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HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
It must be observed on the above list, that although the 
English months are placed opposite the Malagasy months, 
they can correspond only occasionally. Alahamady, for 
example, is invariably the first month in the Malagasy 
year; this in 1821 occurred in June; in 1829, in the 
month of April; and, as will be presently explained, it 
will continue to recede each year, till, in the course of 
thirty-three years from 1821, it will again occur in June. 
The names of the twelve moons are also applied to each 
day of the moon; so that, besides the number of the day of 
the month, as 1st, 2d, 3d, &c. there is also the name of the 
day; thus, Vavany Alahamady—Vontony Alahamady—and 
Farany Alahamady—and these will occur not only in the 
moon of Alahamady itself, but in every moon throughout 
the year. 
Each day has also its divisions, though fewer in number, 
but in which the same names are employed, so far as they 
are required; and this answers the purpose of the artificial 
division of day and night into hours. 
The Malagasy year consists of 354 days, namely, 
12 months of 28 days each.336 
And additional, or intercalary.18 
354 
The 18 intercalary are added, by allowing one day between 
every month as its vintana, and one day extra to each of 
four months in the year, and two at the close of the year, 
determined by the mode of calculation which the Malagasy 
adopt in fixing their great annual feast, or fandroana. 
Eleven days and a quarter are thus lost in the Malagasy 
year, compared with the true solar year. Hence in every 
33 years a complete revolution is effected, and the year 
commences again at the same period. Thirty-three years 
