Admiral Rawson and Consul General Moor leave here today after inspecting progress of arrangements for the expedition and meeting the Expedition Force.
Captain Boisragaon informed REUTER’S SPECIAL SERVICE that Chief Dore (Itsekiri Chief) having been to Benin to inquire whether there were any whitemen in Benin City has brought back news that only black prisoners are there. He also brought back message that the King of Benin wished to receive no more communications from the whitemen. The king of Benin has vowed to defend his country and his people.
Extract from A DIARY OF A SURGEON WITH THE BENIN PUNITIVE EXPEDITION' By FELIX N. ROTH, M.R.C.S., and L.R.C.P.
Colonel Bruce Hamilton, Major Landon, Captains Carter, Ringer, and Searle, and Gregory, of H.M.S. ' Theseus,' myself, with 260 Protectorate troops one Maxim, two seven-pounders, and carriers, arrived at Ceri from the first landing place, Warregi, at 4 p.m. on February 6th, 1897. We are up here before the naval men, in order to cut a path for them and clear ground for their camp, and look after its sanitary arrangements. As soon as we arrived we encamped in the native village; pickets were out for the night, and just at the present moment the officer is going his rounds, the bugle having sounded the last post. It is a strange life, black troops lying about all over the place, laughing and gibbering like a lot of monkeys. A dull, cloudy night, and plenty of mosquitoes to keep us all awake, gives a man time to think what the future will bring, when once we have started into the Benin Country.
References
1) Bacon, R. H. Benin City of Blood, 1897
2) THE BENIN EXPEDITION. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ADVANCE DEFIANT MESSAGE FROM THE KING. (REUTER’S SPECIAL SERVICE) SAPELE, BENIN RIVER, Publication: Guardian 1821 – 2000; Date: Feb 9, 1897; Section: None; Page 8
3) Roth, H. L. 1903 appendix 11 cited Roth N. F. A DIARY OF A SURGEON WITH THE BENIN PUNITIVE EXPEDITION'
Captain Boisragaon informed REUTER’S SPECIAL SERVICE that Chief Dore (Itsekiri Chief) having been to Benin to inquire whether there were any whitemen in Benin City has brought back news that only black prisoners are there. He also brought back message that the King of Benin wished to receive no more communications from the whitemen. The king of Benin has vowed to defend his country and his people.
Extract from A DIARY OF A SURGEON WITH THE BENIN PUNITIVE EXPEDITION' By FELIX N. ROTH, M.R.C.S., and L.R.C.P.
Colonel Bruce Hamilton, Major Landon, Captains Carter, Ringer, and Searle, and Gregory, of H.M.S. ' Theseus,' myself, with 260 Protectorate troops one Maxim, two seven-pounders, and carriers, arrived at Ceri from the first landing place, Warregi, at 4 p.m. on February 6th, 1897. We are up here before the naval men, in order to cut a path for them and clear ground for their camp, and look after its sanitary arrangements. As soon as we arrived we encamped in the native village; pickets were out for the night, and just at the present moment the officer is going his rounds, the bugle having sounded the last post. It is a strange life, black troops lying about all over the place, laughing and gibbering like a lot of monkeys. A dull, cloudy night, and plenty of mosquitoes to keep us all awake, gives a man time to think what the future will bring, when once we have started into the Benin Country.
References
1) Bacon, R. H. Benin City of Blood, 1897
2) THE BENIN EXPEDITION. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ADVANCE DEFIANT MESSAGE FROM THE KING. (REUTER’S SPECIAL SERVICE) SAPELE, BENIN RIVER, Publication: Guardian 1821 – 2000; Date: Feb 9, 1897; Section: None; Page 8
3) Roth, H. L. 1903 appendix 11 cited Roth N. F. A DIARY OF A SURGEON WITH THE BENIN PUNITIVE EXPEDITION'