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One day, as this man, whose name was Bokofio, lay ill on his mat, he heard a whistling in his ear, and soon found himself in a large clearing where two men came forward, one carrying a long rope, the other with a whip in his hand.

The first one said, "Walk in front of us. We are going to leave this place", and tied the rope about his neck. Holding the other end of it, he pulled the poor Bokofio, as he would a dog. The other walked behind him, and lashed him to make him walk faster.

The three made their way up the path. They were climbing a high mountain. They did not stop when they reached the top. They went down the other slope until they came to a river. They did not stop at the river, but walked on the water as though it were land. They had difficulty in getting up the farther bank of the stream because it was slippery, but at last they found themselves where there were great banana plantations.

As the three walked rapidly, they soon came to a clearing where there were some low thatched houses with bamboo in front of them. There were no shrines, apparently, as Bokofio did not even see an aiza.¹ He could not see whether there were people in this village, but he did see smoke coming from one of the houses. Those who led him passed on quickly, and when he tried to cry out, one of them put a hand over his mouth.

A little later they were again in open country. There was nothing but earth; no trees, no water, no grass, just bare earth. Some distance ahead Bokofio saw men seated one after another in a long row, and the road which they were following led to them.

At the place where the row of stools began, his captors turned abruptly and went along a by-path which led to the slope of a second great mountain. While making his descent down the other side of the mountain, Bokofio saw another river. Again they walked on the water as though it were land. On the other side, they were met by two great dogs who barked their way, but the two who had Bokofio in charge cried out a special name for the animals to step aside.

Now they faced a third mountain even steeper than the other two. The top of this mountain seemed to get farther away as they climbed, and the path grew steeper and steeper. At each step Bokofio was met by guards, who asked his name but refused to tell him their own. All this time his two captors continually urged him to go faster and faster.

When at last they reached the top, they came to an enclosure, watched over by a guard, who was seated at a door made of plaited banana leaves. The guard told them to wait, and as they waited, Bokofio heard the soft sound of many voices, and knew there were many people about. He was not allowed to look in- side the enclosure.

Soon, a guard came through the door, with a man dressed in raffia cloth, who had a stone in one hand. On the stone were no marks that Bokofio could see, but the man who held it seemed to be reading something from it.

Then a second man came out of the enclosure, and this one held many banana leaves in his hand, which he looked at like a notebook, each leaf like a page. This second man whispered to the first, who then answered in a language which Bokofio could net understand. The second one, however, spoke Fôn the language of Abomey itself and asked Bokofio why he came.

Poor Bokofio said that these two men brought him by force. The man who spoke Fôn then turned to them and wanted to know who had sent them. When they did not answer, the man who spoke Fôn called out Adjoto! Robbers! The man in the raffia cloth took a rock and threw it at the two who had brought Bokofio.²

They ran away leaving him free. The man looked at his stone again, and after studying it carefully, ordered Bokofio to raise his head. As Bokofio raised it, this man spurted water at him from his mouth, and the stream covered Bokofio’s face.

At this, the guard took a great club and chased him away. Bokofio ran so fast that he had no idea how he ever got over all the obstacles he had to pass as he retraced his way home. At last he found himself at home on his mat.

Now, Bokofio’s son had been far away when his death had occurred, and so Bokofio’s corpse had been kept in the hut for four days, awaiting the first ceremony of burial. When Bokofio revived, while he knew he lay on his mat, he could not see, and he felt his mouth tied.

He began to toss, and he took off the bandage that covered his eyes. Those watching him ran away. When they returned with help, they found him sitting up. The first words they heard Bokofio say were, Water, water! Then those who had courage untied him and gave him water. He wanted no food, but lay down again, and at once fell into a deep sleep. When he awoke, he was well and hungry.


1. A shrine which symbolizes the unity of the group, and its guardianship [under the spirits and ancestors].
2 A diviner was consulted. The figure in rafia who had saved Bokofio from the two captors was Legba, while the two who had enslaved him were Da.

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