The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-08-24

Abomey, the capital of Dahomey, where no
missionaries are allowed to labor, human
sacrifices are still offered daily and the
most savage barbaritles are practised.
All over Africa the plea for missionaries
is heard. Those pioneers who have gone
out, as Ihave done, to native towns where
no white foot has ever penetrated before,
have heard the appeal: 1--WE all be in de
dark desc long gone years. We no want we
children to live in the night all same as
we. We time done pass no more our pick
anlnny may not go de same path" Their
broken English is always introduced by
mo more" These and other like express
sions are frequently used, and it is odd to
remark that the motives are sometimes as
mixed as the language.
1--WE want books abee and God palaver,"
rightly interpreted, means, 1--WE want the
white man; he will give prestige to our
town and bring trade" Nevertheless, it is
an open door and the missionary enters
thankfully; but many are neglected for
want of missionaries.
One of the most picturesque figures in
African experience was King Oko Jumbo.
Several years ago when at Bonny, where
we had sailed to pay him visit, had the
pleasure of meeting Oko His royal barge
"a canoe of forty two paddlers and three
muslclans-came out TO greet US. The
three men who played on the ton-t tom in a
most distracting manner, were helped in
their din by the crew, who shouted wild
iargon. keeping time with their paddles
meanwhile We invited the king on board
our little steamer. He came His robe
consisted OF IA rough country made CLOTH
which he had wrapped about him. and the
draping of which hung to his bare feet
Over this he wore a large white flannel
shirt King Oko breakfasted with us and
amused Us greatly by firmly declining to
have his plate changed for the different
dishes, saying with true savage philos
ophy:
mo; him all going same path. put him
all on same plate"
As he became more communicative
asked him about the great "Ju-Ju House, -
temple built entirely of human skulls be-
longing to prisoners taken in war; many of
whom had served to make feast.
Nobody go dere now" said the willy
! monarch. I'VE all go church house to hear
God palaver." sasgs.
saw that the temple was fast going to
decay. Not far from it now stands neat,
commodious church.
Despite the efforts of the missionaries,
many Of the evils mentioned continue, al
| though their efforts have been a great
means of reducing the number The native
girs, when instructed by the missionaries,
generally object to taking very old men for
! AuSDduuS ana OSCllnc 10 marry UQ6m IOr
whom they have no affection. They be-
come somewhat independent on the sub
iect of matrimony, and the result is that
the missionaries are prevented from get
ting as many girl pupils as they would
otherwise. The natives don't like to have
their immemorial customs overridden.
They say of the girly trained in mission
schools: They bring sass in we town"
l have seen curious custom at Old
Calabar, with regard to the training of
young girls for matrimony. A hole is dug
in the ground, on the floor of the house, and
the girl, who may be ten or twelve years
of age, is made to sit in it constantly, with
an abundance of tempting food within easy
reach. Her body is chalked to prevent
perspiration, and she grows fat very
speedily. Sometimes this fattening pro
cess is continued three years or more; the
fatter the girl the higher price she will
bring. A bride who adds fat to other good
qualities is sure to find husband very
quickly.
Among many of the native tribes sort
OF rude politeness prevails that surprises a
stranger. If one native has knife which
another wishes to borrow, the first will
wipe it clean CO on his legs or feet before
handing it to the second EVERYWHERE
there is an anxiety to learn English The
kroos, for example, will accept orders from
no foreigners unless they speak in that Ian
guage; not even from Spanish, German o.
French. They try to use it on all occasions
and the result is an odd tumble of sens,
and profanity sometimes, as in the case o.