CHAPTER XIII

SECRET  SOCIETIES
I.—THE   PORO

Before the establishment of British law in the Pro¬
tectorate, secret societies entirely ruled the natives.

These societies are still of great importance, and are an
enormous force both for good and evil.

The very best of the natives, even those who have been
educated in the Mission schools, believe in the unseen
working of the fetish " medicine." I do not think that
there is any native who is not, in some form or other, in
bondage to this enslaving superstition.

"Medicine" is a word of terror all over the country.
Nothing can be done merely by words ; words must be
accompanied by some mysterious rite, in which secretly
prepared leaves and herbs play the most prominent part.

Distance is no bar to the potency of a medicine charm ;
people twenty miles away are supposed to be as much
affected by these medicine incantations as though they
were present and had taken the fetish preparations.

Absolute secrecy is maintained by the societies, not
because the members have taken an oath and feel them¬
selves morally bound, but because they believe that any