436 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
thousand;” indicating the great benefit secured by the 
charm to the wearer. All these offerings of silver or beads 
are called, Hariana tsy maty — 66 rejected but not dead 
that is, offered but not lost—securing an adequate return 
of wealth and prosperity. 
At other times the sorona consists of 66 a young bullock 
which just begins to bellow and to tear up the earth with 
his horns.” Or it may be of fowls, or of rice mixed with 
milk and honey, or a plantain tree laden with fruit, of the 
borobosy mandady, or slime from frogs floating on the water, 
or of the earth-nut called voanjo. 
The things used in making the faditra are of still greater 
variety; and they are, if possible, more arbitrary than those 
ordered for the sorona. The faditra is made by simply 
throwing away the object directed. A man may stand at 
the door of his house, and throw the object to a few feet 
distance from him, pronouncing, at the same time, the word 
faditra, and the ceremony is performed. If the cause of 
trouble, the judgment, or the vengeance, under which the 
individual suffers, or apprehends he shall suffer, come 
from heaven, then the faditra consists of an herb called 
tsikobon-danitra. If the earth, instead of the heavens, be 
the source of the evil, then a water-flower is presented. If 
the evil come from cattle, then a grasshopper, called tsi- 
nombina, is offered. If from sheep, a small fish, called 
ondrindrano, or water-sheep, is offered. If from money, 
then a grasshopper, tsimbolavola, constitutes the faditra. 
If evil comes from the mouth, that is, from speaking, then 
the mouth or brim of a small basket is offered. If the 
north be source of the evil, then a tree must be presented, 
called tsiavaramonina—“ not residing northward.” If the 
south, then an herb is offered, called antsiontsiona. For the 
west, the rush, harefo, is given; and for the east, the herb 
