TRIALS BY ORDEAL. 525 



From this account of the fetishes of the Negroes, it is 

 evident that the rudeness of their idolatry is on a level with 

 the low state of their social condition. A victim to evil pas- 

 sions and to a vague and nameless awe engendered by the fan- 

 tastical and monstrous character of the animal and vegetable 

 productions around him, the Fetissist peoples with malevolent 

 beings the invisible world, and animates material nature with 

 evil influences. The rites of his dark and deadly superstition 

 are all intended to avert evils from himself by transfering them 

 to others ; hence the witchcraft and magic which flow naturally 

 from the system of demonology. 



Like the Schaman of the Polar World, the Negro priest, or 

 professional holy man, is supposed to have the power of control- 

 ling evil spirits, and founds his influence on the gross supersti- 

 tion and baseless fears of those who trust in his agency. His 

 office includes many duties. He is a physician or medicine 

 man, a detecter of sorcery by means of the ordeal, a vase 

 maker, a conjuror or augur, and a prophet. 



As all diseases are attributed by the Fetissist to ' possession,' 

 the medicine man is expected to heal the patient by casting 

 out the devil who has entered his body and disturbs its func- 

 tions. The unwelcome visitant must be charmed away by the 

 sound of drums and dancing, and when the auspicious moment 

 for his expulsion arrives, is enticed from the body of the pos- 

 sessed into some inanimate article, which he will condescend to 

 inhabit. This may be a certain kind of bead, two or more bits 

 of wood bound together by a strip of snake's skin, a lion's or 

 a leopard's claw, and other similar articles, worn round the 

 head, the arm, the wrist, or the ankle. Hence also the habit 

 of driving nails into and hanging rags upon trees, which are 

 considered apt places for the laying of evil spirits. ~ 



The second and perhaps the most profitable occupation of the 

 medicine man is, the detection of sorcery. The unfortunate 

 wretches, accused of practising the black art, are generally 

 required to prove their innocence by submitting to various 

 ordeals, similar to the fire tests of mediaeval Europe. Tlie 

 commonest trial consists in the administration of some poison- 

 ous liquid, such as the red water of the Ashantees, which is 

 extremely apt to find the accused person guilty. If he escape 

 unhurt, however, and without vomiting, he is judged innocent. 



