404 A DIVINER TRASHED. 



stolen the dead man's goods, and that now the spirit was 

 killing the child of Captain Neves for the part he had 

 taken in the affair. The diviner in his response revealed 

 the impression made on his own mind by the sale, and 

 likewise the native ideas of departed sonls. As they give 

 the whites credit for greater stupidity than themselves in 

 all these matters, the mother of the child came, and told 

 the father that he ought to give a slave to the diviner, as 

 a fee to make a sacrifice to appease the spirit and save the 

 life of the child. The father quietly sent for a neighbour, 

 and, though the diviner pretended to remain in his state of 

 ecstasy, the brisk application of two sticks to his back 

 suddenly reduced him to his senses, and a most undignified 

 flight. 



The mother of this child seemed to have no confidence 

 in European wisdom ; and though I desired her to keep 

 the child out of currents of wind, she preferred to follow 

 her own custom, and even got it cupped on the cheeks. 

 The consequence was that the child was soon in a dying 

 state, and the father, wishing it to be baptized, I com- 

 mended its soul to the care and compassion of Him who 

 said, " Of such is the kingdom of heaven." The mother 

 at once rushed away, and commenced that doleful wail 

 which is so affecting, as it indicates sorrow without hope. 

 She continued it without intermission until the child was 

 buried. In the evening her female companions used a 

 small musical instrument, which produced a kind of 

 screeching sound, as an accompaniment of the death wail. 



In the construction of this instrument they make use of 

 caoutchouc, which, with a variety of other gums, is found 

 in different parts of this country. 



The intercourse which the natives have had with white 

 men does not seem to have much ameliorated their con- 

 dition. A great number of persons are reported to lose 

 their lives annually in different districts of Angola, by the 

 cruel superstitions to which they are addicted, and the 

 Portuguese authorities either know nothing of them, or 

 are unable to prevent their occurrence. The natives are 

 bound to secrecy by those who administer the ordeal, 

 which generally causes the death of the victim. A person, 

 when accused of witchcraft, will often travel from distant 

 districts in order to assert her innocence and brave the 

 test. They come to a river on the Cassange called Dua, 

 drink the infusion of a poisonous tree, and perish unknown. 



