308 VAZIMBA. 



pepper" (or chillies), or they would be violently shaken by 

 the offended spirit. Onions, shellfish, and funeral meat 

 were also very offensive to this Vazimba. A marvellous 

 story is told in a native account of a slave-girl who was 

 inspired by Bandro, and after offending him was struck 

 blind, but was restored to sight by a wash made of a blue 

 flower called nifinakanga, of sassafras (havozo), and a tree 

 called fdnazava. After this she was taken by him into the 

 river Ikidpa, where she remained, so they say, three days 

 under the water. 



It is said in this same account that the Vazimba in the 

 lake Itasy were accustomed to show themselves every day 

 on a rock in the midst of the water, but if any one approached 

 too near they disappeared. They were clothed in a red 

 lamba ; possibly the presence of scarlet herons or flamingoes 

 gave rise to this story. Other Vazimba are said to appear 

 on the margin of the sea ; most probably these were seals, 

 some species of which are well known to have a remarkable 

 resemblance to human figures at a little distance. As was 

 said of the Lares and Lemures in European countries at the 

 introduction of Christianity, so the Vazimba are reported to 

 have all disappeared from the central provinces since the 

 idols were burnt, and to have gone into the sea to the west 

 of the island. 



Among the Tanala people there is also a belief in a kind 

 of water-sprite or mermaid, called Andriavibiivirdno, " water- 

 princess." " She is said to be white, and her hair is green 

 and long. It is only in deep water, where there are many 

 long weeds, that she is to be seen; she possesses water- 

 cattle with long hair, and these oxen also live in the water. 

 The people think there is land below the land in which they 

 live, but they do not profess to know anything about it."" 



Another kind of sacred place frequently seen in Imerina 

 by the roadsides is what is called fdnat&ovana. This con- 

 sists of a heap of stones, sticks, grass, and other rubbish on 

 which persons passing usually throw something to express 

 the hope of a safe return. 



Divination. — Among the superstitions of the Malagasy, 

 * Antananarivo Annual, No. ii. p. ioo. 



