JUMBIES
of superstition, and rear her many an altar. I once heard a captain of a merchantman who trades to Antigua, speaking of this subject, and laughing at the generality of sailors for paying attention to this or.that omen. “ I don't believe in anything of the kind," said he. “ What can a dolphin, or a Mother Cary's chicken, (the stormy petrel,) have to do with a gale of wind ? It's nonsense,—altogether nonsense. Of course, though, it would be only a madman who would whistle in a storm or sail on a Friday, if they could possibly help it !" I wished to ask what poor Friday* had done, or if Eolus disliked whistling. All superstitious people, in every part of the world, are prone to believe in the existence of imaginary beings ; and while the English have their ghosts, the Scotch their brownies, and the Irish their banshees, the negroes have their jumby. These creatures, like all of their class, love to frequent churchyards, lonely roads, and the margin of ponds. They are represented by the believers in this creed to be very revengeful and malicious ; strangling children, knocking down people, frightening old women into fits, and indeed, doing all the mischief they can. I have heard that “ Spring Gardens," the part of the town we reside in, is a favourite spot for their ambulations ; but I cannot say I have as yet formed any acquaintance with these fleshless beings. Many are the tales related of their exploits,—tales more terrible than that of the poor ghost in “ Hamlet," whose “ lightest word would harrow up the soul." But as I have too much love for my readers, to wish to “ freeze their blood," and all those other dreadful threats his ghostship promised his hopeful son, I will merely relate a few little incidents about these night-loving people. A servant who once lived with us had occasion to go a few miles into the country after dark. Upon his return the next day, he gave the following most frightful account of his night's * The dislike to this day is supposed to arise from the Crucifixion. f The term " jumby" is applied to all supernatural beings.