THE OBI POISON 



is at all likely to be accused. The fact of his being accused 

 means in most cases that he is already condemned to die. 

 Another ordeal plant is the Calabar Bean (Physostigma 

 venenosa), found in West Africa. The plant is a climber 

 belonging to the Leguminosce, and the seeds, which are 

 about an inch in diameter, are very deadly. The seed is con- 

 spicuously marked by the long, dark, sunken scar, where it 

 was attached to the pod. Besides being exceedingly 

 poisonous, it has also a curious effect upon the pupil of 

 the eye, which is contracted by this drug.^ 



Another famous poison is produced from Datura stra- 

 rmnium and allied species. In tropical and sub-tropical 

 countries, one is almost sure to find specimens of this hand- 

 some plant along almost every roadside. It is in fact one 

 of the commonest tropical weeds. The leaves are large with 

 fine spinose margins, and the flower is most conspicuous, as it 

 is four or five inches long. This is supposed to be one of the 

 drugs employed by the Obi wizards and witches. The most 

 horrible rites, accompanied by atrocious cruelties, were per- 

 formed amongst certain West African tribes and are con- 

 tinued amongst their descendants, the freed slaves of the 

 West Indies and of the Southern United States. 



Even to-day no white man is allowed to learn anything 

 of the proceedings, but some form of devil-worship or 

 Shamanism, accompanied by incantations and the use of 

 poisonous drugs, still flourishes. Preparations of various 

 sorts of Datura or Thorn-apple produce sometimes stupe- 

 faction, sometimes frantic, furious delirium, and sometimes 

 death. 



It is used in medicine as a narcotic and diuretic. Burton 

 says that the Arabs smoke the leaves in pipes as a cure for 



* The pupil of the eye is enlarged by belladonna. 

 232 



