4. Lying on the same pillow, but not on the same bed?
The rafters of a roof which lean on the same ridge-piece (or pillow), but rest (that is, the opposite sides) on different wall-plates (or beds).
5. Coarse ròfia cloth outside and white robe inside?
The manioc root, which has a brown skin, but very white floury substance, here contrasted with the ordinary native habit of wearing coarse and often dirty clothing below, and a fine white cloth or làmba over all.
6. If boiled, never cooked; but if roasted, ready directly?
Hair.
7. Cannot be carried, but can easily be removed?
The public road; for, until quite recently, there have been no rights of way in Madagascar, and any one can divert a path as he may please.
8. Fetch the dead on which to place the living?
Ashes and fire, alluding to the common native practice of fetching a live coal or two in a handful of ashes.
9. Standing erect he gazes on heaven (lit. "the Creator"); stooping down he gazes on the oxen's footprints?
Rice, which while growing stands erect, but when ripe bends downwards.
10. Its mother says, Let us spread out our hands, but its children say, Let us double up our fists?
The full-grown fern and the young fern-shoots, alluding to the rounded knobs at the heads of the latter, compared with the outspread fronds of the plant when full grown.
11. The foot above the leg?
The leaves of the horìrika, an edible arum, whose broad leaf is compared to a foot and its stalk to a leg.
12. Cut, and yet no wound seen?
A shadow and water.
13. The mother says, Let us stand up, but the children say, Let us lie across?
A ladder and its rungs, the latter are called "children of the ladder" (zàna-tòhatra).
14 Has a mouth to eat with, but has no stomach to retain food?
A pair of scissors. A cutting edge is called in native idiom its "tongue" (léla).
15. God's little bag, whose stitching is invisible?
An egg.
16. Living on dainties, yet never fat?
A lampstand, which is continually fed with fat.
