HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
17 
corporeal dimensions—smaller intellectual powers — the 
husband of four wives—the father of a numerous race— 
mild in disposition—but extremely fond of one of the 
greatest sources of evil to his country, ardent spirits. 
Near this spot a circumstance lately occurred which 
the natives consider as decisive in establishing the power 
of the charms of their wise men. An European trader 
from the capital was conducting a number of cattle down to 
the coast for exportation: the natives advised him to try 
the effect of their “ ody,” or charms, for the protection of 
his bullocks in crossing the lake. Deeming hismelf above 
all necessity for attention to their superstitions, he disre¬ 
garded their advice, and sent forward the animals. He 
soon saw and repented of his error: for nine of his bullocks 
were almost instantly seized by the crocodiles, and drawn 
under the water; fearing the loss of the whole, he hastily 
desired the “ charms’' to be prepared, exclaiming, “ I shall 
lose all—work the ody—bring the charm.” To his aston¬ 
ishment, and the triumph of the natives, when the charm 
was worked, the rest of the cattle crossed in safety; and 
even those which had disappeared, were in a moment, as 
if some invisible agency had dissolved the spell, released, 
and, recovering their position, passed over to the opposite 
shore. 
On the return of the trader to Tananarivo, he related 
the circumstance, and expressed his belief in the power of 
the Malagasy charms. Being questioned as to the mode 
in which the 66 ody” was worked, the mystery vanished. 
The charm consisted in noise. The charmers shouted, 
beat the water with branches of trees, both in the canoes 
and on both sides of the lake, and thus frightened the 
crocodiles, who were unmercifully dragging his oxen to the 
deep parts of the lake. The crocodile is known to be 
i. c 
