IN WESTERN AFRICA. 
103 
trumpet, made of a bottle with a hole in the neck 
like a flute. He also has an interpreter, who is 
privy to all the wishes of the ^^purrow;” and he 
speaks what they wish, and not what is spoken by 
the trumpet. What the man with the trumpet 
says must be done is done, even to the taking of 
life. No woman is allowed to see either the 
trumpet or the man using it ; and if she should, 
she must die. A boy who strolls into the woods 
where they meet is generally detained, and in- 
troduced into all the superstitions of the purrow. 
All the people in the purrow, or devil’s belly, as 
they call their place of meeting, must ^ cook for 
the devil.’’ 
{<■ 
It is a remarkable fact that circumcision is also 
one of the rites of this order. My antisecret, as 
also my antislavery, principles were strengthened 
by an acquaintance with these institutions in 
Africa. The church and the world would be bet- 
ter without them. 
There are several other secret societies in that 
country, some composed of men solely, and others 
of women. Their names and operations are 
briefly given in a subsequent chapter of this 
volume. 8 
