428 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
struck with astonishment and horror, warned them of their 
danger, exclaiming— <c Don’t be so foolish—so rash. You 
will die.” “ If the Vazimba can kill us, let him do so,” 
said the youths, and carried off their prize in triumph. In 
the course of the evening, having produced their spoils, 
they asked an old man in the company to carry them to the 
town, which he most positively refused to do. “ Well 
then,” said they, “ will you break this branch of the 
Vazimba tree ?” “ No,” was his reply, “ on no account 
whatever.” By dint of persuasion, just to try the extent 
of his scruples, he was induced to take hold of the branch, 
but would do no more. No offer of pecuniary reward 
could tempt him to risk carrying it into the town; “ and 
now,” said he, “ having touched it, I must bathe myself 
before going to rest.” “ But why are you so afraid of it ?” 
he was asked. “ Because the Vazimba would visit me, and 
cause my illness and death.” c< Why then were not those 
effects produced upon the scholars, who did the same act 
some time ago ?” “ Oh, they learn the book, and they 
believe what you teach them.” “ Then why should not you 
believe us ? We tell you the same thing out of the book 
as we tell them in the book.” The poor man could only 
reply, 66 Why, after all, should you wish me to abandon the 
customs of my ancestors and of my country ?” “ Because,” 
said they, 66 we wish you to forsake what is erroneous and 
groundless, and to become wise and happy.” “ Oh, no,” 
said he, cc if I should do this, I should certainly become ill 
and die. I dare not affront the Vazimba, or my death will 
be the inevitable consequence.” 
This was the burden of his fears, the ground of his argu¬ 
ment, and he remained, as do many others, under the 
influence of the superstitious fears that rendered his life 
one of constant alarm. 
