TREICH-LAPLNE, MARCEL

born June 24, 1860, Ussel, France died March 9, 1890, Grand-Bassam, Cte d'Ivoire French explorer whose difficult voyage into the interior of western Africa established the eastern boundary of the Cte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). Treich traveled to Africa in 1883 and from the start complained of the encroachments of British traders on French territory. The desire to forestall British control of the western African interior led to his voyages of exploration. In 1887 he concluded treaties with the rulers of the Anyi and the Brong peoples. His longest journey began in September 1888, in relief of another French explorer, L.-G. Binger. He traveled inland to Bondoukou and Kong (in the Cte d'Ivoire), establishing French protectorates over the peoples he encountered, and returned to the coast in April 1889.