HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
181 
dresses. Their natural hair is curiously plaited, and their 
heads are decorated with a varied profusion of ornaments. 
Besides beads, rings, chains, &c., they wear as a part of 
their head-dress a large quantity of the rofia, split into 
exceedingly small fibres, and dyed black, so as to resemble 
artificial hair; the neck, hands, and feet are also loaded with 
ornaments. Dollars, strung together by means of a strong 
line passed through a hole on opposite edges, are worn like 
bands or fillets on the heads of the females, and over the 
shoulders of the men. This latter ornament is used as an 
indication of the wealth of the wearers or their families. 
In the order observed in the procession, fathers take prece¬ 
dence—the mothers follow—friends, relations, and others 
bring up the rear. They proceed about half a mile from the 
village, where they meet those bringing the sacred water; 
the latter procession advancing slowly, dancing as they 
proceed, the leader with his spear and shield asking what 
the water is, in the manner already mentioned. The 
females then advance, dancing, and singing, “Bless the 
water, the consecrated water that wearies !” 
On reaching the village, the whole procession moves 
three times round the house where the ceremony is to be 
performed, bearing the holy water and its accompaniments ; 
after which they enter the house, and remain till the 
amusements commence. These consist of bull-baiting, 
dancing, singing, beating drums, &c., and are kept up by 
alternate parties with considerable energy and hilarity until 
about sunset, when the people again enter the house. 
Odd as the combination may seem, and little as the rite 
to be performed may have to do with bull-baiting and platting 
baskets, the preparing of the last comes next in order. 
Having entered the house, the females employ them¬ 
selves in platting split-rushes, for the purpose of forming 
