294 BAR A AND BETSILEO CHARMS. 



{fady or tabooed), for which fines are imposed. Thus, " for 

 sitting or reclining on another person's bed, a fine of one ox, 

 or to be shot. For striding over a person, or for striding 

 over the foot even, the same. For brushing a person's face 

 or any part of his body even with any part of your clothing, 

 the same. For using spoons, plates, or drinking vessels be- 

 longing to another person, the same. Children while young 

 are exempt from the penalties ; but when a child arrives at 

 an age when he may be trusted with a spear, he is given in 

 charge of his mother, who takes him from home for a month, 

 and instructs him in his duty to his fellow-men, especially 

 urging him to beware of incurring a fine, or running the risk 

 of being shot. On his return, should he commit any of the 

 above offences the father will pay the fine, but disinherit his 

 child ; and on the second offence will drive him from the 

 place." 



Of the Betsildo charms, Mr. Shaw says that they con- 

 sist " for the most part of pieces of wood about a span in 

 length, cut from various trees, some growing only, it is said, 

 in distant places, and hence costing considerable sums of 

 money ; " and that he has in his possession between twenty 

 and thirty bdy, of each of which he had ascertained the use. 

 Some are believed in simply as medicine, the sticks being 

 rubbed on a stone, and the dust thus grated off eaten by the 

 sick. One is used as an antidote to any poison an enemy 

 may have placed in the ford ; while others are efficacious for 

 curing cuts and open wounds, delirium, sudden illness, as 

 protection from thieves, lightning, crocodile, &c. '" 



Among such customs may be counted one found among 

 the Sihanaka. In a certain place is a small hole, into which, 

 if you can pitch a stone, you will be rich and prosperous. 

 Among these people also, as amongst other tribes, a white 

 earth is plastered over the face as a cure for certain com- 

 plaints. The Hovas are also accustomed to put patches 

 of this substance on their faces on some festive occasions. 

 Thus, at the coronation of Queen Eknavalona I., her 

 majesty's forehead was marked with this white clay, which is 



• Antananarivo Annual, No. iv. pp. 5, 6. 



