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.