The children of Madagascar / by Herbert F. Standing.

  • Herbert Standing
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The children of Madagascar / by Herbert F. Standing. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    33 distinguish kings and queens of the same name. You may imagine the confusion which would arise if every one in England was known by his first name only-the hopeless number of Johns and Marys there would be! But this is really very much the state of things in Madagascar. But I think I hear some of you asking, < But what sort of names do the Malagasy have ? and what do these names mean when put into English ?' Very often there is no regular ' giving of a name on the birth of a child, as there is with us ; but for the first few months, or even years, of its life it has no other name than Koto or Boto, which merely mean ' a little boy,' or Ketaka or Kala, ' a little girl. Often some distinguishing epithet is added, generally a word describing the appearance of the baby. Thus, if a little boy has a red skin, they will call him Kbtomhia, 'the red little boy,' mena being the Malagasy word for red ; similarly a light-complexioned little girl will be called Ketamavo or Kcclafotsy, mavo being the word for a light olive-brown colour, and fotsy for white. Often these names are retained all through life, the syllable Ra (for which the English Mr Mrs., or Miss is the nearest equivalent) being prefixed. Thus you will meet quite old men bearing the name Rak6to (which, as I have said, originally meant a little boy) ; but use makes it familiar, and one does not think of the absurdity of the real meaning. Very many other names refer to some peculiarity of appearance. Here are a few, with their meanings :— Ralesoka = Miss Flat-face. Rabary = Master Big-eyes. Rapatsa = Miss Shrimp (because so small). Ikeliloha = Little head. Ibitika = Little tiny. Ramaivana = Master Light- weight. Rapitaka Rabako Ifisaka Rabe Isilaka = Miss Snub-nose. = Master Well- shaped. = Little flat-one. = Master Fat-boy. = Little chip.