In the note to the foreign office I was unable to give the names of the
missionaries, as none were mentioned in either of the instructions 6 or 9,
and the names referred to by Mr. Smith in his letter of the 17th of
September are not those of missionaries who are known to have passed through
Lisbon.
Mr. Smith’s letter of September 17, 1884, speaks of Mr. W. W. Bagster and Mr.
W. H. Sanders.
On the register of the Hotel Durand, Lisbon, bound for Congo, appear the
names of Frederick A. Walter and wife, July 15, 1881; Dr. F. Nichols and
wife, September 1. The latter were accompanied by a Captain Semple, supposed
to be an Englishman.
On the 19th of September, 1884, there arrived in Lisbon and left on the day
following, having been driven out of Bihé, William E. Fay and Wesley M.
Stover and wife.
[Inclosure in No. 12.]
Mr. Richmond to Mr.
da Bocage.
Legation of the United States,
Lisbon, November 17,
1884.
Your Excellency: I have the honor to bring to
the notice of your excellency certain events of grave import to both the
United States and Portugal which have recently taken place on the west
coast of Africa.
It appears that at Bihé and Bailunda, two places under the control of the
Portuguese Government, lying some 200 miles inland from Benguela, there
have been for some years missionary stations established by the American
Board of Foreign Missions; these posts were occupied by five
missionaries, citizens of the United States, with their families, who
had resided at these places for the past four years, and who, by the
example of their daily life, and confining themselves to the peaceful
discharge of their religious duties, had won the respect and confidence
of the people among whom their labors were directed. Each of these
missionaries held his passport as a citizen of the United States visaed
by the Portuguese governor at Benguela, and two of them in addition to
this had the “guia” of the Portuguese governor of Benguela.
Early in the last spring the missionaries became aware of the
machinations, for some unknown object, of a Portuguese trader against
them. His intrigues continued, and, fortified by false accusations,
assumption of authority from the Portuguese governor of Benguela, by
promises and by presents, were brought to bear upon the kings both of
Bihé and Bailunda; with the former they were ineffectual, but with the
latter, the more powerful of the two, the point was gained.
The King of Bailunda, regardless of the passports of the United States,
the visa of the governor of Benguela and his “guia” ordered that the
missionaries should at once leave the country, bearing with them only
such of their goods as they could carry. With great difficulty one of
the missionaries obtained permission to present himself to the King, but
no hearing was granted him and he was ordered to leave the camp
instantly.
On the 4th of July, 1884, the orders of the King of Bailunda were carried
out, the homes of the missionaries were destroyed, their goods were
plundered, and, taking with them what few effects they could carry, the
fugitives with their wives and children began their painful journey of
200 miles to the coast, where, after encountering many perils and
hardships, they finally arrived, with the loss, however, of their little
remaining property. They at once reported themselves to the Portuguese
governor of Benguela who received them with kindness, gave them
permission to reside in Benguela and a promise that he would secure for
them redress of their wrongs, and compel the King of Bailunda to return
the property he had plundered. As to the trader above mentioned, he
informed the missionaries that he had already summoned him before him to
give an account of his actions.
At the latest accounts three of the missionaries with their families were
still awaiting in Benguela the restitution of their rights, while the
other two had returned to the United States.
It is not doubted that the governor of Benguela will have used his every
endeavor to fulfill his promises made to these citizens of the United
States, but, as much time
[Page 636]
has
elapsed since the occurrence of the outrages and no intelligence has
been received of restitution and redress obtained by their victims, it
would appear probable that the aims of justice have not yet been
accomplished, I therefore, as instructed, in presenting this case to
your excellency, beg that it will receive the prompt attention of His
Most Faithful Majesty’s Government, and that vigorous steps may be taken
for the vindication of the rights of these citizens of the United States
according to international obligations, for full restitution for the
losses and injuries they have sustained and for their restoration to the
places from which they have been driven.
As regards the authors of these atrocities, the King of Bailunda and his
abettor, should it prove that justice has not yet been meted out to
them, I have the honor to express the desire of the Government of the
United States that they speedily be visited with such condign
punishment, under the laws of Portugal, as shall cause the rights of
American citizens, wherever peacefully residing in territory under
Portuguese control, to be by all men respected and maintained.
I avail, &c.,
