American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-08-06
from the New York SUM-

FROM THE AFRICAN COLONIES.
INTERESTING AND lMPoRrANT-Piracy by a
British Commander. We have our regular files
from Mon-ovia, Liberia, to the 10th Of June
inclusive.
The British authorities persist in their hos
tihty 10 our colonies The only vessel belong
ing to the celonists of Bassa Cove, the schoon-
er John Seys, has been seized by the British
man Of war Lilly and conveyed to Sierra
Leone, TO be sold as a prize! She belonged to
Stephen A. Benson, and was engaged in the
Coast trade when seized, 18th April. The Of
fcer in charge of her at the time Of seizure, re-
guested the British commander to respect the
colonial flag, to which he replied:
81 don't recognize your eolors; you are no
nation; neither are you under the patronage Of
any nation. The authority that granted your
papers is not recognized one; and what right
has the id Yankees to place colonies on
the coast any how? Your coiors.I deem good tor
nothing"
This is & heartless outrage upon feeble c.
lony, but in keeping with the infamous charae-
ter of English policy. One of the crew Of the
John Seys is missing, and is supposed to have
been murdered by the official pirate belonging
TO Her Britannia Majestys ship Lilly. The OBJ
ject of the seizure appears to be the destruc-
ton of Capt. Benson's palm oil trading posts
along the coast, so ,as to divert the trade from
American to English vessels. The British Of
foers rifed the J. s. of the mos: valuable ar
.cles on board.
The colonies are generally prosperous. Go
vernon Russworm has visited an interior tribe
of natives at Dena, about thirty or forty miles
due east from Cape Palmas. He made treaty
of peace which was duly ratified by the cere-
mony Of "spewing water" which is the form
of oath observed by the Dena people. The
covenant is performed by the chiefs OF the con-
tending tribes, after the palaver is talked,
which is kind of court held by all the head
men, kings, chiefs, and all who have any inhu-
ence. There is bowl of water prepared, the
king which appears to be the most willing to
make peace, first dips his hands into the water
and after slightly washing his hands, he fills
his mouth, and splits it out on the ground
few times, and splits the last time he fills his
mouth, the whole mouthful into the hands of
the other king, who sits before him while he
performs the act. This being done, the other
king gets up and goes through the same pro-
cess. This being done by the kings peace is
made throughout the tribe or nation. The
Governor succeeded in getting peace of this
sort made between the Dena, and the Cape
lnfaential men from Cape Palmas in the COM
pany.
Africa's Luminary gives cheering accounts
Of progressive civilization and christianity
The editor recommends greater attention to
prejudces traditions and ceremonies of each
native tribe, with view to the publication OF
work on these subjects for the guidance and in
formation of future missionaries, and as re-
cord which the natives themselves will hereaf-
ter peruse with pleasure, when knowledge and
religion shall have enlightened that vast re-
gion. Wars have measuraby ceased to ag-
tate the natives. So powerful is the influence
Of the colonies that pacific policy is spread
ing far and wide, and petitions for missionaries
and teachers are pouring in from the kings and
chiefs in every direction. wish to learn the
English language, or "God Palaver," is be-
coming universal among the natives. In no.
thing is the change from heathensm to civil
cation more remarkable than in the condition
OF the female sex. Hitherto, as in every saw
age county, woman was the slave of man, but
now she is the companion, and evinces her