"The term _obeah_, _obiah_, or _obia_, (for it is variously written,)
we conceive to be the adjective, and _obe_ or _obi_, the noun
substantive; and that by the word _obia_--men or women--is meant those
who practise _obi_. The origin of the term we should consider as of no
importance, in our answer to the question proposed, if, in search of
it, we were not led to disquisitions that are highly gratifying to
curiosity. From the learned Mr. Bryant's commentary upon the word
_oph_, we obtain a very probable etymology of the term. 'A serpent, in
the Egyptian language, was called _ob_ or _aub_.' '_Obion_ is still the
Egyptian name for a serpent.' 'Moses, in the name of God, forbids the
Israelites ever to inquire of the demon _Ob_, which is translated in
our Bible, charmer or wizard, divinator aut sorcilegus.' 'The woman at
Endor is called _oub_ or _ob_, translated Pythonissa; and _oubaois_ (he
cites from _Horus Apollo_) was the name of the Basilisk or Royal
Serpent, emblem of the sun, and an ancient oracular deity of Africa.'"

One of your correspondents has formed a substantive from _obe_ by the
addition of _ism_, and another from _obeah_ by the same process; but it
will be seen by the above quotation that there is no necessity for that
obtrusive termination, the superstitious practice in question being already
sufficiently described by the word _obe_ or _obi_.

HENRY H. BREEN.

St. Lucia, March, 1851.

* * * * *

SAN MARINO.

(Vol. iii., p. 321.)

On the death of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, without legitimate male
issue, in October, 1468, Pope Paul II. declared Rimini and his other fiefs
to have reverted to the Holy See. In the spring of the following year the
Pontiff proceeded, with the assistance of the Venetians, to enforce his
claim, and threatened the Republicans of San Marino with his vengeance if
they did not aid him and his allies in gaining possession of Rimini, which
Roberto Malatesta, one of the illegitimate sons of Sigismondo Pandolfo, had
seized by stratagem.

By advice of their faithful friend Federigo, Count of Urbino, who was at
the head of the opposite league, comprising the King of Naples, the Duke of
Milan, and the Florentines, the San-Marinese forwarded the Papal mandate to
Florence, and requested through their ambassador, one Ser Bartolomeo, the
support of that Republic. Several letters appear to hav