THE YORUBA-SPEAKING PEOPLES.

Shortly after 1840, the Ekiti tribes—as they were later called, referring to the inhabitants of the towns between Ibadan and Ijesa and the adjoining territory to the south—formed a confederation. This was soon joined by Ife and Ijesa, with the ruler of the latter being elected head of the confederation. The Mohammedans of Ilorin were the first to be alarmed by this coalition and attacked the confederates, destroying or annexing several towns. Ibadan soon followed suit and eventually succeeded in conquering and annexing Ijesa. The result of these conflicts was that the confederation was entirely subdued, with one half passing under the rule of Ilorin and the other under that of Ibadan. Before long, however, the inhabitants of the towns annexed to Ilorin appealed to Ibadan for assistance. Another war ensued, which resulted in the expulsion of the Ilorin forces and the establishment of Ibadan rule over the entire Ekiti confederation by about 1858.

While these events were taking place in the interior, Lagos, which we have seen was colonized from Yoruba at the beginning of the century, had become a place of some note as a slave emporium. The wars in the north, which had been constant since the rebellion of Afunja around 1807, resulted in the capture of many thousands of prisoners of war of both sexes and all ages. The dregs of these—the men of no local importance—were...