HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
171 
tended bride, who is called the vady kely, “ the little wife.”* 
“ We have come,” say they, 64 for the young lass—open the 
door.” The lineage and ancestry of both parties are then 
related, and the donation of clothes sent being presented, the 
parties eat together as a token of friendship. The husbands 
brother brings the new wife, part of a sheep having been 
previously presented to her, and another part to the father 
of the first wife, with an apology that it is a mere trifle, but 
all that can be afforded. The new wife is then taken to the 
house of her intended husband, and is met in the court, west 
of the house,f by the husband and wife. This public situa¬ 
tion is chosen, that all may witness the engagement, and 
that the husband may address the spectators, saying, 66 The 
terms of this marriage-covenant are half a slave and thirteen 
dollars.” Eight had been named—five at first, and three 
afterwards—the rest is expended in clothing and feasting. 
In some instances, money is taken to the sovereign, or 
his representative; and when this is received, the engage¬ 
ment is considered as ratified or legalized. The spectators 
then leave; and the polygamist, with both his wives, either 
continue to live in the same house, or a separate establish¬ 
ment is formed for the new wife. Generally, too, the 
custom obtains of the husband's soliciting a small portion 
of his first wife’s rice-ground, which he presents to his 
vady-kely, and in return gives her another piece sometime 
afterwards, as a compensation. 
Polygamy here, as elsewhere, is demonstrated to be 
a system of evils. It is the chief source of nearly all 
the domestic disputes and jealousies existing among the 
Malagasy: wives become jealous of one another, and the 
husband suffers from the jealousy of all. 
* A name given to every wife a man has, except the first. 
f The front of the house, as the door faces the west. 
