EARLY BELGIAN COLONIAL EFFORTS - The University of Texas at ...
EARLY BELGIAN COLONIAL EFFORTS - The University of Texas at ...
EARLY BELGIAN COLONIAL EFFORTS - The University of Texas at ...
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several changes to its contents, van Haverbeke was sent back by the government to the<br />
Rio Nunez to complete the tre<strong>at</strong>y.<br />
Upon van Haverbeke’s return to the Nunez for the second time with the<br />
amended tre<strong>at</strong>y, he found a very a different and fluid situ<strong>at</strong>ion. <strong>The</strong>re had been another<br />
change in leadership and an extremely complic<strong>at</strong>ed local situ<strong>at</strong>ion had evolved between<br />
Mayoré, Tongo and the French and British traders. It was this second trip <strong>of</strong> 1848 by<br />
van Haverbeke th<strong>at</strong> resulted in the famous b<strong>at</strong>tle <strong>of</strong> Boké, 358 an almost legendary<br />
encounter between wh<strong>at</strong> was, in effect, half the Belgian navy, two French naval vessels,<br />
and the n<strong>at</strong>ives <strong>of</strong> Rio Nunez. 359<br />
<strong>The</strong> b<strong>at</strong>tle <strong>of</strong> Boké and its outcome have been immortalized in many Belgian<br />
paintings and represent<strong>at</strong>ions. <strong>The</strong> b<strong>at</strong>tle itself was actually quite limited and lasted<br />
perhaps two days. <strong>The</strong> casualties on the Belgian side were two dead and perhaps a score<br />
wounded plus additional casualties among the French contingent. <strong>The</strong>re were probably<br />
more casualties on the n<strong>at</strong>ive side but no record exists <strong>of</strong> their numbers. After several<br />
days and a series <strong>of</strong> <strong>at</strong>tacks by superior Belgian and French comb<strong>at</strong>ants, the <strong>at</strong>tack<br />
failed. <strong>The</strong> combined force had been unable to take their objective, the town <strong>of</strong> Boké. A<br />
meeting was held between the comb<strong>at</strong>ants, represent<strong>at</strong>ives <strong>of</strong> the Landuman and Nalu<br />
and the Futa-Djalon st<strong>at</strong>e. As a result <strong>of</strong> th<strong>at</strong> meeting Belgium received on April 5, 1849<br />
a different tre<strong>at</strong>y, which added certain land for a factory and other terms in addition to<br />
358 <strong>The</strong> b<strong>at</strong>tle was not inevitable. Mayoré tried to stop the b<strong>at</strong>tle before it occurred claiming it<br />
was really not a concern <strong>of</strong> either the French or Belgians” “I do not see wh<strong>at</strong> reason you have got to send<br />
me such a letter as I have today got from you I have never troubled you or your People and I hope you<br />
will never not trouble me any more.” Mayoré to the French and Belgian captains, 15 March 1849. AMAE<br />
2024.<br />
359 March 22-24, 1849. <strong>The</strong> most in-depth description is in Braithwaite, 102-39.<br />
166