Recently also a native man was successful in thwarting Njěmbě. A certain native Christian woman had escaped being forced into Njěmbě during her youth; and by her being very much in mission employ during her adult years, Njěmbě had ceased to threaten her. Her daughter, of about eighteen years of age, though not a Christian, had also, by her mother's care of her, escaped, though often threatened. A cousin of this daughter had been put through the rite while her father was away on a journey. And now this cousin was trying to induce the daughter to enter. The daughter refused, and perhaps may have made some slighting remark. This remark her cousin reported to Njěmbě; and some intimations were made that the young woman would be seized. The father of the cousin had formerly been a church-member, is educated and gentlemanly. Though he had fallen away from the church, he had no desire to see his niece dragged down. He spoke severely to his daughter about the excitement she was trying to raise, and threatened to call in the aid of the French Chief of Police. The firm stand taken by him and also by the young woman's mother was efficient in preventing her seizure by Njěmbě. Both these parents are of unusual strength of character and advance in civilization. Without their efficient backing, this young woman would have been forced into Njěmbě. Rev. J. L. Wilson,[88] wrote of Njěmbě almost fifty years ago: "There is no spirit, so far as is known, connected with this association, but all its proceedings are kept profoundly secret. The Njěmbě make great pretensions, and as a body are really feared by the men. They pretend to detect thieves, to find out the secrets of their enemies; and in various ways they are useful to the community in which they live, or, at least, are so regarded by the people. The object of the institution originally, no doubt, was to protect the females from harsh treatment on the part of their husbands; and as their performances are always veiled in mystery, and they have acquired the reputation of performing wonders, the men are, no doubt, very much restrained by the fear and respect which they have for them as a body." Most of the above description is, after so many years, true now, except that the power of and respect for the society is lessened by the permeating leaven of a Christian mission and by the dominance of a foreign government; but even in that same region, in portions where these two forces are not in immediate contact with the community, Njěmbě still is feared. It is true, also, that there is no special spirit belonging to Njěmbě, but when the society has occasion to investigate a theft or other crime, it invokes the usual ilâgâ and other spirits.