General
General State of Country. — The détails under the headings 1, 2, and 3 will explain the gênerai state of the country.
The new régime, I should say, is very popular with the majority of the people, though Nanna and a few of his satellites, particularly the latter, can hardly be expected to welcome a new order of things which takes so much power out of their hands. How far the King of Bénin is to be trusted remains to be seen. His chief advisers appeared to me to be a set of intriguing and lying individuals.
With the exception of my audience with the King when the Treaty was concluded , I had to rely on messengers in my correspondence with him ; consequently one was very handicapped , as by the time a message reached the King it was prohably so distorted as to convey quite a différent meaning to that intended by me. In the event of my having to send a somewhat severe message, it would be very doubtful if the King would ever hear it; as he is so greatly feared the messenger would be afraid to deliver it, and would probably deliver quite another message of his own invention.
Slaves. — I cannot speak with any certainty on the condition of slaves in the Bénin country, but I should say their lot was not a happy one, as it would appear that many are victims to the fetish rule. During my few days in Bénin city I saw no less than four crucifixions. They had ail evidently been sacrificed some weeks previous. I was told that
Afrique.
thèse poor créatures had been offered up , in one case to stop the rain, and in two others to bring the rain; the fourth case I heard nothing about.
At présent the only thiug to pe done towards stopping thèse barbarities is by expostulating with the King; when, however, there is a military force in the district, it will be very easy to use it should the necessity arise.
At the sam tinie, I doubt very much the wisdom of a coercive policy in preliminary dealings with so uncivilized a race, although it might eventually prove very necessary.
During my Treaty negotiations with the King, he hept on reminding me that he did not wish for war. I reassured him on this point , explaining that it would entirely lie with him if it was peace or war.
As regards the slaves owned by the Jakris, I consider their lot, as a rule, to be a very fairly happy one. They are chiefly Sobos, and as a rule are bought ; a slave is calculated to be worth about 10 l.
A well-behaved slave is always well treated. Ail work is done by the slaves. The Jakriman never works, his chief delight being to dress in fine clothes, eat, and sleep.
Slaves can be exchanged, and they are allowed to marry.
In December last I went to Lagos by way of the interior creeks : my conveyance was a large gig canoë , paddled by twenty-four slaves. The canoë was lent to me by Nanna, but he objected to supply me with slaves, as, he said, when they once know the way to Lagos, knowing it to be a free country , they would eventually run away. Chief Dore , however, supplied me with a crew. I took five days getting to Lagos, kept the canoë there three days , allowing the slaves to go about as much as they liked, and sent them back by themselves on the fourth day ; not a single man ran away , although they were , frequently incited to do so by the people of Lagos.
The slaves know very well that as long as they are well-behaved they will be treated kindly by their m aster, and are always sure of being fed and housed.
It struck me that the lot of a well-behaved slave with a good master was very little différent to that of the free born Jakriman , except that the latter did no work.
The Sobos do not own slaves.
Physical Conditions. — The country near the sea and for 20 miles up river is one massive mangrove swamp , interlaced by a network of creeks. There are patches of firm ground here and there on which native towns are built.
After going about 20 miles from the sea, the mongrove ceases and the palm tree prédominâtes, the ground also becoming higher. At 50 miles you corne to dense forest and high banks, and this continues as far as I ever went. The so-called towns along the bang of the river are merely settlements, some consisting of only fifteen to twenty huts.
The soil is chiefly reddish clay, but in some places is sandy. In my many trips up country I never saw any rocks, the river-bed being white
Grande-Bretagne^ Afrique.
sand. From abont Outamara upwards the water is as clear as crystal, and very good for drinking purposes.
The rise and fall of tide appears to stop at Kanaka on the south-east branch of the river, and Gbiye on the north-east branch. Above those places the water is running down.
The country is perfectly flat, though it rises gradually from Gwato to Bénin city. I fancy that at the other side of the city the country is of a gently undulating character, but I saw no hills nor anything approaching one. Gwato itself is from 50 to 70 feet above the sea.
It stand to reason that the country must rise gradually as one goes inland ; although not perceptible to the eye , it is plain from the fact of the great rush of water that cornes down from the interior.
Roads and Communications. — Forest paths are the only form of roads. Water communication is that most used. A launch drawing 5 feet of water can go as far as Eku on the one branch , and Sapobah on the other. The only things to be careful of are the huge snags ; the river is full of them.
The best way to navigate the river above Eku is in a canoë; the current runs from 7 to 8 knots, and the stream is very narrow and tortuous. Large mailstemers can run between Warri and Bénin, and branch steamers can safely run up to Sapeli , where thare is a capital anchorage.
The creeks between the Bénin River and Lagos could never be made navigable for a steam-launch of any size , i. e., the labour and expense would be something enormous, and the advantage gained be very small.
I hope before very long to see a good road from Gwato to Bénin city. Launches can run up to Gwato, and the distance on to Bénin city is about 25 miles , The King promised me he would widen and improve the présent track, but when he will do so I cannot say.
Roads should also be made from Sapeli through the forest to the big Sobo oil markets of Kanaka, Ocpara, &1., ann eventually railways.
(Signed) H. L. Gallway, Captain,
Her Britannic Majesty's Deputy Commissionner and Vice-Consul.
No. 2.
Foreign Office to Sir C. Mac Donald.
Sir, Foreign Office, January 26, 1893.
I Am directed by the Earl of Rosebery to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 12th instant, inclosing Reports by Lieutenant Campbell and Captain Gallwey on the Bonny and Bénin districts respectively, and I am to request you to convey to thèse two gentlemen an expression of his Lordship's thanks for thèse interesting papers, which afford évidence of how much has been done to introduce order and civilization into the countries in question.
I am also to express to you the great satisfaction which has been given Lord Rosebery by the gênerai progress your Report shows to have
Afrique.
been made by the Oil Rivers Protectorate since it has been under your administration. I am, &c.
(Signed) T. V. Lister.
No. 3.
Sir C. Mac Donald to Foreign Office. — (Received October 16.) Sir, Old Calabar, September 2, 1893.
I Have the honour to forward a Report from the Vice-Consul in charge of the Opobo district. Mr. Armstrong has shown great tact in the administration of the important district over which he has charge.
I have, &c.
(Signed) Claude M. Macdonald.
Inclosnre in No. 3.
Vice - Consul Armstrong to Sir C. Macdonald.
Sir, Opobo, West Coast of Africa, July 10, 1893.
I Have the honour to submit herewith my Report for the quarter ending the 30th June.
I returned from leave of absence to England on the 24th March, and took over my district from Mr. Tanner.
I took an early opportunity of calling a meeting of ail the influential Chiefs in Opobo.
At the meeting they informed me that everything had gone very quietly and smoothly in my abcence, that no serious palavers had cropped up at ail, and that M. Tanner had dealt with the few unimportant disagreements amongst the natives themselves.
The market question was the next subject they touched on.
The retirera ent from the markets had taken place during my absence on leave, I was therefore very much interested in what they had to say. They expressed their satisfaction in once more having the markets to theirîselves. They informed me that they worked in conjuction with the Bonny Chiefs , and had bought out the African Association and Messrs. Miller Brothers, that now perfect harmony existent between the European traders and themselves, which used not to be the case whilst the white man was at the their markets.
This meeting came to close with expressions of loyalty towards the Government on the part of the Chiefs, and with the hope that I would continue to be their friend, as I had always been during my last tour of service. I assured them this would be the case so long as they behaved themselves properly, and maintained order and peace throughout their towns and villages.
About a month ago I proceeded up the river to Aquetta, where I called a meeting of ail the Chiefs. I was received in a most friendly manner, the Chiefs expressing their pleasure at seeing me back againamongst them.
Grande-Bretagne, Afrique.
I took the opportunity of reminding them of the Treaty they had made with me , and explained to them that though the white trader had retired from Aquetta, the Government took as much interest in them as it did when the Europeans were trading there, and that I would frequently run up and see them and settle any palavers they were uneable to settle themselves.
The Chiefs expressed their regret at the white man's retirement, and begged me to send them back another white man to trade with them, which, however, I explained was out of my power.
I then proceeded to Ohumbele to see King Ba Ba. I received the most friendly réception from this old Chief, who hoped that he had done nothing wrong according to his Treaty in allowing the white man to retire from Ohumbele. I reassured him on this point, and after the usual exchange of courtesies we parted.
With référence to the meditated military outpost at Aquetta 1 think it will have the most bénéficiai effect upon the natives; with Aquetta as head-qnarters nearly ail the markets the white man traded at will be accessible, a very small military force would do a great deal towards keeping the natives in order , and facilitate the probable and eventual return of the white trader to the markets.
I am pleased to report that my relations with the European trading community are of the most friendly nature ; my relations with the natives are of the same description. I foresee up to date no trouble of any sort ahead.
With référence to the trade in this river I am pleased to say it is in a most flourishing condition, as the statistics below will prove.
There is a large increase in this quarter, as compared to the some quarter last year.
Quarter.
ending 30th June.
Quarter.
ending 30th June,
Increase.
Imports Exports ..
Duty
Sh. s. d. 47,233 14 1 62,044 13 7
Sh. s. d.
Sh s. d.
Exports.
Quarter ending 30th June,
Quarter ending 30th June,
Increase.
Palm oil ..
Palm kernels
Gallons.
Tons.
Gallons.
Tons.
Gallons.
Tons.
Afrique, Douane.
This iraprovement no doubt is due to a great extent to the white trader hiviug left the market, as undoubtedly the great advantages of working thèse markets at a profit lies with the middlemen , whose expérience of years and cheap slave - labour make compétition for the white man with his necessary launches, establishment up country, and European employés, almost impossible. Another cause for the increase of trade is the exceptionally good oil seasou which has just corne to a close.
I have been greatly assisted in my duties by Mr. Barcourt, who is a most energetic and hard-working officer; my Customs and Postal staff deserve a great deal of crédit for the way they have performed their various duties.
I have, &c.
(Signed) W. Cairns Armstrong.
GRANDE - BRETAGNE , ALLE M AGNE
Convention destinée à établir une Union douanière entre les Possessions des deux Pays situées sur la Côte d'or et des esclaves; signée à Berlin le 24 février 1 894.
Parîiamcntnry Papers presented to both Her Majesiy. May
The Government of Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Einpress of India , and the Government of His Majesty the German Emperor, with a view to assure the development of commerce within the territories of either State on the Gold an Slave Coasts, have concluded the following Convention : —
Article I.
The British possessions on the Gold and Slave Coasts, lying to the eastward of the River Volta, and the German possessions on the Gold and Slave Coasts shall form a single Customs territory , without any intervening Customs barrier , in such manner that one and the same rate of customs diuy shall be levied within
Houses of Parliament by command of i89ï. [C.-7387.]
Die Regierung Ihre JVJajestat die Kônigin von Grossbritannien und Irland , Kaiserin von Indien und die Regierung Seiner Majestât des Deutschen Kaisers , in der Absicht , die Entwickelung des Handels in den Gebieten beider Staaten an der Gold- und Sklavenkiiste zu sichern, haben nachstehenden Vertrag abgeschlossen: —
Artikel I.
Die ôstlich des Volta - Flusses belegenen brittischen und die deutschen Besitzungen an der Gold- und Sklavenkùste sollen ein einheitliches Zollgebiet bilden , ohne Zwischenzollgrenze, dergestalt , das daselbst ein und dieselben Zolle erhoben werden und dass die auf einem Gebiet verzollten Waaren , ohne einer neuen Abgabe
790 Grande-Bretagne, Allemagne.
them, and that goods having paid I zu unterliegen y in dass andere eincustoms duty on the one territory 1 gefiihrt werden kônnen. may be imported into the other without additional payment
Article II.
Goods imported into the joint Customs Territory are liable to the following rates of duty: —
es © n
