LAGOON; NUNS THROWING PETALS AS SAILORS COME ASHORE; PRIEST, CHURCH, FIGURE OF BLACK CHRIST; SAILOR PHOTOGRAPHER; DANCERS; COLBERT'S COMMANDER PRESENTS ATCHO WITH MEDAL; SAILORS FEASTING.




Initials SA/V/JF/PF



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Background: VISITS FROM THE FRENCH NAVY ARE NOT UNUSUAL AT ABIDJAN, CAPITAL OF THE IVORY COAST, BUT LAST SUNDAY'S VISIT (2 FEBRUARY) WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY AS IT INCLUDED A CALL ON BREGBEO, HOME OF THE HARRIS RELIGIOUS SECT. BREGBEO IS A VILLAGE ON A LAGOON ABOUT 25 MILES (40 KMS.) FROM ABIDJAN.

CREWS FROM THE CRUISER "COLBERT" AND THE ESCORT VESSEL "D'ESTREES" ARRIVED AT THE BEAUTIFUL LAGOON IN NAVY BARGES TO BE GREETED BY NUNS STREWING PETALS IN THEIR PATH. SINGING AND DANCING VILLAGERS ACCOMPANIED THE SAILORS TO THE RECEPTION WHERE THE COLBERT'S COMMANDER PRESENTED THE RENOWNED PROPHET-HEALER ALBERT ATCHO WITH A MEDAL.

THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR, M. RAPHAEL LEYGUES, WAS WITH THE FRENCH NAVAL PERSONNEL AND THEIR BREGBEO HOSTS WHEN THEY ALL SAT DOWN TO A FEAST OF AFRICAN DISHES WITH PLENTY OF BEER AND WHISKY, IN THE HARRIS TRADITION.

THE HARRIS SECT WAS STARTED IN 1914 WHEN A LIBERIAN, WILLIAM HARRIS, BEGAN TO PREACH A NEW FORM OF CHRISTIANITY ALONG THE WEST AFRICA COAST. HE SET UP CHURCHES TEACHING THAT CHRIST WAS A BLACK MAN WHO WISHED TO SEE PEOPLE ALWAYS HAPPY.

PROPHET ATCHO IS THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON AT BREGBEO BECAUSE OF HIS PSYCHO-ANALYTICAL HEALING OF MENTALLY ILL PATIENTS. THE RELIGIOUS LEADER THERE IS JOHN AHUI AND THERE ARE OVER 15,000 FOLLOWERS IN THE IVORY COAST ALONE.