1832.] On the Poetry oj Madagascar. 89 



orally preserved versification to be found in Madagascar. In the mean 

 time, I have only to plead for all deficiencies, that I am not setting 

 forth myself as an author, but only as a translator, and that from a 

 language wherein nothing can be looked for rising above mediocrity in 

 the estimation of cultivated minds. I shall be abundantly requited for 

 my trouble, should these contributions tend in any measure towards 

 evincing that the native inhabitants of Madagascar, degraded as they 

 actually appear, especially when contrasted with the enlightened popu- 

 lation of civilized Europe, are nevertheless not destitute of natural 

 genius, nor by any means insensible to the finer feelings and passions 

 of human nature. 



I ought not to conclude without observing, that there is a kind of 

 composition very prevalent in the language which is neither perfect 

 prose or poetry, but seems to form a connecting link between the two, 

 being both in sentiment and expression more pithy, figurative, and 

 smart than the former, and yet destitute of the metre, cadence, &c. of 

 the latter. These pieces may be called poetical prose. A prose trans- 

 lation of such fugitive examples as have fallen into my hands would be 

 dull and unstriking, and a literal rhyming translation impossible; so I 

 have chosen in the accompanying example i( on courtship," a trans- 

 lation pretty free in expression, but I believe perfectly correct, 

 though somewhat paraphrased, in thought*. 



It appears, as far as I have discovered, that all compositions, in Mala- 

 gasy, of a poetical turn of thought, are written in this style, except 

 songs ; the latter being the only compositions I have yet met with 

 evidently written in regular metre. 



The following, as well as several suceeeding songs, are by a man 

 called Razafilahy, who happening to be a cripple, and unable to work, 

 turned his attention to song-making, by which it is said he obtains a 

 tolerable livelihood. He is a stoutish man, rides out on the back of a 

 male slave, and has as buxom and merry looking a face as any to be 

 seen in Madagascar!. 



* We are inclined to differ in opinion with our author on this subject, and to 

 think that a mere literal translation with explanatory notes, would have better 

 illustrated the peculiarities of thought and idiom in the Malagasy language, than 

 even the best versified imitation. 



f As more convenient for the generality of our readers, whom we may safely 

 presume to be unacquainted with the Malagasy language, we have arranged the ori- 

 ginal text at thefoot of the page, leaving the English version uninterrupted. — Ed. 



N 



