English: Sketches on the Western Coast of Africa. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 22 June 1850.
Jujuh-house, or place of worship
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SKETCHES ON THE WESTERN COAST OF AFRICA.
We have been favoured by an accredited Correspondent with the accompanying Sketches, or, what he not inappropriately terms them, "A Peep at the Rivers, on the West Coast of Africa." They were taken during surveys of the Bonny and Old Calabar and other rivers; they are very characteristic of the life and manners of the country, with which our acquaintance is comparatively slight ; although the interest attached to this part of the world is continually reviving at home and abroad by the exertions making for the civilisation of the natives. First, of BONNY RIVER, which falls into the Bight of Biafra, between 5 and 4' 30 N. lat., and near 70' E. long. Our visit (says our Correspondent) to the Bonny, though our stay was short, gave me a slight opportunity of observing the state of oil trade and conditon of the natives. The town is situated about fiteen miles from the Bar or entrance of the river, which ought to mike it, comparatively speaking, a healthy anchorage for our traders ; but, the swampy shores of the stream, which at high water are inundated, counteract the salubrity of a sea breeze. After heavy rains, a tropical sun acting on decomposed vegetable matter, engenders the most deadly fever, so fatal to our merchant seamen belonging to the palm-oil vessels. Trade, I may say, is prospering; the time of vessels in the river averages from five to seven months; fine ships from four to six hundred tons. The Bar is good 3 1/2 fathoms at low water. In my Sketch of the Shipping, you will see the c'omfortable and cool way of housing these vessels over; it is a sort of matting supplied from the shore, and having it two-thirds tip the masts gives plenty of ventilation and protection from the sunti. It costs about £70 in goods. Bonny at one time was the chief market for slaves, who, according to Captain Adams's statement, were sold there to the annual number of 20,000, the greater part of whom were brought down from the Eboe country. The town is mean, being built of stakes driven into the ground, wattled and plastered, and is surrounded by a marshy country, overgrown with timber. The canoes are large, capable of containing, perhaps, 130 people. Salt of good quality is manufactured and sent up into the interior. Our trader, bring out a quantity of that article, and the natives would rather buy it from them than make it themselves. We have no Missionary station up the river, but King Peppel (whom I shall introduce presently) was rather anxious for "white man to come and teach boy-book." Human sacrifice is still kept up. but to no very great extent ; it is very difficult to find it out, as great secrecy is kept. They used, at one time, to sacrifice four young persons year at the mouth of the river, by stringing them to the overhanging trees, with their feet and hands just touching the water ; this was done to bring plenty of vessels into the river for trade, and to propitiate the spirit of the river. I must not omit to mention the hospitality we received from the supercargoes and captains of the British ships, and their kindness and willingness to oblige and assist us in our wants will not be forgotten. The amount of oil averages from £60,000 to £100,000 sent to Liverpool per annum; and, when we look at the market it opens for our own manufactures, the rivers of Africa are not to be despised. I next send you a slight sketch ot the Fetish, or JUJUH-HOUSE, or House of Worship used by the natives of Western Africa. It assumes a curious and savage appearance, in asmuch as it is chiefly constructed of the skulls of captives taken in war; and in the centre, the Gawna. It is considered to be the chief Jujuh, which is stuffed and placed as you see in the Sketch. This animal is allowed to roam about the towns unmolested; in fact, should a native be seen hurting it in any way, death would be his reward. I met, in my walk in the village, three or four of them. This drawing was taken in the town of the Bonny rlver, I having gained permission from the King to be allowed to enter this curious specimen of their houses of worship. You will observe the heads with feathers stuck into the sides: they represent the skulls of chiefs. A few elephants' tusks are thrown before the altar, gifts of rich natives to their Jujuh; on the left there is an earthenware vessel, constantly kept filled with rum, for the use of the Jujuh. Their mode of worship is in a kneeling posture, prostrating themselves sometimes flat on the stomach. The Priest, or Jujuh-man, is of great importance; and on grand days, when they make a sacrifice of a goat or any animal, it is wonderful to see the rush to get a drop of its blood. Human sacrifice is common , but always kept a secret from the traders of England. The King has made a written statement, asserting, as far as his power is concerned, he is willing to put a stop to the horrible practice; but the laws prevent their chief entering into any agreement regarding the religion of his people. The only difference of the Jujuhs of the various towns and villages is the assuming different anlnuals. Some have the alligator, &c. The Jujuh is entirely constructed of bamboo and mud surrounded by palm-leaf. I now beg to introduce to you KING PEPPEL, who is about 32 years of age, having reigned nearly ten years. He is a great dealer in palm oil, and a very cunning trader; his influence with the people is very small, and from his exertions in traffic he is not much liked by the native gentlemen of Bonny. He has a sort of palace, but very badly furnished; and musters about thirty wives, to whom lie appears to devote the greater part of the day. His complexion is a very light brown, and from all appearances has something to boast of in having a little white blood in his veins. The commnander, in the course of conversation about his presents, wanted a list to send home for next year. He wanted white man to teach boy to read, powder-guns, and a sword to pass every sword--which means the best that can be got. He was half inclined to add an English wife, but appeared a little ashamed; though he had a most beautiful picture in his private room of an English damsel at her toilet, for which, he said, if it was only alive, he would give all he was worth. His memory is excessively strong in his conversation mentloning the different battles that have been fought, and all the leaders. General Napier is his great favourite, after "the Duke :" he was glad to hear of his going to India again. Nelson was much admired by his Majesty, as he termed him, " Make war-palaver for sea." he visited the Rattler, on which occasion a sumptuous repast was given by Captain Cumming to all the captains and supercargoes in the river, to meet the King. The Sketch is taken as he was sitting outside his house, in deep thought at what he should have for his next present. We then visited Old CALABAR, which falls into the Bight of Biafra, about two miles. N. by W. of Fernando Po. It ranks next in ilnportance to the Bonny; and affords access to a considerable trade. The town is named Ephraim, and is imore regularly built than the African towns generally. The English trading ships are larger in tonnage; they average from 500 to 1000 tons, and consequently are much longer loading lll, thus exposing them to the deadly effect of the fever; and, from their lying up so far in the mouth of the river, they are debarred from the fine sea breeze which the Bonny anchorage has every day. I should certainly say it was the most unhealthy river; still we had only one death, which was universally regretted bv all on board-it was our worthy chief-engineer, an officer much respected and liked by the men and officers. The inhabitants of this town number from 6000 to 7000; their European wants are much the same as at Borneo. The average importation of British manufacture is from £20,000 to £30,000 annually, the export of oil averaging double the import of goods. The Sketch represents Ephrain Town, with the British merchant ships at anchor, and H.M steam-sloop Rattler saluting King Eyo on his approaching the ships to pay a visit to the steamer. His canoe held upwards of 100 people, the greater part of whom were well armed, and called the King's body-guard. He had another large war-canoe tollowlng him. His resldence is two hours up the river called Creek Town, and Is worth a great deal of money, his store-houses being crammed with European articles, besides a great number of slaves, and he has upwards of 300 wives. We visited his palace at Creek Town, and found It handsomely furnished with elegant tables and chairs, magnificent sofas, splendid looking-glasses ; and prints of the principal public characters of England, as well as views of sea and land engagements, in handsome gilt frames. I particularly noticed one picture, young girls playing at blindman's-blufl; it was a French production, and the old King said It was his greatest favourite. After refreshment, Captain Cumming amused him with a sham fight with ship's boats, which delighted him very much , and he left the ship highly gratified by his receptlon. This river at one time exported upwards of 15,000 slaves annually. ... more ...
