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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    the family sit, the part near the door to the south of the hearth being left for the slaves. Exactly opposite the window in the north-east corner is the bedstead. There is usually one bedstead in the house for the master and mistress ; every one else, children, slaves, and others, sleeping on the floor. If there happen to be a large number of visitors, the whole floor will often at night be literally covered with sleepers, so that it is almost impossible to get about without disturbing or treading on some one. A sort of thin mattress of papyrus stalks, covered with mats made from the peel of the same, often serves the double purpose of a seat by day and a bed by night. Another very common bed is made of rofia-cloth filled with dried grass, and this, with a thin pillow of the same, and a fine mat spread over it, constitutes all the bedding of the generality of the Malagasy—no blankets, counterpane, or sheets, except the single lamba worn during the daytime. Winter and summer alike this forms their only covering; and they have a curious custom while sleeping of entirely concealing the head and face, while often leaving the feet uncovered. It is really a wonder that more of them do not become ill, so many sleeping huddled together every night in such small, close houses. The articles just enumerated constitute, with cooking and water- pots, baskets of various kinds, weaving apparatus, spoons and plates, and a box for spare clothes, almost the only furniture in most Malagasy homes. As very few people in country places possess clocks or watches, the natives tell the time by the sun ; and the houses being, as I have said, generally built north and south, the direction of the shadow of the roof, and the creeping of the sunshine across the floor, makes a rough sort of sun-dial which is sufficiently exact for general use. The Malagasy denote the different hours of the day by the following names:— ' Midnight.' 'First cock-crowing' .... (about 3 o'clock in the morning).