The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-12-21
\ GRAND BAN OF EFT
(London Times.]

(London Times.
A correspondent on the West Coast
gives description Of the recent crowu-
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. Borne on the river and in
the villages there was great display Of
hunting, while guns were fired almost
necessarily. Mr.. David Hopkins, the
English Consul, who had been at Old
! Calabar for some little time settling dis>
putcS 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, as guard of honor The pro-
cession formed spectacle Of an unusual
kind.
The men were attired in the grandicst>
colored prints it was possible to collect,
while an umbrella of extraordinary di
mansions and cuIors was carried above
the head of the Consul. The cavalcade
arrived at the Enclosure adjoining the
palace, where throne had been placed
on newly erected platform. The Ma.
tives were here assembled in thousands,
and were very enthusiastic. Shortly af-
! erward the procession Of the King
elect issued from the palace, a rude|y
constructed building of wood, and wend-
ed its way to the platform. Like the
other body, many and various were the
colors worn by the men. 1t was head
ed by band Of "musicians," making a
great uproar with toy trumpets aud tom
toms. Many military coats were con-
spicuous here, as in the Consul's follow
ing.
lu several instances big negroes wore
very small coats, which, not meeting iu
front, were drawn tightly to the figure
with string. His Majesty, King Archi.
bong, was scarcely less comically dress
ed. His loins were girt with a satin
cloth Of many colors, while long Sieve
had covered his head. This hat had
evidently seen much service, being al
most shapeless with indentations. His
feet, like those of his attendants, were
bare, and there was also a huge um.
brella held high above his head. Archi~
bong, who is man about sixty years
old, is totally 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 tile King the tumult ceased.
The Consul read the existing treaties
between the former Kings of Old Gala
bar and Queen Victoria, which were in
terpreted to the King by Mr. Campbell,
an English missionary on the coast, and
to which Archiboug asseuted. A new
treaty was also drawn up, the King
agreeing thereto, which make it COM
pulsory upon all his European subjects
to wear the European style of DRESS
Treaty matters having been arranged,
the ceremony of coronation was proceed,
ed with. The Queen, with her retiuue
of female attendants, arrived and took
her place on the platform.
Her Majesty, a very corpu1ent old lady,
was not permitted to take her seat by
the side Of her sable consort. Amid the
continued silence of the native thropg.
Consul Hopkins threw a..scarlet cloak
around Archibong, put a crown on his
head and scepter in his hand, and pro.
claimed him King Archibong I'LL, of
Old Calabar." Then the shrieks and
hurrahs ofthe 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 seemed
to be greatly agitated, and at one time
was scarcely able to hold the scepter.
Immediately after the coronation a sa-
lutte OF twenty-one guns was fired, and
the Hing and his courtiers adjourned to
the palace, where the banquet in the ma
tive fashion was prepared. The English
residents were especially favored by the
King, and among those present at the |
dinner were Consul Hopkins, the whole
of the English missionaries of the dis
trict, and the Captain, chief engineer,
doctor and purser of the mail steamer
kinsembo. The principal dish consist
ed Of; "palm oil chop" which is considers
/,,,., 1. 4