268 SERPENTS. 



the people of Madagascar, and the notions they entertain 

 about a Supreme Being. 



Animals. — It may, perhaps, be convenient to commence 

 by describing some of the superstitions which exist among 

 the Malagasy as connected with animals. 



As is the case almost throughout the world, serpents are 

 held in great dread, although, unlike most tropical countries, 

 Madagascar is singularly free from noxious reptiles of this 

 order. In the greater part of the interior there are no 

 venomous snakes, and there are probably only two or three 

 species at most which are harmful in the warmer coast plains. 

 But curiously enough, with this dislike of the reptile there 

 exists also, as in other countries again, a belief in its connec- 

 tion with the healing art; for one of the chief idols of the 

 central province, which was the god of healing and of 

 medicine, was held also to be the patron of serpents, and to 

 be able to employ them as the agents of his anger should 

 any one become obnoxious to him. And so, when this idol, 

 Bamahavaly, was carried abroad, his attendants used each of 

 them to carry a sepent in his hand, which, as it writhed and 

 twined about him, inspired terror in the beholders. 



There is a curious belief about a species of serpent called 

 marolbngo, which inhabits the mounds made by a white ant 

 called vitsikdmbo. Mr. Grainge, in his notes of a visit to the 

 north-west coast, says : " We noticed a large number of earthen 

 mounds, varying from one to two and a half feet in height ; 

 these were the nest of a large ant, credited by the people 

 with uncommon sagacity. We were told that they make 

 regular snake-traps in the lower part of these nests, easy 

 enough for the snake to enter, but impossible for it to get 

 out of. When one is caught the ants are said to treat it 

 with great care, bringing it an abundant and regular supply 

 of food until it becomes fat enough for their purpose ; and 

 then, according to native belief, it is killed and eaten by 

 them." " There is no doubt," says another resident (Bev. B. 

 Toy), " that the belief is most universal among the natives. 

 I have been assured most confidently over and over again 

 that it is a fact that snakes are kept and fattened by the ants 

 as above described." Berhaps we have here a piece of natural 



