74 
MADAGASCAR. 
not much is really required, as the climate is 
warm, and in some districts extremely hot. One 
large flowing robe, about the size of a counter¬ 
pane, and made either of cotton or a coarse kind 
of hemp, which is formed from the fibres of the 
rofia palm, is, as a rule, all that the men wear, 
with the exception of a long full girdle of the 
same material. The women have a skirt, and 
sometimes neat bodice, in addition to the all- 
prevailing Ictmba, which is the national dress of 
the people, and is worn by all sections of the 
community, varying only in the costliness of the 
material and the fineness of the manufacture. 
The cloth is worn very gracefully at all times, 
and it is put on in many different fashions, to 
suit particular occasions and places. The upper 
classes are gradually adopting the European style 
of dress, with long hats, and even dress-coats for 
State occasions; but this is much to be regretted, 
at least on the ground of effect, as the larnba of 
the Malagasy is a most artistic and becoming 
article of attire, and, when properly put on, is 
very striking and picturesque. 
The amusements of the Malagasy are very 
simple in character, and few in number. They 
have no sports in any way resembling the ath¬ 
letic exercises of Europeans; and they seem 
to prefer sitting at their doors, or in some 
public place, hearing or telling some new thing, 
