The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-11-17
TWO TITLED AFRICANS.
Christianized and Come to Amer
lea to Be Educated.
Summoned Home from Their Studies They
Return to Their Native Land and
Engage In Battle with the Ene-
miles of Their People.


Two African rulers sailed on the
Cunarder Lucania recently for their
native land. One went to recover
province wrongly taken from him; the
other to strengthen his province, now
weakened by long and bitter war.
The two are cousins, says the New York
Sun.
Precedence in rank is taken by the
younger of the two Prince Momolu
Massaquoi, who has already ruled for
nearly two years, whereas his cousin,
Prince Besolow, has never mounted the
throne that is rightfully his Prince
Momolu has had 'an adventurous his
tory. First trained in the mysteries of
school of the Vel people, in proof of
which he can show a hundred scars of
the torture knives, he afterward be-
came Christianizcd and came to this
country. His mother was then queen
regent of the province of Jabasca, in
the Vel territory, northeast of Liberia.
While the young prince was pursuing
a college course in an institution in
Tennessee he received word of his
mothers death.
The Panas, a warlike neighboring
tribe, had attacked the queens village
and she had been forced to flee to the
woods. The Jabascans. who are ordi-
narily peaceful people, are very brave
| when aroused, and when they found
| their queen missing they beat back the
| invaders. For ten days they searched
| the woods for her, and on the eleventh
she was found, speechless from hunger
and privation. Two days later she
died. Prince Momolu's eighteen-year-
old nephew, who assumed the throne
in his absence, sent word to him to
come back at once.
'"The Panas are threatening. our up
per border" he wrote. "a famine is
in the land. The people are crying out
for the king to return. Come back and
avenge the death of your mother, the
queen"
The prince returned, collected his
fighting forces and in fierce battle
signally defeated the Panas. That was
eighteen mouths ago, but still wander
ing detachments Of the Panas kept up
a guerrilla warfare. Meanwhile the
new ruler instructed his people in agri.
culture and succeeded in relieving the
famine. He returned to this country
last year, and is now going back to en-,
deavor to conclude definitely the Pana
war. His first business on reaching
his native land will be to meet in con.
vention the other native kings, princes
and chiefs, the representatives oi
Great Britain and the Liberian govern.
ment and the Pana leaders to effect a
treaty of peace. Prince Momolu be.
lieves there is great future before his
country. Not only is the soil fitted for
cultivation, but it is said that rich gold
deposits lie there. Some dav the prince
hopes TO establish government golt
mines. The great curse of the country
he says, is the liquor trade, most of tht
wars arising from drunken quarrel:
between chiefs. The prince is abou
twenty-eight years old. He is darl
J negro, with high forehead and an in
telligent face. In speech and mannel
he is like any well-bred young Amer
lean.
! His cousin, Prince Besolow, is thirty
five years old. He has been studen
in Williams college, and was sum
ilOneu d. SlOTu tlIlle ago 10 dSSuule I'll
J throne, which should have been his fiji
! teen years ago. His father was kin
. over tribe of one hundred and fift
thousand Veis, and his mother was th
favorite among two hundred and fit
wives. Like his cousin, Prince Besoloy
is graduate of the Grigribush, G
Lowsemby, as his tribe calls it.
1879 his father died and his uncle
Danlu Saw, became his guardian
! Danlu usurped the throne, and afte
fifteen years of rulership has becom
tired of it. The Panas have been yer
bothersome and have carried away i
raids not only his wives, but even HI
cattle. He wants peace and quiet nov
: and some time ago he wrote to h
nephew to return and assume thron
somewhat out of repair. So the prime
is on his way to his principal village {
Bendoo. His first efforts will be I
foster agricultural pursuits and simpl
manufactures. Then he will endeavo
= to educate his people.
Both the princes have ambitions
Christianize the Veis. They realiz,
however, that it cannot be done O
{ once. The doctrines of the Grigribus
: have taken too deep root. The ruler
!, hope to accomplish their end by Chri
l. tianizing and educating the children
IS A Curious Oak Tree.