ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR. '549 
Some natives on the coast speak a little French and 
English. 
Physicians are held in great estimation among them. All 
their science consists in knowing some aromatic^ astringent, 
and purgative plants, which they generally make a mixture of. 
They know but little of arithmetic : they count to ten, and 
add a branch for each ten more. Time is divided by moons. 
Sorcery is generally practised. 
CHAP. IT. 
RELIGION— TREATMENT OF THE AGED— MATRIMONY- 
CEREMONIES RELATING TO CHILDREN— WAR— COM- 
MERCE-SLAVES, &c. 
IT has been asserted that the Madagascars have no re- 
ligion, but this is erroneous, for they have a religion, how- 
ever imperfect it may be. They acknowledge two great 
principles; one good, which they call Jan har, or Great: 
Jan also is interpreted Jove, and har incarnate. To him 
they neither build temples nor offer prayers ; nor do they 
represent him under any visible forms, because he is good, 
but they offer sacrifices to him. The other is bad, which they 
call Agnat. To him they reserve always a portion of the vic- 
tims which they offer to the other. The head of the family, 
or chief, performs this office. 
The occasions of sacrifices are various, such as extra- 
ordinary appearances in the heavens, earth, or sea; com- 
mencement of some grand enterprise ; conclusion of treaties, 
&c. On the conclusion of treaties of peace the ceremony is 
awful : the blood of the victim is mixed with brine and gun- 
powder, over which some liquor is poured. All who enter 
into the treaty must taste it. The speaker conjures the bad 
being to change it into poison to those who shall drink it, and 
afterwards break the treaty* According to the custom of 
ancient nations, the most dreadful curses are pronounced on 
those who shall first infringe it. 
A gentleman who was lately at the island of St. Mary, 
which is close to Madagascar, for three months, related on 
