156 
MADAGASCAR. 
in the ground, on which was laid a beam, slender at 
each end, and about six feet long, with two or three 
pegs on it, and upon this they hung the owley. Behind 
it was a long pole, to which a bullock was fastened 
with a cord. They had a pan full of live coals, on which 
they threw an aromatic gum and planted it under the 
owley. They then took a small quantity of hair from the 
tail, chin, and eyebrows of the ox, and put them on the 
owley. Then my master used some particular gestures, 
with a large knife in his hand, and made a formal 
prayer, in which the people joined. In the next place, 
they threw the ox on the ground, and my master cut 
his throat; for as there are no priests amongst them, 
the chief man, whether of the country, town, or family, 
performs all divine offices himself.” 
Poor Drury, then a mere lad, narrowly escaped 
being killed by his master for refusing to join 
in this ceremony or repeat the prayer or invo¬ 
cation used by the people; for he remarks: 
“ As I thought this kind of worship to be down¬ 
right idolatry, and that they paid their ador¬ 
ations to the owley , I resolutely told him that 
I would sooner die than pay divine homage to 
any false deity whatsoever.” It was only at the 
intercession of his owner’s brother that his life 
was spared. 
In a conversation with one of his masters some 
time after this occurrence, the Malagasy chief 
told him : “ It is not the wood nor the alligator’s 
teeth that we worship, but there are certain 
