For nearly 500 years Calabar has had one of the longest unbroken contacts with Europe of any port on the West African coast. Originally published in 1972, this book outlines the political and social development of Calabar during one of the most crucial periods of its history. While previous studies which have peripherally touched on Calabar have seen external factors as the most dynamic force in the 19th century history of the area, this work draws attention to the interaction between the external agents of change (super cargoes, missionaries and consuls) and the changes that were going on in the internal political, social and economic structure of Calabar society. The author assesses important aspects of contact between Africans and Europeans and discusses the use by Africans of Europeans as counters in their own political and economic rivalries.