Sanders of the river

An experienced colonial district commissioner presides over a stretch of West African territory in a series of connected episodes that illustrate his methods of rule. He enforces order through swift, sometimes severe justice, negotiates disputes between villages, confronts witch-doctors and local customs, and contends with raids, superstition, and competing authorities. Individual chapters follow local figures and incidents—chiefs, warriors, seers, and the commissioner's lieutenants—mixing adventure, moral dilemmas, and cultural encounters while showing the practical burdens and contradictions of imperial administration.