Journal of Various Visits to the Kingdoms of Ashanti, Aku, and Dahomi, in Western Africa

The progress of a Methodist missionary in the territories of the Ashanti and the kingdom of Dahomey in the 1840s.

Thomas Birch Freeman (Author), John Beecham (Author)

9781108023306, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 23 December 2010

326 pages, 4 b/w illus. 1 map
21.6 x 14 x 1.9 cm, 0.42 kg

Methodist missionary Thomas Birch Freeman (1809–1890) was one of the most successful missionaries of his day, founding churches in Nigeria and the Gold Coast. The son of an African father and English mother, he possessed great diplomatic skills in dealing with colonial administrators and native rulers, and Methodist churches spread rapidly using literate converts as lay preachers, particularly among freed and repatriated slaves. His resignation was caused by financial problems due to poor accounting. His Journal was serialised in a Methodist periodical between 1840 and 1843, published as a book in 1843, and revised the following year. His attempts to get the slave trade and the practice of human sacrifice abolished in Dahomey were frustrated, but he was much more successful in founding missions. The book is a fascinating picture of life in West Africa in the mid-nineteenth century.

Introduction
First Journal: 1. Object of the journey
2. Appetite for blood
3. Journey to Ashanti resumed
4. Bantama
Appendices
Second Journal: 1. Departs from Cape Coast for Kumasi
2. Fomunah
3. Preparations for entering Kumasi
4. Entertainment given by the King of Ashanti to the strangers
5. Visit to Jabin
6. Conversation respecting the establishment of a school at Kumasi
Appendices
Third Journal: 1. Introduction
2. Mr. Freeman departs for the interior
3. First religious service at Abokuta, attended by Sodaka, the King
4. Mr. Freeman embarks for Whydah
5. Mr. Freeman departs from Whydah to visit the King of Dahomi
6. Mr. Freeman visits Abomi, the capital of Dahomi
Appendices.

Subject Areas: Church history [HRCC2]