Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1910-05-18

SELF. 1t Is with some OF the neonla
VINO I'VE along the banks OF the river
mat now propose to deal. They are
among the latest OF the kings sub.
1ects. for 1t was only In 1900 that thev
came under direct imperial admits.
tration
Near the coast the land is low ".
ing and swampy. But as the interior
Is reached there rise plateau after MIA.
teau. until at last high mountains are
discovered. Climate and environment
play an important part in the cbar.c.
teristics of people. Accordingly
among the natives OF the Niger deit,
nVlng In the malaria-soaked manprove
sWamps, there Is constant disease and
the negroes are addicted to every kind
OF toul custom and superstition. When
however, higher country Is reached
wnere there are grassy plains and
nils studded with fine trees. a brave
ana warlike type OF negroes is en-.
countered. men who are altogether IN
higher state OF civilization.
There is something terribly eer,e
ABOUT the dark forests which cling IN
the Shiny and foul-odored banks OF the
Lower Niger. Along the innumerabJe
creeks the heavily leaved branches NJ
the mangrove trees are SO tnterIaced
mat the light is completely shut ont
Inc malorodous air, which sucks all
the vitality out of the white man. IA
steamy. and the squelching mud Is full
OF appalling and vile-looking creatures
Alongside these black recesses live
the negroes whom / have called the
men OF the mangrove swamps. Soma
thing Of the horribleness of tho sur.
Toundfngs seems to have entered into
tnelr natures, for they take a fiendlsh
oehsht In murder and torture and In
practices OF the most revolving charac-
ter. The impression on the mind OF
the traveller when his canoe pushes
up one Of the network of creeks. and
In the blackness of the forest. so
strange and so weird after the flaming
light outside. he suddenly comes
across a village of waited huts and
low-caste natives. completely naked.
with tattooing or raised scars upon
their black skins, is never eradicated
as long as memory holds.
Life is one long terror TO them.
They believe In ghosts which kill with
spears, they believe that constantly on
the steamy waters are travelling misty
canoes, hurrying the living to the re-
gions OF the accursed and they are
sure of the existence of evil spirits
which Kill without a wound, or which
mark their visit by daubing the huts
with blood. and sometimes even filling
the cooking pots with blood.
Away in the most inaccessible cor.
ners OF the bush. so hidden that you
can approach within few yards with.
out knowledge that you are close to a
settlement, live the Ibibios, Who are
among the lowest of the tribes of the
Niger delta. Their villages are re-
moved from the native roads, prob
ably to escape the notice of slave ira
dors, who used to be very active in
these parts. BY the roadsides may be
seen spirit houses for the reception OF
the souls OF men between death and
reincarnation.
Until the coming of the British-and
even now in remote districts-these
people INDUCED in canniballsm. They
made human sacrifices AS the birth
Of twins was considered of evil omen
the mother and her children were al.
ways slaughtered. Since British rule
has been exercised these atrocities
have been prohibited, and thus when.
ever disaster comes to tho Ibibios they
always ascribe II to their being pre-
vented from making sacrifices to ap.
Dease the devils of the woods.
The most important race on the
lower Niger. and living further inland
are the hos. The people speaking the
lbo language number some millions
though, of course, how many exactly
II is impossible to say. They are not
very big men, rarely taller than five
and half feet, but they are well made
and muscular, and the women have
skins so black and so bright that they
look like ebony. When young they
are often rather handsome, but az
they reach manhood or womanhood
they become either very fat or very
thin. The black mans ideal beautiful
girl - a very plump one. and accord
ingly before marriage the bride is
specially fattened. 90 that her spouse
may be all the better pleased with
her.
The hos are great fishermen. and
spend much Of their time in that pur.
SUIT, leaving most Of the trade I'm the
hands Of the women. They have towns
and these. as well as the villages. are
governed by chiefs recognized by the
British government, each Of whom has
sworn allegiance to the local king. The
streets are grassy lanes. across which
stretch festoons OF giant creepers.
and the huts are so hidden among the
scrub and low trees that they are al
most indistinguishable from the sur
rounding vegetation. The kings pal
ace is surrounded by mud walls. He
Is practically a prisoner, for only once
A year Is he allowed by the priests to
go outside. and then cnly 20 perform