46 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR- 



puniflied. Thefe people, therefore, pay the 

 utmoft refpe^^: to mamage ; they forewarn 

 ftrangers to behave with decency to their 

 wives ; but they offer them their daughters, 

 and think themfelves much honoured when 

 they have children by them. Married wo- 

 men may be known by their hair, which is 

 feparated into treiTeS| and bound up in the 

 form of a nofegay on the top of the head. 

 Young women fuffer it to fall carelefsly 

 over their fhoulders. Hufbands are always 

 in high fpirits when with their wives ; their 

 prefence infpires them with joy as foon as 

 they perceive them, they begin to dance and 

 to fmg; and they continually repeat that 

 they footh the cares of life. The Malegache 

 women appear to be happy, and are gene- 

 rally in good humour. Their lively, cheer- 

 ful and equal temper is peculiarly pleafing 

 to the Europeans* 



While the Malegaches are at war, their 



women 



