THE MISSION OF ALVAN MILLSON

We have seen that by the terms of the Kiriji Treaty, the Alãfin was made responsible for the settlement of the Ibadan-Ilorin war, and that Chief Ogedemgbe failed in 1886 to induce the Commissioners to send messengers to the Ilorin camp, because they were not commissioned thither.

The Alãfin however was suspected of duplicity by his people, for several of his private messengers to Kàràrà had been caught, and instead of making a move, he had to be moved by the Awujale of Ijebu, and the Oluiwo of Iwo to undertake measures towards the restoration of peace. Whenever he was as it were forced to send a peace embassy to Ilorin, he would send a private man for that purpose instead of an Ilari; if pressed for an Ilari, he sent Oba-ko-se-tan! Showing he was not ready. It became evident that although he wanted peace in the abstract, yet he wished to keep the Ibadans fully engaged at a distance from home.

The Governor received several communications from the interior kings and chiefs, notably the Oluiwo of Iwo, praying His Excellency to bring to a finish the good work commenced in 1886, by sending up again special Commissioners for the purpose, as it has proved to be that the seat of war had but changed from Kiriji-Mesin to Yanayo-Ikirun.