The New York herald., 1869-11-12
a r 2 7 o A.
x.
Tho Great War Between 0ko Jumbo and
ia Ja-The Navy Engaged-The Killed
and Wounded, Burning Bodies,
tho Smell Of Roasted Human
Flesh and Pyramids OF Skulls.
The Great War In Africa.

The Osrent war In Africa.
The Liverpool courier OF the 2Tth OF October sup
plies the following complete details OF the origin and
progress OF the great African war on the banks OF
the Bonny river, between the native Princes Oko
Jumbo and ia Ja with full account OF the decisive
battle and its horrible consequences:-
Tho long threatened aud expected civil war has
at last broken out in the Bonny river between the
great rival chiefs OF Bonny town-0ko Jumbo and
ia ia About SIX months ago they had made every
preparation TO nsht, but the white residents sent
Fernando Po for the then acting consul, Mr.. Frank
Wilson, who at once went up III her Britannia Maes-
ty's gunboat Speedwel and, with his usual tact and
aud slight show OF "inora suasion,' that gentle
man succeeded in cooling the lighting ardor OF tho
rivals. Under the treaty between Great Britain and
the King and chiefs OF Bonny they undertake not TO
go to war SO long as they are indebted TO- the mer-
GIANTS trading for goods under the penaltyofa fine
OF 200 puncneons OF palm oil (Worlh about G5,000),
besides all damages and expenses. This is the cnly
safeguard white men have against q row like the
present proving most disastrous. Shortly alter Mr..
Wilson settled this matter some OF the minor chiefs
(hat Is, the season Tor the production OF palm oily
was over they would have all their "trusr''
goods adyanceN repaid and they wou'
Inc quarrel originated in the rly.
two great "houscs," respectively headed :.
Jumbo and Ja.I the KING, who Is very young man,
being nonenlity among them Then came tha fire
that leveled Bonny with the ground. 1t commenced
In Oko Iumno's enclosure and therefore some charl-
table people OF ia JAS did not hesitate to say twas
''incendary." The Bonny people only rebuilt their
town III temporary manner limiting that they
would nave the light out first. Since then they have
been busy IN accommodating muntions OF war OF va
rlous kinds but they did not succeed In paying up
ali their trust" Such was the STATE Of AFFAIRS up
TO the 9th OF September, when one OF the Chiefs
Wurraboo sent notice TO the representatives OF the
various firms trading IN the Bonny river to have
their ships, hulks &C., removed within three days
from their usual anchorage 10 front of the town.
meeting OF the said representatives was at once
convened and 1t WAS decided to drop down the
river as far as Juju town. about two miles
from Bonny, and TINS movement was effected
on tno 10th aud l1th september. BOnny town Is
situated on the east pns OF tine river, and the prin
opal approach TO IL Is through crog a! .elas on,
or the river and passes one side OF Inc. tasn Qn
the bank between the town and the river arc stuate
various Enclosures. with houses OF wood or sheet
iron, the property OF British merchants, containing
various kinds OF cargo ana stores Outside Of these
tide and made last to the shore. These contain q
very large amount OF valuable merchandise, &c. In
the river fronting these Is the proper anchorage for
shipping, and from this place the vessels were re-
moved on the 10th.
In the meantime the belligerents had not been
idle. Oko Junbo's Side had mounted over three
hundred guns OF various calbres, from 6-pounders
TO 32's, ana three 63-pounders, and hundreds
OF men armed with Snter ana English rifles.
The defence consisted or kind or sunken
earthworks, strengthened at intervals with casks
full OF mud aud SAM. ana masked by the various
houses ana incio5nrcs among which they were pre-
pared. the guns were laid 80 a3 to fire flush with
The ground their carriages being sunk in the eartn
Al the back Of eacn gun was q pit where some or
the native artillerymen cr0ucned SO as to certain
extent to be out OF danger. Where riiemen we're
stationed at the rear OF The principal houses were
large pits, covered with thick panks, III Which the
women and children were placed in comparative
safety Oko Jumbo deserved great credit for all his
arrangements.
Ja Jas deiences were much the same, but he had
not quite so many heavy guns, ana his earthworks
nent the "King'' sgedaddled to Juju town. and left
them to lght 1t out themselves Things remained IN
this state till the 18TH OF September, tile White resi-
dents in the meantime making some futile attempts
to act as mediat0rs.
At four A. NJ. on the latter day man belonging
to ia JAS side went III the market place and blew
horn. This was at once followed by u gun from
Oko Jumbo's right and promptly replied to by ia ia.
The iire then became general along both lines, and
all The houses III the line OF fire were ridlled
and some leveed TO the ground, anu scene OF con-
fusion din ana slaughter ensued that battles de-
scrption. All day the Eight continued, aud the shot
from ia JAS lines, after traycrsng those or Oko
Jumbo 8, and passing through tue enclosures and
houses OF the white men on the beach, were to
rcochet across the water nearly to ne other side OF
the river and some OF the hulks on the beach re.
celved rough treatment, especially the Selma ana
Georglna. Mr.. John Curphey, agent, residing on
board the latter hulk, gallanty remained there dur
ing the whole engagement
While this was taking place on the east side OF the
river the war canoes belonging to Ja in went to
side with their and 9pounder guns. The village Is
Inhabited principally by Cko Jumbo's people, who
replied wlth spirited fire, which ended IN the
in Bonny the deadly fight still continued but most
unequaly, for many Of the ia JAS head men began
to back out. In some instances the snggersn that
s, slaves) manning portion OF the lines were with
out proper leaders, bat they continued TO fight
oko Jumbo opened fire from battery OF guns
which, up to that time mad been masked. The fire
from this enhladed the greater part OF ia JAS lines
and carried death ana destruction among the men
serving the guns. AT the same time the bush around
the town was swarming With sharpsnooters from
both SIDES who fired at every one they caught sight
of, the fight continuing with unabated vigor.
About seven Z. NJ. body OF ia Jas men, headed
oy George Anarrqgu te oa o,ayess OF 5a Jas SAB
getting among some houses In the dark got confused
ana began shooting ana cutting down one another.
A panic ensuea and they fled TO their own lines.
This to ell ntcnts and purposes, decided the battle
Ja JAS followers spiked their guns and retreated to
the canoes or fed 10 tho boats and ia ia himself
skedadGled to Minnema, small village up the
country.
but though the fire from Ok0 Junbo's lines slack
ened, it was renewed with redoubled vigor duriag
that night and the greater part or the next day,
partly TO prevent any chance OF ia JAS men raying
TO their guns and partly as piece OF bravado.
On The afternoon OF the i4lh tho firing slackened
out out among @ tho wreck OF ia JAS houses ana numbers
OF killed and wounded were burned to asnes.
The exact number OF those that fell win never be
known on that account; besides the truth would
be told to white men. After the battle the beach
In front OF the Enclosures OF the merchants was
thIcky covered with shot of various Sizes from rife
bullets and grape TO 32pounder shot, with a large
quantity OF 4, aud 12.pounder shot, Some Of the
houses inside the Enclosures bore evidence OF the
hot IRE to which they had been exposed ana the
goods and caat,els In them had suffered considera-
bly, In one place could be seen the instance OF o
32-pound shot having gone through six casks OF
palm oil In row, and Of course scattered the
tents. We went on to the town, and on our arrival
@ Triumphant T. and n6ians state He at once m ooTea
TO escort round the of the fight, though it
was not unattended with danger, as some guns IN
the burning houses were loaded, and went or oCca
sionally as the fire reached them. In this way
We nearly got the contents or 6s-poundcr
among u.s. The scene around us was horrible. and
In the burning houses many bodies were stil roast
ing The air was loaded with the stencil OF burning
human flesh and smoke combined. The ground was
ploughed and torn up By round shot and shell ana
was saturated with blood II was indeed most
sickening sight. The opposing lines were IN many
places only thirty yards distant, so that wherever a
shot struck the destruction was terrible.
Not house IN ia Jas part or the town was stand.
ing and only few, nearly Ia ruins, In Oko Juinbo's
The celebrated Juu House, or Temple, with It's
monumental pyramids OF human skulls, was blown
into fragments. Oko Jumbo, being asked " he
was aware that ho would be fined 10y the
British Consul for this war, replied, "yes
he sawed that. lie done broke treaty. But II
consul me, suppose it be 1000 puncheons OIL
and | only pay my share.n Beng asked wndt
further steps he intended taking against ia ia, he