394 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
floating around. And what becomes of the fanahy? It 
remains—it exists but only in the associations of memory— 
a mere idea or recollection, therefore a metaphysical entity. 
Hence the word comes to signify character; and so far as 
a man’s character and dispositions may be held in the 
remembrance of survivors, his “ fanahy” is said to remain. 
But this is obviously a very loose application of the term. 
It has been said that the Malagasy believe in the exist¬ 
ence of four superior divinities or lords, governing respect¬ 
ively the four quarters of the earth. An idea of this kind 
certainly prevails on some parts of the coast, but in the 
interior it is regarded as fabulous. 
Such being the opinions of the Malagasy concerning 
God and the human soul, it is obvious that the doctrine of 
a future state of retribution is unknown amongst them. 
No conceptions are entertained on the subject of the rela¬ 
tions subsisting between the Creator and his creatures ; and 
hence no impressions exist respecting moral responsibility 
and its specific moral obligations. The exercise of the 
domestic, social, and civil virtues depend upon the frail 
basis of the customs of antiquity, and the established 
usages of the country. These at least serve as their 
guide and standard while they are enforced by the sanc¬ 
tion of the law, and the enactments of the sovereign. 
Hence it may easily be inferred how egregiously erro¬ 
neous will be the comparative scale of virtues and vices 
as drawn by a Malagasy. Chicanery, lying, cheating, and 
defrauding, are mere trifles compared with the enormous 
offences of trampling or dancing upon a grave, eating 
pork in certain districts where it is prohibited, running 
after an owl or a wild cat, or preparing enchantments. 
The weekly computation of time, the ceremony of cir¬ 
cumcision, various purifications, and the offering of sacri- 
