The sun., 1888-09-16
WoMEN's RIGHTS IN AFRICA.
TheLadies OF the Akona Tribe Bring Their
Husbaudu to Terms.

The Ladies OF the Akona Tribe Bring Their
Husbauds to Terms.
Mr.. Paul, who lived for some time in the
CAMERON region. West Africa, tells OF highly
successful Woman's Rights movement while
ago in tho Akona tribe. illustrating the fact
that when women unanimously assert them in
savage lands, as we'll as elsewhere, they are
great power in the community. In that be-
nighted region women are not supposed to
have any rights. When girl is IS or IA years
old she is sold to anybody who has property
enough to pay the price her father asks for
her, and thereafter she works like slave for
her board and lodging. and Is subject to all tho
caprices OF her lord and master. Even tho
bondsmen In the community have more priv
ileges than the free women, and some Of them
in time are able to support rather extensive
harems Of their own.
1t happened that there were some strong
minded women among the Akona people, and
they lifted up their voices In public places in
favor OF some radical social reforms that would
make the lot of womankind rather more en-
durable. They were jeered at. as women re-
formers have been in some other lands, and
were advised by the superior sex to keep on
digging in the fields and pounding manloc root
and thank fortune that their lot was not less
tolerable Reform was evidently not to be SO;
20 these strong minded women put their long
The tribe Is q small one Nearly all the adult
females 1 It enlisted ss under the banner OF
nous nous commoaon In that little community. it
was almost wholly confined to the male popu-
% woman L there to share the % excitement. The
mothers and wives, in most unexpected and
hss of aes hsS ssa wE @ hsr a
dren in arms and marriageable daughters had
hled them through tho forests to the territory
or ten miles from their own garden patches.
they were prepared to open negotiations with
tsn tSey Woua meet
with q hospitable reception In the tribe with
which they took refuge. It thappenei that this
ike them very we'll and il tickle them half TO to
death to see the pickle in which the Akona
SET themselves TO work earning. their daily
bread, and waited without q bit OF impatience
for an embassy from home. TWAS not long be-
The Akona tribe was of the opinion that they
could not continue in business without the fe-
women to come home. The particularly strong
minded spokesman Of the refugees said she
their W tribe " Uere st regarded as desirable % elo o.
ment OF tho Akona, people, AS the women had
taken care Of al the men m It was a;S evident they
hadn't the slightest intention Of going homo
except on certaip important conditions, which
consult the chief men, who as their harems
the flight OF the fair sex.
The women stipulated that they would come
back II o considerable part OF the agricultural
duties OF tho community were In future turned
over to the slaves. II the mothers were permit
ted 70 have something to say about the dispos-
ditions were complied with. 1t did not take
long for tho gentlemen Of Akona to decide
what to do. A day or two later the women
went back In high feather. having achieved a
complete victory. and they have been treated
very Well ever since,