424 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
The graves of the Vazimba are regarded with equal fear 
and veneration by the natives. To violate a grave by 
taking away one of the stones composing the hillock, or to 
pluck off a twig from the shrubs usually found growing 
near it, would, in their estimation, be regarded as acts of 
such flagrant presumption and wickedness as the Vazimba 
would himself resent by inflicting disease and death upon 
the unhappy subject of his displeasure. Not only would 
an intended affront of the kind be thus terribly avenged, 
but so irascible are these ghosts, that should any one acci¬ 
dentally stumble against their graves, or, by the merest 
chance, happening in the dark, kick his foot against one of 
the stones, dreadful is the doom he incurs. In passing a 
Vazimba altar, the people are accustomed to suppress all 
levity, and to observe the strictest seriousness of demeanour; 
and so impressed are the Malagasy with the idea of the 
Vazimba inflicting diseases, that not only do they expect to 
suffer after having unfortunately touched their graves, but 
if enduring any malady for which they are unable to assign 
any other cause, they are satisfied with this, and conclude 
that they must, though unconscious of it at the time, have 
given offence to some Vazimba. 
These graves are numerous throughout Imerina. Many 
are found in the immediate neighbourhood of Tananarivo. 
They are easily distinguishable from other graves, partly 
from their being smaller in size, and still more so by the 
indications they afford of the frequent offering of sacrifice. 
In some cases, as at Ampanibe, “ the place of abundance 
of the fany,” # near the capital, the altar is enclosed with a 
fence constructed of sticks, wattled with the zozoro or 
rush. The trees growing around give it the appearance of 
* Fany, or Fano, a species of mimosa. 
