[6] At the Etche town of Okudu Mba there was an Mbari house erected in honour of Ajala (Aja ground or mud), ‘a brother of Ale.’ [7] In this neighbourhood are the principal shrines of Adumu, the head and father of all the snake cults of the region. The little village of Adum-Ama is its chief centre, while at ’Ngeri-Baw-Ama it was stated that ‘only men may talk with him; for with his cult some of the most important of the male secrets are said to be connected.’ [8] The wrestling scene depicted in every Mbari house generally represents the ceremonial wrestling ‘to help the crops grow’ described on p. 112 _et seq._ [9] Cf. The Bird and Pillar Cult of old Crete. [10] See _Life in Southern Nigeria_. [11] No information could be obtained as to whether the priest ‘died’ at the end of the seventh year of his office, like the priest of the Aya-Eke cult at Elele, _vide_ p. 103 _et seq._ [12] The tabu among Okoba and Ale Nsaw Ibo against climbing palm trees is probably due to the same idea. [13] _Zeus: A Study of Ancient Religion_, by A. B. Cook. [14] Vide _In the Shadow of the Bush_, p. 14. [15] Many of these would now be classified by me as symbols of ‘medicines’ or charms, not ‘jujus.’ Vide _The Peoples of Southern Nigeria_, vol. ii. p. 153. [16] _In the Shadow of the Bush_, p. 76. [17] It is perhaps worth remarking that among Mbolli all fire brick is used for the same purpose. [18] The Ajokko-Ji, the Yam Spirit, is further described in _The Peoples of Southern Nigeria_. [19] _Woman’s Mysteries of a Primitive People_ (Cassell), p. 81. [20] Eke day is one of the four days of the Ibo week. It is market day at Elele. Eke is also the name of the great python. See p. 7. [21] Mbiencha is the child of Nkike, the Mbolli Earth Goddess. [22] This offering is of the same shape, though apparently slightly larger than the small phallic symbols found before the Juju Ezum Mezum depicted on p. 92. INDEX A Abara, messenger of the Earth Goddess, represented in Mbari Houses, 16-7. Abaw, clan of Ika sub-tribe of Ibo, 79. Abuan, Semi-Bantu tribe, 75, 121, 123. Adultery: Tabus, 126-7; condonation of, 127. Ajiji, ‘play’, 93-4. Ajokko-ji, or Njokku: Yam cult, 99 _et seq._; among Mbolli, 29. Ala, or Ale, or Ana. _See_ Earth Goddess. Ale Nsaw, sub-tribe of Ibo, 122-3. Amade Onhia, or Amad’ongha. _See_ God of Lightning. Ancestors: and Fertility, 9, 60, 113, 120; and Ale, 120 _et seq._ esp. 134; accursed, 64; shrines and phallic figures, 84; symbols, 80-1; between reincarnations, 77, 130-2. Ant hill, and phallic cults, 90-2. Ape, represented in Mbari Houses, 22, 24-5. Aro, sub-tribe of Ibo; and worship of Thunder God, 46. Art, clay figures in Mbari Houses, 15, 41. Axe, double-headed, depicted on Ikoro drum, 4, 8. B Binny, Mr. J. M., former District Commissioner, 108-9. Bird and Pillar worship, 43.