Guillaume-Camille Casman (23 November 1854 – 14 May 1885) was a Belgian soldier, explorer and administrator for the

International African Association The International African Association (in full, "International Association for the Exploration and Civilization of Central Africa"; in French ''Association Internationale Africaine,'' and in full ''Association Internationale pour l'Exploration et ...

and the

Congo Free State The Congo Free State, also known as the Independent State of the Congo (), was a large Sovereign state, state and absolute monarchy in Central Africa from 1885 to 1908. It was privately owned by Leopold II of Belgium, King Leopold II, the const ...

. He was briefly commander of the Équateur station on the upper Congo.

Early years

Guillaume-Camille Casman was born in Brussels on 23 November 1854. He worked at the ''Société Belge des Chemins de Fer du Grand Central'' and was a sergeant in the ''chasseurs-éclaireurs'' (scouts) battalion of the Brussels civic guard. He joined the service of the

International Association of the Congo The International Association of the Congo (), also known as the International Congo Society, was an association founded on 17 November 1879 by Leopold II of Belgium to further his interests in the Congo. It replaced the Belgian Committee for S ...

and left for the Congo in November 1883.

Colonial career

Casman arrived in Vivi and joined an expedition led by Captain Edmond Hanssens. They left on 21 January 1884 with a column of 30 men, and reached the banks of the Bundi River on 23 January 1884. Rains had made it overflow its banks and turn its valley into a huge swamp. On 7 February 1884 they reached the north Manianga plateau, where Hanssens found a letter from

Henry Morton Stanley Sir Henry Morton Stanley (born John Rowlands; 28 January 1841 – 10 May 1904) was a Welsh-American explorer, journalist, soldier, colonial administrator, author, and politician famous for his exploration of Central Africa and search for missi ...

directing him to come to

Léopoldville Kinshasa (; ; ), formerly named Léopoldville from 1881–1966 (), is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is one of the world's fastest-growing megacities, with an estimated population of 17 million ...

and Casman to establish a station at Mukumbi, five days by land northwest of

Manyanga Manyanga was a staging post on the route from the coast to Léopoldville during the days of the Congo Free State. It was at the upper end of a navigable reach of the Congo River from Isangila, further downstream to the west. Above Manyanga goods h ...

, near the source of the Mata River, a right tributary of the Congo. The German officer Boshaert was to be Casman's deputy. They left Manyanga on 12 February 1884 with 42 Africans who had been trained by Lieutenant Louis Haneuse. They traveled up the right bank of the Congo to Mpangu, then to the Mata River, Kinkumba, the capital of the Songo district, and finally to Mukumbi's huts which Casman reached on 19 February 1884. They smoothed their way with gifts to the local people. By 24 March 1884 two shelters had been erected for Casman's tent and merchandise. On 3 August 1884 he was visited by Lieutenant

Willem Frans Van Kerckhoven Willem Frans Van Kerckhoven, or Guillaume François van Kerckhoven (28 January 1853 – 10 August 1892) was a Belgian soldier, explorer, colonial administrator who was active in the service of the International Association of the Congo and the sub ...

who had been relieved of his command at

Isangila Isangila, formerly called Isanghila or Isanguila is the headquarters of a sector of the Seke-Banza territory in Kongo Central province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Location The lower part of the Congo River below Stanley Pool first de ...

and was concluding treaties with the tribes around Mukumbi. On 14 September 1884 Stanley called for Casman to command the Équateur station on the upper Congo. Casman reached

on 26 September, where he found Hanssens. On 11 November 1884 he left there for Équateur in an expedition with three steamers: the ''Royal'', ''A.I.A.'' and '' En Avant''. The members included Casman,

Charles Liebrechts Charles Adolphe Marie Liebrechts (7 May 1858 – 14 July 1938) was a Belgian soldier, explorer and administrator in the Congo Free State. Early years (1858–1882) Charles Adolphe Marie Liebrechts was born in Antwerp on 7 May 1858. His parents w ...

and

Camille Van den Plas Camille Théodore Joseph Van den Plas (5 January 1850 – 15 March 1902) was a Belgian soldier, accountant and colonial administrator. He was active in establishing the intendancy in Congo Free State. Early years (1850–1884) Camille Théodore ...

. They stopped at Kimpoko to embark

Edde Gleerup Sten Edvard Gleerup, or Edde Gleerup, (13 June 1860 – 1928) was a Swedish soldier and explorer. He was the first Swede and eighth European to cross Africa. Life Sten Edvard Gleerup was born on 13 June 1860 in Chicago. His father was Georg Jose ...

, who had been appointed second to

Arvid Wester Arvid Mauritz Wester (10 June 1856 – 11 July 1914) was a Swedish soldier who was active in the service of the Belgians in the Congo. For almost two years he commanded the remote station at Stanley Falls, Congo, Stanley Falls, where he had to dea ...

at the Falls. On 24 November 1884 they reached Msuata, where Liebrechts stayed, and where they met Giacomo Savorgnan di Brazzà and Attilio Pécile, of the French mission, who were going by canoe to the

Alima The Alima River () is a tributary of the Congo River. It is formed by the confluence of two streams, the Lékéti and the Dziélé. Towns Towns on the banks of this river include (from the source): * Okoyo * Boundji * Oyo (Congo), Oyo Locatio ...

. On 12 December 1884 Casman arrived at Equateur Station, where

Alphonse van Gèle Alphonse van Gèle, also written van Gele or Vangele (25 April 1848 – 23 February 1939), was a Belgians, Belgian soldier who served as the List of colonial governors of the Congo Free State and Belgian Congo, Vice-Governor General of the Congo F ...

handed over command in a ceremony before the native chiefs. In December 1884 Casman concluded three treaties in the region on behalf of the

(AIC). Casman came down with fever in May 1885 and died after a few days on 14 May 1885. He was succeeded in quick succession by Georges Pagels,

and then on 1 July 1885 by

Notes

Citations

Sources

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Casman, Guillaume-Camille 1854 births 1885 deaths Belgian soldiers Heads of Équateur Station International Association of the Congo