CHAPTER V. 
VICTORIA AND CAMEROONS. 
T he part of Africa on the west coast, where Mr. 
Comber began his missionary life, lies in 
latitude about 4° N. and longitude 9° E. ; the 
agents of the Baptist Missionary Society 
having laboured there from as early as the year 
1840. The Mission originated in the earnest sym- 
pathy of the Christian negroes of Jamaica for their 
fatherland, as that sympathy was displayed on the 
occasion of their emancipation from slavery. The 
celebrated William Knibb was visiting England at 
that memorable time, and was charged to urge upon 
the Home Committee the claims of Africa. This he 
did with his characteristically pathetic eloquence, and 
with such effect that interest was excited and pre- 
liminary steps were taken, which eventually resulted 
in the commencement of missionary operations in the 
island of Fernando Po, opposite to the Cameroons 
River. 
In the year 1843, the devoted missionary mentioned 
at the close of the previous chapter, Alfred Saker, 
departed for the “Dark Continent,^' there to enter 
upon a long period 6f self-denying toil and incalculable 
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