The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-07-11
THE PEOPLES FORUM.

In my last told you of the mission
ary getting the chief of the tribe to
give up Biloxi, the ten year old child he
had bought. One morning soon after
his return to the Compound in West
Africa, he was walking along the street
of the village. when something at
tracted his attention. In front of a
low hut made of bark, where lived one
of Zambe's men, he saw a stake driven
in the ground and on it was bundle of
fetish medicine to keep thieves away.
Just beyond this string is stretched
across the village street. To this is
tied corn stalk, some plantain leaves
and several articles which flutter in the
wind. All of these are fetishes to ward
off evil and bring good luck to the vii
lage. Just then he met a young man
named Re, who said, Good morning
Minisi, we welcome you back to the
black mans town." Thank you, Re,
l am glad to return and tell you the
good news of Zambe. But, Re,
why do you wear that charm on your
wrist? ut is love token, Minlsi. You
see it is this way. am seeking a good
wife and hope this charm will give me
favor in Avoto's eyes. and enable me to
pay her father good dowry for her.
When the moon is full each month |
pour some chicken blood on it to make
1t work well. All my friends who have
not joined the tribe of Zambe, use such
charms" He meant that all who were
not Christians used them. One of them
has charm that makes him invisible.
so he can listen to conversations with
out being Sc n and enter places that are
forbidden. Do you believe that? Sure
| do and Satur has a charm that pre-
vents evil spirits from jumping down
your throat. You see it takes some
time for these poor ignorant Africans
to get away from all their old supersti
lions.
So it does many in this country.
Don't you know, that some people here,
want to see the moon over the right
shoulder. Or if they drop a knife some
one is coming to eat with them, or if
their nose ltches that Is a sign of a
visitor coming. Just about as silly as
the poor Africans belief, that charm
will keep evil spirits from slipping down
his throat.
AS Mini:i continued his walk he saw
at the end Of the town a new made
grave with picket fence around it.
He examined it more closely and found
inside the fence lot of clothes, fetishes
and food for the use of the spirit of the
dead man. Close by there was a log
stuck upright in the ground. There
was hole cut in it, and he found in the
hole, bits of the skin of a python, that
is huge snake, bits of the skin of a
monkey, of leopard, with some dried
herbs, and shells, and some powdered
bark. He knew that was fetish, but
he did not know what it was for, so he
asked his friend Re who told him that
Biang had put 1t there to ward off sick
ness from the village, but he said if
anybody brought anything into the viii
lage tied in a bundle, the charm would
not work.
Well, it evidently did not work for a
man was dying in his hut Now Biang
was the witch doctor, said spell was
upon him. He said also, that some of
the women of the tribe had caused his
sickness and ne must find out who is
guilty, and no one could tell what the
punishment would be, but it would be
plenty. So all the women of the village
are called together, and there they are
huddled in bunch, while the men look
on in silence. That is a serious hour for
them. Some one of them may lose her
life. You can see how anxious they
would be. At the appointed hour
doctor Biang comes out. He is master
of the situation and his word must be
obeyed. He orders a narrow trence
about foot wide and foot deep to be
dug. Then sticks are laid across it and
the women must sit on them as close as
they can get together.
Biang then tells them that this mans
sickness has been caused by evil spirits
which are in you women. Someone of
you has violated taboo that is what is
forbidden. Now you must confess OPEN