The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16

| town Of the Ibibies. and one afternoon
Mr.. Talbot and Mr.. Maxim, accompanied
Mr.. Mrs. Talbot and her sister, set out
to endeavor to locate 1t. Heretofore the
/ knowledge of the lake had been kept a
jealously guarded secret from all Euro
peans, and not even the natives, with
the exception of the high priests, had been
allowed TO approach the sacred water. the
dwelling place of the greatest city of the
race.
Access to the lake was through a sacred
grove so cunningly contrived that a
stranger might pass within a few yards
yet never find the holy pool. Mr.. Tai
bot and his party, guided to the spot
found that the water was full of great
fish, on the welfare of which depended
the life of the Ibibio race. The fish were
SO tame that they fed from the hand of
the reigning high priest, the only native
human being allowed to look upon the
water. Formerly many victims were an
nually sacrificed here, though at the pres
ent day human life is not permitted to be
taken.
Countless legends had grown up around
the spot, it was said, to be placed by its
first guardian, the Thunder God, under
the care of a python and a leopard, who
ceaselessly kept watch and ward, and de-
stroyed anyone rash enough to seek to
penetrate its mysteries 1t is specially
sal VI do Tie QWtl1lIlS place OF Inc most
powerful diety, the Great Mother Isu-IIa
dhe Face of Love-, whose symbol is a
holy rock facing the entrance
Nearby the travellers found a second
pool ancillary to the lake itself. In the
center of this is a palm tree, near which,
In the water, are stationed man, a girl
and boy, who bear the name of the god
dess as they were granted to the parents
In direct answer to prayer
During the past few weeks many thou
sands have made the pilgrimage to
Lawnswood Qeeds) to gaze upon what
is certainly a remarkable monument, and
at the same time notable addition to
the cemetery's statuary. The tombstone
has been erected by a well-known Leeds
man to the memory of his wife, who
died about two years ago. 1t is a replica
of the porch of the house where the
husband lived with his wife, on the broad
step at the bottom being a large figure
in white marble-almost life size-of the
dead woman, who apparently has just
stepped out of the house, for the door
is ajar. The doors are of polished black
Aberdeen granite, and are fitted with
knobs just as If they were the doors
of the house itself. The figure of the
lady is leaning forward slightly. as she
might be stepping out of the house to
/ greet her husband. She is in evening
dress and carries in her hand bunch
| of flowers.
The animals healtheres and utilities
exhibition and conference is to be held at
Caxton hall, Westminster, during the
week beginning April 21.
Some of the exhibits will be unusually
interesting. notably in the sections deal
| ing with humane dress, steel traps, and
animal surgical appliances. Mme Sarah
Grand will preside over the section de-
voted to ''murderous millinery" in con-
nection with which there will be dis
| play of exquisite hats made without the
aid of feathers. F'urs which apparently
are seal, but which could only be iden-
| titled as limitations of seal by an expert
| furrier, will be shown
| The Society for the Suppression OF
| (CrueD Steel Traps will exhibit the traps
| of various designs sent in for their prize
| competition for the best trap which will
either 'humanely CATCH or ''humanely
/ lSill' its victims.
| The Gaekwar of Baroda has lent to the
Victoria and Albert museum, South Ken
| sington, one of the four magnificent
panels which together constitute the cele-
brated pearl carpet of Baroda."
| These panels, with other intended gifts,
including canopy the pearl veil')
| and a set of gold carpet weights en-
| the reign of Rhanda Rao Gaekwar QS50-
| 1s7o) probably at the instigation of his
Mahommedan wife, as an offering to the