Wichita eagle., 1889-01-11
AN AFRICAN KING.
At ONE TIME A MONARCH, he IS
NOW A IONGSHOREMAN..

Capt. Farrell Tells the Story In the Pres
ence of the Kins-He Ate tho Ears and
Tongue of Aissionary-Broughs 4
This Country as q Slave in 1857.
The party boarded the Lord of thu
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 CT
board her majesty's good ship Scorpion
thirty years ago, when slavery was still
an Institution Of this country. The
Scorpion was dispatched from the Med
iterranean to join the Atlantic squadron
In the Blight OF Benin, and had orders tc
put down the slave trade, then unusually
active. Before we had been three months
on the coast we captured half a dozen
6hows. We were informed by a mis-.
sionary that there was camp or depot
about a mile inland, where slaves and
ivory were exchanged for rum and
money, and as our instructions were to
extirpate the evil wherever it was to be
found, 800 marines and blue jackets of
the squadron were marched to attack
this depot. The resistance we encoun-
tered was merely nominal, and believe
our small force could have taken ali
Central Africa.
''Now it happened that Carambo ",
king OK sultan Of western Foulah, had
died few days before the attack, and
his son-tpermit me to introduce to your
majesty a reporter of The New York
Star)-his son, l say, succeeded him as
Carambo v"
Carambo smiled in melancholy sort
Of way at this recital, and tears came
into his eyes, which be turned away his
head to conceal.
Take another drop of Santa Cruz,
Carambo," suggested the captain. The
king complied, and the captain con-
tinued his story.
THE KING IN BATTLE.
Intelligence of the breaking up of
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 victory, he
which reached our camp four days later,
s1iu pAoHptiy OtSdu Ill 0SSillt. IL w
his majesty nothing but justice, STRIPPING
as he then was, he led his savage legions
like hero, and though his warriors fell
thick and fast around him, he jumped,
spear and buckler in hand, right into our
line Of rifle pits with his weird war CRY
of 'Amoo! hal! hal. hal! khai! Amoo!
He was wounded on the right temple
with a sword, and captured after des-
perate struggle, while those of his party
who did not disperse were also taken
prisoners. 1t was an ugly cash you got,
Carambo?"
Eyes, Massa Farrl," said Carambo,
turning the right side Of his face toward
the narrator, and showing scar stretch
ing from the outward corner of the eye
down to the jawbone. The mark was
barely perceptible, but it was there, and
no mistake.
Before Carambo left his capital for
the attack" the captain continued, "he
had ordered the roasting and eating of
Portuguese missionary priest. Did you
eat any of him, Carambo?"
YES" answered the king, simply, II
ate his ears and his tongue"
Eyes, I remember. It 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 a young
nan generally as might be picked up in
Central Africa"
Il was the Napoleon" spoke up Ca
rambo, proudly, as he gulped down an
other snifter Of Santa Cruz.
CHECKING A ROYAL CAREER.
POSSIBLY. l visited the island two
months after, and found Carambo hand
end glove with the royal marines who
yaTrisoned the place. He had learned to
smoke, and drank all the rum he could
get with great gusto. He wore pair Of
long Wellington boots and grenadiers
big shake, which were all he did wear,
and enough, too, in that hot climate.
The shake was distorted into the shape
Of a crown, and with this on his royal
he stalked about the island, and
accepted the title of king with infinite
grace. l saw him dozens of times after
his when calling in for coal and water,
and found him growing SO demoralized
hat wrote to the admiral, who, in turn, |
represented his case to the government,
with the result that he was released and !
tent home, on swearing allegiance to
Queen Victoria. That was the last of
lin / saw until met him on the wharf
laf an hour ago. running a cotton truck. |
Perhaps Caranbo can tell us how he |
anne here"
This Carambo did in very bad, but |
till ineligible, English.
1t appears that in his absence his sub !
ects chose another king, who marched /
DOOR Carambo down to the coast with |
800 others and sold him TO American /
LAYERS. Ec was again sold for 81 200 at /
auction in Richmond in 1857 to planter, |
Who treated him kindly. He was among
hose arrested by Gen. Butler as contra |
'and of war In 1862, ard Of course made /
rec by President Lincoln's proclamation. I
Cor the rest, he came north after the /
var, worked in various capacities. but
,eing man of great strength he finally
lecided to work along shore until he
ould make money enough to run kali
onining establishment.
BUT your name Is not Carambo now"
Iueried the reporter
My name Is always Caranbo," an
wered his Foulan majesty with dignity,
but they cali me John Howard. and /
we at 46 High street"
Here" said the captain. philosoph-
rally, you have king In your midst,
nd yet you do almost royal homage to
very lord or soi-distant lord that comes
long. 1t is very singular. New York