THE FEAST OF THE TREES 



To the respect paid by succeeding generations of in- 

 habitants to this spell, the very existence of the undis- 

 turbed forest is due. 



In West Africa amongst the negro and negroid 

 peoples, similar conservation methods are employed, but 

 in the latter case, instead of specially protecting the trees 

 on the hills, they devote their attention to preserving 

 the vegetation surrounding the source of a stream. So 

 strong was the taboo placed upon some rivers that no 

 inhabitant would dare pass by the source. What cere- 

 mony is employed in this case I am unable to relate. 

 Whatever it is, it proves to be most effective. 



One of the most interesting tree ceremonies it was 

 my experience to observe was the Amofi Festival. This 

 mysterious ceremony is of great importance to the 

 people of Benin and takes place in the early part of 

 each year. 



It originated in this way. It was a past Oba or King 

 of Benin who when fleeing from his enemies in the dense 

 tropical forest was being pressed hard and was about 

 to be captured when, as their tradition tells us, he grasped 

 a forest creeper or woody liane which caught him up 

 and enabled him to be magically concealed in the upper- 

 most boughs of the tree. The pursuing enemy passed 

 by and the Oba was able to return to his walled palace 

 in time to rally his followers, saving them and himself 

 from destruction. 



To commemorate this miraculous escape by the aid of 

 the tree the Oba of that day inaugurated this ceremony, 



^97 



