THE TIMBU. 



<>■> 



kinds of leaves of trees, among which was the 

 pomegranate leaf; there were likewise two or 

 three bits of rag, earth of a peculiar kind, ashes 

 which were of the bones of some animal ; and 

 there might be other ingredients besides, but 

 these were what I could recognise. The woman 

 either could not from ignorance, or would not, 

 give any information respecting the several things 

 of which the ball was composed. I made this 

 serious matter of the mandinga, from knowing 

 the faith which not only many of the negroes 

 have in it, but also some of the mulatto people ; 

 however I explained to every one that I was an- 

 gry with her from the bad intention of the 

 scheme, and not from any belief that it would 

 have any effect. There is another name for this 

 kind of charm ; it is Jeitifo, and the initiated are 

 calledfeitifeiros ; of these there was one formerly 

 at the plantation of St. Joam, upon the island, 

 who became so much dreaded that his master 

 sold him to be sent to Maranham. 



Old Apollinario was useful to me in taking 

 care of my poultry. I had great quantities of 

 the common fowl, and as I had cleared the land 

 to a considerable distance around the house, the 

 fowls had a good range without being molested 

 by the foxes. 1 had ducks, turkeys, and pigeons, 

 the young of these last were frequently destroy- 

 ed by the timbu ; this animal is about the size of 

 a small cat, and has a long tail, which is scaly and 



