17. Earth under the person, the person under dry grass, dry grass under water, and water again surrounded by earth?
A water-carrier and the waterpot he (or she) carries, together with a ring of dry grass used as a pad for the water-pot, the water carried, and the earthen síny or pot enclosing the water.
18. When the little one comes the great one takes off its hat?
The great store waterpot in a house, from which the straw cover or hat is removed when water is drawn with a horn or tin ladle.
19. Dead before it begins to bluster?
A drum, referring to the bullock's skin of which it is made.
20. Many shields, many spears, yet cannot protect wife and children?
The lemon tree, alluding to the spines on the branches and the round fruits.
In the appendix to the book three specimens of conundrum games are given, the custom being for the proposer to mention first a number of things from a dozen to thirty, calling upon the rest of the party to guess what they are when he has done. In the first of these a number of insects, birds, and household objects, are mentioned by some more or less vague description of them, such as, "Adornment of the sovereign? The people," "Horns (i.e. protection) of the people? Guns." "Top-knot of the town? A big house." "Two-thirds of his sense gone before he gets arms and legs? A tadpole, when it changes to a frog," &c.
In the second game all the different parts of an ox are described in an enigmatical way, thus: "God's pavement? Its teeth." "Two lakes at the foot of a tree? Its eyes." "Continually fighting, but never separating? Its lips." "Blanket worn day and night and can't be torn? Its skin," &c.
In the third game occur the following: "Fragrance of the forest? Ginger." "Fat of the trees? Honey." "The lofty place good refuge from the flood? Antanànarìvo." "The lofty place good for sheltering? Ambòhimànga."[1] "Rising up and not questioned? The roof-posts of the house;" for a native, when rising up from the mat, would invariably be asked, "Ho aiza moa hìanao?" "Where are you going?"
- ↑ Because of the woods which clothe the slopes of the hill.
(To be continued.)
