[Swearing in the Temples.] Sometimes in their Temples.  To explain which, take this following relation.  A Slave was accused by a Merchant to have robbed his house.  Whereupon to clear himself, the Slave desired he might swear.  So the Merchant and Slave went both to the Temple to swear.  The Merchant swore positively that the Slave had robbed his house; and the Slave swore as poynt blank that he had not robbed his house:  and neither of them having any witnesses, God who knew all things was desired to shew a Judgment upon him that was forsworn.  They both departed to their houses, waiting to see upon whom the Judgment would fall.  In the mean time the Slave privatly sets the Merchants house on fire, and his house was burnt down to the ground.  Then it was clear by this supposed divine Judgment, the Merchant 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