The Meeker herald., 1889-03-30
WoMeN's RIGHTS IN AFRICA


Mr.. PAUL.. who lived for som. tine In
tho Cameron region. IVES, Africa, tells
Of q highly successful wonans rights
movement while ago In the Akona tribe.
Illustrating the fact that when women
unanimously assert them In savage lands,
Us we'll T.. elsewhere. they arr great
power In the community. In that BE-
ul-litei region women Hrp not supposed
TO have any rights When FlIl + 10 OF
l; years old she Is sold 10 anybody who
has property enough 90 nay the price her
father asks for her, and thereafter she
works like u slave for her board and
lodging and Is subject 10 Gil H.. rupriee1
Of her lord and master Even the bonds
in-n In the community havo NOR. priv,
ileg-s than tho frr. women. and some OF
them Ia time arr able 10 support rather
extensive harefns Of thelr own,
IL happened that there were sofn. strong
ininde~i women among the Akdna I--oplr,
and they lifted up their voices In rubiie
plar~s la favor Of some radical social ne
forms tia; would make tho lot ~ ssoman-
kind rs'her more -ndu-ahle, They were
is-,r,d at, ~ women rcfururrs have h. n
Ia some other lands, and weFr advised by
the superior sex 10 kecp on digging IN the
fields and pounding inanioc root and
thank fortune that their lot wa not lees
iol~rabl- Reform was evidently no, 10
10 secured by any suount q feminine
protest, aud 80 there strong minded
women put their long heads 'oE.thef aud
decided upon radical aud faT reaching
rcasur~s
Tho ,rih- 1. snail one Sczrly al the
adult .-;aal., Ia IL cnlls'cd under tie han
ner Of ~o;n-n's Rights. one day thcre Vas
al enormous eousmGii1u la 'i4.t hitle
community. II NAs Hlaius, wholly con
fired TO the male population. tho fact;
being tina; th.rr was hardly o uu;;lla there
TO ,harp tho excitement The mothers
and wives. IA mo-, unexpected and
h-a-iic,, manner. hal sutlsnly druppoi
,h.lr Implements Of druieury. aud With
ih-lr children In arms aud inafrisF~ahls
daughter, had hicl thea through lhs
forests 10 tho territory 81 another iribc.
wh.r-. a, a distance 81 eight a. ton rrilrs
frusn their ovn slr'lcu patches. hoy wtre
pr-fa--i TO u;rn negotiations With The
lsr,ily chapel they h.A leo bch.al thea.
Tiiry knew beforehand TIA, lhry would
mcc, Nith a hospltzhl, reo,p;lnn In the
,Fia-s With which 'lry took wiuge- IL
haprrned that this tribe sss lErsr than
tho akoua. anl did rot Ike than very
we'll. aud IL ,leslcI them half % death 10
80 the pickle Ia which ia. AE1na men
,liiGclly found themselves Tho women
aet Themselves To woF. earning their
daily broad. AnI waited without a tii 81.
lmrs;!cno- fer M embassy frupa hoisso, II
was no; long i,rius, the vf.ils.ssy %; Ia "a
appearance,
The Akona ,Fil., We n To, oplnl1n tina,
;hcy ooalI np; c1u,ina1 Ia irsincss
without the icri4ia l'r;laFrl tlrruof. aud
thgy wanted tho uarrn 60 CONE home.
Tho particularly strong Minded spoke
man Of the r,iugrrs All shp uzi giz1 20
learn =, last that tho women - ;hr.F
,riL- ~cFr rrr.F,lcI - . desirable ale-
n-fi, Of tho Akunl. Igrpio. A. the women
h.i. ;zkrl carr ~ al tae fficu. u tl-a cFi.
do'., they vcr- sb,r 20 takr carr - them
selves. and they iaini the slishirs; 10.
,.n'ion Of going lufuc rxccp; on CcgtHtu
Important c,sniiilpns. which sks s!sas-ilct.
Thea ~. embassy Wcfi; home "a eaass.i;
ih. chief mrn ~hs. - iAsls hs-v-as seGv
the largest. ucsp tbs sf,aiss; sg!isrrrz by
tho 4 ~, 81 ;kr fair .eS.
Tic ~oiaea stipulated that ih.y ~oaid
cofae talE u . rsaal4rTzhle fart q ili-
A-Ti-uliurai Gutir1 oi To- vnnr4uuity
wcgr Va FUTURE turned oycg 60 tho slave.
u The sau'hcra verc permitted % lave
s1snr;hing 90 nay about tho dsspua.i ~
,heir aAusaierI. and u frEur2i oi lgr en-
diti1us VIEW cpgpligl Nita !; dil 10;
take lguE'foF The egutitEeu q aaUu4 10
decide "a -; to Do 4 day ur tss later
tho uofacn seat tzek IN ilFh feather.
having achieved q ruuTlri- Ni1;1ry. rnI
they have b.en treated yeE! veil ever
s.i.eo--ScS iogs sHu.