Bf.rry — -The Sierra Leone Gavnibah. 51 



near the fire, the ashes of which being scattered over the grave, they returned 

 to the village. 



Sometimes there was no ritual ; and the ceremony, except for the presence 

 of the Murri-meii, could not be called a sacrifice. 



About a month after the human sacrifice the remainder of the sacrifice 

 was made, and a black cow, or white sheep and white fowl, whichever had 

 been determined on, were offered up. At this ceremony the Murri-men 

 officiated as before and told their beads, talking Murri-talk ; and all the people 

 laid their hands on the black cow, after which it was slaughtered and eaten. 



Some people say that the person is only killed for the purpose of being 

 eaten, but the natives say " that they wanted to catch woman to make 

 medicine in order to get riches." 



The objects of the ceremony are always material. To get " one word " 

 for the chief in the country, " to get some blood to make the country cold," 

 so that " bad luck would be taken away from the country, and they would all 

 get plenty of money." A great point was made of supremacy over the white 

 man, in the white man not being able to find out what was being done, and 

 that the eating of human flesh would give power over the white man. For, 

 say they, " the white men have more power than the black men ; but in this 

 cannibalism you get some power so that when you do wrong you will not be 

 found out by the white man." 



Medicine, and Fetish. — The leopard-sacrifice or medicine is known as " Kori- 

 hari." Before Kori-hari can be made the following have first to be produced and 

 brought : — Durwe or Doro bark, a dead cat, a snake with two heads which 

 walks in two ways (that is a snake-like animal which has its tail flattened 

 out like a head, probably the Amphisbaena). To these are added Gpa (farm- 

 house) or Kpa dust, which is also called Qua and Kpwah, genital products, 

 eggs, and many insects. 



Kpa is a fetish which consists of a few large stones, to which are brought 

 the heads of bush-deer, bush-hog, shevretain, boa- constrictor, and leopard. 

 Men, women, and children are taken to these stones, and the stones are prayed 

 to. Neglect this medicine, and it will rebound on you ; you will meet accident 

 or get sick unless you get the Kpa priest " to pour cold water," that is to 

 make an offering to the Kpa altar and offer a prayer. The old members 

 sometimes assist to make the leopard-medicine. By mixing some of the 

 medicine at this stage with certain leaves, a charm will be created to make 

 a man strong and successful. 



After the sacrifice, when the flesh has been distributed and taken home, it 

 is put in a pot for a short time and cooked with a little salt and water. 

 During the cooking the grease is skimmed off and put in a bottle, and the 



