"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:—
Rubbed with sheep's dung,
Tomato seed, gourd seed;
Cucumbers full of flattery,
Flattered by that deceiver.
Shall he die whose fate is evil? &c. &c.
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:
Oh granny O! oh granny!
Desolate, desolate, say I, O!
Your grandchildren young locusts passing.
And so wake up, wake up, say I, O!
For miserable are the many children;
And so come back, come back, say I, O!
For starving are the many little ones!
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[1] 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:
- ↑ These are believed to be the aboriginal inhabitants of the central provinces of Madagascar, a race short of stature, and unacquainted with the use of iron; and are said to have been driven westward by a Hova king, named Andriamanélo. A remnant of this tribe is said to be still existing in the western part of Madagascar. Their tombs are regarded with superstitious dread, and they are supposed to appear to people in their dreams. They are mostly malevolent spirits, according to the popular belief.
