Nor, we are told, are these two incidents [about dead people returning] isolated, for in the evening, around the fire, what extraordinary ghost stories are to be heard! And even more would be heard if the people dared to speak quite freely in the presence of a missionary. One individual comes to tell you quietly that he had a visit from a dead person during the night. A husband talked at length to his wife. She left him instructions for his conduct… And so on.
The same missionary quotes a letter, that came into his hands by chance, from one native to another. It appears that a man of Ambatolampy, a village in the district of Isoavimbazaha, who died ten years before, being displeased with the behaviour of his descendants, decided to reveal himself to them.
He began to throw stones at them, nor could they see whence they came. Then he started breaking the pots and pans. He tired of this also and began to whistle. At last his children cried out, “If you have something good to tell us, say it, but stop frightening us.” This went on for some time, and he continued by removing the slates and breaking the thread when weaving was going on.
Eventually his voice began to be heard; he made his complaints, expounded the ten commandments, and requested that place should be made for him at table. The food disappeared, but no one saw him eat, though the sound of his jaws was heard.
The story got round and on the 7th of August 1909, 400 persons, including the elite of the neighbourhood, such as the governor, the midwife, teachers and evangelists, assembled on the spot saying it was all lies. They went into the house, and, in order to see more clearly, they made a fire, when suddenly a voice was heard saying, “Even if there were great lights, you would not see me, for I am spirit…”*
What a poltergeist! And what opportunities for a Madagascar S.P.R!
Evocation of the dead and kindred phenomena among the natives of Madagascar. By Theodore Besterman.
Proceedings of the S.P.R, v38. 1928-29.