Evening star., 1912-09-30
WEST AFRICANS SETTLE
RU[ERSH|P WITH CLUB
Weird Rites Continuing for
Weeks Mark Funeral of
King Banganio.
Foreign Correspondence of Tho Star


LONDON. September IS 1912
In the hnterland of Liberia, on the
west coast OF Africa. the natives are wall
ing because of the death Of King Fan
sanio. and the dead kings three sons
are trying to settle which of them shall
occupy the throne and inherit their late
fathers large herd of cattle. James
Stewart, a Scottish surveyor. who, with
a party of special commissioners went
through the district, has just returned
home, after an absence of three years.
Mr.. Stewart says that these were three
years of intense excitement and pro-
digious adventure" and one of the most
interesting events at which he and one
of his companions were present was the
funeral of the African king. This dus ~
monarch, Banganio Gas nearly as the
name can be translated). ruled over a
region where white men are seldom seen,
and where the only law is that of the
bush. The only white population between
his country and the French Ivory coast
are one or two English prospectors and
an American missionary. who knows the
natives better than he knows the people
of his own country. The news of the
kings death came to the explorers when
they were q weeks journey from the viii
set out at once. under the guidance of
half a dozen native carriers.
Narrow Trail Only Road.
THAT was the hardest march L ever
had in my life.'' said Mr. Stewart
There was no road; just narrow winding
trail, and for days that was not even
visible
The king who had just died had been
a very great man indeed. and he was
feared more than usual, for there was
rumor that he was a grandson of a half
breed, and the fact that he had white
his fellows He had suddenly appeared
one day many years previously. had en-
gagged the then king in mortal combat.
and. having slain him with a club, chal-
lenged any other man to depOse him.
None of them tried it after they had seen
the fight with their old king, so the
stranger was accepted as ruler.
''The details of a chiefs funeral differ
in various parts Of the west coast, but
generally the ceremony lasts for some
weeks, and in the case of King Banganio.
as he loved to be called. the natives We're
at it for a month. We arrived at the
village just a day or so after the prepara-
tions had begun. The body Of the late
with walls only few feet high and
rooted with tlatch. In the center Of the
ground shallow grave was dug. and the
dead chief was placed there and covered
over lightly with the soil.
No woman was allowed near the hut
but by the time we arrived at the village
the neighboring chiefs within few
days journey also had come to help in
the mourning. First Of all a party Of
young men came dancing from one C. rner
of the village to the center of the com
munity, where most Of the people had
gathered. At the head Of this band was
the chief medicine man. who wore a
veil.
When they had danced to the center of
the waiting population the medicine man
announced the death of the king with a
great amount of contortions and
grimaces He continued to point his finger
at the three sons who stood gloomily at
the side. Each of these men wore a 4
plain robe OF native cloth, striped like a