27 G 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
so as to afford the English reader a better idea of Malagasy 
composition and poetry. 
A Song concerning the Dead. 
Vain man! observ’st thou not the dead ? 
The morning warmth from them has fled, 
Their mid-day joy and toil are o’er. 
Though near, they meet fond friends no more. 
A gate of entrance to the tomb we see, 
But a departure thence there ne’er will be. 
The living waves his signal high, 
But where’s his dearest friend’s reply ? 
Ah ! where are those thus doom’d to die ? 
*- 
Vain man ! observ’st thou not the dead ? 
Sweet words forsake their dreary bed, 
There’s none the mould’ring silk* around his fellow folds, 
Or north or south again their visits gay beholds, 
Then shall re-echoing vales no longer cheer, 
For them the hills no lofty signals rear. 
Their shrouded heads unmoving lie, 
Unknown the friends that o’er them sigh, 
Ah ! where are those thus doomed to die ? 
Vain man ! observ’st thou not the dead ? 
No more their homeward path they tread. 
The freeman lost may ransom’d be, 
By silver’s magic power set free; 
But who these lost from death can buy ? 
Ah, where are those thus doomed to die ? 
Let me prefer true goodness to attain, 
Or fool or wise I'm deem’d by transient fame. 
New rice, my friends,.your cheerful blessing, give, 
So from Razafilahy+ you thanks receive. 
The degree of civilisation attained by a people, and 
many of the distinguishing features of their popular cha¬ 
racter, are seen in the dress and ornaments in use among 
them. Those of the Malagasy we now proceed to de¬ 
scribe. 
The corpses are wrapt in silk. 
t The bard’s name. 
