HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
427 
said he, “ came to me.” And pray what kind of being was 
the Vazimba? “He was like a human being, but small 
in stature, with a narrow face, and red as fire—he seized 
me by the hand,” said the boy, “ and then I was terrified.” 
The youth became quite well, and, under the influence of 
better instruction, was one of the two who carried the 
branch and stone already mentioned, being on that occa¬ 
sion fully convinced of the futility of all the fears he had 
indulged. 
In some cases a superstitious reverence for the Vazimba 
is confirmed by mere coincidence in circumstances, which 
the already too credulous native attributes to the super¬ 
natural agency which his education has led him to confide 
in. A person high in rank mentioned an occurrence 
which took place some time ago in reference to himself. 
Having been married some time without offspring, his wife 
and he applied to the sikidy on the subject. By him they 
were directed to sacrifice to the Vazimba the finest bullock 
they could obtain, and a son was to be the reward of their 
obedience. They followed the direction of the divination, 
offered the sacrifice, and, to their great joy, within a year 
afterwards, had the happiness of becoming parents. 
It may be readily supposed the parents were abundantly 
confirmed in their faithful attachment to the sikidy, and to 
the worship of the Vazimba. The son, there is reason to 
hope, has learned to place his trust on higher objects of 
confidence, and follow safer guides. 
While on a journey some time since, near the high moun¬ 
tain of Andringitra, the Missionaries were informed that 
on a hill not far distant was a Vazimba of high renown, but 
extremely fierce. They requested two of the scholars to 
go and fetch a few of the sacred stones and some branches of 
the fany, or sacred tree. They complied, but the people, 
