HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
483 
A Hova man, named Laihova, who owed one of his 
neighbours some money, went into the Betsileo district, 
and stole a fine young lad, about thirteen years of age, 
whom he gave to the neighbour in payment of his debt. 
The lad happened to be the son of persons in easy circum¬ 
stances, who were much afflicted at their loss; and who, 
besides sending servants around the country in search of 
their child, offered bribes to the diviners to direct them to 
where he was. All their endeavours proved fruitless; 
and having mourned the loss of their only son for nearly 
three months, the father, attendant upon the chieftain of 
his district, came to the capital, to do homage to the king 
on his return from a campaign. On this occasion the 
father accidentally met with his child; who, having heard 
of the arrival of some people from his own country, ab¬ 
sconded from his new master, in the hope of falling in with 
them, and thus luckily met the individual he most wished 
to see. The thief was easily traced; but the declarations 
of the creditor were insufficient, and he demanded a trial 
by ordeal. Laihova, who was probably an adept in the art, 
drank the poison, and, suffering no serious consequences, 
was declared innocent. The creditor, who had received 
the lad unconscious of his situation and circumstances, 
having declined the potion, was pronounced guilty, although 
the boy attested his innocence; and he was obliged to pay two 
slaves, one of them his own child, on refusing the ordeal. 
The Betsileo family had barely left the village on their 
return home, when the suffering creditor presented himself 
before Laihova, lamenting the situation to which he was 
reduced by his chicanery, and praying for his assistance in 
some way to effect the recovery of his child. The hard¬ 
ened Laihova was, however, deaf to all his entreaties; and, 
on his becoming urgent, repulsed him with a rebuke, say- 
