The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-09-18
AN AFRICAN KING.

BasSas are very numerous and intelli-
gent people, inhabiting large district
on the west coast of Africa, and Whre-
abo was one of the most in interesting char
acters on the coast. His father was
Boyer, who repeatedly waged war to
prevent the Americo-Liberians from set
Ting at Grand Bassa Boyer, however,
fell a victim to the vengeance of the Lii
berian laws, and died a bloody death,
but not before he had instilled hatred OF
the civilized blacks in the mind of his
son and heir.
After Boyer's death Whreabo attempt
ed to take control of the government of
his tribe, but he was prevented from do
ing so by his brother Taipu, who will be
remembered by many old traders as
Tom VIII. For months the Bassa saw
ages, in factions supporting respectively
Whreabo and Taipu, engaged in que
rilla war. Neither side gained any de-
cided advantage Taipu, however, had
always been more or less friendly to the
Observation-Disclosures, SO when the mer-
chants of Monrovia demanded that the
troubles which interrupted trade should
end the Liberian government exerted it's
power for his benefit, with the result
that Whreabo was driven to an asylum
in the bush, while Taipu took his fathers
town, his wives and all the Bassa coun-
try.
Taipu was not long permitted to enjoy
the dignity which he had usurped.
Trouble arose from cruelties inflicted on
Liberals citizens by the Vie people, a
warlike tribe farther north, and diverted
the attention of the Liberian government
from the affairs Of Bassa. This was
Whreabo's opportunity, and he took ad-
vantage of it. He endeavored to oust
his brother from power, aud success fol-
lowed his arms. 1t was not many weeks
before the dead body of Taipu, swathed
in many bandages, stood mummylike in
a corner in his chief widows hut await
ing burial; and Whreabo began to rule
over the country.
The fact that Whreabo had secured
power in Bass;lland gave the Liberian
merchants excellent reason for alarm.
Almost all export articles, such as oil,
skins, camwood, ivory and rice are gath
cred in the Bassa district, and this field,
controlled by chief hostile to Liberia,
meant that all commerce in this direc-
ton would be brought to disaster.
Events soon made 1t plain that Whreabo
intended to hold no peaceful relations
with his civilized brothers. He looted
the factories of Liberian merchants,
drove the traders from their stations and
issued an edict that no produce of any
kind was to be sold to Liberians by any
of his people under pain of instant
death.
The ''palaver' ground in Whreabos
town became a theater wherein were
performed many bloody acts. Hundreds
of the followers of the dead Taipu daily
lost their heads, and for weeks the saw
age chieftain held high carnival with
death, until, feeling secure, he gathered
his hordes around him and prepared to
descend on Grand Bassa for the purpose
of driving the Liberian settlers into the
sea.
The Vies in the north at this time, en-
couraged by the intriguing English of
Sierra Leone, were Offering such stub
born resistance to the Liberian forces
that the Liberian government found it
to do anything for the relief
of its citizens in Bassaland, and it was
decided to issue an order that Grand
Bassa be abandoned and all Liberian cit
izens leave the country, On the day
when it had been determined to make
this order public there arrived in the
port of Morrovia, the Liberian capital,
the bark Edwards. This vessel came
from England and brought beautiful
negress, who called herself Jacinto Boyer.
From Jacinto's earliest day stirring
incidents marked her life. While little
more than an infant she had been stolen
from her parents, who were Mandingoes,
and sold to Portuguese slave traders
The vessel which was bearing her to
Brazil was captured by an English gun
boat, and the PROV was turned toward
Sierra Leone, where the human cargo
was to be turned over to the English au-
thorities. This SLAYER was wrecked be-
fore she reached her destination, and of
all on board the only ones saved were
the officer in charge of the vessel and
Jacinto.
Shortly after the Englishman and Ja-
cinto were cast on the beach they were
discovered by the sayages, and by them
were taken to Boyer, ut his chief town
in the interior, Boyer was then in the
midst of his struggle with the Liberians,
and the civilized man who fell into his
power was fortunate if he was killed
without torture.
When the Englishman was brought
into Boyer's presence he raised his phon
to strike him, but Jacinto sprang for
ward and threw her little arms around
the intended victim.
"Noi MOI King" she said, ''give me
the white man." The sudden action of
the little captive arrested Boyers arm
All the Bassa women are extremely ugly,
and the beauty of the Vie girl so pleased
the chief that he hesitated. Whreabo,
then lad of ten years, was an inter-
ested spectator, and when the young
girl made her plea his precocious eyes
that she WAS fair, and struck
by sudden fancy to earn favor in her
sight he Joined her in petitioning his
father to spare the white mans life.
1.-THE strange maiden shall be thy
wife. and the white man be a slave TO