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.