THE "REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA" IN THE 1870S; AN EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT

Here is a very rare 126 year-old document-- an except from the memoirs of George Thomson, a Baptist missionary from Scotland, who arrived the Cameroon coast in 1871-- that tells us a lot about Victoria, its people and their diverse origins.

Thompson ultimately settled in what was then known as the "Republic of Victoria" and later became the chief magistrate of the Republic's Supreme Court. In a letter to his wife dated 16th Dec. 1873, he describes the ethnological makeup of Victoria...

16th December 1873: In order that you may have some idea of my position here, I purpose giving a sketch of the social condition of the small community which has been gathered at Victoria. It may be said to compose of three classes or elements : 1st The Christian and professed Christian ; 2nd The heathen ; and 3rd, An intermediate class.

The first consists of those persons who came over from Fernando Po about fourteen years ago. These had been in connection with the Baptist Mission there, and when liberty of public worship was denied them by the Spanish authorities, they were constrained, at much pecuniary loss, to seek elsewhere, and were providentially directed hither. The land was purchased from King Williams of Bimbia by the Baptist Missionary Society, with money paid by the Spanish Government for the property belonging to the Society in Fernando Po. This emigrant class consists of about a dozen families, representing as many African tribes.

These, with other two families belonging to this neigbourhood [i.e., the Martin and Steane families, ed.], constitute the governing class, and their male heads are members of our court. In connection with some of these families there are young persons of both sexes who are looked upon as adopted children, originally slaves, several from Old Calabar. These having been brought up under Christian influences, and having obtained a certain amount of school education, are becoming valuable members of society...

The Heathen part of the community consists of natives,-- Bakwelis, Isubu or Bimbians, and Fish people from the islands and coast to the west. These have been drawn to Victoria for various reasons. A considerable number are what are termed witch people, who, having been charged with causing the death of some one, and failing to pass the sass-wood ordeal , have fled hither for refuge ; while others, doubtless, have come because of greater security to be enjoyed here than in their own towns. In some respects this class tends to strengthen the community, but in other respects they are becoming a source of trouble and anxiety. Their number has become considerable, and although in general very docile and respectful, they are apt to be swayed by their own superstitions and customs than by the laws of the place ; and, having family relationships with the natives of the surrounding towns, they get involved in any quarrel which may arise amongst these, and take part in it without consulting the authorities of Victoria. Several cases have occurred which have involved us in difficulties with the people of neighbouring towns,--one of them a very serious case, and still unsettled. About a week since, a case occurred which shows the difficulty of our position. A Bakweli man residing here fell sick, and, being convinced that he was bewitched by the people of one of the towns north of Victoria, the Victoria Bakweli mustered on a market morning, without consulting us, and, going along the road, drove back the people of the said town, destroying or taking possession of the produce they were bringing to the market. The fact, also, that few of them speak English, and that few of the influential persons of Victoria are familiar with the native dialects, is a serious difficulty. It is evident that great vigilance and prudence will be requisite in dealing with them, and that considerable time must elapse before they can be brought under control.

The third or intermediate class consists of persons who have at various times and in various ways escaped from the Portuguese islands of St. Thomas and Princes [present-day Sao Tome and Principe], and after hardships and vicissitudes have ultimately managed to get here. Ten of these are natives of Angola, who were taken to St. Thomas as hired labourers, but were subjected to treatment of such a harsh and unjust description as to become unendurable. They are, on the whole, a well-behaved set, and very anxious to rise in the social scale.

Of the other members of this class I cannot speak favorably. They are called "Portuguese," and seem possessed of some of the objectionable traits of character said to belong to that people (154-57).

22nd March 1876: There is abundance of wealth in the land... Under wise, energetic management, Victoria might become a source of blessing to a large part of Africa ; its possibilities appear to me to be very great...

Culled from Thomson, E. Honeyman. Memoir of George Thomson (Edinburg: A Elliot, 1881)

16th December 1873: In order that you may have some idea of my position here, I purpose giving a sketch of the social condition of the small community which has been gathered at Victoria. It may be said to compose of three classes or elements : 1st The Christian and professed Christian ; 2nd The heathen ; and 3rd, An intermediate class.

The first consists of those persons who came over from Fernando Po about fourteen years ago. These had been in connection with the Baptist Mission there, and when liberty of public worship was denied them by the Spanish authorities, they were constrained, at much pecuniary loss, to seek elsewhere, and were providentially directed hither. The land was purchased from King Williams of Bimbia by the Baptist Missionary Society, with money paid by the Spanish Government for the property belonging to the Society in Fernando Po. This emigrant class consists of about a dozen families, representing as many African tribes.

These, with other two families belonging to this neigbourhood [i.e., the Martin and Steane families, ed.], constitute the governing class, and their male heads are members of our court. In connection with some of these families there are young persons of both sexes who are looked upon as adopted children, originally slaves, several from Old Calabar. These having been brought up under Christian influences, and having obtained a certain amount of school education, are becoming valuable members of society...

The Heathen part of the community consists of natives,-- Bakwelis, Isubu or Bimbians, and Fish people from the islands and coast to the west. These have been drawn to Victoria for various reasons. A considerable number are what are termed witch people, who, having been charged with causing the death of some one, and failing to pass the sass-wood ordeal , have fled hither for refuge ; while others, doubtless, have come because of greater security to be enjoyed here than in their own towns. In some respects this class tends to strengthen the community, but in other respects they are becoming a source of trouble and anxiety. Their number has become considerable, and although in general very docile and respectful, they are apt to be swayed by their own superstitions and customs than by the laws of the place ; and, having family relationships with the natives of the surrounding towns, they get involved in any quarrel which may arise amongst these, and take part in it without consulting the authorities of Victoria. Several cases have occurred which have involved us in difficulties with the people of neighbouring towns,--one of them a very serious case, and still unsettled. About a week since, a case occurred which shows the difficulty of our position. A Bakweli man residing here fell sick, and, being convinced that he was bewitched by the people of one of the towns north of Victoria, the Victoria Bakweli mustered on a market morning, without consulting us, and, going along the road, drove back the people of the said town, destroying or taking possession of the produce they were bringing to the market. The fact, also, that few of them speak English, and that few of the influential persons of Victoria are familiar with the native dialects, is a serious difficulty. It is evident that great vigilance and prudence will be requisite in dealing with them, and that considerable time must elapse before they can be brought under control.

The third or intermediate class consists of persons who have at various times and in various ways escaped from the Portuguese islands of St. Thomas and Princes [present-day Sao Tome and Principe], and after hardships and vicissitudes have ultimately managed to get here. Ten of these are natives of Angola, who were taken to St. Thomas as hired labourers, but were subjected to treatment of such a harsh and unjust description as to become unendurable. They are, on the whole, a well-behaved set, and very anxious to rise in the social scale.

Of the other members of this class I cannot speak favorably. They are called "Portuguese," and seem possessed of some of the objectionable traits of character said to belong to that people (154-57).

22nd March 1876: There is abundance of wealth in the land... Under wise, energetic management, Victoria might become a source of blessing to a large part of Africa ; its possibilities appear to me to be very great...

Culled from Thomson, E. Honeyman. Memoir of George Thomson (Edinburg: A Elliot, 1881)

Comments

[Smith Elie]

This is a great source of information. It is also a proof that, some freed slaves did settle in Victoria. But how can the roots of all those settlers be traced? Perhaps it will be best if one day or in one of your editions you could bring us some info about persons like the first may of Victoria. Furthermore,if you could also mention those from Liberia and Sierra Leon,it will be of great help to me.

[dango tumma]

this settlers were not southern cameroonians nor victorians, but the true
citizens there at that time were (bakwerisns) this also show why the true name of victoria should be reinstated and the true history taught in southern cameroons schools, which only goes to cement the notoon of home rule, where by only southern cameroonians should make curriculum and decisions affecting them not cameroun( la republique du)

[Endale]

The said was bought from Chief Williams of Bimbia which affirms that the Bimbia people owned Victoria.

[Mafany]

Bimbia, Bakweri, Douala, same thing. However, the first settlers, already dwelling and living happily on the land and who were later expropriated, were the Bakwerians. The European invaders met a thriving and organized society they could not conquer. Having heard of what Kuva Likenye did to the Germans, they understood the Bakwerians were fiercly independent and resorted to a commercial transaction.

The land that was sold was scarecly inhabited since the main fishing port of the people of Bimbia back then was around Tiko. It was simply a commercial port that was used by the local fishermen and for export of Bakweri produce to faraway Ijaw creeks and Calabari in Nigeria. In a future response, more details will be given to show that the Bakwerians were great ocean navigators before the arrival of the Europeans who had bought the power of the gun powder from China.

[Dr Menten-Alim Kumbongsi]

This is really interesting and I join those who adfvocate for the reinstatement of the name Victoria that was dictatorally replaced with Limbe. And by the way Can Dr. Emmanuel Konde tell us where his warped reasoning that the original inhabitants of Victoria were Bassas came about?