136 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
they are, however, exceedingly averse to intellectual effort; 
and hence, though their mental exercise is prompt and 
lively, they do not seem to possess the qualities of mind 
requisite for close and continued thought. The imagina¬ 
tion is in most frequent use, and, like all uncivilized 
nations, they are fond of metaphors, unfolding or applying 
many of their popular maxims by allegory or fable. 
The almost entire absence of abstract nouns in the 
language of Madagascar, indicates one great peculiarity in 
the mind of the nation, and has probably exerted consi¬ 
derable influence in continuing, if not in originating, the 
modes of thinking most prevalent among the people, 
rendering them so much more familiar with sensible 
than with intellectual objects. Facts, anecdotes, occur¬ 
rences, metaphors, or fables, relating to or derived from 
sensible and visible objects, appear to form the basis of 
most of their mental exercises. This also, in all probabi¬ 
lity, augments the impurity of those chambers of imagery 
which their imaginations create, and in which it appears to 
afford them delight to revel. 
Notwithstanding mental application is in general so irk¬ 
some, their acquaintance with numbers, the extensive cal¬ 
culations many of the natives make, their keenness in barter 
or trade, their system of government, and many of their 
usages, indicate considerable strength of mind; and when 
a stimulus sufficiently powerful is applied, they have shewn 
in many instances no natural deficiency of clear and 
vigorous intellectual faculties; while the specimens of elo¬ 
quence and poetry, few indeed in number, with which we 
are acquainted, cannot be regarded but as the fruits of 
native genius of no common order. The introduction of 
letters, the general diffusion of education, and the labours 
of the press, established among them, are already pro- 
