268 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AEEICA. 
the concourse of people was considerable — maintained the man 
had been bewitched. General examination^ therefore^ became ne- 
cessary ; the result of which was the discovery that the patient was 
suffering from inflammation of the lungs and a broken arm. The 
latter injury had been obtained several days ago in a drunken 
brawl, and, at the Doctor^s request, I stated a piece of wood for the 
purpose of making splints, and some cotton were required, which, 
when obtained, would enable us to attempt a cure. Apathy and un- 
belief, however, predominated so strongly against reason, that they 
were not to be persuaded out of their favourite theory of the power of 
witchcraft, and the simple materials were not forthcoming. During 
several days the poor fellow lingered, and occasionally, apparently 
dying, he was, notwithstanding all our remonstrances, carried out 
of his hut and bathed in cold water, under exposure to cutting 
north-east winds. On one occasion, attracted by a greater con- 
course of people than usual, I went to see what inconsistency was 
taking place, when I found Neangara kneeling a yard or two from 
the fast-dying man, intent on cutting the throat of a fowl. The 
relatives and a crowd of people stood in a semicircle, eagerly and 
silently watching the ceremony, which I learnt was a medium of 
discovering the sorcerer. I cautiously withdrew a few paces, and, 
to my great satisfaction, the expiring fowl struggled directly to the 
sick man^s side, where it died. Had it unfortunately moved towards 
any other individual, he would instantly have been assailed and 
murdered by the bystanders, unless by a miraculous flight he or 
she could reach an adjoining friendly tribe, to amalgamate with, 
for life. 
The following evening closed the earthly career of the poor man, 
and the howling, yelling, fifing, and drumming, that succeeded his 
last gasp were as surprising as indiscribable. The sort of fife or 
