THE LAND OF THE NIGER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 34, 30 June 1914, Page 7

THE LAND OF THE NIGER.

THE TLRROR Of 'iilE "JUJU.' (By P. Ambury Talbot, iu Tn; : Times, i Perhaps nowhere in lue wurtd ar; tragedy and comedy ro incv.tably intarwoven as in the loveij, t: eaclicroua Nigeria, drained iby the givat river from which its name is derived. Ou the most festive Occasions, without a sign of warning, horror raises its head, while, conversely, comedy makes her appearance at the most .unexpected times and places. To a Commissioner these dual influences are more clearly shown than to any other white man, by reason of tho closeness with which, lie so wish, he can enter into every aspect of native life and thought. Not long ago the people of a certain town sent to i;.vite us to ona of their merry-makings. Men, dressed in grotesque masks—one of them with a particularly absurd snaike-like nose —"tangoed" up and down, delighting the spectators witii tlieir uncouth antics. Suddenly the roars of laughter doubled. A new figure sprang fonvard and came bobbing and moving in our direction. This, Ojjen hy-'Jiame, was a sight Which for ..*utiia'l grisly (horror would be hard to beat. On its it. bore a hi'tian skull, or rather (he mouth of which was fixed open in a ghastly grin. The parched skin was wrinkled round the eye-hoficß in a. way which produced the effect of ghoulish merriment. Words can give but a feeble impression of the loathsome horror of tliis apparition as it- mopped and moved in the brilliant sunlight among the gay dresses and gayer laughter of the delighted multitude. A BRIDAL SENTINEL.

This skull is a groat "Juju," brought down from the home of the race oil their last trek seaward. Its present-day use is interesting enough. On the marriage of a member of the Ojjen Clmib, or of any man rich enough to pay for the privilege, it is carried to the door of the bride-chamber. There is remains, a grim sentinel on the threshold, tfil the "company" come to fetch it at dawn. It is thought that this will ensure fidelity on tfcc part of the wife, for, should sh? attempt to leave her husband, the horrible head would follow her through the night, and, if necessary, summon to its aid countless hordes of dim gibbering shapes from the ghost towns;, which wouul tteoHg round and block the way to the house of another lover. Just before leaving for home ilast tour a chief, whose evil reputation as a "Juju" mail had long terrorised the neighbourhood, was brought to justice for an attempt !on our live*.-.. Kb. sooner was he safeUv imprisoned than out/fen tia-s 1 cam® in from all the < ountrysirte that the objects by means of wtlsich bin reign of terror had been upheld should be dispersed. Prominent among these was a "dancing dress" of iblue cloth, whiohj save for two , eyeholes, covered the wearer from crown to sole. Above this, on festive occasions, the chief wore a mummified human head, between the grinning teeth of which a wooden "tongue" had been driven, protruding uH if in rt?rision of the tortured features. Many "Jujus," however, have a distinctly humorous side. Such a one dwells in a. sacred vater, never before visited by any European, ne;u- Ikot Ndua Iman. When one of the townsmen marries lie ieads his bride down to the jmol and calls her name before the indwelling spirit. After this, should she prove faithless, line first frugally claims the return of the dowry, and no sooner is thi* repaid that the 'Juju" kills the woman. Only should the husband go down to the water and say: Listen, 0 Spirit. 1 do not care j for her particularly. |)o not trouble therefore to do anytfliing -against her." does she escape unharmed. There is a grim touch of unconscious humor, too, in the "tabu" by whid" the old Ibibio women are forbidden t eat from deep pots, "lest they receive too. uracil nourishment therefrom, which will- cause them to live beyond the Allotted span." A dither imay their food be cooked upon which the lea-t trace of sap remains, lest this should act as a rejuvenating influence on their sapless , frames. CHEATING Till'" DIETW

Tlie strange turns of native thought are hardly icss awprishis vhuii is tlie mental agility of many West Africans. Indeed, to title present writer it lias alwajte seemed that their brain power lias been greatly under-mt«:I; probably because wo fa'l to catch the link wh'-.h to them makes clear and logical thoughts and ideas so different from, our own. Given on* cenitiiinVs l of education, it appeal, with all deference to those who lioid other views,- that the itf ereiii'e in -ni in tal it v i v;i the]- one of kind than of degree. .Manv certainly possess a qnaJity of mind "which enj ablea them to pluck safety from o-ut themost dflsperite circumstances. Until quite recently, oil the -banks of tlie river which flowed beneath the windows our iJast station, a human sacrifice was offered at the beginning of eacfc fishing season, to ensure good fortune to the nets. The victim wais bonaid to a k tou f stake, driven deep into the mud, left ■bare at low tide, to 'he drowned by tlie rising water. One year tlie man chosen chanced to be of uimsnal strength. By 'straining every i em he burst the bond's which held his huge limbs, and found Ihimself free uxc- more, but with ho praco of refuse, siuco oviry town was dosed to 'him. and Ic take'to the mangrove swamps meant ikil ,'ife but, a lingering death. In tiiis deviate strait he decided on a daring .stroke. Back to the beach he swam, where the townsfolk were merrily hol.luig his- death feast. Jt chaneed that In- was Mind of

an eye, so mo sooner did tic near the whore than lie began in upbraid them, m the "Jnju's" namo. for during to offer a blemished statin.' that the spirit liad sent him back a* unworthy, and with the ccinmand that a bettashould' foe substituted. lnip;(-stioniiK r 'y the people obeyed. A per, Vet victim was tfli'osen and offered up, whil<. the resourceful one-eyed deceiver lived out Ins life to u j cacei'ul dose. This imjekness of mind Binifco-. it Wv difficult to pin down a nati-3 to anv definite clmrco of wrong-doia* and il,i«lu. s of humor into i.lie dullest and must piosaicsccming of court cn>'ea.

a fistis nisTiwnox. i 0n <-''. for in-t;.rnc. a prisoner was brought befor., ine i-lun-.-d with a breael, of discipline 111 sprnkiii" his wile without permission. The evidence seemed condns.ve v -.-t the nuu, absolutely pleaded Not guilty." I|i s defence given with the most guileless air, ran'as follows:

rnxions wjjv to tlu prison gate. 1 saw my wife with a oasket of plar.tain-'. It was i, m , po sS'ble to ffet permission to .speak with icr, as tile corporal was bnsv. 1 thereloro -aid to myself: ' -Our'father Uie District Commission.* has forbidden us to talk with tin, U so briiif food. b„t never lias he said a woal sywuns, «i!a V will, ya,„s or plan- , rll ' n ! looked -adlv umm Hie i.vnv,s,ons ( and asked: T,hplantain,. Why are you s„ f ow? If more, of v V , nf h,™ T q "r Cl;,y 1 Sll '' ,r ' «"*lv'dle SbinTw « / SW( ' av to "• ol,r Worsl p hat iliat wa, all. Jf o W(>rd was --'id to anyone save tW, and against

cointi .ing with vegetables 1 never it-Mr', ilsaf ihv v.-j« any law. hi "!>!!• V i generally the wor-1 "}■'!' r it rj differeat connotation tu ' ■ ! «h.Vii it bears at home, ami 1; has >»')<»« l<"ought borne to bib that in - v "i i ihrn Nigeria at least Pun/ v#l!. lo :!>t a prison make, "N'or in-n '»« a• •• age.. l'or ; i j.d little, save the IHTf-cus! !;• >if iU.' offieiall in -barge an.-! a firm*/ tof barbed v'src, to mtrain VU inK»U>n. 1 li>*art! . ' n 'in hulerit spirit who ap . proai-hcd i - ' caii of his prison with a complain! 1.., the quality of the ration-. prov; ■:<■.(. Th« official replied that, ip liis opin'h/M. the food was footh good and whereupon the prisoner answered, will!; a fine air of detachment: "If you no fit to give me better chop,' I not be fit to -lay"—waving his hand towards the open plain, from which be was separated by so inadequate a barrier.

TITK HALL-MARK OF CULTURE. In lands surh as these littfc or no stigana attaches to gaolbirds. In fact, prison residrn-ic is often regarded a 5 conferm," (lie liall-iivark of culture and distinetion- The last Governor of Southern Nigeria once complimented a chief of tlx: interior on llife knowledge of English, to which the inan replied with a proud air: "Of course I be fit to talk English month! I learn all that when I live long time for prison." Such residence is indeed Oiooked upon as giving a sort of official status. At Calabar some prisoners were out cleaning the .road, v ben a cleric, dressed in tne height of faslion, high collar, patent leather boots, :'ikl the smartest of suitV, went by. In passing he flicked one of the bending laborers with a little swagger cane he was carrying. At once the aggrieved party sprang erect: "What!" he exclaimed, with splendid contempt. : 'Y ni dare touch me, yvju niggiar! You factory man! Look-!, me!-" - Here le pointed to the broad arrows prominently displayed over his simple vest and loin-cloth. "I be Government man! See here!" And the dandy passed on abashed.