MALAGASY FOLK-TALES.
By the Rev. James Sibree, Junior.
The Old Man and his Three Sons.
(The following is from Ankàratra.)
CERTAIN elderly man, it is said, had three sons, and, as he was getting old and feeble, he began to give directions about the disposal of his property. So he said to his sons, "This, my lads, is what I declare to you, for old age and weakness overtakes me; so I will divide and arrange my possessions, lest you should disagree about it afterwards; so gather together all our family connections." So the three brothers called them together, and all were assembled, from the chiefs to the inferior people. Then the old man gave these directions, the following being his commands:
"To Andriamatòa (the eldest son) is given much, because of his seniority;
To Andrianàivo (the middle son) is given what is suitable to him;
To Rafàralàhy (the youngest son) is given little, because of his being the youngest."
And so he disposed of his property, whether in the country or in the village. Upon which, Rafàralàhy was greatly troubled, because his father had given him so little.
And so things went on for a long time with the three brothers, while the property still remained as before with their father. And after long continuing thus, Rafàralàhy began to consider how he could increase the small share he was promised by his father. And this was his plan, to ask of God that he might have great possessions. So he set off, they say, to find out the dwelling-place of the God. And after he had gone a little distance he met with some water-carriers.
