The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-02 00:00:00

THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA.

Ac!vices just received from the 'West African Cutlet
confirm the news of the annexation of Landana by the
Portuguese. One of the English traders there had
PAW worth of oil "tied up," and he appeelen to the
captain of the Portuguese man-of-war to get this oil
for him. The captain sent for the chief of the district
where the oil was and told him to send it down at
once, that if he did not troops would be landed, and
If once landed they would not be taken back again.
The result of this threat was that the oil was brought
down to the coast in twenty-four hours.
At Fernan Vaz Mr. John Mactaggart, an employd
of Mr. Fothergill, was arrested on a warrant issued
by the judge at Gaboon at the suit of Mrs. Qua°. Mr.
Mactaggart was subjected to very harsh treatment.
He, was put in irons, and subsequently a heavy chain
fifteen :.`eet long was fastened to one ot his legs, and to
the other end was ettached a douanier or Custom
House officer, a black man, who was charged with
some offence. They were kept thus chained together
for two or three days until the arrival of a M. Averinc,
a gentleman who, it was said, had cans to Fernan
Vac shortly before that for the ostensible purpose
of shooting gorillas, and who went away a few
days later with a signed treaty which has
handed over to the French the whole of the N'gove
territory. On the arrival of M. Averino Mr. Mactag-
gart and the dounanier were sent on board the es.
Benguela and taken to Gaboon. Mr. Mactaggart was
released as soon as he got on board the British vessel,
hut the captain of the Benguela had to sign a formal
receipt for his person. Arrived at Gaboon, the judge
there at once ordered Mr. Mactaggart to be set at
liberty on parole pending the hearing of the case
against him. The new Governor of Gaboon arrived
there on the 24th December, and was received with a
salute d 21 guns. The late Governor was very un.
popular in the colony, especially amongst the English
traders.

A Renter's telegram dated Cape Coast Castle,
Dec. 31, says
On the 22nd inst. a severe fight took place between
the inhabitants of the towns of Great Cormantine and
Abbandzie, in consequence of an insult offered to the
former by the latter. A party of the Ahbandzies had
been to another town, when they exhibited a flag with
a design insulting the Great Cormantinee, whom they
had recently defeated in a scuffle with sticks and
stones. The Great Cormantines waylaid their oppo.
nents on their return home, and fired upon them. A
general fight ersued, sixteen of the Ahbandzies and
eight of the Cormantines being killed on the spot and
upwards of sixty wounded, several of whom have since
died. A number of the Cormantines have been seize:
and committed for trial at the next assizes.
A servant of Koffee Kalcalli arrived here about a
week ago with a message from the exaing of Ashanti
imploring the Governor to have him brought to the
coast, as he was being very 111-treated and was kept
without food. Two days afterwards another servant
arrived with the news that KalcAlli had been removed
from his place of confinement during the night, and
had been carried no one knew whither.