HOVA SACRED PLACES. 307 



scribes the people as paying a kind of adoration to a tree 

 called bontdna. An ox-skull is suspended to the branches, 

 and to it numbers of charms are fastened. In another dis- 

 trict the largest tree had a figure of a woman fixed to it. On 

 being asked the meaning of this, the people replied, " This is 

 the tree of adulterous desires, for here those pray who want 

 women, or are about to marry." 



Among the sacred places of the Hovas, the stones and 

 graves of the Vazimba formerly held a prominent place. 

 These Vazimba, as already mentioned in the sixth chapter, 

 are believed to have been the aboriginal inhabitants of the 

 central province. There are numerous traditions about them, 

 some of which are doubtless fabulous, for certain of the 

 Vazimba chieftains were elevated by the popular imagination 

 to the rank of demigods endowed with marvellous powers. 

 After the expulsion of the Vazimba from the central pro- 

 vince, their tombs became sacred places, and their spirits 

 the objects of a special worship and dread. Oxen, sheep, 

 and fowls used to be sacrificed at their tombs, and the stones 

 were rubbed with fat, as a means of obtaining good from 

 them, or averting their anger. It was believed that to tread 

 on their tombs was especially offensive to them, and that 

 those offending were struck with pain and disease, or made 

 blind. 



The Vazimba were supposed to be of two kinds, the 

 kindly-disposed and the fierce and cruel. Some are said to 

 inhabit the water, the lake Itasy being especially their 

 abode, while others are terrestrial in their habits. They 

 were believed to appear to those who sought then aid, 

 in dreams, warning them and directing them. This appear- 

 ance was called tsindrimandry, tsindry meaning " squeezed," 

 "impressed," and mandry, "lying down." One famous Va- 

 zimba called Eanoro had, like the chief idols, his fcldy or 

 tabooed things. Salt was one of his antipathies, and was 

 forbidden to be brought near the water he inhabited. If, 

 however, salt was carried past the lake it must not be men- 

 tioned by its usual name, sira, but must be called fardo, 

 otherwise it would be all dissolved and lost ; while the 

 people he inspired must term it saJcay mcimy, i.e., " sweet 



