Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/111

Rh "Star-killing" (Mamòno khìtana) is the name of another children's play, also a favourite one on moonlight nights. A number of them sitting together get a little sheep's dung; and then, looking at the stars, they choose one of the brightest, and say, "We'll kill (or put out) that one." Then one of them who has a good voice sings the following, the rest taking up the strain:—

A somewhat more elaborate game is called Pétapétaka Inénibé (pétaka means "adhering to," "sticking to," and Inénibé is "granny"). A number of children being gathered together they all choose one about whom they say, "Dead is Granny Mrs. Moon-dead-by-day-but-living-by-night" (or "Extinguished-by-day-but-lighted-by-night," Ravòlana-màti-àndro-ka-vélon’àlina). This one they place in the middle and cover her up with a quantity of clothes. Then they all pretend to weep, and sing out:

Then they call out for some time, telling the calamity which has befallen them. Then they keep quite still for a little while, which they call the night for sleeping, and for the old lady to appear to them all in their dreams (literally, for "pressing," or "squeezing," a word used to express the supposed inspiration of people by the Vazìmba or by the spirits of their ancestors). During this time the one they call the dead old lady pretends to inspire (or appear in dreams to) them all, and calls out softly: