Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/114

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106
THE ORATORY, SONGS, &C. OF THE MALAGASY.

In the following the numbers are simply applied to different objects:—

Isa ny amontana,
Foa ny aviavy,
Telo fangady,
Efa-drofia,
Dimy emboka,
Eni-mangamanga,
Fito paraky,
Valo tanantanana,
Sivy rongony,
Folo fanolehana!

One the amòntana (tree).
Two the àviàvy (trees).
Three spades.
Four rofia (palms).
Five gums.
Six blues.
Seven tobacco.
Eight gourds.
Nine hemp.
Ten fànoléhana!

I another, words are chosen in each of the ten lines that contain the words for the numbers from one to ten; they are mostly names of plants, grasses, &c.:—

Hisatra,
Tsindroadroatra,
Telorirana,
Efanina,
Dingadingana,
Voninenina,
Fitatra,
Kimbalombalontandroka,
Sivana,
Tsipolopolotra!


Some seem merely nonsense rhymes; and others carry on the last syllables of one line to the first of the next:—

Aingisa,
Aingoa,
Talonga,
’Ndrafanga,
Diminga,
Aiminga,
Tsitonga,
Valonga,
Tsivaza,
Aigò!
Roa an-jaza;
Telo am-behivavy;
Efatra an-dehilahy;
Raika tsy tia be!

Voa manisa,
Voa manapily,
Pily maka,
Maka ity,
Ity koa,
Tabarasîly,
Sily kely,
Tangorom-bola,
Hazon-dandy,
Tsy folo va izao ò? (Isn't that ten?)
Two for the child;
Three for the woman;
Four for the man;
One's not liked much!

(To be continued.)