The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-11 00:00:00

THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA.

DISCOVERY OF DR. BAIKIE.—ANOTHER
DAHOMEY MASSACRE,
LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.
The Royal Mail steamship Ethiope, with the
above mails, arrived here this afternoon, after a

very rapid passage from the West Coast. She
brings 1,400 ounces gold dust, a full cargo of palm
oil, ivory, &c., and 31 passengers. Her dates are—
Benin, September 24 ; Fernando Po, October 4 ;
Cameroons, 2; Old. Calabar, September 29 ; Brass,
Nun River, and Bonny, October 7; Lagos, 10 ;
Cape Coast Castle, 14; Cape Palmas, 17 ; Sierra
Leone, 21; Bathurst, 25 ; Teneriffe, 30 ; and
Madeira, November 1.

By this arrival we are placed in possession of
news of the long lost African explorer, Dr. Baikie,
regarding whose fate there has been so much specu-
lation. It will be remembered that Dr. Baikie was
attached for some time to the Niger expedition, and
the last heard from him—until the present time—
was upwards of two years ago. Since then the fate
of himself and his assistant was a mystery, but it
was generally believed that he had either perished
from the sickness and fatigue incident on his ex-
plorations, or that he had fallen a victim to some of
the savage tribes of the country. We are, however,
glad to say that the adveuturous explorer and his
assistant have at last been discovered alive and
well, after a residence of two years amongst the
natives, during which time they were without com-
munication with Europeans. During his two years'
sojourn among the natives the doctor enjoyed
tolerable good health, and had likewise made some
interesting researches in connexion with the ex-
ploration of the Niger. The last advices left Dr.
Baikie at the confluence of the river. The explor-
ing steamer Sunbeam, and the other vessels engaged
in the expedition, had returned to the mouth of the
Niger, after having been up to the confluence. Her
Majesty's ship Espoir accompanied the vessels for
protection, after which she sailed for the Island of
Ascension.

Another of those diabolical massacres which is a
stigma on civilisation was about to be carried into
effect at Dahomey. The Cannibal King was going
to have another " grand custom." This sacrifice is
to celebrate the new yam season, and the prepara-
tions were to have been of the most complete cha-
racter. All the principal natives and traders at
Lagos had received invitations to be present to
witness the ceremony of cutting off the heads of
about 2,000 human beings. From this it would
appear that the protest lately made against such
acts of barbarism by the British Government,
through the late Mr. Consul Foote, has had no
effect on the King of Dahomey, and the general
opinion appears to be that until " His Majesty" is
disposed of by summary or other means, this reign
of terror will not abate. The cultivation of the
country around Dahomey, down to the very sea-
board, was neglected, in consequence of the obser-
vance of the cruelties. Hunting parties had been
sent out, to capture from neighbouring tribes the
unhappy victims for the sacrifices.
From Lagos we learn that a report was very pre-
valent at that place, that the ex King Dosomu had
mustered about 2,000 natives under arms, for the
purpose of taking the Acting Governor of Lagos,
Commander Bedingfeld, R.N., prisoner, and mas-
sacreing the merchants. The plot, however, had.
exploded, and the ex-King was said to have
vanished.

The King (Pepple) of Bonny was still on board
his vessel, the Bowlah, in the Bonny river. His
subjects were equally divided, some ready to sup-
port his being reinstated; others, and powerful
chiefs determined to oppose him.