The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1927. EQUATORIAL AFRICA.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1927. EQUATORIAL AFRICA.

To many of ns, no doubt, the British colony of Sierra Leone, which is the subject of an informative hook by Cajilain If. W. BnU-Thompson, is little more tlian a name, hut it lias a most interesting history. Hie csluar\-hui-bour, where Freetown, the capital, is situated, has been a haven for mariners from ancient times. Hither came Ilanno, the Carthagenian. on his famous voyage round the Cape ot (mod Hope. There is some reason to believe that Pliny, the Klder, may have visited it when living in Spain about i I A. 1.). :at any rate, he knew of it as the f lumen lhi'mbotum. ft. was rediscovered for the modern world Ity the Portuguese in the middle of the fifteenth century. In 1b.31, we are told by Parchils, "Hide M. William llawkyns, of Plimmouth, a man for his wisdome, valoure, and experience and skill in sea causes, much esteemed and beloved of K. Henry the Bth.” took his ship, the Panic of PI millionth, there on a trading expedition. Drake put in on his return from circumnavigating the globe. At Kni Bay there is a rock upon Which xo.a-eaptii.itis were wont to carve their signatures. When Commodore Thompson brought the first settlers there in 178”. he was able to rend debt, including those of -lohn Hawkins, Cavendish. Drake. Sihoulten. Finch. Davis and Keeling the discoverer of Cocos Island. At this period no nation asserted any territorial claims in this region, lmt several mission and trading stations were established. These entered into relations with the native kings, some of whom appear to. have been men of considerable ability and force of character. Naimbnnna the Great, for instance, decided to reform the religion of his people. But there are many creeds in the world, and lie could not make up his mind which was the host. Accordingly he sent his three sons into different conntrios to he instructed in various faiths. One went to England to study the Englist Church, one to Portugal, and one to Turkey to he versed in Mohammedanism. Naimbanna intended to he guided hv their reports. Unfortunately the inquiry proved vain, for the three pilgrims died before they could return. At one time Sierra Leone was a noted resort of pirates. At first these gentry preyed upon each other no less than upon ordinary shipping. But, realising that union is strength, they formed an association, paying allegiance to a common .head. One of the most successful lenders was Bartholomew Huberts, a truly remarkable individual. a total abstainer, a strict disciplinarian, a practising moralist, and a rich Sabbatarian. He holds the record among his kind for length of command, having been in unbroken control of the Meet for four years. In that period he is said to have captured over tOO nrizes. To import negroes into Sierra Leone would seem to he analogous to taking coals to Newcastle, yet this was done ‘‘in bulk” upon two occasions. Indeed the colony originated in one of these migrations. During the American War of Independence the British had encouraged American slaves to fight on their side, promising them grants of land in Canada. For various reasons the land could not he provided, and after some delay the exslaves were shipped over to Sierra Leone. Again, after the Jamaica rebellion early in the present century, a number of Maroons were settled in Nova Scotia. But the climate was unsuitable. and they. too. were transferred to Africa. New South Wales has a link with Sierra Leone in the person of William Dawes, once of the ■Royal Marines, who came there from service in Sydney to act first as surveyor and later as assistant to the superintendent. The latter describes him as “a man of capacity, cool, correct, sensible, and full of business.” But. continues Mr Clarkson Dawes’ manner was against him. ‘‘These poor people, suspicious in the highest degree, mistake the serious and sedate conduct of this gentleman for pride and want of feeling towards them.” Mr Clarkson expresses the hope that the colonists will he induced to place more confidence in him. and that Dawes “will endeavour to unbend a little and try to show his good intentions by a little more conciliation.” It is not stated whether this hope was fulfilled. The early days of the colony were fruitful in excursions and alarums. Sierra Leone was the asylum for fugitive slaves from colonies on the Guinea coast belonging to other nations. It was the scene of bitter fighting with the French, and the capital was sacked. The natives of the interior raided the cultivated areas. The climate exacted a heavy toll, and earned the colony the title of the “white man's grave.” But the dark chapter has long since closed, and for many years the history of Sierra Leone has lieen one of increasing progress and prosperity.