1^6 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
The count alone maintained an immoveable si- 
lence. After sermon, Merolla and his superior 
" were in a thousand doubts about this hum- 
** ming." All whom they inquired at evaded 
the question ; till at length they prevailed upon 
one to come to the houscj when having treated 
him copiously with aquavitae and roll tobacco, 
they at length extorted the secret. The count, 
it seems, having entertained suspicions of a plot 
against his life, had put a number of the people 
under the hands of the magicians, to undergo the 
Bolungo. Several persons having fallen victims 
to this barbarous mode of trial, the word kill had 
suggested it to the audience, who raised the hum 
in token of suppressed approbation. The bolun- 
go consists in causing the suspected person to 
drink the prepared juices of certain herbs, which, 
if he is guilty, produce fainting, convulsions, and 
death ; but if innocent, prove totally harmless. 
The missionary very probably conjectures, that 
the magicians modify the draught, according to 
their good or ill-will towards the individual. 
Merolla immediately hastened to the count, and 
openly charged him with this inhuman and pagan 
proceeding. The count did not harden himself 
in his iniquity, but " fell on his knees, weeping 
" and lamenting like another David." He urged, 
however, that the test had been applied, not in 
the usual mode, but according to an improved 
