Liberia *- 



to ancestors for some services rendered, and have come down 

 in lineal descent to posterity. 



"The same principle prevails in respect to offices, of which 

 there are tour principal ones in every Grebo community. 

 These are the Woraba, Bodia, Ibadia, and Tebawa. The 

 former two are taken from the class of * Nyekbade ' or 

 patriarchs the latter from the Sedibo. 



u The Woraba (literally town s father] is the oldest or most 

 influential patriarch, lineally descended from the founder of 

 the town. In the assembly of the patriarchs he takes pre- 

 cedence of all others, and has the largest share of all the 

 perquisites of this body. 



" The Bodia appertains to one family ; but this is by 

 appointment of an ancient oracle. The Bodia, and the other 

 two offices of which I am to speak, though belonging to 

 particular families, are only conferred upon those designated 

 by some oracle consulted in reference to the appointment. 

 The Bodia resembles the office of high priest among the Jews. 

 The individual having been designated who is to fill the office, 

 on the appointed day he is installed by a long ceremony, the 

 leading features of which are as follows : There is a sacrifice 

 of a goat to the Kuru (demons and departed spirits), the blood 

 of which is sprinkled around and inside the door-posts of 

 the Bodia' s house. The Bodia is shaven, clad in a new 

 garment, has a leopard's tooth tied around his head (this is 

 a common ornament of gentlemen), has a monkey's skin pre- 

 pared to be placed always beneath him when he sits, and he 

 is anointed. The house in which he lives is called from this 

 circumstance the Te-kai (anointed house). During the cere- 

 mony, the patriarchs of the several families, in order, give 

 the Bodia-elect their respective charges. In substance these 

 are : ' Let trade be active ; cause the earth to bring forth 



1076 



