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African Repository and Colonial Journal, vol. 17, no.20 (Oct.15, 1841).
THE MENDI PEOPLE.
Thus the Africans, late of the schooner Armistad[sic], call themselves. It is found
that no such country as Mendi is known to geographers. The district from which the
Mendians came may be known to them by some other name but these Africans, one and
all, very distinctly pronounce the word Mendi, when speaking of themselves or their
native land. Its precise location is unknown to us. They cannot describe its situation.
They say, however, that it is six days from Mendi to the coast. Thus they compute
distances. A day's journey, we conjecture, is from 20 to 30 miles. Mendi, then may
be some 150 miles from the Atlantic coast. We suppose it to lie a little north of
east of the mouth of the river Gallinas.
Several of these people had heard of Sierra Leone before they were kidnapped and
sold to the Spaniards. They say traders from that Colony have visited Mendi with
their goods. The name seemed to be familiar to them. JAMES COVEY, the interpreter
now here, is a native of Mendi, but as he was sold into slavery when only six years
of age, he is not able to describe the situation of his native land. FULI-WU-LU on[sic]
of the liberated Africans who lived in the Fimmani, near the Mendi Country, it has
been recently ascertained, has been at Sierra Leone. He and many of the others, seem
to entertain no doubt but they could easily find Mendi, if they were only set down
at Sierra Leone.
The Rev. THOMAS PAYNE, an Episcopal clergyman of London, has sent to a member of
the committee acting in behalf of these Africans, a copy of a new work published
in London for the benefit of those who have gone to explore Africa in the steamers
fitted out for the Niger. It is entitled, "Specimens of African Languages spoken
at Sierra Leone, appended to African vocabularies," by Mrs. HANNAH KILHAM. We
find by this volume, that the language or dialect which we have denominated Mendi,
is called Kossa. No intimation is given in the above mentioned work, as to the native
district of the Kossas. Mr. DAVID BACON, of New Haven, speaks of it, we learn as
being in the interior, back of Grand Cape Mount and Sierra Leone, and as being called
Longobar. The name Kossa is written Korso, in the African Repository, vol.vii.
page 283. .
Since the act of the committee, appointing Mr. COFFIN to proceed to Sierra Leone
with two or three of the Africans, these distrustful people have opened their hearts
more freely than heretofore, to their instructors and friends. They have acknowledged
that hitherto they had agreed among themselves to be reserved, respecting their native
country, because "they did not know as we would save them.afrep"FULI-WU-LU
now says that his father lives in Mendi, but that he, three years before he was stolen,
lived with his grandmother, in Koyeh, near Sierra Leone. It is, he says, one day's
journey by land, and two and-a-half by water, from Sierra Leone. FULI-WU-LU says
that he has been to Sierra Leone a great many times. It is probable that some of
the others have relations at or near this Colony
On mentioning to the Africans that we had a book in which their country is described
as Kossa, they say, that is not its true name, but it is a term of reproach, a name
that has been applied to the Mendi people, by the English, and by those who dislike
them. This accounts for their never having mentioned the word Kossa to their teachers
and friends.
So great is the desire of these people to return to their native country, to their
wives, children, and friends, and so much encouraged are the committee in the belief
that the situation of Mendi, and the route to it, can he learned at Sierra Leone,
that they have resolved on sending a special agent to that Colony, the present autumn,
accompanied by COVEY, and two among the most intelligent of the Mendians, on a tour
of inquiry. If it he possible for them they will reach Mendi - convey to the relatives
of CINQUE, and the rest, the fact, that these men and children, supposed to be lost,
are alive and well—that is, the survivors of the group who were torn from Africa.
After conveying this joyful intelligence, they, or some of them, will return to the
United States, to conduct the whole band to Africa. JOSHUA COFFIN has been selected
as the proper individual to go.
The committee have just forwarded a memorial to the President of the United States,
soliciting the aid of Government to send back these Africans to their native land,
and it is hoped that Congress, on his recommendation, will take the necessary appropriation.
It will be honorable to this nation to furnish the means of restoring these men to
their own country and their friends. The world will say—that is right.—N. Y. Evangelist
