The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-30

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rep ated are the flashes, that one can scarcely
be said to retain his vision during any mo-
ment Of the storm. This magno-electric
fluid is not unknown to the wiley priest or
Fetish men at Cape Palmas, who control
the poor natives Crew-men and Fishermen
through its mysterious aid and, as the
method Of their doing it, is unknown to me,
| will simply relate the story Of their great
Fetish and Devil Cave, so terrific to all the
simple residents in that section. 4.
The Devils Cave Mt Cape PaImas,
TALE OF THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA.
IT'S a dark and dreary spot TO Afric's race,
That cavern wild, the DEVILS resting placed
About mile from the village Of Cape Pal
mas, town known to all seamen as the
place where they obtain crewmen, or "pull-
away-boys," to do the exposed duties in
that climate, can be seen a dreary-looking
glen, whose entrance seems the work Of
chaos, from the confusion Of wild materials
collected there-rocks are piled on rocks,
and shrubbery and trees growing in their
midst, casting deep gloom over the mouths
Of many caverns, some Of very small capa-
| Ctyy OtnCla VI u otdtCIy olLC. Vic VI
the largest Of these caverns has an exceed
ingly small entrance, in so much that the
person entering would have to crawl for
distance before he would gain the cave,
which has an outlet Of very diminutive
order on its top, through which the Fetish
men or Devil men pretend to hold converse
with Satan. To this superstitious place,
they (the inhabitants Of Crew-town and
Fish-town,) go to learn the future; and
firmly do they believe that their Devils ora
Gle will tell them Of events to come, and
give them the power Of controlling destiny.
Having heard great deal concerning this
place, 1resolved to visit it, and find out, if l
could, its secret One very cloudy day,
started for the place, and with my boats
crew Of white men well armed to prevent
any violence from lettering me, as the ma
tives are very jealous respecting their reli-
gious follies, and have been known to do
murder, rather than allow the white man to
observe their orgies, and live to repeat or
ridicule them A son Of the celebrated Mum
go Park undertook to search for his father,
it being uncertain if he were alive or
dead, and against the remonstrance Of
Fetish man, he climbed tree they held
sacred, and for which offence, he was pois-
oned, as he died very suddenly just after
doing it. When we arrived at the place,
we found number Of negroes assembled,
and who opposed our entering the cave, but
allowed US to climb to the top and look at the
outlet there, which, from its very size, would
not admit small child-here we gazed and
H. "A - l.,~zr1o,t IS 1a I'D
BY the negroes to proceed from the Evil-one
himself. After looking on attentiyely at the
foolishness Of the natives, and being con-
WINGED man, or rather men, were conceal
ed inside, | left, laughing very heartily at
the whole affair. had shipped eighteen
crew-men here, and they were on board
ship, as l expected TO sail that night or the
following morning, for Fernan do Pc. On
my arrival on board, the head man Of this
gang desired to see me, as he had something
very particular to tell. ordered him to
come into the cabin, and, as soon as he
came, he spoke thus 10 me-" Me crew
man, Me love grig-grig and Fetish. Me
love Cape Pamas, Me fear berry much
Devil-man. Him go burn we all up in tor
uado, il sar you 70 look him face. The boys
man no want to 60 in same sh p wild white
vino 60 look Devil-man." lnthe middle ofthe
night, all handswere aroused by voices along
side, and, rushing on deck, we beheld the
Devils Cave, covered with blush jets Of
sparks; and, soon after, heavy black cloud
rose up from the land, filled with forked
lightning We prepared for the worst, and
let 20 second anchor. On it came, with .
rushing sound, that tempest-ladened argosy
Of the skies, with its full band Of thunders
playing its quick step; and, in few minutes
our brave ship (although as stiff as a rock)
was thrown on her beam ends; nor did she
right until the fury Of the tornado had ceased.
Al half an hours time certainly had elapsed,
and the gale was terrific; looking around
for our crew-men, we found they had eithe'
swan on shore, or straddled thunder boil
and bolted. We never saw them more
The fear Of electricity, you will perceive BY
this tale, controls portion Of Africa let i
not have that result here. Americans, try
its fluid, it is better than the Aui1s most y. y,
use it will not intoxicate or sicken, It VIII
heal and keep hearty those who Patronlz,es
IL; and at Cops Saloon, DR.. Emerson wa
apply il.
i 90 try-ro try--the lightning nom above
Its mission here earth ~ one o. nvc
No demon power the eiectIlc nnu ,bieids