286 
life,” by the application of which a person recovers, even from 
death itself. 
Many are purposely buried alive in Madagascar. I saw 
an instance of this from my own house; two men were dig- 
ging the grave, whilst the victim was partly driven, and partly 
dragged towards it; on reaching the brink, he was hurled in, 
and heavy stones dashed upon him to deprive him of sensa- 
tion before throwing in the soil. 
'The question as to what constitutes sorcery is enveloped 
in great mystery, because none can be supposed to know, 
who are not, either actually or by connivance, guilty. The 
existence of such supernatural agency is firmly credited by 
all the Malagassy, not excepting those who have learned and 
felt most of the power of the word of God. Many will admit 
thatthe whole proceeding ofthe Tanghin ordeal is but a money- 
getting artifice, yet none will allow that no such thing as sor- 
cery really exists. They aver that incontrovertible proofs can 
be adduced of persons being bewitched; becoming, without 
any other assignable cause, either fools or madmen, and acting 
entirely as if destitute of reason. An instance of this sudden 
privation of reason occurred among the servants of Mr. Grif- 
fiths, in the person of a servant-girl, who was in a state of 
mental alienation or fascination for some time. She wandered 
at night among the rocks, that are inhabited by wild cats and 
owls, and among the tombs, though repeatedly beaten by the 
watchmen, till at length a man, experienced in charms and 
medicines, cured her, It is likewise affirmed that many of 
those who die, confess themselves to have been genuine sor- 
cerers, and compelled by fascination to follow this way of life. 
The wild cats are said voluntarily to follow such individuals, 
and the attestations of the dying persons, that they have used 
no means to attract the creatures, are brought in confirmation 
of the fact. Such pretended confessions may, however, be - 
induced through a desire of speedy death, as the individuals 
who avow such practices are immediately sacrificed; or, pro- 
bably, the disordered state of their minds, affected by. the — : 
action of the poison, may render them unconscious of what 
- they affirm. - mw 
