152 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
the best clothing that can be obtained, is carried out of the 
house by some person whose parents are both still living, 
and then taken back to the mother. In being carried out 
and in, the child must be twice carefully lifted over the fire, 
which is placed near the door. Should the infant be a boy, 
the axe, large knife, and spear, generally used in the family, 
must be taken out at the same time, with any implements of 
building that may be in the house: silver chains, of native 
manufacture, are also given as presents, or used in these 
ceremonies, for which no particular reason is assigned. 
The implements are perhaps used chiefly as emblems of the 
occupations in which it is expected the infant will engage 
when it arrives at maturer years; and the whole may be 
regarded as expressing the hopes cherished of his activity, 
wealth, and enjoyments. 
One of the first acts of the father, or a near relative, is 
to report the birth of the child to the native divines or 
astrologers, who are required to work the sikidy for the 
purpose of ascertaining and declaring its destiny; and when 
the destiny is declared to be favourable, the child is 
nurtured with that tenderness and affection which nature 
inspires, and the warmest gratulations are tendered by the 
friends of the parents. 
The proportion of the sexes appears to be equal at birth, 
though, in consequence of the destructive ravages of war, 
it is supposed by the Missionaries, that in some of the pro¬ 
vinces there are, among the free portion of the inhabitants, 
five, and in others three women to one man. The adult 
slave population presents a more equal number of both 
sexes. The children, particularly those of the Hovas, are 
said to be exceedingly fair at their birth, and to assume 
but very gradually the dark or olive tinge of those in 
riper years. 
