324 
MADAGASCAR. 
pleasing to the ear, and, like the Italian or 
Spanish tongues, it is especially adapted for 
musical exercises. A vast change has, however, 
passed over it during the past fifty years : new 
words have been introduced, fresh constructions 
and idioms invented, and the whole language 
scientifically arranged, and a grammar and dic¬ 
tionary compiled according to the most modern 
ideas in such matters. Many English words, 
especially in connection with military tactics, 
are in common use, and as we pass through the 
gates of the capital we are startled somewhat 
to hear the words “present arms,” “rear rank 
take open order,” &c., given in loud but very 
imperfect English. The articles used in educa¬ 
tion, such as pensily, scdaitra , koky, pinina, and 
the word sekoly itself, are all obviously English 
in origin. To the French the Malagasy are in¬ 
debted for words to designate articles of domestic 
economy, such as lakosy , the kitchen ; la moutard, 
mustard; depay , bread; and soavaly, horse; but 
there has also been a considerable infiltration of 
Arabic and Indian, as well as Sanscrit and Poly¬ 
nesian words, into the tongue from time to time. 
The people have no primitive literature or 
ancient books of any kind, as they have only 
had a written language since the time of Ead- 
ama I. They have, however, a large store of 
folk-lore and proverbs, which are curious and 
