Bkkry — The Sienna Leone Cannihnh. 61 



under it, in order that he might carry oft' the sin, g'uilt, misfortime, and death 

 of all without exception. Ashes and chalk were employed to hide his identity 

 by being freely thrown over his head, and his face painted with the latter, 

 whilst individuals would often rush out of their houses to lay their hands upon 

 him that they might thus transfer to him their sin, guilt, trouble, and death. 

 This parading done, he is taken through a temporary sacred shed of palm and 

 other tree-branches, especially of the former, the Igbodu, and to its first 

 division, where many persons may follow him, and through a second, where 

 only the chiefs and other very important persons may escort and accompany 

 him to, and to a third, where only the Babalawo and his official assistant, 

 Ajigbona, are permitted to enter with him. Here, after he himself has given 

 out or started his last song, which is taken up by the large assembly of people, 

 who have been waiting to hear his last word or his last groan, his head is 

 taken off, and his blood offered to the gods. The announcement of his last 

 word or his last groan, heard and taken up by the people, is a signal for joy 

 and thanksgiving, and for drum-beating and dancing as an expression of 

 gratification that their sacrifice has been accepted, the divine wrath appeased, 

 and the prospect of prosperity or increased prosperity assured. 



"Human sacrifices are generally offered in Yoruba and in many other 

 parts of Africa by sovereigns, especially when an expiation that is to be made 

 is of a general character, and in the interests of their respective governments 

 and peoples ; and this is always in Yoruba, according to the specific prescrip- 

 tion and after the instigation of priests, who, to reconcile them to the fearful 

 and revolting deed, and prevent in them qualms of conscience over it, 

 usually seek by their language to magnify before them their great power and 

 the importance of their office, and impress them with the idea that no one 

 would or could call them to account for this use which they would make of a 

 fellow-man's life." ' 



We have seen that amongst the Sherbros and other natives of Sierra 

 Leone the object of the Leopard sacrifice is to obtain " one word." Now, " one 

 word " in the country means agreement, so the aspiration is towards unity. 

 This they obtain through their secret societies, the Poro and the Bundu, 

 which to them represent authority, organization, and obedience, three 

 functions of state. "We have seen that these societies have a social function, 

 a teaching function, a religious function, and a political function. At the 

 head of the Poro is the king, who has also the office of priest, and at the head 

 of the Bundu is a priestess who is also a power in the land. 



"Yoruba Heathenism," by Bishop James Johnston, quoted by Dennett, " At the Back of th« 

 Black Man's Mind," pp. 263 e^ sej. 



