The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-05-13
Misrrllanr.
CuEERrUL. AFRICAN SCENES.
Cutting Up and Boiling Prisoner.

Cutting Up and Boiling n Prisoner.
The Bonny correspondent of the Liverpool
Courier writes as follows: For some time past
the New.Calabar men have been secretly pre-
pairing their forces for a raid into the Ekreeka
couatry-partly as demonstration OF their
strength, and partly to see whether the bonny
men would stand forward the protectors OF
the Ekreekas, which they are bound to DO 0y
treaty. Accordingly, about week ago the
most powerful expedition that ever lett new.
Cslsbar for Ekreeka set out under co mmaho OF
King Amaehree The expedition consisted OF
above fifty large war canoes, manned oy over
1900 men. They cautiously approached the
capital of the Ekreeka country, taxing three
DAYS in the movement. On the night OF the
third day they lay in wait near the 'clty,' hid
by the thick bushes that lined the creek that
leads 10 the residence of King Phibla. About
midnight some Ekreeka-oil and fishing canoes
about nine in number-came by, manned by
both men and women The war canoes charged
ont of their respective hiding places; few min.
utes of confusion, cries of triumph and shrieks
of dismay, and all was over. The canoes were
captured, and with them about twenty-five men
and three casks of palm.oil; but the women,
with praiseworthy activity, jumped into the
creek and swan ashore, and in spite OF all the
efforts of the Calabar men, they escaped through
the bush to the town and gave the alarm, the
Calabar men, in their own expressive way, re-
marking, Them women he be devil.man for
rum c., very swift of foot. AT daylight an
advance made on the town, but the Ekreekas
were too strongly posted behind stockades to
warrant the Calablr men carrying the place by
storm. They, therefore, opened fire on the posi-
ton with canoe guns, and bombarded it for some
hours. The slaughter in the crowded town must
have been very great, as every shot told; and as
the Calabar mems guns were of heavier caliber
than those of the Ekreekas, their fire was most
effective at range that was quite out OF the
power of the Ekreeka guns. The Calabar men,
being satisfied with the damage they had done
to the Ekreekss, drew oft their canoes and re-.
urned to New-Calabar Town. Then commenced
the horrible orgies that are the usual sequel to
all battles in this country. Sixteen of the pris-
oners at slaughtered and portioned
out, like so much beef or mutton, to the princi.
pal families IN the town, for the purpose OF De-
ing cooked and eaten. One scene will suffice to
give an idea of the horrible practices. About 10
M. one of the unfortunate captives was bound
hand and foot IN the center of the courtyard of
one of the most wealthy and enlightened of the
chiefs. The prisoner, haggard and worn, was
surrounded by the wives, children, head men
and slaves of the chief The chet himself stood
in front, coolly instructing his youngest and ia
vorite son, good looking boy of about six years
old, how to execute the prisoner with a sharp
knife. After few minutes the young savage
seized the prisoner by his wool, pulled his head
forward and struck him on the back of the neck,
causing the blood to squirt forth. The yells Of
the men and women were deafening. The mis-
cradle prisoner struck to the ground and
cut in pieces with large knives. The youngster
who commenced the slaughter waved his hands,
reeking with blood, on high and gave shout of
triumph. In ten minutes after the head and
hands of the late prisoner were in an iron pot
boiling in the chiefs house for his breakfast,
carefully tended by one of his wives and the
young exccutioner sreedily awaiting the repast
he would share with his father. Six of the ca.
noes taken were destroyed before leaving the
Ekrecka country, and, to the establishment OF
the King of Calabar, eight Of the prisoners taken
denied that they were Ekreeka men and assert
ed that they were Bonny men They were ac-
eordInyly placed in safe keeping till the Benny
Kim could Ice communicated with, which was
at once done through the chairman OF the court
of equity. New C4iabar. IL has since trtnspired
that the Benny people claim these men, also two
canoes and three casks of palm oil"