194 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
of disposition, only requiring to be fed and clothed. Chil¬ 
dren follow the condition of the mother, to whatever owner 
the father may belong, or whatever may be his rank. 
The principal employment of the slave is in the culture 
and preparation of rice, which is the staple food of the 
people. During the season for digging the soil, sowing, 
transplanting, and reaping, the slave is employed in the 
field : on him also devolves the thrashing and housing the 
grain; to pound, sift, wash, and clean the rice, is also 
their daily employment, and is, in fact, one of the chief 
occupations of the slave, together with fetching water from 
the springs. The latter is exclusively the business of 
females, excepting that for the sovereign, winch is always 
carried by men. 
When slaves in a family are numerous, some attend to 
cattle; others are employed in cultivating esculent roots; 
others collect fuel: and of the females, some are employed 
in spinning, weaving, and making nets, washing, and other 
domestic occupations. 
Some of the nobles have two or three hundred slaves. 
In many cases, the masters, particularly where they are 
numerous, allot them pieces of ground for themselves. 
These they cultivate, and thus provide for their families 
food and clothing; of the latter, indeed, the slaves gene¬ 
rally possess but a very scanty portion. 
In the army, it is usual for slaves to accompany the 
owners, to carry their bedding, (i. e. mats,) with provisions, 
and to cook for them during the journey or campaign* 
Confidential slaves are also employed by some owners in 
trade, and are of course entrusted with a small capital. Half 
the amount of profit obtained is allowed to the slave, as an 
encouragement to industry, and a reward for fidelity. Some 
families wholly support themselves by this means. 
