Liberia <«- 



Weaker decoctions of " sassy-wood " are administered for 

 accusations of theft or disputes affecting the person's honour 

 In the case of theft, if the medicine acts as a purge instead 

 of as an emetic the accused is guilty, and is then liable to be 

 killed, but it is usual in such cases for the friends or relatives 

 to subscribe together and buy him off by paying up the value 

 of the goods stolen, plus a " fine " to the Court. 



Mr. Gow states that in the Sikoh countries there is 

 another form of ordeal, which is conducted by the medicine- 

 man squeezing into the eye of the accused the acrid juice of a 

 plant, probably a species of Euphorbia. It this poisonous juice 

 is of a certain degree of strength, it is supposed to break or 

 snap the eyeball and blind the patient, whereas if it is less 

 virulent it merely causes a cruel inflammation which may 

 eventually become cured. 



The medicine-men play a very important part in the social 

 hierarchy. Sometimes, as amongst the Grebo people, their 

 duties seem to be divided amongst different classes of the 

 community, or they form associations or secret societies known 

 as the Kzvi-iru and 'Deyabo. The latter would seem to be in 

 embryo a corporation very like our Royal College of Surgeons 

 or Physicians. The following is a summary of the account of 

 the Kwi-iru and the Deyabo given by the late Bishop Payne 

 of Cape Palmas. 



" There is a curious secret society to be found in every 

 Grebo community, styled Kwi-iru, or ' children of departed 

 spirits.' Though it is attempted to keep everything connected 

 with this association concealed, it is known to be composed 

 of persons of all ages in the community, except children. 

 They have a ' father,' as he is called, but he is never visible 

 or known, except to members of the society. When, as i§ 



1068 



