Note 26 — Chapter XVIII · SOUTHWARDS TO BÉTSILÉO AND THE SOUTH-EAST COAST
Reading edition
A writer in a defunct newspaper, The Madagascar Times, of 10th August 1889, describes in so true and graphic a fashion the old style of Malagasy filanjàna bearers, in the following rhymes, that I think they are well worth preserving in these pages:—
Bearing their burdens cheerily, laughing the livelong day, Pacing o’er dale and mountain, wending their toilsome way; Puffing and panting, up hills steeply slanting, Skilfully bearing the filanjàna canting, Grumbling not at the sun’s scorching ray. Wading through swamp and brooklet, splashing their course along, Bounding through plain and forest, thinking the track not long. Chattering and pattering, with tongue ever clattering, Joyous if of it the Vazàha has a smattering; Growling not at the rain’s stinging thong. Pacing with even footsteps, never losing time, Changing places racing, like the measured beat of rhyme. Lifting and shifting, but never desisting, Always each other with pleasure assisting; Happy through all the toiling daytime. Tramping with wondrous vigour, moving with easy grace, Pausing not in their journey, dashing as in a race; Smiling and wiling, for a present beguiling, Ever joke-cracking, if the Vazàha is not riling— Such is the life of our native mpilànja, This is the marvellous way that they keep up the pace!
Note.—“Vazàha” is the native word for Europeans; mpilànja means a filanjàna bearer.