It is a time when the major world powers are vying for colonial honors, a time of ju-ju, witch doctors, and an uneasy peace with Bosambo, impressive chief of the Ochori. When Commissioner Sanders goes on leave, the trusty Lieutenant Hamilton takes over administration of the African territories. However, yet again, the trouble-prone Francis Augustus Tibbetts , known as 'Bones', while meaning to assist, only manages to spread his own unique style of innocent and endearing mischief.
'I want you to go up the Isango, Bones, ' said Sanders, 'there may be some trouble there - a woman is working miracles.' Unexpected things happen in the territories of the Belgian Congo where Commissioner Sanders keeps an uneasy peace, aided by his trusty assistant Lieutenant Hamilton and hindered, unintentionally, by the trouble-prone Bones. He must deal with 'ju-ju', 'religious-palava', lost vials of virulent disease...and all the while Bosambo, the magnificent king of the Ochori, watches on.
Commissioner Sanders is called upon by the British Government "to keep a watchful eye upon some quarter of a million cannibal folk, who ten years before had regarded white men as we regard the unicorn." Written when world powers were vying for colonial honor, Sanders of the River encapsulates the beliefs and assumptions that motivated such quests. There is religious palava, raiding palava, and all the while, Bosambo, magnificent chief of the Ochori, watches on.