“A third time the dreadful silence fell upon the town, and the doctor’s voice was heard: ‘There is a woman with six children. She lives on a plantation toward the rising sun. She, too, bewitched Mpomo.’ Another furious shout, and in a few moments they brought to the river one of Quenguesa’s slaves, a good woman, whom I knew. The doctor now, in a loud voice, recited the crime of which these women were accused. Okondaga, he said, some weeks before, asked Mpomo for some salt, and he refused her. She had said unpleasant things to him, and had by sorcery taken his life. “Then Quenguesa’s niece was accused. She had no children, and Mpomo had children. She envied him, and had bewitched him. “Quenguesa’s slave had asked Mpomo for a looking-glass. He had refused her. Therefore she had killed him with sorcery. As each accusation was repeated, the people broke out into curses. Even the relatives of the poor victims were obliged to join in this. Every one rivaled his neighbor in cursing, each fearful lest luke-warmness should expose him to a like fate.... “The victims were put into a large canoe with the executioners, the doctor, and a number of the people, all armed. Then the tam-tams were beaten, and the mboundou quabi was prepared. Mpomo’s eldest brother held the poisoned cup to his sister’s lips. At sight of it poor Okondaga began to cry, and even Quenguesa’s niece turned pale, for the negro face has at such times a pallor quite perceptible. The mug of mboundou was handed to the old slave woman, then to the royal niece, and last to Okondaga. As they drank the multitude shouted: ‘If they are witches let the mboundou kill them, if they are innocent let the mboundou go out.’ “Suddenly the slave woman fell down. She had not touched the bottom of the boat before her head was hacked off by a dozen swords. Next came Quenguesa’s niece. In an instant her head was cut off, and her blood was dyeing the waters. Meantime poor Okondaga staggered, and struggled, and cried, vainly resisting the working of the poison in her system. Last of all, she fell. Then all became confused. A random hacking ensued, and in an incredibly short time the bodies were cut in small pieces which were cast into the river.