Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-07
The BarbarIties of Native Africans.

The London Times, of the LIST inst.
says that steamer has arrived from the
coast of Africa bringing the following
account of an attack which King Archi-
bong, of Duke Town, the largest oil
trading place on the banks of the Gala
| bar river, has made against Adiabo, a
town situated further up the river:
It appears that two years ago two
men, belonging to Old Town and Ada
DO respectively, quarreiled and fought,
and In the fray the man belonging to
the latter place was killed. This caused
a dispute between the two towns,
which was referred to King Archibong
to be settled. His verdict was that
| the death was accidental, and he re-
fused to deliver up the survivor. The
relations of the deceased felt aggrieved,
and his sister hired an assassin who
shot the Old Town man. ArchibOng
demanded that the murderer and his
employer should be given up to him,
| but Adiabo refused to comply. Archi-
| bong then declared war. Eight large
canoes fully armed were sent up to
Adiabo to capture all the men, women
and children they could, and shoot all
who attempted TO run away. No pre-
vious intimatiOn was given to the Of
! tending town, and, as the canoes went
up during the night, they secured q
| large number of captives. A dav or two
afterwards reports reached the Euro
peans that the invaders were cutting off
the heads of men, women and children
IN the most savage manner. The Rev.
| w. Anderson, the missionary of Duke
Town, used all the influence he had
with Archibong and his chiefs to in
duce them to spare the women and
children, but in vain. On Sunday, the
% j of September, the missionary made
a statement in the church to the Euro
peans to the effect that there were six
women and some children to be killed
that night if something were not done
in their behalf. After service it was
agreed by the traders to form them
selves into o deputation and go into q
body with the missionary to the King
and intercede for the poor wretches.
This was done, but Archibong was very
much displeased, and said he would kill
every man, woman and child he could
catch. Some of the traders went on
shore the following night, and they
succeeded in rescuing two women and
an infant, whom they took on board
one of the ships. At midnight the
whole of the traders went in a body to
the King, and after some difficulty
they aroused him from his slumbers,
and obtained an interview. He was in
very bad humor, but the traders acted
with firmness, and used threats, which
had the effect of making him moderate
his tone and come to terms. He prom
ised to send to the ships all the women
and children which he then held, and
also those who should be brought IN,
that they might be sent out of the
country when the mail left the river
1shase days elapsed, however, without
t6fg promise being fulfilled. Indeed,
the King had again plucked up cOur-
age, for he sent letter demanding the
return of the two women and child who
had been rescued. 1t is impossible to
ascertain the number slain during the
three nights the butchering was car.
ried on, but there could not have been
less than 80. A meeting of all the
Europeans was Geld on board the Royal
Mail steamship Legos. when it was re-
solved that the King should be waited
upon with the view of releasing the
captives.