2o8 POTTERY. 



Malagasy are skilful in producing fire by friction. Choosing 

 two pieces of a particular kind of wood, they cut one to the 

 shape of a round stick with a pointed end ; the other is a 

 flatter piece in which a slight hollow or groove is cut. Tak- 

 ing hold of the pointed stick, the operator twirls it rapidly 

 round first one way and then another, until the friction pro- 

 duces smoke and then fire, which is communicated to a little 

 tinder placed close to the point. Gently blowing upon the 

 spark which is produced, the tinder bursts into flame, the 

 whole operation only occupying a few minutes. There are 

 special words for this mode of obtaining fire : mamositra, 

 which is also used for the boring of a hole by an insect to 

 deposit its eggs ; and miraingy, the piece of wood being called 

 raingy. 



Pottery, and Substitutes for it. — Mention has been made 

 of the earthen water-pots which stand in Hova houses. The 

 largest of these, the sini-bi, or " big water-pot," is about two 

 feet in diameter, and globular in shape, and is the store-pro- 

 vision of water for daily use ; the smaller kind, used for 

 bringing water from the springs, are less than half these 

 dimensions, and are carried on the head. These jars are 

 made of a blue clay, but are not very well burnt or durable, 

 for the Malagasy are not quite so skilful in pottery as in 

 some other handicrafts ; although there are some dishes and 

 water-bottles made of a bright-red clay, which resemble 

 Samian ware in colour, and appear to be of excellent material. 

 Flattish clay vessels are made for cooking rice, and are fitted 

 with a cover; and the plates for eating rice have usually a 

 foot or stem to raise them a few inches above the ground. 

 A special kind of vessel made for cooking the beef at the 

 New Year's festival is rather elegant in shape, much like 

 some of the Anglo-Saxon pottery now and then found hi our 

 own country. 



All through the warmer parts of Madagascar, the leaves of 

 various trees form the usual plates and dishes of the people ; 

 and among the Hovas the fresh green leaves of the banana 

 are largely used as plates for rice. The leaves of the 

 Traveller's tree serve the same purpose on the coast, but 

 especially the thick tough leaves of the paudanus ; these can 



