Another interesting native was brought before the Court in the person of

a Chief from the southern portion of the Protectorate near the Liberian

frontier, charged with a similar offence. The District Commissioner

obtained information that this man had in his possession the “medicine”

belonging to a branch of the Society, and Court Messengers were detailed

to search his house, with the result that a large quantity of “medicine”

of various sorts was discovered and produced before the Court.

The accused in his defence stated that he had been one of the leaders of

the “War boys,” who operated with the British force during the 1898

Rebellion, and that the “medicine” produced had been seized by the War

boys from the rebels and was afterwards deposited for safe keeping in

his house; that the War boys had never returned to claim these

curiosities or trophies, and that the bags in which the “medicine” had

been kept had never been opened up until their seizure by the Court

Messengers. There was reliable evidence that a portion of the “medicine”

was Borfima, and it was apparent that some of the leather wrappings

round it had recently been repaired. From the evidence it was clear that

the prisoner had made use of the “medicine” for unlawful purposes, and

he was therefore found Guilty; but as he had been a great warrior and

had rendered valuable service to the Government during the 1898

Rebellion, a comparatively light sentence was passed on him.

Another Chief from yet another part of the country was indicted for

being in possession of Borfima without lawful authority. There was also

a second charge against him of having in his possession a Kukoi, i.e. a

special kind of whistle used for calling together members of the Human

Leopard Society. Information reached the District Commissioner of the

Island of Sherbro during the month of August, 1912, that the accused had

Borfima in his possession. This man was known to be of a rather

truculent disposition, and it was considered desirable that there should

be some show of force when his chief town was visited for the purpose of

effecting his arrest, as otherwise some resistance might have been met

with by the officers detailed for this duty. An armed party of the West

African Frontier Force accordingly made a surprise visit and surrounded

his house, and effected his arrest without any resistance being offered.

His house was then searched and a quantity of “medicines” found which

were produced in Court.

The accused admitted that the “medicines” belonged to him, but stated

that they had been left to him by his predecessor, and that during his

absence on one occasion while he was in Freetown they had been put in

his dwelling-house, and that he, fearing these “medicines,” had kept

them locked up in a leather bag. He further denied that any of the

“medicines” was Borfima. The witnesses for the prosecution all stated

that a portion of the “medicines” was Borfima, and it was apparent that

the wrappings of this particular “medicine” had been recently repaired.

The Court in delivering judgment pointed out that the accused, by

keeping this medicine in his possession, gave himself and others the

opportunity of using it, and that there was satisfactory evidence to

show that it was not kept for curiosity or for any legitimate object,

but for an unlawful purpose; however, as there was no evidence to show

that the Borfima had been taken to the scenes of any of the recent

murders, and there was no reason to believe it had, the Court took this

into consideration in deciding on the punishment to be imposed on the

accused. The sentence imposed was a term of two years’ imprisonment with

hard labour. The evidence regarding the Kukoi (whistle) was not

considered reliable, and on this charge he was found not guilty.

A number of other cases besides those mentioned occupied the time of the

Court for some weeks, and among them were a number of cases in which

prisoners were charged with being members of the Human Leopard Society.

As there were so many persons under arrest on this charge, the Crown

decided to proceed only against the important men concerned. Most of

these men were defended by counsel, who examined the witnesses for the

prosecution at great length, but in many cases they were unable to shake

their evidence. A number of these prisoners were proved to have been

present at various meetings of the Society at which the details of

several murders had been arranged, and the Court in giving judgment

stated that on the facts proved such persons were really accessories

before the fact to these murders and might on the evidence have been

found guilty on the capital charge had they been prosecuted for it, and

in those cases the Court felt compelled to pass the maximum sentence of

fourteen years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

The only other case of interest was one in which a man of some

importance in his chiefdom was charged with having in his possession

without lawful authority a certain article, to wit an iron needle of a

peculiar shape used for marking on initiation members of the HUMAN

LEOPARD SOCIETY.

The possession of this article is made an offence under the HUMAN

LEOPARD SOCIETY ORDINANCE, punishable with imprisonment up to fourteen

years. The case resolved itself chiefly into a discussion on a point of

law, the arguments in the case all turning on the word “branding.”

The case for the prosecution was that iron needles, made specially for

the purpose, were used in the following way: the needle was inserted

under the skin, the skin and flesh were raised, a razor then cut under

or over the needle in such a way as to make a small wound from which

blood flowed. A preparation called Nikori was then placed on the wound,

and the result was a peculiar scar or mark. It was contended that an

iron needle used for that purpose could be held to be a needle used for

branding persons.

For the defence it was argued by counsel that “branding” a person meant

applying a hot iron to his person, and that marking a person was not the

same as branding him; that the word “branding” by itself contained the

idea of burning, that the Statute was a highly penal Statute giving

exceptionally large powers to the Executive and imposing a heavy

punishment for breach of its provisions. It was further argued that the

needle was not even for “marking” members—that it was the razor which

actually made the mark; that although the needle might be used in the

process of marking it was no more used for “marking” the person than the

hand which held it.

[Illustration: THE PRISONERS OF A NATIVE CHIEFTAINESS, CRACKING

PALM-KERNELS.]

The Court held that the needle could not be held to be used for

“branding,” and found the accused not guilty, and he was discharged.

The Crown Prosecutor entered a _nolle prosequi_ in the case of a number

of other prisoners who had been committed for trial but against whom he

did not consider that he had sufficient evidence to justify him in

proceeding further, and these men, so far as the charges on which they

were committed for trial were concerned, were discharged from custody.

This completed the work of the Special Commission Court, which, after

sitting continuously from the 18th December, 1912, concluded its

sittings on the 15th May, 1913.

CHAPTER VIII

OTHER CASES OF LEOPARD MURDER; THE HUMAN BABOON SOCIETY

Although the work of the Special Commission Court was completed on the

15th May, 1913, there were at that date a large number of persons still

in custody who had not been committed for trial, and who therefore did

not come within the purview of that Court. It was decided that the

District Commissioner should hold an Enquiry under the Protectorate

Ordinance and report whether on the evidence given against any of these

men he considered such persons to be a danger to the peace of the

community.

The first enquiry made was in regard to charges preferred against a

number of men of the Imperri and Jung Chiefdoms of being connected with

the Human Leopard Society. Evidence was given by informers that all

these men were members of or connected with the Human Leopard Society,

and mention was made of a number of murders by the Society previously

unknown to the Authorities. Apart from the evidence of the informers

there was ample evidence to show that a number of these men had actually

assisted members of the Society, and the Governor-in-Council approved of

the deportation of twelve sub-chiefs and fourteen of the principle

Headmen of the Imperri and Jong Chiefdoms from the Northern Sherbro

District.

The next enquiry was in regard to charges made against thirty-six

sub-Chiefs and principal men of the Gallinas Chiefdom. Three informers

gave evidence that they had been members of the Human Leopard Society

and had, during their membership, been present at a number of murders,

each of these men admitting having given a victim himself and giving

details regarding the sacrifices. They said that all the persons who

were the subject of the enquiry were members of the Society, and

specified the various murders at which each of them had been present;

they also gave further evidence regarding the leopard mark and exhibited

the marks which they had received on initiation.

One of the witnesses was a boy aged eighteen years. His story was that

one evening in the previous year, as he was returning home from a visit

to a neighbouring village, night overtook him, and by mistake he took a

path leading to the Poro bush at Powolu, where he fell into a number of

people. He spoke to them, but no one answered. He then got afraid and

commenced to run away, when he was seized by some one who was assisted

by several others to make him a fast prisoner. He was then dragged

inside the Poro bush and a discussion took place, which he was able to

hear, as to whether they should kill him or not. The majority of the

members were for immediately killing him in accordance with the rules of

the Society, but it was pointed out that another victim had already been

secured, and further that as their prisoner was the son of a man of some

importance his absence might give rise to some awkward inquiries. It was

therefore agreed to give him the alternative of becoming a member of the

Society or of being immediately killed. The witness stated that he

agreed to join the Society. Borfima was then brought, and the “big man”

of the Society explained to him that the Borfima was the “mother” of the

Society and should be treated with the greatest veneration; that they

were its children and therefore brothers to each other, and in order to

join him to their brotherhood some of his blood had to be given to the

Borfima to drink; that when the blood was taken from him he should bear

the pain inflicted bravely and should not utter a sound, as otherwise it

would displease their “medicine” and might result in his being punished

in some unexpected way. The “Master” then marked him on the left buttock

by cutting a slice of flesh away and rubbing the blood that exuded from

the wound on to the Borfima. He was then made to swear an oath on the

Borfima not to reveal the secrets of the Society, and was forced to be

present and witness the killing of a girl who had been brought to the

Poro bush, and was made to eat some of the flesh of this victim.

Although there was no direct evidence apart from that of accomplices, it

was clear from the testimony of independent witnesses that all these

persons were so connected with the Society as to make it desirable to

have them removed from the Gallinas District, where it was stated they

exercised great influence over the people. All these men, with the

exception of eight sub-Chiefs who absconded to Liberia, have since been

deported to the Karina and Koinadugu Districts of the Protectorate.

[Illustration: LADIES OF THE SIERRA LEONE HINTERLAND.]

Some light was thrown on the means used to terrorize the ordinary

members of the community into keeping silence regarding anything they

may have heard concerning the crimes committed by the Society. When it

was discovered that the Government officers were making enquiries

regarding the Society an attempt was made “to swear” the whole

country—that is, to put all the people under an oath of secrecy. In one

Chiefdom this was done by swearing every one who was likely to be able

to give any information on a “medicine” called Tillah. If a person

breaks an oath on this “medicine,” even though he does so unwittingly,

the natives believe that the medicine will catch him and will infect him

with a disease which first attacks his lips and nose, which it eats

away, and which eventually kills him. There are a few lepers in this

Chiefdom, and they are pointed out as people who have broken, though

perhaps unintentionally, an oath taken on the Tillah.

Another exhibit which was produced in one of the cases before the

Special Commission Court was a stone image which is looked upon by the

Gallinas people in the light of a Deity. It is known by the name of

Toniahun. The meaning of the word Toniahun is “turn back to truth.” The

figure has been carved out from soapstone by some ancient sculptor, and

its features are more of the Arab than the Negro type. No woman will

look at this image for fear of becoming sterile, and they cover their

eyes if they approach it. This figure, notwithstanding its name, was

apparently also used for swearing persons on—i.e. to force them to state

that they knew nothing of the Human Leopard Society—and so great is the

fear of the Society and the various “medicines” employed by it that even

the parents of children who have been seized as victims cannot be

induced to assist the Authorities in bringing the guilty parties to

justice. Prior to July, 1912, no case of Human Leopardism or cannibalism

had ever been reported to have taken place in the Gallinas Country, and

the Authorities had no reason to suspect that any had taken place. It

was not until after a number of arrests had been made in other Districts

that it was brought to light that a flourishing branch of the Human

Leopard Society had existed in that District for many years, and details

of about a score of murders were given by members of the Society who had

turned informers. Although the existence of the Society must have been

known to hundreds of people, many of whom went about in terror of it,

the fear of the “medicines” of the Society acted as a sufficient

deterrent to keep the matter from the ears of all Europeans in that part

of the country, thus demonstrating the fear that an ordinary native has

of doing or saying anything which might bring him into collision with

the members of the Human Leopard Society, who might, with the aid of

their “medicines,” punish him in some fearful and unexpected way.

[Illustration: A NATIVE CHIEFTAINESS.]

The fact that the majority of the persons who were convicted or deported

under the Special Commission Court Ordinance were important members of

the Human Leopard Society must have the salutary effect of breaking up

for the time being this criminal organization; nevertheless, unless

vigorous measures are pursued and unless that part of the country is

more effectively policed, it is more than probable that the killing of

an occasional victim in order to renew their fetishes will be continued.

It must be a gradual evolution, which will be brought about by the

natives of those parts coming more in touch with European influence and

gradually losing faith in the potency of their “medicines.”

While the Special Commission Court was sitting three murders occurred in

the Koinadugu District, which hitherto as far as official knowledge goes

was entirely free from cannibalism of any kind. According to the

evidence given by a number of witnesses, the people of the Symira

Chiefdom had a very vexed question to settle in the selection from a

number of aspirants of a Paramount Chief as a successor to their late

Chief who died the previous year, and who left no near male relative who

could of right claim to succeed to the Chiefdom; and it was suggested by

these witnesses that the victims were provided as propitiatory offerings

by candidates for the Chiefdom.

A small girl aged about seven years was killed at Nerekora toward the

end of December, 1912; two days later another small girl about twelve

years of age was killed at Bafai; and early the following month another

girl aged about twelve to thirteen years was killed at Nerekora. All

these deaths were at first attributed to attacks by bush leopards, but

the evidence given by various witnesses was to the effect that these

three girls were murdered by members of the Human Leopard Society.

Another secret society known as the Human Baboon Society, which exists

in one of the northern Districts of the Protectorate, first came to

notice about five years ago, when a number of persons were charged

before the Circuit Court with the murder of a small child. During the

investigation connected with the death of the child, it came to light

that a number of persons in the vicinity of Port Lokkoh in the Karina

District had banded themselves together and had formed a society which

has since become known as the Human Baboon Society. In the case

mentioned no evidence could be obtained to corroborate the statements of

the informers, and the accused were found not guilty and discharged from

custody.

During the month of May, 1913, a small girl was killed near the village

of Bokamp, and, according to statements made by persons who turned

informers, she was murdered by members of the Human Baboon Society.

Their statements were to the following effect: That this Society was

formed about six years ago, and consists of twenty-one members made up

of eleven men and ten women; that seven victims, all young children, had

been provided at various times for the Society; that at their meetings

one of the members of the Society dresses himself in a Baboon skin and

attacks the victim with his teeth; that the spirit of all members of the

Society becomes centred in the person who is for the time being wearing

the Baboon skin, which, when not in use, is kept in a small forest,

where it is guarded by an evil spirit, and that the “Baboon” bites

pieces out of the victim which the other members of the Society devour.

The only explanation that the informers could or would give as to the

objects of the Society was that the founder of it had quarrelled with

his tribal ruler, who he alleged liberated one of the founders’ slaves

and placed him in authority over him; that he, the owner of the slave,

became so incensed that he turned himself into a “witch” and induced

others to join him in doing “evil things.”

Objects and reasons other than those given by the informers probably

exist, but it is doubtful whether they will ever be discovered.

The information in the hands of the Authorities, however, appears to be

sufficient to allow of effective measures being taken to put an end to

the existence of this Society.

_PART II_

CHAPTER IX

A NOTE ON SIERRA LEONE, PAST AND PRESENT

In acknowledging the congratulations of the people of Sierra Leone on

the occasion of his coronation, King George V referred to the Colony as

“my ancient and loyal Sierra Leone.” There is no question about the

Colony being an ancient one and one of the earliest though perhaps not

one of the brightest jewels of His Majesty’s now mighty Colonial Empire.

The harbour of Sierra Leone was discovered by the Portuguese towards the

end of the fourteenth century, and was named by its discoverers Sierra

Leone from supposing the mountains to abound in lions, though it has

also been asserted that the name was derived from the noise of the surf

on the shores, which resembles the roar of a lion.

At the present day there are no lions to be found along the coast of

tropical West Africa, but it is not improbable that they were numerous

in the days of the early Portuguese explorers and roared a challenge to

their ships when they put in to land.

[Illustration: EMPIRE DAY IN FREETOWN.]

The following lines by T. B. Rhodes in his “Bombastes Furioso,” apropos

of Col. Titus’ speech in the House of Commons on the Exclusion Bill on

the 7th January, 1681, shows that it was generally accepted as a fact

that lions abounded along the Coast of West Africa, which was the only

part of Tropical Africa known to Europeans in those days:—

“So have I heard on Afric’s burning shore

A hungry lion give a grievous roar:

The grievous roar echoed along the shore.

So have I heard on Afric’s burning shore

Another lion give a grievous roar,

And the first lion thought the last a bore.”

The coast-line and the rivers of Sierra Leone were explored by Pedro de

Cintra, a distinguished Portuguese navigator, in the year 1462, and this

constituted one of the last of the Portuguese discoveries carried on

under the direct influence and authority of Don Henry, the founder and

father of modern maritime discovery, who died the following year.

The record of the voyage so far as it affects Sierra Leone is described

as follows:—

“On quitting St. Jago we steered southerly by Rio Grande, which is on

the north of Ethiopia, beyond which we came to the high mountain of

Sierra Leone, the summit of which is continually enveloped in mist and

out of which thunder and lightning almost perpetually flashes and is

heard at sea from the distance of fifteen to twenty leagues.”

In 1481 the King of Portugal sent Susu, his ambassador, to Edward IV of

England, claiming title under the Bull of the Pope, and requested Edward

to forbid his subjects to navigate along the coast of Africa.

England first began to take an active interest in this part of Africa

about the middle of the sixteenth century. In 1551, in the reign of

Edward VI, some London merchants sent an English ship to trade for gold,

ivory, and Guinea pepper; and about three years later Captain John Lok

brought back a valuable cargo consisting of gold, ivory, and Guinea

pepper from what is now the Gold Coast Colony.

Sir John Hawkins landed at Sierra Leone on the 8th May, 1562, and it is

recorded of him that he was the first Englishman who gave public

countenance to the Slave Trade, which the Portuguese had been carrying

on for some years. He brought three ships and took cargoes of slaves

from Sierra Leone and other parts of West Africa and sold them to the

Spanish settlements in America. After Captain Hawkins returned to

England from his first voyage, Queen Elizabeth sent for him and

expressed her concern lest any of the African negroes should be carried

off without their free consent, which she declared would be detestable

and would call down the vengeance of heaven upon the undertakers; but it

is recorded that in the thirtieth year of her reign she was induced by

the subtle persuasion of some of her subjects to grant patents for

carrying on the slave trade from the north part of the Senegal to one

hundred leagues beyond Sierra Leone.

Sir John Hawkins made three voyages from the coast of Africa to the West

Indies and Spanish America with cargoes of slaves; and the good Queen

Bess, having overcome her scruples regarding this lucrative trade,

fitted out as a private enterprise two ships and sent them under the

command of Hawkins, who lost the whole of her money, the ships being

taken by the Spaniards. Sir Francis Drake, who at that time had command

of the barque of fifty tons called the _Judith_, escaped and returned to

England.

[Illustration: WHERE HAWKINS MAY HAVE LANDED FOR SLAVES.]

It is not surprising that the name of the great Elizabethan hero,

Hawkins, is not held in reverence by the inhabitants of Freetown, who

assert that, far from being a national hero, if he had lived in the

present day he would have been hanged for some of the acts committed on

their forbears. In this connection a story is told of a prominent Sierra

Leonean who, on hearing the words “Britons never shall be slaves” sung,

remarked with some feeling, to a near neighbour, “But they have

been—Julius Cæsar took them as slaves to Rome.”

Captain Keeling, who visited Sierra Leone in August, 1607, wrote the

following account of his visit:

“About 7 p.m. we anchored in twenty fathoms on hard sand, the south part

of Ilha Verde bearing E. and the Cape of Sierra Leone, which is a low

point, N. by E. about eight leagues distant. But the land over the Cape

is very high, and may be seen fifteen leagues off in clear weather.

About six next morning we made sail for the road, and had not less than

16, 15, 10 and 9 fathoms till we ranged north and south with the rocks

which lie about one and a half miles west of Cape Sierra Leone; and when

one mile from the nearest shore we had seven fathoms good shoaling

between us and the rock. Immediately when past the rock we had 20

fathoms, and shoaled to 18, 16, 12 and 10 fathoms all the way into the

roads, keeping very near the South shore; for a sand lies about two

miles from the North shore or a league from the South shore, and upon it

the sea continually breaks. We came to anchor in ten fathoms on good

ground, the point of Sierra Leone bearing W. by N., the north point of

the bay N. by W., and the sand or breaker N.N.E. In the afternoon we

were waved by some men on shore, to whom I sent my boat, which, leaving

two hostages, brought off four negroes, who promised us refreshments. My

skiff sounded between our anchorage and the breakers, finding fair

shoaling, with two fathoms water within two boats-length of the beach or

sand on which the sea breaks. All the previous observations of the

variation, since our coming from 2 N. latitude to this place proved

erroneous; for to each distance, having reference to any Meridian

eastwards, there must be added 30 leagues, and from such as referred to

western Meridians 30 leagues must be subtracted; for it appeared, by our

falling in with the land, that the ship was so much more westerly than

we supposed; myself, notwithstanding this error, being as much if not

more westerly than any of the Mariners. Yet every man must trust to his

own experience; for instruments may deceive, even in the hands of the

most skilful. The 7th August some negroes of a superior appearance came

aboard in my boat, for whom, as for all others, we had to leave one of

our men in hostage for every two of them. These made signs that I should

send some men up the country, and they would stay as hostages; I

accordingly sent Edward Bradbury and my servant William Cotterell with a

present to the Captain or chief, consisting of one coarse shirt, three

feet of bar iron, a few glass beads, and two knives. They returned

towards night, and brought me from the Captain one small gold earring

worth some eight or nine shillings; and as it was late the hostages

remained all night on board without any one in pawn for them. I sent my

boat, and brought off five tons of water, very good and easily come by.

[Illustration: THRESHING RICE, SIERRA LEONE PROTECTORATE.]

“I went ashore on the 11th, when the people came to us, accompanied by

their women, yet feared we might carry them away. We got plenty of

lemons very cheap, as they gave us 200 for a penny knife. The 13th I

bought an elephant tooth of 63 pounds weight for five yards of blue

calico and seven or eight pounds of bar iron. The 15th in an hour and a

half we took Six thousand excellent small fish called Cavallos. That

afternoon we bought two or three thousand lemons at the Village. It

rained so much at this place that we esteemed it a dry day when we had

three hours of fair weather. The 16th I allowed our weekly workers to go

on shore with me for recreation. In our walk we saw not above two or

three acres sown with rice—the surface of the ground being mostly a hard

rock. The 16th and 17th were quite fair; and on the latter I caused a

quantity of lemon-water to be made. The 20th John Rogers returned and

brought me a present of a piece of gold in form of a half-moon, worth

five or six shillings. He reported the people to be peaceable, the chief

without state, the landing to be two leagues up the river, and the

chief’s village eight miles from the landing. The 22nd I went on shore

and made six or seven barricos full of lemon juice; having opened a

firkin of knives belonging to the Company wherewith to buy limes. The

afternoon of the 7th September we went all on shore to try if we could

shoot an elephant, when we shot seven or eight bullets into him, and

made him bleed exceedingly, as appeared by his track; but night coming

on we had to go on board without effecting our purpose. The best road

and watering place is the fourth bay to the east of Cape Sierra Leone.

The tide where we rode flowed W.S.W., and the highest water upon a

spring tide was at the least 12 feet. I made no observation of the sun

in this road, neither aboard nor on shore, though I proposed to have so

done several times; but the Master made the road where we lay 8 36 N.,

Cape Sierra Leone being west, a league or four miles off. He also made

the variation 1 50 eastwards; but my instrument was out of order, and I

had not time to put it in repair. We weighed from Sierra Leone the 14th

September, with the wind all easterly; but it soon fell calm, and we

drove to the north, but drifted again S.W. by S., with the ebb, and when

the flood again made, we anchored in 15½ fathoms, Cape Sierra Leone

bearing N.E. by E. about seven leagues off. We had not less than ten

fathoms all this day. The 16th we found the current setting N. by W.”

William Finch, a British merchant who also visited Sierra Leone during

the year 1607, wrote the following lengthy and interesting account of

his visit:

“The island which we fell in with lieth some ten leagues south from the

bay of Sierra Leone in lat. 8 N., has no inhabitants, neither did I

learn its name. It has some plantains, and, by report, good watering and

wooding for ships; but about a league from the shore there is a

dangerous ledge of rock, scarcely visible at high water. The bay of

Sierra Leone is about three leagues broad, being high land on the South

side, full of trees to the very edge of the water, and having several

coves in which we caught plenty and variety of fish. On the farther side

of the fourth cove is the watering place, having excellent water

continually running. Here on the rocks we found the names of various

Englishmen who had been there. Among those was Sir Francis Drake, who

had been there twenty-seven years before; Thomas Candish, Captain

Lister, and others. About the middle of the bay, right out from the

third cove, lieth a sand, near about which there are not above two or

three fathoms, but in most other parts eight or ten close in shore. The

tide flows E.S.E., the highest water being six or eight feet, and the

tide is very strong. The latitude is 8 30 N.

“The King of Sierra Leone resides at the bottom of the bay, and is

called by the Moors Borea, or Captain Caran, having other petty kings or

chiefs under him; one whom he called Captain Pinto, a wretched old man,

dwells at a town within the second cove; and on the other side of the

bay is Captain Bolone. The Dominions of Borea stretch forty leagues

inland, from which he receives a tribute in cotton cloth, elephants’

teeth and gold; and has the power of selling his people as slaves, some

of whom he offered to us. Some of them have been converted to

Christianity by the Portuguese priests and Jesuits, who have a chapel,

in which is a table inscribed with the days that are to be observed as

holy. The King and a few of his principal attendants are decently

clothed in jackets and breeches; but the common people have only a

slight cotton-cloth round their waists, while the women have a kind of

short petticoat or apron down to their knees; all the rest of their

bodies, both men and women, being quite naked; the young people of both

sexes having no dress whatever. All the people, both men and women, have

all parts of their bodies very curiously and ingeniously traced and

pintred (tattooed), and have their teeth filed very sharp. They pull off

all the hair from their eyelids. The men have their beards short, black,

and cropped, and the hair on their heads strangely cut into crisped

paths or cross alleys; while others wear theirs in strange jagged tufts,

or other foolish forms; the women’s heads being all close shaved.

[Illustration: A NATIVE HUNTER]

“Their town contains not more than thirty or forty houses, all

irregularly clustered together, all thatched with reeds; yet each has a

kind of yard inclosed with mud walls like our hovels or hog-styes in

England. Instead of a locked and bolted door, the entrance is only

closed by a mat, having nothing to be stolen; and for bedsteads they

have only a few billets covered by a mat; yet some have hangings of

mats, especially about their beds. Their furniture consists of two or

three earthen pots to hold water, and to boil such provisions as they

can get; a gourd or two for palm wine; half a gourd to serve as a

drinking cup; a few earthen dishes for their loblolly or pottage; and a

basket or two for the Maria to gather cockles; and a knapsack for the

man, made of bark to carry his provisions, with his pipe and tobacco.

When a negro man goes from home he has always his knapsack on his back,

in which he has his provisions and tobacco, his pipe being seldom from

his mouth; besides which he has always his little sword by his side,

made by themselves of such iron as they get from the Europeans, his bow

also, and quiver full of poisoned arrows, pointed with iron like a

snake’s tongue, or else a case of javelins or darts having iron heads of

good breadth and made sharp, sometimes both. The men of this country are

large and well-made, strong and courageous, and civilized manners for

heathens; as they keep most faithfully to their wives, of whom they are

not a little jealous. I could not learn their religion, for though they

have some idols, they seem to know that there is a God in heaven, as,

when we asked them about their wooden puppets, they used to lift up

their hands to heaven. All their children are circumcised, but I could

not learn the reason why. They are very just and true in their dealings,

and theft is punished with instant death. When any one dies, a small

thatched roof is erected over his bier, under which are set earthen pots

kept always full of water, and some earthen plates with different kinds

of food, a few bones being stuck up around the body. To the South of

this bay, some thirty or forty leagues into the interior country, there

are very fierce people, who are cannibals, and sometimes infest the

natives of Sierra Leone.

“The inhabitants of Sierra Leone feed on rice, of which they only

cultivate what is indispensably needful for their subsistence, in small

patches near their dwellings, which they clear by burning the woods.

They likewise sow another very small grain, called pene, of which they

make bread, not much unlike winter savory. They rear a few poultry about

their houses, using no other animals for food, except when they

sometimes get a fawn of the wild deer, a few of which are found in the

mountains, or some wild fowl. They feed also on cockles and oysters, of

which there are vast quantities on the rocks and trees by the seaside,

but these have rather an insipid taste; and they catch plenty of

excellent fish, by means of weirs and other devices. They also feed on

herbs and roots, cultivating about their dwellings many plantains,

gourds, pumpkins, potatoes, and Guinea pepper.

“Tobacco likewise is planted by every one, and seems to constitute half

their food. The bowl of their tobacco pipe is very large, and made of

clay well burnt, into the lower end of which they thrust a small hollow

cane eighteen inches long, through which they suck the smoke, both men

and women swallowing most of it. Every man carries a small bag called a

tuffio in his knapsack, in which is his pipe and tobacco, and the women

have their pipes in their hands. They prepare their tobacco for smoking

by straining out its juice while quite green, and they informed us by

signs that it would otherwise make them drunk. They afterwards shred it

very small and dry on an earthen dish over the embers. On an island in

the bay we saw about half a dozen goats and nowhere else in this

country.

[Illustration: PICKING PALM-KERNELS.]

“They have innumerable kinds of fruits growing wild in the woods, in

which are whole groves of lemon trees, especially near the town and

watering place, and some few orange trees. Their drink is mostly water;

yet the men use great quantities of palmito wine, which they call moy,

giving little or none to the women. It is strange to see their manner of

climbing the palmito trees; which are of great size and height, having

neither boughs nor branches except near the top. Surrounding the tree

and his own body by means of a withe or band of twisted twigs, on which

he leans his back, and jerking up his withe before him, he foots it up

with wonderful speed and certainty, and comes down again in the same

manner, bringing his gourd full of liquor on his arm. Among their fruits

are many kinds of plums: one like a wheaten plum is wholesome and

savoury; likewise a black one, as large as a horse plum, which is much

esteemed and has an aromatic flavour. A kind called man-samillius,

resembling a wheaten plum, is very dangerous, as is likewise the sap of

the boughs which is perilous for the sight if it should chance to get

into the eyes. Among their fruits is one called benin-ganion, about the

size of a lemon with a reddish rind and very wholesome; also another

called bequill, as large as an apple, with a rough knotty skin which is

pared off, when the pulp below eats like a strawberry, which likewise it

resembles in colour and grain, and of which we eat much. There are

abundance of wild grapes in the woods; but having a woody and bitterish

taste. The nuts of the palmito are eaten roasted. They use but little

pepper and grains. There is a singular fruit growing six or eight

together in a bunch, each as long and thick as one’s finger, the skin

being of a brownish yellow colour and somewhat downy, and within the

rind is a pulp of a pleasant taste; but I know not if it be wholesome.

“I observed in the woods certain trees like beeches, bearing fruit

resembling beans, of which I noticed three kinds. One of these was a

great tall tree, bearing pods like those of beans, in each of which was

four or five squarish beans, resembling tamarind seeds, having hard

shells, within which is a virulent poison, employed by the negroes to

envenom their arrows. This they call Ogon. The second is smaller, having

a crooked pod with a thick rind; six or seven inches long, and half that

breadth, containing each five large beans an inch long. The third,

called quenda, has short leaves like the former, and much bigger fruit,

growing on a strong thick woody stock, indented on the sides, nine

inches long and five broad, within which are five long beans, which are

also said to be dangerous.

“I likewise saw trees resembling willows, bearing fruit like pease pods.

There is a fruit called Gola, which grows in the interior. This fruit,

which is enclosed in a shell, is hard, reddish, bitter, and about the

size of a walnut, with many angles and corners. The negroes are much

given to chew this fruit along with the bark of a certain tree. After

one person has chewed it a while, he gives it to his neighbour, and so

from one to another, chewing long before they cast it away, but

swallowing none of its substance. They attribute great virtues to this

for the teeth and gums; and indeed the negroes are usually as well

toothed as horses. This fruit passes also among them for money.

“Higher within the land they cultivate cotton, which they call innuma,

and of which they spin very good yarn with spindles, and afterwards very

ingeniously weave into cloths, three quarters of a yard broad, to make

their girdles or clouts formerly mentioned; and when sewed together it

is made into jackets and breeches for their great men. By means of a

wood called cambe they dye their purses and mats of a red colour.

“The tree on which the plantains grow is of a considerable height, its

body being about the thickness of a man’s thigh. It seems to be an

annual, and, in my opinion, ought rather to be reckoned among reeds than

trees; for the stem is not of a woody substance, but compacted of many

leaves wrapped close upon each other, adorned with leaves from the very

ground instead of boughs, which are mostly two yards long and a yard

broad, having a large rib in the middle. The fruit is a bunch of ten or

twelve plantains, each a span long and as thick as a man’s wrist,

somewhat crooked or bending inwards. These grow on a leafy stalk on the

middle of the plant, being at first green, but grow yellow and tender as

they ripen. When the rind is stripped off, the inner pulp is also

yellowish and pleasant to the taste. Beneath the fruit hangs down, from

the same stalk, a leafy sharp-pointed tuft, which seems to have been the

flower. This fruit they call banana, which they have in reasonable

abundance. They are ripe in September and October. We carried some with

us green to sea which were six weeks in ripening.

“Guinea pepper grows wild in the woods on a small plant like privet,

having small slender leaves, the fruit being like our barberry in form

and colour. It is green at first, turning red as it ripens. It does not

grow in bunches like our barberry, but here and there two or three

together about the stalk. They call it bangue.

“The pene of which their bread is made grows on a small tender herb

resembling grass, the stalk being all full of small seeds, not inclosed

in any husk. I think it is the same which the Turks call cuscus, and the

Portuguese Yfunde.

“The palmito tree is high and straight, the stalk being knotty and the

wood of a soft substance, having no boughs except at the top and these

also seem rather reeds than boughs, being all pith within inclosed by a

hard rind. The leaf is long and slender, like that of a sword-lily or

flag. The boughs stand out from the top of the tree on all sides, rather

more than a yard long, beset on both sides with strong sharp prickles,

like the saw teeth but longer. It bears a fruit like a small cocoa-nut,

the size of chestnut inclosed in a hard shell, streaked with threads on

the outside, and containing a kernel of a hard horny substance quite

tasteless, yet they are eaten roasted. The tree is called tobell and the

fruit bell. For procuring the palmito wine they cut off one of the

branches within a span of the head, to which they fasten a gourd shell

by the mouth, which in twenty-four hours is filled by a clear whitish

sap, of a good and strong relish, with which the natives get drunk.

“The oysters formerly mentioned grow on trees resembling willows in

form, but having broader leaves, which are thick like leather, and

having small knobs like those of the cypress. From these trees hang down

many branches into the water, each about the thickness of a

walking-stick, smooth, limber, and within, which are overflowed by every

tide and hang as thick as they can stick of—oysters, being the only

fruit of this tree.

“They have many kinds of ordinary fish, and some of which seemed to us

extraordinary, as mullets, rays, thorn-backs, old-wives with prominent

brows, fishes like pikes, gar-fish, cavallios, like makerel,

sword-fishes having snouts a yard long toothed on each side like a

saw-shark’s, dog-fish sharkers, resembling sharks but having a broad

flat snout like a shovel, shoemakers, having pendants at each side of

their mouths like barbels, and which grunt like hogs, with many others.

We once caught in an hour 6,000 fishes like bleaks. Of birds there are

pelicans as large as swans, of a white colour, with long and large

bills; herons, curlews, boobies, ox-eyes, and various other kinds of

water-fowl. On land great numbers of grey parrots, and abundance of

pintados or Guinea fowls, which are very hurtful to their rice crops.

There are many other kinds of strange birds in the woods, of which I

knew not the names; and I saw among the Negroes many porcupine quills.

There are also great number of monkeys leaping about the trees, and on

the mountains there are lions, tigers and ounces. There are but few

elephants, of which we only saw three; but they abound further inland.

The negroes told us of a strange beast, which our interpreter called a

carbuncle, which is said to be often seen, but only in the night. This

animal is said to carry a stone in the forehead, wonderfully luminous,

giving him light by which to feed in the night, and on hearing the

slightest noise he presently conceals it with a skin or film naturally

provided for the purpose. The commodities here are few, more being got

farther to the eastwards. At certain times of the year the Portuguese

got gold and elephants’ teeth in exchange for rice, salt, beads, bells,

garlick, French bottles, edge-tooles, iron barrs, and sundry specious

trifles, but for your toyes they will not give gold in this place but

victuals.”

In 1615 Sierra Leone was visited by the _Unity_, a ship of 360 tons, of

which William Cornelison Schonten was the master. This visit is

described as follows:—

“On the 1st August we came in sight of the high land of Sierra Leone, on

the 21st of that month, as also of the island of Madre Bomba, which lies

off the south point of Sierra Leone and north from the shallows of the

island of St. Ann. This land of Sierra Leone is the highest of all that

lie between Cape Verd and the coast of Guinea, and is therefore easily

known.

“On the 30th August they cast anchor in eight fathoms water on a fine

sandy bottom near the shore and opposite a village or town of the

negroes in the road of Sierra Leone. This village consisted only of

eight or nine poor thatched huts. The moorish inhabitants were willing

to come on board to trade, only demanding a pledge to be left on shore

for their security, because a French ship had recently carried off two

of the natives perfidiously. Aris Clawson, the junior merchant or

supercargo, went accordingly on shore, where he drove a small trade for

lemons and bananas in exchange for glass beads.

“In the meantime some of the natives came off to the ship, bringing with

them an interpreter who spoke many languages. They here very

conveniently furnished themselves with fresh water, which poured down in

great abundance from a very high hill, so that they had only to place

their casks under the waterfall. There were here whole woods of

lemon-trees, and lemons were so cheap that they might have had a

thousand for a few beads and ten thousand for a few common knives, so

that they easily procured as many as they wished, and each man had 150

for sea store. The 3rd September they found a vast shoal of fish

resembling a shoemaker’s knife. They left Sierra Leone on the 4th

September.”

[Illustration: “THE HIGH LAND OF SIERRA LEONE,” WITH HILL STATION IN THE

FOREGROUND.]

The next recorded visit to Sierra Leone was that of the _Desire_, whose

Master was Thomas Candesh, and this visit is described as follows:—

“They made Sierra Leone on the 23rd August, and reached its southern

side on the 25th, where they had five fathoms of the lowest ebb; having

had for about fourteen leagues, while running into this harbour, from

eight to sixteen fathoms. At this place they destroyed a negro town

because the inhabitants had killed one of their men with a poisoned

arrow. Some of the men went four miles up the harbour in a boat on the

3rd September, where they caught plenty of fish, and going on shore

procured some lemons. They saw also some buffaloes, on their return to

the ship. On the 6th they went out of the harbour of Sierra Leone and

staid one tide three leagues from the point at its mouth, the tide there

flowing S.W.

“The 7th they departed for one of the islands which lie about ten

leagues from the point of Sierra Leone, called the Banana Isle, and

anchored that same day off the principal isle, on which they only found

a few plantains.”

In 1622 a Dutch fleet consisting of eleven vessels put into the harbour

of Sierra Leone, where they stayed for about three weeks. The visit is

described as follows:—

“They anchored in the road of Sierra Leone on the 11th August. Here on

the 15th some of the crew being on shore ate freely of certain nuts

resembling nutmegs, which had a fine taste, but had scarcely got on

board when one of them dropt down dead, and before he was thoroughly

cold he was all over purple spots. The rest recovered by taking proper

medicines. Sierra Leone is a mountain on the Continent of Africa

standing on the South side of the mouth of the river Mitomba, which

discharges itself into a great bay of the sea. The road in which ships

usually anchor is in Lat. of 8° 26 N. This mountain is very high and

thickly covered with trees, by which it may be easily known, as there is

no mountain of such height anywhere upon the coast. There grows here a

prodigious number of trees producing a small kind of lemons called

limasses (limes), resembling those of Spain in shape and taste, and

which are very agreeable and wholesome if not eaten to excess. The fleet

arrived here at the season when this fruit was in perfection, and having

full leave from the natives the people eat them intemperately, by which

and the bad air the bloody flux increased much among them, so that they

lost forty men between the 11th August and the 5th September.

“Sierra Leone abounds in palm trees, and has some Ananas or Pine-apples

with plenty of wood of all sorts, besides having anchorage. They sailed

from Sierra Leone on the 4th September, on which day the Admiral fell

sick.”

In 1730 the Merchants of Havre and Nantz sent out some armed merchant

vessels with the alleged object of exterminating the pirates in Pirates’

Bay, Sierra Leone; history is silent as to the result of this

expedition. They visited the Colony of Gambia and destroyed some trading

centres owned by Englishmen.

By an Act of Parliament of 1763, 4 George III, Chapter 20, Senegal and

its Dependencies became vested in a Company which is described as the

Company of Merchants Trading in Africa, and by an Act of the following

year the property of the Company became vested in His Majesty King

George the Third, and the trade to Africa was declared open to all his

subjects, the officers and servants on the Coast being forbidden to

export negroes on their own account.

The Peninsula of Sierra Leone was purchased in 1787, and a number of

freed slaves and about sixty white women arrived from England the same

year. The Sierra Leone Company, which had been formed for philanthropic

purposes, was established by Act of Parliament, 31 George III, Chapter

55, of the 1st July, 1791, for a period of thirty-one years, and

annulled on the petition of the Company by an Act transferring to His

Majesty certain possessions and rights vested in the Company, and for

shortening the duration of the said Company and for preventing any

dealing or trafficking in buying or selling slaves within the Colony of

Sierra Leone on the 8th August, 1807. The Colony was formally

transferred to Governor Ledlum for the Crown on the 31st January, 1808.

Apart from anything else, Sierra Leone, on account of its very close

association with the abolition of the slave trade and the efforts made

to promote civilization in West Africa and to convert the natives to

Christianity, will always appeal to the sentiment of a large section of

the English public.

It was the famous ruling of Lord Chief Justice Mansfield in 1772 that a

slave setting foot in England became free, which inspired William

Cowper’s stirring lines:—

“Slaves cannot breathe in England: if their lungs

Receive our air, that moment they are free;

They touch our country and their shackles fall.”

* * * * *

“Freedom has a thousand charms to show

That slaves, howe’er contented, never know.”

Although the slave trade was abolished over a century ago, slavery still

exists in many parts of West Africa, and it was in a great measure due

to the raids by the Sofas and intertribal wars for the purpose of

obtaining slaves that a Protectorate was in 1896 declared over the

territory adjacent to the Colony of Sierra Leone. Domestic slavery still

exists, but it is a kind, patriarchal sort of slavery, and slaves are

allowed to purchase their freedom by paying, in the case of an adult, a

sum not exceeding £4, and in the case of a child a sum not exceeding £2;

many of them prefer to remain as domestic slaves or retainers, or, as

they describe it, “sit down to some person” who makes himself

responsible for their welfare. Their position is somewhat similar to

that of the serf under the old English feudal system.

All dealing in slaves has been made unlawful, and heavy penalties are

provided for any breach of this provision, whilst every slave or other

person who shall be brought or induced to come within the limits of the

Protectorate in order that such person shall be dealt or traded in,

sold, purchased or transferred as a pledge or security for debt, is

declared to be free. The principles underlying the administration of the

Protectorate have been to recognize as between natives the use of native

customs and laws, and to preserve the authority of the native rulers

while preventing any acts of aggression on their part.

The Protectorate Courts Jurisdiction Ordinance, 1903, provides that in

the Court of the District Commissioners or the Circuit Court judicial

cognizance may be taken of any law or custom not being repugnant to

natural justice. Courts of Native Chiefs are also recognized by the

above Ordinance, and such Courts are declared to have jurisdiction

according to native law and custom to hear and determine all civil cases

arising exclusively between natives, other than a case involving a

question of title to land between two or more Paramount Chiefs, and all

criminal cases arising exclusively between natives, other than Murder,

Slave-raiding, Cannibalism, and a few other of the more serious

offences, provided that the Chief shall in no case be permitted to

inflict punishment involving death, mutilation, or grievous bodily harm;

formerly it was the custom to hand over the wrong-doer to the injured

party, who could take his life or keep him as a slave until such time as

he or his family paid a sufficient sum to have him redeemed.

The administration by the native rulers is kept under close observation,

and they are encouraged to educate themselves in the application of

their own code. Each chief has his advisers or counsellors, some of whom

are selected by himself and others elected by the people. When a chief

dies it is not customary to announce the fact at once—his chief speaker

would announce first that he was suffering from a bad sickness, and was

therefore unable to attend the affairs of State, later he would announce

that he had gone to Futah—Futah Jalloh being in the eyes of the natives

a land rich in cattle and everything that they most desire. Steps would

then be taken to elect a new chief. The person usually selected would be

the senior male member of the deceased’s family, though they sometimes

go to the female side, as there is no Salic law to prevent such a

course. The person nominated is taken to a hut on the outskirts of the

town near the burial-place of the chief, where he lives out of sight of

all persons for two or three months; during this period he is supposed

to hold high converse with the mighty dead, and learn from them how to

govern wisely and well. After the lapse of this period the principal men

of the chiefdom visit him, and he is escorted into the town, which gives

itself up to wild enthusiasm. The chief elect is carried round the town

by a struggling, shouting mob, and at this stage it is permissible for

any one to strike him. The reason given for this ceremony is that it

enables the chief to feel the pain he will have in his power to inflict

on others, and in consequence it may teach him compassion. After the

chief has been formally elected and acclaimed, his body is sacred. Among

the Mendes, women are frequently elected to the chieftainship; a

chieftainess does not marry, but may have a consort, whom she changes at

will. She is also permitted, contrary to a strict rule regarding other

women, to join the Poro Society. The Bundu Society, a women’s society

which corresponds with the Poro for men, plays a very important part in

native life among the Mendes and Temnes. Bundu girls have to undergo

during their novitiate period an operation somewhat similar to that

performed on the Poro boys, and their backs and loins are cut in such a

manner as to leave raised scars which project above the surface of the

skin. They also receive their Bundu names by which they are afterwards

known. Their release from the Bundu bush is carried out with great

ceremony, and they are usually accompanied by persons wearing hideous

masks who personate Bundu devils. A procession is formed, which marches

through the town or village accompanied by musicians, who play on a

collection of instruments consisting of drums, rattles and timbrels. A

halt is made in the centre of the town and the girls are publicly

pronounced marriageable.

[Illustration: BUNDU GIRLS AND BUNDU DEVILS.]

The price paid for a wife varies according to the social position of the

parties, but the usual price is between £3 and £5, though a man who has

married a shrew will often sell her second-hand for a few shillings.

The majority of the people of the Protectorate are Pagans, but

Mohammedanism is rapidly spreading among them; and as no good Mohammedan

ever touches spirits, the advance of this faith may go a long way to put

a stop to the consumption of trade gin, which is the curse of the Coast.

The Government is doing everything possible to discourage its use as

currency, and the principle of local option has been encouraged with

good effect. One large District and portions of two other Districts have

been declared prohibited areas into which no spirits can be lawfully

imported.

One other matter which the Local Government is doing that is likely to

result in much good is the effort being made to instruct the native

chiefs and their people in sanitation and to teach them an elementary

knowledge of hygiene.

The Colony and Protectorate of Sierra Leone at the present time comprise

an area of approximately 30,000 square miles, and the population, given

at the census taken in 1911, is 1,400,000. The Colony has an area of

only 256 square miles and a population of 75,000, of which about 600 are

Europeans; it is of course the Colony that has so often been referred to

in song and story on account of the evil reputation of its climate; it

is a case of “give a dog a bad name and it sticks to him.”

Sierra Leone was and is still known, though now quite undeservedly, as

the White Man’s Grave. Mrs. Falconbridge, the wife of one of the early

agents of the Sierra Leone Company, records that during her residence in

the Colony (1793–4) it was usual to ask in the morning “how many died

last night.” This can still be heard in Freetown as a form of morning

greeting, but it now helps to start the day with a laugh, and that in

West Africa is about the best tonic known.

Captain Chamiers, in his “Life of a Sailor,” says: “I have travelled

east, I have travelled west, north and south, ascended mountains, dived

in mines, but I never knew and never heard mention of so villainous and

iniquitous a place as Sierra Leone. I know not where the Devil’s Poste

Restante is, but the place must surely be Sierra Leone.”

Burton, in commenting on the above on the occasion of a visit paid to

Freetown, the capital of the Colony, prior to writing his interesting

book “Wanderings in West Africa,” says in justice to the place, “Here,

as elsewhere, the saying may hold good that a certain person may,

perhaps, not be so black as he is painted.”

The educated Sierra Leonean is proud of the fact that the great Milton

in “Paradise Lost” referred to Sierra Leone, even though it was only in

connection with the awe-inspiring tornado to which the Colony is

frequently subject, in those lines:

“With adverse blast upturns them from the South

... black with thund’rous clouds from Sierra Leone.”

Sierra Leone as it exists to-day is, owing to segregation and up-to-date

sanitation, comparatively healthy for Europeans. The progress of the

Colony has been phenomenal during the last fifteen years, and the credit

is chiefly due to two energetic and far-seeing Governors in the persons

of Sir Frederick Cardew and Sir Leslie Probyn, who foresaw the great

benefit that would accrue by opening up the Protectorate, and this has

been done by building lines of railway into the rich palm-kernel belts

and encouraging the natives to gather the natural products of the

country for export.

The revenue of the Colony, which in 1898 was only £117,000, had

increased to £618,000 in 1913, and although the expenditure has

proportionately increased, the finances of the Colony may be looked upon

as satisfactory.

Freetown, the chief port and the seat of the Government, is a city with

a population of about 35,000 inhabitants, of which about two-thirds

belong to a class known as Creoles, the majority of whom are the

descendants of the liberated slaves. It is beautifully situated, at the

foot of a circle of hills on the summits of which are barracks belonging

to the Garrison Artillery, the West India and the West African Regiment;

and a short distance beyond lies Hill Station, the residence of the

majority of the European officials stationed in the Colony—Sugar Loaf, a

beautiful wooded mountain which rises to a height of nearly 3,000 feet,

forming a picturesque background. Altogether the natural beauties of

Freetown and its surroundings are many, though it is frequently asserted

by the jaded or bored temporary resident, that to enjoy the view really

one must see it from the stern of one of Messrs. Elder, Dempster’s ships

homeward bound.

[Illustration: COTTON TREE STATION, 9 A.M. BUNGALOW TRAIN, FREETOWN.]

In regard to the temporary resident—which every European must consider

himself, as, even with the greatest progress possible, Sierra Leone can

never be regarded as other than a black man’s country—a discussion

recently took place at a meeting of the members of the Hill Station

Sports Club on the interpretation of the words “permanent residents” and

“ordinary members” of the Club. One member humorously moved the deletion

of the words “permanent” and “ordinary,” assigning as his reason that

the only European “permanent” members were those in the cemetery, and

that there was a misuse of the word “ordinary” as no one who was

ordinary ever came to West Africa; needless to say the proposal was

carried _nem. con._ The European officials and officers of the garrison

are well provided for in the way of means of recreation. There are

numerous tennis courts, a golf link, stickie and squash courts, and a

cricket ground—and there is no doubt that the fact of being able to take

healthy and pleasant exercise reacts favourably on the health generally

of the white community. Hill Station is situated nearly 1,000 feet above

sea level and in the midst of most beautiful surroundings, and here the

European official can enjoy the refreshing breezes from the broad

Atlantic after leaving his office and the used-up atmosphere of

Freetown. The Station is connected by a line of rails six miles in

length with Freetown. The train is naturally not a “flying Scotchman,”

and some years ago the Railway Department were practising economy by

feeding their engines with firewood instead of coal; however, the train

service at present is as good as can be expected, and there are a

sufficient number of trains to meet the requirements of residents.

Hill Station is fortunate in having an excellent water supply laid on to

all the bungalows, which are roomy and comfortable; and, all things

considered, the Colonial Official’s lot in Sierra Leone is not an

unhappy one.

In the streets of Freetown there are natives of many races to be seen.

Chief among them are the Mendes and Temnes, but there are also many

Mandingos, Susus and Limbahs. The market women of Freetown, chiefly

Creole, are also one of the features of the place. They are keen

business women, and look upon it almost as a matter of honour to haggle

over the smallest commercial transaction. There are of course many

Creole traders who have shops of their own, where anything from a bag of

sand to a pearl necklace can be purchased, but the chief trade is in the

hands of European firms. The educated Creole youth usually looks for

employment as a clerk, and when once he has attained that object he

makes little further effort to improve his position.

According to the last census the Creole population shows a decrease of

over 6 per cent. during the ten years under review, while the other

native races in the Colony show a considerable natural increase. The

ordinary Creole has always shown a marked antipathy to agriculture, and

the principle here applies that when a nationality declines to cultivate

the earth, the first industry of life, that nationality has a tendency

to decrease.

Mission enterprise has not been a success in West Africa, and this is

probably due to the fact that the first stage in converting the pagan is

the effort made to break down his superstitious beliefs in good and evil

spirits, which are matters of the gravest importance in his social life.

Witches and vampires are still in fashion among them, and belong to the

good old-fashioned variety which come to your bedroom in the dead of

night, sit on your chest and suck your blood. It is not unusual to hear

even the more or less educated native complain that he has passed a most

unpleasant night because “witches” have visited him.

It is certainly no compliment to call a lady in this country a witch;

she is liable to be maltreated and even beaten to death, and it is not

uncommon for the police to be asked to protect a Freetown lady who is

suspected of being a witch.

[Illustration: FREETOWN FROM THE HARBOUR.]

It would appear from the criminal statistics that Freetown has a

demoralizing effect on the aboriginal native who comes from the

Protectorate to trade or obtain employment, and this is probably due to

the fact that he is free from tribal authority and that his

superstitious belief does not present any obstacle to his helping

himself to the white man’s property.

There is very little stigma attached to imprisonment, which, after all,

is the chief deterring factor in civilized countries; it does not

necessarily follow that a scale of punishments suitable for offences

committed by a civilized people is suitable for offences committed by an

uncivilized people, and there are strong arguments in favour of allowing

corporal punishment to be inflicted as well as imprisonment for offences

committed by uneducated natives. Imprisonment to the educated native is

of course a real punishment, though the social consequence following it

would not be as serious as in the case of a European.

Commercially the importance of Sierra Leone is small as compared with

its easterly neighbours, the Gold Coast Colony with its hinterland

Dependencies of Ashanti and the Northern Territories, and the huge new

Colony of Nigeria made up of three older Colonies, but of all our West

African Colonies Sierra Leone is probably the best known to the British

public, and with the fine harbour and important coaling station at

Freetown, its capital, Sierra Leone is a valuable link in the great

chain of Imperial communication.

APPENDIX

DESPATCH FROM THE GOVERNOR OF SIERRA LEONE REPORTING ON THE MEASURES

ADOPTED TO DEAL WITH UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES IN THE PROTECTORATE

THE GOVERNOR TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE

(Received 21 July, 1913.)

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, SIERRA LEONE,

_9th July, 1913_.

SIR,

I have the honour to transmit, for your information, a report on the

steps taken to deal with unlawful societies in the Protectorate.

I have, &c.,

E. M. MEREWETHER,

Governor.

Enclosure.

REPORT ON THE MEASURES ADOPTED TO DEAL WITH UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES IN

THE SIERRA LEONE PROTECTORATE.

For a number of years past the Northern Sherbro district has been the

principal field for the operations of an organization which goes under

the name of the Human Leopard Society. It has not yet been decided

whether the object of the Society is merely to satisfy the craving which

some savages have for human flesh, or whether the eating of human flesh

is only part of some ceremony which is believed to have the effect of

increasing the mental and physical powers of the members of the Society.

Whatever the object is, the result is a very powerful and widespread

secret organization, to which most, if not all, of the principal men of

certain districts belong.

2. Several cases of murder committed by this Society have at various

times come before the Circuit Court, and convictions have been obtained,

but the full extent of the Society’s operations was not brought to light

until last year, when the District Commissioner received information

that from 20 to 30 murders had been committed since the year 1907, the

Imperri sub-district and the country round Pujehun being the principal

centres of the trouble.

3. The District Commissioner reported the matter to the Government at

the end of July, and proceeded to arrest the persons who appeared to be

implicated. By the middle of October 336 persons had been arrested,

including several Paramount Chiefs and leading men from the different

chiefdoms. A company and a half of the West African Frontier Force were

sent down to the Northern Sherbro District to preserve order and assist

in guarding the prisoners.

4. The only direct evidence against the persons arrested was found in

the statements of certain of their number who turned King’s evidence.

These men admitted that they themselves were members of the Human

Leopard Society, and described what had taken place at the various

murders in which they had taken part.

5. In many cases there was no corroborative evidence, and all attempts

to obtain such evidence proved fruitless, a very strong oath of secrecy

having clearly been imposed on all the people. Even the relatives of the

victims, who were in most cases young boys and girls, were afraid to

give information.

6. It soon became clear that, although the District Commissioner and his

assistants relied on being able to prove a special mark indicating

membership of the Society, there was not sufficient evidence against

many of the persons arrested to justify their being committed for trial.

Accordingly, in order to assist the District Commissioner, who was

overwhelmed with work, the Solicitor-General was sent to the Northern

Sherbro District with instructions to go into the cases with him and

ascertain in how many there was a sufficiently strong _prima facie_ case

against the accused.

7. The result of the Solicitor-General’s enquiry was: out of 336 persons

who were detained in custody at Pujehun and Gbangbama, 42 were committed

for trial, three turned King’s evidence, and 291 were discharged after

the preliminary enquiry had been held. Later on, 66 other persons were

arrested, all of whom were committed for trial on various charges. The

total number committed was, therefore, 108.

8. The state of things disclosed by the reports of the District

Commissioner was so serious, and the pernicious influence of the Human

Leopard Society appeared to be so widely spread, that it was considered

necessary, in order to deal adequately with the situation, to give the

Government special powers. The Human Leopard and Alligator Societies

Ordinance of 1909 was accordingly amended in the following particulars:—

(_a_) The two Societies were declared to be unlawful societies.

(_b_) Power was given to the Governor to proclaim any chiefdom in

which a murder had been committed in connection with an unlawful

society, and to the District Commissioner to arrest and detain

any person in a proclaimed chiefdom on a warrant under his hand.

(_c_) It was made an offence to be a member of an unlawful society,

or to take part in the operations of any such society or of any

meeting of an unlawful society. The effect of this provision was

made retrospective.

(_d_) Powers of search were given to the police in the Colony, and

to court messengers and the West African Frontier Force in the

Protectorate.

(_e_) Power was given to the Governor-in-Council to order the

expulsion of any alien convicted under the Ordinance and

sentenced to imprisonment on the expiration of his term of

imprisonment. A copy of the amending Ordinance (No. 17 of 1912)

is attached.

9. It was further considered necessary to appoint a special tribunal to

deal with offences committed by members of unlawful societies, for the

following reasons:—

(1) The number of cases to be heard and the number of persons

committed for trial was so large that it would have been

impossible for the Judge of the Circuit Court to hear them

without seriously interfering with the ordinary criminal and

civil work of the Court.

(2) In the Circuit Court, native chiefs sit with the Judge as

assessors, and as it appeared from the reports of the District

Commissioner that many of the Paramount Chiefs in his District

were implicated in the crimes of the Human Leopard Society,

there was a danger of the Assessors being in sympathy with the

persons whom they would be called upon to try.

10. An Ordinance was accordingly passed empowering the Governor to

appoint a Court or Courts of Special Commissioners for the trial of

persons charged with offences committed in connection with unlawful

societies, whether before or after the commencement of the Ordinance,

and defining the powers and jurisdiction of the Court. A copy of the

Ordinance (No. 18 of 1912) is attached, together with a copy of

Ordinance No. 21 of 1912, by which certain amendments in matters of

detail were made.

11. Under Section 2 (2) a Special Commission Court consists of three

persons, one of whom must be a judge or barrister or solicitor of the

Supreme Court of the Colony or of any other Court in the British

dominions, and one of the members is appointed to be President of the

Court. By Section 10 the powers conferred by Sections 5 and 6 of the

Human Leopard and Alligator Societies Amendment Ordinance, 1912, and

various other powers conferred by the Human Leopard and Alligator

Societies Ordinance of 1909 are extended to persons convicted by a

Special Commission Court.

12. It was recognized that, in view of the terror inspired by the

Society and the oath of secrecy which was believed to have been imposed

on the people of the District, there would be great difficulty in

obtaining evidence; and that persons of whose connection with the

Society there was no moral doubt whatever might be acquitted for want of

sufficient evidence to satisfy legal requirements. Section 11 of the

Ordinance accordingly provides that in any such case, if the Court is of

opinion, after hearing all the evidence, that it is expedient for the

security, peace or order of the District that the accused person should

be expelled from the District, the Court may, notwithstanding his

acquittal, send to the Governor a report of the case, and thereupon the

accused may be expelled from the Colony and Protectorate.

13. The importance of having an officer of high legal attainments, and

one who had had previous experience of West Africa, as President of the

Court was obvious, and the Government was fortunate in being able to

secure the services of Sir William Brandford Griffith, late Chief

Justice of the Gold Coast. The other members of the Court, as it was at

first constituted, were Mr. A. Van der Meulen, Solicitor-General, and

Mr. K. J. Beatty, Police Magistrate, both of whom are barristers-at-law.

Later on, Mr. Van der Meulen went on leave, and his place was taken by

Lieutenant-Colonel H. G. Warren, District Commissioner of the Karene

District.

14. The Court commenced its sittings on the 16th December. Owing to the

large number of prisoners and witnesses, all of whom resided in the

Northern Sherbro District, it was decided that the Court should sit at

Gbangbama, in the Imperri chiefdom. The Crown was represented by Mr. E.

D. Vergette, Crown Prosecutor, assisted by Major R. H. K. Willans,

Acting District Commissioner, and Mr. C. S. H. Vaudrey, Assistant

District Commissioner. The prisoners were all represented by counsel.

15. The trials were conducted with the utmost care and patience. The

hearing of the first case occupied 11 days, of the second 36 days, and

of the third 28 days. The other cases were disposed of more rapidly.

16. In the third case the question of the initiation mark alleged to be

borne by members of the Human Leopard Society was very carefully gone

into. The accomplices showed the mark on their own persons, and

described how it was made. They also pointed out marks on the prisoners

which they alleged to be the mark of the Society. Unfortunately, their

evidence in some instances was contradictory, and they identified

different marks on the same person as being the initiation mark.

Moreover, it was proved, by taking persons haphazard in the Court who

were not suspected of any connection with the Society, that it was

hardly possible to distinguish the alleged Human Leopard mark from scars

caused by disease or slight injuries. The Court was, therefore, unable

to accept the mark as evidence of membership of the Society.

17. In view of this ruling, it was obviously useless to proceed with

cases in which the alleged mark formed the only corroboration of the

evidence of accomplices, and it was decided to enter a _nolle prosequi_

in such cases.

[Illustration: VIEW FROM GOVERNMENT HOUSE, FREETOWN.]

18. Out of 108 persons committed by the District Commissioner, 34 were

brought to trial, 71 were released after a _nolle prosequi_ had been

entered, and three died before trial. Of the persons brought to trial,

nine were convicted of murder and 10 others of lesser offences, the

remaining 15 being acquitted. Seven of the nine men convicted of murder

were executed, and in the case of the other two the capital sentence was

commuted for one of imprisonment for life. Of the 15 persons who were

acquitted 11 have since been expelled from the Colony and Protectorate

on the recommendation of the Court; and by arrangement with the

Government of Southern Nigeria those who have been sentenced to

imprisonment will be transferred to Lagos to undergo their sentences

there.

* * * * *

19. While it is permissible to believe that the action taken by the

Government has had the effect of checking the activities of the Human

Leopard Society, at all events for the time being, it would be by no

means prudent to assert that this criminal organization has been broken

up. Many persons of whose connection with the Society there is little or

no doubt are still at large, and probably there are not a few others who

have hitherto not come under the notice of the authorities.

20. The blind belief of the natives in the efficacy of the “medicines”

concocted by the Society (especially that known as “Borfima”); the power

and authority enjoyed by the possessors of these medicines; the fact

that periodical human sacrifices are considered to be necessary in order

to renew the efficacy of the medicines; and a tendency on the part of

some natives to cannibalism pure and simple—all these causes will

contribute to the survival of this baneful organization. It has held

sway for many years—possibly for centuries—and the task of stamping it

out will undoubtedly be one of great difficulty.

E. M. MEREWETHER,

Governor.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

FREETOWN,

_9th July, 1913_.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: Title.]

An Ordinance to amend the Human Leopard and Alligator Societies

Ordinance, 1909

NO. 17 OF 1912

[Sidenote: Enacting Clause.]

Be it enacted by the Governor of the Colony of Sierra Leone, with the

advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:—

[Sidenote: Short Title.]

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Human Leopard and Alligator

Societies Amendment Ordinance, 1912.

[Sidenote: Proclamation of districts.]

2.—(1) Whenever it appears to the Governor that a murder has been

committed in connection with an unlawful society in any chiefdom, it

shall be lawful for him by proclamation to declare such chiefdom or any

part thereof to be a proclaimed district.

(2) In a proclaimed district it shall be lawful for a District

Commissioner to order the arrest and detention in custody of any person

whose arrest and detention he may consider desirable in the interests of

justice. A warrant under the hand of a District Commissioner shall be

sufficient authority to the person named therein to detain any such

person in such place as shall be mentioned therein.

[Sidenote: No. 28 of 1909.]

3. For the words “the/any Human Leopard Society and/or Alligator

Society” wherever they occur in the Human Leopard and Alligator

Societies Ordinance, 1909 (hereinafter called the Principal Ordinance),

shall be substituted the words “any unlawful society.”

[Sidenote: Unlawful societies.]

4.—(1) Every person who knowingly—

(_a_) is or has before the commencement of this Ordinance been a

member of an unlawful society; or

(_b_) takes or has before the commencement of this Ordinance taken

part in the operations of an unlawful society or of any meeting

thereof, shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment, with

or without hard labour, for a term not exceeding fourteen years.

(2) A Magistrate or District Commissioner on sworn information may

authorize any member of the Sierra Leone Police Force or West African

Frontier Force or a court messenger to search any person whom there is

good reason to suspect of being a member of an unlawful society or of

having taken part in the operations of an unlawful society, or of any

meeting thereof, and for this purpose may authorize any of the

afore-mentioned persons to enter any premises at any time and, if need

be, by force, on Sundays as well as on other days; and if any person

wilfully hinders, molests or obstructs any of the aforesaid persons in

searching such suspected person, every such person shall be liable, on

summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds or to

imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for a term not exceeding

twelve months.

5. For Section 12 of the Principal Ordinance shall be substituted the

following section:—

[Sidenote: Power of Governor-in-Council to order deportation.]

12. When any person shall have been convicted of complicity in any

murder committed in connection with an unlawful society, whether

before or after the commencement of this Ordinance, and the Governor

shall have decided to grant a pardon to such person on condition of

his undergoing a term of imprisonment with or without hard labour,

or when any person shall have been convicted of complicity in any

murder aforesaid not involving the punishment of death, or when any

person shall have been convicted of an offence under this Ordinance

or any Ordinance amending the same, and shall have been sentenced by

the Court to undergo a term of imprisonment with or without hard

labour, the judge before whom such person was so tried and convicted

shall forthwith send a report of such case to the Governor, and it

shall then be lawful for the Governor-in-Council to direct that such

person, not being an alien, shall be deported from the Colony or

Protectorate to any other British Colony, there to serve such term

of imprisonment in such prison as the Governor of such Colony may

direct.

[Sidenote: Expulsion of aliens.]

6.—(1) In the case of a convicted person, who is an alien, it shall be

lawful for the Governor-in-Council, after the completion of the term of

imprisonment awarded to such convicted person, to make an order (in this

Ordinance referred to as an expulsion order) requiring such alien to

leave the Colony or Protectorate within a time fixed by the order and

thereafter to remain out of the Colony and Protectorate.

(2) If any alien in whose case an expulsion order has been made is at

any time found within the Colony or Protectorate in contravention of the

order, he shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment, with or

without hard labour, for a term not exceeding ten years.

(3) Any person aiding or attempting to aid any person, in whose case an

expulsion order has been made, to return to the Colony or Protectorate,

and any person harbouring such person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour

and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment, with or without

hard labour, for a term not exceeding two years.

7. The schedule to the Principal Ordinance is hereby amended by adding

at the end thereof the following words:—

(6) A dress made of baboon skins commonly used by members of an

unlawful society.

(7) A “kukoi” or whistle, commonly used for calling together the

members of an unlawful society.

(8) An iron needle, commonly used for branding members of an

unlawful society.

[Sidenote: Interpretation of terms.]

8. In this Ordinance “unlawful society” means the Human Leopard Society,

the Human Alligator Society, or any other society existing for the

purpose of committing or encouraging or procuring the commission of

murder.

“Alien” means a person who is a natural-born subject or citizen of a

foreign state, or has been naturalized as such.

[Sidenote: Indemnity clause.]

9. Whereas various murders are alleged to have been committed in

connection with unlawful societies, and various persons have been

arrested and detained in custody in connection therewith;

Now it is hereby enacted that all persons who were before the

commencement of this Ordinance concerned in the arrest or detention in

custody of such arrested persons are hereby fully indemnified for

anything done by them in the arrest or detention in custody of such

arrested persons, and no action at law or otherwise shall be maintained

for such arrested persons having been so arrested and detained in

custody, and no writ of _habeas corpus_ shall be issued on their behalf.

[Sidenote: Extent of Ordinance.]

10. This Ordinance shall apply to the Colony and Protectorate.

Passed in the Legislative Council this Thirty-first day of October, in

the year of our Lord One thousand nine hundred and twelve.

F. A. MILLER,

Clerk of Legislative Council.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: Title.]

An Ordinance to constitute Special Commission Courts for the trial

of persons charged with offences committed in connection with

unlawful societies.

NO. 18 OF 1912

[Sidenote: Preamble.]

Whereas there exist in the Colony and Protectorate certain unlawful

societies formed for the purpose of committing murders;

And whereas many murders have recently been committed under the

influence of such unlawful societies;

And whereas, owing to the number of these murders, it is expedient to

try all persons charged with offences committed in connection with such

unlawful societies by a special tribunal;

[Sidenote: Enacting Clause.]

Be it therefore enacted by the Governor of the Colony of Sierra Leone,

with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as

follows:—

[Sidenote: Short Title.]

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Special Commission Ordinance,

1912.

[Sidenote: Special Commission Court.]

2.—(1) The Governor may from time to time direct a commission or

commissions to be issued for the appointment of a Court or Courts of

Special Commissioners for the trial in manner provided by this Ordinance

of persons, committed for trial before the Supreme Court of the Colony

or the Circuit Court of the Protectorate, for any of the following

offences committed in the Colony or Protectorate, whether before or

after the commencement of this Ordinance; that is to say,

(_a_) murder, committed in connection with an unlawful society;

(_b_) attempting or conspiring to commit murder in connection with

an unlawful society;

[Sidenote: No. 28 of 1909.]

(_c_) any of the offences under Section 2 of the Human Leopard and

Alligator Societies Ordinance, 1909, or under any Ordinance

amending that Ordinance;

and the Governor may by warrant assign to any such Court of Special

Commissioners (in this Ordinance referred to as a Special Commission

Court) the duty of sitting at the place named in the warrant, and of

there, without a jury and not assisted by any native chief, or

non-native or native assessors, hearing and determining, according to

law, the charge made against the person so committed for trial and named

in the warrant, and of doing therein what to justice appertains.

(2) A Special Commission Court shall consist of three persons to be

named in such commission, of whom one shall be a judge or barrister or

solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Colony or of any other Court in

the British dominions, and they shall try in open court, according to

the tenor of a warrant under this Ordinance, all persons named in the

warrant who may be brought before them for trial. The Governor shall

appoint one of the members of a Special Commission Court to be the

President thereof.

[Sidenote: No. 1 of 1870.]

(3) A member of a Special Commission Court shall take such oaths as are

prescribed by the Promissory Oaths Ordinance of 1870, to be taken by

Judges.

(4) The evidence taken on a trial before a Special Commission Court and

the reasons, if any, given by the members of the said Court in

delivering judgment, shall be taken down in writing by the President of

the said Court.

(5) A person tried by a Special Commission Court shall be acquitted

unless the whole Court concur in his conviction, and the members of the

said Court shall in all cases of conviction give in open court the

reasons for such conviction.

(6) The Governor shall from time to time provide for the payment of the

reasonable expenses of witnesses.

[Sidenote: Appointment of Assistant Master.]

3.—(1) There shall be attached to a Special Commission Court an

Assistant Master, who shall attend such Special Commission Court, when

sitting to try persons charged with offences under this Ordinance. Such

Assistant Master, while discharging or performing the duties of his

office, shall have all the powers of the Master of the Supreme Court of

the Colony.

(2) If at any time the Assistant Master shall be prevented by illness or

other unavoidable absence from acting in his office, it shall be lawful

for the Court to appoint from time to time a deputy to act for the said

Assistant Master and to remove such deputy at its pleasure, and such

deputy, while acting under such appointment, shall have the like powers

as if he were the Assistant Master.

[Sidenote: Regulations as to warrants and notice of trial.]

4.—(1) A warrant for the trial by a Special Commission Court of a person

charged with an offence shall be in the form contained in the Schedule

to this Ordinance.

(2) Not less than seven days before the sitting of any Special

Commission Court, notice thereof shall be published in the _Gazette_

stating the names of the Special Commissioners, the place at which the

Court will sit, and the day on which the sitting of the Court will

begin.

(3) An objection to the jurisdiction of a Special Commission Court to

try a person for any offence shall not be entertained by reason only of

any non-observance of the provisions of this section; but the Court, on

application, may adjourn the case, so as to prevent any person charged

being prejudiced by such non-observance.

[Sidenote: Regulations as to courts.]

5.—(1) If any member of a Special Commission Court dies, or if it

appears to the Governor that from illness or some reasonable cause it is

necessary that another person should be appointed in the place of a

member of a Special Commission Court, the Governor may, if he thinks it

expedient so to do, direct a supplemental commission to be issued,

appointing another person to fill the vacancy in such Court.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, and for the purpose of

the trial of any persons charged before them, a Special Commission Court

shall have the same privileges, powers and jurisdiction as if it were

the Circuit Court of the Protectorate, trying with native chiefs, or

non-native or native assessors an offender before such Court, and shall

follow, as far as possible, the practice and procedure of that Court,

and in hearing and determining the cases of all persons tried before a

Special Commission Court, such Court shall, as far as possible, be

guided in arriving at a decision by the laws in force in the Colony. A

Special Commission Court shall be a court of record, and the same

intendment shall be made in respect of all orders, writs, and process

made by and issuing out of such Special Commission Court, as if it were

a court of record acting according to the course and by the authority of

the common law.

(3) All the members of a Special Commission Court shall be present at

the hearing and determination of the case of a person tried before such

Court, but, save as aforesaid, the jurisdiction of the Court may be

exercised by any of such members, and any act of the Court shall not be

invalidated by reason of any vacancy among the members.

(4) The trial by a Special Commission Court of a person in pursuance of

a warrant under this Ordinance shall begin as soon as may be, but it

shall be lawful for the Court to postpone such trial on the request of

such person, or on account of the illness or absence of a witness, or on

account of a vacancy in the Court, or of the illness of such person, or

some other sufficient cause, and to discontinue a trial of a person,

when commenced, on account of a vacancy in the Court or the illness of

such person, or some other sufficient cause.

(5) Where a trial of a person is postponed or discontinued, the trial of

such person may take place before the same Court or any other Special

Commission Court, and shall take place as soon as may be.

(6) In the event of a trial of a person taking place before another

Special Commission Court, a new warrant shall be issued for the trial of

such person.

(7) A commission appointing a Special Commission Court shall not be

superseded or affected by the issue of another like commission, nor

shall the sitting or jurisdiction of such Court be affected by the

sitting of any such commission or of the Supreme Court of the Colony or

the Circuit Court of the Protectorate.

[Sidenote: No. 5 of 1896.]

[Sidenote: No. 12 of 1910.]

(8) A Special Commission Court shall be a Court within the meaning of

the Perjury Ordinance, 1896, and the Children (Criminal Law Amendment)

Ordinance, 1910.

[Sidenote: No. 14 of 1912.]

(9) The provisions of the Supreme Court Amendment Ordinance, 1912, shall

not apply to a trial of a person by a Special Commission Court.

(10) An objection to the jurisdiction of a Special Commission Court to

try a person in pursuance of a warrant under this Ordinance shall not be

entertained by reason only of any want of form in the warrant, or of any

mistake in the name or description of such person in the warrant, if it

is shown that the person tried is the person to whom the warrant

relates; and an objection to the proceedings of such Court for any want

of form on the trial of any person shall not be entertained, if no

injustice was thereby done to such person.

[Sidenote: Procedure.]

6.—(1) When a person is brought up for trial before a Special Commission

Court, he shall be triable for any offence, being one, or connected with

one, of the offences referred to in Section 2 of this Ordinance,

disclosed by the depositions taken by the Court of the District

Commissioner at the investigation of the charge, and the Special

Commission Court shall inform such person specifically of the charge

whereon he is to be tried, and shall record such charge in writing and

call upon such person to plead thereto.

(2) At any time before the trial, on application by a person charged

with an offence or by some person on his behalf, a copy of the written

charge, if any, of the depositions and of the statement of such person

so charged shall be supplied by the officer in whose custody the

originals are deposited at the time of such application, for which a

reasonable charge, not exceeding sixpence for every hundred words, may

be made, or the same may be supplied without payment, as shall to the

officer granting the application in his discretion seem expedient.

[Sidenote: Depositions of absent witnesses when admissible.]

7. The deposition of any witness taken by the Court of the District

Commissioner at the investigation of the charge in the presence of the

person charged, such person having had full opportunity of

cross-examining such witness, may be given in evidence before a Special

Commission Court if the witness be dead, or if the Court be satisfied

that for any sufficient cause his attendance cannot be procured.

[Sidenote: Audience of counsel.]

8. Barristers and solicitors of the Supreme Court of the Colony and

officers appointed by the Governor to prosecute shall be allowed to

appear and be heard at the trials of persons charged with offences

before a Special Commission Court.

[Sidenote: Power to inflict sentence of death.]

9. A Special Commission Court shall have power in capital cases to

inflict punishment of death, and when a sentence of death has been

passed, all the proceedings in the case shall with the least possible

delay be forwarded, together with a report from the Special Commission

Court, to the Governor, and no sentence of death shall be carried into

effect except upon the warrant of the Governor and in the mode and in

the place directed by him, and such warrant shall be the authority for

carrying the same into effect.

[Sidenote: Deportation.]

[Sidenote: No. 17 of 1912.]

[Sidenote: No. 28 of 1909.]

10. A Special Commission Court shall send to the Governor a report of

the cases of all persons convicted by such Court, and thereupon the

power of deportation and expulsion conferred by sections 5 and 6 of the

Human Leopard and Alligator Societies Amendment Ordinance, 1912, shall

extend to persons convicted by a Special Commission Court, and all the

applicable provisions contained in Sections 13, 14 and 15 of the Human

Leopard and Alligator Societies Ordinance, 1909, and in Section 6 of the

Human Leopard and Alligator Societies Amendment Ordinance, 1912, shall

extend to all persons deported or expelled under this Ordinance, and to

all persons aiding or attempting to aid such deported or expelled

persons unlawfully to return to the Colony or Protectorate, and to all

persons unlawfully harbouring such deported or expelled persons.

[Sidenote: Power to expel persons even if acquitted.]

11.—(1) If a person tried by a Special Commission Court shall be

acquitted, but the Court shall be of opinion that it is expedient for

the security, peace or order of the district in which the offence with

which such person was charged took place, that such person should be

expelled from such district, the said Court shall send to the Governor a

report of the case, and thereupon it shall be lawful for the

Governor-in-Council to make an order (in this Ordinance referred to as

an expulsion order) requiring such person to leave the Colony or

Protectorate within a time fixed by the order, and thereafter to remain

out of the Colony and Protectorate.

(2) If any person in whose case an expulsion order has been made is at

any time found within the Colony or Protectorate in contravention of the

order, he shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment, with or

without hard labour, for a term not exceeding ten years.

(3) Any person aiding or attempting to aid any person, in whose case an

expulsion order has been made, to return to the Colony or Protectorate,

and any person harbouring such person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour

and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment, with or without

hard labour, for a term not exceeding two years.

[Sidenote: Definition of unlawful society.]

[Sidenote: No. 17 of 1912.]

12. The expression “unlawful society” has the same meaning as in the

Human Leopard and Alligator Societies Amendment Ordinance, 1912.

[Sidenote: Extent of Ordinance.]

13. This Ordinance shall apply to the Colony and Protectorate.

[Sidenote: Duration of Ordinance.]

14. This Ordinance shall continue in force until the expiration of one

year next after the commencement thereof: Provided that the expiration

of this Ordinance shall not affect the validity of anything done in

pursuance of this Ordinance, and any person convicted under this

Ordinance may be punished as if this Ordinance continued in force, and

all prosecutions and other legal proceedings pending under this

Ordinance at the time of the expiration thereof may be carried on,

completed and carried into effect, and the sentences carried into

execution as if this Ordinance had not expired.

* * * * *

SCHEDULE. (Section 4.)

Whereas by a commission dated the day of and issued under and

by virtue of the Special Commission Court Ordinance, 1912, you have been

appointed Special Commissioners to form a Special Commission Court for

the trial in manner provided by the said Ordinance of persons committed

for trial before the Court of the for offences, in connection

with unlawful societies;

And whereas the persons whose names are set out in the Schedule hereto

have been committed for trial before the Court of the for

offences in connection with unlawful societies;

Now I, , Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Sierra

Leone, hereby assign to you the said Special Commissioners the duty of

sitting at in the Protectorate (_or Colony_) of Sierra Leone, and

of there, without a jury and not assisted by any native chief or

non-native or native assessors, hearing and determining, according to

law, the charges made against the persons whose names are set out in the

Schedule hereto, and of doing therein what to justice appertains, and

this shall be to you a sufficient warrant in that behalf.

Given under my hand this day of

To

Governor.

SCHEDULE

Passed in the Legislative Council this Fifteenth day of November in the

year of our Lord One thousand nine hundred and twelve.

F. A. MILLER,

Clerk of Legislative Council.

* * * * *

An Ordinance to amend the Special Commission Ordinance, 1912

NO. 21 OF 1912.

Be it enacted by the Governor of the Colony of Sierra Leone, with the

advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:—

[Sidenote: Short title.]

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Special Commission Court

(Amendment) Ordinance, 1912.

[Sidenote: Various amendments in No. 18 of 1912.]

2. The Special Commission Ordinance, 1912, is hereby amended,

(1) In section 1, by inserting the word “Court” after the word

“Commission.”

(2) By adding at the end of subsection (5) of section 2 the

following paragraph:—

“In all other matters the decision or opinion of the Court shall be

according to the decision or opinion of a majority of the

members of the Court.”

(3) In line 3 of section 3, by inserting the word “triable” after

the word “offences,” and in line 8 of the same section by

substituting the words “reasonable cause” for the words

“unavoidable absence.”

(4) In subsection (10) of section 5, by inserting the words “to be”

before the word “tried” in line 5 thereof.

(5) In section 6, by inserting the words “which may in the opinion

of the Court be” after the word “Ordinance” in line 4 thereof.

(6) In section 9, by inserting the words “the notes of evidence and”

after the word “passed” in line 2 thereof, and by inserting

after the word “case” in line 3 thereof the words “or copies

thereof certified under the hand of the Assistant Master.”

(7) In subsection (3) of section 11, by inserting the word

“unlawfully” before the word “harbouring” in line 3 thereof.

(8) By inserting the word “To” at the beginning of the Schedule, by

transferring the words “given under my hand this day

of Governor” in lines 19 and 20 of the Schedule to the end

of the Schedule to the Schedule, and by striking out the word

“To” in line 22 of the Schedule.

[Sidenote: Powers of Crown Prosecutor.]

3. An officer appointed by the Governor to prosecute at the trials of

persons charged with offences before a Special Commission Court shall,

for the purposes of such trials, have the same rights and powers as the

Attorney-General.

[Sidenote: Duration of Ordinance.]

4. The following section shall be substituted for section 14 of the

Special Commission Court Ordinance, 1912:—

“14. This Ordinance shall continue in force until the expiration of

one year next after the commencement thereof: Provided that the

expiration of this Ordinance shall not affect the validity of

anything done in pursuance of, nor the continuing validity of any

deportation or expulsion under this Ordinance, nor the liability to

punishment of any persons committing an offence under sections 10

and 11 hereof, and any person convicted under this Ordinance may be

punished as if this Ordinance continued in force, and all

prosecutions and other legal proceedings pending under this

Ordinance at the time of the expiration thereof may be carried on,

completed and carried into effect, and the sentences carried into

execution, and deportation and expulsion orders made, as if this

Ordinance had not expired.”

[Sidenote: Extent of Ordinance.]

5. This Ordinance shall apply to the Colony and Protectorate.

Passed in the Legislative Council this Thirteenth day of December, in

the year of Our Lord One thousand nine hundred and twelve.

F. A. MILLER,

Clerk of Legislative Council.

PRINTED BY

HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD.,

LONDON AND AYLESBURY.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Nation in Arms

By Lieut.-General Baron von der Goltz. Demy 8vo. 475 pages. New and

revised edition. Price 7s. 6d. net.

A popular abridged edition. Cloth, 2s. 6d. net; paper, 2s. net.

“The work is full of interest from beginning to end, and must always be

one of the World’s military classics. It repays earnest study alike of

statesmen and soldiers.”

_Journal of United States Artillery._

Sadowa: A Study

By General H. Bonnal. Translated from the French by C. F. Atkinson,

Lieutenant, 1st V.B. Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Demy

8vo. 255 pages. With 21 Maps and Plans. Price 7s. 6d. net.

“We welcome the publication of a translation by Mr. C. F. Atkinson of

General Bonnal’s “Sadowa.” The standing of French military judgment is

now, by universal admission, so high that the treatment of the Prussian

Campaign of 1866 against Austria on their lines has become a book

essential to British military study.”—_The Athenæum._

Military History applied to Modern Warfare

By the late Captain J. W. E. Donaldson, R.F.A. Second edition,

revised and enlarged, by Captain A. F. Becke, late R.F.A. Demy 8vo.

395 pages. With 15 Maps and Plans. Price 8s. 6d. net.

“As a guide to the study of military history the book has a definite

sphere of usefulness. It deals specially with the campaigns of

Austerlitz, Jena, Vimiero, Corunna, Salamanca, Waterloo, and the

Shenandoah Valley. Ample illustration of the points discussed is

provided by an excellent series of maps.”—_Scotsman._

Bush Warfare

By Lieut.-Colonel W. C. G. Heneker, D.S.O., Connaught Rangers. Demy

8vo. 203 pages. 13 Maps and Plans. Price 6s. net.

“His volume is full of instruction, and we would commend it to all

soldiers, because the British Army has done, and probably will have to

do, more bush fighting than any other army in the world.”—_Army and Navy

Gazette._

British Battle Books

By Hilaire Belloc. Illustrated with Coloured Maps. Fcap. 8vo. Cloth,

1s. net each volume.

1. BLENHEIM.

2. MALPLAQUET.

3. TOURCOING.

4. WATERLOO.

5. CRECY.

6. POITIERS.

The British Battle Series consists of a number of monographs upon

actions in which British troops have taken part. Each battle is the

subject of a separate book illustrated with coloured maps, illustrative

of the movements described in the text, together with a large number of

line maps showing the successive details of the action. In each case the

political circumstances which led to the battle are explained; next, the

stages leading up to it; lastly, the action in detail.

The Japanese in Manchuria, 1904

Translated from the French of Colonel Cordonnier by Captain C. F.

Atkinson.

VOL. I.—THE YA-LU AND TELISSU. Price 7s. 6d. net.

VOL. II.—LIAO-YANG. With case of Maps. Price 9s. net.

“Colonel Cordonnier’s book is not a mere history of a campaign, but

rather a study, and an especially valuable one, of the concerted action

of policy, strategy, and tactics which together form what men call

war.”—_United Service Magazine._

* * * * *

HUGH REES, LTD., 5 Regent Street, London, S.W.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Transcriber’s note:

1. Silently corrected typographical errors.

2. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.