ABEOKUTA

[s. 19] : Capital of the Yoruba district (Lagos Protectorate), W. Africa. It stands on the E. bank of the Ogun river, about 60 miles N. of Lagos, with which it is connected by railroad. It occupies the two highest of several detached hills which ascend gradually to the N. E., and terminate in a bluff surmounted by ma es of smooth gray granite. This bluff gives the place its name, which means “under the rock.” Wars ruined the Yoruba country in the early part of 19th century and the the fugitives from many towns gathered here, slowly forming the city which now has 150,000 inhabitants, and is an Abetlfi Acre important commercial center. The growth of the city was greatly stimulated about 1840 by the arrival there from Sierra Leone of freed and Christian i zed slaves, who were natives of the Yoruba country. These men set themselves against the human sacrifices and other cruelties of the fetishism, and the atrocities of the slave They also trade of which this city was a center. prepared the way for the establishment of mi ions. A mi ion was opened in the city by the CMS by the WMS about the same time, and by the SBC (of America) in 1856-1876. Hostility of slave merchants and liquor dealers to the in 1846; enlightening effect of Christianity has led to several fierce attempts to destroy a reform which opposed both. At last a general uprising against the English took place in 1867, during which all white men were driven from the city, and 400 native Christians fled for their lives; the churches were sacked, and Christian influence might have been destroyed for years had not Mr. Johnson, the able negro preacher, held At present to his post throughout the troubles. the four native chiefs who rule the city attend church regularly, and form a regular Council of Government. A Board of Education for the Yoruba region under these chiefs has taken the place of the savage councils of the fetish priests, which terrorized the land in the first half of the Intemperance and polygamy 19th century. are forces which still resist advances of spirituality among the people, and the influx of foreign traders facilitated by the railway is not an unlimited benefit to the city. Paganism, Mohammedanism and Christianity are the prevailing religions at Abeokuta. There is a Roman Catholic mi ion there. The Protestant Christian community consists of about 5,000 souls, of whom 1,700 are communicants. There are 11 mi ionaries, and 73 native workers, men and women, connected with the three mi ions. The CMS carries on, in connection with Abeokuta Station, 21 village schools, a theological cla and a dispensary, besides maintaining a special work for lepers. The has 22 outstations, and 3 village schools, and the SBC reports 2 outstations and 1 village WMS school. ABETIFI. See Abebify. 20