IN WESTERN AFRICA. 
77 
that he will judge, and correctly decide the 
palavers’’ of men if they importunately and 
perseveringly plead with him to do so when very 
im'poriant matters are in dispute. 
They suppose that God is very comfortably sit- 
uated in the upper world, and that he concerns 
himself only for his own happiness, unless some- 
thing of more than common interest, among men, 
requires his attention and interposition. 
They hold that a being whom they call devil 
is the author of all providence, and that he 
is able to bring good or ill luck upon them — 
especially ill luck. They attribute to him power 
to injure by storm, lightning, and various other 
means, and even to take the lives of those whose 
destruction he seeks. To keep on good terms 
with him is the main object and work of their re- 
ligion; and hence they pray and sacrifice to him, 
with the view of deprecating his wrath and se- 
curing his friendship. 
Every town has its ‘^devil-house,” or houses, 
where they suppose he comes, and to these they re- 
sort to offer up their sacrifices. They suppose that 
some “devils” run at large, while others have a 
particular locality, and generally in the neighbor- 
hood 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 
