AGRICULTURE. 335 



of them, together with the skulls, are fixed upon poles near 

 graves ; and in some places, enormous carved representations 

 of horns surmount lofty mast-like poles in the same situation. 

 Amongst the Betsileo iron horns are used as a cresting for 

 the massive upright monoliths raised above tombs, and carved 

 horns, either close imitations of the real thing or convention- 

 alised representations of them, surmount the gables of houses 

 in Imerina and other portions of Madagascar. (See also figura- 

 tive use of the word in complimentary speeches ; p. 159, and 

 pp. 198, 231, 232.) 



Agriculture. — Many illustrations of Scripture might be 

 derived from Malagasy usages in the cultivation of rice, their 

 staple food, but two or three only must suffice. As rice 

 stands in water during all the stages of its groM'th, it is a 

 common figure to describe things which are inseparable to 

 " rice and water." One may frequently see the sower " cast- 

 ing his bread upon the waters ; " and as the plots of land 

 where the rice is sown are often narrow slips of ground along 

 the margin of rivers and streams, one recalls the words, 

 " Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, and send forth 

 the feet of the ox," if not also the ass ; for the former animal 

 is employed in many parts of Madagascar to trample over the 

 ground which has been previously softened with water, and 

 so render it fit for the reception of the young rice-plants 

 taken from the small plots where they have grown from seed. 



Malagasy threshing-floors are, like those of the Jews, 

 formed on the sides of rising grounds, so as to get the benefit 

 of any breeze, and so be rid of " the chaff, which the wind 

 driveth away." 



Slavery. — Malagasy slavery, like that to which frequent 

 reference is made in the Bible, is a patriarchal and famdy 

 institution. Slaves in Madagascar usually identify them- 

 selves with the interests of the family to which they belong, 

 and often hold positions of great trust and confidence, like 

 Abraham's servant Eliezer, or Joseph in the household of 

 Potiphar. The system certainly presents outwardly few 

 repulsive features, although its essential injustice is, of course, 

 unaltered. And as it was in the time of our Lord, so now, 

 people can be reduced to slavery for debt, and if that is in- 



