NOSE-RUBBING. 209 



easily be folded into a hollow form so that they will hold 

 gravy or other liquid. For spoons they use a piece of leaf 

 from the Traveller's tree or banana, doubled up so as to easily 

 convey food to the mouth. This kind of spoon is also made 

 for eating rice at the palace at the New Year's feast, it being 

 dexterously tied up with a fine tendril. In other parts of the 

 country small squares of mat are used instead of dishes, the 

 edges being turned up so as to retain rice or other food. 



Kissing or Nose-rulling. — The Malagasy are, as a rule (like 

 the Malayo-Polynesian peoples generally), very undemonstra- 

 tive in matters of affection, and even if they feel deeply do 

 not often show it by any outward sign. Kissing, in the Western 

 and Oriental sense, is almost unknown, at least up to a com- 

 paratively recent period. It is, as the nearest word for it 

 seems to imply, a pressing or rubbing of noses, mandraka, from 

 the root drana, of nose (the ha and na being frequently inter- 

 changed). This in a colder country would be a decidedly 

 unpleasant habit, nor, as it is, is it specially agreeable to have 

 a nose pressed upon one's hand. The people are, however, 

 beginning to understand our kiss with the lips, and often kiss 

 our hands, although the kiss given and taken on the lips is 

 hardly ever seen between natives, old or young. They have 

 learnt the shaking of hands from Europeans, and it is often a 

 rather trying ordeal to go through with a large congregation, 

 esp3cially on a hot day, and as many of the hands which are 

 pressed upon one have not touched soap and water for a long 

 time. The old and now obsolete custom of kissing or licking 

 the foot of a superior has been mentioned in connection with 

 Malagasy words (see p. 156). 



Tattooing and other Adornment. — One of the most striking 

 customs of the Polynesian Islanders, that of tattooing, is never 

 seen amongst the Hovas. But there are traces of it among 

 the Betsileo people, and probably among some of the other 

 southern tribes as well. It is chiefly seen among the women, 

 who frequently have a kind of collar tattooed upon their necks 

 and breast. At a little distance this appears like an elaborate 

 lace pattern or vandyking, and when looked at more closely, 

 it is seen to include some of the same ornamental patterns as 

 are used upon the memorial stones and richly-carved wooden 



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