264 MEMORIAL POSTS. 



have in some cases an ornament like the Norman chevron or 

 zin-zajr, and In others somethinjT similar to the Greek wave- 

 like scroll. The whole erection with its ornamentation bears 

 some resemblance to the old Eunic stones, and the memorial 

 crosses in Ireland and parts of the Scottish Highlands. The 

 north face of this memorial post was quite sharp and fresh, 

 but the others were worn by the weather, and the carving 

 was filled up with lichen. 



Not very far from tliis memorial there were some others, 

 consisting of two pairs of posts, each with a lintel, like a 

 gateway, except that the opening was filled up by a large 

 flat upright stone. These posts were carved much in the 

 same style as the single one just described, but were not so 

 massive, and were more weathered. The tops of the posts 

 were carved into a shape somewhat resembling a vase. I 

 then remembered that we had passed a newly- set-up memorial 

 stone carved in three large squares, with much the same 

 kind of ornament as these posts had in wood. 



On the journey from Ambositra to Fianarantso^ (the 

 capital of the Betsileo), at about two hours' distance from the 

 former place, we passed a tomb by the road-side with a 

 carved wooden post similar to those at Ambositra. Some of 

 the carving was similar to what we had already seen, but 

 there were other graceful forms which were new, and some 

 of the compartments were like the English Union Jack. But 

 it was on the following day, when passing over an elevated 

 line of road between Nandihizana and Ambohinamboarina, 

 that I was most astonished and delighted by the profusion 

 with which these carved memorials were scattered all along 

 the road-side, as well as in all directions over the tract of 

 country visible on either hand. At one ancient town 

 especially, called Ikangara, %ve found a large number and 

 great variety of these specimens of native art in tombs and 

 memorial posts, as already described in the chapter on 

 Malagasy Tombs and Burial Customs. 



I regretted that our journey being made chiefly for the 

 purpose of seeing districts farther south than the Betsileo, 

 we were unable to visit some of the more important old 

 towns in their province, where there is said to be a great 



