'JO 
WESTERN AFRICA. 
many things are ascribed to the witches,— 
such 'as sudden turns in fortune, diseases of 
different kinds, and extraordinary incidents 
in life. 
When any thing occurs which is supposed 
to be the work of witches, no matter 
what it is, some person or persons are ap- 
prehended as the guilty party: and the 
"witch master's ?? skill is the umpire to 
establish the innocency or guilt of the ac- 
cused. 
Another mode of trial is to give the 
accused poisonous drinks, which they say 
are fatal if the person is guilty, but harm- 
less if innocent. If the victim be an enemy 
of those trying him, death is certain ; but 
if a friend, they may easily save his life s 
by making the poisonous draught very 
weak. 
The draught generally administered, is a 
decoction of the sassy wood bark, and when 
strong is a rank poison ; but 5 if too large a 
draught is given, it acts as an emetic, and 
in this case death does not result. 
When persons have been convicted of 
witchcraft, they are tortured in various ways 
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