71 
to the family of the deceasedwhich is generally 
well fenced in with a palisade of bamboo, and a 
strong house is erected in the middle, under which 
the dead are deposited. The corpse being set down 
on the outside, four fires are made at the four corners 
of the cemetery; on these they consume an ox, pre¬ 
viously killed for the purpose, sprinkling frankincense 
on the ashes. The head of the family then goes to 
the gate of the sepulchre, halloos several times 
very loud, and calls upon all the dead deposited there, 
beginning with the first, and ending at the last 
interred, telling them they have brought a relation to 
lie amongst them, and hope they will receive him as a 
friend: two or three persons then go in and dig the 
grave, and the corpse is instantly interred without 
further ceremony. In fifteen days, more sacrifices 
are made, and provisions are sent to the defunct, as 
if he were yet alive; the heads of the immolated vic¬ 
tims being fixed upon poles, and set round the tomb. 
They also frequently repair thither in cases of sick¬ 
ness or distress, offering prayers and sacrifices; at 
the same time invoking the aid of the mouldering 
inhabitants, exclaiming, “ Thou such an one art 
now in heaven, give us help in this trouble.” 
* Every family in Madagascar, of any consequence, has its 
burying-place, which is held sacred, no person daring to infringe 
upon or break into it. The fear of incurring the resentments 
of the dead and the evil demons, who are supposed to hover 
around it, is a sufficient safeguard to the sanctity of the 
sepulchre even of an enemy. 
