290 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
CHAP. XL 
Occupations of the Malagasy—Division of labour—Professional employ¬ 
ments—The judges—Officers of the palace—Head-men or elders—Extent 
to which offices are hereditary — General division of the people into 
freemen, peasantry, and soldiers—Native farming—Culture of rice—Pre¬ 
paration of the soil—Sowing and transplanting the grain—Modes of irri¬ 
gation—General appearance of the country immediately before harvest— 
Quantity of the grain—Causes of the occasional failure in the crop— 
Reaping—Manner of thrashing—Storing the grain—Description of the 
granaries or rice-houses in different parts of the country—Culture of the 
manioc—Period required for its growth—Extent to which it is used— 
Failure of attempts to introduce European modes of agriculture—Rearing 
of silkworms—Native methods of manufacturing iron—Situation and 
character of the mines — Manner of getting and preparing the ore— 
Description of the Malagasy furnace, bellows, &c.—Nature of the fuel— 
Process of smelting—Native blacksmiths—Native forge, tools, and articles 
of native manufacture—Introduction of the art of shoeing horses—Arrival 
of Mr. Chick from England—Astonishment of the natives at beholding 
the apparatus of an English forge, and the strength of Mr. Chick—Trials 
of strength between the natives and Europeans—Improvements in the art 
of working iron, manufacturing cutlery, and wire-drawing—Native gold 
and silver smiths. 
During the early periods of a nation’s existence, while the 
elements of society retain their simple and primitive forms, 
the members of the community have their occupations in 
common. If they dwell upon the shores of the sea, every 
man is his own shipwright, his own mariner and fisherman; 
and if they inhabit an inland country, every man builds 
his own house, cultivates his own land, manufactures his 
own weapons, pursues his own game, and provides for 
the wants of his own family. This is the state of society 
in South Africa, among the aborigines of America, and in 
