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HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
There is another class, inhabiting the eastern districts, 
the Bezanozano, who are required to carry all merchandise 
or other goods for the sovereign from the coast to the capital, 
a distance of three hundred miles—an unrequited service, 
which they dare not refuse, on pain of forfeiting their lives. 
The disastrous operation of such arbitrary exactions is too 
apparent to need any remark, and cannot fail greatly to retard 
the progress of improvement and civilization. 
No traits of character or general feature in the domestic 
habits of the Malagasy, are more conspicuous and pleasing 
than their universal practice of hospitality. 
Throughout the country, with the exception of perhaps 
one or two of the portions but little known and seldom 
visited, and where the inhabitants are suspicious or reserved, 
whenever a stranger in the course of his journey enters a 
village, and if he only proposes to remain and rest for a 
short season, a present is almost invariably brought him ol 
rice, poultry, and fruit, or whatever other refreshment the 
village affords; and if disposed to delay his departure 
till the next day, he will experience no difficulty in attaining 
the best accommodations in the village. Whatever house 
he approaches, if the proprietors are within, he is politely 
invited to enter, and is cordially welcomed. A mat is 
spread, on which he is directed to sit or recline, and he 
is either assisted in preparing his own provisions, if he 
carry these with him, or solicited with respectful courtesy 
to partake of the best which the house may contain. This 
is followed by a succession of attentions and civilities, which 
cannot fail to convince him, that if he is not among the 
most polished and refined portions of human society, he is 
not among rude and unfriendly barbarians. 
The hospitality of the people is in part to be ascribed to 
their customs in regard to their chiefs, who always require 
