Tangena

Tangena is the name given in the highland (official) dialect of the Malagasy language to an indigenous tree (Tanghinia venenifera) distinguished by the high toxicity of the nuts it produces, which have been used historically on the island of Madagascar for trials by ordeal to determine the guilt or innocence of an accused party. The tradition of the tangena ordeal, which has taken various forms over time, dates to at least the 16th century in Imerina, the central highland kingdom that would eventually come to rule the population of nearly the entire island four hundred years later. It has been estimated that the poison may have been responsible for the death of as much as 2% of the population of the central province of Madagascar each year on average, with much higher mortality rates at specific periods, such as during the reign of Queen Ranavalona I (1828–1861), when the ordeal was heavily used. The belief in the genuineness and accuracy of the tangena ordeal was so strongly held among all that innocent people suspected of an offense did not hesitate to subject themselves to it; some even showed eagerness to be tested. The use of ritual poison in Madagascar was abolished in 1863 by King Radama II, but its use persisted for at least several decades after being officially banned.