The hut was lighted by some eight or ten candles or lamps; and in the centre, dimly visible, was a Fetish, somewhat of the appearance of a man, but with the head of a cock.

Everything that the coarsest fancy could invent had been done to make this image horrible; and yet it appeared to be the object of special adoration to the devotees assembled.
'Jean Marie, to be out of the way, clambered on to one of the cross- beams that supported the roof, whilst I leaned against the side wall, as near as I could get to the aperture that served for a window, to avoid the smells, which were overpowering.
'Martin took his seat astride of an African tom-tom or drum; and I noticed at the time that Jean Marie's naked foot hung down from the cross-beam almost directly over Martin's head.
'Martin now began to chant a monotonous African song, accompanying with the tom-tom.
'Gradually he began to quicken the measure; quicker went the words; quicker beat the drum; and suddenly one of the women sprang into the open space in front of the Fetish.

Round and round she went, keeping admirable time with the music.
'Quicker still went the drum.

And now the whole of the woman's body seemed electrified by it; and, as if catching the infection, a man now joined her in the mad dance.

Couple after couple entered the arena, and a true sorcerers' sabbath began; while light after light was extinguished, till at last but one remained; by whose dim ray I could just perceive the faint outlines of the remaining persons.
'At this moment, from some cause or other, Jean Marie burst into a loud laugh.
'Instantly the drum stopped; and I distinctly saw Martin raise his right hand, and, as it appeared to me, seize Jean Marie's naked foot between his finger and thumb.
'As he did so, Jean Marie, with a terrible scream, which I shall never forget, fell to the ground in strong convulsions.
'We succeeded in getting him outside.