HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
157 
stition has not deprived them. In other cases there must 
be exposure to death, or death must be inflicted. * 
The decisions of the panandro are three-fold: either a 
faditra, or offering, must be presented, to remove evil; the 
child must be exposed to death, by being placed in the 
narrow path at the entrance to a village or a cattle-fold; 
or it must be put to death. When the vintana or destiny 
is declared to be favourable, no ceremony follows. If 
the decision be unfavourable, (a not unfrequent case,) there 
is ground for but very feeble hopes of the infant’s life; yet 
still the affectionate parents fondly cherish these hopes as 
long as there is the least prospect of their being realized. 
The tendency of all the systems of absurd and degrading 
superstition which enslave and afflict mankind, is to tri¬ 
umph in fiendlike despotism over the first, the strongest, 
and tenderest dictates of humanity; yet, perhaps, amidst the 
various exhibitions of its malignant domination, it does not 
unfold a scene of more affecting wretchedness than is 
presented on these occasions. An infant, a new-born, per¬ 
fectly helpless, unconscious infant, smiling perhaps in 
innocence, is laid on the ground in the narrow entrance to a 
village, or a fold, through which there is scarcely room 
enough for cattle to pass; several cattle are then driven 
violently in, and are made to pass over the spot in which 
the child is placed, while the parents with agonizing 
feelings stand by waiting the result. 
If the oxen pass over without injuring the infant, the 
omen is propitious, the powerful and evil destiny is removed, 
the parents may without apprehension embrace their 
offspring, and cherish it as one rescued from destruction. 
* Further explanation respecting the calculation of destiny will be given 
in a subsequent part of the work. 
