Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-07-17
ONE MAN PREVENTS A WAR.
He Goes Unarmed to a Chief Whom En-
gland and France Were Preparing to

r.
He Goes Unarmed to IL Chief Whom En-
gland and France Were Preparing to
Fight.
An African chief on the Cazamance
River in West Africa named F'ode kaba
has been making o good deal of trouble
for the French and English. saws the
New York San. He occupies territory
on the banks of the Cazamance River,
which is nominally within Frances do
mlnlons, though she has never attempt
ed to exert real authority in the region.
His country borders on the English
possessions to the north, and for some
time past warriors from his twenty
seven villages, instigated by their King,
have Hooked over the border and dew
astated part of the English territory.
The English grew tired of these pro-
ceedlngs and appealed to France to
make the King behave himself or to
JON with the English in an expedition
that would teach him better manners.
The French thought they would first trv
cancellation and they sent Mr.. Bross-
lard, with military escort, to reason
with the savage monarch.
oo MAUI, AoWoVef, was ON MS Qlg-
nifty, declared himself to be as great a
King as the ruler of France, and said
he would do as he pleased. He had
around him a very large armed force
and the French Ambassador decided
that 1t was wise to return to the coast,
report progress, and declare that very
severe lesson must be administered to
the naughty monarch. Then the
French Government decided that it
would join England in sending an ex-
pedition against the King.
1t was looking around to see what
troops We're at its disposal to dispatch
on this stern mission when one of its
employees, Mr.. Forichon, said he be-
lieved he could arrange the trouble. He
thought he could induce the King to
listen to reason if he went unarmed to
Fode haba, without wasting any pow
der, men, or money. The French Gov
ernor. who seems to 90 really op-
posed, if he can help it, to making ex-
periments upon savages with the i'm
proved weapons of modern warfare, de-
cided to see what Farichon could do.
So one day the new Ambassador left
the coast with his hands in his pockets,
without On escort, without so much as a
revolver, and with only few provi-
sions slung over his shoulder.
He told the King he had come to him
as his friend, and that the ruler of
France was much averse to splitting the
blood of the subjects of his great
brother, Fode Kaba. He said France
wished to live at peace with all the peo-
pie and do everything to make them
happy and prosperous. They had a
long talk, in the course Of which the
King learned that al expedition had
actually been preparing to march
against him, when this young man vol
unteered to go uuarmed into the hostile
region and settle the trouble bv peace
full words.
After thinking it over for a while the
King decided that he would make
peace with the French, and he promised
to restrain his warriors in the future
from raiding on the English territories
He told the envoy that if France would
send somebody to him to make treat,
he would enter into negotiations wit!
him at once. So Forichon wended his
way back to the coast and told the
French that there would be no trouble
hereafter. He was sure the King meant
to keep his word, and he advised that
further negotiations be at once opened.
The total cost Of this expedition of one
man has been about $50.
The French thereupon sent COM
mission to the King, and Feb. 25 q
treaty was signed, in which F.de Kaba,
the King of Fogny, agreed to submit.
his territory to France. In token of his
vassalage he promised to pay to the
French the nominal tribute of two
sheep year. He further agreed not
to permit any depredations upon En-
glish soil and to renounce his claims
in English territory. He also agreed
that he would open to French enter.
prise the rubber forests along the banks
of his rivers and would permit tle
French to trade and engage in other Gu
terprises in his country. At last as
counts the King was faithfully carryin g
out his promises. 1t was pacific vic
tory. Through the intervention OF one
brave man, who thought he could coax
the unreasonable rular into submission,
an expedition of French and British
soldiers which expected soon 80 start
for the interior was kept on the coast.
and thus great blo0dshed and a. large
sacrifice OF money we're avertei
Provoking.
Country servants have been the theme