The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-10-26 00:00:00

THE CORONATION of an AFRICAN KING.

A correspondent of the West Coast gives a de-
seription of the recent crowning of King Archibong,
of Old Calabar (says the Standard.) The event
had been looked forward to for some time, and
during the week oi the coronation the town
and district were en fete. Both on toe river and
in the villages there was a great display of bunting,
while guns were fired almost incessantly. Mr.
David Hopkins, the English Consul, who had been
at old Calabar for some little time settling dis-
putes between traders and chiefs, was selected to
proclaim Adam Archibong king. On the morning of
the 6th ult. Consul Hopkins was escorted to Duke
Town, with the chiefs and people of Henshaw Town
as a guard of honour. The procession formed a
spectacle of an unusual kind. The men were attired
in the gaudiest-coloured prints it was possible to
collect, whilst an umbrella of extraordinary dimen-
sions and colours was carried above the head of the
Consul. The cavalcade arrived at the enclosure ad-
joining the place, where a throne had been placed on a
newly-erected platform. The natives were hero as-
sembled in thousands, and were very enthusiastic.
Shortly afterwards the procedsion of the king-elect
issue: from the palace, a rudely-constructed building
of wood, and wended its way to the platform. Like
the other body, many and various were the colours
worn by the men. It was headed by a band of "musi-
cians," making a great uproar with toy trumpets and
tom-toms. Many military coats were conspicuous here,
as in the Consul's following. In several instances big
negroes wore very small coats, which, not meeting in
front, were drawn tightly to the figure with string.
His Majesty King Archibong was scarcely legs comi•
cally dressed. His loins were girt with a satin cloth of
many colours, whilst a long slieve hat covered his
head. This hat had evidently seen much service,
being almost shapeless with indentations. His feet,
like those of his attendants, were bare, and there
was also a huge umbrella held high above his
bead. Archibong, who is a man about sixty years
old is totally blind, and leaned on the arm of his
son. He ascended to the platform amidst the en-
thusiasm of the assembled crowd, who danced and
shouted in the most frantic manner; but as soon as
Consul Hopkins received the King the tumult ceased.
The Consul read the existing treatiesbetween the former
kings of Old Calabar and Queen Victoria, which were
interpreted to the King by Mr. Campbell, an English
missionary on the coast, and to which Archibong
assented. A new treaty was also drawn up, the King
agreeing thereto, which makes it compulsory upon all
his female subjects to wear the European style of dress.
Treaty matters having been arranged, the ceremony of
coronation was proceeded with. The Queen, with her
retinue of female attendants, arrived and took her
place on the platform. Her Majesty, a very corpulent
old lady, was not permitted to take her seat by the side
of her sable consort. Amidst the continued silence
of the native throng Consul Hopkins threw a scarlet
cloak round Archibong, put a crown on his head, and
a sceptre in his hand, and proclaimed him "King Archi-
bong 111., of Old Calabar." Then the shrieks and
hurrahs of the assembled thousands rent the air, the
men and women dancing and shouting in the wildest
glee. The crown appeared to be of gold, was very
massive, and was studded with "representative
diamonds. During the ceremony the King seemed to
be greatly agitated, and at one time was scarcely able
to hold the sceptre.
Immediately after the coronation a salute of twenty-
one guns was fired, and the King and his courtiers
adjourned to the palace, where a banquet in the native
fashion was prepared. The English residents were
especially favoured by the King, and amongst those
present at the dinner were Consul Hopkins, the whole
of the English missionaries of the district, and the
captain, chief engineer, doctor, and purser of the
mail steamer Kinsembo. The principal dish consisted
of "palm oil chop," which is considered a great luxury
by the natives.