WONDERFUL THINGS IN AFRICA. 
17 
In the evening the Sfaxee and Yusuf came to 
pay us a visit, and related divers sorts of wonders of 
this and other countries of Africa. The first matter 
concerned us. Eight days ago died in Tintalous 
an old witch, or prophetess, a n egress, who foretold 
our arrival, and said to En-lNfoor, " A caravan of 
Englishmen is on the road from Tripoli, coming to 
you." This woman for many years was a foreteller 
of future events. The next thing we heard referred 
to the secret societies of Central Africa. Some of 
the chiefs of these societies have the power of killing 
with their eyes. One of these fellows is known to 
have gone to a merchant, in whose arms was sleep- 
ing a pretty female slave, and to have entered into 
conversation with him, asking him how he was, &c. 
In the meanwhile the wizard cast his eyes upon the 
pretty slave, and its heart withered. This power is 
accordingly much dreaded. If, however, any one 
perceive the incantation of the wizard, and say, 
" Begone, you son of a brach ! " he immediately flees, 
like a dog with his tail between his legs. 
In parts of Bornou, also, extraordinary things 
sometimes happen. There are men in those places 
who have the power of assuming the shapes of wild 
animals. This they do mostly in the nights. Under 
the form of lions and leopards, they go to the tents 
of strangers, and endeavour to lure them forth by 
calling out their proper names with a perfect human 
voice. If any one is so imprudent as to obey the 
summons and issue forth, he is at once devoured. 
vol. 11. • c 
