THE ORATORY, SONGS, LEGENDS, AND FOLK-TALES OF THE MALAGASY.
By the Rev. James Sibree, Junior.
(Continued from page 15).)
The sixth section of Specimens of Malagasy Folk-lore consists of a short series of seven Speeches, under the heading of Haingom-pite-nénan' ny Ntaolo ràha nifanànatra izy, that is, "Ornaments of Speech among the Ancients, when they mutually admonished." Although in Mr. Dahle's selection these follow the native songs, they would seem to be more properly placed next to the first division of the book, Hainteny làvalàva, or "Oratorical Flourishes," as they partake somewhat of the character of these; and we shall therefore consider them in this place. There is some little difference in the style of these pieces, and in that of the Hain-teny lavalava; and as they afford good illustrations of some features in native oratory and its profusion of figures, two or three of them may be translated in full, although some of the allusions are very obscure.
A statement of (or, a plea for) Friendship.
1. As regards ourselves and not other people; for we are people born of one mother and people of one origin; one root, one stock, brethren following the footprints of the cattle,—not broken, even if torn; a hundred measures of rice, mixed in the storehouse, houses built north and south (of each other),[1] right and left hand, eyes and nose, rice in two measures, yet born of one person only.
2. Therefore let us love one another, for those far off cannot be called; for the distant fire, as they say, one cannot warm at, and a hundred measures of rice cannot be carried.
- ↑ The old Hova houses were always built with their length running north and south, the front of the house facing the west, the lee-side.
