"Hans Niclay Riis and Widmann from Akropong"

a) Riis: Asked by the committee to give a written statement on the affairs of his uncle Andreas Riis, he does so, though with a painful heart. He argues that both sides are to blame, but that the greater guilt was on the side of his uncle. Having experienced how much the climate can affect the mind, he knows that his uncle has been affected thus heavily and that this explains much. He also knows the need of correction by living together. His uncle was too long alone at Akropong. Sebald, with whom Andreas Riis mainly quarreled, was a little bit rash in judgements and his bodily hidden weakness predisposed him already in Basel to melancholy. He was a man who needed much company and was quickly offended. He hopes that this letter will not deepen the conflict and not carry it into his family. The West Indians were treated wrongly, but much of their complaints were exaggerated or their remedy not in the power of Andreas Riis. b) Widmann: Confirms the statements of H.N. Riis. The treatment of the West Indians of A. Riis was wrong and harsh. He had an unhappy way to use ironical and sarcastic words and to defame the other missionaries before the West Indians. Circumstances and disease explain much, but the effects were unhappy. He does not know whether fear was not a main motive for the respect he enjoyed among the Africans. The West Indians are now quite satisfied with the treatment they get, although in outward conditions not much has changed. This speaks most strongly against Riis. Halleur’s and Thompson's behaviour he never approved, but matter would have been better if they had been treated differently.

29.12.1845

07.01.1846

29.12.1845-07.01.1846

Text

8 pages