Rev. Thomas C. John  to Bishop Crowther. Confluence River Niger. Jan. 25. 1870.

 

     I promised in a former letter to you which I hope you have already received, that I would write you again more fully as soon as  opportunity offered. I have this opportunity by a Bunu Eman Cipado who had come up here on speculation some time last year and proceeded to visit his native place and friends intending on his return , if possible to make his future stay at Lokoja but finding on this return  the state of things contrary to his expectation he is returning to Lagos. His name is Anthony a Mohammedan by profession - but very well disposed. I therefore undertake by him to fulfil my promise. I believe that I have already informed you that immediately after the last steamer left Lokoja, for seeing what would be the state of things, Mr. R. J. Bright local agent of the J. J. & Co. Factory, suggested that it would be necessary for the Sierra Leone Emigrants including the Mission agents to form ourselves into a sort of Society for the promotion of unity and self-defence against any undue encroachments of the Kings people stationed in the camp, who might take advantage of the withdrawal of the Consul, and the distance of their king under whose ostensible protection we have been left to molest us. A meeting of the mission agents was consequently convened at the Mission House on which occasion I was elected chairman and the proposition being made by Mr. Bright ti was unanimously adopted and carried out. Since then we have continued to hold meetings at the two trading establishments alternately once or twice every month as complaints have been brought against the men of the camp and when the complaints or other matters have been carefully investigated we never failed to send a deputation to Inda Madaki the principal chief of the camp to lodge the said complaints with him who in turn always said some good word of redress after [??] had been committed and what else could we do but accept the redress such as it might be.

​

     Minutes of these transactions are always taken for future reference as the case may be. I am obliged to write again what I had written in the former letter in case it might not reach you, Salam aleiku and his people are put under tribute. The usual oppressive system ofo exacting cowries & plundering so rife in countries or places conquered or unjustly claimed by Mohammedan Kings or Princes. Several times the poor people unused to such heavy burthens (sic) made up their minds to run away from the place and flee into the woods in order to be free and but for our exertions in encouraging them they would long ago have accomplished this object. An oppressive Agele has been stationed among them who is to get his maintenance noleus voleus from them and to extort whatever the cupidity of his superiors demand. His first act in office was the proclaiming to his poor ignorant subjects that a white man being no longer at Lokoja they were consequently under King Massaba's government and that therefore, they were no longer to pray after the white man's fashion, that he himself had book and would teach them how to read and pray as m uch as the anasara teacher. Poor Salamalieku was so far carried away by the insinuation of this poor and wretched being that when Mr. Thomas went to perform the usual morning devotions with him and his people - they refused to attend and stated as a reason that they were told that they no longer belonged to the Anasaras but to the Mohammedans and would no longer attend church, and their children no longer go to school. So soon as I heard this, Mr. Paul, Mr. Thomas & myself awent to Salam aleikus and reason with him on false position he was about to assume. Poor man, he was convinced and freely allowed Mr. Thomas and ourselves to continue our work among himself and his men.

 

     Ada's mother and Inadasi had been all uneasy and were about running away - when I took the precaution to take them as well as William Kpanaki and another Igbira convert to Inda Madaki and show them to him as some of your people who had come from Gbebe as included in the number of those whom the King promised in his letter to you to protect and I am glad to state that Inda Madaki received us then very courteously and promised that he would see to it that nobody troubled them - and true too no one has troubled them up to this date and they are living still at M. Thoms' yard. But John Kpanaki Ada's brother - being much in fear

for his wife - has taken her to her parents and has not nor (sic) means to return to Lokoja just now. In fact Sir, every Igbira unless he is a Mohammedan by profession is hunted as a partridge.

 

     Twice Asem was missed - and but for us he would have been caught and sold. Once he very foolishly said that he belonged to Inda Madaki and would give to him his daughter to wife. This unguarded remark was caught from his lips;  and conveyed by some parasites of his to Inda Madaki who at once sent for the girl who had then been living at Mr William's yard but before the captor reached [her] the girl had absconded away and being missing Inda Madaki said Williams must be responsible for her or else Asem her Father must be delivered to him in her stead. This we stoutly met and told Inda Madaki that [she belonged to ??] Anasara and if he sold him  - he should be reported to the first man of war that arrives here next season- this frightened him and so he let the matter drop. A House was about to be set fire to by an unknowon party lately - and the owner of the house from mere suspicion said it was Asem. The matter was reported to Inda Madaki and in very foolishly said that one of the Anasaras had attempted to burn down a house and therefore he must be delivered up to him and that he had some medicine to give him - if he was mad - What is the medicine? he was to be sold for cowries to pay his debt for Kola nuts. Here again we showed him the foolishness of such reasoning. For why was not Asem, if it was he, and the owner of the house saw him- why was not Asem caught? but you will be surprised to learn that the owner of the house named Oni (not the woman) living in the premises of Mr. Newland an Anasara, said after Inda Madaki had failed in this second attempt to get Asem that he would burn down all the houses of the Anasaras at Lokoja because the refused to deliver up Asem whom he suspected of attempting to set fire to his house, to his master, and once again Inda Madaki said that he dared not do it. but we not being satisfied with this assurance hired the town crier to publish the report that Onis had threatened to burn down the Anasara's houses and that everyone was to be on his guard. But time would fail me to enumerate such instances of annoyances which have daily been occurring since you left us. I must now enter upon more important point which have respect to our work. We are I am sorry to say entirely shut up at Lokoja without any chances of making visits to the neighbouring villages. Abanda town is broken up the chief having revolted from the yoke of King Masaba and places himself in front of the River not very far from us now and then seizing on the canoes that pass near him. Kpepere a small but important market town is also broken up. The Dakkares having threatened to seize 9 of its inhabitants for  5 selling horses which they had left in their keeping in consequence of which Lokoja and its inhabitants are suffering for want of places to get provisions - these two towns having been formerly places from which they used to get provisions. Inda Madaki has, in the bargain, forbidden any canoes to go to Gbebe either to buy or sell.

 

     Hence all the heathens and natives of the neighbouring villages are afraid to come to Lokoja with anything to sell in the shape of provisions for they are no sooner seen landed at the waterside than they are seized and the owners of them are obliged to abandon their property in order to save themselves. The principal disturber of the peace of this place is said to be Bemi? - the Kings grandson who is contending with Inda Madaki in order to see that this place be destroyed, simply because he wanted the oversight of it, but was denied it. As for himself individually he is but a youth - simple and inexperienced - it is his followers, who are the instigators of the mischiefs which pass in his name. it was he who robbed the W.A. Company's wood openly in the day a few days after the `Thomas Bazley' left Lokoja for the Coast, It was he who seized and sold 25 persons among Salam Aleiku's people - it was he who cut down the unripe corn, and dug up the yams of the rest of these people as well as those of the people redeemed by Government. Inda Madaki could not restrain him from these acts of violence and thought it not his place to report his conduct to his King - the young prince looking down on him as his Grandfather's slave. But somehow or other the King heard of all his wicked doings and sent a threatening message to him but he was quiet only for a time. The same outrages that have been committed at Lokoja were committed at Odokodo by the King slaves who is at the head of the troops there stationed. The chief Asuajuko and his men were so incensed at the conduct of that man that they at once resolved to quit the place, and they would have done so had not some more sensible men among the troops appeased them. But lately these same men instigated by one Osio who had been Amajuko's guest during the disturbances of 1868 - sent to Amajuko to demand his late father's property - and this the good chief could not brook and therefore he and his people have been obliged to abandon their houses and crossed [over the ] river to reside on the beach opposite Gbebe. Thus when we have been fondly hoping that something substantial in the line of our work would be carried out during the year something begun so hopefully last year at that interesting village - this year we are doomed to disappointment - and may it be only for a short time.

            

     Returning to Lokoja, and the Salam aleiku's people I must say that affairs are in a most precarious state. The poor people are oppressed in fact persecuted. Even the Hausa people of the place who have come in daily contact with Christians altho' they are not themselves such as yet - but one observing their peaceable and industrious habits, cannot fail of noticing that they have been much benefited by Christian civilization imperfect as it is here - even those persons share in the rod of oppression and wrong and have frequently remarked that but for us Christians not one of them could have remained in this place. The Salam aleiku people in addition to our teachings and encouragements are no doubt indulging in a fond hope of the return of a Consul or a better state of things

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .

    . . . . . . . cowries are very scarce this year, the state of things as above mentioned has rendered the trade very dull. There are no markets to go and sell or buy anything that........

 

     English cloths - the few pieces of grey baft that I have left are not even asked for  - and as I commence repairing houses - I have in accordance to your order been obliged to soon to pen accounts with the agents of the factories in order to get supplies for carrying out what works i may have to do.

 

     These have furnished me with only copper rods at 2/- and 2/6 each and even there the people are unwilling to take except I constrain them seeing that by selling them for ready cowries, they lose much.

            

     A report reached us last month that the `Thomas Bazley' was lost in her trip to Sierra Leone for repairs and about 90 souls perished with her.

            

     The news was very astounding, and we did not believe it, we, however, fear that some serious accident might have happened to some parties at Lagos.

            

     May it not be such as has been reported to us. i am sorry to inform you of the death of Mr. Paul's daughter who suffered severely for more than 3 months before her death. When i had written the preceding portion of this letter and stated the probability Salam aleiku and his people being compelled to run away from Lokoja through oppression - News reached me that one Noje a Yabasi man - in the camp whom Inda Madaki has made Agele for the Salam aleiku people - ostensibly to take care of them as he himself said went and demanded from Salam aleiku five persons whom he said were given to him for a present by their owner at Bassa. This startling falsehood roused theh people's indignation, and they went to Inda Madaki to report the matter to him, Inda Madaki said that Noje was greatly mistaken. But strange to say that after the men left Inda Madaki's place- this same Noji went to them at their own residence and stated that he [??] till those 5 men were delivered to him. Some of them happen to be engaged by Mr. Bright and not seeing them at work went to ascertain the reason they told him what had passed between them and their Agele.

            

     Then Mr. Bright went to Inda Madaki to complain to him of the conduct of this Noje - Ind Madaki said that he would like to see the 5 persons in question so Mr. [Bright] took them over to him with the hope of returning with them in safety - but Inda Madaki took them from him and kept them telling Mr. Bright to go home and when in the evening- Mr. Bright did so - and when he returned in the evening - the old man told him again to call next morning and when he called he would not deliver the men to Mr. Bright. On the previous evening Loothei & Williams called at the Mission House to inform me of the intention of the Kings people to seize in addition to the above 5 men, a young woman who had been living with Mr. Black & who he had left in charge of Williams on his embarkation for England stating also that if we do not immediately check the conduct of these men, they would do worse than that.

            

     Considering the remarks a little, i said in reply that we should see what we could do to that in the morning D.V. but most unfortunately before daybreak the greatest number of salam aleiku's men ran away themselves wives and children together eith such things as they were able to take with them so that at the morning prayer conducted by Mr. Paul -Mr. Thomas being unwell these 3 weeks only 2 persons attended. Salam aleiku the old man himself with his immediate household is the only resident in the whole distric now. But we are still going there - and they being 10 in number are still attending divine and other means of grace. such has been the result of the stationing of Massaba's men at Lokoja and we know not what they may yet do, we only trust in the goodness and mercy of God who will not let his work come to nought. The campmen only come here to wage war with us instead of the Bassas whom they were sent too fight with, and unless they are removed from this place or the Government of this place be changed , security otherwise would be but a sham notwithstanding it is promised by even King himself. For instance on once occasion when the matter was rather too political and did not come within our province Merss Bright and  Ashley wrote to complain to the King respecting the dullness of their trade owing to the pressure of his Dakkares at Lokoja. The King merely said in reply, that they would soon be removed from Lokoja dnd when he sent his orders that they should remove further down the river Inda Madaki it is reported said that he would not go because the white men had given him Lokoja to take care of and this is the end of the war so much talked of.

      

     Abbega has left Lokoja and gone to Housa and will not return soon. So Mahamma also. He is detained as his slave by the King at Bidda. Sariki is detained also by him. Collier  & Jacob  Meheuz are the very conspicuous men left here. Meheux as our Interpreter to Inda Madaki being a Mohammedan and Collier being truthful and bold is very serviceable in any political matter. I must close assuring you that we are not in any fear about the place and our work though I have written so particularly many things i wite which otherwise I would [??] over were it not for the sake of giving you a clear insight into the state of things here as you would be anxious to know how matters stand with us. [??/]]]]] 

​

(signed) Thomas C. John