47 
ridiculous length.* Witchcraft is greatly practised, 
especially in the province of Matatane, where magic 
is kept up in all its glory. The Ombiasses, or magi¬ 
cians, have acquired great influence over the people, 
who are much afraid of them on account of their sup¬ 
posed necromantic powers; nor dare they dispute 
their commands or assertions, though contrary to the 
evidence of their senses and the dictates of the plainest 
reason. Of this influence they make a very profitable 
use, by selling a kind of talisman, on slips of paper, 
written in the Arabic character, which are worn round 
the neck by the credulous people, who suppose they will 
preserve them from the influence of every kind of evil. 
On the whole, we are led to conclude, from the 
foregoing sketch, that the Madegasses are a sensi¬ 
ble and well-disposed people,—easy in their tempers, 
* Drury mentions a remarkably ludicrous instance of this 
kind. A young man was ordered by his guardian spirit, in a 
dream, to go to his brother who was to shoot at him. In obe¬ 
dience to this nocturnal injunction, he posted off the next morn¬ 
ing to his brother, acquainted him with his errand, and requested 
him without delay to execute the command. His brother en¬ 
deavoured to dissuade him from his ridiculous determination, 
but to no purpose. “ You must shoot at me,” said the fanatic, 
“ or worse will come of it.” “ Well, then, I will shoot towards 
you, and miss you.” Nothing, however, but a bona-fide shoot 
at him would satisfy the anxious devotee. Thus over-ruled, his 
brother loaded his piece, and standing about thirty yards off', 
fired low; but with all his care he broke one of his legs, and 
then reflecting on his own credulity, ran, lamenting, to assist him. 
In short, with the usual applications, and some magical charms , 
the leg was healed, but the young man carried the marks of his 
folly to his grave, in a stiff joint. 
