REVOLTING CUSTOM. 2ii\ 



When it is perfectly desiccated they envelope it in linen 

 bandages, and then carry it to the place of burial, which is 

 ■usually situated upon a small islet, or on some steep cavernous 

 mountain. The first ceremony of drying the corpse is suc- 

 ceeded by a most revolting custom ; for at the end of several 

 days decomposition produces a putrefying liquid, which is 

 received into vessels placed under the framework on which 

 the corpse is deposited. Then each one of those present holds 

 his hand so as to receive a portion of the horrible liquid, with 

 which he rubs his whole body ! " '^ 



Another quotation, this time from one of the earliest 

 English books upon Madagascar, must complete these descrip- 

 tions of the burial customs of the Malagasy. In the nar- 

 rative of Eobert Drury, describing the customs of the south- 

 western tribes (1702 to 1717) there occurs the following 

 account : — " In the first place, they pitch upon a tree for a 

 coffin ; after that, a cow or an ox is killed and some of the 

 blood sprinkled upon it, imploring, at the same time, their 

 forefathers, and the demons and demi-gods, to aid and 

 assist them. "VVlien the tree is down, they cut it about a foot 

 longer than the corpse, and split it directly lengthwise, 

 and dig both parts hollow, like two troughs. It is then 

 carried to the house, the corpse being, in the meantime, 

 washed and wrapped up in a lamba, or frequently in two, 

 and sewed together. There is frankincense, or a gum very 

 much like it, burning all the time in the house. They seldom 

 keep the corpse above one day, especially in hot weather. 

 They put the corpse in the troughs, closing them together, 

 and carry it upon six men's shoulders. Every family has a 

 burying-place of their own, which no one dare infringe upon 

 or break into ; nor does any one indeed attempt it. This 

 is enclosed and fenced round with sticks. When they come 

 near the place, the corpse is set down, and then they make 

 four fires, one at each corner, on the outside of the burying- 

 place. On these fires they burn the ox or cow which was 

 killed before for that purpose ; they divide it into quarters, 

 which are all consumed in the flames. After this they 



* Documents sur . , . la Partie Occidentale de Madagascar. Paris, 1845, p. 

 158. 



Q 



