HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
165 
marry her. He may afterwards divorce her, but in that 
case she continues free.* 
Secondly, as to consanguinity :— 
1. Brother and sister by the same father and mother. 
2. Children of a brother and sister by the same parents, 
(unless the ceremony, already referred to, be performed.) 
3. Grandchildren of a brother and sister by the same 
parents, (under a similar restriction,) 
Their descendants may intermarry ad libitum. 
4. The children of two sisters by the same mother cannot 
intermarry, nor their descendants, viz.:— 
5. Grandchildren. 
6. Great-grandchildren, 
7. Great-great-grandchildren. 
8. Great-great-great-grandchildren. 
These two last are respectively called Zafindokalika 
and Zafimpaladia; i. e. 46 descendants of the knee,” and 
64 descendants of the sole of the foot.” 
Mothers in Madagascar being usually anxious to have 
their daughters married while the latter are very young, 
most connexions of this kind, therefore, which take place 
among young persons, may be appropriately designated early 
marriages. Sometimes the parents give with their daughter 
a dowry consisting of cattle, slaves, or money; which, in 
the event of a divorce, is claimed by them on her behalf. 
This, however, is not always the case, as the bridegroom 
occasionally, when his circumstances or those of his parents 
are more affluent than those of the bride, gives such portion 
to his wife as may have been previously agreed upon 
between his friends and her parents. 
The ceremonies observed on entering into the marriage 
relation are not uniform, though always exceedingly simple: 
* Exodus xxi. 7, 10; Dent. xxi. 11, 14. 
