successors, for the purpose of instructing the people in all useful occupations.

XI. And, in consideration of these engagements, all past offences of King Lucalla against the Queen of Great Britain, &c., are hereby forgiven.

Concluded on board Her Majesty's ship Avon, at Punta de Lenha, this 20th day of March, 1877.

His LEICESTER C. KEPPEL, Commander, H.M.S. Avon.
LUCALLA, King of Lucalla, River Congo.

mark.

Witnesses to signatures of Contracting Parties:

ANDREW W. ROGERS, Senior Lieutenant, H.M.S. Avon. Their HENRY J. OLLARD, Assistant Paymaster, H.M.S. Avon. MAMBOUKO of Lucalla.

marks.

CAPETA of Lucalla.

(18.)-TREATY with the King of Dahomey. Peace. Commerce. Slave Trade. Human Sacrifices. Fine. Whydah, May 12, 1877. TREATY between Captain George Lydiard Sulivan, of the Royal Navy, commanding Her Majesty's ship Sirius, on behalf of Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India, and the Avogah of Dahomey, Sahcloca, the second Avogah of Dahomey, Chodatong, on behalf of Gelele, King of Dahomey.

ART. I. It is agreed that there shall be henceforth peace and friendship between Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria and His Majesty Gelele, of Dahomey, in Africa, and their heirs and successors.

II. There shall be to the subjects of Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India, complete liberty of commerce, and they shall have entire right and liberty to come with their ships and cargoes to all places and ports in the dominions of His Majesty Gelele, to reside and trade in any part of the said dominions, to hire, occupy, and possess any houses or warehouses for the purpose of commerce, and enjoy the most complete protection. and security from His Majesty the King of Dahomey, the Governors and people of his dominions.

III. The subjects of Her Britannic Majesty being or residing or trading in the country of Dahomey shall receive special protection from all annoyance and inconvenience in their various occupations or trades from any and all of the subjects of His Majesty Gelele, and from foreigners residing in that country, and they shall be permitted to hoist on their houses

and factories a flag of the Kingdom of Dahomey alone, or in concert with the flag of England; and the King Gelele engages herewith to issue a proclamation to His Majesty's subjects, and to all foreigners in his dominions, never again to molest, interfere with, or threaten the lives or persons of British subjects, on pain of severe punishment.

IV. The export of Slaves to foreign countries is for ever abolished in the territories of the King of Dahomey, and the Law made and proclaimed in accordance with a former Treaty between Her Majesty the Queen of England and King Gezo of Dahomey, dated January 13, 1852,* shall continue in force for

ever.

V. No British subject shall henceforth be compelled to attend any of the customs of the country of Dahomey where any human sacrifices are held.

VI. Whereas, in consequence of insult and violence towards one of Her Majesty's subjects in the country of Dahomey, a fine has been imposed of 500 puncheons of oil on that kingdom, and a blockade established to enforce payment of the same, it is herein agreed, on the part of Her Most Gracious Majesty, that the fine shall be reduced to 400 puncheons of oil and the blockade immediately raised, under the following conditions: that 200 puncheons of oil are paid at once, and the remainder within 12 months from this date; and His Majesty King Gelele agrees to these conditions, and promises herewith to complete the payment of the 400 puncheons of oil by the time given. Signed at the Pacooteh Whydah, at Whydah, this 12th day of May, 1877.

His

GEORGE LYDIARD SULIVAN, Captain and Senior
Officer, West Coast of Africa.

SACHLOCA, the Arogah of Dahomey.

CHODATONG, the Second Avogah of Dahomey. × KING GELELE.

mark.

Witnesses to Treaty:

ARTHUR H. ALINGTON, Commander, H.M.S. Boxer.

FREDERICK MAXWELL HERON, Commander, H.M.S. Seagull.

(19.)-TREATY with the King and Chiefs of Osmari, in the District of Ishearn. Human Sacrifices. Christian Religion. Cessions. River Niger, August 25, 1877.

WE, the Kings and Chiefs of Osmari, in the districts of Ishearn, River Niger, being desirous of developing the resources of our country by means of legitimate trade with the subjects of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, have this day met

See Vol. 9. Page 29.

on board Her Majesty's ship Pioneer, and in the presence of Captain J. C. Purvis, R.N., Senior Officer of the West African squadron, and officer commanding the Niger Expedition; David Hopkins, Esq., Her Majesty's Consul for the province of Angola, &c.; Henry Chester Tait, Esq., Her Britannic Majesty's Acting Consul of the Bights, and the other officers who have hereunto subscribed their names, have declared our intention of abiding by the following Articles:

ART. I. We will use all means in our power to at once put a stop to human sacrifices, as we know that this custom is displeasing to the Queen and people of Great Britain, and it is now our wish to enter into, and maintain for ever, friendly relations with the English.

II. We also promise to assist and protect all missionaries of any Christian denomination that are now or may hereafter settle among us, and to make use of the advantages offered to us by sending our children to school.

III. We agree to cede to the owners of the present factories all right and title to the land on which the factories stand, and to the extent of their present inclosures, with this understanding, that should any factory be removed and not reoccupied in two years, the land will revert to us, and we have the right to sell it to any English trader; but it is distinctly understood and agreed that no native houses are to be erected there, nor will any native be allowed to enter into or occupy the land.

IV. Should any trader wish at any time to remove his factory and goods he will be permitted to do so without let or hindrance.

V. The sizes of the measures, and the prices to be paid for produce, must be arranged between the agents and the natives themselves.

VI. Should any native steal any goods or any articles from the English people or any other people in their employ, it will be the duty of the King and Chief Odogu to find out the offender and punish him, and also make restitution to the value of goods or articles stolen.

VII. In consideration of the faithful observances of all the foregoing Articles of this Agreement, each factory will make unto the King a yearly dash, the amount of which will be hereafter arranged by Her Majesty's Consul and the principal Agents, and should a favourable report be made to Her Majesty's Consul in the beginning of the season of 1878, that this Agreement has been faithfully carried out by the King and Chiefs of Osmari, Her Majesty's Consul may suggest to Her Most Gracious Majesty the desirability of making suitable presents to the King and his principal Chief.

In witness that we have had the foregoing clearly interpreted to us, and that we fully understand its purport and

meaning, and that we will faithfully adhere to observe and abide by each and all its Articles, we have hereunto set our hands this 25th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, 1877. King and Chiefs of Osamari,

Their

OCARKU OKUORISHA, King.
ODOGU ABI.

ANABRI AYINISERE.

SANZA NOURI.

ISABA AJE.

ODAGI OODOGO.

ISAMA G. BEMINA.

In the presence of:

J. CHILD PURVIS, Captain, R.N.

marks.

USAI AJE.

ISAMA AQUE.

DAVID HOPKINS, Her Majesty's Consul.

HENRY CHASTER TAIT, Her Britannic Majesty's Acting Consul. LEICESTER C. KEPPEL, Commander, R.N., H.M.S. Avon. ARTHUR H. ALINGTON, Commander, H.M.S. Boxer.

J. SLOAN, Assistant Paymaster.

REV. JOSEPH DURING.

E. P. LowE, Sub-Agent, West African Company (Limited). HENRY W. GEORGE, Sub-Agent, Alex. Miller Bros. and Co. NATHANIEL E. COLE, Agent, Central Africa Company (Limited). THOMAS SAMUEL, Scripture Reader.

DANIEL C. PEELER, Church Missionary Schoolmaster.

TREATY with Onitsha. Human Sacrifices. Christian Religion. Cessions. River Niger, October 15, 1877.

WE, the Undersigned, King Ha na ezé ouñ, and Chiefs of the District of Onitsha, being desirous of developing the resources of our country by means of legitimate trade with the subjects of Her Majesty the Queen Victoria of Great Britain, have this day met at the town of Onitsha, in the King's residence, and in the presence of Henry Chaster Tait, Esq., Her Britannic Majesty's Acting Consul for the Bights of Benin, Biafra, the Island of Fernando Po, &c., and the other British subjects who have hereunto subscribed their names as witnesses, have declared our intention of abiding by the following Articles:

ART. I. We will use all the means in our power to put a stop to human sacrifices, as we know that this custom is displeasing to the Queen and people of Great Britain; and it is

VOL. XIV.

E

now our wish to enter into and maintain for ever friendly relations with the English.

II. We also promise to protect and assist all missionaries of any Christian denomination that are now or may hereafter settle among us, and to make use of the advantages offered to us by sending our children to school.

III. We agree to cede to the owners of the present factories established in Onitsha, and to the Church Mission Society, all right and title to the land on which the church and mission station stand, and the British trading stations occupy, being to the extent of their present respective inclosures, with this understanding, that should any factory be removed and not occupied for two years, the land will revert to us, and we have then the right to sell it to any British trader; but it is distinctly understood and agreed that no native houses are to be erected there, nor will any native be allowed to enter into or occupy the land.

IV. Should any British subject wish at any time to remove his factory and goods, he will be permitted to do so without let or hindrance.

V. The sizes of the measures and the prices to be paid for produce must be arranged between the agents and the natives themselves.

VI. Should any native steal any goods or any articles from the English people or any other people in their employ, it will be the duty of the King and Chiefs to find out the offender and punish him, and also make restitution to the value of the goods or of the articles stolen.

VII. Should any question arise between a native and any British subject, the King will refer the matter to the Chairman of the Court of Equity, and take no steps until the inatter has been thoroughly examined and a decision given by the Court of Equity, it being perfectly understood that no disputes on trade matters, or differences about or concerning prices of cloth, goods, or produce, are to be included in this clause of this Treaty-these matters being subject to the decision of the chief agents themselves, or whomsoever they may appoint to represent or act for their firms.

VIII. In consideration of the faithful observance of all the foregoing Articles of this Treaty, each factory will make unto the King a yearly dash, the amount of which will hereafter be settled by the principal agents, but it is understood and agreed that the church, mission, and schools are exempt from all taxes or dashes.

IX. Should a favourable report be made to Her Majesty's Consul in the commencement of the season of 1878, that this Agreement and Treaty has been faithfully carried out by the King and Chiefs of Onitsha, Her Majesty's Consul may suggest