MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 
73 
indulged in on the side of the strong against 
the feeble—their natural sagacity and fear lead¬ 
ing them to ally themselves rather with the 
powers that be, or are likely to be, than with 
the power that was, and is not likely to be able 
to reassert itself; and this without any regard as 
to the abstract right or wrong of the matter about 
which they take sides. But in this unenviable 
weakness of the national character of the Mala¬ 
gasy they resemble closely all the Eastern na¬ 
tions,—the duplicity and cunning which their best 
friends have to deplore in them being the natural 
result of centuries of superstition, ignorance, and 
submission to the rule of tyrannical despots, with 
whom the spy system has always been a necessity, 
and who have thus become responsible for the 
moral degradation w T hich follows inevitably upon 
a common disregard for the principles of truth 
and honour. As the Government, however, has 
strengthened itself in Madagascar, and has given 
greater protection and security to property and 
life, this vice of prevarication and want of ver¬ 
acity has become weaker; and there are hopeful 
signs on all sides, and among all classes, that 
truth is being more respected for its own sake, 
and that the people begin to appreciate the real 
power and strength and comfort which a mutual 
confidence in each other engenders. 
It may be remarked that in the matter of dress 
