422 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
open field, that the Angatra might drink it for his satisfaction 
from time to time. As this evaporated in the sun, it 
diminished day by day. It was consequently believed that 
the Angatra drank it; and this condescension was joyfully 
received as a proof that he was pleased, and would allow 
the rice to grow and prosper. It is a frequent custom with 
the Betsimisaraka, before they drink spirits, to spill a little 
on the ground, to propitiate the Angatra, that he may not 
injure them. 
It has been supposed that no human victims were ever 
slain, but in the province of Vangardrano, human sacrifices 
were formerly offered. The fact that such sacrifices 
existed, was not ascertained till lately, nor credited by 
many till substantiated by repeated and unexceptionable 
testimonies. It appears that a weekly immolation took 
place; Friday was the fatal day, and, if possible, chiefs 
and principal men were obtained, and put to death, as 
forming a more costly, and hence more acceptable, sacrifice 
to this Moloch. The offerings were not made to an idol, 
strictly so called, but the parties were killed before an 
enormous pole, to the top of which were suspended ody, 
or charms; and the idea appears to have been that of 
averting evils and procuring benefits by means of incanta¬ 
tion, with which these sacrifices were supposed to have 
some mysterious and undefinable connexion. The victims 
were speared on the spot, and devoured by dogs and birds. 
In Ankova the religious rites of the people are connected 
with two ceremonies, called Faditra and Afana. The 
faditra is anything selected by the sikidy for the purpose 
of taking away any hurtful evils or diseases that might 
prove injurious to an individual’s happiness, peace, or pros¬ 
perity. The faditra may be either ashes, cut money, a 
sheep, a pumpkin, or anything else the sikidy may choose 
