ALS to Edmund Barneman, Advocate of Accra.
KING AWOOCKU OF BATO (1880.)
£750.00
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8vo. Extremities worn, dust soiled, some spotting, scattering of pinholes to upper left corner, otherwise good. Preserved in a cloth folder, with a red morocco label on the upper cover. 1 page (verso blank). Bato, July 15,
With the withdrawal of the Dutch in 1874, the Gold Coast officially became a British colony. It quickly became a focal point for the trade in gold, ivory and slaves. This interesting letter touches touches on the ongoing slave trade in the region:
“Bato 15th July, 1880
[To] Edmund Barnerman, esq. Advocate, Accra
Sir, We the undersigned have received your charges claiming say the sum of £84.14.6 to pay those people of Vloh. This is not fair claimed so therefore we are not satisfied to pay such sum for the other side. In the first place these people have killed four of our men from Bato here and sold one alive to the Croboes. This we beg to say if you could afford to make such settlement to our satifaction we also could do what is right for their part as well.
With compliments We beg to Remain Sir your Obedient Servants Signed King Awoocku and his chiefs of Bato. Their marks xx”
Stock Code: 202192
