«6 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 



chief. This chief is fomeumes eleded, but 

 for the moft part fucceeds hy hereditary 

 right. The lands are not divided : they be- 

 long to thofe who take the trouble to till 

 them. Thefe iflanders are not acquainted 

 either with locks or bolts, and live in a very 

 frugal manner* Hunger regulates their 

 hours of repafl. It .is, however, common 

 to fee them dine at ten in the morning, and 

 fup at four in the afternoon. Their food 

 confifts of very white rice, exceedingly light, 

 and well boiled ^ which they befprinkle with 

 a fucculent kind of foup, made from fifh or 

 fleih, and feafoned with pimento, ginger, 

 lafi'ron, and a few aromatic herbs. This 

 fimple diCh h ferved up in the leaves of the 

 ravm^ which are ufed for plates, difhes, and 

 fpoons. Thefe veiTels are always clean, and 

 are renewed at each repaft. 



The Malegaches have two methods only 

 of preparing their food. They either boil 



it 



