76 
MADAGASCAR 
a flannel jacket, and a quilted linen cap of dazzling 
whiteness. 
The national costume of the Sakalava women is most 
picturesque, adapted as it is to their tropical surroundings; 
gown and outer garment (sembu) consist each of six 
seamless coloured handkerchiefs with large patterns in 
white and red, while the Betsimisaraka women prefer 
quiet colours, such as blue and green. The lamba is 
abhorred by all Sakalava, as it is used by the Hova. 
The south-eastern tribes dress in a kind of skirt made 
of tree bark or reed matting, fastened over the hips, the 
upper part of the body remaining uncovered. 
Ornament is much affected, especially by the black 
tribes. The Sakalava women adorn the neck with as 
many coral and bead necklaces as possible. If they can 
afford it they procure heavy chains of silver. Silver 
rings are set on fingers and toes, heavy amulets of pre¬ 
cious metal are worn by every well-to-do woman, the 
ears are often adorned with five or six large rings, 
occasionally even the men wear earrings, and pegs are 
sometimes stuck through the sides of the nose. The 
poorer women content themselves with a large round piece 
of ebony which is forced into the lobe of the ear. Even the 
Tanala possess a considerable amount of ornament for head, 
neck and arms, while the Betsimisaraka women are for the 
most part very scantily provided in this respect. Tattooing 
occurs but seldom, and as yet it is only among the Betsileo 
women that isolated cases of graceful patterns on the 
neck and breast have been remarked. On the other 
hand, it occurs very frequently that the face is smeared 
with a white paste, either to make the skin fairer, or, as 
I have been assured, to impart a pleasant coolness to 
the body after too free indulgence in alcohol. The 
Hova and the Sakalava women delight in painting 
beauty spots on their faces, the former applying a black 
colour, and the latter, by way of opposition, using white 
