dare not kill or eat the kingfisher. Many believe this, and honour the little bird so called.
Here in Imérina many people used to supplicate of the Vazimba thus: “If thou wilt prosper me,” or, “If I recover from this disease,” or “If my child, or my wife, bears a child,” etc., etc., “then I will anoint thee [meaning the ancient graves called Vazimba graves] with fat and will reverence thee, and then I will sacrifice sheep and fowls in thine honour.”
THE CHAMELEON AND THE LIZARD.
These two creatures, it is said, are children of sisters born of one mother,[1] and one day they happened to be sitting together at the foot of a tree. The lizard began the conversation thus: “A pleasant thing it is to live, good friend.” The chameleon replied, “Living is pleasant enough, but life is full of danger.” The lizard was astonished to hear that, and said, “You, fellow, think so because you’re so thin and with bulging eyes.” The chameleon replied, “And you, fellow, imagine so because you’re ugly and dirty-brown coloured, that’s why.”
And thus the two abused one another until Raòlobélona (Mr. Human-being) came up, and they were each startled. The lizard slunk into his hole, and the chameleon climbed up the tree, and it is said they were never friends afterwards.
IRISH FOLK-TALES.
By James Britten, F.L.S.
HE following story was taken down by John Hannen, aged 12, at the dictation of his father, John Hannen, a native of Kildorrery, co. Cork.
V.—The Story of Grey Norris from Warland.
Now there once was a king’s son named John, and this John was very fond of playing ball in the ball-alley. One day he was playing
- ↑ Sisters’ children are considered by the Malagasy as almost the same as children of the same mother; they could no more intermarry than can brothers and sisters, while the marriage of brothers’ children is quite common.
