444 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
and to each is attached its specific direction. But it ap¬ 
pears unnecessary to specify more, as the object of this 
explanation is rather to afford a general idea of the pro¬ 
cess, than to enable its readers to become sikidy workers, 
in all its ramifications of mystery, puerility, and parade of 
pompous littleness. 
It is also deemed superfluous to describe the mode of 
working by means of sand. This consists of drawing 
certain lines and configurations on sand, in the same man¬ 
ner as the geomancy of the Arabs, to whom Flacourt 
attributes the knowledge of all the arts of divination now 
possessed by the Malagasy. 
The ocult science of genethlialogy, or casting nativities, 
prevails extensively among the Malagasy. The persons 
who hold the office are called mpanandro, and their busi¬ 
ness is called fanandro.* The science can scarcely be 
denominated astrology, with strict propriety, since it de¬ 
pends wholly on a reference to the moon. No observation 
is made on any other planet whatever. The design is to 
ascertain a person’s vintana, or destiny; and to effect this, 
his birth is compared with the age and situation of the 
moon at the time ; and on this depends the decision whe¬ 
ther his life shall be spared or not—as already referred to 
in the notice respecting infanticide. The mpanandro also 
decide, by the same means, what days are fortunate, or 
otherwise, for commencing or transacting any important 
business; such, for example, as the sovereign’s quitting the 
capital on a journey or campaign, or his returning home 
* The verb is manandro, to predict or foretell; fanandro, is the mode of 
predicting; and fanandroana, the means used in predicting. The root of 
the word is andro, “ day,” to which is prefixed man—from manao, to make 
or do; i. e. to make a day—to ascertain what a day is, to calculate days, 
so as to determine whether they be favourable or otherwise. 
