The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1901-12-06
FRENCH REACH NIGER
"A CLASH MAY COME WITH BRIT
ISL THERE.
Described by British officer-Thinks
1t One of the Most Unwhole-
Some Spots Visited.

SOluc oPOtS tlSlleu.
Sierra Leone letter: The strained
conditions existing at the present time
between the British and French govern
ments lead to the expectancy of almost
any excuse being selected as a casus
oelli by France at this time. An OPP
.portunity now exists for a repetition
COZ the Fashoda incident owing to the
rrapidity with which both the French
and British are pushing their outposts
in that part of the hinterland which
forms the basin Of the River Niger ard
which is virtually a part of the Wes-
tern Soudan.
The recent annexation of Nigeria
by the British government has already
led to the interchange of several notes
on the subject btween the foreign Off
e OF the two countries.
BY the Anglo-French agreement of
1890 it was agreed that the French
sphere of influence should extend from
Algiers on the north to a line drawn be-
tween Lake Tschad and the town of
Say on the Niger. This arrangement
was a very indefinite and unsatisfac-
eoAy NV 40 i uOto III SldJt Whtlutl
or not Say is included in the French
sphere and it is included in the ter
ritory recently annxed by Great Bril-
tain. A French expedition has now
penetrated as far as the River Niger
and while '~ostensibly surveying with a
view to accurate delimitation of the
frontier is occupying a situation some
distance to the south of the river in the
O. fnrritnrU rnppnt1u Cni1D1 hu fhn pri-
lsh. II is possible that at any moment
"A clash may occur between the French
soldiers engaged in the expeditionary
work and a force of the Niger constab-
ulary as feeling run pretty high just
now between the troops of the two
countries.
AS a matter of fact it would be an ex-
excellent piece of revenge to take upon
the e~nterprising Gaul if the British
should retire altogether from this re-
gion and let France waste a few of her
valuable lives on this tropical gehenna.
For generations it has been konwn as
the White mans grave and as such has
proved simply a burying ground for
thousands of young Englishmen. Only
b bulldog p~ertinacity of the race has
kept the British flag flying over what is
known as the West Coast Settlements.
Added to the disadvantages of the
climate must be considered the treacher-
Gus and d~espicable character of, the ma
tives. These form a valuable auxiliary
to the climate, taking care to so regu-
late matters that there is little chance
of an increase of the whlLe population
of West Africa.
AS very little is known of this part
of Africa a brief description of a trip
made by me as far Akoga, including
a little experience with a primitive
expedition sent to bring an offending
tribe to terms, may prove of general
interest.
On arriving at Akassa the landing
stage of the Niger company, W. rested
for a few days before pushing on up the
river.
We then proceeded up the dirty brown
current of the Niger, between low
lying banks covered with swamps and
grass and jungle, the paradise of few
-er, loathsome reptiles and huge croc-
odiles. The natives who inhabit the Nj
ger Delta we found to belong to the
lowest scale OF humanity. The only
trait they showed in common with
civilized beings was the ability to get
drunk, which they succeeded in doing
easily on a horrible intoxicant made
from the fermented Juice of the palm.
At Asaba, the seat of the judicial
government, the appearance of the coun.
try, dotted with palm trees taking the
try improved. The land rises there, and
the vegetation become more luxuriant,
an open country, dotted with palm trees
taking the place of jungle swamp. At Id
dab. further up the river, we came upon
a most remarkable and beautiful rock
formation, exactly resembling two gates
between which the steamer passes. Be-
yond this villages began to appear on
tho banks and the natives seemed to be
OF a slightly higher grade.
Upon reaching Lokoja We found a
remarkably fine town located at the
junction of the Niger and Binne. From
here the view across to Gando was ex-
termelly fine. Gando is the chief trad
ing center and fishing town of the coun.
try to the east of two rivers and is
situated exactly at the junction. II
was said by the natives that a company
OF French soldiers had passed through