34 HISTORY (wo. 96 2 Kipini, ' and concluded also a number of agreements with native chiefs in the interior, giving the company sovereign rights for a distance of some 200 miles from the coast. It then applied for a charter, and on September 3, 1888, was incorporated as the Imperial British East Africa Company. On March 4, 1890, it received from the Sultan a concession of the coast between Kipini and Mruti , and the islands and places onthe Benadir coast belonging to him.”

In the spring of 1888, under a concession from the Sultan, the German East Africa Company took over the administration of the coast-line and customs in the German sphere of influence ; and its high-handed and drastic methods led , in the summer, to disturbances at Pangani and Bagamoyo which , but for the tact and discretion of the British agent, Col. Euan-Smith , might have developed into a serious rising against all Europeans . Col. Euan-Smith explained to his German colleague that “ It was my intention to discourage to the utmost, on the part of the British East Africa Company, any attempt to inter fere for some time to come, save in such small details 'as were absolutely necessary , with the daily life and customs of the people . . . . I would advise them to displace none of the old and well-known local authorities , and to introduce no new and unintelligible regulations. Lastly , I would discountenance any attempt (even if such were contemplated, which was un likely) to interfere with the Sultan's flag.

« This flag ques tion , ” he insisted, “ has really been at the bottom of all these troubles. "' 5 At all places on the coast, save only at Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam , the Sultan's authority was in abey ance ; and at these places the German officials only held their ground owing to the presence of German men-of-war. The hatred of the Germans was very great and bitter all along the coast, and showed no 3 Hertslet, Map of Africa by Treaty , p . 339 . 2 Hertslet, Map of Africa by Treaty , pp. 362-365 . : Africa, No. 10 (1888) [Cå . 5603 ) , passim . * Ibid . , pp . 67-8. Ibid . , p . 95 .