The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-05-31
HUMAN SACRIFICES

A correspondent with the British Tx
IpeuitIon which is subduing the wild
| Arc trbesmen in Southern Nigeria
sends an interesting account to a
Scotch contemporary OF the advance
/ OF the columns into the heart OF the
country, The SURRENDER or leading
CHIEFS, and the occupation of the prin-
cipai towns OF the ARC country.
| ArO-Chuku, or, as the natives also
can it, Omo-Chuku-"Th Son of God"
consists of fourteen towns situate
rounu the long Ju-Ju, which IS unuer
miie from our present camp, anu hid
zen away in thick forest. The largest
OF these towns is IDum, pracucduy
! Aro-C huku. Inc next in size Is ODln-
kiDa, which was sheued this morning,
Christmas Day; but ii is in AWran
where matters connected with this
township are settled by the native
council.
1ne approach to the long Ju-
IJu Is through uense bush, when grad
ually becomes thicker and thicker un-
iii one arrives at the entrance OF a
uuep UVaI-snaped pit, 20 feet ueep, 90
yarus long, ana 5U yards wide. one
then ClimOs down the precipitous sizes
OF the ROCK into a narrow gorge ana in
to running water, up which one wades,
passing under two fences, until one
nnduy comes to a place where the wa
ter comes out of the solid rock in two
big streams, which unite below a small
Iisiduu, on which are two affairs, one
maze OF many guns STUCK muzzie
downward into the ground, and topped
win skulls; the otner being of wood,
anu supporting some Skuus, bones lea
theirs, oioOd, eggs, ana otner votive Of
lerlnSs TO the Ju-Ju, incluulng the head
Oh the last victim. over the rock,
lWheIe is me source of the water, is
rOoL OF human skuus, with a curtain,
the top part of which is composed of
IC.OLnes, anu the lower part OF native
mating. Screening the rock, and
hanging just snort OF the water euge,
the IUwer portions OF the rock compOs-
ing me Otner slues OF this crater, are
u,apeu with mats only. On the left of
the entrance, Centrauy situated, and
opposite the isIanu, has been newn out
OF the rock faL-tOppeu leuge for sac
rihCIal purposes. Inc water, about II
riches ueep, is full of tame grey-cOl-
lCled fish ABOUT 2 feet in length, with
long suckers and glazing. yenow eyes,
which have a most bizarre appearance
as they glide noiselessly through the
lciear wafer in the dim light OF this
lCharnel house of fetish lore, which is
rCofed with densely-intertwlned creep
lerS. These hSh are regarded as sacred.
On the left of the exit lies another pile
loi human skulls and other relics OF Ju-
Ju riLeS, ana on the right OF the last
sacrifice white goat trussed up in the
Dla. Cnes OF a pam tree starving to
death. The long Ju-Ju is probably the
UesL hnOMu ana most powerful religi-
GUS center in West Africa, and is visit
Jed from hundreds of miles by natives
of all sorts and conditions. 1t is i'm
POSSIBLE at present to get full and ac-
curate details from the people of the
ritual which has been in vogue for CEN
turtles in this gloomy cave of savage
superstition; firstly, because they are
Iafraid, and secondly, because the
priests have yet to be captured. Every
thing which is sacrificed, such as cat
tie, goats, fowls, etc, must be white.
The High Priest of the Oracle, who 1T
appears is swathed in clothes, is usual
ly out of sight, and addresses pilgrims
in impressive monotone, having previ-
oUsly been made cognizant of every
detail concerning the supplicants and
their disputes by means of sort of
fetish freemansory which certainly eX-
tends as far as the limits of Southern
Nigeria.
The conducting of the visitor
to the Ju-Ju is usually a somewhat
lengthy process and when he arrives
in its proximity he is led by a circuit
Gus route and finally marched in back
wards. 1t would seem to be fair es-
innate to put the number of pilgrims
down at about 500 annually, all OF
whom pay dearly for the advice or de-
cree which is vouchsafed to them.
Probably the number of human sacri-
fees does not reach a total of so per
annum, whilst about 200 people are sold
: into slavery, and the remainder are al
lowed to go away free.