Travels Of Richard And John Lander Into The Interior Of Africa For The Discovery Of The Course And Termination Of The Niger By Robert Huish
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The Centre Square Is Occupied By
The Duke And His Wives, The Others Being The Abode Of His Servants
And
Attendants, which altogether amount to a considerable number.
Immediately opposite to the first square, which forms the entrance to
his
Residence, stands a small tree, profusely decorated with human
skulls and bones. This tree is considered by the people as fetish or
sacred, and is supposed to possess the virtue of preventing the evil
spirit from entering the duke's residence. Near the tree stands the
house, which is inhabited by their priests, a class of beings,
certainly in the most savage condition of nature that it is possible
to imagine. The fetish priests of Brass Town, chalked themselves from
head to foot, besides dressing after a fashion of their own, but
these fellows outdo them far, and make themselves the most hideous
and disgusting objects possible.
Whether it may be with the idea of personifying the evil spirit of
whom they are so afraid, Lander could not learn, but they go about
the town with a human skull fastened over their face, so that they
can see through the eye-holes; this is surmounted by a pair of
bullock's horns; their body is covered with net, made of stained
grass, and to complete the whole, and give them an appearance as
ridiculous behind as they are hideous before, a bullock's tail
protrudes through the dress, and hangs down to the ground, rendering
them altogether the most uncouth looking beings imaginable. Sometimes
a cocked hat is substituted for the horns, and the skull of a dog or
monkey used, which renders their appearance, if possible, still more
grotesque. Thus equipped, they are ready to perform the mysteries of
their profession, which Lander had not sufficient opportunity to
inquire into, but which are quite enough to enslave the minds of the
people. They seem to believe in a good and evil spirit; that the good
spirit dwells in the river, which accounts for their sacrifices being
made on it, and that the evil spirit dwells in a tree, which being
full of human skulls, keeps him away from them.
On the morning of the 26th, the duke's principal man came on board
the Portia to receive payment for some bullocks, which Mr. Becroft
had purchased. There was something in his appearance which attracted
the attention of Lander, and he fancied that he seemed to be much
dirtier than any that had been seen on the preceding day. On a nearer
inspection, his head, and the whole of his body were found to be
covered with ashes, and a very dirty piece of sackcloth fastened
round his loins; besides this he appeared to be suffering great
distress of mind, and presented a most wretched and woeful
appearance. Lander asked him the cause of his grief, and why he had
covered himself with ashes in such a manner, when he gave the
following relation of the cause of all his distress. It appeared that
he had possessed six wives, one of whom was gifted with a larger
share of personal charms than the rest, the consequence of which was,
that she received more attention from him and was loved more than any
of the others. This partiality naturally excited the jealousy of the
other ladies, and mortified by his neglect of them, they were
determined on revenge, and was resolved to get rid of their favoured
rival by mixing poison with her food. They had just succeeded in
effecting their purpose, which had caused the poor fellow much
distress, and he had not recovered the effects of his loss on the
morning on which he came onboard the Portia. His tale was simple and
unvarnished, and while he was relating it to Lander, the tears were
trickling down his face. Lander never before saw a black man feel so
much for the loss of a wife as he did. This remarkable custom of
mourning in sackcloth and ashes, appears to be peculiar to these
people, and it was ascertained that they do not cease to cover their
bodies with them as long as their sorrow lasts. They do the same on
the death of a relation, and it is the only instance of the kind that
Lander met with in the part of the country through which he had
travelled.
Great uproar and confusion prevailed the whole of this day
throughout the town occasioned by an adventure of the doctor with the
duke's most favourite wife, which is likely to end tragically to the
parties concerned. This person, who is the doctor of the town, it
appears was the bosom friend of the duke, in whom the latter had the
greatest confidence, and allowed him to visit his wives
professionally as often as he thought proper. The gentleman's visit
had lately become so frequent as to excite suspicion and a look out
was accordingly kept on all his movements. The poor doctor was soon
caught in the snare; the motive of his visit was found to be of an
illegal nature, and the enraged duke has ordered both to be bound
hand and foot and thrown into the river on the following day.
Lander found seven French vessels lying in the river, one Spanish,
and two English. One of the latter, named the Caledonia, a ship of
five hundred tons burden, was the property of Sir John Tobin, of
Liverpool, which, with the other, the brig Elizabeth were taking in a
cargo of palm oil.
The river Calebar is very serpentine, and there is scarcely any other
tree but the mangrove to be seen on its banks. The right bank is
intersected by numerous creeks, well known to the natives, who
frequent them in their canoes; they communicate with all the rivers
that fall into the Gulf of Guinea, between this river and that on
which Benin is situated. The natives go as far as Benin in their
canoes, but there is no communication by water with the Camaroons
river, which seems to be totally distinct from the Calebar.
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