The daily Alaskan., 1905-11-27
THUMPTNG A KING.

TCoyprIght. 1905, by T. c. McClure.l
 The old Calabar river flows Into the plight of Benin, on the west coast of Africa and twenty miles up the river In the year 1862 was born the kingdom of King OyampOo, The British had had possession of that coast for thirty years, but more in name than iE fact Their authority was supreme wherever settlements had been made or ports opened, but up the numerous rivers and back from the coast the native chiefs held full sway.
 OyampOo was man about forty years old and chief of the Adamawa tibe. He began making war on other tribes as soon as he had been elected chief, and at forty he was cock of the walk for 800 miles around. In twelve years he had licked nine tribes and brought them under his rule.
 Traders had visited him and sold him firearms and taught him how to use them. and deSerters from whale ships ana men-oG-war had found refuge with him and taught his troops the whitg mans drill and built forts to defend his capital on the water side. Cannon and ammunition were wanted for those forts, and so one day when a French survey brig came up the river she was seized and disarmcd and her crew made to shift the guns and instruct the natives in their use.
 Oyampoo wasn't cruel, but Le was ambitious. He had just got his forts in working order when the British gov ernment sent a guuboat up the river to knock them ahoIt his ears and humble his pride. It wasn't success. He sank the craft in half an hour, and such of her crew as survived we're helc prisoners for months.
 He expected the British to fight, and there was a glad song in his heart as he saw their ships in imagination sailing up the muddy old Cnlabar to give him battle. Within a diStunce of seven miles he erected nine forts and five or six earthwOrks. He counted up and found that he hadn't cannon enough, and he sent fleet of war canoes down to the gulf to see what could be scoopCd in. AS luck would have it, a meTchantman laden with military supplies for Cape Coast Castle had put in there in distress, and her capture was an easy job. There were twelve cannon among her supplies, and these went up the river to be mounted while he. 2,OG0 muskets went to arm 1000 more 0f the kings fighting men.
 According to OyampOo, things were coming his way and he was leading the procession, but there was little cloud forming on the horizon which was be- vond his ken. The British had their hands full elsewhere on the coast just then, but they finally got around to take the kings case under Rdyisement. All needed particulars were learned from traders ard deserters, and when an expedition finally set out 1t knew what 1t was up against.
 OyampOO had posed as 8 strNtegist, and he had had the advice of other posers, and yet they made fatal mis- take. All the forts had been built oD narrow islands in the river, with deep channel flowing on each side, and the batteries in front of the town were protected only by fimSy earthworks and could be taken In reverse. The depth of the river was well known, aQd the exact location of each fort was mapped out. Four men-of-war, accom- panied by two transports carrying 2,OOO infantry, made up the expedition, end when 1t had gathered at the mouth of the river Oy0mpoo sent word down that he would demOlish 1t on sight. AS a matter of form he was asked to sur render, and he returned word that he would have the ears of the commander of the expedition.
 It was thought best to make m Cb- ject lesson Of Oyampoo and to make a fair stand up fight of it. The cN- petition, therefore, advanced up the river with wind and tide che morn. ing about s o'clock, and wOrl was sent to the king of its coming. SalvoS were fired aud hurrahs given, and by and by the head of the line appeared. Two of the fighting ships took one channel and two the other, and in this way all the forts were taken in re- verse. The transports did the same, 7 Ak. .;g, Gra r,,rrrnI info s.Ha plgl-