remonstrance will have little effect, for the Alake and Chiefs seem to have no power. The real cause of all the disputes with the Egbas is that there is literally no Government. There is unquestionably a large party devoted to commerce, and desiring peace, but, on the other hand, there is the war party which, though small, does what it likes, there being no head with sufficient power and authority to control them. These considerations induce a fear that we shall not bring the Egbas to reason by any but coercive means. When Dahomey organizes another expedition against Abbeokuta, they may, perhaps, again seek our friendship; but I rather doubt it, as they say the English are strong on the coast on account of their ships, but can do nothing inland. If they persist in their opposition, stopping their trade from Lagos and Porto Novo would, I am certain, soon bring them to terms, as it is a measure which would be felt by every member of the community. I therefore trust that your Lordship will sanction my adopting this course if I should think it necessary. Earl Russell. I have, &c. HY. STANHOPE FREEMAN. No. 27.-Consul Freeman to Earl Russell.-(Received October 13.) (Extract.) Lagos, August 10, 1862. HAVING only received the inclosed copy of a letter addressed to the Commodore late last night, I have barely time to forward it to your Lordship with a few hasty observations. I have every reason to believe in the truth of Mr. Euschart's statements, as I was informed some time since from Whydah that the King of Dahomey had sent down to that town to say that as he had heard a great deal of Dutchmen but had never seen one, if there should be one at Whydah he was desired to come up to Abomey. My letter to King Badahun has never received a reply, which is accounted for by the brutal massacre of the prisoners from Ishagga. No Sierra Leone emigrant but Mr. Doherty having been taken, the 16 men and 16 women mentioned by Mr. Euschart were probably dressed up in European clothes and called Sierra Leone emigrants, to impress the Europeans with the King's little dread of their power. I cannot help thinking that Mr. Euschart's estimate of the Dahomian army is much overrated, when it is considered the immense space 50,000 of even the best disciplined troops would cover, and the length of time they would take marching past. Earl Russell. HY. STANHOPE FREEMAN. (Inclosure.)-Commander Perry to Consul Freeman. No. 31.—Earl Russell to Consul Freeman. SIR, Foreign Office, October 23, 1862 I HAVE received your despatch of the 8th of August last, reporting that the Egbas at Abbeokuta have, in one instance, imprisoned some relatives of Mr. Davis, the head of the Liberated African Yard at Lagos; and in another case have robbed Mr. McCoskry's agent at Abbeokuta, in retaliation for the refusal of the authoritis at Lagos to give up to their owners some slaves who had escaped thither from Abbeokuta; and I have to acquaint you that I approve of your having demanded from the Alake and Chiefs of Abbeokuta the surrender of Mr. Davis's relations, and the restitution of Mr. McCoskry's money. With regard, however, to your request, that you may be auth rized to stop the trade from Lagos and Porto Novo to Abbeokuta in the event, which you anticipate, of the refusal of the Alake and Chiefs to accede to your demands, I have to state to you think it will be advisable to refrain, for the present, from taking any hostile measures, such as you suggest, against the Abbeokutans. that I Her Majesty's Government would prefer that time shout, if possible, be allowed for the present hostile feeling to subside, wh has not unnaturally been engendered on the part of the Abbeokuta by finding that their slaves have a secure refuge in the neighbouring colony of Lagos. If, however, the Abbeokutans should refuse to release Mr. Davis's relations, and to compensate Mr. McCoskry for his losses, you will warn them that, sooner or later, Her Majesty's Government will exact reparation for any injuries which may be committed on British subjects; and you will consult with Commodore Wilmot as to any measures, short of actual hostilities, which it may be practicable to adopt with the view to bring the Abbeokutans to reason, but you will not carry any such measures into effect without reference to me. H. S. Freeman, Esq. I am, &c. RUSSELL No. 33.-Consul Freeman to Earl Russell.—(Rec. November 11.) MY LORD, Lagos, October 3, 1862. I HAVE the honour to report to your Lordship that I have received a letter from the Bashorun and Chiefs of Abbeokuta, informing me of the decease of the Alake on the 4th September. The late Chief possessed so little influence in the country over which he was Sovereign, that I fear there is little chance of this loss to the Egbas having any influence on their policy. Earl Russell. I have, &c. HY. STANHOPE FREEMAN. AFRICA (BIGHT OF BIAFRA). CONSULAR. No. 37.-Consul Burton to Earl Russell.-(Rec. January 10, 1862.) (Extract.) Lagos, November 20, 1861. I HAVE the honour to report that, on the 8th October, Commodore Edmonstone offered me a passage in Her Majesty's ship Arrogant, which I accepted, for the purpose of finding a gunboat at Lagos to enable me officially to visit the Oil rivers. We left Fernando Po on the 10th ultimo, arrived at Lagos on the 14th October, and there I was delayed a fortnight by a slight attack-of the usual seasoning-fever. Commander Bedingfeld, Senior Naval Officer of the Bights Division, was proposing to visit Abbeokuta, and I availed myself of his kind offer to accompany him. On the 29th ultimo we set out in two gigs, manned by kroomen, the party consisting of Commander Bedingfeld, Dr. Eales of Her Majesty's ship Prometheus, and myself. Our ascent of the river (76 to 77 miles from Lagos to Abbeokuta) occupied 4 days, and I assisted Commander Bedingfeld in making a sketch-survey of the river. With respect to the Ogun, or Abbeokuta River, it is perennially navigable for flat-bottoned steamers and large boats as far as Igáon, a village about 26 miles distant from Lagos. Beyond that point, gigs and canoes can make Agbameya, the town-landing-place of Abbeokuta, and even Aro, 6 miles beyond Agbameya, during the greatest part of the year. Yoruba generally appears to be sufficiently provided with watercommunication, forming a great contrast to British India. The lagoons, everywhere subtending the coast, are a natural system of canalization, and the influence of such highways upon cotton exportation cannot fail to be of the utmost importance. Arrived at Agbayema on the 1st November, we mounted horses, and, accompanied by two gentlemen of the Church Missionary Society, rode over the 8 miles of ground between the landing-place and Aké, the head-quarter village of Abbeokuta, or, as it is locally called, Understone. During our week's stay at Aké I saw, in company with Com-mander Bedingfeld and Dr. Eales, the Alake, or Chief, who calls himself King, of Abbeokuta, 4 times. I also embraced every oppor tunity of making myself acquainted with the position of affairs, no in a somewhat abnormal state, and with the prospects of cotton growing and the return of peace. Though expecting to find some exaggeration in the published accounts upon the now popular subject of cotton-growing, I was pleasantly disappointed with Yoruba. The country and the climate are both admirably adapted for the shrub, and, as has been remarked, they offer water-carriage till railroads can be opened. Tappa, one of the Cabooceers, or Chiefs, of Epé, has, amongst others, reported his desire to enter into the industry, and only wants an instructer from Europe. His example will be followed by others, if en couraged, and if proper persons (not any chance-comer, with a black face and a glib tongue) are sent out by the Cotton Association, cotton will soon rival the palm-tree as an extinguisher of the Share Trade. But at Abbeokuta cotton-growing now labours under the dis advantage of a war. The first export was in 1854, when under the superintendence of the missionaries, a few bales found their to the coast. The growth, it is reckoned, doubled every year t about September, 1859, when hostilities began. The Cotton Asso ciation of Manchester confidently expected for that year 20,00, and received only 3,447, bales. Still I look forward to better times. Cotton may be bought at Abbeokuta for 3d. to 4d. per cleaned, and shipped at Lagos for 4d. to 44d. It is always worth 6d. in the English market. Freightage is at present 1d. per lb., as dear as Indian and about double the American; but the steamers have, as it were, a monopoly. On the seaboard, a longer and a better staple, rather resembling the Egyptian than the Indian, can be made to grow. I have visited the cotton-fields from Baroda to Texas, and have rarely seen the various requisite conditions for producing a first-rate article so well combined as in Yoruba. The Egbas, or people of Abbeokuta, are a race of farmers, bred to moderate work, and the population (about 10 souls per square mile) makes the country independent of immigration. There is, at present, far too much liberty, or rather licence. The Alake has neither the power nor the state of the smallest Indian Rajah; over, as usual in these African semi-Republican tribes, "every man," as their own proverb has it, "is King in his own house." This, however, will cease. As individual wealth and importance increase, some man will succeed in making himself King. more The war between Abbeokuta and Ibadan has already lasted 21 months. The nominal cause, advanced by the Abbeokutans, is a patriotic and laudable desire to recover the ancestral soil of which they were dispossessed about half a century ago, when the great Moslem-Fula movement, pressing northwards from the Niger upon Yoruba, drew Yoruba south upon the Egbas, and occasioned intestine feuds which ended in the dispersion of the latter tribe. The real object of the war is rather of the present than of the past. Abbeokuta, considerably puffed up by the attentions of England, and by dealing with missionaries, merchants, and others, who pay court to her, has resolved to constitute herself sole medium and channel of trade between the interior and the maritime countries, which exclusion from the seabord the Ibadans of course will not endure. The proceeding is purely African. It is found throughout the country southwards. At Brass, Bonny, Calabar, and Cameroons, for instance, the towns are mere settlements of factors, or middle men, who live in plenty and idleness upon brokerage between the "bushman" and the white trader. Abbeokuta naturally aims at the African's summum bonum-wealth without work. Ibadan of course demands a free passage to the sea-coast, ever a sine quâ non of African prosperity. The quarrel is now waxing stale, but it is complicating itself. The people of Ijaye were the cheval de bataille. Attacked by the Ibadans, they called in to their assistance the Abbeokutans, and they have had occasion to regret the step. The hapless tribe has, it is said, seen some thousands of their number sold off by their allies, who look upon them as Commissariat, seized by their enemies and pawned by themselves to prevent starvation. Of late the Abbeokutans have been informed that the Moslems of Ilori are ready to attack Ibadan, a diversion in their favour which, if it take place, will end well for Moslem, and badly for Pagan rule. On the other hand, the Ibadans are reported to be intriguing with the King of Dahomey, who, it is said, is already preparing the sacrifices which inaugurate his annual "commando." The Abbeokutan style of campaigning has been excellently described by the late Captain A. T. Jones, 2nd West India Regiment. It is a truly futile affair. With respect to the letter of that lamented officer, I have to differ with him on one point-his severe treatment of the Egbas for neglecting the ordnance pre sented to them by the British Government. Had those guns been swivels, wall-pieces, or "zamburaks," they would have been prized and used. Brass 6-pounders are far beyond such barbarians; as the African saying is, they "eat too much powder." On Thursday, the 7th instant, the Alake and his civil Chiefs signed, at the instance of Commander Bedingfeld, a Treaty of three Articles: 1st. They undertook to close all the coast-roads where Ijayan subjects could be exported. |