X INTRODUCTION. 



of robbers. After the Egba country was destroyed, the robbers withdrew, and their place was supplied 

 by a few refugees from some of the desolated towns. Their number was increased from time to time by 

 the arrival of other refugees, and this continued till the new settlement contained about fifty thousand 

 inhabitants, the remnants of about one hundred and thirty towns. In reference to the dwelling of the 

 first inhabitants under the great rock, the town was called Abe-okuta, literally, Under-stone. The rock 

 itself is called Olumo, The Builder, and some of the Egbas honor it with a sort of worship. 



The people of Iloriq, of Ibadai), of Idzebu, and of Ota made repeated attempts to destroy the new town 

 and sell the inhabitants for slaves. But the Egbas, now united under a skilful leader named Sodeke, 

 were too strong for their assailants. After repelling several invasions, Sodeke began to take vengeance on 

 his enemies, and conquered the kingdom of Ota. By this means he opened a road by which his people 

 could trade to the sea-coast. 



In the meantime several recaptured Egbas returned homo from Sierra Leone, where they liad learned 

 something of civilization and Christianity. Sodeke and the Egbas generally were so much pleased with 

 the accounts of the English furnished by the new comers, that he and the whole tribe invited missionaries 

 to come and settle in Abeokuta. The consequence was that the English commenced a mission there in 

 1846. It is probable that there are now two thousand converts in that city. 



On the 3d of March, 1851, the king of Dahomi attacked Abeokuta with a strong force, said to consist 

 often thousand men and six thousand women — for about one third of his ajjpiy is composed of Amazons.* 

 Tlie king expected a rich booty of slaves and plunder; but he seems to have been greatly mistaken in 

 regard to the real strength of the town. The Egbas met him with a force at least equal to his own. 

 Both parties were armed with guns. The battle raged for about four hours, and occasionally with such 

 fury that the combatants were scarcely visible through the smoke at a distance of one hundred yards. In 

 some cases they broke their empty guns over each other's heads. The king, though long accustomed to 

 victory, was obliged to retreat. On the following day it was ascertained that he left twelve hundred and 

 nine of his warriors dead ou the battle-field. Although hotly pursued with continual volleys of musketry, 

 the Dahomies retired in good order, and carried away all their wounded. 



Since this battle the Egbas have generally enjoyed peace, and have made considerable advances towards 

 civilization. They are now governed by a king, who is one of the ancient royal family of the nation. 



4. Idzebu, on the south-east of Egba, and extending to the sea-coast, may have an area of five thousand 

 square miles, with a population of two hundred thousand souls. The surface is undulating, and, like all 

 the adjacent territories, is covered with a mixture of forests 'and grass-fields or prairies. The Idzebus are 

 generally, though perhaps unjustly, regarded as the most barbarous of all the Yoruba tribes. 



5. Idzesa, on the east of Yoruba, probably has an area of two thousand square miles, with a population 

 of at least two hundred thousand. The capital is Ilesa, and we liear of other considerable towns in the 

 same vieinitv. 



0. Efoi) extends from the north-east of Yoruba eastward to the Oya or Niger. Very little is known of this 

 country, but it is understood to contain six thousand square miles, arid a population of three hundred 

 thousand souls. It is said to comprise several extensive towns, one of whicli, Ibodo or Kakanda, on the 

 Niger, is the capital. The Efoq people arc skilful in working brass and copper, and it is aflirmed that 

 they have copper mines in operation, six days' journey, or one hundred and twent}' miles, cast of Ilorii). 



7. Ilorir), so called from its capital city, is a small Mohammedan kingdom, composed chiefly of 

 Yorubas, Fellatahs, and Hausas. Its area is about one thousand square miles, and its inhabitants number 

 at least two liundred thousand, nearly one half of wdiom arc in the capital. This district revolted from 

 Yoruba and became independent about thirty years ago. For several years they waged continual war 

 against the heathen population of Yoruba, and they succeeded in destroying the capital, old Oyo (Katanga 

 or Eyeo), a great city, twenty miles in circuit. But finally they were defeated by the people of Ibadai), since 

 which time they have acted chiefly on the defensive. The king and most of the principal people of 

 Iloriq are Pulohs or Fellatahs ; but the Yorubas and Ilausas, both of whom arc numerous, have some 

 inferior officers of their own tribes. 



Iloriq is one of the great marts of Central Africa, and is much frequented by people from various 

 countries beyond the Niger, and even by Moors and Arabs. The principal exports are fine cotton cloths 

 of Nufe manufacture, and sljives or prisoners captured in petty wars with the neighboring tribes. The 

 imports consist of Arabian and common horses, salt, trona or crude carbonate of soda from the Great 



* On the day after the battle, the writer saw several hundreds of these women lying dead on the field. So far as 

 he liaa learned, Dahomi is the only country in Africa which employs female soldiers. They fought with great fury. 



