Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-06-26
AN AFRICAN KING.
AT ONE TIME A MONARCH, HE IS
NOW A IONGSHOREMAN.

capt' FARRELL Tells the Story in the Pres
enee of the King-He Ate the Ears and
Tongue of Missionary Brought to
This Country as a Slave In 1857.
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 majesty's good ship Scorpion
thlrty years ago. when slavery was still
an institution of this country. The
Scorpion was dispatched from the Med
lterranean to join the Atlantic squadron
IN the Blight of Benin, and had orders to
put down the slave trade, then unusually
active. Before we had been three months
on the coast we captured half a dozen
dhows. We we're informed by a mis-
slonary 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
extlrpate the evil wherever it was to be
found, 300 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 all
Central Africa.
NOW it happened that Carambo ".
KING or sultan of western Foulah, had
died few days before the attack. and
his son-(permit me to introduce to your
majesty reporter of The New York
Star)-hls son, say, succeeded him as
Carambo ""
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 the captain. The
king complied, and the captain con-
tlnued 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 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 hero, and though his warriors fell
thick ard fast around him he Jumped,
spear and buckler in hand right into our
line of ride pits with his weird war cry
of 'Amoo! hal! hal! hal! Ehai Amoor
,Ie wa3 wounded on the right temple
with Il sword. and captured after a des-
pcrate struggle, while those Of his party
who did not dispense 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 a 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 a
/ Portuguese missionary priest. Did you
eat any OF him, Carambo:'
YES" answered the king, simply, 81
ate his ears and his tongue"
"Yes. | remember 1t was for this
! that, while we released his subjects aftel
a day or two, we took the monarch him
/ celf prisoner to the Island of Ascension
We Gl5o learned that he had sacrificed
4 fifty of the late kings wives on his tomb
and was about as sanguinary young
man generally as might he picked up il
/ 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 tw(
months after, and found Carambo hanC
and glove with the royal marines whit
garrisoned the place He had learned t
smoke, and drank all the rum he coul(
get with great gusto. He wore a pair o
long Wellington boots and a grenadier'
big shake. which were all he did wear
and enough, too, in that hot climate
The shake was distorted into the sha Fl
of a crown, and with this on his TGEa
Uranium lie staiked about the island, ant
accepted the title of king with intinit
grace. | saw him dozens of times afte
this when calling in for coal and water
and found him growing so demoralizet
that | wrote to the admiral, who, in turn
represented his case to the government
with the result that he was released an
sent home, on swearing allegiance t
, Queen Victoria. That was the last c
him saw until met him on the whar
half an hour ago, running a cotton truck
Perhaps Carambo can tell Us how h
came here
This Carambo did in very bad, bu
still Ineligible, English.
, 1t appears that in his absence his sui
t ieets chose another king, who marche
a poor Carambo down to the coast wit
1900 others and sold him to America
slavers. He was again sold for 81 eco 6
auction in Richmond in 1857 to planter
who treated him kindly. He was anon
those arrested by Gen. Butler as contr;
band of war in 1862, and of course mad
! free by President Lincoln's proclamation
q For the rest, he came north after til
, war, worked in various capacities, bl
! being man of great strength he final
! decided to work along shore until /
could make money enough to run ka
somining establishment.
: But your name is not Carambo now
queried the reporter.
0 my name is always Carambo," al
. swered his Fouian majesty with dignit,
, '.but they call me John Howard, and
live at 46 High street
: Here" said the captain, I,lilosopl
; ically, "you have king i'll your mids
5 and yet you do almost royal homage
every lord or soi-distant lord that CONS
along. 1t is very singular. New 4ol
Star.
Progress In Asia