YOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 233 



folemnity* The orator flaughtered a vidim; 

 received the blood in an earthen veflTel ; and 

 mixed with it fea-water, pimento, gun-flints 

 broken, and bruifed very fine, and a fmall 

 quantity of earth and gun-powder, moiften- 

 ed with tafia ^ or fpirit made from the fugar- 

 cane. Two leaden bullets ferved him to 

 pound thefe different ingredients, in ordar 

 to form a kind of beverage, which he 

 wiftied the devil might convert into poifon 

 for all thofe who, having drunk of it, fhould 

 not adhere to their oath. He then took two 

 lances, or aiTagays, and dipped the points 

 of them m the liquor, while John Harre 

 fprinkled a few drops of it upon the ground. 

 The orator, afterwards, taking a knife in 

 his right hand, and firft invoking the god 

 of the whites, and then that of the black?^ 

 begged them with a loud voice to infpire 

 into the hearts of both peace, amity, con- 

 cord, aad fmcerity- 



Then 



