208 PROFESSOR BALFOUR ON THE 
of Duke Town, died. His mother, a great lady, and highly connected and influential, 
sought to comfort herself for the death of her son by the death of as many as she 
could lay hands on. Four distant connections of his were charged by her before 
a high official, brother of the late King Eyamba, and they had to purge themselves 
by the poison ordeal from the imputation of having caused his death by witch- 
craft. They all died. Some of his wives were also put to death that day in the 
same way. The next day, a host of armed slaves came from the Qua-river plan- 
tations, and filled the town, determined, they said, to find out who had killed 
Archibong. Supported by these, the bloody-minded woman had many more put 
to death, charging them with practising witchcraft against her son, and making 
them chop-nut. The process was publicly carried on in the open town-place, 
and in presence of the chief men. The efforts of the missionaries to arrest the 
work of destruction were in vain. Duke Efraim, who was next in authority to 
the deceased, was full of wrath that they should presume to interfere by a single 
word in the matter, and the murders went on, till above twenty free people were 
known to have died by the poison ordeal.” 
The beans which Mr WappELL brought to Scotland germinated in the Botanic 
Garden, as well as in Professor Symr’s garden at Milbank; but although the 
plants grew vigorously, and produced twining stems and leaves, they never flowered. 
The twigs and foliage were quite identical with native specimens which I have 
lately received from Africa. Some of our plants were much injured by the red 
spider. Attempts were made by the missionaries to get native specimens of the 
flowering stems of the plant, but they were for a long time unsuccessful ; at length, 
however, the Rev. W. C. THomson succeeded. Writing to Mr ANprEw Murray from 
Ikoneto, Old Calabar, on 29th August 1859, Mr THomson says—“ I am happy to 
be at length able to send you samples of the flower of the Eséré or ordeal bean. You 
may perhaps wonder why none have been sent home long ere this; the explanation 
being not so much remissness on our part, as rather fortunate ignorance on that 
of the natives. Very few of them (none that I have ever met with) know any- 
thing of the plant at all, however well acquainted they may all be with the actual 
bean. Among the first things I did on returning from Britain last year was to 
offer a reward to be shown a veritable living plant. Many tried for the reward. 
Various most different leaves were brought to me as those of the Eséré ; nor was 
it till the ripe fruit was seen that success was obtained, and a fine plant pointed 
out to me, with numerous pods still attached. From this plant we have since 
got the flowers also. For want of spirits, I have had to preserve those I am send- 
ing in a solution of common salt, which I trust will keep them in an examinable 
condition ; otherwise, I must trust to your seeing those Mr BaiLutz is taking with 
him from the same source, but preserved in spirits.” 
Unfortunately, the specimens sent by Mr Tuomson have not reached Mr 
Murray, but those brought by my friend and former pupil Mr Baruuis have been 
