[177] This is the opinion of Hartland. He quotes Ellis, _History of Madagascar_, and Sibree, _The Great African Island_. I am able to speak as to the truths of the facts given in their books from my knowledge of the Malagasy before the French occupation of the island. Madagascar is my birth-place, and my father was a missionary in the country at the same time as Mr. Ellis and Mr. Sibree. [178] As an instance of the importance attached to children, I may mention the fact that, after my birth my father was not announced to preach under his own name, but as "the father of Keteka," the Malagasy equivalent of my name. [179] Frazer, _Golden Bough_, Pt. I. _The Magical Art_, Vol. II. p. 277. [180] Father Guilleme, Missiones Catholiques, XXXIV. (1902), p. 16. [181] Lubbock, _Origin of Civilisation_, p. 151. [182] Frazer, _Ibid._, p. 276. [183] "Birth," we are told by a keen observer, who has lived for many years in intimate converse with the natives, "sanctifies the child; birth alone gives him status as a member of his mother's family" (Dennett, _Jour. Afr. Soc._, I. p. 265). [184] _Travels_, p. 109. [185] Hartland, quoting Mr. Sarbah, a native barrister, _op. cit._, Vol. I. p. 286. [186] Lippert, _Kulturgeschichte_, Vol. II. p. 57. [187] This is done among the Beni Amer on the shores of the Red Sea and in the Barka valley, which is the more remarkable as mother-descent has fallen into desuetude under the influence of Islamism. (Hartland, Vol. I. p. 274, quoting Munzinger, _Ostafrikanische studien_.) [188] Bastian, _Loango-Kueste_, I. p. 166. [189] Dennett, _Jour. Afr. Soc._, I. p. 266. [190] _Jour. Afr. Soc._, I. p. 412. See Hartland, _op. cit._, Vol. I, pp. 275-288. [191] A similar custom prevails among Maori people of New Zealand. When a child dies, or even meets with an accident, the mother's relations, headed by her brother, turn out in force against the father. He must defend himself until wounded. Blood once drawn the combat ceases; but the attacking party plunders his house and appropriates the husband's property, and finally sits down to a feast provided by him (_Old New Zealand_, p. 110). This case is the more extraordinary as the Maori reckon descent through the father; it is doubtless a custom persisting from an earlier time. [192] Macdonald, _Africana_, Vol. I. p. 136. [193] _Jour. Afr. Soc._, VIII. pp. 15-17. This tribe now traces descent through the father. [194] Torday and Joyce, _J.A.I._, XXXV. p. 410. [195] Arnot, _Garenganze_, p. 242. [196] Spencer, _Descriptive Sociology_, Vol. V. p. 8, citing Petherick, _Egypt, the Soudan, and Central Africa_, pp. 140-144. This case is quoted by Thomas, _op, cit._, pp. 85, 86.