The Republican journal., 1871-05-25
NUMBER 46.
Cheerful African Scenes.

| The Bonny correspondent of the Liver
| pool Courier writes rs follows: ''For
| some time past the NewCalabar men
| have been secretly preparing their forces
| for 4 raid into the Ekreeka country-part-
ly us 4 demonstration of their strength,
and partly to see whether the Bonny men
would stand forward as the protectors of
the Ekreekas, which they are bound to 90
by treaty Accordingly, about 4 week
ago the most powerful expedition that
ever left New-Calabar for Ekreeka set
out under command of King Amachrec
The expedition consisted Of above fifty
large war canoes, manned by over , 900
men. They cautiously approached the
capital of the Ekreeka country. taking
three days in the movement On the
night of the third day they lay in wait
, near the city, hid by the thick bushes5that
lined the creek that leads to the residence
of King Phibia About midnight, some
Ekrceka-oil and fishing canoes-about
nine in number-came by, manned by
both men and women The war canoes
charged out Of their respective hiding
places; a few minutes Of confusion, cries
Of triumph and shrieks Of dismay, and all
was over. The canoes were captured,
and three casks of palm-oil but the wo-
men, With praiseworthv 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 alarm, the Calabar men,
IN their own expressive way, remarking,
Them women he be devil man for rum,
j. e., very swift of foot. A daylight an
advance was made on the town. but the
Ekreckas were too strongly posted behind
stockades to warrant the Calabar men
carrying the place by storm. they,
therefore, opened fire on the position
with canoe guns, and bombardel it for
some hours. The slaughter IN the crowd
ed town must have been very great, as
every shot told; and rs the Calabar mems
guns We're of heavier caliber than those
of the Ekreekas, their fire was most ci-
lective at Il range that was quite out of
power of the Ekrceka guns. The Cala-
bar mon, being satisfied with the dam
age they had done to the Ekrcekas, drew
off their canoes and returned to New CAL
abar town. Then commenced the horri-
hle orgies that are the usual sequel to MI
battles in this country. Sixteen Of the
prisoners We're III once slaug ghtered and
portioned out like 80 much beef or mut-
ton, to the principal families in the town,
for the purpose Of being cooked and eat
en-. One scene will suffice to give an idea
Of the horrible practices. About 10 u. IN.
one OF the unfortunate captives was bound
hand and foot in the centre of the court
yard of one Of the most wealthy and on
lightened Of the chiefs. The prisoner
hargard and worn, was surrounded by
wives, children, head men and slaves of
the chief The chief himself stood in
front, coolly instructng his youngest and
tavorite son, q good-lookin@ boy ot about
six wears old, how to execute the prison
en- with 4 sharp knife. After Il few min
utes the young savage seized the prison
er by his wool pulled his head forward
and struck him on the back ot the neck
causing the blood to squirt forth. The
wells of the men and women We're deaf
puing The miserable prisoner WAS
Strucl, to the ground and cut up in pieces
with large knives. The yomgstrr who
commenced the slaughter waved his hand
reeking with blood, on high and gaNr 4
Shout Of triumph In ten minutes attcr
the Head and hands Of the late prisoner
were in an iron pot boiling in the chiefs
house for his breakfast, carefully tended
bv one of his wives, and the yoHng exc
cutioner grcelily awaiting The rrpa,t lie
would share with his father. Sin of the
canoes taken We're dcstroyc, before lr;,y-
ng the Elreekl country, and, to he us
toushnent of the King ot CaIablr eight
of the prisoners taken denied that they
wcrc Ekrccka men and asserted that they
were Bonnv men. They We're accord
III, tn ,n |