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The belief in Sorcerots, or witches’ spells of a peculiar kind, mentioned in the Depositions (pages 22, 23, &c.) receives curious modern confirmation by a kindred superstition still current among the emancipated negroes of the United States.  It was described in a letter on “Voudouism in Virginia” which appeared in the New York Tribune, dated Richmond, September 17, 1875.  Mr. Moncure D. Conway, in quoting this and commenting on it in his Demonology and Devil-Lore (Vol.  I. pages 68-69), says that it belongs to a class of superstitions generally kept close from the whites, as he believes, because of their purely African origin.  Mr. Conway is, however, probably mistaken about the origin, seeing that the same belief prevailed in Guernsey three centuries ago.  The extract from the letter is as follows:—­

If an ignorant negro is smitten with a disease which he cannot comprehend, he often imagines himself the victim of witchcraft, and having no faith in “white folks’ physic” for such ailments, must apply to one of these quacks.  A physician residing near the city [Richmond] was invited by such a one to witness his mode of procedure with a dropsical patient for whom the physician in question had occasionally charitably prescribed.  Curiosity led him to attend the seance, having previously informed the quack that since the case was in such hands he relinquished all connection with it.  On the coverlet of the bed on which the sick man lay, was spread a quantity of bones, feathers, and other trash.  The charlatan went through with a series of so-called conjurations, burned feathers, hair, and tiny fragments of wood in a charcoal furnace, and mumbled gibberish past the physician’s comprehension.  He then proceeded to rip open the pillows and bolsters, and took from them some queer conglomerations of feathers.  These he said had caused all the trouble.  Sprinkling a whitish powder over them, he burnt them in his furnace.  A black offensive smoke was produced, and he announced triumphantly that the evil influence was destroyed, and that the patient would surely get well.  He died not many days later, believing, in common with his friends and relatives, that the conjurations of the “trick doctor” had failed to save him only because resorted to too late.

From the above it is evident that the natural tendency of wool and feathers to felt and clog together, has been distorted, by widely different peoples, into an outward and visible sign that occult and malignant influences were at work.

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As to the manner in which wizards and witches were put to the question in Guernsey—­that is tortured until they confessed whatever was required of them—­Mr. Warburton, a herald and celebrated antiquary who wrote in the reign of Charles II., has given a circumstancial account, the correctness of which may be relied on.  His Treatise on the History, Laws and Customs of the Island of Guernsey, bears the date of 1682, and at page 126 he says:—­