The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-12-19
GROWING AN AFRICAN KING.

GROWING AN AFRICAN KING.
A Peculiar Ceremony on the West Coast
"King Archibong III. of Old Calabar.'
From the London Times.
A correspondent on the West Coast
gives description of the recent crown
ing of King Archibong of Old Calabar
The event had been looked forward to
for some time, and during the week of
the coronation the town and district
were en- tete. Both ON the river and in
the villages there was great display of
bunting, while guns were fired almost
incessantly. Mr.. David Hopkins, the
English Consul, who had been at Old
Calabar for some little time settling dis
putes between traders and chiefs, was
selected to proclaim Adam Archibong
King. On the morning of the 9th ult
Consul Hopkins was escorted to Duke
Town, with the people of Henshaw
Town as a guard of honor. The pro-
cession formed spectacle of an unu-
sual kind.
The men were attired in the gaudiest-
colored prints it was possible to collect,
while an umbrella of extraordinary di-
mansions and colors was carried above
the head of the Consul. The caval-
cade arrived at the enclosure adjoining
the palace, where a throne had been
placed on a newly erected platform.
The natives were here assembled in
thousands, and were very enthusiastic.
Shortly afterward the procession of the
King-elect issued from the palace, a
rudely constructed building of wood,
and wended its way to the platform
Like the other body, many and various
were the colors worn by the men. 1t
was headed by band of musicians"
making great uproar with toy trum-
pets and tom-toms. Many military
coats were conspicuous here, as in the
Consul's following.
In several instances big negroes wore
very small coats, which, not meeting in
front, were drawn tightly to the figure
with string. His Majesty King Archi-
bong was scarcely less comically dress
ed. His loins were GRIT with satin
cloth of many colors, while long
Sieve hat covered his head. This hat
had evidently seen much service, being
almost shapeless with indentations. His
feet, like those of his attendants, were
bare, and there was also huge umbrel-
la held high above his head. Archibong,
who is a man about 60 years old, is to-
tally blind, and leaned on the arm of his
son.
He assembled to the platform amid the
enthusiasm of the assembled crowd,
who danced and shouted in the most
frantic manner; but as soon as Consul
Hopkins received the King the tumult
ceased. The Consul read the existing
treaties between the former Kings of
Old Calabar and Queen Victoaia, which
where Interpreted to the King by Mr..
Campbell, an English missionary on
the coast, and to which Archibong as.
sented. A new treaty was also drawn
up, the King agreeing thereto, which
makes it compulsory upon all his Eu-
ropean subjects to wear the European
style Of dress. Treaty matters having
been arranged, the ceremony of corona
ton was proceeded with. The Queen,
with her retinue of female attendants,
arrived and took her place ON the plat
form.
Her Majesty, a very corpulent old
lady, was not permitted to take her seat
by the side of her sable consort. Amid
the continued silence of the native
threng, Consul Hopkins threw scarlet
cloak round Archibong, put crown on
his head, and scepter in his hand, and
proclaimed him " king Archibong Ill,
OF Old Calabar." Then the shrieks and
hurrahs of the assembled thousands rent
the air. the men and women dancing
and shouting in the widest glee. The |
crown appeared to be of gold, was very
massive, and was studded with "repre-
sentative - diamonds.
During the ceremony the King SEEM
ed to be greatly agitated, and at one
time was scarcely able to hold the
scepter. Immediately after the coro-
nation salute of twenty-one guns was
fired, and the King and his courtiers
adjourned to the palace, where a ban
quet in the native fashion was prepar-
ed. The English residents were espe-
cially favored by the King, and among
those present at the dinner were Com
sui Hopkins, the whole of the English
missionaries of the district, and the
Captain, chief engineer, doctor, and
purser of the mail steamer Kinsem-
boo" The principal dish consisted of
"palm oil chop" which is considered
a great luxury by the natives.