The operative term and, legally, the most significant statement in this Pro Forma Treaty are in these words: "We, the undersigned Chiefs . . . cede to the Royal Niger Company, for ever, the whole of our territory." It is doubtful that even the modern Chiefs in the Niger Delta, with considerable Western education, will understand what "cede" means. I read it in the History of the British Empire, which was the authorized history taught in colonial schools in the 1940s and 1950s, that the King of Lagos "ceded" Lagos to the British. I never fully understood what that meant. My suspicion is that in the 1880s, when Royal Niger Company embarked on this imperial conduct,  the average educated Englishman, in England, would have difficulties explaining this language to his own folk. Yet, the validity of the treaties that were extracted by means of this form rested on the oath of European interpreters who swore that they were "well acquainted with the language of the .......................... country, and that . . . [they] truly and faithfully explained the above Agreement to all the Chiefs present, and that [these Chiefs] understood its meaning." It would seem fair to say that this aspect of British conduct in the Niger Delta was nothing short of the beginnings of gun-boat diplomacy in the history of European imperialism in Africa.

Peter Ekeh
August 17, 2001

• We, the undersigned Chiefs of . . . . . . . , with the view of bettering the condition of our country and people, do this day cede to the Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited), for ever, the whole of our territory extending from ....................
• We also give to the said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited) full power to settle all native disputes arising from any cause whatever, and we pledge ourselves not to enter into any war with other tribes without the sanction of the said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited).
• We understand that the said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited) have full power to mine, farm, and build in any portion of our country.
• We bind ourselves not to have any intercourse [i.e., transactions or communications] with any strangers or foreigners except through the said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited).
• In consideration of the foregoing, the said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited) bind themselves not to interfere with any of the native laws or customs of the country, consistently with the maintenance of order and good government.
• The said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited) agree to pay native owners of land a reasonable amount for any portion they may require.
• The said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited) bind themselves to protect the said Chiefs from the attacks of any neighbouring aggressive tribes.
• The said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited) also agree to pay the said Chiefs ..................... native value.
• We, the undersigned witnesses, do hereby solemnly declare that the ..................... Chiefs whose names are placed opposite their respective crosses have in our presence affixed their crosses of their own free will and consent, and that the said ...................... has in our presence affixed his signature.

 

 

Done in triplicate at ....................... this ..................day of ................. , 188. .

Declaration by Interpreter.

I, ...................... of .................. , do hereby solemnly declare that I am well acquainted with the language of the .......................... country, and that of the ........day of ......... , 188. , I truly and faithfully explained the above Agreement to all the Chiefs present, and that they understood its meaning.