AFRICA. 179 
taken It into her head toad the forcerefs ; 
fince the idea of gaining pre-eminence over 
others by means of tricks, fuppofes an addrefs 
and cunning fuperlor to the underftanding of 
a favage, and a kind of calculation of events 
beyond what fo unpradifed a mind is capable 
of forming. But experience has demonflrated 
the poffibility of weaker impofing on more 
enlightened minds, and^ arguing from the 
greater to the lefs, it is not altogether fo abfurd 
to believe a little in witchcraft. But, whatever 
opinion might be entertained of my pythonefs, 
it is certain, that the dread of her fuppofed 
power was of great utility, not only to her 
own horde, but alfo to the adjacent ones. The 
place (he inhabited appeared to the favages 
much more fecure than any other : accordingly 
numbers colleded round her, and this it was 
that occafioned her horde to be fo populous. 
The Bolhmen themfelves dreaded her, Thefe 
robbers never attempted to plunder the terri- 
tory where Ihe took up her abode ; and fhe 
had even acquired fuch an afcendancy over 
them, that, if any one of their thefts came to 
her knowledge, flie fet oS immediately, alone 
and unguarded, proceeded to their retreats in 
N 2 the 
