o one I might Weep before,
or that would Comfort me and leave me Unasham'd, save
Shooba, the witch doctor, whom the slaves Fear for that he
hath a Snake-soul and makes Charms and casts Spells.

'T is true, that Shooba hath a Spiritt. When it worketh upon
him he is Dull and Overcast and may not Labour untill it be
gone. And then will he rise and Speak strange and sometimes
Terrible things, and Prophesy. In the old times my Father
smil'd, and let him be. But here 't is otherwise. When
Shooba's Spiritt made him Heavy and Sleepy, and when he woke
again and Spoke, mine Uncle's new Overseer had the old man
Whip't. Twice did this Happen before I knew of It.

Then went I to the Overseer, with Indignation, and said:
"Do not whip Shooba, any more. 'T is Monstrous, to Whip an
old man that hath a Spiritt! 'T is not true he makes
dissentions and plots Revolt among the slaves. 'T is not
true he is lazy & will not Work. There is no better Workman
than Shooba. 'T is only true you are a cruel man and misuse
your Power."

Flick'd with his Whip his worsted Stockings. Said in a
hateful voice: "'Taint your place, Miss, to be a-giving of
orders to the Overseer. I take orders only from them that
has the right to Give 'em. When I think that old Nigger
ought to be whipt, whipt he 'll be."

Then march'd he to mine Uncle and ask'd was Mistress
Jessamine to oversee the Overseer, and call him hard Names
for the whipping of a Troublesome Nigger? And my Uncle fell
into a Fury With me. Allowed the wretch to Triumph. Shooba
was whipt again. I saw his Back.

Once old Shooba cur'd me of a pestilent Fever, with Simples,
when I was a little Child, and our Leech had given me Over,
nor did he Bleed me once. Now Shooba's Back was Bleeding,
and I might not help him!

Now in the night I had gone secretly to his Hut to fetch him
such poor little Comforts as I might secretly get & give. He
took them, & look'd at me long & long, with his brooding,
deep, strange eyes.

"For the man that whipt me, I have sent forth my Snake. My
Snake will have a Thing to say to him. The man will die.
Then laughed he, and hugg'd his knees.--And 't is true
Meekins the Overseer one week later was bitten by a Serpent
in the Field and died an Unlovely Death.

"Missy,"