GOLD COAST BORGIAS.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1173, 7 April 1884, Page 3

GOLD COAST BORGIAS.

As if the surroundings of life at the Gold Coast were not sufficiently deadly, the native priests have developed an elaborate system of poisoning. Sometimes they stop short of taking life ; all depends upon the wish of the person on whose behalf the deed is done. If he desires to kill his enemy outright, the priestly intermediary must be paid accordingly. But a much lower tariff is quoted for more limited vengeance. If* for instance, it is desired to produce blindness or troublesome skin complaints, the medicine man has powers of warranted efficacy, which he will administer at a moderate price. According to the Gold Coast Times , which enters at length into the subject, the latest method of compassing death shows considerable ingenuity. Before paying the destined victim a visit, the priest inserts some deadly poison under his finger-nails. Thus provided, he obtains an interview and induces the victim to have a drink with him. The poisoned nails are then surreptitiously inserted into the latter’,s tipple, and that finishes the business. It is said that such joccurences are becoming quite common, even Europeans Jand half-castes being sometimes made the subjects of experiment, The poisoners manufacture their own drugs out of j angle herbs, and they arc believed to know what, sorts and what quantities will produce the desired effects. This, of course, renders detection all the more difficult, and at present the black Borgias arc masters of the situation. —Glode.