V.--CONCERNING THE HUMAN SACRIFICES WHICH TOOK PLACE ON THE DEATH OF
CHIEF INDOMA.
Chief Indoma was a very powerful chief. It was he who led the Inkum
people to the site of their present town when they were driven out of
their own country by the Awalas. When he arrived at the Cross River, he
established the five compounds which still exist, and ruled over all
the people. They were very fond of Indoma, as he was a just man.
A few years after they had built their compound, the two adjoining
countries, Inde and Akparabong, made war against the Inkum, but Chief
Indoma, who was skilled in warfare, led his people so well and wisely
that both countries were driven back, and they have occupied the land
ever since.
Indoma had two sons by his wife Isibe, whose names were Agatin and
Ogum. When they were grown up, Chief Indoma died. All the country
people were very sorry, and a big play was held, and the mourning was
kept up for a long time.
Then a large and deep grave was dug, and a number of slaves were killed
by knocking them on the head with wooden clubs. Their bodies were
placed in the bottom of the grave, and Chief Indoma’s body was put on
top. The head chief then ordered four young men to be caught alive and
bound. One was placed under Indoma’s head as a pillow, another under
his feet to make him more comfortable, and the other two were placed
one on either side of the corpse, so that it was surrounded by living
boys.
Then the head chief remembered that Indoma had been very fond of a boy
named Edim, so they caught him, and, having tied him up, placed him in
the grave near the dead chief’s head, so that he and the other four
young men should be able to work for their master in the spirit land.
As the grave was very big and deep they put sticks across it, wedged
firmly into the sides, planks were then placed over the sticks, and the
planks were covered with sand.
By this time the grave was about half full, and the people left it
until the next day, when more slaves were being brought in from the
farms to be killed and put in the grave to fill it up.
When night time came, Edim, who had not been very securely fastened,
called to the other four boys, and, managing to get his teeth to the
tie-tie which bound the boy nearest to him, he bit it through, and the
boy who was then released undid Edim’s thongs, and together they freed
the other three boys. Edim then made a hole in the planks and sand, and
got out of the grave.
When he had helped the others out, they all ran down to the beach,
where they seized a canoe and paddled down river as hard as they could
go to Akuna Muna. When they got there they presented themselves to King
Egugo, and told him their story.
The King then took Edim as one of his boys, and, finding him to be
intelligent, made him his head canoe boy.
After five years had elapsed Edim had made a lot of money, so he
returned to Inkum with the other four boys, knowing that, even if he
were recognised, he would not be killed, as the people had filled the
grave with bodies the day after he had escaped.
Edim very shortly afterwards became one of the head men of the town
under Agatin and Ogum. He married some wives, and many children, and
lived to a good age.