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184 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett
The presence of an ODIGI, or sacred well, is generally made known along the roads to
one by a tree and a mound of earth and cowries.
Human sacrifices were made to the following three in OBA OVERAMI'S time:-
ODIGI NO'R'UDO on the UDO road.
ODIGI NOBA on the IFON road.
ODIGI NIRIWE on the GEDUMA road.
There is a story that two women, a maiden and a pregnant woman went down to the
UDO well for water. The pregnant woman, against the advice of the maiden, drank some
of the water, and in consequence had a miscarriage.
As far as my observations have taken me, there are only six sacred trees, though parts of
many others enter into medicines and form part of dresses, etc.
OLOKU (OROKO) Chlorofera Excelsa. This tree is found in OVIA'S sacred grove. It is also
a sign marking the place where the king had his harem.
The IKHIMI, one of the Bignoniaceæ (possibly the Spathodea Campanulata), the
UNWETIOTA and the OTWA are always growing close to the fences guarding the
entrance to the grove.
OME. The palm tree, from the leaves of which the dresses used by the dancers of the
OBUDU are made.
EBE. The kola. There are rows of kola trees at the entrance to all towns, varying from
two miles to a few yards in length. War between two towns of people in the olden days
was frequent, but peace could always be made provided that no kola trees had been cut
down. Kola nuts as a welcome would never be given to anyone who had destroyed a
kola tree in another village. The Yoruba have a saying, as the grubs eating the Iwo and
the grubs eating the OBI (kola) lodge within the Iwo and the OBI nut, so he that betrays
you is not far from your person.
OMENS
1. A falling star foretells the death of a prince.
2. When the owl OKUKU says OKURUKURU it is well, but when it cries U U U that is a
bad sign.
3. When the bird AHIAMINUKYUYA cries OYIOWO it is a bad sign, but when it sings
OMGWOGWO it is well.
4. When one goes to see something and the eyelid quivers all is well, but should the
under part of the eye quiver then it is bad.
5. When the right shoulder throbs all is well, but when the left one throbs it is not well.
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