former (a woman) chanced to be in the uninhabited country, and was called by name, a name which is pleasing to the angalàpona. (For names such as Rasòa[1] and the like are pleasing to this creature, so that it fetches such as bear these names.) So the angalàpona came and took her towards its den, passing through the water, but neither it nor the woman was wetted at all. But when they came to the cave she would not go forward, but remained at the side of the door; neither would she eat food, disliking the things eaten by the angalàpona, such as raw eels and cray-fish, and the like. And so because she would remain always at the doorway her clothes became covered with waterplants. So the angalàpona and his wife considered together what they should do with her, and they agreed to send her back home. This they did after giving her (power to work) divination. And now she is applied to by the people for that purpose.
And Ràinitsimanàhy's account is that he was in the uninhabited region, and at the time when every one is fast asleep, an angalàpona came and desired him to be its husband. But as he would not agree to this it followed him about perpetually.
Many of the people say that they have seen this creature, especially those who are afflicted with a disease called jìla.
8.—The Siona. The creature so called has also something human about it, but it is different both from the kindly and the angalàpona. It is said to live away from men; and when any one goes through the uninhabited country and does not take care of his rice, or chopper, these are taken by the siòna,[2] they say, and conveyed to its abode. When the woodmen go to sleep, and leave a fire still burning (for their custom is to place a big log on the hearth before sleeping, so that they may be kept warm), then this creature comes and warms itself. Its food is a root called avòko and other substances. All over its body it is covered with lichen growing upon it, so that when it lies down on a rock it is not distinguishable, although seen close to the place. When any people are ill and out of their mind, their friends are afraid lest they shall become a siona; and very lately it was reported that some people narrowly escaped this fate, from which they were only saved by the strenuous efforts of their friends.
(To be continued.)
