HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 471 
about merrily like one who has drank cold water; let 
him become like cold water, which is refreshing; let flesh 
return to him, if thou findest that he has no sorcery or 
witchcraft to kill persons with. Now, take care then, and 
forget not to return back through the same door through 
which I made thee to enter into him.” 
The above may be sufficient as a specimen of the form 
of “ execration,” or “ exorcism,” pronounced on the occa¬ 
sion. The whole is four or five times the length of the 
summary now given, but contains many repetitions, as 
well as a list of the offences of which the accused may or 
may not be guilty; urges that, if his offences are not 
heinous and capital, he may live; and that if otherwise, 
and especially if guilty of any kind of witchcraft, he may 
die terribly, and without delay. 
At the conclusion of the formula, rice-water is given in 
copious draughts, till a decision is made for life or death, 
by “ vomiting ” the three pieces of skin , or hemg found 
unable to do it. This is the crisis ; — this the circumstance 
which decides the character and the fate of the poor sufferer. 
And for the ejection of the three pieces, they watch earn¬ 
estly, and carefully examine the contents of the fish-basket, 
already named. If they are found, it is announced he is 
not mamosavy,—if otherwise, he is declared mamosavy, 
and in this case is to be struck and beaten with the rice- 
pestle till dead , unless he has previously, as sometimes 
happens, died by the poisonous action of the tangena 
itself. During all this time, the relations and others 
around the house are praying, “May it not be your re¬ 
proach,—may it not be your disgrace !—but if guilty, die ; 
and if not, may you live !” The sikidy also continues to 
be worked, to ascertain if there be any thing to be rejected 
as evil, or if there be any counter-charm imperceptibly 
