§ MR. DAVITTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a statement made by Bai Bureh, alleging that four of his people were murdered by a party under the leadership of a European for refusing to carry property which this party had seized, and also alleging that the English have been warring against and killing the native Timnehs without cause; and whether Mapolonto, the burial-place of the Timneh kings, has been burnt by the British forces?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESI have seen reports of various statements alleged to have been made by Bai Bureh, and among others that he has not intended to make war on the Government, and has never been asked for a hut tax. If this is true it is clear that the tax was not, as was at first supposed, the cause of the rebellion. There is no mention in Bai Bureh's reported statement of any refusal to carry property, and the Governor reports that his other statements are untrue. The burning of a place called Mapolonto has been reported, but there is nothing to show that it was known to be a burial-place.