Swedish ventures in Cameroon, 1833-1923 : trade and travel, people and politics : the memoir of Knut Knutson with supporting material

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Swedish ventures in Cameroon, 1833-1923 : trade and travel, people and politics : the memoir of Knut Knutson with supporting material

edited and with commentaries by Shirley Ardener

(Cameroon studies, v. 4)

Berghahn Books, 2002

  • : pbk

Available at  / 4 libraries

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Summary: In the 1880s two Swedes were living on the upper slopes of the Cameroon Mountain. One of them, Knutson, wrote a long memoir of his time in Cameroon (1883-1895). It gives fascinating insights into everyday life in pre-colonial Cameroon

Includes bibliographical references (p. [279]-282) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

The 1880s were a critical time in Cameroon. A German warship arrived in the Douala estuary and proclaimed Cameroon a protectorate. At that time, two Swedes, Knutson and Waldau, were living on the upper slopes of the Cameroon Mountain. Very little is known about their activities. One, Knutson, wrote a long memoir of his time in Cameroon (1883-1895) which is published here for the first time. It gives fascinating insights into everyday life in Cameroon and into the multifaceted relationships among the various Europeans, and between them and the Africans, at the end of the 19th century; we learn about the Swedes' quarrels first with the Germans and later with the British, over land purchases, thus revealing the origins of long on-going disputes over Bakweri lands. We are given vivid descriptions of Bakweri notables and their, and the Europeans', cultural practices, a rare eye-witness account of the sasswood witchcraft ordeal, and learn about Knutson's friendships with slaves. Together with appended contemporary correspondence, legal opinions, and early (translated) texts, this memoir must be considered as a unique and invaluable primary source for the pre-colonial history of Cameroon.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Sweden and the Cameroons Chapter 2. Fauna and Flora Chapter 3. Misery and India Rubber Chapter 4. The German Invasion, 1884-1885 Chapter 5. Travel in the Interior, 1885 Chapter 6. The Ancient Races Chapter 7. Adventures on Cameroon Mountains and in Biaffran Swamps Chapter 8. Religion and Customs of the Bakhiviris and Bobbokkos Chapter 9. Slave Trade Chapter 10. Black and White Chapter 11. The Missionaries, the Explorers, and the Men I met at the Cameroons Chapter 12. The Future of the Cameroons Appendices: Appendix I: Knutson and Waldau's Contracts with the Notables on the Cameroon Mountain Appendix II: A Climb of the Big Peak of the Cameroon Mountain K. Knutson Appendix III: About the Ba-kwileh People G. Valdau Appendix IV: English Epitome of Waldau's "A Journey to the Country North of the Cameroon Mountain" E. Ardener and E. M. Chilver Appendix V: Sir Richard Burton's Visit to Mafanja, 1861-1862 Appendix VI: George Thompson's Stay in Mafanja, 1871-1889 Appendix VII: Stefan (Etienne) and Sczolc (Scholz)-Rogozinski, 1861-1896

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