Morris tribune., 1883-03-31
A QUEER PEOPLE.
Africans Who Believe the White
Man TO be Deyil-Strange Gus.
toms and Beliefs.


Rev. William A. Fair, missionary
who recently returned from the west
coast OF Africa, gave the following ac-
count In a lecture delivered in Cleve-
land, Ohio, and reported by the Leader
of that city, of the strange people In
habiting that part of the globe, from
which the following is extracted;
The people are very careful to keep
their teeth clean, and those who own
tooth brushes carry them over their
ears as clerk does his pencil. Provi-
ded with beaver hat, tooth brush,
leather purse and a number Of ivory and
brass rings for his limbs, the native re-
auires little else to make him man OF
fashion. Each man has as many wives
as he can support, and as the latter do
all the work, those who are well PROV.
ded for have little labor to perform.
They believe in God who created all
things; also in a DEVIL. and
as the latter Ia very powerful and
dispose to do them harm, they try by
all means I'd propitiate him. Contrary
to our supposition, they regard him as
being white instead Of black, and when
the white men appeared ON the coast
with their great slips filed with rooms
and propelled by some mysterious
means, they thought the devils had come
TO visit them. Even now that supposi-
ton is not entirely eradica ted, and more
by habit thar anything else they call US
devils. They do not know us by any other
name, and call us such with exactly the
same meaning as we call them negroes:
Among the majority of them the belief
still fingers that we are related to the
king ofterrors, and as they regard him
with a certain amount Of awe and
reverence, we are allowed many priv
ileges which they do not accord to one
another. They have what is called
"dev;l men," who propitiate the evil
spirits and prevent them from do ing
harm by means ofcharms Little leather
bags, supposed to possess mystic power
are sold by them at high prices, and the
natives pay them well for sticking lit
tie pieces of wood in triangular form
in front OF their huts. The same charms
are freountly seen on the sea shore to
guard against the evil spirit of the deep.
The devil is supposed to
reside on the highest rock near
to village, and he is daily furnished
with food and drink placed there by
those who fear his power. One day
white man, who cutting wood, partook
of the food thus set forth, and the peo-
pie raised a great ontcry against him; but
their wrath was allayed when one of
them said 1t was not the devil himself he
was the devils brother, and entitled to
his share. Little scared fires are kept
burning before the doors of the hut for
the comfort of the guardian spirit who is
supposed to watch over each individual
habitation. When woman throws wa
ter out of the door she says words equi-
valent to "excuse me-" fearing that the
spirit will depart If he is splashed and
not given warning to get out OF the way.
They believe that the spirits of the dead
inhabit the earth, watching over their
former friends, and tormenting their
former enemies. This fact, as we'll as
their beliefin witchcraft; has much to do
with the extreme peacefllness of their
society and their reticence to pick
quarrel. Witchcraft they believe in inn
plicitly. If man dies of consumption,
smallpox, or any other disease or acct
dent, and any person can be remember
with him, that person is said to have
caused his death by witchcraft. If the
witch be woman, she is given three
bowls filed with deadly poison, and if
a man, he il given four bowls of the
same mixture. If the unfortunate be-
ing accused OF witchcraft has weak
stomach which rejects the poison, he is
supposed to be innocent, but If his stom-
aeh is strong and retains the deadly in
fusion, he is guilty. When the body of
the victim begins to swell, and death
is seen drawing near, the people seize
him, and dragging him out into the open
air pelt him with stones and clubs, and
injure him in every possible manner un-
til he dies. If a person accused OF being
witch refuses to drink the posion he is
placed in the loft of hut and q hot fire
built under him. Pepper is thrown into
the flames, and the tortured being in the
loft soon consents to risk the trial of
the powerful drug. The manner of find
ing the person who caused the death of
auy one is as follows: The corpse is
sometimes placed on the shoulders of
the relatives, who pretended to be
moved by the spirit of the departed,
and passing from hut to hut stop at the
witch's door. One of the Offices pro-
formed by the devil men
is TO watch sharply for any con-
troversy that may take place between
any two people. and when one of the m
dies the other is accused of causing his
death. have seen mothers killed. for
tised them at some former time for a
misdemeanor. A high priest lives in
each town, and his person and premises
are peculiarly sacred. If a man is pur-
sued by crowd of his fellows for hav-
ing committed some deed, and he steps
across the threshold of a priests house,
he is safe from injury, and if the high
priest places his hand on his head he Is
exempt from all further vengeance.
When man wishes to satisfy vengeance
any other person who may have done
him any injury, he goes to the priests
house and sharpens his knife ona stone
placed before the door for that purpose.
If the priest asks no questions he is at
liberty 10 take the other mans life, but
if he questions the injured person and
prohibits the settlement of the affair in
that manner, sort of trial IL held and
punishment melted by order OF the
priest. By these wise laws the natives
are prevented from acting indiscrectly
when excited, and they are obliged to
wait, until they say their hearts lie
down." The morning salutation Of the
natlVeS Is, Il am glad you have come
out" meaning that they rejoice to see
You have revived from the death-like
repose of sleep.
Sap is collected in earthen jars from
the palm trees, and when ferme nted it
is called palm wine. These jars can be
seen at intervals through the bush. and
q traveller who is thirsty is at liberty to
partake of the contents of any of them.
If he has any money he is expected to
place few coins beside the Jar as COM
pensation, but money or no money, he
is entitled to drink. If he is near q
town he must first ask permission to
drink of the owner of the jar. Their de-
bates are carried on in q very systematic
manner. The men sit in a circle and
talk together until the meeting is called
to order, when one of them steps into
the center, and taking up cane lying
on the ground, addresses the assembly.
Others follow at their own pleasure, and
as time is valueless in Africa, and the
owner of the house In which the debate |
is held provides for the comfort of all |
present, there is no scrambling for first
chance TIA speaker Wanders from the