Olosa is The Orisha of Lagoons. She is another wife of Olokun. She represents the lagoons that precede the ocean. Her symbol is the crocodile and she also, like Aje, lives in an urn that resembles that of Yemoja or Olokun. Her beads are milky white, dark blue, translucent blue, as well as coral. Olosa supplies her votaries with fish, and there are several temples dedicated to her along the shores of the lagoon, where offerings of fowls and sheep are made to her to render her propitious. When the lagoon is swollen by rain and overflows its banks she is angry, and if the inundation be serious a human victim is offered to her-, to induce her to return within her proper limits.
Crocodiles are Olosa's messengers, and may not be bothered. They are supposed to bring the goddess the offerings which the faithful deposit on the shores of the lagoon or throw into the water. Some crocodiles, selected by the priests on account of certain marks borne by them, are treated with great veneration; and have crude sheds, thatched with palm leaves, erected for their accommodation near the water's edge. Food is regagularly supplied to these reptiles every fifth day, or festival, and many of them become sufficiently tame to come for the offering as soon as they see or hear the worshippers gathering on the bank.
