238 
MADAGASCAR. 
blighting influences of “ the evil eye,” or the bad 
wishes of enemies ; and in many instances a bit 
of blue cloth tied about the ankle or wrist was 
regarded, during the raging of the small-pox 
epidemic, to be a safe protection against the 
disorder. But all these ideas belong now rather 
to the inhabitants of the more distant parts of 
the country, and to a condition of things which 
is rapidly passing away, thanks to the spread of 
education, than to the majority of the people, or 
the actual present. But there is a dangerous 
knowledge of virulent vegetable poisons existing 
amongst even the most ignorant classes, which 
is very painful, and which is used with frequent 
and frightful effect in cases of family disagree¬ 
ment or dispute. The absence of any formal 
inquiry into the causes of sudden death, and the 
difficulties that prevent any scientific investi¬ 
gation in cases where strong suspicion attaches, 
render secret poisoning a very safe method of 
getting rid of an obnoxious life. The greatest 
care is therefore exercised by the chiefs and 
others as to the food offered for their repasts ; 
and all members of the family, and even the 
slaves, partake of one common dish, which is 
certainly one of the best preventive measures 
against secret poisoning which could well be 
devised. 
The marvellous beauty of the teeth of the 
