Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/144

136 them of Itambarìra, and took them to Rafàra. He then claimed her as his wife, but she refused to be so unless he killed the slave-girl, and brought her blood as a proof of having done so. He consented, but attempted to deceive her, bringing successively the blood of a fowl, of an ox, and of a sheep; but could not deceive her. At length he drew some blood from the hand of the slave-girl, and Rafàra came at last into the town. They were received with feasting and rejoicing; but the mistress at length caused the slave-girl to be put to death, and then was married to Andriamihàmina, who thus obtained his desire and was glad.

The Malagasy folk-tales now given, both in full and in outline, must here suffice as specimens of this hitherto "unwritten literature" of the people of Madagascar. My knowledge of folk-lore literature is, I regret to say, far too limited for me to attempt to point out the points of resemblance or of contrast which these Malagasy stories present to the folk-tales of other parts of the world; and the completion of these translations in Mauritius, while waiting to return to Madagascar, has prevented me from making any reference to books on the subject, or from gaining the help of folk-lorists on this point. I hope, however, that, as Madagascar is on various grounds now exciting considerable attention in England, some students of comparative folk-lore may think these tales worth their study, and may, possibly in some future issues of the Folk-Lore Journal, give the members of the Society the benefit of their examination of them. My object in making these translations will have been accomplished if those now offered excite a greater interest in the people of Madagascar, and especially if they induce others to do in a more complete form what I have here attempted in a very imperfect fashion.

Although given in Mr. Dahle's collection among the folk-tales, one of these stories is so like our English children's play of "The House that Jack built," that it may be more appropriately given in this place. It is as follows:—

Once upon a time this Ibotìty went and climbed a tree; and when