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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0145 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0145 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
| MARYLAND COLONIZATION JOURNAL. CONDUCTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS OF THE MARYLAND STATE COLONIZATION SOCIETY, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MANAGERS OF THE STATE FUND. Vol. I. Baltimore, March, 1840. No. 37. When gratuitous please circulate (From Harper's Family Library.) Western Africa. The whole coast of Western Africa within the tropics, forming a wide sweep around the Gull ol Guinea, baa long been occupied by a chain of Eu- ropean lints, erected with a view to the com- merce in gold, iron, and palm-oil. but above all in slaves; and since this last object has heen finally abandoned by Great Britain, these stations have become to her of very secondary importance. The territory is in the possession of a numher of petty states, many of which compose aristocratic republics, turbulent, restless, licentious, and ge- nerally rendered more depraved by their freipieut intercourse with Europeans. The interior coun- try, extending parallel to the Kraal central chain of mountains, of which the principal branch is here called Kong, presents nothing of that desert and aiid character which is stamped on so threat a proportion of the African continent. The soil, copiously watered, is liable rather to an excessive luxuriance ; hut whan well managed, it is highly fruitful. There are found, too, in this tract, seve- ral very powerful kingdoms, better organised and more unproved than any near the eoa.-t. They liave not, however, the slightest tincture of Kurn- MM civilization ; and their manner*, in several important respects, are stained with habits and practices that belong to the very lowest stage of savage life. Of these greater states, the fust to which Euro- peans penetrated was Dahomey, which had dis. tiiigiiished itself early in the last century by the conquest it then achieved of the flourishing king- dom of Whidah, on the slave-coast. The Daho- inaus coiumitteil the most horrible ravages that were ever witnessed, reducing their country, the most fertile and beautiful then known in Western Africa, to almost utter de.-nlation. As the king of Dahomey continued to hold sway over this pro- vince, Mr. Norris, in 1772, undertook I journey thither, to observe the character and position of this extraordinary potentate, and to make strange- ments for the benefit of the English trade, lie pa-sed through a line country, abounding in the usual tropical productions, and rising by a gentle ascent about 150 miles inland to Abomey, the ca- pital, lie arrived at an appalling ssasoo, ih.it of the annual Sttafost*, when the great men were as- sembled from every quarter of the kingdom ; and he was truly astonished to see those fierce and warlike cbiellains, whose very names spread ter- ror throughout Africa, prostrating them"! Ives be- liire the monarch Hat on the ground, and piling dust on their heads in tokau of the most abject submission. This homage is yielded, not from fear, but from a blind and idolatrous veneration, which makes them repaid their kiln; in the litrlit of a superior being. In his name they rush to battle, and encounter their foes with Spartan in- trepidity. One of them said to Mr. Norris, ' I think of my king, and then I dare encage live of the enemV myself.' He added, ' my head belongs to the king, and not to myself; if he pleases to send for it, I am ready to resign it; or if it bo shot through in a battle I am satisfied, since it is in his service.' The main object contemplated in this national anniversary, is, that the king may water the graves of his ancestors with the blood of human victims. These aie numerous, con- sisting of piisoncrs taken in war, of condemned criminals, and of many seized by lawless vio- lence. The captives are brought out in succes- sion, with their arms pinioned ; and a fctishrer laying his hand upon the devoted head, utters a few magic words, while another from behind, with a large scimitar, severs it from the body, when shouts of applause ascend from the surrounding multitude. At any time, when the king has a message to convey to one of bis deceased rela- tions, lie delivers it to one of his subjects, then strikes oil' bis head, that he mav carry it to the other world ; and if any thing further occurs to him after he has performed this ceremony, he deli- ver- it to Mother messenger, whom he despatches in the same maimer. Another grand object ol this periodical festival is the market for wives. All the unmarried f'- m.iles throughout the kingdom are esteemed the property of the sovereign, and are brought to the annual customs, to be placed at his disposal. He selects for himself such as appear most beautiful and engaging, and retails the others at enormous prices to his chiefs and nnhles. No choice on this occasion is allowed to the purchaser; in return for his twenty thousand cowries a wife is handed out, and even' be she old and ugly, he must rest content; nay, some, it is said, have in mockery been presented with their own mothers. The king usually keeps his wives up to the number of three thousand, who serve him in various capacities, being partly trained to act as a body-guard, regu- larly regimented, and equipped with drums, flags, bows and arrows, while a few carry muakets. They all reside in the palace, which consists merely of an immense assemblage of cane anil mud tents, enclosed by a high wall. The sculls and jaw-bones of enemies slain in battle form the favourite ornaments of the palaces and temples. The king's apartment is paved, and the walls and roof stuck over with these hurried trophies; and if a farther supply appears desirable, be announces to his general that ' his house wants thatch,' when a war for that purpose is Immediately undertaken. Mr. M'l.eod, during his residence at Whidah. in 1803, found the country still groaning under the cruel effects of Dahoman tyranny. He parti- cularly deplores the case of Sally Abson, daughter of the lute English governor by a native female, who, trained in all European accomplishments, added to them the most engaging simplicity of manners. Suddenly she disappeared, and Mr. M'Leod's eager inquiries were met by a myste- rious silence ; all hung down their bead-, eon- fused and terrified. At length an old domestic whispered to him that a party of the king's half- heads (as his messengers are termed) had carried lier olfin the night, to be enrolled among the num- ber of his wives, and warned him of the danger of uttering a word of complaint. A more pleasing spectacle was presented to Messrs. Watt and Winterhottoin, who, in I7!M, nscendeil the Rio Nunez to Kakundy, and made an excursion to Foota Jallo, the principal state of th?' southern Foulahs. This people profess the Atahouit'dan religion, are orderly and well in- structed, display skill in working mines of iron, and in carrying on the manufheturs of cloth, lea- tbei, and other African fabrics. Caravans of 5110 or lillll foulahs were often met, carrying on their heads loads of Hill pounds weight. The article chiefly sought after is salt, which the children suck as ours do sugar; and it is common to de- scribe a rich man by saying he eats salt. The two principal towns, Lahy and Teeinhoo, were found to contain respectively 9,000 and 7,1100 in- habitants. The king could BUStsr 16,000 troops, whom, unhappily, he employs in war, or at least bunts, against twenty-four pagan nations that sur- round bis territory, chiclly with the view of pro- ciiriug slaves for the market on the coast. VV hen the travellers represented to him the iniquity of this course, he replied, ' the people with whom we go to war never pray to God ; we never go to war with people who pray toGod Almighty.' As they urged, that in a case of common Immunity this ought to make no distinction, l.c quoted pas- sages lioin the Koran, commanding the faithful to make war on unbelievers, They took the liberty to insinuate that these might be interpolations of the devil, but found it impossible to shake his re- liance on their authenticity. A more recent and memorable intercourse was that opened with the court of Ashantee. This people were first mentioned in the beginning of last century, under the name of Assente or A-i- euti, and as constituting a great kingdom in the Interior,?the same that was described to Mr. Lucas, at Tripoli, as the ultimate destination of tho-e caravans, which proceeding from that city measure the breadth of Alrica. Ueing separated lioin the maritime districts, however, by Aquani- boc, Diukira, and other powerful states, they did not coiiie into contact with any European settle- ment. It was not, indeed, until the commence- ment of this century that these states were obliged to give way before the growing strength of the Ashantee empire, which lit length extended to the borders of the l'antees, the principal people on the Gold Coast, These last were ill-fitted to COpe with such formidable neighbours. They are a turbu- lent, restless tribe, and extremely prompt in giving offence, but in battle they are equally cowardly ami undisciplined. The king of Ashantee having not unwillingly perhaps, received from them high provocation, sent, in IMS, an army of 19,880 war- riors, which entered their territory, and laid it waste with lire and sword. At length they came to Auamaboe, where the Fautecs had assembled a force of 1,988 men; but these were routed at the fust onset and put to death, except a few who sought the protection of the British lint. The vic- tors then considering the British as allies of their enemy, turned their arms against the station, at that time defended by not more than twelve men ; yet this gallant little band. Supported by slender bul- warks, completely ballled the fierce and repeated assaults made by this barbarous host, who were repulsed with considerable slaughter. Seized with admiration and respect for British, prowess, the Asbautees now made pioposals for a negotiation, which were accepted, and mutual visits were |iaid and returned. The English ollieers were peculiarly struck with the splendid array, the dig- nified and courteous manners, and even the just moral feeling displayed by these warlike stran- gers. They, on their side, expressed an ardent desire to open a communication with the sea and with the British, complaining that the turbulent l'antees opposed the only obstacle to so desirable a purpose. A treaty was concluded, and a tho- roughly good understanding second established between the two nations. The Asbautees, how- ever, made several successful incursions ill 18M and 1SIII; and on the last occasion the l'antees ware obliged to own their supremacy, and engage to pay an annual tribute. The British govern- ment judiciously kept aloof from these feuds; but in Is 17 a mission was sent under Messrs. James. Bowdicb, and Hutchinson, to visit the capital of Hi il powerful kingdom, and to adjust some trilling dissensions which bad unavoidably arisen. The mission having set out on the 2'Jd April, IS 17, passed over a country covered, in a great measure, with immense and overgrown woods, through which a footpath had with difficulty been cut, though in some parts it presented the most beautiful scenery. Being delayed by Mr. James' illness, they did not arrive at Coomassie, the capi- tal, till the 18th of May, when they were surprised at its unexpected splendor. It was four miles in circumference, built not indeed with European elegance, but in a style considerably superior to any of the maritime towns. The houses, though low and constructed only of wood, were profusely covered with ornament and sculpture. Hie anay of the caboceers, or great war-chiefs, was at once brilliant, dazzling, and wild. They War* loaded with line cloths, in which variously- coloured threads of the richest foreign silks were curiously interwoven, and both themselves and their horses were covered with decorations of gold beads, Moorish charms, or amulets, purchased .it a high price, and the whole intermingled with sti Ingl of human teeth and bones ; leopards skins, red shells, elephant.-' tails, eagle and ostrich fea- thers, and brass bells, were among the favourite ornaments. On being introduced to the king, the English found all these embellishments crowded and concentrated on bis own person and that of bis attendants, who were literally oppressed with large masses of solid gold. Even the most com- mon utensils were composed of that metal. At the same time the executioner, with bis hatchet on his breast, and the execution-stool clotted with blood, gave a thoroughly savage character to all this pomp. The manners of the king, however, were marked by a dignified courtesy ; he re- ceived the strangers cordially, and desired thein to come and speak their palaver in the market- place. On the presents being cariicd to the pa- lace, he expressed high satisfaction, as well as great admiration of the English workmanship, After several other interviews, be entered on the subjects under discussion, which related to some annual payments foruieily made to the l'antees Iiii pe>mission to erect forts, as well as lor the ground on which they stood ; and the king now demanded, as conqueror of the country, that the-e payments should De transferred to himself. The claim was small, and seems according to African ideas, to have been reasonable; but Mr. James thought himself hound to remain intrenched in the rules of European diplomacy, aud simply replied, that he would state the demand lo the governor of Cape Coast. The king then told them that he expected they bad come to settle all palavers, and to stay and he Iriends with him ; but now he found that their object was to make a lool of him. Con- sidering himself insulted, he broke through the ceremonious politeness which he bad belon: stu- diously maintained, he called out, 'the white men joined with the l'antees to cheat me, to put shame upon my lace.' Mr. James having re- maiiied linn, the king became more iiiccii.-od and exclaimed, ' the English come to cheat lie-; they come to spy the country; they want war; they want war!' Mr. James merely replied, ' .No, we want trade.' But the tnoiiiiieh's wrath increased to such a degree, that be started from bis seat and bit bis heard, calling out, ? Shaiitee foo! Shan'.ee loo !' and added, ' If a black man bad brought ini- tios message, 1 would have bad his head cut off before me.' A singular in.mini v re now look place in the diplomatic party. Mr. Bowdicb. with two junior members, conceiving that Mr. James's too rigid adherence to mle was endan- gering the preservation of peace with this pow- erful sovereign, resolved to supersede him. and undertake the charge of the negotiation. They conducted it entirely to the satisfaction of Ills Ashantee majesty, who concluded a treaty with the English, and even made a proposal of sending two oi bis sons to be educated at Cape Coast Castle. During their stay at Coomassie, the commis- sioners witnessed dreadful scenes, which seem to sink the Ashantee character even below the ordi- nary level of savage life. The customs, or human sacrifices, are practised on a settle still mole tre- mendous than at Dahomey. The king had lately sacrificed on the grave of his mother 8,000 vic- tims, 2,000 of wbuiu were Eantee prisoners I and at the death of the late sovereign the sacrifice was continued weekly lor three months, consisting each time of 200 slaves. The absurd belief here en- tertained that the rank of the deceased in the In- ture world is decided by the train which he car- ries along with him, makes filial piety interested in promoting by this means the exaltation of a departed parent. On these occasions the cabo- ceers and princes, i.i order to court royal favour, often rush out, seize the first person fhey meet, and drag him in lor sacrifice. While the customs last, therefore, it is wild trembling steps that any one crosses his threshold ; and when compelled to do so, he rushes along with the utmost speed, dreading every instant the murderous grasp which would consign bin to death. To cultivate the good understanding now esta- blished, the British government very judiciously sent out M. Dupuis, who, during bis residence as consul at Mogadore, had acquired a great know- ledge of Alrica and its people. But before bis ar- rival, the ardor of their mutual allcctiou had been cooled by the iuteiveution of some clouds, which he had set out in the hope of dispelling. This mission, which arrived at Coomassie early in IMS, was well conducted, and succeeded in its object. The king renewed, in the most ample measure, his professions of desire to cultivate a friendly in- tercuu,*c with the British nation ; withdrew such of his demands as were shown to be inadmissible ; and while he claimed full dominion over the coast, agreed that the English should exercise jurisdic- tion within, aud even ill the immediate vicinity of their own forts. M. Dupuis found this monarch deeply im- pressed with respect lor white men, and also with a desire to imitate and rival the pomp of Euro- pean kings. He was erecting a palace, the out- side of which consisted only of large logs of tim- ber, but the interior was to be adorned with brass, ivory, and gold. He said, 'now white men know me, 1 must live in a great house as white kings do; then I shall not be ashamed when while peo- ple come.' And on another occasion. 'I must have every thing suitable, and live like a while king.' He had procured aichilects li'om Eliuina to give instructions to bis own subjects, who, however, performed the task in so awkward a manner, that be himself laughed at them, ex- claiming, ' Ashantee fouls at work.' Hut the want of skill was compensated by their numbers; and while engaged at work, liny suggested to M. Dupuis the singular image of a legion of devils attempting lo construct a tower of Babel. The envoy had the unhappiness of being resi- dent during the ' Little Adai custom,' as it was called, and understood that in one day upwards of seventy victims had been sacrificed in the palace alone. He was not present, but waiting on the king immediately alter, saw his clothes stained with blood, the royal death-stool yet reeking, va- rious amulets steeped in gore, while a spot on the brow of his majesty and his principal chiefs, indi- cated the work in which they had heen engaged. The government of Cape Coast Castle unfortu- nately, did not ratify the treaty concluded by M. Dupuis, but undertook to support the l'antees in an attempt to throw oil'the Ashantee yoke. They were thus involved in hostilities with the latter people, whose sovereign, in January, IS2I, en- tered Fantee with a force of l.'i.OOO men. Sir Charles M'Carthy, newly appointed governor, be- ing ill-informed as to the strength of the enemy, marched out to meet him with a liner; scarcely a thousand British, supported by a crowd of cow- ardly and undisciplined auxiliaries. The two ar- mies met near the boundary stream of the Bos. sompra, where the English, soon deserted by their native allies, in whose cause they had taken the field, maintained the contest for some time with characteristic valour, till it was discovered that, through the negligence of the ordnance-keepei. the supply of powder was entirely exhausted. Thus deprived of the use of fire-arms, they were surrounded by the immensely superior numbers of a warlike and desperate enemy, aud after a fearful contest, the particulars of which never fully transpired, the whole army either perished on the field or underwent the more cruel fate of capti- vity, in the hands of this merciless foe. Only three officers, all of whom were wounded, brought the dreadful tale to Cape Coast Castle. The Asbautees then over-ran tin' whole open country, laid siege to the castle, and pressed it eic*M lv In some months. Being repeatedly checked, bow- ever, and Millering under sickness and want ol provisions,they retreated into their own country : nor has the king, distracted by the rebellion ol some neighbouring states, ever since attempted to march down upon the coast. Captain Adams, in the course of a trading voy- age along the African shore, visited Benin, Hie capital of which is situated on a river coming from the north-east. The cily is large, appa- rently containing about 19,600 inhabitants, and surrounded by a country extremely fertile, hut nut highly cultivated. The king of Benin is Fe- tiche, worshipped by his subjects as a god, and must not on any account be supposed either to eat or sleep. Heresy against this creed is pu- nished in the most prompt and summary manner, bv instantly striking oil the head of the unbeliever. With all his divine and royal attributes, however, the king does not disdain the occupation of a merchant, and drives a hard bargain while ex- changing slaves and ivory lor tobacco, which is a favourite luxury in this part of Africa. He is very accessible to strangers, provided they spread before him as a present a handsome piece of red silk' damask. Human sacrifices are not practised to the same dreadful extent as in some other parts of Alrica; yet a considerable number are offered on the graves ol their great men, and four annually at t In- mouth of the river, as so amulet to attract vessels; but such is the pestilential character of the climale, that this bloody charm brings now Comparatively lew slave-merchants to Benin. Captain Adams ascended also to Waive, an in- sular territory, enclosed by two branches of ano- ther stream Rowing through this alluvial district. II is beautiful as well as fertile, is about live miles in circuit, and appears as if it bad dropped down from the clouds; lor all the Surrounding shores consist of an impenetrable forest rising out of a swamp. Even in the dry season the water stands on the ground a foot in depth, producing exha- lations which prove excessively destructive to the European constitution, as well as lo all the more delicate plants and animals that happen to he removed from the drier soils of the interior. In other respects, Ibis intelligent navigator did not make any material addition to the knowledge of Western Alrica pieviously derived from other sources. African Magnanimity. Abdulkader. the king of Foota Torra, a Ma. hommedan, and a zealous bigot m his passion lor making proselytes, had sent an embassy to llauiel. king of the Jalolls, to convert biin to the faith of the Prophet. The ambassador was accompanied by Iwo liusbreeiis, each of whom cariied a large knile, which they laid before Daniel, while the ambassador explained the meaning of these suspi- cious emblems. ' With this knife,' he said, 'Ab- dulkader will condescend to shave the head of Dainel, if Darnel will embrace the Mahommedau faith; and with this other knife Abdulkader will cut the throat of Darnel, if Dainel refuses to em- brace it,?take your choice.' The king of the Jalolls replied, with much sang frviil, that ' he had no choice to make ; he neither chose to have his head shaved, nor bis throat cut;' and with this answer the Foota Torra's envoy was civilly dis- missed. Abdulkader immediately inarched bis army into Daniel's country; but on the first news of bis approach the inhabitants had filled up their wells, destroyed their provisions, removed their effects, and abandoned their dwellings ; so that the invaders, after advancing three days' journey into the Jalolf territory without meeting any op- position, began to suffer greatly from want of pro- visions, and especially from thirst. This induced them to direct their march towards the woods, where they discovered a watering place; and the men being overcome with fatigue, after quenching their thirst, lay down carelessly to sleep among the bushes, In this situation they were surprised by Damel, who attacked them during the night, and completely routed them. Many were tr.iinp- led lo death by Hie Jalolf cavalry, others were killed in their flight, and a still greater numbs* were made prisoners, Among these last was ths unlucky Abdulkader himself, who was now led a wretched captive into the presence of the prince, whom he had so lately insulted by his arrogant me-.- ijje. The behaviour of Damel, on this occa- sion, is never mentioned by the singing men but in terms of the highest approbation ; and it was in- deed so extraordinary in an African prince, that the nailer may find it difficult to give credit to the re- cital. When his royal prisoner was brought he- fore him in irons, and thrown upon the ground, the magnanimous Dainel, instead of setting bis foot upon his neck, aud stabbing him with his spear, accoidiug to custom in such cases, ad- dle.--! d him as follows;?'Abdulkader, answer me this question; if the chance el war had placed me in your situation, and you in mine, how would you have treated me?' '1 would have thrust my spear in'o your heart,' returned Abdulkader, with great firmness i 'and I know that a similar fate awaits me.' ' Not so.' said Damel, ' my spear is indeed red with the blood of vour subjects killed in battle, and I could now give it a deepei -lain. by dipping it in your own; but this would not build Up my tow ns, nor bring to lile the thousands who lell in the woods. I will not, therefore, kill vou in cold blood, but 1 will retain you as my slave, until I perceive that your piesence in your own kingdom Will he no longer dangerous to your neighbours ; and then 1 will consider of the pro- per way of disposing of you.' Abdulkader was accordingly retained, and worked as a slave lor three monilis ; at the end of which period. Dainel listened to the solicitations of the inhabitants ol Foota Torra, and restored to them their king. Strange as this stoi v may appear. 1 have no doubt of the truth of it. It was told me at Malacotta by lbs Africans; it was afterward* related to me by the Europeans on the Gambia; by some of the French at Goree; and confirmed bv nine slaves, who were taken prisoners along with Abdulkader, by the watering-place in the woods, and carried in the same ship with me to the West Indies. [Life of Mungo Park. Shout Wouk.?By our marine list it will be seen, that the -livers uilt continue to visit Mon- rovia. The Euphrates, under American colours, came in to laud one Green, a passenger, a citizen ol this town. The crew landed, intending lo en- joy a visit on slime. As soon as Gov. Buchanan heard of it. the sheriff was nidered to arrest the fellows .imi put th. ni in prison, unless they were off immediately. This is the only way. Nothing else will cure the evil, -Africa's Luminary. |