146 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
the variety chiefly respects their minor circumstances, and 
in this respect resembles the diversity that may be noticed 
in their language. The language is one—the dialects differ. 
In the same manner, the general customs are alike, but 
vary in their details according to different localities, 
and, if the expression may be allowed, the customs have 
their <£ provincialisms.” Some of the clans or families are 
also more scrupulous than others in maintaining unimpaired 
their own peculiar observances, adhering most servilely to 
the wisdom of their ancestors. Innovation and injury are 
in their minds inseparable, and the idea of improvement 
altogether inadmissible. To these opinions principally is 
to be attributed that remarkable uniformity which prevails 
in many of their habits and sentiments, where otherwise 
they would exhibit considerable variety. 
The present inhabitants are, as already observed, 
evidently derived from more than one nation, and have, as 
might reasonably be expected, a diversity of customs cor¬ 
responding with their distinct sources. It ought to be 
remembered also, that they never, in point of fact, consti¬ 
tuted one entire nation—were never brought under one 
individual sovereign—but have, from a period of remote 
antiquity, probably from the arrival of the earliest settlers, 
consisted of distinct races or tribes under independent chief¬ 
tains, and have consequently never been subjected to the 
assimilating influence of a government deriving its authority 
and power from one source, and pervading by a uniform 
policy the different tribes comprised in the nation. 
Notwithstanding the effects which these causes might be 
expected to produce, it will appear that the distinguishing 
usages of the nation pervade every part of the island. 
Thus all practise circumcision, but the ceremonies attend¬ 
ing it are varied. All practise trial by ordeal, but the 
