78 
WESTERN AFRICA. 
these they resort to offer up their sacrifices. 
They suppose that some " Devils" run at 
large; whilst others have a particular 
locality, in the neighborhood of a cataract, 
a large stone in the river, or a large tree in 
the forest. When they pass such places 
they always manifest great reverence and 
fear ; and if they suppose the " Devil " there 
is angry, they will sacrifice to him. Our 
boatmen while passing a rough place in the 
water said, " Devil angry too much, that 
make the water rough. 35 
I saw a place on the Boom river where 
they had a u Devil house "in the woods, 
and on the top of it was a country cloth 
which was put there for his use. At another 
time I saw them bring a quantity of rice 
and palm oil, and place them near the 
" Devil house." They often take the best 
food they have, prepared in the best order, 
and give it to the "Devil" to eat. They 
suppose him to be of similiar tastes to them- 
selves, and hence such articles of food as 
they relish they give him. At another time 
I saw them put a quantity of rice in an iron 
pot, which was sunk into the ground its 
