▁Nach t ig al ▁raised ▁the ▁German ▁flag ▁in ▁Bell ▁town ▁and ▁signed ▁treat ies ▁placing ▁under ▁German ▁protection ▁the ▁areas ▁which ▁became ▁the ▁col ony ▁of ▁K amer un . ▁He ▁spent ▁some ▁weeks ▁visit ing ▁various ▁ports ▁around ▁the ▁B ight ▁of ▁B ia fra ▁before ▁sail ing ▁south ▁to ▁Gab on , ▁Ang ola ▁and ▁South ▁West ▁Africa . ▁He ▁ste amed ▁back ▁to ▁K amer un ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 8 8 4 ▁and ▁the ▁Niger ▁D elta ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 8 8 5 . ▁On ▁ 2 9 ▁January ▁ 1 8 8 5 ▁he ▁signed ▁a ▁treat y ▁which ▁brought ▁Mah in land ▁under ▁German ▁protection . ▁After ▁this ▁Nach t ig al ▁began ▁his ▁return ▁journey ▁to ▁Germany ▁but ▁succ um bed ▁to ▁mal aria ▁and ▁died ▁off ▁the ▁coast ▁of ▁Guinea ▁in ▁April . ▁ ▁West ▁African ▁squad ron , ▁ 1 8 8 4 – 8 5 ▁ ▁After ▁Nach t ig al ▁had ▁completed ▁his ▁mission ▁of ▁establish ing ▁German ▁rights ▁in ▁West ▁Africa , ▁there ▁was ▁a ▁need ▁for ▁naval ▁support ▁to ▁rein force ▁them . ▁On ▁September ▁ 3 0 , ▁ 1 8 8 4 ▁Emperor ▁Wilhelm ▁I ▁issued ▁an ▁order ▁establish ing ▁a ▁West ▁African ▁squad ron ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁Chief ▁of ▁the ▁Staff ▁of ▁the ▁Admir alty , ▁R ear ▁Admir al ▁Edu ard ▁von ▁Kn orr . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁was ▁composed ▁of ▁the ▁cor v ettes ▁ ▁( flags hip ), ▁, ▁,