The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-19
AFRICAN MAGMA TIES IN LONDON
The King of Bonny and the Iiberinn Premier
Seeing European Civilization.

IfOm N, Cincinnati fOnmercH
LONDON, July 2o-The King Of Bonny be-
longs to the Eboe tribe. and sits on a throne
which has belonged to his family for twenty
seven generations. He is nne-looking man.
over six feet high. OF shapely frame. and Of
complexion that in America would be called
saddle color" though there s not particle Of
European blood in his veins. He was educated
in England, and Is not yet 40 years of age. He
has n mind well informed. acute. and states
manlike. and Ia entirely absorbed In the work
OF Justly governing his subjects OF Benny. who
are Just emerging from barbnrism. In con-
versation / have Just had with him he has given
me some interesting particulars OF his country.
The King Is surrounded by n council OF seven
or eight chiefs, these being representative OF
about twenty chiefs distributed through tho
country. Peaceful government in Benny means
inducing these chiefs 70 cooperate and not fall
out with each other. The towns and villages
have each its Governor. chosen by agreGment
This local Officers chief work is judicial From
his Magiscrinl decisions there exists right OF
appeal and the, King. with his, Council, hear
Offering human sacrifices has been 80 nearly
tramplod out that If an instance OF it occurs.
ms IL occasionally does in the remoter corners OF
the kingdom-it Is made the subject OF special
inquiry and rcbuke.
The chief form, in which native superstition
survives is in the homage paid toa small, white.
glisteninR serpent called the Nomboh that is.
the Leaper. It IL beautiful, and its bite is
deadly 1t climbs trees, whence II sometimes
leaps on its victim beneath and II leaps from
branch TO branch. 50 able to travel far without
snakes probably which have given TO monkeys
their frantic terror at sight OF snake and il
In the anthropoid period any superior monkey
aud monkeyess had gained sccurcr place,
beasts they might still have found one Of these
Ieapers in their simial Eden. The Ehoes who
inhabit Benny have atraditon that the Hebrews
WERE, originally captured IN their country
BY from Es sspoars Somas 6 1a Rs sy rd 9TE
There are some curious pathological coinci-
dences pointing IN favor OF their traditions for
instance, they call the Destroying Angel Abad-
don, and their name for sorccry. Obcaism, re-
sembles the ODE woman or Pythoness OF the
Bible. One belief which the people OF Benny
in the vision Of Err the Armenian: II il that az
ter death, human spirits are able TO return to
this world in any form they choose, and they
generally choose such forms. animate or human.
ns will enable them to avenge the wrongs they
worst specimens Of white men. especially kid
nappcrs. are sometimes believed to be the rein
carnations Of negroes who wish to punish GER
used during life This belief extends among
some, tribes which have been visited by stanley.
and they have no difficulty in identifying him
as one of these yindictvc ghosts
=, Those learned Africans hnye perfect faith in
the future OF their race and Of their country.
They report u continual progress among tho
people put they plainly DE- not think II is
materially aided by the missionaries; They do
not speak with prejudice or luminosity against
the missionaries. and are careful to mention
with gratitude the services done by some ~
j. knowledge rather than crecds. They believe
that It would be- more helpful TO the negroes II.
"Thou shalt not steai they We're i 10 show them
how they can unfold the vast resources Of their
country. and. having gained comi9rt 10y honest
Industry haNc no need To steal. Having both
lived in England before. and being now familiar
with its great achievements in science and art.
they long for the day when such forces n those
shall be brought to bear on that country. II the
King Of Bonny had been reading the United
States papers from his cradle Ia his throne he
better Informal
progress 81 events there during the last twenty
years. need hardly add that both he and DR..
Blyden are entertained here with the greatest
respect 10y persons of high position-they were
the lions II tia. Cacdonan fancy ball last night.
Scotch nobillty-and an equally cordial recep-
ton Will hr accorded To- the United States negro
senator should he remain here long enough to
participate NJ the lest ivites of our season.
Or. Edward W. Blylen, the LiLerian Minister.
wn- born IN the Wm-i indies; and is much darker
than the King ol Bpnny. He l. n highly cult-
yatrd gentleman. aud his articles on Africa and
Mohamm"dnnism In that country. five q which
huV" appeared in recent numbers ~ FrdSG's
Ndgdluic. are the very best on their subject
winch have been published IN England. Tho
speaks n thinker who has thoroughly mastered
the subject q which hc treats. According to
DR.. Blyden. Mohammed anism not only steadily
gains ground in Africa. but has many features
which particularly appeal To the negro tempera-
ment. Tho Mohammcdanism taught the ne
rs paradis" Is spritualized. and its he'll freed
from physical terrors. In conversation with
ul- learned African. he informed me that SUI
perstitlon in Monroyia u rarely or never found
among converts to Mohammedansm. whileit
prevails generally among the converts to 1'r-,i9-
tianity. The Christian negro car. his
hsinssi prayer ray, or creed IN one phcr indirer
entity or both rs u charm, - , WhLu on SfiisIrr
not Nohon,nc" IN; he evidently prefers
V3rist ~ M"i mined. and his testimony TO tho
, n1sS, 10 5,..srority Of the Mosems who come
anon. dc Africans To the Christians j. not to
he .scrihed 10 prejudice He repeated to mo
.ile words Of an old pagan in his region, who
when asked 10y young negro about the true
faith, answered: " IL you want to bee a good
man, go 10 the Mohammedans; II YOU want to
be rich. be a Christian" {.