The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-07

and put to death by burning. The innocent
return to their homes, and slaughter cock as
thank Offering to their guardian spirits The
practice of ordeal is common amopg all the
negro nations north Of the Zambesi This
summary procedure excited my surprise, fer
my intercourse with the natives here had led
me to believe that the women were held in so
much estimation that the men would not dare
to get rid of them thus. But the explanation
l received was this: the slightest imputation
makes them eagerly desire the test; they are
conscious of being innocent, and have the full
est faith in the muavi detecting the guilty
alone; hence they go willingly, and even eager
ly, to drink 1t. When In Angola, a halfcaste
was pointed out to me, who is one of the most
successful merchants in that country; and the
mother of this gentleman, who was perfectly
free, went, of her own accord, all the way from
Ambaca to Cassange, to be killed, by the or
deal, her rich son making no objection. The
same custom prevails among the Barot,e,
Bashubia, and Batoka, but with slight varia-
tons. The Barotse, for instance, pour the
medicine down the throat of a cock or of a dog,
and Judge of the innocence or guilt of the per-
son accused by the vomiting or purging of the
animal. / happened to mention to my own
men the water test for witches formerly in use
in Scotiand the supposed witch, being bound
hand and foot, was thrown into a pond-if she
f9ated, she was considered guilty, taken out,
and burned but if she sank and was drowned,
she was pronounced innocent. The wisdom Of
my ancestors excited as much wonder in their
minds as their custom did in mine.
The SMELT" RAILROAD 1t is we'll known
that the Portsmouth railroad has to turn every
thing to account to pay running expenses; and
many are the jokes they perpetrate upon the
conductors, in reference to their shifts to get a
living 1t is said that one of them last year
was accustomed to bring fish from Portsmouth,
and peddle them out at the stopping places on
the way to Concord. One day, he brought
along snselts, dealing out 10 customers at every
station, till he got to Suncock, where he blew
his horn, and an old woman came out and want.
ed Sir.
" Just pattern-all I've got left; you're in
the nick of time," said he and he began to
count them, and found only fUe. How's
this? ] should have six" And he began to
count his fingers, and reckon over now he had
disposed of the four dozen he started with.
After while-"I have it hold on little
while, and I'll be back" said he; and he run
the train back seven miles 10 place where he
let woman have one more than she paid for,
got it, came to Suncock, and let the old woman
have the six she wanted, and then the " smelt I"
train went on to Concord Manchester Mirror.
A philosopher stepped on board ferry boat
to cross a stream. On the passage he inquired
of the ferryman if he understood arithmetic.
The man looked astonished.
Arithmetic no, SIR"
81 am very sorry, for one-quarter of your
life is gone"
A few minutes after, he asked
"Do you understand mathematics
The ferfyman smiled, and replied
"No!"
"Well, them" said the philopher, "another
quarter of your life is gone"
Just then the boat run on snag, and was
sinking, when the ferry man jumped up, pulled
off his coat, and aeked the philosopher, with
much earnestness of manner
Sir, can you swim
"No."
"Well, them" said the ferrymap, "your
whole life is lost, for the boat is going to the
bottoml"
Fifteen of the prominent Democratic journals
of the State of Pennsylvania are decidedly op.
posed to the Administration on Kansas matters.