the French Colony . 11 
Glass 1 and his chief “ tradesman,” that is, his 
premier, was the late Toko, a shrewd and far- 
seeing statesman. His Majesty of the South was 
Rapwensembo, known to the English as King 
William, to the French as Roi Denis. 
Matters being in this state, M. le Comte Bouet- 
Willaumez, then Capitaine de Vaisseau and Go¬ 
vernor of Senegal, resolved, coute que coute , to 
have his fortified Comptoir. Evidently the northern 
shore was preferable; it was more populous and 
more healthy, facing the fresh southerly winds. 
During the preliminary negotiations Toko, 
partial to the English, whose language he 
spoke fluently, and with whom the Glass family 
had ever been friendly, thwarted the design with 
all his might, and, despite threats and bribes, 
honestly kept up his opposition to the last. 
Roi Denis, on the other hand, who had been 
decorated with the Legion d’Honneur for saving 
certain shipwrecked sailors, who knew French 
well,, and who hoped to be made king of the whole 
country, favoured to the utmost Gallic views, taking 
especial care, however, to place the broad river 
between himself and his white friends. M. de 
Moleon, Capitaine de Fregate, and commanding 
the brig “ Le Zebre,” occupied the place, Mr. 
1 Paul B. du Chaillu, Chap. III. “ Explorations and Adven¬ 
tures in Equatorial Africa.” London: Murray, 1861. 
