CIRCUMLOCUTORY SPEECHES. 193 



All this speech-making is necessarily a lengthy proceeding, 

 so that by the time all the different ranks and classes have 

 replied, and royal and other salutes given, it is generally late 

 in the afternoon before the vast assembly breaks up, most of 

 the people having squatted on the ground for eight or ten 

 or perhaps twelve hours. 



On very special occasions the sovereign comes in person 

 to deliver her speech, when, of course, the pomp and ceremony 

 is much greater, a large covered platform being erected for her 

 and her attendants ; but the main features of the ceremony 

 remain the same. 



It will be gathered from what has been already said that, 

 in common with many people who have only recently had a 

 written language, the Malagasy are ready and fluent speakers, 

 although they certainly have also the power of saying a great 

 deal without conveying any clear idea of what they mean. 

 It is often most difficult — in fact, next to impossible — to get a 

 simple answer, Yes or ISTo, or to make them come to the point ; 

 there is such a cloud of words, complimentary phrases and 

 vague nothings, that one often wonders what it reaUy is they 

 are driving at. It is extraordinary to an Englishman, who 

 holds it as a maxim that "time is money," to see how a company 

 of people will meet together to talk day after day, the whole 

 day long, for a week or more. This may be often seen after 

 the death of any person in good circumstances ; the whole 

 family and connections will assemble, generally in the open 

 air, and all day long for days together they will dispute and 

 argue and speechify over the division of a very small amount 

 of property. This power of talking is not confined to adults, 

 for even young lads will sometimes make speeches with the 

 greatest confidence and assurance ; and in ignorant districts, 

 where few people can read, an intelligent lad with a little 

 smattering of knowledge has sometimes been put up in the 

 native chapels, not only to read a chapter, but also to pray, 

 and he has occasionally even held forth in a most edifying 

 manner, much to the admiration of his elders. 



Occii-pations and Modes of Living among the Malagasy. — 

 When inquiring about the habits of the Malagasy, English 

 people frequently ask, " How do they live ? " " How do they 



