Extracts from Dr. Winterbottom 's Travels . 



When liquor is brought in, although there is no sacri- 

 fice made, a small part is always set apart for the Griffee; 

 and the natives when rowing- in canoes, never pass any of the 

 sacred rocks without stopping to pour out a libation to the 

 residence of the spirit, before they would venture to put a 

 foot upon the Island. It was formerly the custom to per- 

 form religious duties in groves planted for the purpose, 

 or the dark recesses of a forest were appropriated to this use; 

 and their custom seems to be followed in Africa at the 

 present day, where under the shade of the Wild Cotton or 

 Pullum Tree, they assemble to perform their sacrifices and 

 other rites. 



To the Yahowoos, or evil spirits, are attributed all the 

 misfortunes and afflictions occasionable to man ; death, 

 wounds, bruizes, and all the unlucky accidents of life 

 are therefore supposed to be reducible from their malign 

 influence. They therefore direct their prayers and suppli- 

 cations to them, as alone capable of appeasing their 

 malevolence. Near the coast of Sierra Leone, superstition 

 seems to acquire a greater power and influence over the 

 human mind; at Whidah the principal national worship of 

 the country is confined to Serpents, and the King Snake, 

 which is much worshiped there, is said to be caught wild 

 and capable of being tamed. They are about the length and 

 thickness of a man's arm, beautiful in appearance, being 

 grey covered with brown and yellow spots. They are 

 harmless and enter boldly every house, in which is meat 

 and drink constantly ready for them, and priests appointed 

 to serve them. The Feteesh also may be reckoned as an 

 important minor deity, and is represented by a snake, 

 leopard, alligator, tree, &c. Upon the Kree Coast every 

 person has his peculiar Feteesh, which is sometimes a goat, 

 % fowl, a fish, &c. all which he never presumes to eat. 



