this superstition, they connect with it the art of divination.*
arid a belief in an universal fatality or immutable destiny,
which they term Vintana. Objects of worship among them,
as amongst the African nations, are peculiar to particular
elans or "familiesV or even to individuals. Every house and
every family has its own object of superstitious' 'veneratioit.
Sometimes an iridividual has his oWn b d ^y which he wears
about his person. (< Crocodile’s teeth are worn by many as
the receptacles of their odyr in which they put their trust g in
sickness and in health, in life and death.” On one occasion
a man was seen with a rongh imitation of a bullock wrought
in silver, about the size of a walnut, suspended from his wrist.
On being-asked what it was, he replied, u Omby lahy odla,”
a bullock of money : it appeared on inquiry that be worshipped
it as his god of money. Two of the missionaries were struck
by the appearance of a bushy plant hung tip in an old chieftain’s
house : they were told that it was the chieftain’s idol,
which he worshipped daily.
Idolatry is one step beyond fetiss worship, as it implies a
distinct personification of the object of dread or confidence,
and some art in representing it. The Maleeassians have
hardly made this advancement, since it appears that the
objects of popular worship are neither always represented in
the human or any other shape, nor are regarded as properly
voluntary agents. The private or household gods are, as we
are assured, literally blocks, without pretence to huifian shape.
“ Any object that accident points out or fancy dictates, or the
diviners fix upon, will serve for an object-of worship if the
owner sets it apart or consecrates it as such.” The public
idols are improperly so termed : it dóes not appear that they
are images. We have no certain information on this point.
The objects of worship are so far from being publicly exhibited
that it is considered impious to endeavour to obtain a sight
of them. Probably as the national gods appear to be derived
from the household gods or fetisses of families or individuals,
they make them, like the latter, assume an endless variety of
forms. The general opinion of the natives is that these idols
* Divination is termed by the Malagasy ** Sikidy.''
OF THE MALECASSIANS. 207
are of fhe; human shape, and vary from half a foot to a foot in
jW th . T h e y m u c h rWjger, since the cases in
which they are kept are generally not more than a foot long.
Some.,of them are supposed to be mere blopks of no definite
shape, and: others imitations of animals. Rafanonela is said
to, be an insect, pr to be manufactured in the shape of one,
and to be about the size of a silk-worm. When borne in
public, the .idol is addressed;
There is not usually any altar, as Mr. Ellis informs - us,
connected with the residence of (the Idol, gnd hen^vthe
temp|é? is not considered as a place disjtjnc^,^T( .worship.
Instead of the peopleg-oipg^o the idol, the idol is brought
to the people., Sacrifices .are commonly offered in the village
where the idol is kept, and a sacred stone,i^Mps^,jfS3r this
purpose, But generally the people offer their, sacrifipe^^ the
vato*vazimfia, which a re . stqnps lèonsidered to'bejsa^red and
erected wherei the tomb of a Vazimba is supposed to have
existed. The sacrifices are also offered to the deud and to
the Vazimba moi^generally^fhan to the idols themselves.
The idols are' ^appealed to tin solemn, oaths of allegiance
and in the administration of the, tangena or.trial by ordeal.
They also at occasional, not fixed, periods^carried about
publicly^to dispel diseases, to fortify the.people..against the
danger of storms and .lightning, and tp -pn.
springs and fountains. They .are carried tp the wars to mspire
their devotees with courage, and to render them invulnerable
and victorious.
Mr. Ellis has given .the names of fifteen Idols, Of these
he says the most important are Kpkeliipalaza. and Jffamaha-
naly,‘who are supposed to pnesifie..over,and .caje for the
welfare of the whole hingdom. The ,pther,s.<have. a more
limited sphere. They are, however, . Only worshipped in the
neighbourhood of Tananarjvp, and are i elsewhere unknpwn,
It is a very probable opinion of .the. missionaries that worship
of their national divinities is of re^pnt date, and.has grown
„ opt of the private adoration of stocks and stones, the odys
or fetisses of individuals. This, is precisely parallel to what
we know in Africa, where a powerful chief sometimes attempts,
as we have before observed^ to constitute his fetiss or favourite