Given under our hands on board Her Britannic Majesty's ship Philomel, in the River Bonny, this 12th day of September, 1855. J. W. B. LYNSLAGER, Acting British Consul for the Bight of Biafra. JOHN MCD. SKENE, Commander and Senior Officer of the Bights Division. (17.)-DECLARATION of King Eyo, of Creek Town, Old Calabar. Creek Town, October 17, 1855. I, KING EYO HONESTY, of Creek Town river, Old Calabar, do hereby promise that in order to liquidate the trust now owing by me to the several supercargoes now laying in this river, that I will in future, from and after this date, pay to the said supercargoes my just and lawful debts in the following order, they being the vessels first in turn for payment, as the oldest outstanding debts, viz.: Ship Sarah, Captain Crompton, supercargo. Endraght, Captain Baak, supercargo. Lady Head, Mr. Morgan, supercargo. Calabar, Captain Davies for Captain Calvert, deceased. Africa, Captain Cuthbertson, supercargo. Mars, Mr. Morgan, supercargo. Ellen Stuart, Mr. Morgan, supercargo. Hants, Captain Straw, supercargo. That each of these vessels shall receive in rotation the produce of one market each, to consist of 50 puncheons of good saleable palm oil. And I do hereby promise that I will use my utmost endeavours to enforce the payment of all just debts due by the natives of this river to the above-named vessels, at the earliest opportunity of their obtaining oil for that purpose. Given under my hand at Creek Town river, Old Calabar, this 17th day of October, 1855. KING EYO HONESTY. Signed before us, at the King's Palace, Creek Town, this 17th day of October, 1855. J. W. B. LYNSLAGER, H.B.M.'s Acting Consul, Bight of Biafra. HOWARD KERR, Acting Mate, Minx. THOS. M. SIMPSON, Secretary to H B.M.'s Consul. his TOM EYON mark. JOHN EYO. (18.)-ENGAGEMENT of King Eyo, of Creek Town, Old Calabar. October 17, 1855. I, KING EYO HONESTY, of Creek Town, River Old Calabar, do hereby certify that as it is necessary to have recourse to extreme measures for the liquidation of the debts owing to the British supercargoes by the natives of this river, which the supercargoes are unable to obtain, that in future, from and after this date, that I will consider it legal and just for any Creek Town trader to be detained by any supercargo for any debt any other Creek Town trader may owe him (the supercargo), and that the same rule shall hold good for Duke Town; only that no Creek Town man be detained for any Duke Town man, or any Duke Town man be detained for any Creek Town man; and that this shall be sufficient authority for so doing, until instructions be received from Her Britannic Majesty's Government by Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Fernando Po. Given under my hand at Creek Town, River Old Calabar, this 17th day of October, 1855. KING EYO HONESTY. Signed before us, at Creek Town, Old Calabar, this 17th day of October, 1855. J. W. B. LYNSLAGER, H.B.M.'s Acting Consul, Bight of Biafra. HOWARD KERR, Acting Mate, H.M.'s steam-vessel Minx. THOS. M. SIMPSON, Secretary to H.B.M.'s Consul. (19.)—DECLARATION of King Duke Ephraim, of Duke Town, Old Calabar.-October 19, 1855. I, DUKE EPHRAIM, of Duke Town, River Old Calabar, do hereby promise that in future, from and after this date, that a supercargo making a requisition to me to blow "Egbo" on any native who may owe any vessel, that I will immediately blow such "Egbo" on any such native, and enforce the payment of such debt in the course of five months from this date. Given under my hand, on board Her Britannic Majesty's steamvessel Minx, River Old Calabar, this 19th day of October, 1855. KING DUKE. [And 10 Chiefs.] Signed before us, on board Her Majesty's steam-vessel Minx, River Old Calabar, this 19th day of October, 1855. J. W. B. LYNSLAGER, H.B.M.'s Acting Consul, Bight of Biafra. HOWARD KERR, Acting Mate, H.M.'s steam-vessel THOS. M. SIMPSON, Secretary to H.B.M.'s Consul (20,)—AGREEMENT of the Chiefs of Dido and Acqua Towns, Cameroons.-January 14, 1856. WE, John Acqua and Ned Dido, do guarantee, in presence of Her Britannic Majesty's Consul, that all palavers in our country being settled up to this day, to ask no reprisal of sacrifice or money for the two freemen killed in the late war, and bind ourselves in default by any penalty the Equity Court may inflict for the due performance of this contract. Given under our hands, on board Her Majesty's steam-vessel Bloodhound, Cameroons River, this 14th day of January, 1856. NED DIDO their marks. Witnesses to the marks of Ned Dido and John Acqua: (21.)-BYE-LAWS for the better Regulation of Trading Matters between the Supercargoes and Native Traders of the River Cameroons, passed at a Meeting held on board of H.M.'s steamvessel Bloodhound.-January 14, 1856. ART. I. That an Equity Court be established in the River Cameroons, to keep in their integrity the following bye-laws and regulations; and that the Court shall consist of all the supercargoes, as well as of the Kings and traders, of the locality. II. That the proposed Court-house be erected, and the ground purchased, at the joint expense of the supercargoes now trading in the river; to be considered British property, and under the protection of Her British Majesty's Consul, subject to the approval of Her Majesty's Government. III. That this body have a monthly sitting, unless in special cases, to be summoned at any time; that a supercargo, each in his turn from seniority, be elected chairman for a month; and that a report of each meeting be forwarded to Her British Majesty's Consul, to Fernando Po. IV. That these laws now entered into be complied with and respected by supercargoes absent from this river, or this meeting, at the time of their enactment, or afterwards to be here; and any native traders to "come up," to be bound by them also. V. That the native Kings and Chiefs pledge themselves, not only to pay their own debts, but to use their influence, each with his respective traders, to do the same, and that for their neglect of this they be subject to a fine, to be settled by the Court. VI. That any three members of the Court have the power to make an appeal against its decisions, which appeal is to be deferred till the Consul's next visit; aud that if, on examining this appeal, it be proved to be frivolous or invalid, the appellants are to be fined in the highest penalty the Court can inflict. VII. That this Court shall apply the fines levied by it to the expense of its erection and keeping in order, or as the Court assembled may think fit. VIII. That the Kings and Chiefs of Cameroons hereby solemnly pledge themselves to keep inviolate the Anti-Slave Trade Declaration made between Her Majesty's Government and the Kings of Cameroons on the 10th of June, 1840,* and to give information to any of Her Majesty's officers in the neighbourhood, of the presence of a slave-trader in Cameroons. IX. That any supercargo or native, after receiving a formal notice to appear at the Court, refusing to attend, thereby setting the laws of the Court at defiance, shall be fined in the amount of five pieces of cloth, unless he can show clear cause for his absence. X. That any native refusing to pay any fine that may be inflicted by the Court, shall be stopped from going on board any ship in the river, either for trade or any other purpose, and any supercargo refusing to pay a fine shall be denied the privileges of the Equity Court. XI. That in the event of any native trader attempting to evade the penalty of the Court by non-appearance or otherwise, and notice of such defaulter being sent to all the masters, traders, or supercargoes in the river, such masters, traders, or supercargoes are hereby bound, under the penalty of 100 crews, to forbid such defaulter coming to his vessel for trade, or under any pretence whatever, and, if necessary, the final settlement to await the arrival of Her British Majesty's Consul. XII. That all old palavers shall be considered as settled up to this date, and cannot be again brought forward to the detriment of trade. XIII. That any vessel coming into the river for the purpose of trade, shall pay to the King, or headman, of the town at which he may choose to anchor, the amount of ten original crews for every 100 tons of the vessel's register; in special cases, or those of resident agents, their comey to be according as they may arrange it annually, or otherwise, with the King or headman of the town at which their cask-houses are situated; and under no pretence shall any other King or headman demand any comey or dash whatever from such vessel; and also the said King or headman to supply the said ship with a suitable cask-house, on payment of five crews. XIV. That after the usual payment to the King or headman for Vol. XL. Page 886. the use of the cask-house, if any agent or supercargo can prove that his cask-house has been illegally entered or broken into, and any property stolen therefrom by any of the natives, the said King or headman to be held responsible for the loss. XV. That any King, Chief, or trader, attempting or threatening to stop the trade of any vessel or supercargo after the usual comey has been tendered for the privilege of trading, such King, Chief, or trader shall, at a meeting of the supercargoes, be summoned before the Court to account for such stoppage, and if found guilty of illegal obstruction, shall be fined to such an extent as may be agreed upon. XVI, That any person acting as pilot, shall receive as compensation the value of one original crew for every three feet of the vessel's draught. XVII. That whereas several boats have been frequently stopped and taken from alongside ships, and British subjects detained and maltreated, any aggression committed either on property or persons shall be visited by immediate punishment to the parties so offending; a special Court called for the occasion, and the heaviest fine inflicted allowed by the laws. XVIII. That the regulations long existing, made by the natives, respecting intentionally watered or fomenting oil, shall still be in force. XIX. That for any breach of any one Article of this Treaty the person or persons so offending be liable to whatever penalty the Judge of the Court may think proper to inflict, not exceeding 20 crews for a native, and not exceeding 300 crews for a master, supercargo, or agent. XX. That any supercargo or native, their employers or followers, appearing at or in the immediate vicinity of the Court-house with fire-arms, or any other offensive weapons, be heavily fined and expelled. Given under our hands, on board Her Britannic Majesty's steam-vessel Bloodhound, laying in the River Cameroons, this 14th day of January, 1856. THOS. J. HUTCHINSON, H.B M.'s Consul for the Bight of Biafra and the Island of Fernando Po. G. J. WILLIAMS, Lieutenant, Commanding H.M’8 |