THE MALAGASY LANGUAGE. 
507 
The two degrees are sometimes formed by the simple use of 
the particle no; of either one of two objects it may be affirmed, 
Ity no tsara—this is the good; that is, in distinction from the 
other, and therefore the better of the two. So also if more 
than two objects are referred to, and the same expression used, 
it means—this is the good; that is, in distinction from all the 
rest, and therefore the best. 
Cardinal Numbers. 
These the Malagasy are able to express to any extent required. 
The first ten numbers, isa , roa, telo, efatra , dimy, enina, fto, 
valo, sivy, folo, are independent words, as will be seen by the 
annexed scheme. The number of tens up to a hundred, zato, 
are then expressed by adding the units to the word for ten, 
which is folo. Thus roa-polo, two tens. Folo is changed into 
polo in all cases, except sivy. The hundreds up to a thousand, 
arivo , are counted in the same manner; as, roa-n-jato, telo-n- 
jato; ( z being changed intoy, and n assumed gratia euphoniae.) 
The thousands follow in the same manner to a myriad, alina , 
thence to a hundred thousand, and thence to a million. The 
changes made by cutting off final syllables in the combinations, 
will appear in the annexed table. 
The units are added to the numbers above the tens, to form 
all the intermediate numbers, and the word amby inserted 
between them, signifying add or adding to: the article is 
inserted after amby; and after iray k is inserted; as, irai-k- 
ambi-ni(ny)-folo—one-add-ten, that is, eleven ; *roa—ambi- 
ni(ny)-folo—two-add-ten, that is, twelve. 
The numbers always commence from the lowest unit, and rise 
regularly up to the highest amount; as, roambi-telo-polo-amby 
valonjato amby arivo, that is, 2 added to 30-added to 800- 
added to 1000=1832. 
Natives on the coast reverse this mode, and often place 
the tens first, and the units follow: folo raik-amby, 10, 1 
added, 11. 
When near a hundred or a thousand, that high number is 
sometimes put first, and the deficiency then mentioned ; as, 
zato latsaka roa: one hundred less two, that is, 98. 
1 The two a ’s coalesce in sound, one only is heard. 
