156 
DANGEROUS ORDEAL. 
to be^ is a gift from the master, in return for the handsome 
present which he has received. 
They give the name of Simo to this tree or stake, and 
it becomes their tutelar deity 5 they respect and fear it so 
much, that, to prevent any one from going to a particular 
spot, it is only necessary to set up a Simo before it. They 
also swear by it, and believe that a false oath would draw 
upon them the vengeance of this mysterious demon ; they 
are even afraid of lying lest they should provoke its inter- 
ference. 
If any thing is owing to them, or if any one has taken 
from them some article which they cannot recover, they 
piously address their prayers to this bit of wood, and offer 
it a sacrifice of rice, honey, or palm-wine, firing off a gun at 
its foot. This is a species of complaint which they make to 
the Simo, to petition for redress. From this time, if any of 
the debtor's family should fall sick, it is ascribed to the 
agency of the Simo ; the relations in a fright hasten to dis- 
charge the debt, to return what has been stolen, or to make 
reparation if any insult has been offered. 
They believe in sorcery and witchcraft ; whoever is sus- 
pected of sorcery is forthwith delivered to the Simo, who 
acts as chief magistrate. The accused is questioned, and if 
he confesses, he is condemned to pay a fine ; if, on the other 
hand, he maintains his innocence, he is compelled to drink a 
liquor made with the bark of a tree which gives to water a 
beautiful red colour. The accused and the accuser are 
obliged to swallow the same medicine, or rather poison ; they 
must drink it fasting and entirely naked, except that the 
accused is allowed a white pagne, which he wraps round his 
loins. The liquor is poured into a small calabash, and the 
accuser and accused are forced to take an equal quantity, until, 
unable to swallow more, they expel it or die. If the poison 
is expelled by vomiting, the accused is innocent, and then he 
