248 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
highly ornamental. A pole with a white flag at the top, 
which had been carried in the funeral procession., is also 
frequently placed at the east end of the tomb. Formerly 
the flag consisted of plain white cloth, but since the know¬ 
ledge of letters has been introduced, the flags in many 
instances have the names of the deceased, and the dates 
of their death, exhibited in letters of blue or other dark- 
coloured cloth. 
Those who are desirous of paying great respect to their 
deceased relatives, and of preserving their tombs in good 
repair, keep the ground immediately around the graves 
in neat and excellent order, preserving it perfectly smooth 
and level, and free from weeds. 
At the capital, and throughout the interior, the tombs 
are unenclosed; but the tribes on the greater part of the 
coast surround their graves by a strong, but neat and 
durable, paling, or other fence of wood. 
Many of the Malagasy begin to erect their tombs in 
early life, and make their completion through a series of 
years one of the most important objects of their existence, 
deeming a splendid or costly depository for their mouldering 
bodies, the most effectual means of being held in honourable 
remembrance by posterity. 
This practice induces the belief, that in the creed of a 
Malagasy, the most complete preparation of a grave con¬ 
stituted the best preparation for it, the grand means of 
securing bliss beyond the tomb. The reverse, however, 
we know to be the fact, so far as a future state is con¬ 
templated by the aid of that revelation which alone brings 
life and immortality to light; but an immortality of fame 
was the only immortality after which the Malagasy were 
taught to aspire. They knew no higher, and pursued no 
worthier object. 
