MEMORIES OF THE COAST : TRIAL BY POISON
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—Two of our officers while on shore purchased some fowls from two black women. Anything of the sort was a great supplement to our monotonous naval rations of salt pork, salt beef and preserved meat. On going ashore a few days later we found the whole village assembled in the square with the king, the ex-king, their wives and court in front of the king's hut, while in a large open space were standing two native women, absolutely naked, and looking rather grey. We asked what was going on, and were told that these two women had been accused by an Accra man (a British subject, who was also present, and who had adorned himself for the occasion by plastering his head all over with mud, into which he had stuck numerous red-headed matches) of stealing his fowls and selling them to the white men.
As a result, and because they were the king's daughters, they were to be tried by the Sass wood ordeal, which meant giving them poison to drink. If they were guilty they would die, but if not they would only be sick, and the unjust accuser would be punished in their stead. As a matter of fact I gathered that the doctor felt fairly confident of saving their lives, whatever happened.
We were cordially invited by the king, who only wore a tall hat and a short loin cloth, to witness the ceremony. We took our seats on a string bed by his side, feeling very unhappy. Presently amid much excitement, chatter, vague chants and shouts of " Wah " from the natives generally, there came from the witch doctor's but the ju-ju men in fantastic rig, followed by two old women each carrying a huge gourd full up to the brim with some dark steaming liquid. I suppose each gourd must have held a gallon. These gourds were presented to the prisoners, who were told by the king to drink them dry. Each more or lest demurred, and it was only too plain that the poor things wer& dreadfully frightened. But the king spoke sharply again, and slowly they lifted the gourds to their lips and started bi-, drink. Meanwhile the whole village looked on in breathless;9 anxious excitement, and a horrible silence—except for the Accra man, who was standing by me, fidgeting and continually ejaculating something.
It was really dreadful. The day was perfect, with an ex"-; quisite blue sky and only a light breeze rustling the palm leaves overhead. One felt that all was peace—and yet that murdei4 was possibly being done, while we could do nothing as yet to] help. The girls went on drinking ; one could see them visibly4 swelling and perspiring freely, and first one finished her bowfl and dropped it, and then the other, and they stood there] swaying slightly and feebly shaking their heads. I wanted to shriek. Suddenly there was a yell from Jack Savage, thei interpreter, a splendid half-naked savage, who had got ai pension from the Navy, " Massa, you look. You look massa, him pew (spew) ! " And, sure enough, they both did:ri First one and then the other lady was violently sick, amid screams of joy and excitement. Even the king was reallyi excited, and jumped about cracking his fingers and shouting.i In a moment the girls were bundled away, the Accra man.] was led out in their place, and three or four men were beating♦ him with bamboos. I have no doubt that if we had not been there he would have been killed. As it was we made Jack. Savage explain that he was a British subject, and must bed turned over to us. We thus rescued him and I took him off to the ship while the doctor completed the cure of the ladies.,1
As a matter of fact, I gathered that this Sass wood decoctioni is a poison if not made too strong and not taken in too great a quantity, but otherwise it just makes the drinker vomit, andi even leaves no ill-effects. I got the witch doctor to give met some, which I sent to a great chemist, Sir E. Thorpe—al friend of mine—and he told me it might prove an effective substitute for quinine.
Finally, I fancy that everyone there except ourselves knew' what was really happening, and that had the king actually wished to punish the ladies they would just have had their heads chopped off or been clubbed to death. We should not have been allowed to witness a real execution.—I am, Sir, &C.s.
ADMIRAL. _ '
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