Semi-weekly south Kentuckian., 1886-02-02
THE CAMEROONs.
Extraordinary Adventures of African Er.
piorers Which Throw Considerable Light
Upon Recent Historical and oeograpt ical
Events.

Extraordinary Adventures OF African Ecs
piorcrs Which Throw Considerable Light
Upon Recent Historical and Geo graph ical
Events.
There recently arrived in Liverpool
from the Camcroons district, says a
correspondent, a Polish gentleman
named Ragozinski. who for the last
three years has been engaged in OK
plor.ng tho vicinity of the CAMERON
Mountains, with the view of discover
ing a river in the interior which eventu-
ally empties itself into the Congo. NJ.
Ragozinski's explorations led him into
adventures & most exciting kind M.
RHgozinski was formerly Lieutenant
in the Russian Navy. and in the early
purt of 1888 sailed from France in his
own vessel, the Lucy and Marguerite,
from Unvre. Arriving safely at the
coast NJ. Ragozinski me. the Swiss cx-
pelition, and with them arrSng gcd 70
take simultaneous observations. oDe
party being on tic Cameroons Poak,
and the other in the bay. While with the
latter party M. Ragozinski's canoe got
capsizci. stru :gl9 for life ensucd and
DR.. Rcther, OF the Swiss expedition.
was drowned. Some very valuable
scientific instruments were also lost by
the accident
In July OF the same year NJ. Rago-
z;nski started VITA companion fur tie
river Libre. They met with much Op-
position by the native "miIdlcmcn" Of
Mokonyeh, who were afraid the cX-
plorers intended going to trade with
the interior tribes. Tho MOkonyeh
people would not allow the explorers to
pass. Another tribe from Belarrnganya,
who brought trade from the interior to
town nearer the coast than the
MokOnyeh, were more friendly, and
wanted the explorers to visit their
country. They, however, had to pass
the Mokonyeh people, and tho ex-
plorers promised to accompany the
Benarenganyas n they brought strong
escort. They brought six hundred
men, and battle took place between
them aud tho .Mokonyeh people. TIE
latter were victorious, as their follow
ing numbered fifteen hundre1. Many
were killed on both sides. NJ. Itago
zinski had again to betake himself 10
the coast, The gallant explorers wcre
several times stricken with fever. and
it was about this time that M. Ragoyin-
skis companion.-M. Toniczek. discov-
cred the Rio del Rev. NJ. Rago1in Xxi
and his companion had been six months
in the interior, and it was in the early
part of 1884 when they returned to the
coast.
NJ. Ragozinski was now master OF the
native language, and travelled every
where with the utmost freedom. In
deed. so much respect dill the natives
show him that they put him on level
with their great chief or king. His
power extended for miles inland, and
on the coast from Ambas Bay to tho
Rio del Rey. Unfortunately the fever
carried of M, Toniczek, and NJ. Ragoi-
zinski was Joined by NJ, Yanckonsk.
The natives proclaimed M. Ragozinski
as Chief OF Bota, and while about to
arrange for the exploration Of the in-
terror, NJ Ragozinski heard OF the Ger
man designs on the Cameroons. The
annexation OF the Camcroons River was
soon after an accomplished fat Sub
scquentlv H. NJ. S. Forward and Colonel
Hewitt arrived at Ambas Bay, and re-
quested NJ. Ragozinski to put his terri
tory of Bota, which he held by treaty
with tho natives and chiefs, under the
British protect on. This he did. aud,
further, went in the Forward and made
treaties for England from Ambas Bay
to the Rio del Rey. This was q work
Of several days, and just as the treaty
was being signed in the last town two
German war vessels came into the bay.
Their obieot was to annex tho territory
which had then been handed over 10
England, and tho officers OF tho war
vessels could not hide their chagrin
when they saw they had been fore
stalled. After this the Germans en-
deavored to get behind the territory OF
tho English with the view of cutting of
communication from the interior. The
natives became alarmed at this, aud
Consul White, her Majesty's represen-
tative at Old Calabar. visited Ambas
Bay and asked Ragozinski 10 60 into
the interior and make treaties with the
natives, at the same time installing him
as British Vice Consul Of the place. NJ.
Ragozinski mado treaties with the in
terror chiefs and eventually caino upon
the Germans. They had been three
days at one place waiting for the chief
to sign treaty, but when NJ. Ragozin-
ski applied, it was instantly signed on
behalf of England. The Germans
Ileft, and subsequently the arrest OF
M Ragozinski was ordered if found in
German territory. Soon aiterward. as M.
Yanekonski was crossing from Batoki
to Victoria in canoe he passed Ger
man war vessel in English waters.
Three boats we're lowered from the war
vessel, and shots were iirod in the direo-
ton of NJ. Yanokonskis canoe Think
ing they were practicing, and were
careless as to where the shots went, M.
Yanekonski still rowei on. At Inst
they fired from Hochkiss, and, after
several shots, one went through the
canoe. The natvc padl!eman. terri
fled, then jumped iuto the water The
three boats coming up from the Ger
man war vessel NJ. Yanckonski was
asked his name. They, however, would
not believe him, stating he was Rago-
zinski, whom they had or,lcrs to arrest
NJ Yanckonski was taken prisoner on
boarl the German war vessel. The
Germans were jubilant at the arrest
but note from tho shore from Rago-
zinski himself soon put matters right,
Before NJ. Yanekonski was released, he
was shown the armory OF the war YES
sci, also the Hotchkiss which holed the
canoe. The officer explaining that
most of the shots had missed the mark,
but that the next one would have boon
correct.
While NJ. Ragozinski was up the
country making treaties, the Germans
landed at ono place-a mile in extent
and this they annexed, being tho only
place between Ambas Fay and Rio dc
Key which was not taxon over by En-
gland. A few months ago, while NJ
Ragozinski was administer tht
place, he received Bluo.book from
England which showed him that Count
Herbert Bismarck, son Of the German
Chancellor had visited London, and
that tho country wAich M Ragozinsk
had got under British protection had
been given to Germany in exchange fol
some Ettle territory near the Gold Coas
Colony. When this startling news