Bexerins

Bexerins are pagan priests among the Mandingoes, on the west coast of Africa. They are much addicted to the study and practice of jugglery. The grand Bexerin is, as it were, the sovereign politiff. He presides over all the other priests who profess to teach magical arts to the people. A common practice with them is to inscribe letters or other marks on small pieces of paper, which they carefully wrap up and give to their pupils and others as effectual preservatives against diseases and calamities of every kind.