(7.)-ENGAGEMENT of King Bell of Cameroons.-February 1, 1855. I, KING BELL, of Bell's Town, River Cameroons, do hereby solemnly promise and agree, that I will duly and faithfully pay all trusts owing by me to the supercargoes of the vessels laying at my beach within the space of four months; and I further guarantee that all trust owing by the people in my town, for which I am security, shall be paid within the same period. And I further promise to treat the supercargoes with all due respect, when they make application to me for their trust, and to assist them, as far as lays in my power, in collecting their trust. I also promise to abide faithfully by any agreement I may make with the supercargoes in the river. And in the event of my not fulfilling these stipulations, I am willing to be deprived of my present authority in this river. Given under my hand, on board Her Britannic Majesty's steamvessel Antelope, River Cameroons, this 1st day of February, 1855. KING BELL Signed in our presence, day and date abovenamed: his mark. J. W. B. LYNSLAGER, H.B.M.'s Acting Consul. C. H. YOUNG, Lieutenant Commanding H.M's steam-vessel Antelope. THOS. M. SIMPSON, Secretary to H.B.M.'s Consul. JAS. BELL, and 7 Others, (8.)-ENGAGEMENT of the Kings and Chiefs of Cameroons.-February 2, 1855. WE, the Undersigned, Kings and Chiefs of the River Cameroons, having suffered much in our trade by the fact of fire-arms being used prematurely, at the commencement of any palaver, do hereby agree, in conjunction with all the supercargoes, and for the prevention of such affairs in future, to inflict on the first man who takes a gun, except in self-defence, the penalty of entire exclusion from the body of traders (after paying any trust he may have in hand); not being allowed to visit or trade to any vessel laying here for such purpose. Given under our hands, on board Her Britannic Majesty's steamvessel Antelope, River Cameroons, this 2nd day of February, 1855. his KING ACQUA È mark. Signed in our presence: J. W. B. LYNSLAGER, H.B.M.'s Acting Consul. C. H. YOUNG, Lieutenant, Commanding H.M.'s steam-vessel Antelope. THOS. M. SIMPSON, Secretary to H.B.M.'s Consul. EDWD. HARRIS, barque Fantee. JOHN BOWERBANK, barque St. Lawrence. HARRY ANTHONY, hulk Lydia. W. H. ASHMALL, hulk Sir John Falstaff. (9.)—ENGAGEMENT of the King and Chiefs of Acqua.—February 2, 1855. WE, the Undersigned, Chiefs of the Cameroons river, having had a disturbance, in which fire-arms were used, and one or more men killed or wounded in the affray, do hereby agree to await the decision of the people of Wourri, as to the amounts of money to be paid for such man or men killed; and I, Ned Dido, agree to pay any claim that may be made for the settlement of the palaver. Given under our hands, on board Her Britannic Majesty's steam-vessel Antelope, this 2nd day of February, 1855. [And 5 Chiefs.] Signed in our presence: his NED DIDO mark. J. W. B. LYNSLAGER, H.B.M.'s Acting Consul. C. H. YOUNG, Lieutenant, Commanding H.M.'s steam-vessel Antelope. THOS. M. SIMPSON, Secretary to H.B.M.'s Consul. EDWD. HARRIS, barque Fantee. JOHN BOWERBANK, barque St. Lawrence. W. H. ASHMALL, hulk Sir John Falstaff. (10.)-ENGAGEMENT of the Chiefs of Boobee.-February 7, 1855. WE, the Undersigned, Chiefs and inhabitants of the Boobee Islands, adjacent to the Amboise Islands, do hereby acknowledge King William, of Bimbia, as the rightful king and ruler of all the mainland and islands extending from Bimbia to Rumby; and further, we hereby acknowledge ourselves to be his lawful subjects; and we hereby promise that in future we will obey him in any orders he may send or give us. That the late disputes we have had with the people of Bimbia be considered as finally.ettl.d. We also promise to conduct ourselves as good and faithful subjects, under the penalty of incurring the displeasure of Her Britannic Majesty's Government. Given under our hands, on board Her Britannic Majesty's steam-vessel Antelope, this 7th day of February, 1855. Signed in our presence: their MAHOUA, King or Head Chief. marks. J. W. B. LYNSLAGER, H.B.M's Acting Consul. C. H. YOUNG, Lieutenant, Commanding HM.'s steam-vessel Antelope. THOS. M. SIMPSON, Secretary to H.B.M.'s Consul. (11.)—ENGAGEMENT of the King and Chiefs of Bimbia.—February 7, 1855. WE, the Undersigned, King and Chiefs of Bimbia, do hereby promise that, in future, we will in no way or manner whatever molest the inhabitants of the Islands of Boobee, adjacent to the Amboise Islands. That all disturbances which have recently taken place be considered as finally settled with the Boobee people. Any further palavers are to be referred to Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Fernando Po, should no amicable arrangement be come to. Given under our hands, on board Her Majesty's steam-vessel Antelope, this 7th February, 1855. his KING WILLIAM mark. [And 4 Chiefs.] Signed in our presence: J. W. B. LYNSLAGER, H.B.M's Acting Consul. vessel Antelope. THOS. M. SIMPSON, Secretary to H.B.M.'s Consul. (12.)-DECLARATION relative to the Discontinuance of Allowance to Ex-King Pepple from the Comey of Ships.-February 12, 1855. To all whom it may concern. WHEREAS it has been represented to us by the Chiefs of the Bonny river, that the amount of comey hitherto deducted for the maintenance of ex-King Pepple is a grievous tax upon the country, and one which, under existing circumstances they are unable to pay, it is hereby ordered, that in future no further allowance be made to ex-King Pepple from the comey of the ships laying in this river. Given under our hands at Bonny, this 12th September, 1855. Biafra. JOHN MCD. SKENE, Commander of H.B.M.'s steam-vessel (13.)—DECLARATION establishing a Regency in Bonny.—September 11, 1855. To all whom it may concern. WHEREAS, in consequence of the death of King Dapho, of this river, it has become necessary to establish a regency (until an heir shall become of age) for the government of the country, the protection of British interests, and the fulfilment of the existing Treaties, Slave Trade and Commercial, we do hereby nominate, appoint, and empower the under-mentioned Chiefs to act as and constitute that regency, viz.: Anne Pepple, Ada Allison, Captain Hart, Manilla Pepple; the last of these four Chiefs, Manilla Pepple, in all cases, consulting with Bannego and Oko Jumbo, two gentlemen of the river. We therefore empower these Chiefs, constituting that regency, to act as may be required of them for the good government of the country, and that all British subjects will abide by the requests or decisions of such regency, and refer all matters or questions of dispute to them. Given under our hands, on board Her Britannic Majesty's ship Philomel, laying in the River Bonny, this 11th day of September, 1855. J. W. B. LYNSLAGER, Acting British Consul, Bight of JOHN MCD. SKENE, Commander of H.B.M.'s steam-vessel (14.)-DECLARATION relative to the Payment of Comeys due by Ships entering the River Bonny.-September 12, 1855. To all whom it may concern. WHEREAS a regency has been established in the River Bonny, it is hereby ordered that in future all comeys due by ships entering the river shall be paid to the following persons constituting that regency, or to any person that may be appointed to receive the same, viz. Anne Pepple, Ada Allison, Captain Hart, Manilla Pepple; and that on no consideration are any comeys to be stopped on account of any debts the late King may owe. : Given under my hand, on board Her Britannic Majesty's ship Philomel, in the River Bonny, this 12th September, 1855. J. W. B. LYNSLAGER, H.B.M.'s Acting Consul, (15.)-ADDITIONAL ARTICLES to the Commercial Treaty with the King and Chiefs of the New Calabar River, dated October 2, 1850.*-September 15, 1855. ART. I. THAT in one week from this date, it be deemed illegal for any supercargo to receive from a trader an irregular cask; that the trade puncheon be a regular 38-inch cask; and should any trader bring a regular cask of less dimensions and gallonage, he must make good the difference. Should he, however, dispute the guage of the supercargo, he may be allowed to take his cask of oil away. II. That any breach of the above Article shall be punished as follows, viz..-Any native offering such a cask for sale shall be fined one puncheon of palm oil, the puncheon in question to be held as security for the fine; and any white trader receiving or purchasing oil in such irregular cask be fined five puncheons of palm oil. III. Should any trader dispute the fact of the puncheon being cut which has been offered for sale, the matter to be referred by both parties to the Chairman of the New Calabar Committee, who shall endeavour to settle the matter himself, but failing to do so to the satisfaction of both parties, shall call a meeting of the whole of the members, whose decision shall be final. IV. Should any native trader object to the size of a cask which he is receiving from a supercargo, and that supercargo insist upon him taking it, he may, if he chooses, apply to the Chairman of the Calabar Committee to measure said cask, and should it be found to exceed a 38-inch cask, the cask shall be forfeited to said trader. V. That Articles I. and II. of the Additional Treaties made on the 10th January last,† be from and after this date considered null and void, and are hereby rescinded. Given under our hands, on board Her Britannic Majesty's ship Minx, in the New Calabar river, this 15th day of September, 1855. RICHD. HY. ROE, Lieutenant Commanding. THOS. M. SIMPSON, Secretary to H.B.M.'s Consul. [And 8 Others.] (16.)-ADDITIONAL ARTICLE to the Bonny Commercial Treaty, duted October 3, 18501--September 12, 1855. THAT from and after this date no supercargo trading in this river shall receive on board of bis vessel any native or refugee, without the consent of the Chiefs. |