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CHAPTER X. 



CURIOUS AND NOTEWORTHY CUSTOMS AMONG THE 

 DIFFERENT TRIBES — [continued). 



HOUSES, THEIR STEUCTUEE AND AEEANGEMENT — THE HOUSE AS A COMPASS 

 AND SUNDIAL — TOWNS AND VILLAGES — FIRE BY FRICTION — POTTEEY 

 AND SUBSTITUTES FOR IT — KISSING OR NOSE-RUBBING — TATTOOING 

 AND OTHER ADORNMENTS — MODES OF DRESSING THE HAIR — CLOTHING 

 — USE OF VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR DRESS — FEMALE ADORNMENT — 

 WEAPONS. 



Houses, and their Structure and Arrangement. — The structure 

 and arrangement of a native house in Madagascar varies con- 

 siderably among the different tribes throughout the island, 

 and is perhaps not unworthy of notice as closely connected 

 with the habits and customs of the people. 



A Hova house of the old style is always built with its 

 length running north and south; it is an oblong, the length 

 being about half as much again as the breath, and the 

 window and door always on the west side so as to be 

 sheltered from the prevailing south-east trade-wind ; for, as 

 there is no glass, there would be much inconvenience in 

 facing the windward side. There is frequently another 

 window at the north end of the house, and often one also 

 in the north gable. The material is usually the hard red 

 clay found all over the central provinces of the island. This, 

 after being mixed with water, is kneaded by being trampled 

 over thoroughly, and is then laid in courses from a foot to 

 two feet in depth, and about a foot and a half or less in 

 thickness. Each layer is, of course, allowed to become hard 

 and firm before the next is laid. It is well beaten on either 

 side as it dries, and if properly laid and of good material 

 there are few cracks, and it makes a very substantial and 

 durable walling; and although we should think an earthen 



