Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-04

The terrible African religion know I
4s Long Juju," to which countless
lives were sacrificed, was suppressed IN
southern Nigeria by an armed eXpedl-
;fon sent out by the British govern
mont but recently it was found that
It had been revived.
This cult has again been stamped out
~ the British district commissioner
who nearly paid for his act with his
iife otherwise another important eX-
D dition would have been necessary
Recently It was discovered that a
powerful AFRO chief, named Kanu oko-
III, had raised this organization OF
slavery torture, and death to Amos.
its former vast proportions. He had
organized a staff of 1900 messe myers,
Who were pcrpetually travelling up and
down over hundreds of miles of terri
tory.
Closely as the dread secrets Of the
Long Juiu were guarded. rumors at
length reached the government. and
the district commissioner. at gr at per
, senal risk, made inquiries
Several of the chief priests were SEN
fenced to death. In order to aYenge
their kin, relatives of the condemned
men poisoned the commissioners food.
but luckily anfidotes were at hand. ana
the attempt only resulted in a severe
+. illness.
The chief. Kanu Okoru, had safe
guarded himself with such skill that il
was found impossible to convict him OF
murder, so, while subordinates suffered
Tire extreme penalty, the arch-conspir-
ator. who had amassod fortune of al
hast 100000 pounds could only be con
demned to three years Imprisonment.
One Of the most startling results of
the investigation was the discovery OF
slave town, with two or three thous-
and Inhabitants, at the back of Kanu
Gkord's compound. This was screened
from the road by only a few yards of
hush, but so dense is the vegetation
that its existence had never been sus-
pected.
No smoke was visible above the hig
trees and the thick underbrush hid
everything from sight, while the terror
of the oracle preeluded all thought Of
crying for help.
The power of the Long. Juju is sad tc,
be finally broken. and the fear which
1t inspired over hundreds of miles Of
territory and thousands of people is
now thing of the past. The following
rs typical Of the cases brought TO light.
After heavily bribing the OFFICIATING
priest for q favorable verdict, one man
9eeused another Of a crime, and sum
moned the latter before Chuku. After
both had offered 4 sacrifice of sheep
and goats TO The oracle accuser= and
accused We're taken to a spot in the
river bed before the entrance o. a
sacred cave in the side of the goree.
They were ordered to stand with
their backs to the cave mouth Will
the oracle was announced by Il priest
concealed within. The accused WIS
teeiafed guilty and ordered to sit en-
tfes uunk OF tree which jutted oat
ever she water while his accuser and
al tie members Of The cult present
v.ere told to retire to a place above the
cave
The eNeeutioners next appeared witt
a .straneling sticks-a piece Of wood
eighf 90 nine inches long. with rope
ae9se firmly hxec TO one end ana pass
lsE Trough q circular hole in tn
etiaer. This stick was placed aeainy
he Front Of the throat ana The victim!
vas then quickly stranglod by mean
Of the cord.-Washington Post.