That inquiry could be conducted only through sorcery itself, and Say at first trembled.

She feared, and not without good cause, an appeal to evil powers.

Still Shotaye spoke so plausibly; she assured so strongly her friend of her own discretion and fidelity, and was so insistent upon her constant success in everything she had undertaken as yet,--that the woman yielded at last against her own convictions.

Something within her seemed to speak and say, "Do not tread forbidden paths, speak to your husband first." But the arguments on the other side were too strong, her own physical condition too weak; she grasped the expected relief regardless of the warnings of her conscience.
Among the objects connected with evil magic, a certain kind of maize had the power of speech attributed to it.

It is the dark-coloured variety, called in the Queres language _ka monyi tza_.