HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
429 
It has been stated by many writers that the Malagasy 
have no idea whatever of a future state, and that their 
language possesses no word to express that of soul or 
spirit. But this opinion admits of some modification, as 
the total absence of all idea of an existence after death is 
scarcely consistent with their well-known belief in ghosts. 
Even their mode of burying the dead seems to indicate 
something like an idea that some portion of the departed, 
either material or spiritual, will be able to possess and take 
pleasure in the same things which afforded satisfaction in 
life. It is customary to cast into the tomb or vault in 
which the dead are buried, garments, ornaments, looking- 
glasses, and any thing that was precious or useful to them 
when living. The funeral of the late king Radama was 
celebrated by a greater sacrifice of this kind than was ever 
known to have taken place in the country at any other 
time. It is stated by Mr. Jones, that on the death of one 
of his scholars, who was the son of a noble, and who, in 
addition to his being a superior and talented youth, had ex¬ 
cited higher hopes in the minds of his Christian teachers; 
on being laid in his tomb, or vault, his mother and relatives 
ordered all his books, slates, and papers to be buried with 
him. After which, they requested Mr. Jones to deliver an 
address according to the European mode of burying. 
If asked their reason for continuing this practice, the 
Malagasy reply, that these things are buried with the dead, 
in the hope that they may be useful to them again, though 
in what way they are unable to explain. They have, how¬ 
ever, no scruple in avowing their belief in ghosts, which, 
they say, are in the habit of walking about at night. The 
Hovas call the ghost or apparition of a living person, 
ombiroa; and that of a dead person, matoatoa. They say 
that the matoatoa of both men and beasts reside in a great 
