The Texas Mesquiter. (Mesquite, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, September 10, 1909 Page: 3 of 8
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WEI ED FUNERALS OP
AEKICAS
H?
BY GERALD A+E.ODCFZICK*
m
£
Tt//Y£/ZAL /3/T^-S
HE old king of Totoquelll
was dead. It was in the
Liberlan hinterland, four
days back from Monrovia.
a region where the gov-
ernment levies no taxes,
where the native African
chiefs reign Bupreme, where the only
statutes are the laws of the bush. A
couple of English prospectors, an
English rubber trader and an Ameri-
can missionary compose the foreign
population all the way back to the
French frontier. There is 110 part of
the west coast of Africa so lightly
touched by the white man, for even
the occasional government officials
who visit the region are black. In
all the towns the babies yelled at my
approach and the children fled in ter-
ror if I walked toward them.
While King Wobeh's star was in
the ascendency death came out of
the foggy bush and laid its hand
upon him. A famous mullah man
was called to make incantations and
the "sand cutter" brought out all his
paraphernalia of divination and
peeped impressively Into the future.
That which Wobeh really needed, a
good physician, does not exist in that
reglom The mullah and tho "sarul
cutter" gave an unfavorable progno-
sis, so the suffering king was pre-
pared for his departure in the manner
prescribed by the law of the bush.
Secretly and in tho dead of night ho was car-
ried back into the bush to an obscure "half
town" called Goomah, no woman being allowed
to know his whereabouts. Courtesy to the mul-
lah and the "sand cutter" demanded that Wobeh
should promptly pass into the unknown, but the
old man held on to life with his characteristic
tenacity. It was several weeks before the news
was quietly brought to Totoquelll that its found-
er was dead. The information was passed on
to Boporo and King Sow came over to take
charge of the town until all its palavers were
settled.
The funeral of an African chief follows the
law of the bush Implicitly, but the details vary
in different parts of the west coast. The pro-
ceedings in this case extended over a period of
about three weeks.
First Wobeh's body was removed from the
hut where he had died and placed in an open
kitchen in Goomah. These kitchens are merely
large huts without walls, or, rather, with walls
about three feet high. The roof is of thatch and
the floor of clay. In the center of one of these
kitchens a shallow grave was dug. Then tho
feet were bound together, the arms were extend-
ed down tho body and the hands bound together
by means of a strong stick placed between
hands and feet, the body was placed in the grave
and lightly covered. After it had lain there for
two days it was taken up by night and carried to
Totoquelll, where it was again placed in a shal-
low grave, but in a hut where no woman could
bring ill luck by looking upon it. The law of the
bush shuts out all women from any approach to
theyiead. Then the family and tho town began
to make ready for the obsequies, formal notices
were sent out to all the big kings within two
days' walk, In order that they might come (with
gifts) and assist Wobeh's spirit into rest.
Tho funeral continued for eight days. First
tho body was again lifted from the grave and
"laid out" In an open kitchen carefully screened.
Tho king's women were then segregated In an-
other kltcl en and intrusted with the duty of
making great lamentation. Then the head of the
"devil bnsh"—he is a great functionary in West
Africa—came Into tho village to announce tho
king's death—a performance on a par with the
formal notification given to a presidential nomi-
nee by a committee from a national convention.
The "devil bush" is a sort of combination of se-
cret society and a boys' boarding school. It is a
collection of huts hidden away in the bush which
women must avoid or pay tho penalty of death.
Here are collected most of tho boys of the com-
munity and they remain In seclusion for a period
varying from three to six years, being taught
some sense and much nonsense. The grip of su-
perstition is so strong that tho head of the bush
becomes a great mac in tho tribe and death is the
penalty for any wrman who looks upon his face.
Totoquelll's "devil" preceded his entrance into
the town by an unearthly yell, which was the
signal for all the women and girls (and every
man not a member of the "devil bush") to se-
crete themselves. Then with a series of ventrll-
oquistie yells he came into the center of the
town, announced the death' of Wobeh, ordered
the funeral to proceed and vanished Into the
%uah. Then the real aolse began.
Wobeh's w o m e n
and children reassem-
bled in their kitchen
and resumed their
mournful chant. This
is a performance in
which tho women of
West Africa are very
accomplished and Wo-
beh's family was
throng crowding each other in their
efforts to watch every movement.
When it finally ceased its struggles
there was a chorus of "Ah!" followed
by some excited talking. It was ex-
plained to mo that when a chicken
dies with its feet in the air it is a
sign that the nephew has been true
to the king and has not meddled with
his women. In this case the chicken
had died on Its side.
Then another chicken was brought
for another nephew to kill. It like-
wise died on its side and there was
another chorus of excited grunts. A
third chicken was killed by a niece,
with the same result; but the fourth,
killed by another niece, stopped with
its feet in tho air. Tho crowd went
wild, caught up the girl and marched
around the town with her on their
shoulders. Wobeh had one relative
that had been true.
This ceremony was f ollowed an
hour or two later by that of eating
tho chlckeus, together with rice
cooked in yellow palm oil. The food
was placed at the head of tho grave
and Wobeh's head wife presided over
tho pot. All the children squatted
about on the grave and the other rel-
atives were assembled around It.
King Sow had a good many remarks
to make before ho called up tho old-
est son and. motioned for him to take
the palmful of rice which the widow
had held out. Before eating it he made certain
promises relative to peace In the family. Each of
tho relatives was callcd out In turn and required
to go through the same performance. Old King
Sow kept his ears open and whenever he was
not satisfied with a given promise he arose and
cross questioned the relative like a country law-
yer until ho made him promise what ho wanted.
Parts of this ceremony were exciting; at times
there were outbursts of laughter at one of Sow's
large enough to be
heard. Meanwhile for
two days and nights
the men of the town
made it lively for the
spirits of evil that
were supposed to be
hovering in tho bush
that surrounds the vil-
lage. Guns heavily
charged with powder
were fired at intervals
throughout the entire
time, causing the evil shapes to take to flight.
Most of thp night was given over to tho beating
of drums, the women and younger men dancing
in procession all over town.
When night closed in on the scene and the
moon began to shed its soft light through hazy
clouds the night's dancing began. There was no
undercurrent of sadness in it; everybody was lit-
erally out for a good time. The dancers were
drummed up in groups, the drummers shuffling
all through the town to organize a procession. A
second crowd was gathered under the leadership
of a man with a string instrument made from a
calabash, and eventually a third group shuffled
along to the tune of a calabash strung with Iron
rings, the sound being that of a gourd half filled
with dried peas.
The succeeding day was one of tho most
eventful of all. Before sunrise the men of the
town brought large stones to tho grave and
walled%it In, making an inclosure about six feet
wide and 10 feet long. Dozens of empty gin
bottles were brought and placed all around the
grave—a very common custom on this coast. The
mound was then leveled down and the entire
inclosure covered with stones and wet sand. At
tho head they placed a couplo of small ivory
tusks, a rice bowl containing Wobeh's silver ring
and some kola nuts, two pitchers and a small
brass kettle. Across these was laid an unsheath-
ed sword. The fixing of tho grave was not com-
pleted until they had brought a small jug of
rum and poured a little of it into each vessel.
The thirst of Wobeh's spirit was apparently more
easily quenched than had been that of tho man
in life—and this enabled the men about tho
grave to put the greater part of the rum to bet-
ter use.
After the grave had been properly arranged
the town assembled to witness tho significant
ceremony of killing tho white chicken, Tho
principal nephew of the late king knelt on the
grave and held tho chicken's head above Wobeh's
head. King Sow made a long speech and then
different members of Wobeh's family gave the
chicken messages to take to his spirit. This
part of the ceremony was very solemn and im-
pressive. It was clear that they Implicitly be-
lieved that their messages would reach their des-
tination.
Then the nephew pulled off the chicken's head
and threw the body down on the grave. Curi-
ously enough, the headless chicken fluttered
around until it reached tho head of the grave
and then seemed to be trying to bore its way
down to the king. It then fluttered away, the
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Jokes; very little of it was sad or pathetic. When
the chief widow's turn came there was pathos in
her voice, though she gave no other sign of grief.
Turning her motherly face to tho grave, sho Bat
there and talked to Wobeh's spirit as naturally as
If sho were looking into his face. Nobody needed
to cross question her.
There was nothing extraordinary for the next
two days. On the first day the mourning women
were taken to the creek and washed, in order that
they might begin to dress up for tho final feast.
On the second day the men of the town were as-
sembled under the big palaver tree and Individu-
ally sworn to be loyal to the town. The oath was
administered by making the man drink from a
bowl of milldsh fluid which was supposed to kill
tho man if ho was Insincere. On this day, also,
the men brought in largo quantities of firewood
and the women were busy threshing and cleaning
rice and pots.
Then came the third and greatest day—tho
slaughter of the bullock and the great feast. So
far as I could learn there ia no sacrificial idea
involved in the ceremony; the slaughter is solely
for the purpose of providing for a Joyful banquet.
The big bullock was led to a vacant place near
the grave. Just at sunrise, and securely tied down
on its side. Its throat was then cut, tho wind-
pipe being severed, and the animal slowly bled to
death. It was 20 minutes before the animal
ceased to struggle, but its tail had been severed
long before, this being the especial perquisite of
tho men selected as butchers.
The carcass was then skinned and King Sow
eat in his leopard chair while the bullock was cut
up. He kept a careful watch to see that not even
an ounce of meat was taken by anybody. Two
large brass kettles and a large basket were placed
in front of him and in these were placed the In
ternal organs and the choicest cuts—the king't-
meat. Now and then ono of the butchers would
overlook somo small portion, but the king over
looked nothing; ho had tho error promptly recti
lied. Altogether he received about one-tblrd of
tho bullock. Tho remainder was cut up and dis
tributed among tho families, to bo cooked; posl
tively no part of the animal except the hide and
horns was discarded. There was not quite enough
to go around, so the king ordered a dog killed to
make up the deficiency.
Good Jokes
SOUVENIR COLLECTORS.
Among tho habits which have
grown apace among Americans of re-
cent years has been that of souvenir
hunting. Souvenir spoons, knives,
forks, plates, photographs, postal
cards and what not have been a per-
fect passion with tho multidude. The
thing seemed to have been carried a
little too far when somebody at a ro-
ception to Mr. Wu, tho Chinese am-
bassador, some years ago tried to
snip off a piece of that eminent hum-
orist's pigtail with u pair of pocket
scissors; but even that was surpassed
by a certain Chicago woman of great
personal attractiveness, who Beems to
have reached the ultimate.
A stranger speaking of her to an-
other woman, and not being familiar
with certain facts in tho family his-
tory of the lady to whom she was
talking, observed that she had heard
that she was a confirmed souvenir
hunter.
"Not really a
know," sho said.
"Oli, not at all," was the reply. "She
is Just the ultra of souvenir hunting. I
happen to know her, too. You see,
somo years ago sho paid a week-end
visit at our country place, and when
it was over—"
"You missed your silverware?"
"No, indeed," was the answer. "My
husband!"—Lipplncott's.
kleptomaniac, you
Well Placed.
Bacon—That office-seeking friend of
yours has landed a job at last.
Egbert—Good! What has he land-
ed?
"He's keeper at the pest-house."
"Well, he's the right man in the
right place. He's the greatest pest
I ever knew!";—Yonkers Statesman.
been
As Compared.
Mrs. Wiggs—It must have
horrible sight.
Mrs. Spriggs—Oh, it was something
awful! It was like one of those mov-
ing horrorsocpes you see at the five-
cent theaters.
A NOBODY!
"Say, dad; what is a nobody?"
"A nobody man, is a prominent
woman's husband."
Enough to Make Him Mad,
T saw a mad dog yesterday—
How'd 1 know ho was mad?
Another do* came by that way
And stole tho bone ho had.
Plain Prophecy.
"What did the doctor tell you to-day
about old Uncle Jake's condition?"
"He was telling us that his mean
temperature was—"
"Telling you about his mean tem-
perature, was he? That's no news.
Everybody who knows Uncle Jake
knows that he hasn't anything about
him that isn't mean."
Explained.
Mistress (making an unexpected
raid on tho kitchen)—Who is this,
Mary?
Mary—M ine b rother, please, 'in.
Mistress—Indeed! But he doesn't re-
semble you in the least.
Mary—No'm! But we was remark-
able alike before 'e 'ad 'is beard shaved
off.
Marks of Conservatism.
"Why are you reading that old-fash-
ioned book?" asked Maude.
"How can you tell at a glance that
It is old-fashioned?" rejoined Maymie.
"Because it uses an initial and a
dash to indicate a swear word instead
of spelling it out in big type."
Strict Qualifications.
"So you want a position to take
charge of my bills. Well, for that job
I want a man who is cool, calm and
collected. Are you all throe?"
"No, sir, but I think I will suit. I
am cool and calm, but not collected.
The bills are."
Suspicious Trade.
"That man yonder has a shady rec-
ord. You can tell as soon as you see
him at work that he has something
to screen in his life."
"What do you think it is he has to
screen?"
"Mostly, suburban porches."
Typical Decoration.
"How appropriate for the Comeups
to have their halltoom decorated with
growing vines."
I "Appropriate in what way?"
"Because vines, you know, are
climbers, too."
Bessie Was Willing.
"Oh, dear," said tho tired mother, "I wish 1
were a little girl again like you!" "Well," re
Joined five-year-old Bessie, "let's play you are rn)
little girl, then you act naughty and I'll spank yo
and send you to bed without your Bupper."
Sure Indication.
Anxious Mother—How do you know
young Cashleigh is in love with you?
Mas he told you so?
Pretty Daughter — N-no; but you
should see how he looks at me when
t am not looking at him."
THE ONION.
Tho stent of the onion
Onco more we detect
On the breath of tho rabble
And people select.
The fair maiden eats them
And tries hard to cover
Her plebeian appetite
Up from her lover.
Tho matron enjoyn them
In private; but never
In public admits
That sho touches them aver.
And this fact la true;
On this great earthly ball.
The onion, the onion
Makes cowards of us all.
THE REAL AUTHORITY
He—Do you think your father
would object to our marriage?
She—He would if I told him to.
Bless Her.
She koch down to tho seashore
And gladly tans and speckles.
Then trios tho balance of the year
To tear loose from her freckles.
A Born Diplomat.
The Hobo—Please, ma'am, would
youse mind glvin' me a few pennies t'
git soniethin' t' eat?
The Lady—No, 1 won't. You are
tho ugliest specimen of humanity I
ever saw.
The Hobo—I ain't so ori'ul homely,
ma'am. It's only in do presence u
such uncommon beauty dat I make
sich a bad show.
Then, womanlike, she just couldn'l
resist giving up a quarter.
Had to Get Close.
"Why are you getting so close t«>
me, Mr. Huggins?" said the female
voice from the sofa In the dark par-
lor.
"Because I came to see you," wa
the reply of the male voice.
"Y-e-s, I know; but—"
"I'm near-sighted, you know."—
Yonkers Statesman.
In Doubt.
"I wish I knew that she means ev-
erything sho says."
"But why do you doubt her?"
"I never havo before. But she Just
casually mentioned to-day that sh
wished I'd go up to their summer cot-
tage and stay a week."
The Opposites Meeting.
"Thero is certainly one queer and
contradictory about business building
operations."
"What is that?"
"Whenever a man wants to expand
his building for business he calls in a
contractor."
PROOF.
Lillie—is she sure he is a real noble-
man?
Tommie—Oh, yes; the very first
time ho met her father he touched
the old man lor a fiver.
Epicurean.
It seems a dreadfully Ions time
Since wo havo oysters eaten.
But peach shortcake Is very flna
And scallops can't be beaten.
Unimproved.
"I don't see that her college educa<
tion has improved her much."
"No?"
"No. She helps her mother with
the housework just as if she hadn't
been educated."
Father Won't Wash Them.
"How long do you expect to stay
away?"
"Oh, not more than three weeks.
You see we haven't dishes enough in
the house to last Pa longer than that "
Afraid of Consequences.
Dog-Hater (tremulously)—See here,
sir, will that dog bite me?
Dog Owner (scornfully)—Do you
suppose he has no instinct of self-
preservation?
Then It's So.
A woman Is never as old as the
looks, until she admits iL
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Davis, John E. The Texas Mesquiter. (Mesquite, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, September 10, 1909, newspaper, September 10, 1909; Mesquite, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth400545/m1/3/?q=%22~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Mesquite Public Library.