HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
395 
fices, are almost the only circumstances found among the 
Malagasy corresponding with those of the Mosaic insti¬ 
tutes. No traditional knowledge appears to exist amongst 
them of any of the great events unfolded to the world by 
the inspired records, such as the creation, the fall of man, 
the deluge, the selection of one favoured people, the per¬ 
formance of miracles, or the promise of a Deliverer for the 
human race. It may be almost superfluous to add, that no 
ideas, however confused or remote, are found to exist 
relating to the doctrine of a Mediator, the advent of the 
Redeemer, the salvation of man, the renewal of the heart, 
the resurrection of the dead, the judgment to come, or the 
glory to be revealed. 
After this general statement, it may now be appropriate 
to introduce a more specific account of the objects and 
modes of worship prevailing in Madagascar. 
There are, in the immediate neighbourhood of Tanan¬ 
arive, twelve or fifteen principal idols, inspiring the reli¬ 
gious dread and veneration of the people. These idols 
belong respectively to different tribes or divisions of the 
natives, and are supposed to be the guardians and bene¬ 
factors, or the titular gods, of these particular clans or 
tribes. Four of these are considered superior to all others, 
dispensing benefits more widely and effectually, guard¬ 
ing the interests of the sovereign, and the kingdom at 
large. In other words, these four principal idols are con¬ 
sidered public and national. There are, throughout the 
country, many others belonging to the several clans and 
districts, and by them considered of greater or less import¬ 
ance. Such, however, are little known beyond their own 
immediate vicinity. The idols of Imerina, for example, 
possess no weight nor authority amongst the Sakalavas, 
nor those of the Sakalavas in Imerina. Every province and 
