Letter No. 11
26th June 1905
This is also a translation by Miss Slessor of a native's plea for help. In this case an old slave man has been told to pay back the marriage dowry which his dead master had received for one of his daughters who is also dead as is her husband. He is unable to do this, and protests that such was not the custom in the old days.
"Our Chief
"I beg to put before you my Complaint, for I belong to the Itu Court, & cannot be taken far away like this, so I beg of you to hear me with patience. Long, long, years ago, before we knew about White Man or Courts, my Master gave his daughter to a man of Ibiaku Nduen named Akpa Ekandem to be his wife. She was his wife for many many years, but had no children. Then one day he sent to my Masters house to say, "If your Child dies, do not ask me," Our Master said, "What word is this? What do you mean?" He said "I can see the person who will kill her!" Which meant as he told us, that she had been unfaithful with one of his own kinsmen. Then when she died not long after, we thought that we should ask the reason of her death, & ask for her "head" i.e. for her substitute - as we used to do, but we feared to go, & we feared to send any word good or bad, as these were days of war & ambush & slaving & killing. So my Master died, & all the people of our house are dead & now that I alone - a poor slave man am left alone, & the husband himself is dead, his son Umo Ede has sent me a summons from Oyo Court to give him the Marriage dowry of his father. I went to the Court at Oyo - though I knew you were our Master, as we belong to Itus hinterground. - because I feared palaver [Note 1], & they told that their father had paid the dowry for a wife from the house to which I belong, & they wanted it. I wished to tell them that I could not give them that, I was not able to pay that, that they shd. have come in my fathers lifetime & got it. But they wd. not let me speak. They said "Go & bring 7 goats, Go & bring 7 goats, & the interpreter pushed me, & the policeman pushed me, again & again, & told me to shut my mouth, I cd. not speak. The man who wrote book said, "don’t do that, let him speak," but they wd. not, & I was told to go home & bring 7 goats. Sir, I cannot give 7 goats. I have not anything to buy goats with. And we never heard in old days that people gave the dowry of a dead woman. She died with them, & if she erred, she erred with them, & we never asked for all her life long work which she worked for her husband, surely her work for him at farm & home & market, paid for her dowry. Surely I a slave am not to buy my dead Master's dead daughter back from her late husbands son. Please help me O Chief, for I know not what to do.
I am Your Obedient Servant
Akpan Akpa.
Editorial Note:
- palaver = this word appears to have a variety of meanings including discussion, consultation, Court Case
Letter No. 12
28th June 1904 (the year is incorrect and should read 1905)
Miss Slessor accepts Mr. Partridge's invitation to breakfast with him and to attend a local court hearing to assist him in making a judgement - probably the case relating to the statement in her Letter No. 10.
Dear Mr Partridge
I'm glad to hear something definite from you at last. It seemed as if the earth had swallowed you up, so completely have you been hidden. Thank you for your very kind letter, and for your kind invitations, & etc. I shall certainly *make* *it* convenient to be there since you are so kind as to give me of your valuable time. I have sent to old Ekpo the Chief, who is again busy at the funeral of a young man who died here last night. It seems as if we did nothing else just now. He is greatly pleased at the offer to hear their side of the story, and has gone at once to send for any witnesses. I have told him the Clerk of the Court will not be required, as it will be an independent Court meeting with the Consul. I think he sees the hint, but I don’t think the said Clerk will go with a company of mine, unless it be to call me to judgment before you. He tried Mr Lawson, and the latter told him to go to me himself, so he waylaid the new Aro Chuku man & gave me into his custody.
I shall meet you just where you have proposed, at Use. & I shall be delighted to take breakfast with you *wherever* & *under* *whatsoever* *circumstances* you take break fast yourself. The road will not be too far for me. If so, I shall bring a Hammock. Fancy you having walked that distance! & in this dirty weather too !! Don't *over*do it, for fear of a breakdown.
Yes, the Ibibios are troublesome! but it is greatly from fear and suspicion, & they are so ignorant too, & have had such a history of oppression from all around. They will come allright, but our European staff is far too small to cope with such a mass of disjointed demoralised humanity. I only wish I could be of any help to you. Only sickness, or rain which an umbrella wont shelter, will keep us from starting early tomorow morning, so we ought to be at Use by 10. o/c. a.m. With kindest regards,
I am yours sincerely,
M. M. Slessor.
Letter No. 13
23rd August 1905
Dear Mr Partridge
I got your note with my mails this morning on my way here. Thanks for your offer of a Carpenter, the one at the beach is so busy. It is to put in the windows & to help me to join the joists on the roof for an extension for a bedroom. He need not bring all his tools, only hammer, saw & screwdriver. I have just come from Ibiaku Itam, and from Okoyon, & now will work at this place till it is habitable. Give your orders & fix your dates & I shall do my best to fall in all your wishes. The Mission Str [Note 1] is to be up at Itu with Iron [Note 2] & stuff the end of this, or the beginning of next week. Except for that I shd. not care to leave place till finished.
This Pen is awful, so don't be making another 'Fetish' of this 'Billy Dux'.[Note 3]
Kindest regards
Yours sincerely,
M. M. Slessor.
Editorial Notes:
- Str = steamer
- iron = corrugated iron
- Billy Dux. Assume Miss Slessor means "Billet-doux"
Letter No. 14
29th August 1905
Miss Slessor explains to Commisssioner Partridge that her arrival at the Court may be delayed since the head of an important local house has died. In order to stop confusion and arguments over his possessions and slaves she must go and ensure that all the dead man's affairs are in good hands. Additionally, brief notes regarding two Cases are enclosed.
29th Aug 1905
Dear Mr Partridge
I got your kind letter with the Carpenter on Friday evening. Miss Wright was with me. She came up that day, so I went with her to Itu for the Sunday, & got our Str. [Note 1] as it came from Unwana to pick her up - to come back with me with a canoe load of stuff to our beach here on Monday, & I came away up, tired & wearied, but glad of the lift, & found the Carpenter still working away. He has put on the ridging, & a row of Iron sheets at one gable as a shelter. Has hung the two windows & made a door - less a half dozen inches of plank wch. I am to put on myself if you can supply it - & he has raised one board in a doorway, & lowered another. He has been most obliging, & pleasant to get on with, & I thank you very much indeed for the loan of him. As regards the dampness of the house, we are having big fires on, & that will soon mend the damp. So you need not let that delay your opening of the Court. Only I must rell you that there has been a big trouble in Okoyon, which will necessitate my running down there for 3 or 4 days. The most powerful man by far there has died suddenly, & the slaves are very numerous. His Mothers & brothers houses being large, as well as his own. When he took ill 3 years ago, there was Poison Bean [Note 2] [going/giving?] - & the same women & conditions are there now, - then Egbo [Note 3] will have to be held back, till I put the House under the Consul - as a Ward of his - as the Children are under age - this was his wish, & seeing things were in a very queer state, the Chiefs & the Heads of the house sent Ma to tell me to do, or come at once, that money & trade matters might not be disturbed, & that Egbo be told not to Kana [Note 4] him till the Consul spoke. Seeing I cd. not spare a whole week, & there was no chance to get back till Sat. I borrowed a Constable from Mr Smith, & sent him with a Proclamation to Okoyon, & a Book [Note 5] to the D.C. [Note 6] at Duke Town, telling him the cicumstances, & asking him to send him back here at once. Perhaps I ought to have told you first, but Miss Wright cd. not wait, & if you knew the Circumstances the menace to the peace of the District was very grave. If I have erred, I trust you will forgive me for taking a loan of your Policeman for 3 days. I did it for the general good. Whether the D.C. goes up or not, I must go. --- don’t laugh at the Egotism - in order to give the house work, the Farm work, & the Trade work, into competent hands, & see the whole house for myself. My place is different from any other as they have all put their affairs into my hands. Silly people you will say! But you can tell me your plans, & seeing I have sent my message to them they can wait till we have our first meeting, & I can run down with the midweek Str., & be back with the Saturdays one. The man who brings the board will bring your orders, & I shall try to meet them. I shall stay here till I hear from you any how. I had a visit from Old Imuk today. He is as glad as the others that their palavers [Note 7] are to be settled near their own borders, & that they have not to go before strangers & foreigners any more.
How are you in this mucky weather? I trust you are as fit as usual. I am. Kindest regards, & thanks many. I am
Yours Sincerely
M. M. Slessor
One of these women came to me before the Court was out of Aro Chuku's hands. I sent her to Aro Chuku & she was told *she* *must* *call* *her* *case* *to* Calabar*.
Here she is every day telling me she does not know the road to Calabar, or where to lodge & etc. perhaps if you tell her she will hear
NII is the woman who is "friend" to an Efik man, at Itu, & he says she owes him 100 tubs of nuts, & wants to forbid her taking oath as he will take oath himself. I think she is entitled to bring her case here, *as* *he* *is* *a* *resident* *most* *of* *the* *time* *trading*.
Excuse my troubling you.
M. M. Slessor
Editorial Notes:
- Str. = Steamer
- Poison Bean = the Calabar Bean. Used in trials by ordeal when testing suspected witches
- Egbo = Efik secret society
- Kana. "A certain ceremony observed by Egbo [secret society] at the grave of a deceased member before coming forth to make public intimation of his death". from the "Dictionary of Efik" by Rev. Hugh Goldie, once in the possession of Charles Partridge.
- Book. Probably an official document or statement
- D.C. = District Commissioner
- palavers = consultations, discussions, Court Cases
Letter No. 15
4th September 1905
Miss Slessor writes to Mr Partridge on behalf of a local Chief explaining the absence of two men he wanted to see.
Sir,
The Old Chief here, Ekpo Adiaha wishes me to state, that he has not changed his voice, or his word to you. He gave you one man, the other two, -one of whom was at his farm, was sent for, & was gone on business somewhere. The other has gone to Calabar on business. They will both go to you when ever they return. He did not know they were not at home, & as you gave no warning, he cd. not forbid them going, as he did not know you would want them.
Pro Ekpo Adiaha
M. M. Slessor
Letter No. 16
9th September 1905
Miss Slessor writes to Mr. Partridge on behalf of some Mbak men explaining their absence. The postscript puts the point of view of the Chief, who was home alone at the time. Additionally Miss Slessor asks Mr. Partridge for the date on which he wishes to meet with the local chiefs.
Dear Mr Partridge
Here are some Mbak men, who were seeking me while I was laid aside with sick headache the other day at Itu.
They wish me to tell you that they had neither run away, nor did they know of your wanting them till you had gone. They were visiting a sick person, & were gone there. They do not wish to be "strong headed" or to refuse their share of the work you send them, & they were in "Nanenyon", sore trouble when you paid the visit to their town.
Pro Ndo Ndo
MMSlessor
For P.S. P.T.O.
Private
I’m here & ready when ever you have your day fixed for your meeting with your Chiefs. Just let me have the date when you have fixed. I trust you are well. With kind regards MMSlessor
P.S. *Added information*. *Have not paper here*
When the policemen came to call them, the Chief was afraid, & he said "I cannot go to the Consul alone, seeing my men are not at home. Let them come back first, & I shall go with them. Then the Policeman chained him & told you that he wd. not submit. It was not so. He cd. not move for the town alone."
9th Sep '05, 7.30 Have received with this paper 7 sheets Iron [Note 1]. As I don’t know how to treat this formidable paper, I send it on to you as Consignee. Pardon if I have erred & shd. have sent it back. The men are on their way to you. Kind regards, MMSlessor
[another note]
Ekpo Adiaha sent his men to the Transport Agent. He bad me tell you. MMS
Editorial Note:
- iron = corrugated iron
Letter No. 17
7th October 1905
Miss Slessor tells of her reasons to delay returning to Ikot Obon until the following Monday, and goes over various arrangements to see through local business.
Dear Mr Partridge
When I meant to go back to Ikot Obon yesterday, I just thought how unfair it wd. be to Itu to leave a band of men working there, without any one to see whether they had food & whether they wd. behave them selves. - as Dr Robertson has gone up to Mivana on business with Dr Rattray. He will be back on Monday, so I shall come then & take over from you, unless you care to send the books to Itu, - which wd. be a pity - as it could not help any one, & wd. bother you.
Dr Robertson has left papers with me about the ground. They are to be signed & sealed by the Chiefs & - he said - myself, for the Mission, & then to be given to you. He will run down to Calabar to bring up any thing, & to get his boy, in the end of next week he will come for good & take up his work. You will be seeing him about it I've no doubt soon. He is as full of hope about it as possible. Tell me if Monday will suit, if you don’t send an answer, I shall understand that it is so. If I ought to go up before that, let me know.`
I trust you are well. I am. & am
Yours Sincerely
Mary M. Slessor
Letter No. 18
8th October 1905
Miss Slessor explains a further delay and her arrangements to come with a local Chief, asking him to meet them at 12 the following day.
Dear Mr Partridge
Your note has come into Church, so please excuse a line only in reply.
I meant to go to Ikot Obon tomorrow by Jubilee [Note 1], as it wd. take a little of my "Flitting" with us, but if it be later than 11 o/c a.m. I shall bring the Chief in a canoe to Sawyers beach when I suppose we may find you. I've been bothered at having to stay, but these workmen of of the scalywag kind.
Please wait for us till 12 o/c tomorrow, & oblige yours sincerely
M. M. Slessor
Editorial Note:
- Jubilee - presumably the name of a river launch
Letter No. 19
10th October 1905
A note to settle whether Miss Slessor should visit the Commissioner, or vice versa.
Dear Mr Partridge
I was just getting the paper to write & ask whether I shd. come to you, or you to me. I'm sorry it is such a dirty morning. Come whenever you like, I'm ready. Or shall I come to you if you like it better.
Kind regards
M. M. Slessor
Letter no. 20
30th October 1905
A brief note informing Mr Partridge of the arrest of two men implicated in the death of a local man. Miss Slessor thanks him for sending a carpenter to hang two doors for her.
Dear Mr Partridge
Your Messenger has brought up mails for me, & at the same moment they have brought two men implicated in the death of a man here. He has taken poison bean (Note 1), & then hung himself.
I shall keep them chained till Court day. After that they will likely reach you.
Thanks ever so much for the Carpenter. He has hung two doors for me today, so I feel at home & private now.
Your boy wants to push on, & my head is reeling with this gory story.
Kindest regards & thanks, for books & papers
Yours Sincerely
M MSlessor
Editorial Note:
- Poison bean = the Calabar Bean. Poisonous bean which was used in trials by ordeal when testing suspected witches, but may not be relevant in this case.