POPULATION 
77 
or red. The blacking of the eyelids with antimony as 
practised in the west has apparently been taken from 
the Arabs. 
The weapons of the Malagasy were originally made 
in a very simple manner; we do not recognise in them, 
even remotely, the artistic skill that we meet with in 
many Malay tribes and even in African tribes. Bows 
and arrows are but little in use, but, on the other hand, 
spears and shields are diffused generally, and not long 
ago, even in the capital, the body-guard of Ranavalona III. 
was composed of spearmen. In hunting the smaller 
animals the inhabitants frequently make use of a long 
blow-pipe; for a long time past, however, European weapons 
have been largely introduced both among the Hova and 
the Sakalava, even cannon having been provided for the 
defence of the Hova army, but they were not able to 
offer an effective resistance to the advance of the French. 
The dwelling-houses of the natives present differences 
of no small importance among the various races. The 
most marked contrast is that between the house of the 
Hova and that of the Sakalava. The former has clay 
walls; the ground plan has the shape of a rectangle half 
as long again as it is broad. The length always runs 
north and south. The entrance door and the open 
window are invariably on the western side. The roof, 
with its somewhat steep gable, rests on three high 
posts; grasses or reeds serve as material for roofing; 
at the ends of the gable stand the house-horns which 
are so characteristic of the Hova house. Well-to-do 
inhabitants often build wooden houses, the adjoining 
grounds being enclosed by a wall of clay. The equip¬ 
ment of the interior is usually very simple. To the left 
of the door is the hearth, the smoke from which passes 
out by the window or the roof. On the east, but not 
directly opposite, stand the water-pots, and in the north¬ 
east corner the bedstead. A rice mortar, half a dozen 
