Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/46

38 the handful of earth, should be her successor." (He eventually became king under the name of Radama II., but only reigned about eighteen months.)

The second division of Mr. Dahle's book consists of about three hundred Malagasy proverbs, here called "Shorter clever Speeches resembling Proverbs;" but, as this branch of native wisdom and observation really requires a separate paper in order to do it justice, we shall not here give extracts from this part of the book. Perhaps in some future issue of the Folk-Lore Journal space may be found for a fuller discussion of and examples from the proverbs of the Malagasy than can be conveniently given here as a part of their folk-lore. Besides which, it will be necessary to take illustrations from larger collections than this supplementary one from the work we are chiefly using as a text-book.

The third and fourth sections of the book comprise a small collection of Malagasy riddles and conundrums, Fampànonònana and Safìdy, the latter word meaning "choosings," two somewhat similar things being offered for choice in enigmatical language. Such playing upon words is a favourite amusement of the people; and, as some of them show considerable shrewdness a few examples may be given, all of them beginning with the question, Inona àry izàny? "What then is this?"

1. At night they come without being fetched, and by day they are lost without being stolen?

The stars; for, according to the common belief, they go completely away from their places by day.

2. Cut down, and yet not withering?

Hair, when cut off.

3. Six legs and two feet (lit. "soles")?

Money scales, which have always three strings (legs) for each pan, which is called in native idiom its "tongue," but in the riddle is compared to a foot.