REPORT of the British and French Commissioners for the Delimitation of the Boundary between the Colonies of Lagos and Dahomey.*-Paris, October 12, 1896.† IN conformity with the arrangements previously agreed upon between their Excellencies the Governors of Lagos and Dahomey, the two Sections of the Commission met at Badagry, in the Colony of Lagos, on the 31st day of December, 1895. The Commission consisted of : (1.)-French Section. Captain Plé, Commissioner. Enseigne de Vaisseau Brisson (adjoint). (2.)-British Section. Mr. F. C. Fuller, Commissioner; Mr. A. G. Fowler, Topographer; and Dr. Hay, Medical Attendant. At the outset the two Sections agreed upon the methods to be adopted. The boundary zone to be traversed being mostly covered with thick bush, and the country being of a flat nature, rendered both the ordinary methods employed impracticable, i.e., triangulation and chaining-out. It was therefore resolved to proceed as follows: To cross the boundary meridian or approach it as often as possible by the use of any paths adjoining it; to visit all inhabited villages and to fix their position in relation to the boundary meridian, and determine thereby to which of the two Colonies they belong; besides fixing these positions, to erect pillars, should necessity need them, and should the nature of the country permit of their erection. To draw up, moreover, the work of the Commission in the shape of itineraries made locally and based on astronomical positions. On the 2nd January, 1896, the two Sections reached Dopetu (Dopetou), the nearest village to the initial point of the boundary (Point A) referred to in the Agreement of the 10th August, 1889, and determined on the spot by the Commission of 1890. * Signed also in the French language. + See Article II of Protocol of June 14, 1898, page 41. The accompanying maps by Captain Plé and by Mr. Fowler coincide exactly as regards the mutual boundary zone. The native names appear thereon in both the English and French spelling of them. These maps clearly show the "route" travelled over. The Commission was fortunate enough to follow up roads so closely adjoining the frontier meridian as to be able to substitute them, in many instances and for a considerable distance, in its stead for the settlement of the boundary. Suppressing unnecessary details, the following is a list of towns visited from the initial point up to the 9th parallel, with corresponding dates. The names given are those of the encampments. It was from these encampments that we reconnoitred in order to obtain the necessary information for the delimitation of the boundary. The French spelling of the names is given between parentheses: January. 2nd. Dopetu (Dopétou). 7th. Ilashe (Ilashé). 10th. Ifoyin (Ifânhim). 11th. Agangan (Igangha). 12th. Ohumbe (Ohoumbé). 15th. Isale (Issale). 18th. Ilimon (Illémon). 21st. Ishada (Ichada). 22nd. Tobolo (Tobolo). 30th. Ketu (Ketou). February. 2nd. Ilikimo (Likimon). 5th. Meko (Meko). 8th. Idanyin (Indanhim). 13th. Yewa (Yeoua). 14th. Afo (Afo). 15th. The banks of the Okpara River, near Jabeta (Djabata). Long lunar transit observations. 27th. Shabe (Savé). This bend towards Shabe was necessary owing to the absence of any other northerly road. The road from Jabeta proceeding north by the Okpara River was only opened up afterwards. March. 1st. Garajimo (Gladimou). Banks of the Okpara. 7th. Kokoro (Kokoro). 9th. Kilibo (Kilibo). 11th. Okuta-tapa (Ocouta-tacpa). 13th. Wogi (Ouogui). 13th. Ituko (Itouko). Banks of the Okpara. 16th. Igini (Guiny). 18th. Woria (Ouoria). Banks of the Okpara. Taking into consideration that the Okpara River was several times encountered, the Commission concluded (when at the terminal point) that this river did not deviate to any great extent from the meridian under observation, and that considerable advantages would accrue (both as regards the topographical work to be accomplished as well as an assurance of sound delimitation) should it be adopted as the mutual boundary between (about) the 8th and 9th parallels of latitude. The Commission then divided into two parties: the first, composed of Captain Plé, Mr. Fuller, and Dr. Hay, having for its object the accurate tracing out of the course of the Okpara River by following it, on its right bank, in all its windings from Woria down to where it was first crossed near Jabeta. The second party, composed of Messrs. Fowler and Brisson, having the double object 1. Of verifying the astronomical observations already taken and 2. Of following up the roads leading towards the boundary meridian and erecting pillars thereon at such points where they intersect it, these points being computed from the nearest fixed position. The only inhabited towns on the road following a southerly direction along the Okpara River are : Ituko (Itouko). Sheni (Séni). Shafara (Iloubabagnouki). Garajimo (Gladjimou). Odeodo (Odeodo). Bako (Bako). Totojiji (Totoguigui). Jabeta (Djabata). All the above places, with the exception of Ituko, which is on the meridian, lie to the west of the boundary meridian and on the right bank of the Okpara River. The journey lasted from the 21st March until the 12th April, including a stay at Gini, when the two parties once more united on the banks of the Okpara near Jabeta. From this point down to the coast the itinerary of the Commission was similar to the one on the northward journey. The Commission separated on the 1st May. A list of fixed positions in relation to the boundary accompanies this Report. Proposals of the Commissioners. No natural boundaries being mentioned in the terms of the Agreement, the Commission aimed at 1. Discovering any which might exist; and 2. While making use of pillars, striving to substitute them as much as possible (owing to a vegetation the rapid growth of which would quickly obliterate them) by artificial and practical lines, such as roadways, which can be found without fear of errors. The following outline of the boundary which we propose is based on the two foregoing principles : Description of the Outline of the Boundary. The boundary, starting from Point A, ascends the River Iguidi (Igouidi) up to where it is found by the River Igirawun (Igouiraoun), leaving the town of Idiroko to the Colony of Lagos. From thence it ascends the River Igirawun to a point 200 metres beyond the intersection of the river by the road from Ilashe to Ifoyin. Ilashe remains in Lagos Colony. From thence the boundary follows a fictitious line traced 200 metres parallel with a roadway, and leaving the roadway on its left. This roadway (the first portion of which is the Ilashe-Ifoyin road, starting from the river) runs north from Point B by the following farms: Ikotun (Ikotoun). Idagbon (Ilagbo). llore (Ilore). Isagbano (Isagbano). Okeoko (Okéoko). Igbado (Bado). Madogan (Ogouissou). All of which form part of the Colony of Dahomey; and by Ohumbe (Ohoumbe) and Ibeyun (Ibayan), which belong to Lagos Colony. From Point B up to the River Amidu (Amidou), the boundaryline runs to the right of the roadway. At this river it crosses to 200 metres to the left of the roadway, following it up to the point where such roadway is intersected by the River Itu (Itou). From thence the boundary follows the course of this river until it meets the River Buru (Bourou). It then follows the River Buru up to a point 200 metres beyond the bridge which spaus it on the road from Ilimon. Isale (Issale) and Ilimon (Illemon) belong to the Colony of Dahomey. Isuku (Isouko) and Asa (Aso) to the Colony of Lagos. From thence the boundary-line runs at a distance of 200 metres to the left of and parallel with the roadway, which, passing Ishada (Ichada), Mokofi (Ibokofi), Ibeyan (Ibiyan), and Tobolo (Tobolo) all of which belong to Lagos Colony, cuts the River Iguna (Gauna) exactly on the meridian. The boundary then follows the meridian up to a point 200 metres south of the road from Ketu to Idofa by Alagbe. From thence the boundary-line runs parallel with the road leading to ldofa viâ Alagbe at a distance of 200 metres on the right of the road as far as the River Yewa (Yéoua). The boundary-line then ascends the Yewa River up to a point 200 metres below the river's intersection with the road from Idanyin proceeding north; Idofa (Idofa) and Meko (Méko) belonging to Lagos Colony. Ilikimo (Likimon), Idanyin (Idanhim), Idjalu (Idjalou), and Iselu (Selou) belonging to the Colony of Dahomey. From thence the boundary-line runs parallel with, at a distance of 200 metres to the right of it, the above-mentioned road up to where the road crosses the Okpara River. Less than 100 metres from this crossing, on the right bank of the river, a cairn of stones in the shape of a pyramid was erected to distinguish the spot where lunar transit observations were taken. The boundary-line then follows the thalweg of the Okpara River up to the 9th parallel. To denote the 9th parallel au ostensible cross was cut on a large-sized tree, on the right bank of the river, facing the pathway. Generally speaking, where the boundary-line runs parallel with a roadway, it does so at a distance of 200 metres either to the right or to the left of it. In all cases where a river is denoted as the frontier, the thalweg of such river will form the boundary-line. In addition to the above proposals, the Commissioners recommend that both the English and French spelling of native names |