THE HOURS 



93 



the day, from morning to evening. Clocks and watches are 

 comparatively a recent introduction into Madagascar, nor do 

 the people ever seem to have contrived any kind of sun-dial, 

 although, as will be seen, they did use something else as a kind 

 of substitute for such a time-keeper. It should be remembered 

 that the hours given (counting in European fashion) as equiva- 

 lents for these native divisions of the night and the day are 

 only approximations, and must be taken as the mean of the year, 

 or, in other words, at about the time of equal day and night, 

 towards the end of March or of September. They are as 

 follows : 



(Mamaton' alina, 

 or 



\Misasaka alina, 

 Maenno sahona, 

 Maneno akaho, 

 Maraina alina koa, 

 Maneno goaika, 



(Manga vodilanitra, 



-| Mangoan' atsinanana, 



[ Mangiran-dratsy , 

 A hitan-tsoratr' omby, 

 Mazava ratsy 

 Mifoha lo-maozoto, 

 Maraina koa, 



(Vaky masoandro, 



-j Vaky andro, 



\Piakandro, 

 A ntoandro be nanahary, 

 Efa bana ny andro, 

 Mihintsana ando, 

 Mivoaka omby, 

 Maim-b ohon-dravina , 

 A fa-dranom-panala, 

 Manara vava nya ndro, 

 Misandratra andro, 

 Mitatao haratra, 



Mitatao vovonana, 

 Mandray tokonana ny 

 andro, 



Centre of night ] 



or J- About 12.0 midnight 



Halving of night j 



Frog croaking, About 2.0 A.M; 



Cock-crowing, ,, 3.0 ,, 



Morning also night, ,, 4.0 ,, 



Crow croaking, ,, 5.0 ,, 

 Bright horizon \ 



Reddish east ,, 5.15 

 Glimmer of day J 



Colours of cattle can be seen, ,, 5 .30 ,, 



Dusk, 



Diligent people awake, ,, ,, }i 



Early morning, 

 Sunrise "j 



Daybreak I ,, 6.0 



J 

 Broad daylight ) 



/ 



Dew-falls, ,, 6.15 ,, 



Cattle go out (to pasture), ,, ,, ,, 



Leaves are dry (from dew), ,, 6.30,, 



Hoar-frost disappears "\ l ( - 

 The day chills the mouth / 



Advance of the day, ,, 8.0 

 Over (at a right angle with) 



the purlin, ,, 9-O > 



Over the ridge of the roof, , , 1 2 .o noon 

 Day taking hold of the 



threshold, 12. 30 P.M. 



1 These refer only to the two or three winter months. 



