HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
139 
are carried on much more commonly and freely than 
amongst neighbours or relatives in England. A kindness 
of heart in these things is called malemy fanahy , 44 tender 
dispositionand a compliant, easy temper is called mora 
fanahy , 66 easy disposition.” The former is always esteemed 
excellent, but the latter is capable of being excessive, and 
is then regarded as foolish and weak. 
Hospitality, a few of the southern parts of the island 
perhaps excepted, is exercised with cheerfulness and 
promptitude, especially towards strangers. The general 
disposition of the Malagasy, when they are free from the 
influence of superstition or revengeful feelings, is also 
quiet and indifferent, rather than violent and savage. Self¬ 
ishness is held in universal detestation: the word used to 
denote a selfish person is, sarotra , 44 hard,” or 44 difficult 
and numerous tales are told to impress the minds of children 
with its abhorrent nature; in fact, they all admit that a 
selfish disposition in eating, drinking, &c., betraying a 
desire to monopolize the best to oneself, is disgusting. 
Although there is no single word in the Madagascar 
language to signify, literally, 44 generosity,” there is little 
difficulty in expressing the idea. Mora , 44 easy,” is often 
used for generous, and so is malemy fanahy , as implying 
kind-heartedness as opposed to selfishness and avarice. 
Gratitude, also, has no appropriate word; yet, to thank, to 
return kindness for kindness, to give pleasure to the friend 
who relieves, &c. can be distinctly stated. Ingratitude is 
expressed by many strong metaphors, as zana-haratra , 
64 son of a thunderbolt,” probably alluding to the fable of 
a meteoric stone (thunderbolt) being carried very carefully 
by an aged female into her house, placed near the fire, and, 
there bursting, occasioning considerable injury to the old 
lady and her habitation; zanordralambo , 44 offspring of a 
