Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-03-21

cause If afforded the most intelligent doce and indus
trious negroes for the American plantation. sorry
to add that these good nggers were the almost civil
lied inhabitants of Yoruba, Niefe and Hausa and other
countries in Soudan the very people to whom had gene
forth as missionary They at least according to the
nfexible laws of nature, deserved better fate than
slavery for rights and relations are the just result of
rroneries or character which they undoubtedly
these people had right remain unmoested in their
native land Every planter who is forty years old knows
the great difference in the character of new nggers The
short stubby silly fellows often brought into the slave
markets were chiefly from Congo south of the line,
where all the people imported into America have an
affinity to the Hottentots. The Gulla niggers were
from the Golah country the ST. Paurs river, where
they still vegetate about the of the human race
and amply worthy of the cottsn-feld The Eboe mig
ger was from fine open country above the Delta of the
Niger, and not from the Delta ITSELF have CON-
monty supposed At home he was noble, hig minded
and haifcvilized man. who beautifed his fine country
with welcuvated farms and shady villages. In Anne
RIGA he was trusy, intelligent and Industrious, but
markable for absolutely indomable spirit, to which
even the master must yield when the Eboe aroused
unless he should choose shoot down the best slave
his plantation"
The familiar town of Abbeokuta the first visited
by Mr. Bowen-atown whose history marks as the
opening the way for Christianity to penetrate to Central
Africa series of civil conflicts, waged particularly
between the Egbas and Yorubas led to the destruction
of many principal towns and hundred thousand peo
pie were killed and made slaves Some refugees of the
Egbas took shelter precpous granite hill about
forty years since around which population of perhaps
sixty thousand have since gathered About 1888 Egba
merchants met Tia Wesleyan missionaries at Badagry
on the coast and also several Egbas who had been re-
captured from slave ships and civilized in Sierra Leone
returned to their counrymen at Abbeokuta, telling Won
derfu things of christianity snd christian missionaries
Wesleyan missionaries invited to the town. and
now in the Episcopal and Wesleyan stations there six
hundred communicates numbered.
During his stay at Abbeokuta the town was attacked
by large army of the King of Dahomey, the powerful
tribe who stand forth yet champions for the slave
trade and the extipaon of the christian religion Mr.
Bowens military experience led him to take part such
as few men in his walk of life could have played He
thus describes the beginning of the conflict:
Early on the morning of March Sd, 1851 the scouts
brought that the army of Dahomey was approach
ing the city exhorted the people to stand firm, to re-
serve their fire. and take good aim Ogobunua, one of
the Caoguus generals, replied You will see that we
shall fight. Towards noon the Egbas, amounting per-
.haps to fifteen thousand men, all armed with guns
marched out at the Badagry gate to meet the enemy
There was noise and gasconadng, after the manner
of the Goahs, but could plainly in their firm and
solemn countenance thousands after thousands passed
by, that they were prepared for the occasion"
After two days harl sighting the Dahomies retreaed
leaving about TWO thousand dead on the field.
Wherever ar Bowen went he found many of the in
teresng and countless people of Central Africa eager to
hear of religion ndistnct dings of which had come to
their ears &c had marked numerous extracts to copy
but have room for only two or three.
The following striking instance of the of honor
and moral integrity of the people surpasses any thing
which travellers have related land ruthfuy of the de-
sert Arabs:
Ill
cultivated Seeing small parcels of fruit and other lit
tie articles lying beside the road asked Sam what it
meant. De put da for SELL We'll, where are the
owners !? Dunno, sab in the farm some wha.' Don't
travellers steal these things?' inquired No. sa; de
can't steal um. In places few cowries left
by purchasers and pleased with this novel market
that became purchaser myself leaving some cowries,
FF4fssss. ~ sigE- ''-'s' 70 y the
In the army of Dahomies that attacked Abbeokuta
division of six thousand female troops, the Amazons
of old An incident as to one of this class of soldiers
quote:
Zone Of the Dahomey prisoners brought to the Iketu
market native of that place who had been capur
ed when girl and enrolled in the Kings army of ANA
IONS. Her parents found her out and were delighted
with the opportunity of purchasing her reedom but she
said No, viii go back to my master. The Dahomey
Amazons said to have perfect passion for the
vice. notwithstanding they bound to perpetual cell
bacy and chastity under the penalty of death. know
them to be furious in battle but their chief utility,
told, is prevent rebellion among the male soldiers
They have separate organization under generals and
other officers of their sex, and deeply attached
to the King"
We add account of his visit to nlorin Mahometan
city, covering as large space New York, into which
no foreigners had been permitted to CO. but to which
the intrepid missionary went and could not be stopped
in his journey:
About sunset stopped at one of the numerous vii
larn yvhi lilo Thav Ia Ia
hometan priest or religious teacher of the village
to with present Of eggs After he retired some
of the villagers told that he accustomed to say
1t is not the Mahometan the heather who will be
ed, but the who serves God in his heart not
prepared to hear such doctrine in suburban village
of orrin The people listened to the gospel atentiyely
and raised no objections.
On arriving at norrin next morning rode through
the first and second gates without ceremony and aghed
under tree Why did he come in p exclaimed one of
the gate-keepers Stop there put his loads down out
side The carriers put down my loads directed and
waited short time TO what would follow After
little walked goodHaturedy into the gate-house and
asked for water, which was brought by timid girl.
why didn't you send messenger to let the King know
you coming inquired the old captain of the gate
Because | am a messenger myself replied. little
conversation put him in better humor and he sent
to inform the King of my arrival"
After several days Mr.. Bowen sent for by the
King who manifested the greatest curiosity and received
him courteously. The visit is thus described
He asked my name and age the name of my mother,
whether were Englishman; the name of our king,
whether I were Mussulman, (N1ahometan,) and what
was my object in coming to Iorrin l answered each
question it propounded, and they gave ample
time to express myself fully. When / replied God is
our king felt can feel who acknowledges an
earthly monarch King Suta appeared be impressed
with the declaration for he answered God is enough.
When said that l Mahometan they inquii ed
whether knew Mahomet? | told them yes, had two