174 MAYOLO. Chap. IX. 



fetiches, served tlie purpose of the looking-glass used 

 by the coast tribes. The doctor, seated on his stool, 

 looked intently and mysteriously into the water, shook 

 his head, then looked into a lighted torch which he 

 waved over it, made contortions with his body, trying 

 to look as ugly as he could, then smoked the condo- 

 quai (pipe)^ repeated the mummeries over again, and 

 concluded by pronouncing that the persons who 

 were bewitching the village were people belonging 

 to the place. This oracular saying put the people 

 into great consternation ; they all began to ajjpear 

 afiaid of each other ; the nearest relatives were 

 made miserable by mutual suspicions. Mayolo then 

 rose and exclaimed in an excited manner that the 

 mboundou must be drunk, appointing the following 

 morning for the ceremony, as the people had eaten 

 to-day, and the poison must be drunk on an empty 

 stomach. 



At sunrise the next morning the village was empty. 

 All had gone to a little meadow encircled by woods, 

 a short distance away, to take part in the ceremony. 

 Who were the suspected persons was kept secret, 

 partly because they were afraid I would interfere. I 

 thought it, however, better policy not to do so, but 

 attended to witness the proceedings and to ascertain 

 whether they differed from those followed on similar 

 occasions near the coast. On entering the a.ssembly 

 I gave them the usual salutation, and shook hands 

 with Mayolo. It soon appeared that the suspicions 

 of the people fell upon three of Mayolo's nephews, 

 his consecutive heirs, it being thought natural that 

 they should wish to get rid of him. I noticed that 



