-^ Frontier Questionj^ 



bold by his repeated flouting of Liberian authority, in which 

 he was secretly supported by the Sierra Leone Government, 

 began at last to act almost as an independent chief in the 

 Gallinhas country, and his exactions and disputes aroused 

 the adjoining Vai tribe to reprisals. Harris met these reprisals 

 by organising an attack on the Vai country by the GaUinhas 

 people. The Liberian Government dispatched a body of 

 its militia to defend the Vai. The Gallinhas natives took 

 to flight and avenged their defeat by turning on Harris and 

 destroying one of his factories. A demand for an indemnity 

 of ^'6,000 was put in by Harris and apparently supported 

 by the Sierra Leone Government. Another joint Anglo- 

 Liberian commission was sent to inquire into the matter and 

 ascertain the circumstances under which Harris's property had 

 been destroyed and the real monetary value of the damage. 

 It is doubtful whether at this time the Governor of Sierra 

 Leone would not have carried matters with a higher hand 

 had not Liberia made some kind of appeal to the United States, 

 or at any rate to the commander of the United States battle- 

 ship which happened to be in those waters (Commodore 

 Shufeldt). This naval officer was chosen as arbitrator. The 

 monetary claim of Harris was reduced to the sum of ^300. 

 But at the sitting of this conference the senior British repre- 

 sentative claimed for the colony of Sierra Leone a protectorate 

 over the coast east of Sherbro as far as the mouth of the 

 Mano River, on the ground that the Liberian forces were 

 unable to maintain order west of the last-named stream. 

 Undoubtedly they were unable to fight British traders, since 

 every time they used force, maritime or military, the said 

 traders were able to command the armed interference of the 

 Sierra Leone Government. 



The question was once more referred to London, and was 



245 



