The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-02-02
FANATICISM IN AFRICA.
Graphic Description of the Ordeal
by Poison.
Peculiar Societies Existent Among.
Various Tribes = Youth of Both
Sexes Initiated Into Many Occult
Ceremonies and Signs : Notorious
Medicine Men and Witch Doctors.

To students of racial idiosyncrasies the
peculiar freemasonry societies existent
among the tribes of Central Africa offer q
rich field of research. From the meager
knowledge could gain about them dur
ing my travels there they may be sue
cinctly described as societies. in which
the youth of both sexes are enrolled, and
places under what correspondent to a
priestly supervision, to be initiated into
many occult ceremonies and signs and to
learn a language known only to the inner
circle of members. The influence of these
societies and the members of them over
the people at large was naturally enorm-
Gus, the native African being of an ex-
tremely superstitious cast Of mind, and
the members of the society claiming for
their especial control the sphere of spirit
ualities. The notorious medicine men
and witch doctors are recruited from their
ranks, and the power ofan initiated mem
Der is supreme in all things-oVer his
neighbors' souls and bodies in theory,
or, what amounts to the same thing, in
practice over their goods ard chattelS.
Fanaticism is a motive power at once
dangerous to encounter and difficult TO
withstand, but, added to the lower cum
ming typical to the religious impostor, it
becomes q power by no means to be
despised amongst people peculiarly prone
to its influence.
Chance made me an unwilling specta-
tor of an instance of the abuse of this
power. 1t had been my fortune to be in
timately associated, in performing the
duties of my position, with villainous
old African chief, whom will call Emba.
He was an obese, sensual-looking black,
with small. wickedly-leering eyes. His
head was adorned with a towering head
dress made OF cocks feathers interviewer
with strings of cowries, and his body
was wrapped in large red blanket. He
was man much feared in his locality,
where his character for low cunning and
cruelty had become proverbial. The
tribe neighboring on his own was ruled
by native queen named Nkula, and at
the time l met him this queen was his pet
aversion, and he was occupied daily IN
devising schemes of mean vengeance on
the members of it whenever a chance for
doing so presented itself. Emba's district
was one in which the influence of these
societies | have alluded to was para
mount, and he possessed great influence
with the leading medicine men, whose
services he was able to command at any
time-a power that increased his in
different reputation. L had seen good
deal of him when orders reached me to
advance into Nkula's territory. When /
babe farewell to Emba hardly thought
should be so soon unpleaSantly reminded
of his vicinity. 1t appeared III the sequel
that his enmity toward Nllula had never
slumbered, and that he had conceived a
plot of diabolical ingenuity, which he was
able to carry out successfully, in order to
indulge it to the full.
Having taken leave of him we started
on our march, advancing well into the
heart of Africa, and each step bringing us
into more fertile and more thickly popJ-
lated country. The farther we had adj
vanced from the coast the more we had
got beyond that territory upon which the
old slave-dealing days has, even at this
distance of time, left its irretraceable
marks in the thinly populated districts
and villages sparsely distributed and well
concealed. Daily the aspect of the coun-
try partook more and more, as far as
natural luxuriance went, of the nature of
an earthly paradise. In the vicinity of
the villages the land was well cultivated,
and each homestead was surrounded with
thick plantations of maize and banana.
Central Africa is q curious conglomera-
ton OF diverse people, who, in their tribal
relations, resemble in large degree the
cliques of an English country town. Each
tribe subsists by and for itself, to the rigid
exclusion of outsiders. Though the mode
oflife is the same in all, because all have
the same natural conditions to which to
adapt themselves, the customs are not in
frequently dissimilar. Thus it is by no
, means uncommon to find tribe of rest
less cannibals with rowing and brutal in
stinctS bordering on another that is
peaceful, industrious and home-loving.
Another striking trait is the varying de-
gree of difference between the sexes. In
the majority of tribes the women are only
so many slaves, representing the real
property of their lords and masters, and
f.. upon them falls the most laborious and
mental portion of the daily toll. 1t was
now, however, my good fortune to view
the reverse of this picture, where the fe-
males were the recognized chiefs of the
land and the tribe was ruled by queen.
The short tropical afternoon was rap
idly closing in when l reached the. chief
village of Nkula, tributary princess
governing one of these latter tribes. AS
l neared the clustering group of dome
shaped huts i heard the monotonous and
lugubrious sound of tom-tom, mingled
with the croaking of many voices raised
in lamentation. Our approach was not
unexpected and did not disturb the
mourners, who were mostly females,
seated in an open space in front OF
Nkula's hut. On the report of our
arrival Nkula stepped out to meet us.
Her appearance was pleasant surprise.
She was young, tall and we'll made, with
shapely limbs and figure. Her face and
expression were full of meaning, and
intellect of an unlooked-for capacity
seemed to beam from her dark and
dreamy almond-shaped eyes. The sun
light gliStened on and accumulated the
clearness of her smooth dark skin-for
her only garment was a grass cincture-
and flashed upon her heavy brazen orna-
ments.
She received me with quiet grace and
manner not altogether free from curios-
lty. which she repressed with Il studied
cnlilfpSV that a1Snyy bpra would l,a,
called well bred. In response to the
usual salutations she offered me the
shelter OF her village, and gracefully
accepted present in token of good will
When asked what was the cause of the
mourning and lamentation going on
around us, her pointing lips seemed to
qulyer with momentary pain and her
nostrils to dilate with sudden passion as
she faced me. Then it all faded away,
and she simply answered. Come"
Silently followed her into a hut, to a
corner of which she pointed sadly, and in
the half-light 1 could distinguish, living
side by side, the bodies of two Small
black children stiffened by the hand of
death. The scene had striking pathos
all its own. The dim interior; The tall
sad figure pointing silently to the tiny
forms on the ground, over which death
had cast o halo of impressive calm: the
wailng sound of the distant threnodv.
with It's rude chant and ruder poetry, con-
trastlng with the huShed chamber and
Its silent occupants, made up q picture of
which | have never lost the memory.
Nkula stood thus fer q few moments, and
then, with pathetic simplicity, she said
with perceptible tremor in her voice:
They are mine. Some one bewitched
them suddenly, for they were PLAYING to-
gether when bedtime eame'
sad little Soulsi A heavy and unhroken
sleep would mark their lengthy betI-tinapi