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CONTENTS
1.English version:
The Treaty of Vivi, June 13th, 1880.
M. August Sparhawk, agent of the International Expedition of the Upper Congo, acting in the name and for the account of the Comite d'Etudes, of the Lower Congo, and Vivi Mavungu, Vivi Mku, Ngusu Mpanda, Benzane Congo, Kapita, have come together the 13th of June 1880, at the station of Vivi, in order to discuss and to decide upon certain measures of common interest. After full examination they have arrived at the dispositions and engagements which are embodied in the present treaty, to wit :
Article I. - The aforesaid chiefs of the district of Vivi recognise that it is highly desirable that the Comite d'Etudes of the Congo should create and develop in their states establishments calculated to foster commerce and trade, and to assure to the country and it's inhabitants the advantages which are the consequence thereof. With this object they cede and abandon, in full property, to the Comite d'Etudes the territory comprised within the following limits : to the west and north and east the left banks of the river Lulu, and to the south the districts of Kolu and Congo.
Article II.- The chiefs of the district of Vivi solemnly declare that these territories form an integral part of their states, and that they are able freely to dispose of them.
Article III. - The cession of the territories specified in the last paragraph of Article I is consented to in consideration of a present represented by the following articles and goods to each one : A uniform coat, a cap, a coral necklace, a knife; and a monthly gift to Vivi Mavungu of two pieces of cloth; to Vivi Mku of one piece of cloth; to Ngusu Mpanda, one piece of cloth; to Benzane Congo, one piece of cloth; to Kapita, one piece of cloth.
Article IV. - The cession of the territory includes the abandonment by them and the transfer to the Comite d'Etudes of all sovereign rights.
Article V. - The Comite d'Etudes engages itself expressly to leave to the natives the free enjoyment of the lands which they now cultivate to supply their needs. It promises to protect them, and to defend their persons and their property against aggressions and encroachments, from whatsoever side, which shall attack their individual liberty or shall seek to take away from them the fruit of their labours.
Article VI. - The chiefs of the district of Vivi grant, besides, to the Comite d'Etudes - (1) The cession of all the routes of communication now open or to be opened throughout the whole extent of their states. If the Comite deems it proper it shall have the right to establish and levy for it's own profit tolls upon said routes, to defray the expenses incurred in their construction. The routes thus opened shall embrace, besides the routes properly so-called, a breadth of twenty metres right and left therefrom. This breadth constitutes part of the cession, and shall be, like the route itself, the property of the Comite d'Etudes. (2) The right of trading freely with the natives who form part of their states. (3) The right of cultivating unoccupied lands; to open up the forests; to cut trees; to gather india rubber, copal, wax, honey, and, generally, all the natural productions which are found there; to fish in the rivers and streams and water-courses, and to work the mines. It is understood that the Comite can exercise the several rights mentioned in the third paragraph throughout the whole extent of the states of the chiefs of Vivi.
Article VII. - The chiefs of the district of Vivi undertake to unite their forces to
those of the Comite to repel attacks which may be made by intruders, no matter of what colour.
The chiefs, not knowing how to sign, have put their marks, in the presence of the witnesses
hereafter designated and who have signed.
............. Aug. Sparhawk
............. John Kickbright
............. Frank Mahoney
............. Geoffrey
From: Henry Wellington Wack "The Story of the Congo Free State" New York & London : Putnam 1905. For Internet Source see WHKLMA
2.Kiswahili translation:
Mapatano ya Vivi(Kongo) Juni 13, 1880.
Bwana August Sparhawk, wakili wa safari kati ya mataifa kuenda Kongo juu, kwa kuwa naibu na karani ya hesabu ya Comite d'etudes ya Kongo chini, pamoja na Vivi Mavungu, Vivi Mku, Ngusu Panda, Benzane Kongo, na Kapita, wote wamekutana katika stesheni ya Vivi tarehe 13,Juni, 1880 kushauriana na kuamua mashauri maalum yapasayo mambo ya ushirika. Baada ya ukaguzi tele, wamefikiana kwa madaraka na mipango yameyotiliwa humu mwafakani wa sasa, na hayo yasema;
Sharti la kwanza. - Hawa wakuu wa wilaya ya Vivi wameotajwa juu wajua kwamba Comite d'Etudes kukuanzisha na kukuza imara hasa za kutunza uchumi na biashara humu nchini zao ingekuwa kitu cha kupendezwa sana, na kuhakikisha nchi na wenyeji wake faida itakayotokea kwa kufanya hivyo. Kusudiana nia hii, wanaachia na wanatarakia Comite d'Etudes, yote yaliyomo kwa jumla ndani ya wilaya zao katikati ya mipaka yafuatayo: kwa kuenda magharibi, kasikazani, na mashariki, kingo za kushoto , mto wa Lulu, na kwa kuenda kusini, majimbo ya Kolu na Kongo.
Sharti la pili. - Wakuu wa wilaya ya Vivi wabainishe sawasawa kwamba majimbo haya yako sehemu kamili ya nchi zao, na wanaweza kutoyatumia bila zuio.
Sharti la tatu. - Ukomo wa majimbo yale yameyo kwisha ainishwa katika kifungu cha mwisho wa sharti la kwanza umekubaliwa kwa ajili ya lipo la bidhaa na vitu vya namna vifuatayo kwa kila mmojawao: Koti la rasmi , kofia , mkufu wa tumbawe, kisu ; na zawadi ya kanga mbili kila mwezi kwa Vivi Mavungu; kanga moja kwa Vivi Mku; kanga moja kwa Ngusu Mpanda; kanga moja kwa Benzane Kongo; kanga moja kwa Kapita.
Sharti la nne. - Ukomo wa nchi ni wakuiachiana, pamoja na wakupitisha haki zote za milki kwa Comite d'Etudes .
Sharti la tano. - Comite d'Etudes inaahidi wazi kuwaachia wenyeji wawe na furaha huru ya ardhi zao na wakujilimia hizi hata kupatia riziki zao. Inaahidi pia kulinda na kuhifadhi wao na mali zao ikiwa magomvi au maingizo yaijia kwa kipande chochote na uwezo wa kuushambulia uhuru wa binafsi wao, au ikiwa kutwaa mazao ya kazi zao kwao.
Sharti la sita. - Wakuu wa wilaya ya Vivi wakubali tena kuwapa Comite d'Etudes- (1)Ukomo wa njia zote za mawasiliano ambazo ziko wazi sasa, au zitawazishwa katika eneo lote la nchi zao. Comite d'Etudes ijapodhani hivyo barabara, itakuwa na haki yakuwekea na kutoza ushuru kwa vyumba vya ushuru katika njia hizi, wakujipatia faida ili iweze kulipa gharama ya kuzijengea. Na njia zitakazofunguliwa hivyo zitashika, zaidi ya njia nyenyewe, upana wa mita ishirini kushoto na kulia kwa njia. Upana huu uwe baadhi ya ukomo, na utakuwa, kama njia nyenyewe, mali ya Comite d'Etudes. (2)Haki ya kutijara na wenyeji wamo katika nchi zao bila zuio. (3)Haki ya kulimia mashamba matupu: kuondoa miitu, kusanya mpira kihindi, sandarusi, nta, asali, na kwa jumla, vizao vyote vya tabia vinavyopatikana kule: kuvua samaki wamo majitoni, miitoni, au vijitoni, na kuendesha machimbo. Na yakuelewa kwamba Comiti ina uwezo wakutumiza haki zote mbali zimo kifungoni cha tatu hata kwa urefu wote wa nchi za wakuu wa Vivi.
Sharti la saba. - Wakuu wapa ahadi ya kuungisha nguvu zao pamoja na
zile za Comite kufukuza mapigano yaweza kutokana na wapenyezi wa rangi yoyote.
Wakuu, kwa kutojua kutia sahihi, wameweka alama zao hadhara ya mashahidi.
......Aug. Sparhawk
......John Kickbright
......Frank Mahoney
......Geoffrey
"When the European powers (particularly Britain, Germany, France) 'scrambled' for parts of Africa in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, a common device for securing territories was by so-called 'treaty', often a ready-made blank document carried by colonial agents presented to local rulers for signing.... The following is such a document, with appropriate blank spaces, as employed by agents of the British Royal Niger Company. "- Prof. O'Brien
1.English version:
Treaty of theBritish Royal Niger Company
We, the undersigned Chiefs of . . . . . . . , with the view of bettering the condition of our country and people, do this day cede to the Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited), for ever, the whole of our territory extending from ....................
We also give to the said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited) full power to settle all native disputes arising from any cause whatever, and we pledge ourselves not to enter into any war with other tribes without the sanction of the said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited).
We understand that the said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited) have full power to mine, farm, and build in any portion of our country.
We bind ourselves not to have any intercourse[i.e., transactions or communications] with any strangers or foreigners except through the said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited).
In consideration of the foregoing, the said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited) bind themselves not to interfere with any of the native laws or customs of the country, consistently with the maintenance of order and good government
The said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited) agree to pay native owners of land a reasonable amount for any portion they may require.
The said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited) bind themselves to protect the said Chiefs from the attacks of any neighbouring aggressive tribes.
The said Royal Niger Company (Chartered and Limited) also agree to pay the said Chiefs ..................... native value.
We, the undersigned witnesses, do hereby solemnly declare that the ..................... Chiefs whose names are placed opposite their respective crosses have in our presence affixed their crosses of their own free will and consent, and that the said ...................... has in our presence affixed his signature. Done in triplicate at ....................... this ..................day of ................. , 188.
Declaration by Interpreter. I, ...................... of .................. , do hereby solemnly declare that I am well acquainted with the language of the .......................... country, and that of the ........day of ......... , 188. , I truly and faithfully explained the above Agreement to all the Chiefs present, and that they understood its meaning.
2.Kiswahili translation:
Mapatano ya British Royal Niger Company
Sisi, Wakuu wa ..............wameotia sahihi chini , kwa kuboresha hali ya nchi zetu na wajamaa waliomo, tunaachia leo kwa Kampuni ya Royal Niger (Chartered and Limited), hata milele, wilaya yetu kutoka. (tarehe).........
Tunakupa Kampuni hii amri kamili yakuhukumu katika mabishano yote katikati ya wakaa yatokea kwa sababu yoyote, na tunaahadi kutokufanya vita na makabila mengine bila kabuli ya Kampuni imeyotajwa juu, ya Royal Niger(Chartered and Limited)
.Twafahamu kwamba Kampuni imeyotajwa juu, ya Royal Niger(Chartered and Limited), inauwezo wote wakuchimba, lima na jenga katika mahali popote pa nchi yetu.
Tunajifungia kushirikiana (hasa mahubiri na mitendo) pamoja na wageni, au watu wa nje, ila kwa Kampuni imeyotajwa juu, ya Royal Niger(Chartered and Limited).
Kwa ajili imeyotanguliwa mbele, Kampuni imeyotajwa juu ya Royal Niger(Chartered and Limited) inatoa ahadi kutojiingiliza kati ya sharia au desturi ya kienyeji ya nchi,na kulingana na utunzaji wa utaratibu na wa serikali njema.
Kampuni imeyotajwa ya Royal Niger(Chartered and Limited) inakubali kulipa weneyji wa mashamba kiasi ya kadiri ya sehemu ambayo inayohitajiwa na hao.
Kampuni imeyotajwa ya Royal Niger(Chartered and Limited) inaahidi kukinga wakuu wameotajwa kwa mashambulio ya makabila makali yoyote yuko jirani wao.
Kampuni imeyotajwa ya Royal Niger(Chartered and Limited) inakubali pia kuwapa wakuu wameotajwa.......................thamani ya nchi.
Sisi,mashahidi wameotia sahihi zetu hapa chini tunajulisha kwa heshima kwamba wakuu........................wameowekwa majina yao kukabiliana na misalaba ya peke yake wameweka misalaba yao kwa binafsi huru na radhi, na yule ameyotajwa ...............ametia sahihi yake kwa hadhara yetu. Imefanyiwa kwa nakili tatu hapo pa ............hii siku ya juma.......ya............., 188...
Tangazo ya mfasiri. Mimi...........mtu wa..............., ninajulisha kwa heshima kwamba nakifahamu kilugha cha nchi ya ................, na siku ya juma.... ya ............, 188., na nimewaeleza kwa itikadi, tena ukweli, mapatano ya juu kwa Wakuu wote waliopo, na hawa wameelewa maana yake.
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