Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1842-08-25

+ under 4 part Of the ROYAL residence,
Coonassle. The sepulchre, or spartnsn
ia the cavern. where the bones df ID
King were 70 be found, was then opened
dprilg the hours OF night. His bone
were carefully collected from the bed NIoI
which they lay, and pu. into box. pre-
pared for The purpose The box wastheE
carried 70 place ont ofiihe Wwn. abSo
mile distant, called Bapliman. and Their
fplaced in sepulrhre "a house richly 4
doSped a with the bones Of the toFnie
I Ki1xt pf Ashaptas. The.law atthis iiiaI
liz. lltt every nisE a BY those carfyioI
The bones Of the Ats King. IS seized lot
sacrifice unless be happens 10 be ;
/ Prince. OF course. nearly all are awar,
lof the danger, and rarely any are fonns
on The way from Bantiman. on The nigh
90 which The bones are 10 Be removed =
When the company Of Princes, Fetist
! men. aad soldiers reach ,he place WHERE
the bones are 10 be deposited, a few lid.
man sacrifices are offered, and various
ceremonies are performed. The box il
then placed, and iheeompauy DEPART
Guards are constantly in charge Of the
enhance to The building, aud none have
free access to il, but The King and his al
tendsnts when they 60 10 worship the
bones Of the former Kings. This the
King does on the Goth day lromthe death
Of bis predecessor, with great parade and
show. From one to ten victims die ON
this occasion; and the day is called
Kro- pap pack ku,' after provincial
idol. On The doth day, another visit i
made 10 Bantiman, BY The King. and bis
suite; and the festival is called "Aguid.
dy." A few sacrifices are offered toIthe
homes Of former Kings consisting d
one OF more human beings, aud many
goats. fowls. SC, With rum, and other lii
qnors. for The use Of the departed. The
King - carried to and from the place, 10
a finely ornamenlsd paIanquin, and regu-
larly visits The ho4se Of dry bones each
twentieth day. Occasionally the King
wants 4 larger supply Of gold than be can
readily command for his necessities ID
this case "a greater number Of human
victims, with goats. rum, &C., are offered,
and biz Fetish men are abundant in cere.
monies 10 propitiste the dead. When ali
thai is thought necessary has been done,
The treasures placed with the bones Of The
former Soyereigns are examined and as
much gold il taken by the King as supt
plies bis wants and hereturns rejoicing ID
his place al Coomaasie.
Oh the day previous ID The worship Of
the Kings, the Princes, Chiefs. and
strangers, appear before The King, to paw
their respects A low bow is made, and
the words .Ha.nas a-dy-iak kih," j. e..
Il wish mylord long life" are usea.--
The King then gives presents 10 each /
and, 10 short time. all are allowed tosde.l
part. During the first forty days after
the death Of the King, thereis no regular
meal allowed-sll pretend 10 fast but
palm wine and country beer are drunk
ntlarge Quantities during The whole Pc,
rod. 545z --5-f Hs=55Zs
There are many crimes which are
punished with crusIdeath: as1murdeT,
adultery on The part ola wife Of the King
and the person guilty With her, false
swearing, when the great oath has been
taken and some other offences. The
great oath is simple declaration in the
presence Of the King, IF | speak false,
| am willing to dIe',-"Me.ka.kro man
IL" and has reference to what oaee
hsppensd 10 the Royal Family Of ishan
lee, IN war they had With the Koromanr
tees. IT.. E# IL
Criminals are KEPT either 10 prison
called Adam, or secured in The houses OF
the Chiefs, who must present them when
required. The exsculoners are the
Princess and Psincssses--the A-iu-pre,
appointed to torture murlerers and other
great offenders, and the A.bra-fu and
Adumsluh, both Of whom are the comm
public execalioners Of The town Once
in. iorty days, the AlePre must have some
person 10 put 10 death. or be paid q ak kies
'of gold dust (about as sterlIng5 from The
treasury. 81 The King. Amdn found gutl-
" Of ctninality With any Of the wives Of
the King, or OF mufder. Isl Oh the morn.
Ing, brougs near the royal residence, some
OF the executioners make q hole through
his nose, 10 which a cord is attached J;
and he is led about The streets Of the city.
Fhe executioneTs and people sport around
him, striking him with knives, and cut
ting him 90 any part Of the body knife
is bsrbarously thrust through his cheeks
aud mouth, 10 prevent him ffom "cuIsIng
the King Sometimes d little gunpow-
der is placed on the ground and The
tortured wretch is thrown upon il. and a
piece Of Are slick is applied 10 the pow
der 10 torture his bleeding and scaIihsd
body. When the day is near close, the
King cones 10 the place appointed tor
finishing the deed Of horror. attended by
bis musicians. who play to drown The
groans and screams Of lhetorlufed man.
Pieces 81 the skin Of his5bsck are taken
off, and held before his Seyes; next bis
fingers are amputated, and bis eyes. his
feei,' bis arms. and bis .egsi Life has nov
almost departed; aud. when the criminal
becomes insenslble- 10 torture, bis head
is severed from bis sody, be is cut open,
and lett Tor food to innumerable Turkey
Buzzafds, which are ever nesrthis place
Of death. Theguilty female is SIMPLY
drownsd. or has Ter head taken Of BY the
Astu- pre-. When : man is proved to
hare taken the wife Of chief. be il
placed 10 rays ofslhe sdn.s with bis eye
lids kept open. from motning 10 night
The exeeniiDners then come and, afleI
exercising .heir crpeltr ia cutting hin ID
many paris Of The body ] they take of hi,
head. and leave the bodys 10 birds ans
beasts Of prey. CaptivssE taken in val
are snslaved, sor put e death bylmost cru
81 torture.