The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-28
AN AFRICAN KING.
AT ONE TIME A MONARCH, HE IS
NOW A uoNGsHoREMAN.

Capt. Farrell Tells the Story In the Pres
eucs Of the King-He Ate the Ears and
Tongue of . Missionary-ISrought e
This Country as = Slave In 1887.
The party boarded the Lord Of the
Isles and were soon discussing some
good Santa Cruz In the cabin OF Capt
Farrell.
IL was midshipman in the English
navy" said the captain, serving on
board her malesty's good ship Scorpion
thirty years ago. when slavery was sui
an institution Of this country. III
Scorpion was dispatched from the Med
itcrranean to Join the Atlantic squadron
Ia the Bight Of Benin. and had orders Il
out down the slave trade, then unusually
active. Before we had been three months
ON the coast we captured half dozen
l-dhows. We were informed by mis-
sionary that there was a camp or depot
about mile inland. where slaves and
ivory were exchanged for rum and
money. and as our instructions were to
extirpate the evil wherever il was 10 BE-
found. 500 mariaes and blue jackets OF
the squadron were marched To attack
this depot. The resistance we oncoun-
tered was merely nominal, and believe
our small force could have taken all
Central Africa.
Now it happened that Carambo ~.
king or sultan of western Foulah, had
died a few DAYS before the attack, apo
his son-tpermit me to introduce to You
majesty a reporter of The New York
Star)-his son, say, succeeded him as
sarambo v"
Carambo smiled in a melancholy sort
| Of way at this recital, and tears came
into his eyes, which he turned away his
head TO conceal.
Take another drop Of Santa Cruz,
Carambo," suggested tho captain. The
king complied, and the captain con-
tinued his story.
THE KING T.; BATTLE.
Intelligence Of the breaking up o!
camp. and of the consequent stoppage OF
supplies in cash, rum and muskets,
reached CarambO By carriers early next
morning, and burning with ardor to
have revenge, and signalize the begin
ming Of his reign with a victory. he
marched an army down to the coast,
which reached our camp four days later,
and promptly began an assault. To do
his majesty nothing but justice, stripping
as he then was. he led his savage legions
like a hero. and though his warriors fell
thick and fast around him, he jumped.
spear and buckler in hand, right into or
line Of rifle pits with his weird war cry
of 'Amoo, hal! hail hai. Thai. Amoo.
He was wounded on the right temple
with n sword, and captured after a des-
perate struggle. while those Of his party
who did not disperse were also taken
prisoners. 1t was an ugly cash you got,
Carambo:"
"Yes, Massa Farr1," said Carambo.
turning the right side Of his face toward
the narrator, and showing q scar stretch
lug from the outward corner Of the eye
down to the iawbone. The mark was
barely perceptible, hut it was there, and
no mistake.
Before Carambo left his capital for
the attack" the captain continued, she
had ordered the roasting and eating Of
Portuguese missionary priest. Did you
eat any of him, Carambof'
YES" answered the king, simply, 81
ate his ears and his tongue"
Eyes. | remember 1t was for this
that, while we released. his subjects after
a day or two, we took the monarch him
self prisoner to the Island OF Ascension.
We also learned that he had sacrificed
fifty Of the late kings wives on his tomb,
and was about as sanguinary young
man generally as might be picked up in
Central Africa"
81 was the Napoleon" spoke up Ca
rambo, proudly, as he gulped down an
other snifter of Santa Cruz.
CHECKING A royAL CAREER.
Possibly. | visited the island two
months after, and found Carambo hand
and glove with the royal marines Who
garrisoned the place. He had learned to
smoke, and drank all the rum he could
get with great gusto. He wore pax Of
long Wellington roots and a grcnadier's
big shake, which were all he did wcxl
and enough, too. in that hot climate.
The shake was distorted into the shape
Of a crown. and with this on his royal
Uranium nc stalkcd about the island, and
accepted the title of king with infinite
grace. saw him dozens OF times after
this when calling in for coal and water,
and found him growing so demoralized
that l wrote to the admiral, who, in turn
represented his case to the government,
with the result that he was released and
sent home, ON swearing allegiance to
Queen Victoria. That was the last OF
hun | saw until | met him on the wharf
half an hour ago, running cotton truck.
Perhaps Carambo can tell us how he |
came here"
This Carambo did in very bad, but |
still Ineligible, English
Ii appears that in his absence his sub |
jects chose another king, who marched |
poor Carambo down to the coast with |
1900 others and sold him TO American |
slavers. He was again sold for 81 200 at |
auction in Richmond in 1857 to planter,
who treated him kindly. He was among
those arrested by Gen. Butler as contra
band of war in 1862, and Of course made /
freely President Lincolns proclamation.
For the rest, he came north after the
war, worked in various capacities, but
being man OF great strength he finally
decided TO work along shore until he
could make money enough to run kali
somining establishment.
But your name Is not Carambo now"
queried the reporter.
"My name is always Carambo," an
swered his Foulan majesty with dignity,
but they call mo John Howard, and
live at 40 High street"
Here" said the captain, philosoph-
ically, "you have king in your midst,
and yet you do almost royal homage ~
every lord or soi-distant lord that comes
along. 1t is very singular. New York
Star.
Charles III. Ball, Of New York city,
owns monkey which is attracting con
siderable attention. The ,.pinal is 8
years old and weighs six pounds. All