The power of the head chief is very much restricted through the influence of the leader of the poro society who as religious head of the community and spiritual superior of the whole population often forces his policies upon him. He can appoint meetings at which the chief has to appear and he can also exclude the chief from such meetings, and in critical situations, such as disputes between two localities of the same kingdom or between the kingdoms, he may complicate matters by arranging a witch trial or beginning a course of instruction in the poro society. While the head chief is responsible to the elders for all his decisions the poro leader passes his sentences independently, even death sentences, and carries them out through his secret agents.2

2Westermannn/an/an/an/an/an/a, , 94 (Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht. By permission).