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and children are placed, that in case a reverse should 
happen, they may not be be discovered by the enemy. 
The last preparatory step, is to consult the 
Ombiasse respecting the result of it. Spreading 
some sand (which he has previously charmed) on a 
board, very smooth, he writes some cabalistic cha¬ 
racters on it. A perfectly upright tree is then found, 
and a bald-face cow being brought to it, is killed, and 
some of the' blood smeared on the tree by the magi¬ 
cian,who then invokes the demons and spirits of their 
forefathers; informing them that their sons, grand¬ 
sons, &c. are going to make w r ar upon their old 
enemy. Two men of equal strength are then ordered 
to cut down the tree, one to the north, and the other 
to the south, giving stroke for stroke with each other. 
If the tree fall to the north, he pronounces an un¬ 
favourable issue; in which case, a new incantation is 
necessary to counteract it, and work evil upon the 
enemy. An instrument called an Elodge is made, 
and being plentifully spell-bound by the sorcerer, is 
carried at the head of the army. The person who 
bears this is considered, pro tempore , invulnerable: 
he walks about two hundred yards before the army, 
and must brave all dangers : he must first ford the 
rivers, even if the crocodiles lie with open mouths to 
devour him; and he must first pass through the 
woods, at the hazard, every minute, of receiving an 
assagaye, or a musket shot from the lurking foe; and 
immediately previous to the engagement, he must ad¬ 
vance in face of the enemy’s army, and hurl it at them. 
