The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-09-15
Growing An African King.

A correspondent on the West Coast
gives description of the recent crown
ing of King Archibong of Old Calabar.
The event had beenlooked forward to
for some time, and during the week of
the coronation the town and district
were On fele. Both on the river and in
the villages there was great display OF
bunting. while guns were fired almost
necessarily. 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 chiefs and people of
Henshaw Town as a guard OF honor.
The procession formed spectacle OF an
unusual kind.
The men were attired in the gaudisst-
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 cavalcade
arrived at the enclosure adjoining the
palace, where throne had peen placed
on newly-erected platform. The ma
tives 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 a band OF musicians, max
ing great uproar with toy trumpets
and tom toms. Many military coats
were conspicuous here, as in the Con-
sul'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 dressed.
His loins were grit with satin cloth OF
many colors, while long sieve hat
covered his head. This hat had owl
IDENTIFY seen much service, being almost
shapeless with indentations. His feet,
like those OF his attendants, we're bare,
and there was also a huge umbrella
held high above his head. Archibong.
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 the King the tumult
ceased. The Consul read the existing
treaties between the former Kings of
Old Calabar and Queen Victoria, which
were 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 Euro
pean 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, very corpulent old
lady, was not permitted to take her seat
by the side of her sable copsort. Amid
the continued silence of the native
throng, Consul Hopkins threw scarlet
cloak round Archibong, put a crown on
his head, and sceptre 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
seemed to be greatly agitated, and at
one time was scarcely able to hold the
sceptre. Immediately after the corona
ton salute of twenty-one guns was
fired, and the King and his courtiers
adjourned to the palace, where ban
quet in the native fashion was prepared.
The English residents were especially
favored by the King, and among those
present at the dinner were Consul Hop
kins, the whole of the English mis-
sionaries of the district, and the cap
tain, chief-engineer, doctor and purser
of the mail steamer Kinssnsbo. the
principal dish consisted of palm oil
chop" which is considered great
luxury by the natives. Times.
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