MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 
63 
much given to festivity, and the betrothal of a 
daughter is always the occasion for a great dis¬ 
play of good-nature and friendliness on the part 
of the parents. A dowry invariably accompanies 
the bride whatever her circumstances may be, 
but this has to be returned to her parents again 
in the event of a divorce being obtained in after¬ 
years. In Madagascar the woman is always 
regarded as the helpmate of the man; but she 
receives much honour and attention, and her 
position in the household is certain, and her 
influence, as amongst European nations, often 
very considerable. 
The royal dignity is not confined to one sex, 
and the fact that the present sovereign is the 
fourth woman who has occupied the throne, shows 
how Malagasy women are regarded, and contrasts 
most favourably with the condition of miserable 
drudgery and abject slavery which is their lot in 
most barbarous and even semi-civilised countries. 
She is not scorned as essentially inferior to man, 
and therefore unfit to share his counsels or re¬ 
sponsibilities, as is the case in the East generally; 
but she enters into her husband’s cares and joys, 
and shares his life, in fact, much in the same way 
that a wife does amongst us. Divorce is much 
too frequent, and is too freely granted, upon any 
pretext almost, and upon the most trivial grounds; 
but the change of public opinion of late years, 
