rasòalàvavòlo.
Under water, it is said, is the home of Rasòalàvavòlo, and she is beautiful, and has yery long hair, and that is why she is called Rasòalàvavòlo [làva vòlo is "long-haired"]. Some say she is a Vazìmba,[1] but others say that she belongs to one of the conquered royal families. Both stories, however, are equally untrue, since the whole account is a fiction.
They say, nevertheless, that a woman named Rasòavòlovolòina went to visit her, and to ask for a child,[2] and offered two silver rings, and had given to her two round smooth stones, which, they say, became two male children. When the two brothers grew up they went to visit Rasòalàvavòlo under the water, and offered her a string of coral-beads, but she happened to be asleep when the brothers came, and so did not talk with them. And on the morrow again they went to visit her, and she took all the things they brought. And then she blessed them [lit. "blew water on them"], and they were the ancestors of all the people who have lived since that time here in Madagascar.
And there are still many who believe this fable, and who come to the story-tellers to beg for children, but it is only a piece of fiction.
THE WILD-HOG AND THE RAT.
(A tale from Itrémo, in Western Bétsiléo-land.)
Once upon a time, 'tis said, a wild-hog and a rat chanced to meet, and the rat saluted the other, saying, "How do you do, say I?" So the wild-hog replied, "Oh, I'm tolerably well; for how are you, young friend?" "Oh, I'm very well," said the rat, saying at the same time, "Come, my elder brother, let us have a game." The wild-hog replied, "Well, all right, young friend; but what sort of a game shall we have?" "Let us collect dry grass, and when we have got plenty let us cover ourselves with it, and set it on fire." Said the wild-hog, "Oh, that's a good idea; but, perhaps, you would not dare do it?" "Oh, I'll venture it; but if I should shirk it, I'll never eat food again; and
