HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
187 
Abstinence is enjoined on both the parents of each child 
that receives the rite, as well as on the nurse, and on those 
who prepare its food. 
In the course of two or three weeks the whole ceremony 
terminates by feasting, and other rude signs of rejoicing, 
accompanied with dancing and singing. A peculiar kind of 
dancing is practised on the occasion, called soratra , 
which signifies <c writing,” and consists in the parties wearing 
respectively dresses of different colours, white, blue, red. See. 
forming themselves into columns, each column having its 
own colour, and then dividing, and passing each other at 
right angles. 
In the year 1825 the ceremony occupied the attention of 
the inhabitants of Ankova during the months of June, July, 
and August, and was attended with a vast expenditure of 
time and property. Subsequent poverty, thefts, and murders, 
to a most fearful extent, were the deplorable consequences. 
Another popular engagement in use among the Malagasy 
is that of forming Brotherhoods, which, though not peculiar to 
them, is one of the most remarkable usages of the country. 
The design of this custom might almost justify its being 
designated the freemasonry of Madagascar. From that 
institution, however, it differs in two essential respects : its 
rites and ceremonies are not secret, but public; and its 
object is to cement two individuals in the bonds of most 
sacred friendship, and not to constitute a mysterious and 
secret society. More than two may thus associate, if they 
please, but the practice is usually limited to that number, and 
rarely embraces more than three or four individuals. It is 
called fatidra, i. e. “ dead blood,” either because the oath 
is taken over the blood of a fowl killed on the occasion, or 
because a small portion of blood is drawn from each indivi- 
