HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
173 
her husband, or if she be suspected of infidelity to her 
husband, or of gadding about too much from house to 
house, or of receiving attention from the other sex, or if 
she accuse her husband justly or unjustly of infidelity 
towards his lawful wife or wives, or if she refuses her 
consent to his taking another wife—in all such cases she 
is divorced, and frequently on occasions of far less import¬ 
ance. 
Usually when a dispute has taken place between the 
husband and wife, and a reconciliation has not been effected, 
the wife runs away to her parents or relations. Unless the 
husband be desirous of a separation, he employs persuasive 
means to induce her to return. In the event of not suc¬ 
ceeding, or the separation being wished for, he commissions 
his brother or a friend to divorce her. Having obtained 
an interview with the female, he desires her to call her 
parents and relations, as he has some business to transact. 
On their arrival, and the customary salutations having- 
passed, he announces the object of his visit, and sums it up 
briefly by saying,“1 am sent to divorce this child,” &c. Then 
addressing the woman, he says, “Your brother,” (meaning 
her husband, but now designating him by a relationship 
which implies the impossibility of marriage,) “your brother 
says there is no more dispute nor difference between us, 
remember and count what property is your own, you 
may receive your own share.” The father of the woman 
answers ? “ This is worthy of a husband; worthy of a 
friend indeed: he does not impose on us. May he live 
to grow old!” 
With this the ceremony terminates, and the relations 
afterwards fetch the share of property belonging to the 
divorced party. The support and guardianship of the chil¬ 
dren of the divorced wife are made the subjects of arrange- 
