HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
209 
The natives wash their hands after each meal in the 
manner already described; and the teeth are cleansed with 
water poured into the mouth from a horn, which is not 
allowed to touch the lips. 
The people are not accustomed to sit long over their 
meals. The dinner is usually despatched in half an hour, 
when all immediately return to their several avocations. 
The meal at the close of the day is not terminated with 
equal despatch, as they seldom leave the house afterwards, 
excepting in the long evenings of summer. 
It has been already stated, that the Malagasy are not 
addicted to excessive drinking; the exceptions chiefly occur 
on the coast. The general, and indeed almost universal, 
beverage of the natives, is water. They can scarcely be 
said to have the habit of drinking any thing with their 
i 
p 
