Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-26
KEEPS CANNIBALISM ALIVE
Object Of an Order that Exists Among an
African Tribe.
TWO SIERRA LEONE SECRET SOCIETIES
One Exists for No Other Purpose
Than to Perpetunte Man-Eating,
the other to Advance Devil
worship.

The further reports OF massacre in the
Sierra Leone province, on the eastern coast
Of Africa, contain but little detailed informa-
ton and Omaha people who are personally
acquainted will the work there are as yet
uncertain as to the fate Of many of their
friends. Among those In this city who
have had actual experience with conditions
there are Mrs. w. p. Hartford and Allen
Mccullough and they are able to Judge from
the habits and customs Of the natives the
dangers which surround missionaries at that
post.
One of the chief sources to which the mis-
sionary there looks for trouble is in the Sc
cret organizations, the members OF which
bind themselves by lasting VOWS and carry
out ~fanctical and inhuman rites which do
not pause at murder. One such society de-
scribed by Mr.. Mccullough is among a small
tribe $50 miles from Freetown, the principal
seaport, and its members are the only really
accredited cannibals In the vicinity. They
are the disciples OF some unknown religion
which prescribes feasts at stated intervals.
On these occasions families belonging to
the organization settle by lot which shall
furnish the provisions. Several members OF
! chosen families disappear on the day of the
! banquet. Any clansman who shows weak
ness from age or injury vanishes in the
| sdillS HiybltI lOuS ldSulOu. duu III SuVlSty 10
likewise kept free from surplus women.
After these feast days, which are celebrated
far back in the "bush.' the tribe observes
a fantastical ritual which gives courage to
the war boys to commit excuses in the
surrounding towns and 1t is then that the
missionary must look to the security of his
quarters. The society has no chief or clan
allegiance and is simply bound together by
a cannibalistic vow.
Rather Peculiar Society.
Another organization of a less dangerous
type, but considerably more extensive, is the
"Porro.' This society is not confined to one
tribe, but has a general membership among
the natives on that part of the coast. A
lodge is located in all the principal towns
in the native kingdom and corresponds in
many respects to secret organizations in
Europe and America which adopt barbaric
symbols and rituals. The Porro men, how
ever, have the unique fashion of abducting
wayfarers and either holding them to ran
som or selling them as slaves for the ac-
cumulation of gin money With the
proceeds they have riotous festivals far
away in the forests in a manner not I'M
like their civilized brother.
The society progresses through three de-
| grees and considerable preparation is nee
'SSdi " u VII tlllD sup. us undl
object is the worship of the devil and he has
an incarnate representative in the person
of the "Porro devil" a creature in fantas-
tic garb which springs out upon travellers
and with the assistance of it's minions car
ries them away to the lodges. The first de-
gree is impaired early in the life OF the
candidate, when he is taken into the bush
at the age of 6 years and put through a
course of training until he is considered a
man at % years of age.
At intervals of three years grand lodge
meetings are held in the capital cities and
on these occasions the children preparing
for Porro membership are permitted to visit
their families. Often the inquiring mothers
are unable to locate their children among
the others and are informed that the devil
has eaten them, or, in English, they are
sold as slaves to provide whisky.
Porros Somewhat Restrained.
The law of the British protectorate has
interfered to some extent with these pro-
~ceedipgs and with the abduction of travellers,
so in order to give the latter what is con-
sidered a fair chance Porro men hang large
signs made of woven grass on roads leading
to Porro camps as a sign that those going
that way must suffer the consequences OF
the trespass. The raids are all made at
night, and a peculiar yell. which acts as
the Porro grip, is given to warn the way
farer that the dread kidnaper is at hand.
The Porro make an exception of Europeans
to avoid the vengeance of the mounted
patrol and also pass by Mohammedan terri
tory where they are under a religious ban
and the population is a unit against them.
A corresponding society among the women
is the "Bundo," which is a sort OF ladies.
auxiliary to the Porro and holds allegiance
like its brothers to the evil principle in
nature. Their theory on this point is that
the good power Is already amiable, but the
evil must be propitiated. Their lodges are
also scattered through the larger towns,
with retreats in the forest for the inculca-
tion of good Bundo doctrine.