HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
321 
rice are strewn; the vessels are then placed in the hole or 
kiln, and covered with rice-husks, which are kindled, and 
suffered to bum gradually, without being allowed to 
blaze. Fresh husks are added to the fire till the contents 
of the kiln are considered as sufficiently burnt, when 
the fire is gradually extinguished, and the vessels after¬ 
wards removed. 
The walls of many of the houses in the capital, and 
throughout the provinces, are of clay, as are also most of 
the granaries for their rice, and their native furnaces ; but 
until they were taught by the Missionary artisans, the 
natives do not appear to have used bricks, either burnt or 
dried in the sun. Clay, well adapted for making bricks, 
was found in great abundance in many parts of Ankova ; 
and in the year 1829, Mr. Cameron succeeded in making 
excellent bricks, which were burnt in a kiln, resembling 
those in England. The bricks were used in the con¬ 
struction of furnaces for the manufacture of soap, potash, 
and other valuable purposes, in connexion with the useful 
arts taught by Mr. Cameron; and there is reason to believe 
that had Radama’s life been prolonged, he would have 
given all the encouragement in his power to the making 
and burning of bricks, and that the mud-walled dwellings 
of the capital would, in a short space of time, have been 
very generally superseded by the clean, comfortable, and 
substantial brick-built cottage. 
The making of rope and twine is another occupation in 
which many of the people are occasionally employed. They 
to conform to the tokens of general mourning on the death of his father, he 
ordered that they should not be allowed to leave off work to mourn for their 
own parents, nor for the death of any of their relations. When the late 
king died, they were consequently compelled to work during the ten 
months of mourning observed by all other classes. 
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