J 80 HISJ’ORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
While one party is procuring the holy water, another 
party is preparing the house in which the chief part of the 
rite is to he performed. All the furniture, the mats, the 
cooking utensils, &c. are removed, and the inside of the 
house lined with new mats to the very roof. A distribution 
of bullocks, sheep, poultry, rice, fruit, and vegetables is also 
made to the strangers who may be visiting at the time; and 
thus the engagements of the day on which the party went 
for the water, close. 
As soon as the morning dawns, those lodging in the 
fields proceed to the pool whence the water is to be taken; 
when they reach its margin, one of their number, (and it is 
necessary that it should be a man whose parents are both 
still living,) descends into the water with the gourd or cala¬ 
bash in his hand, and lowers himself in the water till the 
vessel is filled. Another standing opposite to him poising 
a spear, hurls it as if intending to kill him, but takes care 
merely to strike the earth near the place where he stands. 
When the calabash is filled with water, the bearer leaves 
the pool, and the procession moves towards the village, 
decorated with all the finery and ornaments which those 
who compose it have been able to procure. The stems 
of the banana-tree, ripe bananas, sugarcanes, bamboos, 
small canes, and silver chains, with various articles used 
during the course of the ceremonies, are also borne in the 
procession. 
From daylight the same morning, those in the village are 
usually busy in preparing to go forth to meet the procession. 
The chiefs and nobles array themselves in their silk and 
scarlet robes, and are decorated with beads, and silver and 
gold lace. Gold and silver chains are also worn in pro¬ 
fusion, and trinkets of various descriptions “ without tale.” 
The females also appear in their rich and many-coloured 
