334 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
rice, charms, medicines, fruit, poultry; and then money¬ 
changers, and the sellers of scales and weights. There 
are sold also pieces of meat ready cooked, boiled manioc, 
and draughts of fresh water. 
The natives make use of a hollowed block of wood, 
which they call a vata, for measuring out their rice; and 
they measure their cloth by stretching out their two 
hands to the extent of a fathom, or two yards, which mea¬ 
sure they call refy. But they have also a rod equal to 
refy, which is divided into quarters, and even into measure¬ 
ments as small as a finger’s breadth. 
Oxen are sold in the markets, but horses by private 
agreement. Goats are not allowed by the idols, any more 
than pigs, to enter Imerina, but they are numerous in the 
southern Betsileo, where they are sold and eaten. Radama 
had some goats brought to his country-seat, called Maha- 
zoarivo; but after his death, they were driven back to their 
former territory by order of the queen. 
Animals are exhibited for sale, but, except on the day of 
the annual festival, they are seldom seen so fat as in the 
markets of London. On the day of their mandro, i.e. 
new year’s day, bullocks that have been fattened for 
twelve months or more, are sometimes seen of so prodi¬ 
gious a weight as scarcely to be able to support them¬ 
selves. 
In making purchases, the Malagasy are adepts in the 
art of bargaining or disputing. To <£ miady varotra,” or, in 
other words, to dispute the price, seems to be as essentially 
connected with a purchase, as opening the eyes is with 
vision. Every one asks for more than he intends to accept, 
or ever hopes to obtain. All are aware of this, and 
therefore all contend for an abatement. The seller and 
the purchaser then generally concede something, until they 
