New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
DISCOVERS LAKE OF LIFE
British Explorer Reports Find.
ing Holy Pool in Nigeria.
GUARDED FROM EUROPEANS
Natives Believe 1t To Be Dwell.
ing Place of Greatest
Deities of the Race.
[F'rom The Tribune's Correspondent

If'rom The Tribunes Correspondent
London, March Up. Amaury Talbot.
district commissioner in Southern Nigeria
has made another remarkable discovery.
Some months ago, when he returned TO
England on visit. he told how he found
the Lake of the Dead. in the Oban coun-
try. He now tells how he and his wife
explored the Sacred Lake Of Life.
When Mr.. Talbot returned to Nigeria
he found that the news Of the discovery
Of the Lake of the Dead had brought to
light the fact that another sheet Of water
to which mysterious powers were ascribed
existed I'm the neighborhOOd OF Ikot-0bo,
the chief town OF the Ibiblos. and one
afternoon Mr.. Talbot and Mr.. Eakin, ac-
companied by Mrs. Talbot and her sister.
set out to locate it,
Hitherto the knowledge of the lake had
been kept jealousy guarded secret froM
all Europeans. 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
deity of the race.
Access 10 the lake was through a sacred
grove 80 cunningly contrived that stran-
ger might pass within a few yards yet
never find the holy pool MI Talbot and
his party. guided to the spot. founl 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 reenms high priest
the only native human being allowed %
look on the water Formerly many vie
tins were annually sacrificed here though
az the present day human life is not per-
mitted to be taken.
Countless legends had grown up round
the spot IL was sad 10 have been placed
by its first guardian. the thunder god
under the care Of a python and leopard.
who ccaselessly keep watch and ward.
and destroyed any one rash enough 10
seek TO penetrate it, mysteries. II j.
especially sacred as the dwelling place
of the most powerful de!ty-the Cheat
Mother Isu-Ma uhe Face OF Loyel-wnose
symbol is a holy rock facing the en-
trance
Near by the travellers found a second
pool. ancilary TO the lake itself ln the
centre of this is "A palm tree. lrl. which.
IN the water. are stationed man ;iiL
and a boy. who near the uama ot god
dass. as thsy were granted o. o.. ..aelis
in direct answer to prayer Alr Talbot
will send nome complete account oil the
discovery at an early date.
In desciibius his previous discovery Of
tho Lake of the Dead Mr.. Talbot said
that the surface of the water was abso-
utely still, and round about were bushes
ten feet nigh bearing what looked Ike
great tufts of creamy flowers. These.
however. proved L. be nests u lrtc-iross.
The place was . sanctuary for all VIII
things. for no hunter would Oar Co. pene-
trate the bush to this foarsOm- place
As Nh. Talbot stood al the edge. gaz-
ing out over the water IT'S quiet was
suddenly broken by a broad lpple. anu
little fish were seen 10 spring ag.atedy
above the surface. \ great python was
crossing. and .his. IL was learn, d, shaFed
with he crocodiles tie guard 1nahip o.
the Sacred Lake.
Nothing was allowed 20 trouble tle
water. or even TO touch lis outer edge
for fear Of famine and pestilence cnsulns'
fIither. the natives believed. came u!
night the ghosts OF long-dead Eko. TO
drift in sad companies. hopeless and wall
ing. over the surface OF the water.