The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-05
WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN AFRICA.
Tho Ladies of tho tkona Tribe Bring
Their Husbands TO Terms.

Mr.. Pat Ii. who lived for some time in
the CAMERON region, West Africa. tells
Of a highly successful womans rights
movement a while ago in the Ak0na tribe
illustrating the fact that when women
unanimously assert them in savage lands
as well as elsewhere, they are a great
| power ia the community. In that be
nigllted region women are not supposed
to have any rights When girl is l3 or
| II 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 10 all the caprices
Of her lord and master Even the bonds.
men in the community have more priv
ileges than the free women, and some OF
them in time are able to support rather
extensive haremso 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 re-
forms that would make the lot Of woman
kind rather more cndurable. They were
jeered at, AS women rcformers have been
In some other lands, and were advised by
the superior sex 10 keep on digging in the
fields and pounding manloc root and
thank fortune that their lot was not less
tolerable Reform was evidently not 10
be secured by any amount Of feminine
protest, and so these strong minded
women put their long heads together and
decided upon radical and far reaching
measures.
The tribe is a small one. Nearly all tho
adult females in it enlisted under tho ban
ner Of women's rights One day there was
al enormous connection in that little
II was almost wholly con
fined to the male population, the fact
being that there was hardly woman there
TO share the excitement. The mothers
and wives, in a most unexpected and
heartless manner lad suddenly dropped
their implements of drudgery, and with
heir children in arms and manageable
daughters had HE'D them through the
forests to the territory Of another tribe.
where. at distance of eight or ten miles
rom their own garden patches. they were
prepared 10 open negotiations with the
ordly chapel they had left behind them.
They knew beforehand that they would
meet with hospitablo reception IN the
ribe with which they took refuge Il
that this tribe was larger than
he Ak0na. and did not like them very
veil. and 10 ticlled them half % death 10
ee the pickle in which the Asoua men
uddeniy found themselves The women
ot themselves To work earning their
ally bread, and waited without bit OF
npatieuco for an embassy from home lt
.as not long before ,le embassy put in an
Dpoamnce.
The Akona tribe wa of tine opinion chat
hey could not continue in business
ithouf the female member thereof and
lcy wanted the WOMB fl come home.
he particularly strong minded -p0sos-
an OF the refugee said She Wei glad 10
au at last That tie women 0i tAeir
i0o were regarded Us FL desirable oie-
emit oi the Ahuaa people Il tho women
M taken care Df all d.. men +. $3.50. cgi-
ut they were able Co take mr. of thom-
Ives. and they hadn't fhe lIg..c.t iu-
ution OF going home except ol certain
.por'ant conditions. which he pce.lel
len fho embassy went home tD consult
e Chief men who. as their harems We're
e largest We're tine greatest sufferers by
q Digit of the fair sex
The women stipulated chat they would
me back If a considerable part ~ the
ricultmal duties Of fho community
ne IN future turned over 20 tic slaves.
the mothers We're permitted t0 have
nctLing TO say about the disposal OF
cir daughter. and II several other con-
ions were complied with lt liI not
sc lougslor the gentlemen Of Akona to
eide what 10 d0. day or tNo later
e women went back in high feather.
Wing achieved complete victory aud
ay have been treated very well ever
lorl, Sun.