30 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
on the coast is generally hot and damp, or rainy; but in 
the interior the rains are periodical, and, in a great mea¬ 
sure, regulate the divisions or seasons of the year. 
The Malagasy year commences at the capital with an 
annual feast, called the Fandroana. The festival, of which 
an account will be given in a subsequent part of the work, 
commences about ten or eleven days in each year earlier 
than in the preceding year; consequently, a complete revo¬ 
lution takes place about every thirty-third year. The 
circulation of this festival is often the only means that the 
inhabitants have of ascertaining their age; and as there 
are some who are said to be able to recollect the Fandroana 
occurring precisely at the same period, three successive 
times, they must be upwards of one hundred years of age. 
The months are lunar, but with an additional day, called 
the Vintana, or Fortune, to be afterwards explained. There 
are four seasons, called the Loliataona , or “ head of the 
seasonfrom loha , “head,” and taona , “ season,” or “year.” 
Faliavaratra , “thecausing or introducing rain,” or sum¬ 
mer; from faha, “to cause,” and varatra , “thunderbolt.” 
Fararano , <c end of water,” or rain; from far a, “end,” 
and rano , “ water,” or rain; and Ririnano , “ winter.’’ 
These seasons neither commence nor close at the same 
period in successive years, as their duration is not fixed by 
any month, or day of the month: their length depends on 
the weather, or rain. Spring, in one year, may commence 
much earlier than in another; and the rainy season may 
last much longer in one year than in another. The seasons, 
as their names imply, are not regulated by any specific 
number of moons, but depend on certain states of the 
weather. The Lohataona, head of the year, or spring, 
commences with the budding of the trees, whether that 
take place earlier or later in the year. Fahavaratra, the 
