HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
275 
chorus, is alternate recitation. The subject of the song 
being usually its first line, which serves also for the name 
of the tune, is proposed in chorus; to which a leader replies; 
and so on alternately to the end of the piece, which contains 
from twenty to fifty or even sixty lines. 
The following is a specimen of a song in praise of the 
sovereign :— 
Chorus. Rabodo does not tread upon the ground, (i. e., does not 
walk, but is carried.) 
Leader. The Rabodo of Andrian- Ampoin-Iraerina. 
Chorus. Rahodo does not trample on the country. Long live the 
great life ! (i. e., the sovereign. ) 
In a number of the country villages, where singing is much 
more practised than in the capital, the natives have attained 
greater eminence: and it is thought that in some of the 
provinces of the south, the compositions, the singing, and 
the music are superior to those of the Hovas. Singing 
may be heard in most houses in the evening, when music 
is most congenial to the feelings; and when it is moonlight, 
the villagers often assemble, and pass a few hours in the 
amusements of singing, dancing, and clapping their hands, 
accompanied by whatever musical instruments the village 
can produce. 
Occasionally a travelling bard may be met with, and 
there is reason to believe that some of the compositions 
sung by them contain more genuine poetry than any other 
specimens in the country. The following verses were sung 
by a bard from Ambohimanarina, who visited the capital, 
where they were taken down as he recited them, at the 
request of some members of the Mission. To one of these 
Mr. B. added an English translation, confining himself to 
the same number of lines and syllables as in the original, 
t 2 
