The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 44, September 9, 1897 | Page 8

days. They refused to sell their grain until its price had gone up to nearly double what they had paid for it, and are now smiling and happy, and thinking that prosperity has come at last.
Though a little flurry in the price of wheat cannot of itself make prosperity, the demands on our carrying trade for the shipment of the grain to foreign countries has brought a great deal of business to our shores. It is stated that the piers around New York present a more busy scene than has been witnessed since the dull times began.
Grain elevators are in constant use loading the ships, and so great is the demand that the little floating elevators are getting a large share of the business.
Ships are being loaded for France, the Argentine Republic, South Africa, Portugal, and many other foreign countries.
Three million bushels of wheat were sent out of the country during the past week.
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You will be interested to hear of the capture of Drunami, the king of Benin, who has been wandering in the African forests since the destruction of Benin City, by the expedition sent out from England last February to punish him for the murder of the English travellers. (See page 344.)
Drunami finally returned to Benin, and surrendered to the British authorities.
The soldiers who were guarding the city one day caught sight of a large body of natives approaching the walls.
Ahead of the main body ran a messenger carrying a white flag, to show that their mission was one of peace. He was closely followed by Drunami, ten of his principal chiefs, and eight hundred unarmed warriors.
The English soldiers were called out, and the King was allowed to enter the city.
He stated that he had come to make submission to the British Queen or her representative, and begged that in consideration for his rank he might be allowed to make his submission in private.
When this message was brought to the Resident, as the English governor is called, he refused to grant the request.
He said that Drunami's rebellion against the Queen had been public, and therefore his submission must be public also.
The King of Benin thereupon held a council with his chiefs, who after much arguing decided that it was best to obey the wishes of the Resident, and make public submission.
Word of his intention was accordingly sent to the Resident, who thereupon repaired to the Council House, and, taking his position on its steps, waited the arrival of the penitent King.
Drunami, as he advanced to meet him, presented a very strange appearance. From head to foot his black skin was covered with coral ornaments. On his arms and ankles were numberless bangles, those on his arms being so many and so heavy that he could not raise his arms, but had to have them supported by his followers.
He had by this time added a band of music to his train, and to the mournful music which they made on their reed instruments the King and his chiefs marched in front of the Council House, and in the presence of the soldiers whom the Resident had ordered to assemble, publicly tendered his submission to the Queen of England.
This act was accomplished by bowing very low before the Resident, and then kneeling on the ground and rubbing his forehead three times in the dust.
The ten chiefs repeated the ceremony after their King; and thus having signified their regret for their evil deeds, and their intention to be faithful and obedient in future, the King and his followers were allowed to take their way back to the palace in Benin.
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England seems to have taken to heart the conduct of the Irish people during the recent jubilee, and to be endeavoring to make peace with the denizens of the Emerald Isle.
There have been many complaints that the royal family never visited Ireland, and that the money and trade that a royal pageant always brings with it have been purposely withheld from the land of St. Patrick.
There is a good deal of justice in this complaint. The Queen, who goes so often to Scotland, has not set foot in Ireland since 1861, nor has the Prince of Wales since 1871. At the same time Ireland has been in such an unsettled state that it has not seemed a very safe country in which to trust the precious life of a sovereign.
Now, however, the Queen has sent the Duke and Duchess of York to Dublin to open the exhibition of Irish industries in that city.
The Duke of York is the Queen's grandson, the eldest living son of the Prince of Wales. He is the heir to the throne, and will be the King of Great Britain and Ireland if he survives his grandmother and father.
The Queen