midnight
We never could ascertain why the fetishman should fix upon certain persons to be slain , unless it was that he had a personal enmity against them ; but this seemed unlikely , for two of the persons selected were old female slaves , who could never , of course , have injured the doctor in any way . But the doings of Africans , especially in regard to religious superstitions , I afterwards found were so mysterious that no one could or would explain the meaning of them to us . And I am inclined to believe that in reference to the meaning of many things they were themselves utterly ignorant . Towards midnight the people had wrought themselves up to a frenzied condition , and made so much noise that we could not sleep . In the midst of the uproar Makarooroo , who we observed had been very restless all the evening , rushed into our hut , exclaiming , `` Massa ! massa ! come , save my Okandaga !