256 
superstitions and prejudices, of which it would be difficult to 
trace the origin, though most of them seem to have a connec- 
tion with the vestiges of barbaric religion, transmitted to its 
inhabitants by their African and Asiatic neighbours. In sor- 
cery, ghost-seers, and diabolie agency, they put implicit 
faith, and even laugh at those who seem to be incredulous. 
Cats and owls (Vuran-Dulu) ave. creatures of which they 
never permit the existence among them; because they aver 
that they partake in sorcercy, ani that it could not be a 
practised without their agency.* 
The Skide, or oracle, of the Madagasses, which is ‘daily 
interrogated by them, consists in a very fine sand, which they 
put in a fan used for cleansing the rice, and make prayers 
over it:—afterwards they boil it several times, and having 
traced an indistinct sort of writing upon it, they pretend to 
discover the past, present, and future by these ceremonies. If 
sick or uneasy, or if they desire to be informed of the health 
of their friends who are absent at war, they instantly consult 
this divinity, and give implicit credence to the answers thus 
obtained. They never eat any thing which the Skide has 
prohibited: the Royal Family, especially, and the nobility, 
will not so much as touch the presents commonly brought 
by their subjects till they are assured by the oracle that no 
harm or danger will result from the use of them. : 
The Tanghen (or Tanghina), which is the seed of a tree 
(Fowghinin; Petit Thouars), unfortunately too abundant 
throughout this vast island, and which is one of the swiftest and 
most deadly of vegetable poisons, is very often employed forthe 
detection of theft, or asa test in any case where proof of a crime 
iswanting. This kernel is bruised on a stone, and infused in 
water, which the accused person is compelled to drink. If he 
maintains his innocence, and if he has no witnesses, then three 
bits of chicken skin are added to the dose, and he is compelled 
to swallow rice water till the poison is rejected by the stomach ; 
eine 
* Since the date of this Journal, cats have been permitted to enter de 
dwellings. 
