t was forsworn. The Slave presently demands satisfaction for
laying Theft falsly to his charge. The Merchant could not tell what
to say to it, but would give him none. The Slave was now to take
his own satisfaction, as he had opportunity. And his Master bids
him seize upon the Merchants Person or any other relating to him,
and bring them to his house, and there detain them. Within a short
time after, the Slave seeing a Kinsman of the Merchants passing by,
offers to seize him. But he, rather than be taken, draws his Knife and
Stabs the Slave on the shoulder, and so escapes. In Fine, the Merchant
was fain to bribe the Great Men to save himself from further dammage,
and sit down contented with the loss of his goods and house. Though
the Slave was a person of a very bad reputation, and had done divers
Thefts; and some of his stolen goods he hath brought to me to sell.

[The benefit of swearing in hot Oyl.] Sometimes they do decide their
debates by swearing in hot Oyl. Which because it is remarkable, I will
relate at large. They are permitted thus to swear in matters of great
importance only, as when Law Suits happen about their Lands, or when
their is no witness. When they are to swear, each party hath a Licence
from the Governor for it, written with his hand to it. Then they go
and wash their heads and bodies, which is a religious ceremony. And
that night they are both confined Prisoners in an house with a guard
upon them, and a cloth tyed over each of their right hands and sealed,
least they might use any charm to harden their fingers.

The next morning they are brought out; they then put on clean
cloths, and purifie themselves, reckoning they come into the
presence of God. Then they tie to their wrists the Leaf wherein
the Governors Licence is, and repair under some Bogahah, God-Tree,
and all the Officers of the County assemble with a vast number of
people besides. Coker-nuts are brought, and Oyl is there extracted
from them in the sight of the people, that all may see their is no
deceit. Also they have a Pan of Cow-dung and water boyling close by:
The Oyl and Cow-dung being both boyling and throughly hot, they take
a young leaf of a Coker-nut Tree and dip that into the Oyl, that all
may see it is hot. For it singes, and frizzels up, and roars as if
you poured water into hot boyling Oyl. And so they do likewise to the
Cow-dung. When all are satisfied the Oyl is hot, the two men come and
stand on each side of this boylin