The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-09
Government by Fear.

Robert Hamill Nassau, writing In the
bulletin OF the American Geographical
| society, gives an interesting account OF
fetishism as a form OF government among
certain African tribes. The basis OF all
governments among the savage tribes.
MIR. Nassau says, Is fear. which sentiment
u appealed 10 In the enforcement and
even in the enactment OF supposed needed
tribal measures. Mr.. Nassau says:
Among the negro tribes of the Blight
or Benia. and the Bantu OF the region
of corisco Island ana OF the Ogowe river.
In what is now the Congo Francsis there
was a power known varlously as Egbo
Ukuku. ana Yasi which tribes. native
chiefs and headmen Of villages invoked
as court of last appeal. for the passage
OF laws. OF the adjudication of some quar-
rel which an ordinary family or village
council was unable TO settle.
"ln those councils an offender could
he proved guilty Of "A debt, or theft, or
other trespass, and when II was no longer
possible for him by audacity or mendac-
ity To persist I'm his assertion OF inno-
cence. he would yield to the decision of
the great majority against him. hut
there was no central government to en-
force that decision or exact from him
restitution. The only authority the ma
tive chiefs possessed was based on respect
due To age, parental position, or strength
OF personal character. II an offender
chose TO disregard all these considera-
tions an appeal was then made to his SUI
persttious fear
Egbo. jkuku, Yasi was secret So
ciety composed only OF men. Members
were bound by terrible oath and under
pain OF death to obey any law or COM
mand issued .by the spirit under which
the society professed TO be organized.
The actual. audible utterance of the COM
mand was by the voice or one of the
members of the society. chosen ss priest
for that purpose This man. secreted i'm
the forest Ina Clump of bushes on the
outskirts OF the village, or in one of the
rooms OF the council house, disguised his
voice, speaking only gutturally The
whole proceeding was an immense iic-
ton They believed In spirits in the
power OF fetish charms. they made such
charms as part OF his soeiety's cere-
monies, but. as TO the decisions. all the
members knew that the decision I'm any
case was their own. not "A spirits
They knew that the voice speaking
was that OF their delegate. not OF a spirit
Yet. for any one OF them or for any
woman. girl or uninitlated hoy 90 have
said that would have been death. And
those men who would not have sub.
mitted To that same decision n arrived
at I'm open council of those same men as
men. and known before the whole vii.
lage Co be speaking only as men. would
instantly submit when once the case had
been taken TO Ukugu's court They car
riod out the fiction all their lives"
For a woman 90 see Ckuku or any of
his court was death ON ono occasion
the great spirit passed in procession
through n mission settlement and was
secn by tho wife of Rev. James T.. Mae
Key. Not being Benga woman. she saw
no reason why she should retire before
Ukuku. and she did rot Ukuku went 10 |
their rendezvous IN rage. and the se-
cret council dema nded the life of the wo- |
man who not only had not hidden her face |
In their presence. but had dared persist |
rntly 60 look upon them. This demand /
ras modified 90 hne. whipping not even /
'hev daring 10 suggest for a white ladv. |
The demand vas refused. bat some Of Mr. i
Mackey's friends paid it unknown to him |
OF late years. Mr. Nassau says. the
,oweT OF fetishism has been broken by |
he missionaries.