The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-20
A BANQUET IN BARBARY.
The Table Covered With Solid Col
Dishes and Ornaments.

The Table Covered With Solid Gold
Dishes and Ornaments.
The following letter has been forwarded
to us by gentleman who has commercial
relations with the gold coast:
CAPE COAST CASTLE, June 8, 1891.
Dear -: l have just got down to the
coast after an unusually long trip inland.
The region L have travelled over will call
Barbary for short, because it is due south
though long way South-of the strip Of
coast that used to frighten cur forefathers.
All this is now French polished, and there
is nothing to be seen there except the retlec-
tion of ourselves. Inland there is still some
interest The tribes are independent and
keep their own customs. They are prosper
Gus. too, many of them, and have acquired
ideas of luxurious living that one would not
expect TO find in the heart of Africa. Just
before making my way down to the gold
coast was present Mt a most interesting
function that would have given your press
men copy for week. 1t was gigantic
banquet given by the ancient chief of
the tribe among whom | was staying to q
young warrior, the ruler of a neghboring
tribe. All the swells of the tribe were there,
of course-the chiefs sons and daughters
and other kinsmen, and the principal coun-
selors and fighting men. Some of them had
their wives, too, and they were very much
got up. Not being professional reporter
cannot describe the costumes. except to say
that there was barbaTic prOfusion of gold
But the gold worn by the guests was a mere
speck of dust compared TO the gold dis
played by the old chief. There must have
been enough gold in that African hall to buy
up the Bank of England. Where it all came
from / have no notion, but our pioneers in
South Africa, now that they have been
ousted from the Transvaal, had better make
a trip to my Barbary.
To begin with, all the vessels ont of
which the guests ate and drank were of
solid gold. The table, too. was thickly COW
cred with the quaint ornaments that saw
ages delight in. Some of them were cleverly
wrought, so far as the art of the people
goes, but for the most part the only merit,
If it be one, was their solidity. 1t was the
style OF the thing that would have delighted
flash pawnbroker from Whitechapei.
The most gorgeous object OF all was
golden bird. The body of the bird was solid
precious stones. l am not good at guessing
values, and will not try but l could guess
nearly enough to know that if l could have
carried off that bird or even bit of one
OF its wings. my fortune would have been
made for life. Apparently the old
chief had notion that such calculations
might pass through the minds of his guests,
for he took care that the bird was not
brought out till lie was there to watch it, and
had it shut up again in strong chest di-
rectly his back was turned. The golden
bird, was told, had been originally taken
in war from a distant tribe, and another
trophy taken from tribe in the same re-
gion was produced to show the guests what
a mighty sovereign they were dining with.
This was lions head, also, of solid gold,
wi diamonds for the teeth and eyes. But
it is no good continuing this list. / think
you would have felt as l did, more disgust
than pleasure. And as came away after a
really good dinner, but with my pockets
empty-on my word OF honor hadn'tlifted
even q salt sDoon--my principal feeling was
ono of qualification that in Europe we had
got beyond this saygee osten;atlon.-Pall
Mall Gazette.