3i6 WEEPING FOR THE DEAD. 



days of the montli the mourning and full funeral ceremonies 

 are to be deferred until it is past. 



A great deal of visiting of friends and parents and superiors 

 takes place, and small pieces of money are given as jdlm, or 

 substitutes for the preserved meat so called ; and good wishes 

 and benedictions are exchanged. 



One of the most pleasing of the Fandroana ceremonies is 

 the lighting of small fires just at dusk on the two evenings 

 next before the royal bathing. These fires are called liaren-. 

 drina, and the first of these is for the sovereign, the second 

 for the people, but there is no difference in them. The fires 

 are made by small bundles of dry grass being fixed to the 

 end of bamboos ; these are lighted, and are carried about and 

 waved by the children, amidst a general shouting and rejoic- 

 ing. Looking from the summit of the capital over the 

 surrounding country, the sight is a very beautiful one ; all 

 around, in every direction where there are villages or houses, 

 these dancing lights are seen through the dusk, thickly massed 

 in populous places, and scattered thinly where there are few 

 inhabitants, while a general murmur rises through the air. It 

 seems probable that this custom is a relic of some observance 

 connected with the worship of fire in remote times. Those, 

 however, who have had a death in the family during the year 

 do not make these fires, nor do they kill oxen, or bathe. 



On the night when the fires are lighted for the people, there 

 is a general weeping at cock-crowing for the dead who have 

 not lived to see the new year. On the eve of the new year 

 every one bathes in warm water; each household meets 

 together, and a little of the water is placed on the head with 

 the proper benedictions. At this time also all slaves return 

 to their masters from wherever they have been, either 

 trading, or doing work for them or for others, for they have 

 each to provide a bundle of firewood for the cooking of the 

 special food eaten at the Fandroana. Every wife also must 

 be with her husband at that time, or it is considered that she 

 is as good as divorced. 



For several days there is much feasting and visiting ; all 

 are dressed in their best clothes and ornaments ; and all when 

 eating place a portion of rice on their heads, repeating a bene- 



