HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
196 
that a child at the back, secured by the mother’s lamba, or 
outer garment, and stretching its little legs around her 
sides, seems to occasion but slight inconvenience to the 
parent, whether carrying a load on her head, fetching water 
from the springs, or discharging other domestic duties. 
No term of service necessarily secures the liberty of the 
slave. A master may grant freedom if he pleases, but no 
law compels him to bestow it. Slaves are, however, at 
times redeemed by their relations, when the latter are in 
circumstances to advance the required sum. 
Masters have full power over their slaves, excepting as 
to life. They may act towards them as they please, and 
punish them as they judge proper for any offence they are 
guilty of; the sovereign reserving to himself the right of 
inflicting the punishment of death. Trial by ordeal is 
administered to slaves by permission of the judges. Beating, 
flogging, and putting in chains are punishments in the 
hands of the proprietors. A slave’s security from severe 
treatment consists chiefly in the national usages and the 
national spirit, both of which, in regard to the treatment 
of slaves, are mild rather than cruel. 
. Between these bondmen and the absolutely free, there 
exists what may be termed an intermediate class, who, 
though not exposed to all the bitterness of slavery, nor 
liable to be sold or given in exchange from one owner to 
another, yet taste few of the sweets of liberty. Among 
these may be reckoned those who labour for the govern¬ 
ment, especially those employed in felling timber or 
burning charcoal In one of the great forests near the 
capital, the woodcutters, called ‘‘the twelve hundred,” 
though these are supposed to be two thousand in number, 
are employed through life in felling, and preparing for 
building or other purposes, timber for the government. 
