Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-10
Lieut.. NIXON Relates His Troubles With
the ROYAL Niger Company.


London Standard. from Paris Temps.
The prolonged stay which I was able to
make on the Lower Niger afforded me an OPP
portunity Of learning the organization Of the
territories placed under the authority Of the
Royal Niger Company. The company claims
to own both the banks OF the river. and on this
account desires to prevent British or foreign
merchants establishing factories on the shores
Of the Niger. The authority claimed by the
company is in virtue Of the royal charter recog-
nizing the concession of territory extending
eight miles from either bank Of the river. This
land is said to have been acquired by purchase
from the natives, but these purchases are TO a
great extent predetermined Moreover, the
natives themselves do not admit the claims OF
the company for the reason that, at most Of the
points where it has establishments, the oc-
cupied territory was not ceded willingly by the
natives.
Il do not know what laws obtain in the coun-
tries of the Upper Niger, or whether the sultan
has the power to ALLEVIATE the proprietorship of
the soil, but throughout the Lower Niger as
far as Akaba, the rulers have not that power.
Each town is divided into districts. each in
habited BY a particular family or clan, whose
chiefs are entitled N'goue, and are completely
independent of their neighbors. In Akabs.
which has IL, 600 IL. 900 inhabitants there are
800 goues. Ii Is easily TO be understood that
the company cannot possibly negotiate with
each chief individually.
II can, moreover, on the testimony Of re-
liable eyewitness. explain how the company ac-
quired the territories possessed by il q; Akaba.
which formerly stood on the banks Of the river.
The company informed the N'goues of the
royal charter bestowing upon il the Niger ter
ritories, and gave them tV months in which to
remove their town from where ii then stood TO
n hIsfa nf1 haal frart, sl.. h.,,l
As this order was enforced by the presence of a
company of Houssa soldiers. il was obeyed.
Nevertheless, q month later some Of the
holder spirits esrayed TO recover their ancient
rights, with tine result that their cabins were
burned by the soldiers. The result of this Is
that the company does not dare TO leave Akaba
without q garrison and that il costs more 10
maintain the troops than il would have done to
have come to a friendly understanding with the
natives. who are always glad 10 have station
established among them. At pnitha the natives
refuse TO sell anything whatsoever to the CON-
pany, and they are anxious for the return of
the French, ipasmuch as the French have left
on the Lower Niger territories a reputation for
fair dealing and peaceful disposition which is
deeply ingrained in the native mind.
ITO give some idea OF the Impression pro-
duced among them by the relations which they
enjoyed with the agents OF the French Com
mercial Company. 30 inopportunely repur-
chased by the British in 1884, il is merely neces-
sary 10 state that the ofcials OF the ROYAL Niger
Company actually pretend to have been dis
patched to the country on behalf OF Great
Britain and France conjointly, and the French
flag is displayed side by side with that OF the
company in order to show. the natives the un-
derstanding existing between the two powers.
In spite of all this, however. the natives
have been well able to perceive the difference
between the proceedings of the two peoples.
This explains the animus against US displayed
by the Royal Niger Company. This explains
my singular correspondence at Akabs with Mr..
Flint, . correspondence once conducted in very
courteous terms, but in the course OF which
Mr.. Flint charged me with following the ex-
ample set before my eyes and having exchanged
gifts with the natives in order 10 procuis tbs
means Of subsistence.
1.-The Royal Niger Company hoped TO inter-
rupt my first journey. but failed TO doso. The
company's attitude Il apparently courteous,
but the facts which I have narrated, With the
sole object OF 10 ling the truth. show what il IL
in reality. have reason 10 believe that shall
this time have the opportunity Of expressing
my genuine thanks 70 the company, and not
mere formal words Of politensss. Ny conduct
viii depend on the behavior Of The Company to-
ward me, but in any event depart on my UNI
dertaking in the full conviction that the com
pany will act by me- in the spirit Of loyalty
characteristics Of the BRitiah Deor1ln /"