The publication in 1684 of the Reverend Increase Mather's An Essay for the Recording of Illustrius Providences prepared the way for a witchhunt of more frightening proportions. The pestilence broke out again in 1688 and lasted until October, 1692. In Salem, two West Indian slaves stirred up latent fears through their tales of voodooism. When a group of young girls began to show signs of demon possession and accused their neighbors of being in league with Satan, the Inquisiti