Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-08-19

pieces when very ripe, and put IN large
jugs made by themselves, containing from
FIVE to ten gallons each. When the jug
is half fall of the pieces Of plantain, they
fill Il with water and let il stand for two
or three days, until il IS fermented.-
Then, early in the morning, those who
have furnished the plantain. and the in
vited guests 90 to the beer-house or dis
tillery and seat themselves around the
jugs, and seem to enjoy themselves until
they are perfectly drunk. Almost every
village has a distillery house. | may
say that have never been yet in any
tribe, far from or near to the sea-shore
in Africa, where Intoxicating drinks are
unknown; and when plantains are plen-
ty in the Ashira country, drunkenness is
very common. Some Of the Ashira peo-
pie smoke the leaves Of plant called IL
anba; this leaf has the most perniciou-
effect on them, and depriyes them Of their
senses; often they get crazy by use OF
it. have been told by the natives
that some of them, under the excitement
produced by smoking this plant, disappear
ia frantic state in the forest. Those
who become accustomed to smoking this
lamba get craving for it as the drunk
ard has for strong drink. The liamba
has, in my opinion, quite as bad if not
more pernicious effect on the constitution
of man than alcohol l am sorry that
this plant is gradually making lis way
toward the sea-shore; it comes from the
interior.
Slavery is not only a national insiitu-
ton among the Ashra people-for theiE
riches are according to their number Of
slaves and wives-but numbers Of their
own people are sold as slaves to other
tribes. Witchcraft is sometimes the
cause Of their selling their fellow eoun
trymen. Some people might say tina
they accuse people of witchcraft in ordel
to sell them, and that if there was not Z
I single slave market on the coast ther,
J would be no witchcraft. Those who'ex
I press that opinion forget that whatever
o laws civilized world may make fo
the extirction of the slave trade, the,
: will be insufficient, for slavery is an Al
, rican institution, and must be given u
by her people before the interior slave
. trade can be stopped. As for witcheraf
il has, in my opinion, nothing to do Wi,
the Africans selling men. It Is iru
that sometimes they sell the people ac
+" cused Of wilchcraft Instead of KILN
them, but their belief is so firm in witch
u craft that have sometimes seen peopl
e accused of il who were put TO death b
"a their parents without any form OF tri;
II not even their friends or relatives har
d ing the power to propose to tie peopI
= to have them sold TO spare their live
'S The belief in witchcralt is, think, Ii
, greatest curse upon Africa, especial
\ among the tribes ol the interior. Vine
man dies, two, three, four, FIVE an
T more, are often put to death, and for
!" king one or two scores. But let US q
50 that the influence Of the missionaries
e the cross will gradually, as they go in
1t the interior, blot out this most horrib
y belief which puts the lives Of tue peop
50 in jeopardy, and which daily destroys
j. great number of people in that vast co
~ tinent.
d. The Ashira people are very proud
ns their country and consider it justly {
OF above The surrounding countries. Th,
ns love for trade is very great, and they a
em considered in that part Of the interior
sa' Africa as the greatest traders in the wor
PIE You see an Ashira man waiting
rs mouths, and even years, at the house
ao' his friends Of some other tribes to be
Ne trusted either with goods, slaves, or Al
rFy can produee--a trust on which he exPe
IN to make a little profit.
,ed