Dear W. Gladstone, We write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Sourcework: Giving away the Cameroons In 1881, King Bell and King Acqua wrote to the British Prime Minister, William Gladstone … do you believe this letter?

Dear W. Gladstone, We write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Dear W. Gladstone, We write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Sourcework: Giving away the Cameroons Why did they say they wanted Britain to take over?

Dear W. Gladstone, As we heard here that you are the chief man in the House of Commons, so we write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Dear W. Gladstone, As we heard here that you are the chief man in the House of Commons, so we write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Sourcework: Giving away the Cameroons Why did they say they wanted Britain to take over?

Dear W. Gladstone, As we heard here that you are the chief man in the House of Commons, so we write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Dear W. Gladstone, As we heard here that you are the chief man in the House of Commons, so we write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Sourcework: Giving away the Cameroons Why did they say they wanted Britain to take over?

Dear W. Gladstone, As we heard here that you are the chief man in the House of Commons, so we write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Dear W. Gladstone, As we heard here that you are the chief man in the House of Commons, so we write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Sourcework: Giving away the Cameroons Why did they say they wanted Britain to take over?

Dear W. Gladstone, As we heard here that you are the chief man in the House of Commons, so we write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Dear W. Gladstone, As we heard here that you are the chief man in the House of Commons, so we write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Sourcework: Giving away the Cameroons Why did they say they wanted Britain to take over?

Dear W. Gladstone, As we heard here that you are the chief man in the House of Commons, so we write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Dear W. Gladstone, As we heard here that you are the chief man in the House of Commons, so we write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Sourcework: Giving away the Cameroons What did they offer to influence Gladstone?

Sourcework: Giving away the Cameroons Did they mean it? When Britain did not reply, the chiefs in 1884 instead made a treaty giving away the Management of this our Country to the German trading firm of Woerman and Voss – Kamerun became part of the German Empire.

Sourcework: Giving away the Cameroons Why were they doing it? Two centuries of the slave trade had reduced the African tribes in this area to chaos and destroyed their power, confidence and traditions. BUT

Sourcework: Giving away the Cameroons Why were they doing it? The Germans established a post office in 1887, a police force in 1891, and built railroads, schools and hospitals. They never made a profit out of the colony. The kings gave away the government, but insisted: they must control all the trade inland. the Germans must not take peoples land, the Germans must not put taxes on their animals. the people must keep their own customs and clothing. there must be no beating without fault.

Sourcework: Giving away the Cameroons Were Kings Bell and Acqua poor, broken men, who were conned out of power by powerful Europeans? Or were they clever chaps, who cut a very good deal? YOU DECIDE…

Dear W. Gladstone, We write to tell you that we want our country to be governed by British Government. We are tired of governing this country ourselves, every dispute leads to war, and often to great loss of lives, so we think it is best thing to give up the country to you British men who no doubt will bring peace, civilization, and Christianity in the country. Do for mercy sake please lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Government. We are quite willing to abolish all our heathen customs. No doubt God will bless you for putting a light in our country. Please to send us an answer as quick as you can. King Bell and King Acqua of the Cameroons River, West Africa, 6 November 1881 Sourcework: Giving away the Cameroons So … how reliable is this letter?