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MISCELLANEA.
AUGUST, 1992.]
ing of the Betsiriry, that the same explorer saw one individual of a tribe of aboriginal dwarfs, who live in caves and are very shy, and speak a distinct language of their own; whereas all the other tribes in every part of Madagascar speak dialects of Malagasy.
The Hovas greatly venerate the graves of the Vazimbas, and imagine that the spirits of these people, whom their fathers drove out, exert great power over the living. There are many such graves close to the Capital, to which offerings are constantly taken, and it is considered a heinous sin to desecrate, in any way, the places in which these spirits are supposed to dwell. The consequences can only be averted by superstitious rites entailing considerable trouble. The dwelling place of a spicit seems to be more or less arbitrarily chosen: sometimes it is an old tomb, sometimes it is a running brook, or a marsh in which the bararatra reed (Phragmites communis, Trin.) grows, sometimes it is a whole mountain on which it is wicked even to burn the grass in the manner customary with the Hovas. Consequently the touchy spirits are often unwittingly offended by some unfortunate stranger. Then again each, or almost each, spirit has his particular likings and aversions. Some like mutton, others cannot endure tobacco and onions; while all dislike pork. To make a wrong offering is quite enough to bring disease, if not death, to the offender. Great is the dread among the people of these spirits, and I remember a few young sceptics offering tobacco out of sheer bravado, to a spirit who disliked it, and so overwhelming was the fear of one of them, after he had committed the offence and the excitement had worn off, that he actually frightened himself into a serious illness.
I must now pass on to a description of some of the mythical animals. First and most renowned is the Bongomby. This word is used figuratively by the natives to mean lion-hearted, showing the courage they suppose the animal to possess. It is said to be an animal somewhat resembling a horse, but with large, hanging ears, and a heavy mane: so large, in fact, are the ears that when the animal is running down hill they fall over its eyes
and blind it. Hence the natives will tell you that in case you are pursued by a songomby your only chance is to run down hill! It is a most ferocious animal, having a predilection for young children, and hence many a poor little child is threatened with this awful beast, if it oversteps the patience of its parents. It is said to live in caves, but to be so wary that it is seldom seen and never captured. When horses were first introduced the natives thought them to be a kind of songomoy caught by the white men; and when
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riding in outlying districts, where a horse had never been seen, I have often put a whole village to rout, for the sudden appearance of a white man, (never perhaps seen before,) riding a songomby was enough to strike terror into the boldest. I remember quite well one poor woman stealing back after a general stampede caused by myself to save her child, when my men stopped her and quieted her fears. After confidence was restored she confessed to having thought we should want a baby or two to feed the horse with. It often took one hour or more to gain the people's confidence.
Next to the songomby is the Fananim-pitoloha, the Hvdra with seven heads. This is not an awe-inspiring reptile, as one might easily imagine; far from it, it is respected and venerated. It has its origin in man, and the spirit of the person from whom it springs is embodied in it. As a rule it springs from the entrails of the dead. Among the Betsileo tribe living to the South of the Hova Province of Imerina, it is said to be a common custom to take a portion of the entrails of a dead relation and place them near a running stream or pond, in order that a fananim may be generated and an embodiment of the spirit effected. If such should happen the hydra proceeds to the village, and those of the inhabitants, who have lost a relative, ask it who it is, by repeating the names of the departed. Should the fananim wave ita head sideways it is not the person named, but should it nod, there is a g. at rejoicing among the relations of the person named, and offerings are given daily to it. The appearance of the fananim is variously described, but the most authentic accounts state it to be striped, and of a dull brown colour, with seven heads. When
it has reached maturity horns grow on each head.
There are many curious fables about this hydra. Here is one. Once upon a time one attacked a bull, but the seven horns being broken, for it butted and did not bite as one might suppose, it was despatched by the bull. This took place near a village, and next day the fananim had swollen to such an extent, that it was like a mountain
overshadowing the houses, so that the inhabitants had to flee the place during its putrefaction. Sometimes we are told they grow so large that they can span a mountain at its base, but as soon as the tail overlaps their heads they bite off the extra piece, and, fixing the stump firmly in the earth, rear themselves up on it and shoot into heaven!
( am assured that the reason so few are seen with seven heads at the present day is that they are all young, and that it takes many years before they gain their full complement.
