Liberia ^ 



before dying he requested the people, when he was dead, to 

 bury his body in some hirge rice farm. Spider then died, 

 and his body was accordingly interred in his uncle's largest 

 farm. Now every morning after this, when the people came 

 out to the farm, they would perceive that either rice or some 

 other articles had been stolen away in the previous night. 

 This thing was carried on every night for a week. Several 

 attempts were made to lay hands on the thief, but without 

 the least success. There was no one who could for a single 

 moment guess who it was. So they repaired to the More 

 man,^ to seek his priestly advice, or if possible to have the 

 person described to them. The priest, however, told them 

 to go and make a wax doll in the shape of a young girl, 

 and place it near the corner in the kitchen, and in the 

 morning on their return they would find the burglar had 

 been caught. 



As the shades of night gradually fell, the disheartened 

 labourers began to retire from their daily toil. There was a 

 perfect stillness — all the flirmers had gone home — and when 

 it was nearly midnight. Spider crept out easily from his grave 

 and went into the kitchen on a hunt for some rice. He hurried 

 over his search, got everything he wanted, and commenced 

 cooking. When the blaze became brighter and he looked 

 around for a spoon to stir his rice, his eyes suddenly fell on 

 the beautiful-looking Boni girl standing in the corner. So 

 he laughed and said, "Ha! ha! Are you here seeing me 

 burn my hands, and won't come to my assistance ? " 



Mr. Spider was puzzled because the figure did not reply, 

 and now dropping the spoon on the ground he stepped up 

 boldly to her and laid his left hand on her shoulder. 



The pots soon beo;an to burn ; he made several attempts 



' Muhammadan diviner. 

 1088 



