The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-06-15
CHEERFUL AFRICAN SCENE.
Cutting Up and Boiling a Prisoner,


The Benny correspondent of the
Liverpool Courier writes as follows:
'For some time past the New Cal
abar men have been secret y prepar
ing their forces for raid into the
Ekreeka county-partly as demon
stration of their strength, and partly
to see whether the Benny men would
stand forward as the protectors of
the Ekreekas, which they are to do
by treaty. Accordingly, about a
week ago the most powerful expedi-
ton that ever left New-Calabar for
Ekreeka set out under command of
King Amarchree. The expedition
consisted of above fifty large war ca,
noes, manned by over 1900 men.
They cautiously approached the cap
itol of the Ekreeka county, taking
three days in the movement. 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
Phiabia. About midnight, some Elk
reeka-oil and fishing canoes-about
nine IN numher-came by, manned
by both men and women. The war
canoes charged out of their respect
i've hiding places; few minutes 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 wo-
men, with praiseworthy activity,
jumped into the creek and swan
ashore, and, spite of all the efforts of
the Calabara men, they escaped
through the bushes to the town and
gave the alarm, the Calabar men,
IN their own expressive way. remark
ing, "Ihem women he be devilmen
for run. u. e., very swift of foot.
At daylight an advance was made
on the town, but the Ekreekas were
too strongly posted behind stockades
to warrant the Calabar men carrying
the places by storm. They, there
fore, opened fire on the position
with canoe guns, and bombar-
ded 1t for some hours. The slaugh-
ter in the crowded town must have
been very great, as every shot told
and as the Calabar mems guns were
heavier caliber than those of the Elk
reeka guns. The Calibar men, be-
ing satisfied with the damage they
had done to the Ekreeks, drew off
their canoes and returned to New
Calabar 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 portioned out, like
so much beef or mutton, to the prin-
cipal families in the town, for the
purpose of being cooked and eaten.
One scene will suffice to give an idea
of the horrible practices. About 10
A. NJ. one of the unfortunate captives
was bound hand and foot, and the
chief, very coolly instructed his
youngest and tarOrite 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
fourth. The yells of the men and
women were deafening. The miser-
able prisoner was struck to the
ground and cut in pieces with large
knives. The youngest who com
menced the slaughter waved his
hands, reeking with blood, on high
and gave shout Of triumph. In
ten minutes after, the head and
hands were in the iron pot boiling iii
the chiefs house, for his breakfast,
carefully tended by one of lis
wives, and the young execution
er greedily awaiting the repast he
would share with his father. Six of
the canoes taken were destroyed
before leaving the Ekreeka cOun try
and, to the astonishment of the King
of Calabar, eight of the prisoners ia
ken denied that they were Benny
men. They were accordingly placed
in safe keeping till the Bonny king
could be communicated with, which
was at once done through the chair
man of the court of equity, ofNew
Calabar. 1t has since transpired
that The Benny people claim these
men, also the canoes and three casks
of palm-oil."