The Washington bee., 1902-04-05
AZ AFRICAN SHRINE.
orong lulu" Mecca of the Slavec
of Fetichism.
..ome Place Where Hundreds of
man Lives Are Sacrificed
r,rry Near-Mysteries of
the Retreat Revealed.

r... human lives are sacrificed
r.4r al the Long Ju-Ju," one
80. many fetch centers that dot
% .,rr.r. of central and western
~, ~. IN order that evil spirits may
..rs.rrI from the land and the
..I If the gods appeased. The
W. ...r .rr-Iu" is one Of the most no.
.-.... and most powerful meccas of
~. ..arrs Of fetichism. 1t is here
I.. hundreds of the superstitiOus
-.,.... nile up their material offer
-. fIe spirits and journey in res
--7-. bands to deposit the relics of
J.-lu rites.
Sam. interesting figures concern
:-, -... Long Ju-Ju" have just come
-.,.frrr interior from a correspond
sr, with the Aro expedition. 1t is
..,.uarrI that every year 500 pill
r-u- Journey To the sacred spot to
-.....r rar trtich decree and advice
-... is yau.Asuicd to them by the
.....rr.rrd powers. To most of them
bis. dear experience. About so of
Them are sacrificed annually in order
t..r their skulls may be offered to
-a. rad,. while fully 200 people are
s.r. into slavery. The remainder are
allowed to- go away free.
Tile -Lane Ju-Ju" is one of the
most fascinating spots in western
Africa ru the cuI<ously inclined eX-
rr.r.r. On account of its sacred
holding, IT is closely guarded by the
rarge. and it is by no means easy
,f access. even when the traveller is
ar..mnaa.rd Uy an experienced and
licensed guide The utmost secrecy
!, observed IN approaching its en-
france. m addition to the difficulties
r.r conducting of "A visitor to the
T.-Tuisa somewhat lengthy process.
When le arrives in the immediate
vicinity of rh- uucuHny spot he is led
bv glreulr.as route and finally is
marched u backwards.
Thr approach TO the Ju-Ju is
through dense bush, which gradual
is becomes thicker and thicker, until
the entrance is reached. The Ju-Ju
Hu ovaI-shaped pit 70 feet deep, 60
yards long and so yards wide. In
entering the visitor cnmbs down the
TrE-8us sides of rock into a mar
rT gorge and into running water,
4.- water gushrS forth from the
g1Uck in two large streams, which
I'r below Il small island. on which
lre TWO affairs, one made from many
Trade guns stuck muzzle dOwnwards
nthe ground and topped with human
skulls The other is made of wood
and supports more skulls, bones,
feathers blood eggs and other vo-
I've offerings 10 the Ju-Ju, including
Le head Of the last victim.
Over the rock from which the run
I.1g water springs is a roof of hu-
man skulls with a curtain, the top
part OF which is composed of clothes
and the lower part of native mat
ing screening the rock and hanging
Just short of the waters edge. The
lower portions of the rock composing
i-1 other sides of this crater are
l'aHei with mats only.
l-e Sacrtcial functions of the
'.Il are performed on the left side
" The entrance, opposite the island.
Were a tiat-tupped ledge has been
-s'l out of the rock. The waters as
We. as the walls and whole interior
W Tie rharnel-housc abound i'm fetch
..r The pool is about - inches
.7'' and ahounds in tame, lazy-look-
.- -ray-co.ured fish. about two feet
'- .7--lh These fish have long suck
..' ana g.uriug yellow eyes. The
'.. .. the Ju-Ju i~ formed by mass
" -ea~e.y intcrtwined creepers.
81. The left of the entrance. through
.~.- the visitor is escorted, rests
greatest evidence Of the devotion
The native worShipers to their be-
-.. ID tetlchi~m. There lie the skulls
'..f~s Who have been sacrificed in
.. .'. That the Ju-Ju rites might be
administered and the spirit
. communicated with through
--.rrnI offerings.
,- ..e natives i'm these fetich centers
.g@- Africa believe that by vent
.-r.r wrath upon human beings.
-.."~ and even inanimate objects
D.. "'' enabled to worship the gods.
-E are prosperous and escape
.. 'gF regard as misfortune. the
m. .I their devotion are petted,
t.. ."r reverse is true they min
nav. '-' most eXcruciating punish
... ..' anu east some portion of the
...7., II the Ju-Ju.
r. mugs Eat Up "A Church.