CIRCUMCISION FESTIVITIES. 219 



of certain kinds of grass and bark, and joined togetlier like a 

 net, and ornamented with pieces of silver. The gourd is then 

 pierced three times with a spear. These things are taken charge 

 of by the velondray aman-dreny, who also procure a number of 

 other things required for the various ceremonies. 



The day of fetching the sacred water is the most impor- 

 tant day of all. The fetchers carry the gourds on their 

 heads, and are accompanied by a number of men armed with 

 shield and spear. They are received with shouts of "What 

 water is this ? " To which they reply, " Sacred water, 

 joyful water," and are saluted much in the same way as the 

 sovereign is received. The water is then carried seven times 

 round the house before being brought into it. The mothers 

 of the children then plait small baskets of the sandnfy 

 leaves, one for each child, in which he is to hold the unripe 

 bananas which are to be thrown away as a fdditra or 

 piaculum. 



When evening comes, the house is lighted up in a special 

 way. The stem of a banana tree is fixed upright in the 

 north-east {the sacred) corner of the house, to serve as a 

 stand for a lamp. This is made in an earthen dish, with a 

 number of minute arrangements, all fixed by custom, and of 

 prescribed materials. Dancing and singing is kept up all 

 night, and these festivities are continued for two or three 

 days at the sovereign's pleasure ; during the day the dance 

 called sdratra being performed, and cannon and muskets fired. 



Another preliminary ceremony also takes place at night, 

 this is the " measuring of the children." This is done with 

 a fine bamboo called vdlotdra ; they are first measured from 

 the ground to the loins, then up to the shoulders, and lastly, 

 the whole height of the child. Then follows a formal bless- 

 ing of the children, which is done as follows : — some of the 

 sacred water is put in the shallow wooden dish used for 

 winnowing rice, and with it honey, a large silver chain, and 

 a reed called fantaka with the leaves still fresh. The 

 children are sprinkled with the water, while a blessing is 

 invoked as follows : — " The lad is not a child ! He is a man 

 breasting the stream ; not caught in crossing, not taken in a 



