§ 16. Africa. B. Soudan Negroes.
1. Coast of Guinea.
Among several tribes here slavery certainly exists. These are the
- Calabarese[651],
- inhabitants of Bonny[652],
- Brass people[653],
- inhabitants of Benin[654],
- Ewe[655],
- inhabitants of Dahomey[656],
- Geges and Nagos of Porto-Novo[657],
- Yorubas[658],
- inhabitants of Ashanti[659],
- Fanti[660],
- Gallinas[661],
- Mandingoes[662],
- Wolofs[663],
- Saracolays or Soninkays[664], [[156]]
- Kagoros[665],
- Bambaras[666],
- Toucouleurs or Torodos[667],
- Jekris[668],
- Malinkays[669],
- Susu,
- Landuma,
- Limba[670].
Among the Ibo or Eboe in the hinterland of the Niger delta criminals are sold abroad as slaves[671]. Whether they keep slaves themselves does not appear.
Several writers affirm that the Krus keep slaves. Miss Kingsley, however, who seems to be well acquainted with them, speaks of “the Krus being a non-slave-holding tribe”[672]. So we cannot arrive at a positive conclusion.
“The Bobo” says Tautain “make no slaves; they hold slavery greatly in abhorrence.… It seems that the Bobo are very industrious; as they have no slaves, they probably have to work much harder than the Mandingoes and other neighbouring peoples”[673].
Corre informs us that “slavery exists among the Sereres. However, the inhabitants of Fadiouth are said to have had captives during the last few years only, imitating what they saw amongst the Wolof traders, most of whom are subjects of France. Independent persons, such as a woman without a husband or family, may sell themselves to any one who is willing to buy them”[674]. This case may well be called a doubtful one. [[157]]