86 On the Poetry of Madagascar. [March, 



the followers of Siva and Vishnd. As a mere compilation, however, 

 its date is of little importance, except as furnishing a testimony to that 

 of the materials of which it is composed. Many of these may pretend no 

 doubt to considerable antiquity, particularly the legendary accounts 

 of the Avatdras, the section on regal polity and judicature, and the 

 genealogical chapters : how far the rest may be ancient, is perhaps 

 questionable, for there can be little doubt that the Purdna as it now 

 exists, differing from its own definition of Purdna^ and comprehending 

 such incongruous admixtures, is not the entire work as it at first stood. 

 It is rtot unlikely that many chapters were arbitrarily supplied about 

 8 or 9 centuries ago, and a few perhaps even later ; to fill up the chasms 

 which time and accident had made in the orginal Agneya Purdna. 



II On the Poetry of Madagascar. By the Rev. Mr. Baker. 



[Communicated by C. Telfair, Esq. President of the Mauritius Nat. Hist. Soc] 

 The most prominent characteristic of the Malagasy language, in 

 reference to Poetry, is a total averseness to rhyme. Whilst it is ad- 

 mitted that the same identical sound is not legitimate rhyme, the 

 extreme paucity of the language in terminations will ever preclude the 

 introduction of rhyming verses. At least nineteen-twentieths of the 

 whole vocabulary of words terminate in a or y, and an immense pro- 

 portion of these in na and ny : — all other words terminate in e, or o, 

 or the diphthongs ay and ao ; and even these are exceedingly mono- 

 tonous in the consonants of their penultimate and ultimate syllables. 

 The best couplet I recollect to have heard has the rhyme of hoe and 

 me, answering exactly to the English words, way and may, and the 

 jingle of such a rhyme has in the Malagasy language an unnatural and 

 harsh effect. In the genuine native verses I have not met with any 

 such instance as the one specified, but have observed that rhyme of 

 every description seems naturally from the true genius of the language, 

 and intentionally from the uncouthness of its effect, inadmissible. 



So far I have ventured to assert with confidence, and without any 

 apprehension of future observation disproving my opinions : — but when 

 the question arises, what then constitutes poetry or versification in 

 Malagasy ? I am conscious that uncertainty and error may very pos- 

 sibly attach to the opinions I shall present in reply. Future observa- 

 tion, combined with a more adequate knowledge of the subject, may 

 disprove my present opinion, and substantiate what I at present reject 



