288 
tion of the Tanghin ordeal in 1830, was that Her Majesty 
was bewitched and rendered ill and that the death of the 
sorcerer alone could remove her complaints. 
But although no very distinct information can be obtained 
on what constitutes a proof of sorcery, yet several signs are 
exhibited after the accusation, to those conversant with the 
business. It would be tedious to specify many; but gene- 
rally the following are remarked. The guilty person, on 
being apprehended, makes a boisterous assertion of his inno- 
cence, assuring his friends with the utmost confidence of his 
approaching escape. Various prognostics that are observed 
on the way to the place of drinking, are unfavourable to him, 
as are the answers of divination returned by the Skid. On 
killing the fowl of which soup is made for the vehicle of 
Tanghin, its heart is observed to incline to the side, instead _ 
of being upright, thus showing that the accused is * malaka,” 
i. e. crooked or guilty. The Tanghin turns reddish, instead - 
of being pure white; the vomiting is attended with great 
pain and difficulty, and the skin is dry; whereas the innocent - 
vomit easily, and perspire freely. Uneasiness and distress 
mark the whole appearance, the eyes of the sufferer become 
red and fiery, he is indisposed to eat the rice, and to drink 
the ríce-water; swelling of the body and other unequivocal 
symptoms of death appear, or if these signs of decease do 
not come on, the poor wretch is presently killed on the 
ground of the obvious omens of guilt. Some few, however, 
escape on the plea that they are ** azondoya,” or held by the 
power of evil without being voluntarily culpable, or by allow- 
ing what forms indeed an unanswerable argument against the 
entire system, that perhaps the stomach had consumed or 
digested the three bits of skin before the vomiting took place, 
so that the appearance of these pieces, which would furnish 
an undeniable proof of innocence, is rendered impossible. - 
It were needless to make many comments on the revolting 
character of the whole transaction. Its history shows how — 
deeply seated in the hearts of men are the belief and the ap- — 
prehension of a power superior to their own, while it exhibits — 
a grievous picture of the purpose to which human beings. 
