The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-04
AFRICA'S IVORY COAST.


Chambers's Journal
The French colony Of the Ivory Coast is
attracting good deal of attention and inter-
est is of a two-fold character-pohticaI and
private or commercial. The political in
terest is due to the activity of France in
West Africa, where she is establishing
posts and building railways, and so ac-
curing a strategical position that is re-
garded by those who pay attention to these
things as threatening British power there
with extinction. The private or commercial
interest is due to the reported discovery of
gold in such quantities and formations
that French writer's have already named
the Ivory Coast 1.-The New Transvaal" and
the British speculator is already to the fore
with his sovereign lin his hand for two in
the BUSH"
The Ivory Coast stretches in a fairly
straight line for a distance of 341 miles
along the northern shore of the Gulf Of
Guinea Looked at on the map, it has the
republic of Liberia Qhe old Grain or Pepper
coasD on the left or west side, and the
British colony of the Gold Coast on the
right or east side. Inland it merges toward
the north into the French Soudan toward
the northwest into French Guinea, and
toward the northeast into Dahomey, which
river was made its western boundary by an
agreement with Liberia in 1884, and the
course of the Tanoe river. for short dis
lance from the sea, was made its eastern
boundary by agreement with Great Britain,
signed at Paris on June IA, 1898. and ratified
twelve months later.
The French claim to the Ivory Coast
dates from 1912. when Admiral Fleuriot de
Langle made treaty with some OF the
native chefs-notably with Amatifou, King
OF Krinjabo-whereby they placed them
ooh
lowing year the French built Fort ASSUME
and Fort Nemours, in the vicinity of Grand
Bassam. the capital, and SO began to make
their occupation effective. In 1853 another
fort was built further west, along the coast
at Tabou. These forts were, however,
worse than useless. for the natives were
too peaceful 10 give any employment to the
garrisons; and the soldiers. condemned TO
ideness, gave way TO every kind of self
indulgence (Which kills anywhere. but
pecially in West Africa. The high NOR
tality thus invited brought such discredit
upon the country that all thought of its
development was abandoned. Interest in ii,
ing discoveries QSS7-S9l of the explorer.
Colonel Binger. who is now governor gen.
eral of French West Africa. These discoy-
cries. besides showing the Ivory Coast TO
be fabulously rich in mineral and vegeta-
BILE wealth, proved what was Of perhaps
greater importance in the eyes of the
French government, with its aspirations
for colonial expansion-namely, the prac-
ticability of linking up the Ivory Coast with
the French Soudan and the other French
West African possessions. Leading steps
patton Of Timbuctoo in 1894, the junction of
the Ivory Coast with Senegal In 1896, the
overthrow of the Soudanese chief. Samory,
in 1895. and the junction of the Ivory Coast
with French Guinea in 1889
This last step-the junction of the Ivory
Coast with French Guinea-is perhaps the
most complete of all by reason of the excel
lent highway that connects the two colo
MES. In connection with this. we have to
explain that on the confines of Liberia, X.
tho hush of Tabou. dwell the Tepos- WAR.