THE SHELF

William Allen (1793–1864) was a British naval officer, explorer, musician, artist, and anti-slavery activist, who published works on his various expeditions to Africa and the Middle East, as well as presenting his own strategy for ending the slave trade. Under the auspices of the Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade and for the Civilization of Africa, Allen published A Narrative of the Expedition sent by H.M.’s Government to the River Niger in 1841, following up on his earlier pictorial publication, Picturesque views on the river Niger. Allen described these particular expeditions as “desirable for nobler ends than the acquisition of wealth”, with a pledge to help eradicate the persistent and pervasive slave trade network. In 1846 he published a pamphlet on ‘Mutual Improvement,’ a Utopian-like recipe for moral development and social compassion. In 1849, his Plan for the immediate Extinction of the Slave Trade, for the Relief of the West India Colonies was a provocative scheme to have slave-dependent nations transition their slaves into short-term binding apprenticeships with fixed end-dates for release and economic freedom. Allen also traveled through Syria and Palestine, and published these results in The Dead Sea, a New Route to India, with other Fragments and Gleanings in the East, in which he promoted the construction of a canal between the Mediterranean and Red Sea.

William Allen–

Those, however, who watched with intense anxiety the increasing horrors of the Slave Trade, and who saw that the means were ineffectual which had hitherto been employed for its extinction, believed, nevertheless, that a way was providentially opened to the very source of the evil. An enlightened Government, adopting the views of these philanthropists, readily consented to send an Expedition, composed of three iron men-of-war steam-vessels, up the River Niger, with Commissioners charged by Her Majesty to make treaties with the native chiefs for the suppression of this horrible traffic ; and to point out to them the advantages they will derive, if, instead of the wars and aggressions to which it gives rise, they will substitute an innocent and a legitimate commerce.

This mission of Peace and Charity —which will redound so much to the true glory of this country is on the eve of departure; and the deep interest on behalf of Africa—which has never been extinguished in humane minds,—will thus derive a fresh stimulus, and a more general participation.

The extended cultivation of the soil of Africa, if unaccompanied with precautions against Slavery, may even aggravate and perpetuate this lamentable system : and every step towards extending and improving the resources of these countries may with them, as with Egypt, prove a step towards promoting and encouraging predial bondage. In short, our paramount object is to establish free labour cultivation, and to prove its superiority, thus providing wholesome and profitable occupation, and undermining the Slave Trade.

We followed in the pinnace, sheltered by a prodigious umbrella, of all the colours of the rainbow; with old Jowdie—a Doma slave, who had been purchased by Lander, and manumitted on his first journey,—seated in the bow, in the character of “ Saliki-n maikidi,” the chief of the drummers, the proudest of the proud. Not satisfied with a good drummer’s jacket, he covered himself with all the ornaments he could lay his hands on, and which were more remarkable fox variety than taste. He seemed, however, to think himself the most important person of the cortege, as he exerted his strength upon the sheepskin with considerable effect; though, with more noise than music, giving ample note of our approach.

I witnessed such a scene as is here represented, when the King of Attah sent a deputation to assure us of his friendly intentions, although he had threatened the inhabitants of the surrounding villages with his vengeance, if they supplied us with provisions ; whereby he nearly reduced us to a state of starvation. He moreover subsequently caused our interpreter, old Pasco, and two or three Krumen, to be poisoned. The principal man in the deputation delivered a very long speech, with great volubility, good action, and emphasis; as, however, it had to pass through two languages before I could understand it, all the poetry and flowers of rhetoric were lost in the double translation, especially as Pasco made a very lame affair of his English version.

He was, however, very civil, and his wife did the very polite thing, by calling on us attended by her handmaidens. She reduced me, however, to a very considerable dilemma, by throwing herself on her knees before me. As I could not call to mind that I had ever received such a mark of attention from any civilized lady of my acquaintance, nor even of having read of such a precedent in any code of gallantry, I was utterly at a loss how to perform my part; —whether to receive her with the dignity of an oriental, or to descend to my own marrowbones in imitation of her politeness. I steered a middle course, and raised her tenderly by the hand, whereat she and her sable and glossy nymphs laughed immoderately. She doubtless was a fascinating creature, though a little unwieldy withal. Her hands and feet were deeply tinged with henna, and her lovely eyes with antimony. Her hair—thickly plastered with indigo was enveloped in a sort of turban, and a country cloth encircled her waist with many graceful folds. I gratified her with a few trifling presents the principal object of her visit—and dismissed the rosy-footed channel’, apparently well pleased with her visit.

It is difficult, with our prejudices, to appreciate the principles of fitness and taste, by which the architects of Africa are governed. From the unvarying style of the buildings, to which the lapse of ages has probably brought no improvement, one might imagine that they have been guided solely by animal instinct, and that they have never departed from the lesson first taught by nature. The houses are usually devoid of every qualification which we look for in a dwelling, with the exception of shelter from the sun and rain. No difference is found between the palace and the poor mans hut…The meals are always eaten in the open air, or under verandahs formed by the projecting thatch of the roof, where the master of the house luxuriates with his friends, sending forth volumes of smoke.

Description:

Allen, William. Picturesque views on the river Niger :sketched during Lander’s last visit in 1832-33, London : John Murray : Hodgson & Graves : Ackerman, 1840.

Persistent Link:

http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:16688877

Repository:

Widener Library

Institution:

Harvard University

Description:

Allen, William. A narrative of the expedition sent by Her Majesty’s government to the river Niger, in 1841 :under the command of Captain H. D. Trotter, R.N. London : R. Bentley, 1848.

Persistent Link:

http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:4215070

Repository:

Widener Library

Institution:

Harvard University

Description:

The friend of Africa. London : J.W. Parker, 1841-1843.

Persistent Link:

http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:10721466

Repository:

Widener Library

Institution:

Harvard University

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