The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-08-03
HUMAN SACRIFICES IN AFRICA.
The Terrible Rites Paid to the 'Iu Iu'
Gods.

! The steamer Congo brings news
from New Calabar of the most re-
voting sacrifice. 1t seems that a
few months ago the old King of Eb-
be died. and, as is customary in that
part of the country, the traders
from New Calabar went up to pay
their respects to the new monarch.
The traders were aware that for a
short time after the old Kings death
the '"Iu Iu" rites are performed, but
they thought that these were over.
The deceased monarch's name was
Imply, and to the horror of the
English traders the "Iu Iu" cere-
monies were at their highest when
they entered Ebbe town.
The rites had been in operation
for about two months, and already
about forty people had been slain
to appease the "Iu Iu" gods. The
old King was then lying in grave
that had been dug for him. The
hole was a large one and deep
Lying in the same grave were nine
of the Kings youngest wives, and
their deaths had been brought about
in the most cruel manner. Each of
the poor creatures had both her
wrists and ankles broken, so that
they could neither walk nor crawl.
In this state, and suffering the most
excruciating pain, the unfortunate
creatures were placed at the bottom
of the grave, seven Of them lying
side by side. The body of the King
was then laid on them in a trans
verse direction. The two remain
ing women were laid down by the
side of the King, lying exactly like
the monarch's body. No food or
water was given to the poor crea-
lures, who were left in that position
to die. 1t is said that death did
not, as rule, take place for four or
five days. Four men were stationed
round the grave, armed with clubs,
ready to knock back with these
weapons any one of the women
who, notwithstanding their manned
condition, were able to crawl to the
side of the grave.
In other parts of the town fur
ther human sacrifices were taking
place. Suspended from various
trees were the bodies of several men.
These poor fellows were also endur-
ing the most agonizing death. In
most instances holes had been bored
through their feet just by the
ankle. Through the holes ropes
were drawn. and the men were then
tied to tree. Their heads were,
Of course, hanging downward. The
men were there left to die. The
traders, as they were proceeding
along were unwilling witnesses of
frightful sacri6eial execution. They
saw a number of natives in a group,
and went to the spot to see what
was taking place. To their horror
the white men saw a native tied by
the feet and neck. The rope at
tached to the neck was thrown over
tree in one direction, and the rope
attached to the feet was tied to
tree in the opposite direction. The
ropes were then drawn tightly, and
when the body was distended to its
utmost length, another native with
a hatchet struck the neck and sew
cred the head from the body. The
head was taken to the grave where
the King was lying. while the body
was eaten by the cannibal natives.
The white men could do nothing to
stop the barbarous practices, as to
interfere with these religious Gus
toms" would not be tolerated by
the natives, and the lives Of the
traders would have been in peril.
They therefore made as quick a re-
treat from the town as they could.
The traders learned that for each
Of the following ten months there
was to be sacrifice Of seven men.
Standard.
Ya- AS1a~