2-888-731 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

King Peppel, of Bonny-Town, 1850. Portrait of an African chief in the Kingdom of Bonny, in what is now Nigeria. He '...is about 32 years of age, having reigned nearly ten years. He is a great dealer in palm oil, and a very cunning trader; his influence with the people is very small, and from his exertions in traffic he is not much liked by the native gentlemen of Bonny. He has a sort of palace, but very badly furnished; and musters about thirty wives, to whom he appears to devote the greater part of the day. His complexion is a very light brown, and from all appearances has something to boast of in having a little white blood in his veins...His memory is excessively strong - in his conversation mentioning the different battles that have been fought, and all the leaders. General Napier is his great favourite, after "the Duke" [of Wellington]; he was glad to hear of his going to India again'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850.