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CANNIBAL WARFARE.

The Bonny correspondent of the Liverpool Courier writes as follows : — For some time past the New Calabar men have been secretly preparing their forces for a raid into the Ekreeka country — partly as v, demonstration of their strength, and partly to see whether the Bonny men would stand forward as the protectors of the Ekreekas, which they are bound to do by treaty. Accordingly, the most powerful expedition that ever left New Calabar fcr Ekreeka set out under command of King Amachreo. The expedition consisted of above fifty large war canoes, manned by over 2,000 men. They cautiously approached the capital of the Ekreeka country, taking three days in the movement. On the night of the third day they lay in wait near the " city," hid by the thick bushes that lined the creek that leads to the residence of King Phibia. About midnight some Ekreeka-oil and fishing-canoes — about nine in number — came by, manned by both men and women. The war canoes charged out j of their respective hiding places ; a few minutes of confusion, cries of triumph and shrieks of dismay, and all was over. The canoes were captured, and with them about twenty-five men and three casks of palm-oil ; but the women, with praiseworthy activity, jumped into the creek and swam ashore, and, in spite of all the efforts of the Calabar men, they escaped through the bush to the town, and gave the alarm, the Calabar men in their own expressive way, remarking, " them women he bo devilman for run" — i. c., very swift of foot. At duylight an advance was made on the town, but the Ekreekas were too Btrongly posted behind stockades to warrant the Calabar men carrying the place by storm. Thoy, therefore, opened fire on the position with canoe guns, and bombarded it for some hours. The slaughter in the crowded town must have been very great, as every shot told ; and as the Calabar men's guns were of heavier calibre than those of the Ekreekas, their fire was most effective at a range that was quite out of the power of the Ekreeka's guns. The Calabar men, being satisfied with the damage they had done to the Ekreekas, drew off their canoes and returned to New Calnbar Town. Then commenced the horrible orgies that are the usual sequel to all battles in this country. Sixteen of the prisoners were at once slaughtered and portioned out, like so much beef or mutton, to the principal families in the town, for the purpose of being cooked and eaten. One scene will suffice to give an idea of the horrible practice. About ten a.m. one of the unfortunate captives was bound hand and foot in the centre of the courtyard of one of the most wealthy and enl ; ghtened of the chiefs. The prisoner, haggard and worn, was surrounded by the wives, children, head men, and Blaves of the chief. The chief himself stood in front coolly instructing his youngest and favourite son, a good looking boy of about six years old, how to execute the prisoner with a sharp knife. After a few minutes the young savage seized the prisoner by his wool, pulled his head forward, and struck him on the back of the neck, causing blood to spurt forth. The yells of the men and women were deafening. The miserable prisoner was struck to the ground, and cut up in pieces with large knives. The youngster who commenced the slaughter waved his hand, reeking with blood, on high, and gave a shout of triumph. In ten minutes after the head and hands of the late prisoner were put in an iron pot boiling in the chiefs house for his breakfast, carefully tended by one his slaves, and the young executioner greedily awaiting the repast he would share with his father. Six of the canoes taken were deBtroyed before leaving tho Ekreeka country, and, to the astonishment of the King of Calubn, eight of the prisoners denied that they were Ekreeka men, and asserted that they were Bonny men. They were accordingly placed in safe keeping till the Bonny king could be communicated with, which wns at once done through the Chairman of the Court of Equity, New-Calabar. It has since transpired that the Bonny people claim these men, also two canoes, and three casks of palm-oil.

Sericulture in Victoria. — The Argus, of June 8, says :—": — " The despatches from the Agent-Q-eneral this month contain several items of interest. One of the most important is the unwelcome news that our attempts at sericulture in Victoria have utterly failed. This fact is contained in a report from the Silk Supply Association — a private body — to the Acclimatization Society of Victoria, which has not yet seen the light but its tenor is gathered from Mr. Verdon's accompanying remarks. Victorian cocoons were, it seems, sent to the association, but on examination such examples have been found to come very far short of the cocoons produced by the same worms elsewhere." Australian Butter in the English Market. — With reference to colonial butter, the Home Neivs says : — "The Shell Harbour Export Butter Company have been very successful with their first consignment. Mr. Tallernian, the agent, reports in the highest terms of its colour, quality, and condition. 'Ibis,' he says, ' far in advance of any butter hitherto received from the colonies.' A little more salt would, it is said, be an advantage ; but that is a want the British' will easily become reconciled to. The size of the packages, casks containing 5 cwt., or thereabouts, ig somewhat of a novelty here ; but the agent of the company is hardly likely to allow that to stand in the way of a speedy and satisfactory realization upon the shipment." Cocoons. — The value of the cocoons grown in the whole world in 1870, was composed as follows: France, £4,844,000 ; Italy, £11,260,000; Spain and other European countries, £984000 ; giving a total for Europe of £16,588,000. China, £17,000,000; ( India, £4,800,000; Japan, £3,200,000; Persia, £920,000; other Asiatic States, £2,192,000 ;— giving a total for Asia of £28,112,000; Africa, £14,000; the Pacilie Islands, £24,000.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NENZC18710705.2.9

Bibliographic details

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 19, 5 July 1871, Page 5

Word Count
1,019

CANNIBAL WARFARE. Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 19, 5 July 1871, Page 5

CANNIBAL WARFARE. Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 19, 5 July 1871, Page 5

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