No. 483.
Mr. Lewis to Mr.
Bayard.
[Extract.]
Legation of
the United States,
Lisbon, July 14, 1885.
(Received July 27.)
No. 10.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose copy of a letter
addressed by me to the minister of foreign affairs regarding the
instructions received by me from the Department of State (No. 6, dated 8th
June), in reference to the ill treatment received by the missionaries at the
hands of the natives of the west coast of Africa. I have seen Mr. Stover,
one of the above-mentioned missionaries, who passed through Lisbon on his
way to his former post, and he tells me that they will all return, and have
no fears for their lives, but he thinks it doubtful whether they will be
able to recover anything from the native king on account of their losses. My
impression is that they will not again be disturbed. That seems to be the
impression of Mr. Stover also.
So soon as I receive a reply from the minister of foreign affairs to my note
of June 27 it shall be forwarded, with translation, to the Department of
State. * * *
I have, &c.,
[Page 645]
[Inclosure in No. 10.]
Mr. Lewis to Mr.
du Bocage.
Legation of the United States,
June 27, 1885.
Your Excellency: I beg leave to call your
excellency’s attention to a note addressed to your excellency by my
predecessor on November 17, 1884, and to which I find no reply. That
communication took notice of certain events of grave import to both the
United States and Portugal, which had taken place on the west coast of
Africa.
It appears that at Bihé and Bailunda, two districts under the control of
the Portuguese Government, lying inland some two hundred miles, there
were five missionaries, with their families, citizens of the United
States, living peaceably and quietly, and only attending to their
missionary labor—that of preaching and teaching. These men were forcibly
driven from their homes and only allowed to take with them what they
could carry, the rest of their property being appropriated by the
natives. After a long and tedious journey they reached the Portuguese
province of Benguela, on the coast, losing on the way what little they
had taken. It is alleged upon what seems to very good authority that the
King of Bailunda was instigated to this course by a Portuguese trader
named Edward Braga, who, being jealous of these missionaries, determined
to have them driven from the country, and succeeded in poisoning the
mind of the King of Bailunda against them.
Redress has been promised, but as yet has not been done; and I am
instructed by the Department of State to call the attention of His
Majesty’s Government to the fact, and ask that this matter shall be
looked into with as little delay as possible, and redress given to these
citizens of the United States that have been treated so badly.
I avail, &c.,
