"Mischlich to Basel"

A general report on events in Atwati and Adele. On the capture of the fetish priest of Buruku at Siare by the Germans, Mischlich repeats material already reported to Basel with certain additions: Mischlich himself had been involved in a riot in Siare on an earlier visit when he had argued against the use of the Odum fetish. Buruku had been consulted and his support asked in earlier times by the kings of Asante and Dagombe. In the Salaga civil war the insurgent heir to the throne had asked Buruku's assistance and after his victory had sent a slave in gratitude of the poison from him which had helped him to his success. In Shiringa the priest was confronted with a slave whom he had sent there the day before to be sold. Mischlich reports jubilation in the villages surrounding Adele at the priests' capture - dancing could be heard, and shots being fired, and notables came to congratulate the German Official in charge. (The fetish was captured too). The missionaries used the events as best they could in their preaching, this will open the doors for them in a very important way, because the power of Buruku extended not only over the little groups of Adele, Atwati, Tribu people etc., but also as far as Tagyang, Anyanga, and Tschantscho. The odom ordeal has also been proscribed - not that it will not be carried on in secret, as Mischlich has just heard has happened in Blitta. But it will be on a reduced scale. There are 32 boys in the schools and a number of young men have announced themselves for baptism, including a nephew of Munu the important fetish priestess of Pereu.

12.04.1897

12.04.1897

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