MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 
65 
fragrance of the back—in remembrance of their 
infancy, and the trouble and anxiety she then 
underwent on their account. To a very limited 
extent indeed, and chiefly in the more distant 
parts of the island, polygamy still exists. It is 
but fair to the central Government to say, how¬ 
ever, that every discouragement is shown towards 
this mode of life, especially amongst all persons 
holding any official position. The custom of the 
son taking over the wives of his father, on suc¬ 
ceeding to the headship of the family, is now 
entirely abolished. Although considerably modi¬ 
fied of late years, there is yet room for much 
improvement in the enactments of the law of 
divorce. One of its most cruel features as it now 
stands is that a man can, under certain circum¬ 
stances, so divorce his wife that she is unable 
ever to marry again. The practice of adopting 
children is frequent, in consequence of so many 
marriages being fruitless. Family names are 
unknown in Madagascar, and persons are usually 
known as the “son of” or “father of” others. 
For instance, the present prime minister is called 
“ Rainilaiarivony,” which, however, only means 
the father of “ Laiarivony,” “ Eain ” signifying 
father, the remainder of the word being the name 
of his first-born. The names of animals are often 
given to the children of even the best families; 
and we meet with “ Mamba,” the crocodile— 
E 
