330 
Mr Maxwell's Ohser'vations 
cent, presented with a mark of distinction upon the spot, and is 
ever after thought worthy of unreserved confidence. The at- 
testation of his innocence is merely a piece of calabash shell, 
about the size of a dollar, painted white, and fastened, by means 
of a string embracing the circumference of' the head, to the right 
temple. My friend. Captain J. V. Aubinais of Nantz, witnes- 
sed one of these trials : it was that of a woman accused of infide- 
lity to her husband. The moment she began to sicken and 
stagger, the spectators burst into the circle and dispatched her 
with their knives and daggers, first cutting off her breasts. Such 
a custom is too savage to enlarge upon ; but it appears evident 
to me, that the fate of the unfortunate individual is determined 
beforehand, according to his wealth or power, and that when he 
does escape with impunity, some less deleterious drug must have 
been substituted for the cassah. This poison is prepared from 
the bark of a tree ; its colour is a bright red ; and the fracture 
of the bark presents a resinous appearance. 
Palm Tree . — The palm is the most valuable tree that grows 
in Africa. Besides wine, it yields a sweet nutritive oil ; with 
its leaves the natives thatch their houses; and with the small 
wiry threads that hang from its branches, they string their mu- 
sical instruments ; not to mention many other useful purposes 
it serves. It sometimes attains the height of 120 feet ; but the 
stem, considering its great length, is slender. The branches fall off 
annually, and leave knobs like those of a cabbage stalk. 
The natives in this part of Africa are extravagantly fond of 
palm wine, which is very pleasant to the taste when first drawn 
from the tree ; but until it has undergone fermentation they sel- 
dom drink it : then, akhough not so agreeable to an European 
palate, they relish it more highly; perhaps from the inebriating 
quality it has acquired. 
The wine is obtained by making an incision in the tender 
head of the tree, and collecting it in a calabash, into which it is 
conveyed by means of a small splinter of wood, communicating 
with the incision. The mouth of the calabash is lightly cover- 
ed with dry grass, to keep off the swarms of flies and wasps. It 
is then left until such time as, from experience, it is known to be 
nearly full ; when a man again ascends the tree with empty ves- 
sels at his belt, to replace the full ones, which he brings down 
