HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
337 
sions; fuel, by the bundle; thatching, by number. Gun¬ 
powder is sold by the government by weight of dollars. 
Slaves are sold according to their age, strength, and 
beauty! In this iniquitous traffic, a good-looking slave, 
either male or female, always fetches a few dollars more 
than one not favoured in that respect. 
Prices vary in different parts of the island. Near the 
coast provisions are dearer than in the interior, in conse¬ 
quence of frequent purchases made by the captains of 
vessels. At a distance from the coast, all common articles 
of food may be obtained at low prices. On the average, 
about a bushel of the best picked white rice may be had 
for one shilling sterling, and common red rice at about one- 
third less. Of poultry, ducks and fowls may be purchased 
at about a dollar for eighteen or twenty; six geese may be 
had for the same sum; and of turkeys, four or five. A good 
young horse, fit to ride, cannot be bought under forty or 
fifty pounds, but there are others as low as twenty. A 
bullock costs from three to eight dollars. A cow and 
young calf, three or four. Sheep and pigs are about 
one shilling, and from that to two, each. In the season, 
about twenty or thirty good pineapples cost two or three 
pence; and a peck of grapes, or of bananas, may be had for 
the same money. There are few other native fruits to be 
valued in the interior, except limes. The prices of all 
articles have greatly increased during the last ten years, 
and especially that of rice. 
The value of labour amongst the Malagasy may be 
judged of by this scale of prices. It is extremely low. 
Many work merely for their rice and a small quantity of 
“ laoka’—any kind of meat given as a relish with it. If 
paid in money, about two-pence per diem is the amount 
commonly given, in addition to the labourer’s food. Smiths 
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