A VISIT TO THE TOWN OF THE "LONG JUJU."

Otago Witness, Issue 2287, 30 December 1897, Page 31

A VISIT TO THE TOWN OF THE "LONG JUJU."

Now that the crudtiesof Benin City have given place to civil isa-tion, attention is being directed lo an equally dark spot in the Niger Protectorate, which will have to be dealt with at no distant date. The place in question is the important town of Bendi, situate about 100 miles inland from Opobo. Ib is the largest trade centre in the Protectorate, and is the headquarters of the " long juju." Human sacrifices are carried on piobably to as great an extent as at Benin, and fetish riten are couducted with equal cruelty. It was in December last that Major Leonard and Mr F. James, two of the Protectorate officers, went to Bendi. Their journey through very hilly country occupied six days, and during their march they h&d to swear juju at every town or village they passed. On the march they were preceded by a native boy wearing a white shirt Mid holding aloft a Union Jsck. On reaching any village a palaver was held. The proceedings opened by the headman of the town walking round tbe ring holding a skull in one hand and wildly gesticulating wit h the other, at the same time uttering curses upon all the white men and their descendants if any harm befell the townspeople by reason of their visit. After this friendly act the head friendly chief with the expedition iv his turn walked round the circle calling down maledictions upon the natives if any harm befell the white men during their visit. This headman, who knew well' the efficacy of a new juju, hit upon a plan which at the time had an extraordinary effect on the super&titious people. In his promenade round the circle he carried in his hand an ordinary bottle of sodawater, and at the critical moment, when he had exhau.'t.'d his list of curees, he lept its to the ring and opened the bottle, the cork going off with a loud report. Ridiculous as it may seem, the effect was instantaneous. The natives with one accord — chiefs, wemers, and children — straightway Rid. The people were profoundly impressed with whab they called " tho white man's God in the bottle." Dining the whole journey tbo letting off of eodawater corks alwajs had the desired effect of impressing upon the people tho power of the white man's juju. On reaching Bsndi the plsce was touud to be much larger than the usual AfriciU town. It had an immense market plac?, with wide trade roads converging upon it from every dirt c> ion. As soon as it was known that the Europeans h&d arrived the market was at once closed, and the intruders were warned to leave immediately. They departed on the following day. It is probable (hat the people will still remember the sodawater juju, and that it maybe un important factor in coming to an understanding with thece mysterious natives.