and spear to kill him, but he could do nothing to harm him, for the spear bent double when he hurled it. Upon that, Ibonia planted some arums and plantain-trees, and said to his parents, "If these grow withered, then I am ill; and if they die, that is a sign that I also am dead." That being done, he went away and came to an old man who took care of Ravàtovòlovoày's plantain-trees, and asked him, "What is it you take with you, when you go to visit your master?"[1] The old man replied, "A few plantains, and some rice with honey, my lad." So in the morning—for he slept there that night—he plucked off the old man's hair from his head so that the whole skin from his body came away with it. Then Ibonia covered himself with it, while he fetched some plantains and prepared rice and honey to take to Ravàtovòlovoày. So he came presently to his village; and when the people there saw him they said, "The old man's come," for they did not know Ibonia, because he was covered with the old man's skin. Then he said, "I am come, children, to visit you." So they took the plantains and the rice which he had brought to the prince, for Ravàtovòlovoày was a prince. And they cooked rice for the old man (Ibonia) and gave it to him in the servants' plate, but he would not eat from that, but said, "Fetch me a plantain-leaf on which to eat.[2] You know well enough how well my wife and I live, so why do you give me such a plate as that?" On the day following his arrival, it was announced that the chief would have sport with throwing at a mark with a cross-piece of wood, and so the old man went with the rest. When they came to the place where the mark was set up, the chief aimed at it, but not one of the people could hit it. Then said the old man, "Just give me a cord that I may catch hold of it." So they gave him one, and he was successful with the one the chief had missed. Then the chief said, "This is not the old man, but some one altogether different, so give a spear and gun that I may attack him." But the old man said, "Why, who else is it but me, my son, for I am only showing the strength I used to possess? "So the chief let him off, and went on playing with the cross-piece of wood. And as they went on with the game the old man pressed in with the rest, but did
- ↑ A Malagasy seldom visits a superior without taking some present or offering.
- ↑ Fresh plantain leaves, or the leaves of the traveller's tree, were the original plates and dishes of the Malagasy; and are still used as such by the coast tribes and forest people. Even where the people have plates, leaves are often placed upon them to receive rice and other food.
