Fetichism in West Africa : $b forty years' observation of native customs and superstitions
John Stuart Mill · en
The procession on its way chose to pass over a road that had by use become
somewhat public, but which was owned by the mission; it was only fifty
feet past the front door of the house of the senior missionary, the Rev.
James L. Mackey. Mrs. Mackey was standing at the door of the house; not
being a Benga woman, she saw no reason why she should retire before Ukuku,
and stood her ground. Ukuku went to their rendezvous in a rage, and the
Kombe portion demanded the life of the woman who not only had not hidden
her face in their presence, but had dared persistently to look upon them.
This demand was modified by the Benga portion to a fine; its alternative,
whipping, not even they daring to suggest for a white lady. This demand
for a fine was actually brought to Mr. Mackey, who gave a dignified reply,
pointing out that, as foreigners, white people were not subject to Ukuku;
that Ukuku had trespassed on mission private property, and was itself
responsible for being seen; that, as a Christian, in no case could he
recognize the authority of Ukuku to order or fine him. In reply, Ukuku
made the point that it was the government of the country, and that even
foreigners were bound to obey law. (Corisco actually belonged to Spain,
but Spain in no way exercised any visible authority over it.)
They admitted their trespass on private property, but still demanded the
fine. Mr. Mackey made no further reply; and of course, as a matter of
conscience, refused to pay the fine. But it transpired afterwards that
native friends, fearful lest matters should come to an ugly pass through
his refusal, privately paid the fine themselves. The missionary, unaware
of this, thought he had triumphed; really Ukuku had, but not
unqualifiedly, for it was a shock to its power that it should have been
disputed at all, even by a white man.
About the same time a young slave man who was beginning to attend church
with desire to become a Christian, was sitting in a village where was
being held a meeting of the local Ukuku Society. The object of the meeting
was to alarm and drive back to a more constant performance of fetich
observances some of the villages on which heathenism was beginning to lose
its hold. In the course of his oracular deliverances the Ukuku priest
mentioned by name this young man. In his fresh zeal as a convert he made a
protest; perhaps duty did not call for even that just at the time, but he
even went beyond. As he was able to recognize the voice, though disguised,
and knew who its owner was, he made a fatal mistake in saying, "You,
such-a-one, I know who you are; you are only a man; why are you troubling
me?" He was promptly dragged to the seaside and decapitated.