The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-01

The Bonny correspondent of the Liyerpool
Courier writes as follows: "For some time
past the New Calabar men have been secretly
preparing their forces for raid into the Ek-
reeka country-partly as demonstration of
their strength, and partly to see whether the
Bonny men would stand forward as the pro-
tectors Of the Ekreekas, which they are
bound to do by treaty. Accordingly, about a
week ago the most powerful expedition that
ever left New'Calabar for Ekreeka set out un-
der command of King Amachree. The ex.
pedition consisted of abovs fly large war
canoes, manned by over 1000 men. Thew
cautiously approached the capital of the Ek.
reeka country, taking three days in the move
ment. On the night of the third day they
lay In wait near the city hid by the thick
bushes that lined the creek that leads to the
residence OF King Phbia. About midnight,
some Ekr eeka-Oil and fishing canoes-about
nine in numbel-came by, manned by both
men and women. The war canoes charged
out Of their respective hiding places; a lew
minutes OF confusion, cries of triumph and
shrieks of dismay, and all was over The ca
noes were captured, and with them about
twenty-five men and three casks of paln-oil:
but the women, with praiseworthy activity,
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, remarkiug:
Them woman he be deyil-man for rum
!. e., very swift of foot. At daylight an ad-
vance was made on the town, but the Ekree-
kas were too strongly posted behind stock
ades TO warrant the Calabar men carrying the
place by storm. They, therefore, opened fire
on the nosifinu viii aoooa r.,c. -.
barded 1t 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 calibre thu n those Of the
Ekreeka guns. The Calabar men, being salts
hed with the damage they had done to the
Ekreekas, drew of their canoes and Returned
to New Caabar Town. Then commenced
the horrible orgies that are the usual sequel
to all battles In this country. Sixteen of the
prisoners were at once slaughtered and por-
toned out, like 30 much beef or mutton, to
the principal families in the town, for the pur-
pose OF being cooked ard eaten. One scene
will suffice to give an idea of the horrible
practices. About ten A. N. one of the unfor-
tunaie capt:ves was bound hand and foot In
the centre OF the court yard OF one OF the
most wealthy and enlightened OF the chiefs.
rounded by the wives, children, head men,
and slaves of the chief. The chief him
self stood in front coolly instructing
his youngest and favorite son, q good looking
boy OF about six years old, how to execute the
prisoner with a sharp knife. Afler few min
utes the young savage seized the prisoner by
bis wool, pulled his head forAard, and struck
him on the back OF the neck causing blood to
squirt forth. The yels OF the men and wo-
men were dsaiening. The miserable prisoner
was struck to the ground, and cut up in pieces
with large knives. The youngster who com.
mencs the slaughter waved his hand, reek-
Ing with blood, on high, and gave shout of
triumph. In ten minutes alter the head and
hands OF the late prisoner we've in an iron pot
boiling in the chiefs house for his breakfast,
carefully tended by one OF his wives, and the
young executoner greedily awaiting The re.
past he would share with bis father Six of
the canoes taken were destroyed before leav-
ing The Ekreeka country, and, to the astonish-
ment of the King OF Calabar, each OF the pris-
oners taken denied that they were Ek,eeka
men, and asserted that they were Bonny men.
They were accordingly placed in safe keeping
till the Bonny King could be communicated
with, which was at once done through the
Chairman Of the Court OF Equity, New Gala
bar. IL has since tIanspired that the Bonny
people claim these men. also two canoes and
three casks Of paln-oil."