178 DISCOVERIES OF THE ENGLISH. 
two months at perfect liberty, and to steal poul- 
try, and even occasionally a cow, in order to re- 
gale themselves. The ceremony itself was the 
occasion of a splendid festival, to which the neigh- 
bourhood had flocked from the distance of twenty 
miles. Fires were kindled under every large tree, 
and the solemnity was announced from a distance 
to the travellers, by the noise of " shouts, drums, 
" and country music. The roaring, shouting, and 
" dancing, continued all night.'* A prominent 
part on such occasions was always acted by a be- 
ing called Horey, which our author interprets 
" the devil." His presence is announced by a 
loud roaring noise, issuing from the heart of the 
woods, or from rocky cavities. This continues 
until a large store of the contents of the feast is 
laid down near the spot, the whole of which, on 
the departure of the donors, very rapidly disap- 
pears. Should this propitiatory gift be withheld, 
or should its amount appear unsatisfactory, the 
offended deity seeks redress by seizing on a young 
boy, whom he is reported to keep lodged in his 
stomach, until a more copious supply of " belly- 
" timber" appeases his resentment. Jobson saw 
several who had been thus rescued from the jaws 
of the fiend. They bore on their countenance 
every mark of the deepest consternation, but 
maintained an immoveable silence ; nor could our 
author, even by presenting his musket, induce 
