fusion with water. This brew was drunk by the accused, 
who would not die from a small dose. In larger concen- 
trations, however, its active principle, which is unre- 
corded, brought swift death preceded by convulsions. 
The ceremonies connected with the use of this plant did 
not diverge from the pattern of the normal West African 
ordeals. 
Elaeophorbia drupifera Stapt 
Another little-used plant was /laeophorbia drupifera 
Stapf of the Muphorbiaceae, which grew abundantly 
throughout the west, but seems to have been used as an 
ordeal poison only in the Ivory Coast region. It was 
colloquially known as do, douo, tene, dohe, klatou, baga, 
faman, and gbo. Its active principle, whose name and 
chemical classification are unrecorded, was contained in 
the caustic white latex of the plant. This material was 
expressed and mixed with water. ‘The usual methods of 
its use paralled those of Hrythrophleum guineense. How- 
ever, among certain tribes of the Ivory Coast, the latex 
was spread on the eyes of the accused, and was rubbed 
in with the fingers and several wisps of cotton, which 
were left there. The judgement of effects was similar to 
the judgement of its counterpart in the Congo. Damage 
to the cornea was evidence of guilt. 
Mimusops Djave Eng). 
Mimusops Djave Engl. (Bassia toxisperma Raoul) of 
the Sapotaceae is a giant tree of the evergreen forests of 
Nigeria and the Cameroons. Its use as an ordeal poison, 
however, was restricted to the latter region, where it 
was known by the natives as noumgou. The mahogany- 
colored nuts of the tree were used in the trials, for they 
contained a powerful cyanogenetic glucoside. Its em- 
ployment in the ceremonies of the ordeal paralleled that 
of EHrythrophleum guineense. 
[ 806 | 
