Abstract: | While long before the 19th century the coastal tribes occupied a key position as middlemen between the European traders on the coast and the peoples in the hinterland, things began to change with the establishment of the Colony of Freetown in 1787, from which base its founders as well as traders were intended to spread 'the blessings of industry and civilization' to the other parts of West Africa. This paper describes the boom on the Rokel river in the 19th century and the inter-tribal wars arising from the increased profits of the trade. These continuing wars and the heavy 'peace-begging' payments to chiefs, and the resulting disruption of the Rokel trade, decided the administration at long last to start with another trade route from Senehun to Songo Town, after which the middlemen were cut off from trade transactions for ever. Ref. |