70 
MADAGASCAR. 
and are under life sentences, obtain, through 
monetary or personal influence, a considerable 
relaxation of the rules of even this very modified 
criminal code, and are allowed to live in a house 
apart from the common prison, with their wives 
and slaves and families, and to carry on trades, 
or engage in agricultural pursuits. But the con¬ 
dition of the poorer prisoners, who happen to be 
friendless and without means, and who have in 
consequence to use the prison, and live as best 
they can, is deplorable in the extreme. They 
are often desperate characters, and victims of 
intoxication; and being neglected by all classes, 
they become reckless and daring, and sometimes 
take advantage of the mistaken leniency of the 
Government to remove their chains, and flee 
to the forest fastnesses, where they form them¬ 
selves into bands, and prey upon any travellers 
or bearers of merchandise who may fall in their 
way. But as the punishment for this crime of 
breaking prison is death, and the chances of 
ultimate escape exceedingly precarious, these 
cases are rare. 
The manners of the Malagasy deserve commen¬ 
dation. Like the natives of our Indian empire, 
the native of Madagascar is always reserved, 
courteous, and exceedingly well-behaved. The 
coast tribes are perhaps less dignified than the 
Hovas, and are more remarkable for their hilarity 
