Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-08-24

We time done pass, no more our plcka-
ninnv mus not go de same path. Inelr
broken English is always introduced by
"no more" These and other IKE eH-
pressions are frequently used and IL Is
odd to remark that the motives are
sometimes as mixed as the language.
eve want books abee and God pala-
ver." rightly interpreted often means
"we want the white man: he Will give
prestige to our town and bring trade
Nevertheless, it is an open door and the
missionary enters thankfully; but many
are neglected for want of missionaries
One of the most picturesque hgures
in nv African experience was King
Oko Jumbo. Several years ago, when
at Benny, where we had sailed to pay
him visit. | had the pleasure OF meet
ing Oko. His royal barge-a canoe OF
10 paddlers and three muscians-came
ont To greet us. The three men who
nlavcd on the tOm-tom in most dis
tracting manner were helped in their
din bv the crew, who shouted wild
iargon, keeping time with their paddles
meanwhile. We invited the King on
board our little steamer. lie came.
His robe consisted of course, country
made cloth, which he had wrapped
about him and the draping OF when
hung to his bare feet. over this he
wore large white flannel shirt. King
.Oko breakfasted with us and amused us
greatly by firmly declining to have his
Dlate changed for the different dishes,
saving, with true savage philosophy;
No; him all going same path. l put
him all on same plate.
As he became more communicative !
asked him about the great "Ju-Ju
House" temple built entirely Of hu-
man skulls belonging to prisoners in
war. many of whom had served to make
a feaS..
Nobody go dere now," said the willy
monarch. I'VE all 90 church house to
hear God palaver.'
saw that the temple was fast going
to decay, Not far from it now stands Il
neat, commodious church.
One of the chief obstacles TO ciVilizing
and missionary influences is polygamy.
Eyerywhere mans standing is valued
according TO the number of his wives,
When he has to part with them he Is, as
one man explained pathetically to me
when he wanted to be baptized: "All
same as one poor fellow and that is
the last thing he is willing TO be
considered, for in Africa, rs everywhere
else in the wide world, cililized or saw
age. men love TO be accounted of conSe-
quence among their fellows.
Before | take to Gospel ways, said
another, Il had plenty wife, den dey all
ran away but two. Suppose one OF dem
run away. tank God; but l no fifty tell
one to 60"
The polygamic evil begins when the
girl-baby is bargained for and dash
given, and it continues until she Is put
under the head wife for training, reach
ing its climax when she goes into the
house of her future husband at the age
of fifteen or earlier, without any cere-
mony whatever. 1t frequently happens
that wives run away with other men,
the husbands of other women. Then,
To adjust this little difficulty, big
woman palaver" is summoned, lasting
two weeks or more. When it assemblies
and all the members are seated 1t IS an
nounced to the man with whom the re-
creant wife has eloped that the ''palaver
set" and he goes before the gathering.
If he refuses to reimburse the injured
husband the amount of dash" the lat
ter paid for the wife originally, She
goes back to her husband, and all goes
on smoothly as before. If he pays he is
allowed to keep the new addition to his
household. 1t is then announced that
the 'palaver done set
Despite the efforts of the mission
aries many Of the evils mentioned con-
tinue, although their efforts have been
a great means of reducing the number.
The native girls, when instructed by the