Where Amad’ongha is paramount, he appears to arrogate to himself the functions of Igwe, the Ibo sky god proper (cf. p. 52), thus following in the footsteps of his Grecian prototype, ‘Zeus, God of the bright sky,’ who is also ‘Zeus, God of the dark sky’; and it is in this capacity, as Lord of the drenching rain-storm, that he fertilises his consort the Earth Goddess.[13] Of these mystic spousals of Earth and Sky perhaps the most beautiful picturing of all is to be found among the Ekoi of the South Cameroons and of Oban, Southern Nigeria.[14] A curious link between the worship of Ale and the bearing of babes came to light one morning just as we were leaving Isokpo waterside, a market town of some importance on the banks of the upper New Calabar River. A long, shadeless march, by roads as yet practically unknown to white men, lay before us. We had risen at earliest dawn in order to place the first miles behind before the sun should add to the burdens of the carriers, when, just as we were setting forth after seeing the last load safely started, a complainant arrived with a letter appealingly held out in both hands. It was entitled ‘To his Majesty the District Commissioner. _Re_ Wansumu _v_. Egeom. 17th February, 1915,’ and ran as follows: Sir, I have the honour, most respectfully, to lodge this my humble complaint before your kind worship.... I am living in the defendant’s town because it is my mother’s city. Deceased is my brother.... His death took place in that month during which it is forbidden to die. By our native custom, should any one disobey this law, heavy expenses used to be paid before that person might be buried. Defendant knew that the place I am residing in is a mother city, yet he allowed me to perform all the ceremonies on behalf of the deceased Wawesi without assistance.... Leaving this for your discretion I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, WANSUMU (his X mark). On reading this document, it struck an ignorant white man as somewhat strange that there should be any month ‘in which it is forbidden to die.’ On this point the complainant stated: