Africa Before the Scramble: Britain and the Niger Trade, 1841

Throughout the first half of the 19th century, while private chartered companies and various associations had contact with native Africans for trade and in missionary work, the interest of the British government in incurring the costs of colonial administration of territories that might fall its way was virtually non-existent. Barriers to such activity also included the hostility of natives as well as the other physical dangers of disease. For the most part the British government restricted itself to combating the slave trade that it had outlawed in 1807 as well as seeking to persuade African rulers to cooperate in that task, for which purpose she had provided a naval squadron off the West African coast. From time to time, however, the British government sponsored expeditions into the interior, mainly by explorers and missionaries; not only to facilitate the anti-slavery activities promoted by the mission societies but also to help discover sources of raw materials that her private merchants might exploit through commerce with the natives. The exploration of the full course of the Niger River, a task that took 36 years and many lives, led to the establishment of trading and mission stations in the interior of West Africa. The many requests of the traders for direct British protection (appointment of consuls, etc.) inevitably drew the government more and more into the affairs of the continent. The following document is a good example of both the hesitancy of the British government to get too involved as well as the consideration shown to commercial companies that offered promise of future economic value.

Instructions of Lord John Russell, British Colonial Secretary, to Her Majesty's Niger Commissioners (Jan. 30, l841):

. . . On your arrival at each native settlement, you will ascertain the proper mode for opening a communication with the Chief; and . . you will take care that you are treated by him with proper respect; and you will not neglect, also, to treat him with the respect which is due to the rank which belongs to him.

You will tell the Chief that you are sent by the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland to express Her Majesty's wish to establish friendly relations with him; and to settle and agree with him for the extinction of the Foreign Traffic in Slaves in his dominions; and for the substitution instead thereof of a full and free intercourse and barter of all articles of innocent trade between the subjects of Her Majesty and those of such Chief, for his profit and advantage, and for the mutual use, comfort, and benefit of the subjects of both countries. . . .You will inquire what further articles of native growth, or produce, or manufacture his country can supply as articles of useful export with Great Britain; and you will encourage him to the cultivation or production thereof, by expressing generally the readiness of this country to take off his hands, on fair and reasonable terms of barter, all such articles of useful trade for this country as he can supply, in return for all such articles of use, and comfort, and advantage to himself as he requires.

You will show to him the advantages of putting down the Foreign Slave Trade, and of building upon the abolition a lawful and innocent trade. You will say to him, that his subjects will thereby be induced to cultivate the soil, to value their habitations, to increase their produce, and to behave well, in order to keep the advantage which that produce will give to them; that they will thus become better subjects, and better men, and that his possessions will thus become more full of what is valuable. You will impress upon him, that he himself will no longer need to make, or to keep up, quarrels with his neighbors, or to undertake distant and dangerous wars, or to seek out causes of punishment to his own subjects, for the sake of producing from the odious Trade in Slaves an income for himself. You will explain to him, that the people of his country will, out of the produce of labor in cultivating, gathering, and preparing articles for trade, bring to him more revenues, and be consequently more valuable to him.

You will tell him, that Her Majesty . . proposes that, upon his abolishing the Slave Trade, not only he and his subjects shall have this free and advantageous commerce; but that he himself shall have, for his own share, and without any payment on his part, a sum not exceeding [5 percent] part value of every article of British merchandise brought by British ships and sold in his dominions; such proportion to be taken by himself . . .

. . .you will not fail on all proper occasions . . . to impress upon him the impolicy as well as the injustice of slavery: and to acquaint him with the abhorrence in which it is held by Her Majesty and the people of England. . . .You may further remind him that every man naturally works harder for himself than for another, and is more economical and more careful of his own property; consequently, that the produce of his country would be much greater by free labor . . . You may further intimate to him, that a compliance with the wish of Her Majesty's Government and her people, in this respect, would certainly increase Her Majesty's interest in his welfare, and enable Her Majesty and her people to render much greater assistance and encouragement in improving the condition of himself and his people, than could be afforded them during the continuance of a system of slave labor. But you must always bear in mind that the main object of your commission is the extinction of the Foreign Slave Trade, and all other points must for the present be considered subordinate.

You will, at the proper time, exhibit the presents with which you are furnished from Her Majesty, as proofs of the desire of friendship which the Queen entertains towards the Chief, and as samples of the articles, with which, among others, this country will be glad to supply himself and his subjects in as great a quantity as they shall want and wish, on fair and reasonable terms of barter. . . .

If, after discussing this matter with the Chief, you shall find that your arguments have not so far prevailed with him, as to induce him to enter into this Agreement for the Extinction of the Foreign Slave Trade in his dominions; and if he shall resolutely resist your suggestions and the wishes of Her Majesty to that effect; you will entreat and urge him to reconsider this matter, you will ask him to assemble his elders or head-men, and consult with them, before he finally rejects the proposals made by you. . . .

While you describe the power and wealth of your country, you will, in all your interviews with the African Chiefs, and with other African natives, on the subject of the suppression of the Slave Trade, abstain carefully from any threat or intimation, that hostilities upon their territory will be the result of their refusal to treat. You will state that the Queen and people of England profess the Christian Religion; that by this religion they are commanded to assist in promoting good will, peace, and brotherly love, among all nations and men; and that in endeavoring to commence a further intercourse with the African nations Her Majesty's Government are actuated and guided by these principles. You will make allowance for the motives of fear, of distrust, of jealousy, of suspicion, by which native Africans, unaccustomed to treat with Europeans in this formal way, may, at first, naturally view the overtures made to them; you will make allowance also for misunderstanding, either of language, of manner, or of conduct, . . . ; you will also allow for any hardness of feeling you may witness in them on the subject of Slave Trade, a hardness naturally engendered by the exercise of that traffic, and, perhaps, in some cases, increased by intercourse with the lowest and basest of Europeans. . . . . you will on no account have recourse to arms, excepting for purpose of defense . . .

If, after all your attempts to attain the immediate object of your commission, you shall fail in it, you will conclude by telling the Chief and his head-men, that Her Majesty is bound to use all her naval means . . to endeavor entirely to put a stop to the exportation of Slaves from the dominions of every African Chief; and that the Chief and his subjects will, when perhaps too late, see cause to regret their conduct. . . .

. . . It is considered desirable by Her Majesty's Government to have power to erect one or more small forts on the Niger, from whence, and by means of which, to watch over the due execution of the Agreements, to assist in the abolition of the Slave Trade, and to protect and further the innocent trade of Her Majesty's subjects.

Bearing these views in mind, you will, in your course up that river, select one or more appropriate spots for the erection of forts for the above-mentioned purposes; and you will make with the Chief of the country a conditional bargain for the land, stating the purpose for which it is intended; you will pay down a small portion of the price, as security for the purchase and permission . . .

If at any place, in an independent State within the range of your commission, it shall appear to you to be desirable, that a resident agent on the part of Her Majesty, shall be immediately appointed and enter on his duties, you are empowered to leave at such a place provisionally, as British resident agent, any one of the gentlemen [normally a military officer] of your commission . . .

[Ref.: British Parliamentary Papers, 1843, vol. xlviii (472)]