The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-06-22
ORDEAL BY POISON IN AFRICA


breakfast of palm oil and Indian corn, / wal
startled by message from the King, command
| ing me to repair at noon-tide at the fetish hut
and be examined by the priests, who would be
! there assembled, to answer certain charges that
would be brought against me. | was well
aware IN what manner my trial would be con-
Quoted; and | could not help exclaiming to
myself as | unused on the dreadful fate which
imagined awaited me. "Well then here will
be an end to my wanderings, and my life; yet,
having escaped so many dangers, and encoun-
tered such grevious Affections, it is hard after
all, to cast ofthe fardel of existence thus pre-
maturely 1t is hard when almost within hear
ing OF my eeuntrymen that my life should be
destroyed that my skull should be preserved
as trophy by heartless savages, and my body
devoured by ravens and other birds of prev
| As was making this saddenning and unmanly
! sollloquy, tears rushed involuntarily into my
| eyes but hastily wiping them off employed the
/ littetlme allotted to me in making peace with
heaven, go that when the fellows came to COM
! duct me to the fetish hut, was calm and col
1 lect9d and prepared to undergo the severest
/ punishment which the power of man could pos
soly ntlict upon me.
The news Of the white mans arrest and ap.
preaching trial, spread like wild fire through
the town, and the inhabitants assembling from
all parts, armed with axes, spears, clubs and
bows and arrows, followed the procession to the
dismal spot. On entering the hut, | beheld a
number of priests and elders Of the people, seat
ed in circle, who desired me to stand in the
midst of them. When | had complied with
their request, one of the priests arose, and pre-
senting me with bowl containing about
quart of a clear liquid, scarcely distinguishabe
from water, cried out in loud voice, and with
much emphasis, You are accused, white man.
~ l.
ment, and are therefore desired 20 drink the
contents of this vessel, which if the reports TO
your prejudice be true, will surely destroy you
whereas, If they be without foundation, you
need not fear, Christian, the fetish will do YOU
no injury for our god will do that which is
right
] took the bowl in my trembling hand, and
gazed for a moment on the sable countenances
of my judges, but not a single look of compass
sion shone upon any of them-a deadly silence
prevailed in the gloomy sanctuary of the SOULS
every eye was intently fixed upon me, and
seeing no possibility of escaping, or of evading
the piercing glance of priests and elders, Of
fered up, internally, short prayer to the throne
of mercy, to the God of Christians, and hastily
swallowed the fetish, dashing the poisoned chal-
ice to the ground A low murmur ran through
the assembly, they all thought should instant
ly have expired, or at least have discovered
symptoms of severe agony, but detecting no
such tokens, they arose simultaneously, and
made way for INT to leave the hut On getting
into the open air, I found my poor slaves in
tears; they had come, they said, to catch
last glimpse of their master 4; but when they
saw me alive and at liberty, they leaped and
danced for joy, !and prepared path for me
through the dense mass of people. These set
up an astounding shout at my unexpected ap.
Pearance, and seemed greatly pleased, Gf !
might be allowed to iudge,) that l had not fall
len victim to their fearful fetish. On arriv-
ing at my dwelling took instant and powerful
means to eject the venomous poison from my
stomach, and happily succeeded in the attempt.
was told that the liquid l had swallow
ed was a decoction of the bark of tree
Astounding in the neighborhood, and that l
was the only individual who Cor long sea-
son had escaped its poisonous qualities. 1t
had disagreeab!e bitter taste, but experience
ed no other i'll effects from it than slight dir
illness, which wore off completely few hours
after the conclusion of the trial
Lander's african Records.