among my creatures even in the most arid lands.” Having heard God’s words, the hyena felt inferiority of its own stature and became jealous of the Baobab. It found the sandiest corner of Earth and put the Baobab seeds in the ground upside down, so that they wouldn’t grow …
Consul: … And the rest is history.
PM: Yes, Consul, like the history that we are writing. We, all peoples of Madagascar, are as tough as the Baobab trees. We will overcome all difficulties, even this French war.
Consul: But am I right to think that hyenas are not native to Madagascar?
PM: They aren’t, Consul. But hyenas are cunning. They invite themselves over in ships and gunboats!
Consul laughed: I don’t think hyenas are very French either.
Prime Minister chuckles: Oh, no, no, no. Consul. I am not comparing the French to the hyena. That would be too cruel on the poor animal. All I say is when the news reached Antanànarìvo of Admiral Miot's conditions, great indignation was felt by the people. So the royal proclamation was issued in the Malagasy Gazette ten days ago.
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| Queen Ranavalona III |
The Prime Minister signals his aide to hand the Consul a copy of the English translation which reads:
“ I, Ranavàlomanjàka, through the grace of God and the will of people Queen of Madagascar and defender of its laws, declare unto you my subjects that negotiations with the French have come to an end, for we can no longer endure their doings, for they say that this land of our ancestors is not ours but theirs, and has theirs for a very long time; if we give it up to them, that is what they want, say they; but if we do not give it up to them, then they will take it by force, and we shall be deprived of our independence.
In consequence of these unbearable threatenings, the words which we have long expressed must now become fact, namely, that everyone shall stand up like a man and fight the enemy… Be diligent then in learning the art of war, for the day draws nigh when I shall examine your ability therein, and none shall I exempt from instruction. If there any that you see not learning, be he who he may, bring him to the seat of judgment, and I shall fine him in money equivalent to the price of his head, for he is a traitor. Let each one beware of causing tumult, and be not excited by others to disorder, for order and unity are our strength in thig business. Should tumult or disorder arise, then I shall make that town in which it arises responsible for it.
Behold also the foreigners that are now in my land and kingdom; take good care of them and of their possessions, for they are our friends, and have nothing to do with those who are fighting against us. Observe well these my words, and let each one show himself a man both in thought and deed, in order that the world may see that our courage is not mere talk.
RANAVÀLOMANJÀKA, Mpanjàka ny Madagaskara"
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| Wearing a traditional striped lamba over his military uniform, Rainilaiarivony sits to inspect his troops at the Rova compound (around 1865) |
Consul: I can certainly understand the feelings of Her Majesty and the Malagasy people in this regard, Prime Minister.
As the bugle sounded, the young Queen Ranavalona entered the throne room in her white gown cloaked under a large stately silk lamba with colorful flower patterns. Prime Minister and then Consul kissed her gloved hand.
Consul: “Your Majesty. It is with great pleasure that I find myself in your presence this day. I had hoped to be able to visit this your capital at a less distant period from the date of my arrival in Madagascar, but I have in the meantime visited many of the towns on the coast held by your garrisons, at which I am glad to able to state I was received with all courtesy by the governors in your Majesty's name I would beg to assure your Majesty that I also will spare no effort to compel my men to observe the treaty between the two countries, and in this I feel sure I shall be seconded by Her Britannic Majesty's vice-consul in this city, Mr. Pickersgill, and the different British vice-consuls on the coast."
Queen Ranavalona replied, " It is a great pleasure to us to see you, representative of our good friends, safely in my capital. I take the words which you have just uttered a fresh proof of the good friendship and the earnest wish your Government entertains towards us. I am delighted to assure you that I am always ready to do my best in opening my country to civilization and commerce with other nations, fully convinced that by so doing it tends not only to increase the wealth of our dominions, but good understanding between us and the Treaty Powers will ensue. I trust that the English nation, which shown feelings towards us for a very long period, will be willing as ever to help us morally in carrying out our views."
Consul: It will be my greatest privilege to do so, on behalf of Her Britannic Majesty’s government. Her Britannic Majesty also sends her deepest condolence again for the passing of Queen Ranavalona II last year.
Queen: Thank you. Please return our deepest gratitude to Her Britannic Majesty Queen Victoria for her condolence and kindness. I hope that your government has laid before Her Majesty the difficulties we are having with France. It has been thirteen months since they began their unprovoked bombardments of our garrisons and posts along the coast and captured Majunga while the envoys we sent to negotiate with Paris had not even returned home.
Consul: Yes, Your Majesty. I am painfully aware of the difficulties.
Queen: All of the French residents here in the capital would have been murdered after the news arrived, if my aunt the late Queen had not offered them five days to leave Antanànarìvo safely and provided them with porters to carry their belongings.
Consul: Her Majesty Ranavalona’s decision was most magnanimous. The remaining foreigners of British, Norwegian and American nationalities in Antanànarìvo are forever grateful for Her Majesty’s permission to stay and for the special guards sent to protect them and their properties.
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| Prime Minister's Palace (1884) |
Queen: I remember my aunt say, “They call us barbarians, and if we did otherwise we would prove ourselves to be so.” But in response to our justified expulsion of French residents, the French Admiral sent an outrageous ultimatum which we immediately refused, for which they immediately bombarded our fort at Tamatave before proceeding to land and put the whole port town under siege. How long was the notice they gave to other foreigners living in Tamatave to leave, Consul?
Consul: They were given 24-hour notice to evacuate to their country’s ships, Her Majesty.
Queen: That’s 23 hours more than they gave our people at Majunga. And did your predecessor Vice-Consul Pakenham not die during that 24 hours, and a British missionary Mr Shaw not thrown into jail for over a month on a false charge?
Consul: Your Majesty is very well informed. Indeed, Mr Pakenham died of poor health, and Mr Shaw was imprisoned through some misunderstanding. But these have been sorted out to the satisfaction of the parties involved, Your Majesty.
Queen: How cordial the diplomatic conducts between Western nations are. If only our kingdom would be treated similarly as an equal civilized nation.
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| The Rova (Royal Palace) of Antananarivo (1884) |
Consul: Despite the rocky relationship during Queen Ranavalona I's reign, Britain has always cherished the relationship with the Merina Kingdom and treated her as equal, ever since the oath of blood brotherhood between King Radama and Captain Le Sage and the close friendship between the great king and Mr. James Hastie, Your Majesty.
Queen: Mr. Hastie was well loved by everyone. With the treaty that he negotiated, the great king formed a formal alliance with the British crown to eliminate exportation of slaves and was recognized as the King over all of Madagascar.
PM: I also owe the good Mr. Hastie a personal gratitude. If not for him, I would not have lived a single day of life.
Consul: Oh, how, Prime Minister?
PM: I was born, Consul, on a day considered unlucky day by the mpisikidy – diviners. The traditional practice would be to leave such a baby in a cattle pen to be trampled to death. But thanks to Mr Hastie, such cruel practices were outlawed by the king just a few years before my birth. And look at me. Now I am a Prime Minister and a good Christian just like yourself.
Queen: Thanks to the hard works initiated by the missionaries of the London Missionary Society, now we have established our own churches, schools, hospitals, local industries, flourishing trade and a modern army. We have become a constitutional monarch and a Christian nation just as Britain.
Consul: Madagascar has modernized rapidly in such a short time since the Anglo-Malagasy Treaty of 1817, Your Majesty. During his visit three years ago, our commander-in-chief of the East India Station, Rear-Admiral Gore Jones, was so impressed with the advances made in the kingdom’s civilization, and reported that the Malagasy people have become a race fit to govern their native land, and the fact obviates the necessity for the intervention of any outside nation.
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| Antananarivo (1884) |
Queen: Germany and the United States also recognize the sovereignty of our kingdom over the whole island. On the contrary, France unfortunately seems to think that Sakalava rebels were at liberty to cede to them our coastal territory.
PM: In any case, the French knew how flimsy their claims were, so they never followed them up with occupation except at Nosy Be. They also repudiated their claims, if any, in the Franco-Malagasy Treaty of 1868 which recognizes our kingdom’s sovereignty over the whole island. Previous French consuls also never made any such rights until recently.
Consul: Even our government did not know of these treaties existed until the French, after several inquiries, recently supplied us with some sketchy information.
PM: If I were you, I would not easily trust any documents they produce. You must be aware of the difficulty we have regarding the dubious Lambert Charter. And also regarding the inheritance of the good Monsieur Laborde who received lands from Queen Ranavalona I for his many services. But France would not accept that, according to Malagasy law, the land must revert to the Crown upon their death or departure.
Consul: Indeed, as was the case with Mr Hastie, Prime Minister.
Queen: Exactly, Consul. Besides, the deed supposedly signed King Radama II was dated one year after his death, so it must have been carelessly forged by Monsieur Laborde’s son who, as one of the secretaries of state, had charge of the royal seal for some time.
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| King Radama the Great reviewing his troops (1825) |
Consul: We are aware of the difficulty with France over the issue of the Laborde inheritance and their demand that the law against freeholding of lands by foreigners be revoked. Earl Granville has informed his French counterpart that such laws are common in many countries. Even England used to have one until only a few years ago. We are of the opinion that Your Majesty’s gracious offer to amend the law to allow extendable long leases is entirely satisfactory for us.
PM: I wish the French were as reasonable. They insist on their one-sided story to extort us. The same with the Toualé dhow incident. Although French subjects were trafficking weapons to the warring tribes on our coast in violation of our law and when intercepted fatally shot our people, they are claiming damage for the deaths of the crew who died in the return fire. Why would they make such a demand on us, if they didn’t recognize our authority over that territory in the first place?
Queen: If we yield to them on one question, they will make another more outrageous demand. Admiral Miot threatened that the purpose was to make us come to agreement more quickly. That’s why throughout eight rounds of negotiations, he kept escalating his demands with such arrogant words. Not only the territories, but our very independence is at risk.
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| French conquest of Tunisia (1881) |
PM: You must realize, Consul, that these are just excuses. Jules Ferry is very eager on his second term to expand the French Empire. After robbing Tunisia from the Ottoman Empire (to Italy’s jealousy) in exchange for British occupation of Cyprus three years ago, now Ferry wants to do one better and bigger to regain France’s prestige after the defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. He wants another French Algeria to rally popular support and subdue internal troubles. French Catholics, Reunion colonists as well as the mainlanders with interests are pushing for expansion into our great island like a pack of hyenas. Despite the sincere efforts by our own Minister of Foreign Affairs, they tried to steal our island with a straight face, hoping that our envoy would not notice the changes in wordings on the treaty to be signed in Paris.
Queen: Since our envoys also laid the issues to your government in London, what help can Britain give us, Consul?
Consul: Earl Granville’s offer to mediate was firmly rejected by France, Your Majesty. But we will continue to do our best to convince France to settle the disagreement diplomatically.
The Prime Minister scoffs: And neutrality is the best Britain can do for her friend Madagascar?
He knows the exact reason for the Consul’s lack of commitment although he expected as much. The delegation to Europe arrived in Paris two years ago just as the French public became enraged by Britain’s invasion of Egypt. That’s why Britain would not risk provoking more French wrath.
The invasion of Egypt again exposed Britain’s real interest: the control of the sea route to India. Suez Canal, mostly funded by French financiers, in French-influenced Egypt was supposed to give France a strategic advantage, but Britain snatched Egypt from French jaw of victory. Maybe Britain is even willing to turn a blind eye if France claims Britain-influenced Madagascar as compensation. If they can betray powerful China on French invasion of Tonkin question, why not us?
What a friend indeed. To Prime Minister, Western powers may behave like hyenas against non-Western nations, but among themselves they are like grooming lemurs licking each other’s dirty parts. If only one can find a way to turn them against each other like hyenas fighting over a juicy bone. The Pakenham-Shaw incident was close, and could have provoked a fallout if not for British restraint over Egypt …
Prime Minister noticed that, on his part, the Consul also kept his words at minimum. If only he could read his mind, he would be confirmed how peripheral Madagascar was to British attention. A lot other British interests in and around Africa were at stake. After Egypt, France is trying to find a foothold for control around the Red Sea and Suez facing off British Aden. There are also other areas of potential Anglo-French conflict over the Congo and the Niger. And who knows what Bismarck has up his sleeves, now that Germans are appearing on the Southwestern coast of Africa? what if they ally with the Boers or, God forbid, France? And there’s also their activities in East Africa and Zanzibar.
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| East Africa and Madagascar |
Consul then broke the awkward silence by sharing some small pieces of intelligence: Let this stay between us, Prime Minister. As I arrived in Mauritius, I received the telegram updating us that France had just concluded an accord with China over the war in Tonkin, so more ships could be heading this way.
PM: Let them come, Consul. It’s easy for them to underestimate the difficulties of conducting war on our island.
Consul: It seems to me that they have become bogged down on the coast. A large number seemed to be ill, and they had to call for reinforcement from Reunion.
PM: And the Sakalava chiefs that they claimed as allies never to rally to their cause. Thanks to General Hazo and General Tazo, it’s not … What’s the English expression? … a walk in the park for them.
Consul: Who are General Hazo and General Tazo, Prime Minister?
Prime Minister smiles: General Forest and General Fever, Consul. In addition we also have to thank our chief military advisor Adjutant-General Digby Willoughby. He’s a Zulu War veteran from your country.
Consul: Ah, yes. The French also inquired why a British officer was fighting on the Malagasy side, and our Earl Granville informed them that although he’s a British subject, but not an official military officer, so the British Government cannot stop him from his employment.
PM: If you please, I can also arrange for you to review some of our infantry practicing their drill with Remington rifles. Perhaps we can discuss a purchase of more weapons from you….
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The trumpets and bugles sound a flourish, as the queen arrives in a gilt palanquin carried by twelve bearers, and is received by the Prime Minister. Her Majesty then mounts the platform and takes her seat on the throne under the canopy. Ranavàlomanjàka III is in European costume, a robe of white silk trimmed with pink satin. She wears her hair plaited, and on her head was a light gold coronet. On a small table to her right is a large Bible, and on a similar table at her left is a scarlet and gold crown.
The kabàry has now commenced. Prime Minister, drawing his sword, salutes, the whole army presents arms, the bands plays the national anthem, and the cannon in the battery above fires a salute of twenty-one rounds. The saluting over, the troops comes to “the shoulder," the trumpets and bugles sound a flourish, and the queen rises from her throne. In a few minutes a perfect silence ensues amongst the expectant multitude, and, waving her small golden scepter over her people, Ranavalona in a clear ringing voice addresses the people:
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| Queen Ranavalona III with royal crown and scepter (around 1890-5) |
" O ye people devoted to your fatherland, and ye soldiers strong in battle, my heart is glad as I stand among you. I see that both I, your queen, and this land of our ancestors are indeed dear you; and when I have summoned you to assemble, you have come at the appointed time; therefore I express my satisfaction to you; life and the blessing of God be upon you.
"And I have to say to you, O my soldiers -- for we all form of the army now, both I and my people -- that since those Frenchmen have invaded our land, I have done everything to bring about a termination of the war.
"Although we have paid sums of money twice, it was my Intention to give whatever would not involve my sovereignty or impair the independence of Madagascar, this land of our ancestors; for I particularly dislike, and it grieves me indeed, that your blood should be shed.
“But they were not willing, O my army, and want one-third of Madagascar for themselves, and for us to pay £120,000, as also to indemnify all the losses of other nations during the war; and yet it was not we that destroyed that property but the French alone bombarded and destroyed; they struck the first blow, and did not even give notice of war, but even assailed women and children; and that even is not all they want, but I and my ancestors have been insulted and they will not acknowledge me as Queen of Madagascar but only Queen of Merina.
"I shall fulfill, O my people, the share in the defense of the land which belongs to me as queen. I have done so, but still I will do more, for, though I am a woman, I have the heart of a man, and I stand up to lead you forth to prevent and oppose those who seek to take our land; for God forbid, O ye people, that we should become the servants of foreigners. Is it not so, ye people? I am confident, O my people in arms, that we are all united as one in holding fast to this beloved land of our ancestors, and in acting so as to frustrate the evil designs of our enemy. For is it not so, O ye people?
"Further I have to say to you I am extremely gratified to see the unity of combination in learning the art of war. Go on learning and await my commands for I shall not let the enemy come upon you unawares, for our courageous friends have gone to guard the coasts where the enemy will land. And I have to say to you, O people, that you may all know at once, there are no Frenchmen here, but they are foreigners entertaining good friendship toward us who remain here now; so let everyone take good care not to interfere with their persons or property.
"However, my people, whatever be our strength, or however great our numbers, all this is in vain without the help of God; let every one of us therefore ask for His help for deliverance in this our just cause.
“And these are my last words to you, O my army, though our bodies be annihilated, we shall not be ashamed nor confounded, but our name and our fame will live forever, because we rather choose to die than yield up our fatherland and the good which God has given us. For is it not so, O ye warriors?”
It requires some little time for the queen's words to be circulated among the crowd; but by the time Ranavalona reaches her last “Is it not so, ye soldiers ? " the excitement and enthusiasm are at a climax, the people shout, wave their spears and shields, and the sight is one never to be forgotten.
It is now the turn of the people to reply to her Majesty. First comes the representative of the civilians and the different noble clans of the Merina; their speeches consist of assurances to the queen that they were ready to fight. Their indignation about the queen being called Queen of Merina is very great.
One spectator says, " We have seen your Majesty's caution in not wishing to endanger the lives of the people, and in trying to make it up by paying money, etc; but we won't have any more trying to make it up.” At this expression the enthusiasm of the people becomes so great that the speaker's voice is no longer heard.
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Prime Minister next addresses the queen :
"On this occasion of your appearance in Màhamàsina, O Ranavàlomanjàka, before the people who are as your father and your mother, it is not a question of how many persons God left this kingdom to be ruled by, for you alone inherited it from your ancestors. You have come here before the people to thank us, to express your satisfaction at our preparations for war. But we, on the other hand, would say : It is not for you, the queen, to thank us, but we, the people, come to thank you, O lady, and may God’s blessings be upon you.
“As regards the French making war upon us, especially in what concerns the command of the army, its organization and discipline, rest assured, for here am I, Prime Minister, and everyone will have his part. The man who stands before your Majesty was born to defend this land and to serve his queen. That is no empty expression, for God sees into my heart. Come death, come loss, before the land shall be taken from us. Our war is a just war, and we do not fear; if we die, we have right on our side, and God knows it.. And the fame of those who die in the defense of their country will never perish.
“We must all die whether we fight or not, much more when our country is taken from us. But if we die in good actions, erect a stone, your Majesty, to our memories and trust in your army. Is it not so, O soldiers?”
After the prime minister had finished his speech, the queen again rose and said, "Since those are the words of you and your soldiers, I am confident; life, prosperity, and the blessing of God be upon you."
Her Majesty then expresses a desire to see some of the schools go through their spear exercise. Some of the schools from the Bétsiléo province then came forward chanting their war-songs. The boys are about twelve years of age and are very proficient. Her Majesty now descends from the platform, and mounting a white horse, rides round the plain of Màhamàsina to review the troops amid the cheers of the people. The prime minister then declares the kabàry at an end, the royal salute is given, and the troops and the people disperse.
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