138 THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS. 



administered, she knew, by anotlier woman whom he had 

 wronged. But she dared not speak. She had not courage 

 enough to be poisoned herself likewise. 



It is easy to conceive the terrorism, and the exactions in 

 the shape of fowls, plantains, rum, and so forth, which are at 

 the command of an Obeah practitioner, who is believed by the 

 Nesro to be invulnerable himself, while lie is both able and 

 willing to destroy them. ISTothing but the strong arm of 

 English law can put down the sorcerer; and that seldom 

 enough, owing to the poor folks' dread of giving evidence. 

 Thus a woman, Madame Phyllis by name, ruled in a 

 certain forest-hamlet of Trinidad. Like Deborah of old, 

 she sat uiider her own palm-tree, and judged her little Israel 

 by the Devil's law instead of God's. Her murders (or 

 supposed murders) were notorious : but no evidence could be 

 obtained; Madame Phyllis dealt in poisons, charms, and 

 philtres ; and waxed fat on her trade for many a year. The 

 first shock her reputation received was from a friend of mine, 

 who, in his Government duty, planned out a road which ran 

 somewhat nearer her dwelling than was pleasant or safe for 

 her privacy. She came out denouncing, threatening. The 

 coloured workmen dared not proceed. My friend persevered 

 coolly ; and Madame, finding that the Government official 

 considered himself Obeah-proof, tried to bribe him off, wdth 

 the foolish cunning of a savage, with a present of bottled 



