East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-02-03
LONG JUJU' CULT
HORRORS REVIVED
Developments Prove African Organ
ization May Have Been Scotched
But Not Stamped Out.


thought to have stamped out the
dreaded Long Juju" OF Arochuka,
but events have proved that, though
scotched, the cult was far from kill
ed. OF late a powerful AFRO chief
named Kanu Okoru has raised the or
ganzation to almost its former vast
proportions. But for the vigorous ac-
ton of the district commissioner. who
in unveiling the fresh horrors of the
Long Juju" nearly paid for it with
his own life, another big expedition
probably would have been necessary.
Probably on account of the fact that
the Long Juju." with its human sac
rifices. was thought to have been |
wiped out permanently after the Brit
ish expedition, the cult never was de-
clared illegal, and gradually and Sc
cretly Kanu Okoru collected scattered
remnants. He organized stair ot
| 1900 messengers, who were perpetual
| ly travelling up and down over hun
dreds of miles of territory.
| HOW slaves Were Taken.
On arriving in a town the secret
messenger would inquire If any or the
people were accused of witchcraft or
| other crime, or if any desired to in
woke the aid of the chief oracle,
Chuka. ANY townsman nourishing
emnity against another bribed the
"Juju" messenger, who thereupon or
dered the man to go before the oracle
and the wretched victim went unre-
sistingly to death or lifelong slavery.
In spite of the vigilance of the gov
ernment, until a few weeks ago the
Aros made most of their wealth
through the slave trade. Northward
as far as Udi and southwark to the
sea, the country is honeycombed by
slave routes Along these were con-
tinually passing the victims of the re-
vived Long Juju," too terrorized TO
complain to the white man or do any
thing in self defense. Such was the
power of the Juju emissaries that II
they only pointed finger at man,
woman or child the wretched crea-
ture had to follow them without
thought of hesitation or resistance.
| the most lucrative side of this hid
eous traffic was the supply of sacrifi-
cial victims to those wealthy enough
! to pay for such means of insuring rich
crops or answer to prayer.
4 RumOrs Reach Government.
/ Closely as the dread secrets of the
| Long Juju" were guarded. rumors
at length reached the government, and
the district commissioner, at great
persona! risk, made inquiries. Many
II ringleaders were arrested but had to
II be freed, since no murders could be
proved, and, as already said, the cult
II of Chuka had not been made illegal
II The release of these ringleaders was
regarded by the Aros as further proof
that their "Juju" was more powerful
than the white man.
n Though gabbled for a time the dis
II trict commissioner was determined tc
II stamp out the movement and the Gull
II was made illegal. AS a result further
arrests were justified and several ol
II the chief priests were sentenced tC
II death. In order to avenge their kin
ii the relatives of the condemned meT
poisoned the commissioner food, bu
|l luckily antidotes were at hand, and
II the attempt only resulted in severe
y illness. The chief, Kanu Okoru. had
II safeguarded himself with such skill
that it was found impossible to con
II vict him of murder. so while subordi
mates suffer the extreme penalty, thu
III arch conspirator, who has amasse(
fortune of at least half million
III could only be condemned to thre,
III years Imprisonment.
ii Slave Town of 5000.
n One of the most startling results o
the Investigations was the discover!
III of slave town with 1000 to 800
souls, at the back of Kanu Okoru'
II compound. This was screened from
the road by only few yards of brush
but so dense is the vegetation that it
existence had never been suspected
No smoke was visible above the higl
trees, and the thick underground hi
everything from sight while the ter
ror of the oracle precluded all though
of crying for help.
The power of the Long Juju'' noN
y finally Is broken and the fear whicl
is inspired over hundreds of mile
= of territory and thousands Of peopl
he Is now a thing of the past. The fol
er lowing is typical of the cases brough
AZ to light. After heavy bribing the of
,e ciciating priest for a favorable yer
m dict, one man accused another of
crime and summoned the latter be
~ fore the Chuka.
, After both had offered a sacrifc
- of sheep and goats to the oracle, &C
cuser and accused were taken to tn
:, spot in the river bed before the en-
= trance to a sacred cave in the sid
of the gorge. They were ordered t
&c stand with their backs to the cav
mouth while the oracle was announc
~ ed by priest concealed within.
% The Strangling Stick.
u The accused was declared guilty ant
i ordered to sit on the trunk of tre,
L which jutted out over the water, whil
l. his accuser and all the members o
y the cult present were told to retire t
p. place above the cave and screened
from the river
The executioners next appeared
with "strangling stick"-a piece o
wood eight inches to nine inches loni
% with a rope moose firmly fixed to on,
ie end and passing through circular
hole in the other. This stick wal
placed against the front of the throat
'e and the victim was quickly stranglet
by means of the corG, which was pass
. ed over the head No resistance evel
was made. The fear of Chuku seems
to have been too overwneiming fol
VI anv such idea The head of thu