THE MALAGASY LANGUAGE. 
515 
mechanical address of the speaker,—in reference to the manage¬ 
ment of the voice, the action of the limbs, and the use of the 
shield, the spear, the sword, or the long walking-staff used by 
the older people. In their public assemblies, a speaker seldom 
confines himself to one spot of ground, but moves about over a 
space of several feet, or even yards, and keeps up attention by 
his movements, as well as by his speech and his voice. 
The very extensive use of a figurative mode of expression, 
constitutes one of the charms of the Malagasy language. It 
renders description lively and animated, and amply compensates 
for the absence of various abstract terms, which in a more cul¬ 
tivated state of society may be expected. Several of these 
figurative expressions consist of compound words; in other 
cases they are phrases. Of both these, a few examples may be 
adduced.—“ MitoraKampivalanana literally, “ to throw (as 
a stone) into that which is flowing downdenoting, “ to 
aggravate, to exaggerate.”—“ Mitsamboki-mikimpy :” literally, 
“ to take a leap while winking with the eye ;” figuratively, “ to 
venture rashly.”—“ Mitsipi-doha-laka-mitana :” this is a phrase 
compounded by contractions into one word; but which written 
at full length would be, Mitsipika(m/)loha(n?/)(m/)lakana mitana; 
literally, “ to kick the head of a canoe that crosses (the water,”) 
figuratively, “ to ill requite a kindness,” or, as in the English 
proverb, to “ speak ill of the bridge that carries you safely 
over.”—“ Rano-maso-tsy-miarak'amam-paty :” literally, u water 
of the eye, (tears,) not following together with the dying,” 
“ not weeping at the time of the death (of a friend;”) figu¬ 
ratively, “ doing something out of season; too late for the 
occasion; repentance too late.”— “Misazi-rambon-osy :” lite¬ 
rally, “ to catch hold of a goat by its tail,” “ to incur disap¬ 
pointment.”—“ Mamoha-fota-mandry :” literally, “ to stir up 
the sediment that has settled down figuratively, “ to renew 
a dispute.”—“ Manisa ravina :” literally, “ to count leaves;” 
figuratively, " to entertain wild flights of the imagination.”— 
“ Manao ariary zaio am-pandriana literally, “ to make a 
hundred dollars on his bed;” figuratively, “ to build castles in 
the air.”—“ Mandri-andri-andefona :” literally, “ to lie down 
upon a spear;’ figuratively, “ to be in a state of painful 
anxiety ; to lie upon thorns.” 
Of native compositions it is difficult to give examples, and 
for the simple reason, that no literature has yet existed in the 
country. The national mind has not, yet been committed to a 
written form or standard. A large amount, however, of current 
and prevailing thoughts and sentiments exists traditionally, and 
a portion of these has been committed to writing within the 
last few years. They consist of the proverbial sayings that 
hav^ handed down from time immemorial, and embody 
