THE ORATORY, SONGS, LEGENDS, AND FOLK-TALES OF THE MALAGASY.
By the Rev. James Sibree, Junior.
THE THREE SISTERS AND ITRÌMOBÉ.
HERE was once a certain couple who were very rich, and they had three children, all daughters. And of these children of theirs, the youngest, Ifàravàvy ("last female"), was the prettiest.
One day Ifàra had a dream, and told it to her sisters; said she, "I have had a dream, lasses, and I dreamt that the son of the sun came from heaven to take a wife from among us, and it was I whom he took, for you two he left behind."
Then the two sisters were very angry about it, and said, "It is true enough that she is prettier than we are, and if a prince or noble should seek a wife he would choose her, and not care for us; so let us consider what to do. Come, let us take her out to play, and find out from people which of us they consider the best looking." So they called Ifàra, and said, "Come, Ifàra, let us go and play."
So they went away all dressed in their best, and soon met an old woman. "Granny," said they, "which of us three sisters is the prettiest?" "Ràmatoà (the eldest) is good looking, Ràivo (the middle one) is good looking, but Ifàra is better looking than either." "Oh, dear," said they, "there's no doubt Ifàra is prettier than we are." So they took off Ifara's làmba (the outer native dress, a large oblong piece of cloth).
Presently they met an old man. "Grandfather," they said, "who is the prettiest of us three sisters?" "Ràmatoa is good looking, Ràivo is good looking, but Ifàra is better looking than either." "Dear me! although deprived of her lamba she is still prettier than we are." So they stripped her of her under clothing.
Then they met with Itrìmobé. (This was an immense monster, half
