THE AWAYE WAR

The Ibadans being determined to punish Awayè for supplying Ijaye with provisions during the siege, now sent the Asipa and subordinate chiefs at the head of the army against it, leaving only the Balogun and the Otun in the Ijaye camp; and so Awayè was besieged.

Awayè was a small but beautiful town situated on a plateau, the scenery from which is very picturesque, the Ado mount rising in lofty magnificence a few miles off, and the open country for miles around interspersed with the locust and the Iyá trees. The inhabitants were a very peaceful and agricultural people, and were faithful and loyal to Ijaye to the very last. In fact, Ijaye was the only town of importance to which they could sell their agricultural produce.

The men of that town had no guns, but they were very expert in the use of their bow and poisoned arrows, and for full seven months they obstinately defended the town. It was at last reduced by famine, being closely invested on every side, so that they could not get to their farms; but the able-bodied men cut their way through the Ibadans and made good their escape.