HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
241 
you have done is highly proper and gratifying. Ye have 
made no delay. Ye have borrowed what was deficient, and 
ye have shewn no partiality, but in your respect for the 
dead, ye bury the poor equally as the rich.” 
The son replies to the address. 44 Take ye confidence— 
my father has left me; and whatever he did towards you, 
I shall persevere in adhering to it in the steadiest manner, 
and preferring to do more rather than withdraw. Here are 
the heads left—here the mother—here the sisters—take 
confidence, for ye have me.” 
The speeches having terminated, the eldest son, now the 
representative of the family, the bearer of its honours and 
its responsibilities, presents the largest bullock he can 
obtain as a donation to the company, and to the relations 
who may not yet have received a gift at his hand. Each 
one takes his share, and all retire to their respective 
homes. 
It is evident from various circumstances, that the 
Malagasy, like the Jews, and some other nations, attach 
ideas of ceremonial uncleanness or pollution to a corpse* 
No corpse is permitted to be carried to the grave along the 
high road or principal thoroughfare in the capital, which is 
thought to be in some measure sacred. Nevertheless, the 
same road is frequently saturated with the blood of bullocks 
killed there for the adjacent market, or with the blood of 
human victims destroyed in obedience to their false and 
cruel divinations. 
No one who has attended a funeral is permitted to 
enter into the court-yard of the palace till eight days have 
elapsed, and then he must bathe before he can be admit¬ 
ted. In all cases, a total or partial ablution of the 
garments of the mourners must take place on returning 
from a grave. 
E. 
it 
