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| author | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2025-12-01 06:40:59 -0800 |
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| committer | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2025-12-01 06:40:59 -0800 |
| commit | 27fd35647f3ac8bdb2096559bf7a58c36d14a21e (patch) | |
| tree | 8e46bf2d1626f166600c947394164b08a62b4c04 | |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/77375-0.txt b/77375-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b42451 --- /dev/null +++ b/77375-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,20017 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77375 *** + * * * * * + MISSION + TO + ASHANTEE. + * * * * * + + +[Illustration: A Map _shewing the_ _DISCOVERIES & IMPROVEMENTS_ _in the_ +Geography _of_ WESTERN AFRICA _resulting from the_ _MISSION to ASHANTEE_ +_by_ _T. E. Bowdich_ _Conductor_ 1817 + +_REPORTED COURSES_ of the NIGER to the NILE, GAMBAROO to CAUDEE, +OOGOOAWAI to the CONGO. + +_London published as the Act directs by John Murray Albemarle Street +4th. Jany. 1819._ + +_J. Walker Sculpt._] + + + MISSION + FROM CAPE COAST CASTLE + TO + =ASHANTEE,= + WITH A + STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THAT KINGDOM, + AND + GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF OTHER PARTS + OF THE + INTERIOR OF AFRICA. + + * * * * * + BY T. EDWARD BOWDICH, ESQ. + CONDUCTOR. + * * * * * + +“Quod si præ metu et formidine pedem referemus, ista omnia nobis adversa + futura sunt.” + + LONDON: + * * * * * + JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET. + 1819. + + + * * * * * + London: printed by W. Bulmer and Co. + Cleveland-Row, St. James’s. + + + + + INTRODUCTION. + + * * * * * + + +A curiosity throughout Europe, proportionate to the ignorance of the +Interior of Africa, exacts the publication of the proceedings and +researches of every Exploratory Mission, from its Conductor, as a duty +to the Public: “mandat fieri sibi talia.” + +The Public, in acknowledgment of the performance of the duty, reflecting +that it constrains literary efforts which the Author otherwise might +never have presumed to expose, should sympathise in his diffidence and +anxiety, and receive and review them as a task imposed, and not as a +spontaneous essay. + +If this indulgence is due even to gentlemen who have had the most +enviable opportunities of qualifying themselves at the expense of a +liberal Government, it is surely secure to one who never enjoyed those +advantages; but, being suddenly called to the immediate conduct of a +Mission, originated by a public Board of very contracted means, when +estranged from all facilities, had no resource to aid his realization of +the scientific desiderata, beyond the acquirements common to most +private gentlemen. + +The vessel in which I am making my passage to England having been +chartered to trade in the River Gaboon, which is immediately on the +Line, I diverted a tedious delay of seven weeks in so unhealthy a +situation, by visiting Naängo, a town about fifty miles from the mouth +of the River, where I collected Geographical Accounts of the Interior, +from several intelligent traders, and numerous slaves from different +countries. I have added this compilation, (as it may borrow some +interest from the adjacency of the Congo,) with a few notices of the +customs and productions of this ruder part of Africa. + + + + + CONTENTS. + + * * * * * + + + PART I. + + CHAP. I.—The Objects and Departure of the Mission. 3 + + CHAP. II—The Route and Reception of the Mission. 14 + + CHAP. III.—Proceedings and Incidents until the Third 42 + Dispatch to Cape Coast Castle. + + CHAP. IV.—Proceedings and Incidents until the Signing of 101 + the Preliminaries to a General Treaty. + + CHAP. V.—Proceedings and Incidents until the Ratification 118 + of a General Treaty. + + CHAP. VI.—Proceedings and Incidents until the completion of 131 + the Mission and its return to Cape Coast Castle. + + PART II. + + CHAP. I.—Geography. 161 + + CHAP. II.—History. 228 + + CHAP. III.—Constitution and Laws. 252 + + CHAP. IV.—Superstitions. 261 + + CHAP. V.—Customs. 274 + + CHAP. VI.—Architecture, Arts, and Manufactures. 304 + + CHAP. VII.—Climate, Population, Revenue, City, Market, &c. 315 + + CHAP. VIII.—Trade. 330 + + CHAP. IX.—Language. 344 + + CHAP. X.—Music. 361 + + CHAP. XI.—Materia Medica and Diseases. 370 + + CHAP. XII.—Mr. Hutchison’s Diary. 381 + + CHAP. XIII.—Sketch of Gaboon, and its Interior. 422 + + CHAP. XIV.—Suggestions for future Missions to the Interior 453 + of Africa. + + APPENDIX. + + NO. I.—Extract from Meredith’s Account of the Gold Coast. 463 + + NO. II.—Translations of an Arabic MS. Descriptive of Mr. 478 + Park’s Death. + + NO. III.—Arabic Routes. 482 + + NO. IV. Dr. Leach’s Notice of Reptiles, Insects, &c. 493 + + NO. V.—Thermometer Account. 497 + + NO. VI.—Vocabularies. 504 + + + + + DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THE PLATES. + + + Map _to front the Title._ + + 1. A Captain in his War-dress _to face p._ 32 + + Arabic Circular 128 + + Map from Dapper 211 + + 2. The first Day of the Yam Custom 275 + + 3. The oldest House in Coomassie 307 + + 4. Quarters of the Chief of the Embassy _ib._ + + 5. Odumata’s sleeping room 307 + + 6. Inner square of Apokoo’s house _ib._ + + 7. } + } Piazzas of the palace 308 + 8. } + + 9. Part of Adoom Street _ib._ + + 10. Exterior of the King’s bed room _ib._ + + Ichnographical Sketch of Coomassie 323 + + Ashantee Music 365 + + Empoöngwa Music 449 + + * * * * * + + ERRATA. + + Map.—Affix the name Leeasa to the river flowing from the Niger by + Boussa. + + Page 9.—After Frederick James, Esq. add, Member of Council, and + Governor of Accra. + + Page 72.—For dated, read _dictated_. + + + + + GLOSSARY. + + + Croom. A town or village. + + Caboceer. A chief or magistrate. + + Pynin. An elder or counsellor. + + Palaver. A dispute, debate, argument, or suit. + + Book or Note. A certificate of a monthly pension of the African + Committee, paid in trade to the Fantee Kings and Chiefs in the + neighbourhood of the British settlements, in consideration of their + attachment, influence, and services; which Books or Notes were claimed + by the King of Ashantee, as his by right of conquest. + + Stool. Throne, seat in council, inheritance. + + Custom. A festival, carnival, public ceremony, funeral rite. + + Panyar. To seize or kidnap. + + A Benda. Two ounces four ackies, or £9. currency. + + A Periguin. Two ounces eight ackies, or £10. currency. + + An Ackie. Five shillings currency. + + A Tokoo. Ten pence. + + A Dash. A present. + + Fetish. A charm, amulet, deity. Any supernatural power or influence. + Any thing sacred. + + + + + * * * * * + MISSION TO ASHANTEE. + PART I. + * * * * * + + + MISSION TO ASHANTEE. + * * * * * + + CHAPTER I. + + * * * * * + + _The Objects, and Departure of the Mission._ + + +Bosman and Barbot mention the Ashantees as first heard of by Europeans +about the year 1700; the latter calls it Assiantee or Inta, and writes, +that it is west of Mandingo, and joins Akim on the east; he asserts its +pre-eminence in wealth and power. Issert, a physician in the Danish +service, who meditated a visit to Ashantee, writes, “this mighty king +has a piece of gold, as a charm, more than four men can carry; and +innumerable slaves are constantly at work for him in the mountains, each +of whom must collect or produce two ounces of gold per diem. The Akims +formerly dug much gold, but they are now forbidden by the King of +Ashantee, to whom they are tributary, as well as the Aquamboos, +previously a very formidable nation.” Mr. Dalzel heard of the Ashantees +at Dahomey, as very powerful, but imagined them, the Intas, and the +Tapahs, to be one and the same nation. Mr. Lucas, when in Mesurata, was +informed that Assentai was the capital of the powerful kingdom of +Tonouwah. In Mr. Murray’s enlarged edition of Dr. Leyden’s discoveries +in Africa, we find, “the northern border of Akim extends to Tonouwah, +denominated also Inta, Assientè, or Assentai, from its capital city of +that name, which stands about eighteen days journey from the Gold +Coast.” + +In 1807 an Ashantee army reached the Coast for the first time. I would +refer the reader to the extract in the Appendix, from Mr. Meredith’s +account of the Gold Coast, as the particulars are introductory as well +as interesting; and also serve to correct the misstatement in the work +last quoted, that in 1808 the King of Ashantee destroyed the English +fort of Annamaboe; originating, probably, from the storm of the Dutch +fort at Cormantine, at that time. + +The Ashantees invaded Fantee again in 1811, and the third time in 1816. +These invasions inflicted the greatest miseries on the Fantees. Few were +slain in battle, for they rarely dared to encounter the invaders; but +the butcheries in cold blood were incredible, and thousands were dragged +into the interior to be sacrificed to the superstitions of the +conquerors. Famines, unmitigated by labour, succeeded the wide waste of +the Fantee territory, the wretched remnant of the population abandoning +itself to despair; and the prolonged blockade of Cape Coast Castle in +the last invasion, engendered so much distress and hazard, that the +Government having averted imminent danger by advancing a large sum of +gold on account of the Fantees, earnestly desired the Committee to +authorise and enable them to venture an Embassy, to deprecate these +repeated calamities, to conciliate so powerful a monarch, and to +propitiate an extension of commerce. By the store ship which arrived in +1817, the African Committee forwarded liberal and suitable presents, and +associated scientific with the political objects of the Mission, in +their instructions, which I submit in explanation. + +“In order to enable you to redeem the promise to the King of Ashantee +(and as we are sanguine in our hopes of the good that may result from +it), we send you sundry articles as presents for him, to which you may +add such others from the public stores as you may deem desirable, +provided they will not materially increase the expense. The Committee +are extremely anxious (and in this respect the wishes of all classes of +people in this country go with them) that no exertions should be spared +to become better acquainted with the Interior of Africa; and we consider +the existing state of things to be most favourable for undertaking an +exploratory Mission into the dominions of the King of Ashantee. If, +therefore, nothing shall have transpired in the interim of this dispatch +being received by you, to make the measure objectionable, we wish you to +obtain permission from the King to send an Embassy to his capital: if +granted, you will select three Gentlemen (one of them from the medical +department[1]) for that service; and let them be accompanied by a +respectable escort, you giving them the fullest instructions for their +government. In particular, it will be necessary for them to observe, and +report upon, the nature of the country; its soil and products; the +names, and distances, and the latitude and longitude of the principal +places; and its most remarkable natural objects: the appearance, +distinguishing characters, and manners of the natives; their religion, +laws, customs, and forms of government, as far as they can be +ascertained; and by whom each place is governed. When at Ashantee, they +should endeavour to obtain the fullest information of the countries +beyond, in each direction; particularly whether any high mountains, +lakes, or large rivers are known; and the width, depth, course, and +direction of the latter; and whether the water, as well of the lakes as +the rivers, is salt or fresh: and how far, and under what circumstances, +white men may travel with safety, especially in a northerly direction. +They should collect the most accurate information possible of the +extent, population, and resources of the Ashantee dominions, and should +report fully their opinion of the inhabitants, and of the progress they +may have made in the arts of civilized life. They should be directed +also, to procure and bring away (with the consent of the chiefs) any +specimens of vegetable and mineral productions they may be able: and to +ascertain where and how the natives collect the gold, and the extent to +which the trade in that article, and in ivory, might be carried on. It +would, we conceive, be a most important advantage, if the King of +Ashantee, and some of his chiefs, could be prevailed upon to send one or +more of their children to the Cape, to be educated at the expense of the +Committee (to be attended by their own servants, if required), under the +guarantee of the Governor and Council for their personal safety, and +that they should be sent back when required. + +“Another great object would be, to prevail upon the King to form, and +keep open, a path not less than six feet wide, from his capital, as far +as his territories extend towards Cape Coast, you engaging on the part +of the Committee, to continue it from that point to Cape Coast, which we +presume may be done at a very small expense, by means of monthly +allowances to the chiefs of such villages as be in that line; upon +condition that they shall not allow the path to be overgrown with +underwood, or otherwise obstructed. + +“It may perhaps be found, that high mountains, or a large river, may be +not many days journey beyond Ashantee; in which case, if the Gentlemen +composing the Embassy feel themselves secure in the attempt, they may +probably be disposed to proceed so far. In such event, we authorize you +to pay their drafts for any moderate sums which they may find it +necessary to expend, as well as for the general objects of the Mission. + +“Besides the escort of which we have spoken, we think it necessary, or +at least extremely important, that the Embassy should be accompanied by +natives of character and consequence, conversant with the Ashantee +language, in whom you have perfect confidence, selected, one from each +of the towns of Cape Coast, Accra, and Apollonia, to whom you may make +reasonable allowances for their time and trouble. + +“We have said that you should obtain the permission of the King of +Ashantee to send the Embassy: we have doubts of the expediency of +requiring hostages; but, we presume you will concur with us in thinking, +it will be necessary, before it leaves Cape Coast, that a man of +consequence should be specially sent down by the King, to serve as a +guide and protector; and who, on his journey to Cape Coast, may arrange +with the messenger whom you may send to the King, respecting the places +at which the Embassy may stop to refresh, and give directions to open +the paths that may be overgrown. + +“The Gentlemen whom you may select, will of course be well advised by +you not to interfere with any customs of the natives, however absurd; or +in any way to give them offence. And they cannot too strongly impress +upon the minds of the King and people of Ashantee, that the only objects +his Britannic Majesty has in view, are, to extend the trade with that +country; to prevent all interruption to their free communication with +the waterside; and to instruct their children in reading, writing, &c. +from which, as may be easily pointed out, the greatest advantages must +arise to the Ashantees. + +“From what has been said, you, Gentlemen, will perceive, that in +selecting the Embassy, it is important that one of the persons composing +it should be able to determine the latitude and longitude of places, and +that both shall be seasoned to the climate; of ability, physical and +mental; of cool tempers, and moderate habits; and possessed of fortitude +and perseverance; and that in the selection of their escort also, regard +be had to the qualifications of the parties in those respects. Among +them there should be a bricklayer, carpenter, blacksmith, gunsmith, and +cooper, with proper tools; if these persons can be spared for the +purpose. We wish also they should take with them a number of +_certificates regarding Major Peddie_, and his companions, to be +circulated as distinctly as possible in the Interior; for though the +period may be past when they might have been useful to those travellers, +it is yet possible that they may be of use in making generally known the +object of Government in sending white men to explore that country.” + +The suggestion of hostages was wholly impracticable, for there was not +even time for a communication with the King. A variety of circumstances +conspired to urge the immediate dispatch of the Mission; our interests, +to say the least, imperiously demanded its early interference; and had +we waited for a formal permission from the King to relieve the +difficulties of the enterprise, the rainy season would have been too far +advanced, and the critical moment have escaped us. The Governor thought +it more advisable to dispatch the Mission without an escort, and two +native soldiers only were added to the bearers of the baggage. The +perusal of the Governor’s instructions will be satisfactory to the +reader: + + + _Cape Coast Castle, April 19th_, 1817 + + FREDERICK JAMES, ESQ. Member of Council, and Governor of Accra. + + SIR, + +IN accepting your voluntary offer of conducting the Embassy to the King +of Ashantee, I have every reason to believe, that from your long +experience in this country, and your knowledge of the manners and habits +of the natives, it will terminate in a manner highly creditable to +yourself, and eventually prove of the greatest importance to the +commercial interest of Great Britain, which is the more immediate object +of the Mission; however, as many subjects of scientific research may be +associated with it, they are particularly recommended to your attention. +For this purpose Mr. Bowdich will accompany you; and I have no doubt he +will be found perfectly qualified to make the necessary observations, in +which you will afford him every facility and assistance. He is provided +with instruments for determining the latitude and longitude of places. +Mr. Hutchison, writer, and Mr. Tedlie, assistant surgeon, will also be +attached to the expedition. + +The Ashantees, who are appointed your guides, have been selected by the +Ashantee Captain who is now here. They will, I hope, aid and assist you +in every thing that lays in their power. + +In addition to the Committee’s instructions, a copy of which you have +herewith, you will attend to the following: + +On the subject of your journey, I have nothing to observe further, than, +that I hope you will take every opportunity of travelling when there +will be the least exposure to the sun, as the officers who accompany you +have been but a short time in the country, and every precaution will be +necessary for the preservation of their health. + +As soon as may be convenient after your arrival at the Ashantee capital, +you will of course see the King, and deliver him the various presents in +the name of the African Company, to be received by him as pledges of the +harmony and friendship which is ever to subsist between them; and also +of his good will towards the natives residing under the protection of +their different forts. You will not fail to impress upon his mind, the +great power, wealth, and consequence of the British nation, and how much +it is the interest of himself and his subjects, to promote and +perpetuate their present free intercourse with the water side. In the +course of your interview many circumstances will doubtless occur, which +will suggest various other matters proper to be mentioned to the King, +all which I shall leave entirely to your own discretion. + +You will acquaint the King, that in order to secure a correct +communication between him and myself, I request his permission to allow +an officer to reside constantly at Commassey, who will defray all his +own expenses, and for whom you will build a house without loss of time. +A carpenter, bricklayer, and cooper are sent with you, and you will +leave them with Mr. Hutchison, who will remain as Resident. On your +departure you will give him full instructions in writing for his future +government, a copy of which you will deliver me upon your return. + +You will keep an exact diary of every circumstance possessing the least +interest, a copy of which you will transmit me by every opportunity. + +In the course of your stay in the Ashantee country, you will embrace +every occasion of becoming acquainted with the politics of that nation, +of ascertaining its extent and boundaries, the power of the King over +the lives and property of his subjects, the probable force he could +bring into the field, the number of his allies, the sources and amount +of his revenues. Whether he is tributary to any other power, and what +nations in his neighbourhood are tributary to him? The amount of +tribute, and in what articles paid? The rule of succession to the +throne? What are the punishments for crimes of all descriptions? Who are +the persons of most consequence next to the King? The names of their +offices, and the extent of their power: by whom, or how paid? What are +the most prominent features in the character, manners, and habits of the +people, &c. &c. &c.? + +Are any human sacrifices made? Upon what occasions, and to what extent? +How are prisoners of war now disposed of? + +Of what nation are the Moors that frequent the Ashantee country, and for +what purpose do they go there? + +Ascertain the current medium of exchange, whether gold, or cowries; also +the usual prices at which the Ashantees sell the goods they purchase +from the Europeans on the sea coast; and the extent of their commercial +relations with the Interior. + +You will enquire whether any European travellers have ever been seen or +heard of in any of the countries to the northward; and what became of +them? Whether any thing be known of the river Niger, or Joliba, as it is +called by the natives? This information you will probably obtain from +the Moors. + +Ascertain the position of the Doncoe country, and the city of Kong; also +the mountains of that name. Refer to Park’s Travels, and acquire as much +information as possible of the regions lying between Ashantee and the +last places he visited. In short, leave nothing undone that may add to +our present imperfect geographical knowledge of the Interior. + +You will receive herewith copies of certificates relative to Major +Pedde’s expedition, which you will distribute amongst any persons you +find travelling into the Interior from Ashantee. + +It would be of the first importance to have a road cut directly down to +Cape Coast; and this you will urge to the King in the strongest manner. +Your observations will, of course, enable you to point out the proper +directions. + +I inclose a sketch of a treaty, and it would be highly desirable if you +could procure its ratification by the King. He might perhaps make some +objection at first, but may be persuaded at length, by your address, and +reasoning. If he wished any trifling alteration made, you might use your +discretion in this respect. + +You will acquaint the King, it is my wish that in future he receive his +company’s pay at this Castle, and not at Accra, as formerly. Should he +say any thing of an increase to his present allowance, you may give him +hopes that it will be granted to a reasonable extent, provided the +objects of this Mission be fulfilled, and after twelve months experience +shall have proved the sincerity of his friendship to the British +Government, and to the natives resident under its protection at the +various forts on the Coast. + +From the jealous disposition of the natives of Africa, it is highly +probable, that in the prosecution of your enquiries, you will be subject +to many unfavourable suspicions. These you will take all possible care +to remove, by the most candid explanations on every point that may be +required. + +You will particularly explain to the King, the ill treatment the people +of Cape Coast have experienced from those of Elmina, which has added +very much to the distresses they have for some time suffered from the +extreme scarcity of provisions; and there is reason to believe, that +this unjust persecution has been induced, from their presuming on their +connection with the Ashantees. Being perfectly aware that it has been +done without the concurrence of the King; I have no doubt but he will, +by a proper representation of the affair from you, exert his influence, +and prevent what is at present to be apprehended, and what the Elminas +are endeavouring to provoke—a war between the two people. + +In all cases not provided for in these Instructions, you have of course +a discretionary power, which I am convinced you will make use of with +deliberation and prudence, and with becoming zeal for the service upon +which you are employed. + +Wishing you a prosperous journey and a safe return, + + I am, Sir, your most obedient Servant, + + JOHN HOPE SMITH. + + +[Footnote 1: We recommend his being well supplied with dressings, &c. +for wounds, and bruises, so that he may be able to assist any natives +whom he may meet with requiring his aid: services of this sort give +Negroes an exalted idea of white men, and are always gratefully +remembered.] + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + * * * * * + + _The Route, and Reception of the Mission._ + + +The Mission left Cape Coast Castle on the morning of the 22d of April, +with the intention of quitting the water side at Moree, three miles and +a half to the eastward; but on reaching it, we were told that the path +thence to Payntree’s croom, always bad, was then impassable from the +rains; and that we must proceed to Annamaboe before we struck into the +bush for the Interior. + +The reluctance of the carriers, who had been pressed into the service by +the authorities of the town, became thus early almost insuperable; the +consideration of pay and subsistence, and the reflection, that the +dearth inflicted by the invasions the Mission was to deprecate, allowed +them but a bare existence at home, were entirely lost in their aversion +to the undertaking, which was equally influenced by jealousy and +indolence: eleven deserted the first day; and the slender authority of +the King and caboceers of Annamaboe, delayed the procuring of others to +replace them until the next evening. One party was then started, +attended by a soldier and a messenger, as they persisted in laying down +their loads, even in the town; and many of the Annamaboes who had been +procured, after lifting their packages, which were of moderate weight, +walked off again, with the most insolent indifference. The devices by +which these people displayed their ill will were peculiarly their own, +and none could be more ingeniously tormenting. At four o’clock on +Thursday morning we started the remainder of the packages, and followed +them at half past six. Proceeding about two miles in a N.N.W. direction, +we descended a steep hill, a quarter of a mile in length, and entered a +beautiful valley, profusely covered with pines, aloes, and lilies; and +richly varied with palm, banana, plantain, and guava trees: the view was +refreshed by gentle risings crowned with cotton trees of a stupendous +size. I never saw soil so rich, or vegetation so luxuriant. + +The first croom we reached was Quama’s, about three miles and a half +from Annamaboe; it presented but a few hovels; and we passed through +three others, Simquoi, Taphoo, and Nasmam, just as wretched and +insignificant, before we reached Booka, romantically situated amidst the +luxuriant foliage of a high hill, terminating the valley. Abra is about +three miles eastward of this croom: it has been entirely deserted since +the last invasion, the Ashantee army under Appia Nanu having made it +their head quarters. It formerly exceeded Annamaboe, but the little that +now remains is in ruin, the inhabitants having retired to the small +crooms of their caboceer, or Captain Quaggheree. + +Passing through Tachradi, which scarcely existed but in name, we +ascended a gentle rising, with a small croom, called Acroofroom, on the +left hand. The astonishment of its miserable inhabitants engaging our +attention, the extensive area of the summit burst upon us with the more +effect. It was environed by small groves; and clumps of cotton trees +rose so happily in frequent spots, as to afford all the scenery of a +romantic little park; the broken rays of the sun stealing through the +small trees in the distance, to make the deep shade of the foreground +more imposing. The path then became more hilly, and the landscape fuller +of wood: our descents and risings frequently through long vistas, so +richly gilded with the sun on the summits, that, impressed with the +description of Issert, we naturally yielded to the expectation, in +ascending each eminence, that it would afford us the delightful prospect +of an open country; but we were disappointed, and passing through +Dunnasee and Assoquah, both small crooms, the latter situated on a long +level, about three miles and a half from Acroofroom, we shortly after +arrived at Payntree’s. + +On the higher hills the soil was generally gravel, with large stones; on +the lesser, white flint and whinstone abounded: the levels presented few +stones, and the earth was black, strong, and rich, producing grass from +four to ten feet high. The country was very thinly inhabited, and more +sparingly cultivated, the cassada frequent, but producing little from +the want of cultivation. + +I made Payntree’s croom barely fifteen miles from Annamaboe; judging +from time, it was guessed to be eighteen or twenty; but the impediments +which the path almost incessantly presented to a hammock, the +inequalities of the ground, and many delays which insensibly consumed +the time, conspired to make such a calculation of distance very +fallacious. The plan I adopted throughout, though laborious, entitled me +to more confidence; and the observations confirmed the pretension. Mr. +Tedlie, who was always just ahead of myself, took the angles of the path +by his compass, which I pencilled as he uttered them, with their several +lengths, allowing four yards and a half for every six paces. It is +allowed too by the natives to be an easy four hours walk. Several hours +elapsed before all the carriers came up; most of those who had been +started by us the preceding day, slept in the bush, and one more had +deserted. + +The prevailing courses and their proportions were N.¼; N.bW.⅛; N.N.W.⅛; +N.N.E.⅛; the rest of the distance being made up of small lengths, in +every point of the compass, from S.W. to S.E.; the variation 17¾° W. The +latitude of Payntree, by two altitudes of the sun, was 5° 20′ 30″ N.; +the longitude, by the course and distance, as afterwards corrected, 1° +47′ W. + +We received the compliments of Payntree and several caboceers, under a +large tree, and were then conducted to a neat and comfortable dwelling, +which had been prepared for us: a small square area afforded a shed for +cooking in on one side, and a sleeping room in each of the others, open +in front, but well thatched, and very clean: from this we passed to our +sitting room, the floor of which was elevated about two feet from the +ground. + +The croom was prettily situated on a level, encircled by very fine +trees, and consisted of a very broad and well cleaned street of small +huts, framed of bamboo, and neatly thatched. Just beyond the north end +of the croom, there was a stream running to the N.N.E and more than a +mile of marshy ground was distinguished by the deeper shade and +luxuriance of the foliage. We observed a great number of small birds, +which were even more beautiful from their delicate symmetry, than their +brilliant plumage; they were generally green, with black wings, and +their nests hanging from the trees. + +The Ashantee captain, who expected to continue there some months, on the +king’s business, sent us a sheep, pleading the scarcity, and his being a +stranger, as apologies for so small a present. Old Payntree was +attentive and obliging; he dashed us some fowls, yams, and palm wine. We +remained there the next day, to allow our people to procure four days +subsistence, as they would not be able to meet with provision on the +path during that period. + +I walked with Mr. Tedlie along a very neat path well fenced, and divided +by _stiles_, to a corn plantation of at least twenty acres, and well +cultivated. Payntree’s farm house was situated here, and afforded +superior conveniences; a fowl house, a pigeon house, and a large granary +raised on a strong stage. As we returned we paid him a visit, and were +refreshed with some excellent palm wine: his dwelling was a square of +four apartments, which were entered from an outer one, where a number of +drums were kept; the angles were occupied by the slaves, and his own +room, which had a small inner chamber, was decked with muskets, +blunderbusses, cartouch belts fantastically ornamented, and various +insignia. The order, cleanliness, and comfort, surprised us; the sun had +just set, and a cheerful fire on a clean hearth supported the evening +meal. The old man was seated in his state chair, diverting himself with +his children and younger wives, the elder one was looking on from the +opposite apartment with happy indifference; it was the first scene of +domestic comfort I had witnessed among the natives. There was a small +plantation or garden neatly fenced in, near the house, for the supply of +the family. + +On Saturday the 26th we left Payntree’s croom, and proceeded through two +romantic little valleys, with a few huts in each: the variety of trees +increased with the number, and ornamented the hills with almost every +tint and character of foliage: the path was frequently covered with +water. Just before we reached Cottacoomacasa, a most beautiful landscape +opened, the fore-ground darkly shaded with large cotton trees, and the +distance composed of several picturesque little hills; their fanciful +outlines, and the beautiful variety of fresh and sombre tint of the +small groves which encircled them, forcibly reminded me of the +celebrated ride by Grongar hill, from Carmarthen to Llandilo. + +Cottacoomacasa is about six miles and a quarter from Payntree’s croom, +and consisted but of a few miserable huts and sheds, which scarcely +afforded shelter, and were close and filthy. I took the angles of a +cotton tree near us, and the height proved to be 139 feet; generally +speaking, those we had passed were, to appearance, much higher. The +bearers had all settled themselves here, and not contented with a long +rest, refused for some time to proceed until the next day; several were +intoxicated with the rum from some ankers they had designedly broken. We +started again however about half past three, and almost immediately +entered a large forest impervious to the sun; the risings were frequent +but gentle; the path, crooked and overgrown, presented such constant +obstacles to a hammock, that Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Tedlie, and myself, were +glad to dismount, and found it was much more comfortable as well as more +expeditious to walk; the only inconvenience was the troops of large +black ants, which were too thick to be avoided, and stung us sadly. We +passed two little streams running E.N.E. About six miles from +Cottacoomacasa we found all the baggage, the people making their fires, +and settling themselves for the night; it was almost dark; Quamina, our +Ashantee guide, had gone on without us, and Mr. James we knew must be +far behind; we therefore determined to halt for the night, and our +hammocks were slung to the trees. The distance marched this day was +twelve miles. The longitude of Cottacoomacasa was one mile E. of that of +Payntree by account, that of our resting place 1° 46′ 30″ W. and the +lat. 5° 28′ N. + +The next morning we continued our march through the same dark solitude, +and passing three small streams running E. we reached Mansue soon after +ten o’clock. We had scarcely seated ourselves under a tattered shed, +which could not defend us from the burning sun, when we were encircled +by the cooking fires of the party, and nothing but violence could remove +them to a proper distance. + +Mansue had been the great Fantee market for slaves from the Interior, +and its former consequence was evident from the extent of its site, over +which a few sheds only were now scattered. + +We proceeded again at one o’clock, and passing through a small river, +Assooneara, running eastward, we came to a second, called Okee, running +in the same direction to the Amissa, which falls into the sea between +Annamaboe and Tantum. We passed five or six swamps, one nearly half a +mile long; in these the soil was a dark clay, but otherwise gravelly. We +halted in the woods at a spot where our guide Quamina was busied in +cutting down the underwood to accommodate himself and his women; the +bearers, resolute in their perverseness, had gone on with our provisions +and clothes. The ground of our resting place was very damp, and swarmed +with reptiles and insects; we had great difficulty in keeping up our +fires, which we were the more anxious to do after a visit from a +panther: an animal which, the natives say, resembles a small pig, and +inhabits the trees, continued a shrill screeching through the night; and +occasionally a wild hog bounced by, snorting through the forest, as if +closely pursued. This day’s distance was eight miles, and the course +N.¼N. b. E.⅙. Lat. and long. by account 5° 34′ N. and 1° 48′ W. +Thermometer in shade 6 A.M. 74. + +We started the next morning at seven o’clock, and after three miles and +a half crossed a small river called Gaia, and sometimes Aniabirrim, from +a croom of that name being formerly in its neighbourhood; it was ten +yards wide and two feet deep, and ran to the E. just across the path, +but afterwards N.N.E. to the Amissa. Here Mr. Hutchison waited for Mr. +James to come up, whilst Mr. Tedlie and myself walked on to overtake the +people. The doom and iron-wood trees were frequent; the path was a +labyrinth of the most capricious windings, the roots of the cotton trees +obstructing it continually, and our progress was generally by stepping +and jumping up and down, rather than walking; the stems or caudices of +these trees projected from the trunks like flying buttresses, their +height frequently 20 feet. Immense trunks of fallen trees presented +constant barriers to our progress, and increased our fatigues from the +labour of scaling them: we were also frequently obliged to wait the +cutting away of the underwood before we could proceed, even on foot. The +large trees were covered with parasites and convolvuli, and the climbing +plants, like small cables, ascending the trunks to some height, abruptly +shot downwards, crossed to the opposite trees, and threaded each other +in such a perplexity of twists and turnings, that it soon became +impossible to trace them in the general entanglement. We passed through +two small streams running S. and several swamps, richly covered with +palm trees. Parrots and crown birds were numerous. At the end of ten +miles we came to a small river called Quatoa, four yards wide, also +running eastward to the Amissa; and immediately after to a few sheds +bearing the same name, where we found the last party of the bearers all +lying down, and a soldier ineffectually endeavouring to rouse them: we +started them with difficulty. A mile and a half thence we met with the +Okee again, running over its rocky bed in a transparent stream, which +reflected the richest foliage; its course S.W.½W., the breadth nine +yards, and we stepped across it from rock to rock. We soon afterwards +walked through the Antoonso, a smaller river running W.S.W., which +probably crossed the path to the eastward in one of the small streams +near Cottacoomacasa, as every report confirmed its also running to the +Amissa; it was very near Fousou, where we had scarcely arrived, before +the Fantees, such was their perverseness, insisted upon going on, the +Cape Coast messengers either had no influence or would not exert it; we +soon stopped them with the assistance of Quamina, our Ashantee guide, +Mr. James not coming up until late in the evening. Fousou was formerly a +large town, but had been destroyed by the Ashantee invasion of 1807; it +presented but a few sheds, in one of which we observed the Ashantee +traders to deposit yams and plantains to subsist them on their return; +so severe was the scarcity in the Fantee country: we could purchase +nothing, and were admitted to the best hovel with reluctance. This day’s +distance was 14 miles. The courses N.½, N.N.W.¼, N.bW.⅛. The latitude of +Fousou by observation, was 5° 43′ 20″ N. and the longitude by account 1° +52′ W. + +The next morning, the 29th of April, we marched seven miles to +Ancomassa, a name given to half a dozen sheds; the path was still of the +same rugged nature, and the gloom unvaried. A strong fragrance was +emitted from the decaying plants and trees of the mimosa kind, whilst +others in the same incipient state of putrefaction were very offensive. +We passed through two small rivers, Bettensin and Soubin, six yards +wide, and shallow; they both ran eastward to the Owa, of which I could +not learn more than that it emptied itself into the Boosempra. + +We proceeded at four o’clock, and had not gone two miles on our gloomy +route before it became dark. The path was level, but very swampy, and +generally covered with water. The fire-flies spangled the herbage in +every direction, and from the strength of their light, alternately +excited the apprehension of wild beasts, and the hope that we approached +the resting place our guide, whom we never saw after starting, had told +us of in the morning. The greatest fear of the people was of the spirits +of the woods, (whom Mr. Park’s interpreter, Johnson, propitiated by a +sacrifice between Jing and Gangaddi) and the discordant yells in which +they rivalled each other to keep up their courage, mingled with the +howls and screeches from the forest, imposed a degree of horror on this +dismal scene, which associated it with the imaginations of Dante. Three +or four times we suddenly emerged from the most awful gloom into +extensive areas, on which the stars shed a brilliancy of light gradually +softened into the deep shade which encompassed them; they were the sites +of large and populous crooms destroyed in the Ashantee invasions. About +nine o’clock we discovered a few miserable sheds, which the noise of the +bearers, who had long arrived, convinced us to be Accomfodey. We had +passed two small rivers, the Aprinisee and Annuia, both running to the +Boosempra. This day’s distance was 11 miles, and the courses N.⅓, +N.bW.⅕. The lat. and long. by account 5° 49′ N. and 1° 55′ W. +Thermometer 11 a.m. 80. + +We marched early the next morning. The scenery of the forest, excepting +on the banks of the small rivers, was very naked of foliage, and only +presented a harsh and ragged confusion of stems and branches intricately +blended. We passed a small river soon after leaving Accomfodey, bearing +the same name and running eastward; and shortly after another, six yards +wide and two feet deep (the Berrakoo), running N.E. to the Boosempra. +The path was sometimes trackless, and appeared to have been little used +since the invasion of 1807; several human skulls were scattered through +this dark solitude, the relics of the butchery. We halted about two +o’clock by Mr. James’s direction, and passed the night in the forest. +This day’s distance was eight miles, the prevailing courses N.¼, N.bW.⅛, +N.N.W.⅛, N.bE.⅛. The latitude and longitude by account 5° 53′ N. 1° 55′ +W. Thermometer 2 p.m. 88½, 7 p.m. 82½. + +The next morning we passed some sheds, on the sites of the crooms +Dansamsou and Meakirring. At the end of five miles and a quarter, the +herbage to the right disclosed the cheerful reflections of the sun from +the water; and we descended through a small vista of the forest, to the +banks of the Boosempra or Chamah river. Nothing could be more beautiful +than its scenery: the bank on the south side was steep, and admitted but +a narrow path; that on the north sloping; on which a small Fetish house, +under the shade of a cachou tree, fixed the eye; whence it wandered over +a rich variety of tint and foliage, in which light and shade were most +happily blended: the small rocks stole through the herbage of the banks, +and now and then ruffled the water: the doom trees towering in the +shrubbery, waved to the most gentle air a rich foliage of dark green, +mocking the finest touch of the pencil; the tamarind and smaller mimosas +heightening its effect by their livelier tint, and the more piquant +delicacy of their leaf: the cotton trees overtopped the whole, +enwreathed in convolvuli, and several elegant little trees, unknown to +me, rose in the background, intermixed with palms, and made the coup +d’oeil enchanting. The bright rays of the sun were sobered by the rich +reflections of the water; and there was a mild beauty in the landscape, +uncongenial to barbarism, which imposed the expectation of elegance and +refinement. I attempted a sketch, but it was far beyond my rude pencil; +the expression of the scene could only have been traced in the profile +of every tree; and it seemed to defy any touches, but those of a Claude +or a Wilson, to depict the life of its beauty. I took two angles from a +base on the south side, which gave the width of the river, forty three +yards; the depth was 7 feet, and the course N.W.½W. with a very strong +current. A small river called Nimeä, ran into it, close to our right as +we landed: we crossed in the hollow trunk of a tree, thirty feet long, +the ends plastered up with sticks and swish. + +Mansue was said to have been the last town of the Fantee territory; but +we had no opportunity for comparison until we passed the river, the +country thitherto presenting all the gloom of depopulation, and the +forest fast recovering the sites of the large towns destroyed in the +Ashantee invasions. The inhabitants of the few wretched hovels, remotely +scattered, seemed as if they had fled to them as outcasts from society; +they were lost even to curiosity, and manners were brutal and sullen.[2] +We could purchase nothing for our subsistence. + +The scene brightened from our crossing the Boosempra; the path improved, +and Prasoo, the first town, only three quarters of a mile from the +river, presented a wide and clean street of tolerably regular houses; +the inhabitants clean and cheerful, left their various occupations to +gratify their curiosity, and saluted us in a friendly and respectful +manner: indeed the Assins may be considered, collectively, a more +mannerly and orderly people than the Ashantees. Kickiwherree, one mile +and a half distant, was a larger town, not so regular, but presenting +the same neat appearance, improved by the white-washing of many of the +houses. We halted here under the ganian[3] tree, used, generally +speaking, for recreation only, palavers being talked in the open fronts +of the houses. We were conducted to a comfortable dwelling, affording us +four very clean rooms, about 12 feet by 7, in which there were shelves +containing many articles of superior domestic comfort; a curtain or +skreen of bamboo let down in the open front, and the floors raised about +a foot and half from the ground, were washed daily with an earth of the +neighbourhood, which coloured them Etruscan red. The iron stone +abounded. Kickiwherree was 7 miles from the previous resting place, and +the prevailing courses N.¼ N.b.W.⅐. The latitude by observation was 5° +56′ 40″ N; the longitude by account 1° 57′ W. Thermometer 8 a.m. 77; 1 +p.m. 91. + +My observations had not been so frequent as I wished; the nature of the +country, and the season of the year were both very unfavourable to them. +I worked the double altitudes, invariably by Dr. Pemberton’s rule in +Keith’s trigonometry, which requires no assumed latitude, and is in all +cases accurate. + +Mr. James having determined to rest the next day at Kickiwherree, we did +not proceed until Saturday the 3rd of May. We passed through a small +river close to the town, called the Ading, six yards wide and two feet +deep; and soon after a second, the Animiasoo, nine yards wide, and three +feet deep, both running to the Boosempra; close to the latter was a +large croom of the same name, the seat of Cheboo’s government. Pagga and +Atobiasee were also large crooms near each other, and within four miles +of Kickiwherree. At Atobiasee was a small river called Prensa, five +yards wide, and two feet deep, which ran E.S.E. to the Boosempra: two +miles thence we came to Becquama, a very old croom, with a river nine +yards wide, called Prapong, running E. by S. to the Boosempra; and at +the end of nine miles we halted at Asharaman, a small croom on an +eminence, where the Assins under Apootey and Cheboo, first engaged the +Ashantees in 1807. There was a small plot of corn near this croom, the +first we had seen since we left Payntree, though every croom was +surrounded by a tract of cultivated land, or plantation of plantains. +The path continued through forest. Distance 8 miles. Courses N.¼. +Latitude by observation, 5° 59′ 20″. Longitude by course and distance 1° +57′ 40″ W. Thermometer 6 a.m. 76, p.m. 89. + +The next day we passed through Ansa, a large croom, where Amoo had +governed; north-west of which, at a little distance, was Aboiboo, the +residence of his enemy Apootey. A small river near Ansa, called +Parakoomee, eleven yards wide, and three feet deep, ran south to a +larger, called Ofim or Foom, which rises six days northward of +Coomassie, and falls into the Boosempra some miles westward of our +crossing. The path was very swampy, and we did not reach Akrofroom until +three o’clock: this was by far the largest croom we had seen. The heavy +rains during the night floated us in our lodgings, and, as Quamina +reported, rendered the path to Moisee impassable for the next day; +consequently we did not proceed until Tuesday the 6th. Distance 12 +miles. Courses N.⅕, N.N.W.¼. Latitude by observation, 6° 5′ 40″. Long: C +and D 2° 2′. W. The path still through forest, presented frequent +acclivities, and the iron stone, and a soft grey rock abounded; the soil +was sometimes gravelly, but generally of a red coloured clay used in the +native pottery. We passed the Parakoomee again twice, and at the end of +11 miles halted at Moisee, + + + “Cingebant silvæ; quem collibus undique curvis,” + + +the last Assin town, at the foot of three high hills covered with wood, +bearing W.N.W., N., and N.N.E.; the barriers of the Ashantee kingdom. +Course N.⅕, N.W.b.N.⅐, N.b.E.⅛. Latitude by observation 6° 8′ 50″ N. +Longitude C and D 2° 4′ 20″ W. The thermometer was broken on the 4th. + +We passed the northern boundary the next morning; the ascent was a mile +and a half in length, and very rocky; a small river called the Bohmen +ran S.W. to the Jim, which falls into the Ofim: the water of the Bohmen +is said to instil eloquence, and numerous Ashantees repair annually to +drink of it: it flowed in a very clear stream, over a bed of gravel, and +was three feet deep, and eight yards broad. The expectation of an open +country was again disappointed; I bore several eminent points, in the +hope of being able to do so again at some distance, and of thus, with +the intermediate course, checking the distance computed by paces; but +the forest soon shut them out entirely. The first Ashantee croom was +Quesha; and we soon after passed through Fohmannee, which had been a +very considerable town. We stopped there awhile at the request of a +venerable old man, who regaled us with some palm wine and fruit: his +manners were very pleasing, and made it more painful to us to hear that +his life was forfeited to some superstitious observances, and that he +only waited the result of a petition to the king to commiserate his +infirmities so far as to allow him to be executed at his own croom, and +to be spared the fatigue of a journey to the capital: he conversed +cheerfully with us, congratulated himself on seeing white men before he +died, and spread his cloth over the log with an emotion of dignity +rather than shame: his head arrived at Coomassie the day after we had. +On ascending the hill, the soil became a dark brown clay, and very +productive. We passed the first large plantation of corn we had seen +since we left Payntree, and halted at Doompassee. Distance 6 miles. +Courses N.⅓, N.N.W.⅕, N.W.⅙. Latitude by observation, 6° 11′ 30″. + +Doompassee had been a very large croom, but the caboceer having +intrigued with one of Sai Cudjoe’s wives, who had permission to visit +her family in this place, the greater part of it was destroyed in +consequence, and the caboceer decapitated: the woman possessing +irresistible art in practising upon the numerous admirers of her beauty, +the king spared her life, and employed her thenceforth to inveigle those +distant caboceers, whose lives or properties were desirable to him. It +was the most industrious town on the path; cloths, beads, and pottery +were manufacturing in all directions, and the blacksmiths’ forges were +always at work. The intelligence of the beginning of the King’s fetish +week, and Mr. James’s attack of fever, delayed us at Doompassee, and a +messenger was dispatched in the interim to announce our approach. During +our stay, I observed an eclipse of Jupiter’s first satellite, which gave +the longitude 2° 6′ W. + +We did not leave Doompassee until the 14th of May; after two miles, +passing a small stream running N.W. we ascended a high hill, on which a +large croom, called Tiabosoo, was situated. I looked into a pit here six +feet deep; the first stratum was vegetable mould, the second gravel, the +third, a kind of potter’s clay, and the remaining of brittle stone of a +reddish brown, resembling that they call cabouc in the East Indies. The +next croom was Sanquanta, where the path took an easterly direction, and +about seven miles from Doompassee we passed Datiasoo, where large +quantities of pottery were manufacturing, exclusively: it was not more +than a mile distant from Dadawasee, where we found a messenger from the +king, expressing his regret that we had come up in the rainy season, as +he had heard it was a very unhealthy one for white men, and appointing +us to enter the capital on the Monday following; he sent us a present of +a sheep, forty yams, and two ounces of gold for our table; he had also +given six ackies to our messenger, who returned at the same time. The +path had been cleared by the king’s order, the plantations became more +frequent and extensive, and numerous paths branching off from that we +travelled, shewed that the country was thickly inhabited, and the +intercourse of the various parts direct and necessary for an interchange +of manufacture and produce: the crooms hitherto had appeared insulated. +The Acassey or blue dye plant grew profusely. Distance seven miles. +Courses N.¼, N.bW.⅐, N.N.W.⅐, N.N.E.⅙. Latitude by observation 6° 16′ +20″ N. long: C and D 2° 7′ 30″ W. + +The next day, leaving Dadawasee, close to which was another large croom +called Modjawee, we descended a very steep hill, and passed the Dankaran +or Mankaran, a small river, in the rainy season eleven yards wide and +four feet deep, running to the Birrim: not far from this river was +Sahnfoo, and a short distance from that croom, a smaller river called +Yansee, running N.N.W. We then passed through Korraman, near which was +the small river Dansabow, running westward, and three other large +crooms, Aquinasee (having a neatly fenced burial ground,) Amafou, and +Agabimah; crossing another small river called Soubirree, near the +latter, we reached Assiminia, distant eight miles from Dadawasee. The +path was frequently eight feet wide, and kept as neatly as that of a +garden in the environs of the crooms, which now disclosed themselves +very prettily at some distance. Courses N.⅕, N.bE.⅙, N.N.E.⅙. Latitude +by observation 6° 22′, longitude C and D 2° 7′ 50″ W. + +There was a violent tornado in the night, during almost the whole of +which the rain continued in torrents, increasing the small streams near +the town from ancle to three feet deep. Almost all the inhabitants were +employed in weaving the staple manufacture of Assiminia, which was +formerly of much greater extent. Mr. James rested here the whole of the +next day, and on Saturday we proceeded through Boposoo (on a very high +hill), Agemum, Yoko, and Abountum; near which we crossed the Biaqua, +running west to the Jim, and about seven yards wide and two feet deep; +between this and Sarrasou, where we halted, were two large crooms, +Pootooaga and Fiasou. + +The path was continually well cleared: each croom presented one wide +central street, with the ganian or cachou trees at the extremities. The +soil ceased to be sandy, and became a reddish earth: we observed some +quartz, but silex prevailed. Distance 11 miles. Courses N.¼, N.N.E.⅕. +Lat. by observation, 6° 30′ 20″. Long. C. and D. 2° 6′ 30″. + +The river Dah runs close to Sarrasou, rising at Sekooree near Dwabin, +and falling into the Ofim at Measee in the Warsaw path; it is generally +about sixteen yards wide, and four feet deep. There was an ingenious +fishing weir in this river; two rows of very strong wicker work were +fixed across it, supported against the rapidity of the stream by large +stakes, driven into the ground obliquely on each side of them, and +connected above and below by the trunks of two large trees. The funnel- +shaped baskets, thickly inserted at the bottom, were of split cane, and +about twelve feet long. There are large plantations of corn around +Sarrasou, which is a great nursery for pigs. We left it on Monday +morning, the 19th, and passing through a small croom, Oyoko, stopped at +another, Agogoo, about four miles distant, to dress ourselves in full +uniform. The soil from Sarrasou was a rich black mould, and there were +continued plantations of corn, yams, ground nuts, terraboys, and +encruma: the yams and ground nuts were planted with much regularity in +triangular beds, with small drains around each, and carefully cleared +from weeds. + +Two miles from Agogoo, we crossed the marsh which insulates Coomassie; +the breadth at that part forty yards, and the depth three feet. Being +within a mile of the capital, our approach was announced to the king, +who desired us by his messengers to rest at a little croom, called +Patiasoo, until he had finished washing, when captains would be deputed +to conduct us to his presence. Distance 6½ miles. Courses N.⅙, N.N.W.⅙. + +We entered Coomassie at two o’clock, passing under a fetish, or +sacrifice of a dead sheep, wrapped up in red silk, and suspended between +two lofty poles. Upwards of 5000 people, the greater part warriors, met +us with awful bursts of martial music, discordant only in its mixture; +for horns, drums, rattles, and gong-gongs were all exerted with a zeal +bordering on phrenzy, to subdue us by the first impression. The smoke +which encircled us from the incessant discharges of musquetry, confined +our glimpses to the foreground; and we were halted whilst the captains +performed their Pyrrhic dance, in the centre of a circle formed by their +warriors; where a confusion of flags, English, Dutch, and Danish, were +waved and flourished in all directions; the bearers plunging and +springing from side to side, with a passion of enthusiasm only equalled +by the captains, who followed them, discharging their shining +blunderbusses so close, that the flags now and then were in a blaze; and +emerging from the smoke with all the gesture and distortion of maniacs. +Their followers kept up the firing around us in the rear. The dress of +the captains (see drawing, No. I.) was a war cap, with gilded rams horns +projecting in front, the sides extended beyond all proportion by immense +plumes of eagles feathers, and fastened under the chin with bands of +cowries. Their vest was of red cloth, covered with fetishes and +saphies[4] in gold and silver; and embroidered cases of almost every +colour, which flapped against their bodies as they moved, intermixed +with small brass bells, the horns and tails of animals, shells, and +knives; long leopards tails hung down their backs, over a small bow +covered with fetishes. They wore loose cotton trowsers, with immense +boots of a dull red leather, coming half way up the thigh, and fastened +by small chains to their cartouch or waist belt; these were also +ornamented with bells, horses tails, strings of amulets, and innumerable +shreds of leather; a small quiver of poisoned arrows hung from their +right wrist, and they held a long iron chain between their teeth, with a +scrap of Moorish writing affixed to the end of it. A small spear was in +their left hands, covered with red cloth and silk tassels; their black +countenances heightened the effect of this attire, and completed a +figure scarcely human. + +[Illustration: _Drawn by T. E. Bowdich Esqr._ + +_No. 1._ + +CAPTAIN in his WAR DRESS.] + +This exhibition continued about half an hour, when we were allowed to +proceed, encircled by the warriors, whose numbers, with the crowds of +people, made our movement as gradual as if it had taken place in +Cheapside; the several streets branching off to the right, presented +long vistas crammed with people, and those on the left hand being on an +acclivity, innumerable rows of heads rose one above another: the large +open porches of the houses, like the fronts of stages in small theatres, +were filled with the better sort of females and children, all impatient +to behold white men for the first time; their exclamations were drowned +in the firing and music, but their gestures were in character with the +scene. When we reached the palace, about half a mile from the place +where we entered, we were again halted, and an open file was made, +through which the bearers were passed, to deposit the presents and +baggage in the house assigned to us. Here we were gratified by observing +several of the caboceers pass by with their trains, the novel splendour +of which astonished us. The bands, principally composed of horns and +flutes, trained to play in concert, seemed to soothe our hearing into +its natural tone again by their wild melodies; whilst the immense +umbrellas, made to sink and rise from the jerkings of the bearers, and +the large fans waving around, refreshed us with small currents of air, +under a burning sun, clouds of dust, and a density of atmosphere almost +suffocating. We were then squeezed, at the same funeral pace, up a long +street, to an open-fronted house, where we were desired by a royal +messenger to wait a further invitation from the king. Here our attention +was forced from the astonishment of the crowd to a most inhuman +spectacle, which was paraded before us for some minutes; it was a man +whom they were tormenting previous to sacrifice; his hands were pinioned +behind him, a knife was passed through his cheeks, to which his lips +were noosed like the figure of 8; one ear was cut off and carried before +him, the other hung to his head by a small bit of skin; there were +several gashes in his back, and a knife was thrust under each shoulder +blade; he was led with a cord passed through his nose, by men disfigured +with immense caps of shaggy black skins, and drums beat before him; the +feeling this horrid barbarity excited must be imagined. We were soon +released by permission to proceed to the king, and passed through a very +broad street, about a quarter of a mile long, to the market place. + +Our observations en passant had taught us to conceive a spectacle far +exceeding our original expectations; but they had not prepared us for +the extent and display of the scene which here burst upon us: an area of +nearly a mile in circumference was crowded with magnificence and +novelty. The king, his tributaries, and captains, were resplendent in +the distance, surrounded by attendants of every description, fronted by +a mass of warriors which seemed to make our approach impervious. The sun +was reflected, with a glare scarcely more supportable than the heat, +from the massy gold ornaments, which glistened in every direction. More +than a hundred bands burst at once on our arrival, with the peculiar +airs of their several chiefs; the horns flourished their defiances, with +the beating of innumerable drums and metal instruments, and then yielded +for a while to the soft breathings of their long flutes, which were +truly harmonious; and a pleasing instrument, like a bagpipe without the +drone, was happily blended. At least a hundred large umbrellas, or +canopies, which could shelter thirty persons, were sprung up and down by +the bearers with brilliant effect, being made of scarlet, yellow, and +the most shewy cloths and silks, and crowned on the top with crescents, +pelicans, elephants, barrels, and arms and swords of gold; they were of +various shapes, but mostly dome; and the valances (in some of which +small looking glasses were inserted) fantastically scalloped and +fringed; from the fronts of some, the proboscis and small teeth of +elephants projected, and a few were roofed with leopard skins, and +crowned with various animals naturally stuffed. The state hammocks, like +long cradles, were raised in the rear, the poles on the heads of the +bearers; the cushions and pillows were covered with crimson taffeta, and +the richest cloths hung over the sides. Innumerable small umbrellas, of +various coloured stripes, were crowded in the intervals, whilst several +large trees heightened the glare, by contrasting the sober colouring of +nature. + + + “Discolor unde auri per ramos aura refulsit.” + + +The king’s messengers, with gold breast plates, made way for us, and we +commenced our round, preceded by the canes and the English flag. We +stopped to take the hand of every caboceer, which, as their houshold +suites occupied several spaces in advance, delayed us long enough to +distinguish some of the ornaments in the general blaze of splendour and +ostentation. + +The caboceers, as did their superior captains and attendants, wore +Ashantee cloths, of extravagant price from the costly foreign silks +which had been unravelled to weave them in all the varieties of colour, +as well as pattern; they were of an incredible size and weight, and +thrown over the shoulder exactly like the Roman toga; a small silk +fillet generally encircled their temples, and massy gold necklaces, +intricately wrought; suspended Moorish charms, dearly purchased, and +enclosed in small square cases of gold, silver, and curious embroidery. +Some wore necklaces reaching to the navel entirely of aggry beads; a +band of gold and beads encircled the knee, from which several strings of +the same depended; small circles of gold like guineas, rings, and casts +of animals, were strung round their ancles; their sandals were of green, +red, and delicate white leather; manillas, and rude lumps of rock gold, +hung from their left wrists, which were so heavily laden as to be +supported on the head of one of their handsomest boys. Gold and silver +pipes, and canes dazzled the eye in every direction. Wolves and rams +heads as large as life, cast in gold, were suspended from their gold +handled swords, which were held around them in great numbers; the blades +were shaped like round bills, and rusted in blood; the sheaths were of +leopard skin, or the shell of a fish like shagreen. The large drums +supported on the head of one man, and beaten by two others, were braced +around with the thigh bones of their enemies, and ornamented with their +skulls. The kettle drums resting on the ground, were scraped with wet +fingers, and covered with leopard skin. The wrists of the drummers were +hung with bells and curiously shaped pieces of iron, which gingled +loudly as they were beating. The smaller drums were suspended from the +neck by scarves of red cloth; the horns (the teeth of young elephants) +were ornamented at the mouth-piece with gold, and the jaw bones of human +victims. The war caps of eagles feathers nodded in the rear, and large +fans, of the wing feathers of the ostrich, played around the +dignitaries; immediately behind their chairs (which were of a black +wood, almost covered by inlays of ivory and gold embossment) stood their +handsomest youths, with corslets of leopard’s skin covered with gold +cockle shells, and stuck full of small knives, sheathed in gold and +silver, and the handles of blue agate; cartouch boxes of elephant’s hide +hung below, ornamented in the same manner; a large gold handled sword +was fixed behind the left shoulder, and silk scarves and horses tails +(generally white) streamed from the arms and waist cloth: their long +Danish muskets had broad rims of gold at small distances, and the stocks +were ornamented with shells. Finely grown girls stood behind the chairs +of some, with silver basins. Their stools (of the most laborious carved +work, and generally with two large bells attached to them) were +conspicuously placed on the heads of favourites; and crowds of small +boys were seated around, flourishing elephants tails curiously mounted. +The warriors sat on the ground close to these, and so thickly as not to +admit of our passing without treading on their feet, to which they were +perfectly indifferent; their caps were of the skin of the pangolin and +leopard, the tails hanging down behind; their cartouch belts (composed +of small gourds which hold the charges, and covered with leopard or +pig’s skin) were embossed with red shells, and small brass bells thickly +hung to them; on their hips and shoulders was a cluster of knives; iron +chains and collars dignified the most daring, who were prouder of them +than of gold; their muskets had rests affixed of leopard’s skin, and the +locks a covering of the same; the sides of their faces were curiously +painted in long white streaks, and their arms also striped, having the +appearance of armour. + +We were suddenly surprised by the sight of Moors, who afforded the first +general diversity of dress; there were seventeen superiors, arrayed in +large cloaks of white satin, richly trimmed with spangled embroidery, +their shirts and trowsers were of silk, and a very large turban of white +muslin was studded with a border of different coloured stones: their +attendants wore red caps and turbans, and long white shirts, which hung +over their trowsers; those of the inferiors were of dark blue cloth: +they slowly raised their eyes from the ground as we passed, and with a +most malignant scowl. + +The prolonged flourishes of the horns, a deafening tumult of drums, and +the fuller concert of the intervals, announced that we were approaching +the king: we were already passing the principal officers of his +houshold; the chamberlain, the gold horn blower, the captain of the +messengers, the captain for royal executions, the captain of the market, +the keeper of the royal burial ground, and the master of the bands, sat +surrounded by a retinue and splendor which bespoke the dignity and +importance of their offices. The cook had a number of small services +covered with leopard’s skin held behind him, and a large quantity of +massy silver plate was displayed before him, punch bowls, waiters, +coffee pots, tankards, and a very large vessel with heavy handles and +clawed feet, which seemed to have been made to hold incense; I observed +a Portuguese inscription on one piece, and they seemed generally of that +manufacture. The executioner, a man of an immense size, wore a massy +gold hatchet on his breast; and the execution stool was held before him, +clotted in blood, and partly covered with a cawl of fat. The king’s four +linguists were encircled by a splendor inferior to none, and their +peculiar insignia, gold canes, were elevated in all directions, tied in +bundles like fasces. The keeper of the treasury, added to his own +magnificence by the ostentatious display of his service; the blow pan, +boxes, scales and weights, were of solid gold. + +A delay of some minutes whilst we severally approached to receive the +king’s hand, afforded us a thorough view of him; his deportment first +excited my attention; native dignity in princes we are pleased to call +barbarous was a curious spectacle: his manners were majestic, yet +courteous; and he did not allow his surprise to beguile him for a moment +of the composure of the monarch; he appeared to be about thirty-eight +years of age, inclined to corpulence, and of a benevolent countenance; +he wore a fillet of aggry beads round his temples, a necklace of gold +cockspur shells strung by their largest ends, and over his right +shoulder a red silk cord, suspending three saphies cased in gold; his +bracelets were the richest mixtures of beads and gold, and his fingers +covered with rings; his cloth was of a dark green silk; a pointed diadem +was elegantly painted in white on his forehead; also a pattern +resembling an epaulette on each shoulder, and an ornament like a full +blown rose, one leaf rising above another until it covered his whole +breast; his knee-bands were of aggry beads, and his ancle strings of +gold ornaments of the most delicate workmanship, small drums, sankos, +stools, swords, guns, and birds, clustered together; his sandals, of a +soft white leather, were embossed across the instep band with small gold +and silver cases of saphies; he was seated in a low chair, richly +ornamented with gold; he wore a pair of gold castanets on his finger and +thumb, which he clapped to enforce silence. The belts of the guards +behind his chair, were cased in gold, and covered with small jaw bones +of the same metal; the elephants tails, waving like a small cloud before +him, were spangled with gold, and large plumes of feathers were +flourished amid them. His eunuch presided over these attendants, wearing +only one massy piece of gold about his neck: the royal stool, entirely +cased in gold, was displayed under a splendid umbrella, with drums, +sankos, horns, and various musical instruments, cased in gold, about the +thickness of cartridge paper: large circles of gold hung by scarlet +cloth from the swords of state, the sheaths as well as the handles of +which were also cased; hatchets of the same were intermixed with them: +the breasts of the Ocrahs, and various attendants, were adorned with +large stars, stools, crescents, and gossamer wings of solid gold. + +We pursued our course through this blazing circle, which afforded to the +last a variety exceeding description and memory; so many splendid +novelties diverting the fatigue, heat, and pressure we were labouring +under; we were almost exhausted, however, by the time we reached the +end; when, instead of being conducted to our residence, we were desired +to seat ourselves under a tree at some distance, to receive the +compliments of the whole in our turn. + +The swell of their bands gradually strengthened on our ears, the peals +of the warlike instruments bursting upon the short, but sweet responses +of the flutes; the gaudy canopies seemed to dance in the distant view, +and floated broadly as they were springing up and down in the +foreground; flags and banners waved in the interval, and the chiefs were +eminent in their crimson hammocks, amidst crowds of musquetry. They +dismounted as they arrived within thirty yards of us; their principal +captains preceded them with the gold handled swords, a body of soldiers +followed with their arms reversed, then their bands and gold canes, +pipes, and elephants tails. The chief, with a small body guard under his +umbrella, was generally supported around the waist by the hands of his +favourite slave, whilst captains holla’d, close in his ear, his warlike +deeds and (strong) names, which were reiterated with the voices of +Stentors by those before and behind; the larger party of warriors +brought up the rear. Old captains of secondary rank were carried on the +shoulders of a strong slave; but a more interesting sight was presented +in the minors, or young caboceers, many not more than five or six years +of age, who overweighed by ornaments, were carried in the same manner, +(under their canopies), encircled by all the pomp and parade of their +predecessors. Amongst others, the grandson of Cheboo was pointed out, +whom the king had generously placed on the stool of his perfidious +enemy. A band of Fetish men, or priests, wheeled round and round as they +passed with surprising velocity. Manner was as various as ornament; some +danced by with irresistible buffoonery, some with a gesture and carriage +of defiance; one distinguished caboceer performed the war dance before +us for some minutes, with a large spear, which grazed us at every bound +he made; but the greater number passed us with order and dignity, some +slipping one sandal, some both, some turning round after having taken +each of us by the hand; the attendants of others knelt before them, +throwing dust upon their heads; and the Moors, apparently, vouchsafed us +a blessing. The king’s messengers who were posted near us, with their +long hair hanging in twists like a thrum mop, used little ceremony in +hurrying by this transient procession; yet it was nearly 8 o’clock +before the king approached. + +It was a beautiful star light night, and the torches which preceded him +displayed the splendor of his regalia with a chastened lustre, and made +the human trophies of the soldiers more awfully imposing. The skulls of +three Banda caboceers, who had been his most obstinate enemies, adorned +the largest drum: the vessels in which the boys dipped their torches +were of gold. He stopped to enquire our names a second time, and to wish +us good night; his address was mild and deliberate: he was followed by +his aunts, sisters, and others of his family, with rows of fine gold +chains around their necks. Numerous chiefs succeeded; and it was long +before we were at liberty to retire. We agreed in estimating the number +of warriors at 30,000. + +We were conducted to a range of spacious, but ruinous buildings, which +had belonged to the son of one of the former kings, and who had recently +destroyed himself at a very advanced age, unable to endure the severity +of disgrace: their forlorn and dreary aspect bespoke the fortune of +their master, and they required much repair to defend us from the wind +and rain, which frequently ushered in the nights. + + +[Footnote 2: Every account I received afterwards, confirmed the boundary +of the Fantee and Assin territories to be between Mansue and Fousou; +also that Ancomassa, Accomfodey, Dansamsou, Meakirring, &c. &c. had all +been large Assin crooms, destroyed with many others in their +neighbourhood, in the Ashantee invasion of 1807.] + +[Footnote 3: This is the same tree as the banian or India fig.] + +[Footnote 4: Scraps of Moorish writing, as charms against evil.] + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + * * * * * + + _Proceedings and Incidents until the Third Dispatch to Cape Coast + Castle._ + + + _Coomassie, May 22nd_, 1817. + + TO THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL, CAPE COAST CASTLE. + + GENTLEMEN, + +THE important objects of the Mission, and the safety and prosperity of +the Settlements, have this day demanded our public dissent from our +superior officer, Mr. James; to prove the act tutelary to these objects, +can be our only justification. + +The Mission has engrossed our thoughts and exertions from the moment we +were honoured by the appointments; we have felt that the credit of the +Committee, the character of the service, and the good of our country +were associated in the enterprise; and that we were personally +responsible for these important objects, to the extent of our industry, +fortitude, and ability. Our reflections naturally associated obstacles +commensurate with the importance of the objects affected; and to +overcome the former in a manner auspicious to the latter, we conceived +to be the duty expected from us, as composing a Mission originated to +remove a portion of the formidable barriers to the interior of Africa. +We anticipated prejudice, intrigue, and difficulty, as inevitable; as +obstacles to invigorate and not to sicken our exertions. + +At Dadasey, on Wednesday the 14th instant, we received a present from +the King, of two ounces of gold, a sheep, and thirty yams, with a second +appointment to enter his capital the succeeding Monday. When within a +short distance, the messenger who announced us, returned, to desire us +to wait at a croom until the King had washed. We were permitted to enter +soon after two o’clock, and the King received us with the most +encouraging courtesy, and the most flattering distinction. We paid our +respects in turn, (passing along a surprising extent of line) to the +principal caboceers, many of remote, and several of Moorish territories; +and all of these encircled by retinues astonishing to us from their +numbers, order, and decorations. We were then requested to remove to a +distant tree to receive their salutes; which procession, though simply +transient, continued until past eight o’clock. It was indescribably +imposing from the variety, magnificence, and etiquette: its faint +outline in Mr. Bowdich’s report, will impart our impression of the power +and influence of the monarch we are sent to conciliate. The King as he +passed, repeated his former condescensions. + +The next morning (Tuesday) the King sent to us to come and speak our +palaver in the market place, that all the people might hear it: we found +him encircled by the most splendid insignia, and surrounded by his +caboceers: we were received graciously. Mr. James, through his linguist, +declared to the King’s, (who are alone allowed to speak to him in +public) that the objects of the Mission were friendship and commerce; +impressed the consequence of our nation, and the good feelings of the +Committee and Governor towards the King, as would be testified by our +presents; he submitted the wish of a Residency, and of a direct path. +The King enquired if we were to settle the Commenda palaver; the reply +was, no! He rejoined, “that he wished the Governor of Cape Coast to +settle all palavers for him with the people of the forts, and that he +had thought we came to make all things right, and so to make friends +with the Ashantees.” The King had previously observed, as literally +rendered, that “the forts belonged to him,” meaning (as the context, and +the whole of his sentiments and conduct have confirmed) nothing +humiliating to our dignity and independence; but simply, that the +advantages derived by the Fantee nations from the forts, should now be +his. He desired the officer to be pointed out to him who was to be the +Resident; and then enquired if that was all our palaver, he was told +yes: he said he would give us his answer the next day. + +Soon after we returned to our house, the King’s linguist delivered this +message. “The King knows very well the King of England has sent him +presents; if you wish to be friends with him you must bring these +presents to his own house, and shew them to him and his friends, and not +give them before all the people.” This, in our judgment was a policy, to +prevent any favourable bias of the body of caboceers and people +anticipating the King’s and his councils satisfaction of our motives and +professions. + +We attended: all the curiosity the packages excited could not incline +the King to regard them, until he had desired distinctly to understand +who had sent them, the King of England, or the Governor. He was told, +the Company to whom the forts belonged under the King; the interpreter +seemed to render it the King individually; it was more intelligible, and +the agreeable impression it made was striking. The presents were +displayed. Nothing could surpass the King’s surprise and pleasure, but +his warm yet dignified avowal of his obligations. “Englishmen,” said he, +admiring the workmanship of the different articles, “know how to do +every thing proper,” turning to his favourites with a smile as +auspicious to our interests, as mortal to the intrigues of our rival. +Much of the glass was broken; Mr. James expressed his regret, and +offered to procure more; the King replied, “the path we had come was bad +and overgrown, that we had many people to look after;” and waved our +excuses with superior courtesy. He desired the linguists to say, “this +shewed him that the English were a great people, that they wished to be +friends with him, to be as one with the Ashantees; that this made him +much pleasure to see, (and to repeat again and again,) that he thanked +the King of England, the Governor at Cape Coast, and the officers who +brought the presents much, very much.” He made very liberal presents of +liquor to our people, and delivered the distinct presents to his four +principal caboceers in our sight. + +We learned from Quashie, the Accra linguist, the favourable reports he +had collected through his intimacy with some of the principal men. All +the caboceers, he said, had thought we had come for bad, to spy the +country; the King thought so too a little, but much fetish was made, and +all shewed that we meant well, and now the King thought so; the mulatto +sent by General Daendels, directly after Mr. Hydecoper, and who arrived +just before us, had sent to the King for a pass to go back, and the King +told him, that he would give him this message, “that the King had +thought to do good to the Dutch, but now he sees their white mens faces, +he should do good to the English.” This mulatto man (who is not in the +service, but a free man of Elmina town) visited us afterwards, and his +complaints and sentiments confirmed these reports in our favour. + +On Wednesday morning the King’s sisters (one the caboceer of the largest +Ashantee town near the frontier) paid us a visit of ceremony, and +retired to receive our’s in return; their manners were courteous and +dignified, and they were handed with a surprising politeness by the +captains in attendance. + +Mr. James being indisposed, we went by invitation to see the chief +captain’s horse, when the King sent to us to say, he was walking that +way, and requested us to get our chairs and wait, that he might bid us +good morning. Directly he saw us he ordered the procession to alter its +course, and stopped to take us by the hand. The procession consisted of +about 2000 men, and was marked by all the suit and parade of royalty. +The caboceers that day in attendance appeared as warriors, being +divested of the rich silks of the preceding day; the executioner, the +master of the bands, and the cook, were in the train, with suits which +shewed the importance of their offices; the latter was preceded by a +massy service of plate. Mr. Bowdich’s report will be more particular. + +The king sent his messenger this morning to repeat, that he thanked the +King of England and the Governor very much for yesterday. + +The King was much pleased when Quashie, the Accra linguist (who is our +only intelligible medium,) attempted to describe the use of the sextant; +consequently, when Mr. Bowdich saw the King’s chief captain this +morning, he offered to shew it to the King, with the camera obscura and +telescope; the captain said it would please the King, and reported, that +the King was much pleased with us, that he liked to be friends with the +English, that he wished to make pleasure with us, and would send for us +by and by to do so. We have been particular in these lesser +circumstances, as they are the evidence of the King’s good feelings, and +of the fair prospect of the consummation of the Mission, superior to all +the prejudice and intrigue opposed to it. + +We were sent for to the King’s house; he was only attended by his privy +counsellors; he expressed much delight at the camera obscura and +instruments. He said, “the Englishmen knew more than Dutchmen or +Danes—that black men knew nothing.” He then ordered our people to be +dismissed, said he would look at the telescope in a larger place, that +now he wished to talk with us. He again acknowledged the gratification +of Tuesday, and desired Mr. James to explain to him two notes which he +produced, written by the Governor in Chief at the request of Amooney, +King of Annamaboe, and Adokoo, Chief of the Braffoes, making over to +Saï, King of Ashantee, four ackies per month of their company’s pay, as +a pledge of their allegiance and the termination of hostilities. The +impression seemed instantly to have rooted itself in the King’s mind, +that this was the Governor’s individual act, or that he had instanced +it; his countenance changed, his counsellors became enraged, they were +all impatience, we all anxiety. “Tell the white men,” said the King, +“what they did yesterday made me much pleasure; I was glad we were to be +friends; but to day I see they come to put shame upon my face; this +breaks my heart too much. The English know, with my own powder, with my +own shot, I drove the Fantees under their forts, I spread my sword over +them, they were all killed, and their books from the fort are mine. I +can do as much for the English as the Fantees, they know this well, they +know I have only to send a captain to get all the heads of the Fantees. +These white men cheat me, they think to make ’Shantee fool; they pretend +to make friends with me, and they join with the Fantees to cheat me, to +put shame upon my face; this makes the blood come from my heart.” This +was reported by his linguist with a passion of gesture and utterance +scarcely inferior to the King’s; the irritation spread throughout the +circle, and swelled even to uproar. + +Thus much was inevitable; it was one of our anticipated difficulties; it +was not a defeat, but a check; and here originates our charge against +Mr. James, whom we declare to have been deficient in presence of mind, +and not to have exerted those assurances and arguments which, with a +considerate zeal, might at least have tended to ameliorate the unjust +impression of the King, if not to have eradicated it. Mr. James said, +“the Governor of Cape Coast had done it, that he knew nothing about it, +that he was sent only to make the compliments to the King, that if the +King liked to send a messenger with him, _he was going back and would +tell the Governor all that the King said_.” This was all that was +advanced. Was this enough for such a Mission to effect? the King +repeated, “that he had expected we had _come_ to settle all palavers, +and to _stay_ and make friends with him; but we came to make a fool of +him.” The King asked him to tell him how much had been paid on these +notes since his demand—that he knew white men had large books which told +this. Mr. James said he had seen, but he could not recollect. Nothing +could exceed the King’s indignation. “White men,” he exclaimed, “know +how many months pass, how many years they live, and they know this, but +they wont tell me; could not the other white men tell me.” Mr. James +said, “we never looked in the books.” + +We were not so indiscreet as to expect or wish Mr. James to commit +himself by _promising the satisfaction_ of the King’s wishes; but +dwelling on the expense and importance of the Mission, on the +expectations it had excited, and feeling the reason of the King’s +argument, that its object should be to settle all palavers if we wished +to be good friends, we conceived we but anticipated the feeling of the +Council and of the Committee, in our anxiety for Mr. James to offer to +communicate with the Governor by letter, and to wait his reply, with a +confidence that his good feeling towards the King, his instructions from +England, and his own disposition, would lead him to do every thing that +was right to please him. + +Mr. James’s embarrassment had not only hurried him to extricate himself +as an individual at the expense of his own dignity and intellect, but, +which was worse, he had thrown the whole onus of this invidious +transaction on the shoulders of the Governor in chief, against whom the +King’s prejudice would be fatal to all, and whose interest in his honour +was most flattering to the King, most auspicious to us, and the hopes of +the Mission; not only the future prosperity, but the present security of +the Settlements hung upon this, and the dagger was at this moment +suspended from a cobweb. Mr. Bowdich urged this in the ear of Mr. James, +urged the danger of leaving the King thus provoked, the fatal sacrifice +of every object of the Mission, the discredit of the service, the +disgrace of ourselves; Mr. James replied, “he knew the Governor’s +private sentiments best.” The Moors of authority seized the moment, and +zealously fanned the flame which encircled us; for the King looking in +vain for those testimonies of British feeling which presence of mind +would have imposed, exclaimed, as he turned his ear from the Moors, “I +know the English come to spy the country; they come to cheat me; they +want war, they want war.” Mr. James said “No! we want trade.” The King +impatiently continued, “They join the Fantees to put shame upon my face; +I will send a captain to-morrow to take these books, and bring me the +heads of all the Fantees under the forts; the white men know I can do +this, I have only to speak to my captains. The Dutch Governor does not +cheat me; he does not shame me before the Fantees; he sends me the whole +4 oz. a month. The Danes do not shame me, and the English 4 ackies a +month is nothing to me; I can send a captain for all; they wish war.” He +drew his beard into his mouth, bit it, and rushing abruptly from his +seat exclaimed, “Shantee foo! Shantee foo! ah! ah!” then shaking his +finger at us with the most angry aspect, would have burst from us with +the exclamation, “If a black man had brought me this message, I would +have had his head cut off before me.” Mr. James was silent. + +Gentlemen! imagine this awful moment, think what a fatal wound menaced +the British interests; the most memorable exertion of the Committee, the +pledge to the Government of their energies, of the zeal and capabilities +of their officers, this important and expensive Mission falling to the +ground, the sacrifice to supineness; the Settlements endangered instead +of benefited, ourselves disgraced as officers and men, our key to the +Interior shivered in the lock, and the territories of a great and +comparatively tractable prince shut against us for ever. Could we be +expected to look with indifference on these sacrifices, to risk nothing +to avert them; to be auxiliary to the triumph of the intrigues and +duplicity of our rival, which you know to have been exerted even to our +destruction? Not a moment was to be lost; Mr. Bowdich stood before the +King, and begged to be heard; his attention was arrested, the clamours +of the council gradually abated: there was no interpreter but the one +Mr. James brought from his own fort, and no alternative but to charge +him promptly in the Governor’s name, before reflection could associate +the wishes of his master, to speak truly. Mr. Bowdich continued standing +before the King, and declared, “that the Governor wished to gain his +friendship more than he could think that we were sent, not only to +compliment him, but to write what he had to say to the Governor, and to +wait to tell his answer to the King, and to do all he ordered; to settle +all palavers, and to make Ashantees and English as one before we went +back. That the Governor of Accra was sick, and in pain, and naturally +wished to go back soon, but that himself, and the other two officers +would stay with the King, until they made him sure that the Governor was +a good friend to him. That we would rather get anger, and lose every +thing ourselves, than let the King think the Governor sent us to put +shame on him; that we would trust our lives to the King, until we had +received the Governor’s letter, to make him think so; and to tell us to +do all that was right, to make the Ashantees and English as one; and +this would shew the King we did not come to spy the country, but to do +good.” Mr. Bowdich then assured Mr. James that no outrage on his dignity +was meditated; that we should continue to treat him as our superior +officer, but that we felt the present act imperative, as our duty to the +Service and our Country. + +Conviction flashed across the countenance of the interpreter, and he +must have done Mr. Bowdich’s speech justice, for the cheerful aspect of +the morning was resumed in every countenance. The applause was general; +the King (who had again seated himself) held out his hand to Mr. +Bowdich, and said, “he spoke well; what he spoke was good; he liked his +palaver much.” The King’s chief linguist came forward and repeated his +commendations with the most profound bows; every look was favourable; +every where there was a hand extended. The King then instructed his +linguist to report to Mr. Bowdich, personally, his arguments respecting +the books. “That he had subdued the Fantees at the expense of much +powder and shot; and that, in consequence, all their notes were his: +that he had only to send a Captain to bring all their heads, that he did +not want to do no good, and keep the books; he would do more for the +forts than the Fantees could; that the Dutch Governor did not cheat him, +but gave the four oz. a month. That he wished to be friends with the +English; but that the 4 ackies a month put shame upon his face.” To this +Mr. Bowdich replied, that he could only say he knew the Governor would +do what was right; that he could not say more until he heard from him; +but that he would write every word the King said; and he was sure the +King would see that the Governor would do what was right. We shook hands +and retired. + +All the Fantees being detained by the King, Mr. Bowdich and Mr. +Hutchison went in the evening to the chief captain to request a +messenger from the King to Cape Coast; about two hours afterwards he +reported the King’s reply almost literally as follows: “The King wishes +you good night; this is his palaver and yours, you must not speak it to +any one else, the white men come to cheat him. The King recollects the +face of the white man who spoke to him to day, he likes him much, he +wishes he would talk the palaver; the King likes the other white men who +stood up with him very much; he thinks the Governor of Accra wishes to +put all the wrong on the Governor at Cape Coast, and not to tell any +thing. The King thinks that not right, and he sees you do not like that. +You must not speak this palaver again; ’tis the King’s palaver, and +yours; the King’s captain will speak right to the King what you say, and +you shall have a messenger.” + +We again affirm positively, that Mr. James made no offer to communicate +with the Governor, but spoke only of his return, which we know he was +meditating at the expense of the treaty, and every object of the +Mission. + +Referring to our detail previous to the serious business of to day, you +will find every circumstance to have been encouraging, and in our +opinion, auspicious to the consummation of the Mission. Yet at that +moment, unclouded as it was, we know Mr. James, by his own confession, +to have written to head quarters with a gloom which existed only in his +own imagination; this letter did not go from the detention of the Fantee +bearers. We believe firmly, that had there been no interference on our +part at the critical moment, Mr. James would have returned forthwith to +Cape Coast, without effecting one object of the Mission, and that the +future good of the Settlements would not only have been sacrificed, but +their present security endangered.[5] + +Mr. James may write that Mr. Bowdich rose with great warmth: this we +deny, and affirm that he displayed no more than a temperate zeal, +considerate in its declarations, and respectful even in its dissent from +Mr. James. The attention of the King was arrested by the novelty of a +white man addressing him in the oratorical manner of his own country, +but it was not until the linguist had conveyed the arguments, that the +King held out his hand and the applause was general. Mere observations +whispered in the ear of the linguists had lost all effect, and would not +have answered the crisis. + +Mr. James has talked, and perhaps written much of the King’s suspicion, +but we must contend that much of this is misnamed, and is no more than +that deliberate policy which is a pledge of the durability of the +confidence it precedes. Certainly there has been suspicion, but not more +than must have been expected, not more than was commensurate with the +important novelty which challenged it. It has been confessed here, that +our political rival has exerted all his address to vitiate our objects +in the eyes of the King, to convince him our ostensible views were +pretences; our real ones dangerous and unjust; that we sought +sovereignty, not commerce. The Moorish chiefs and dignitaries by whom +the King is surrounded, whose influence is powerful, not only from their +rank but their repute, naturally urged these arguments against +unbelievers and competitors in trade, and their extensive intercourse +has unfortunately possessed them of facts to the point of our ambition. +Let these considerations be weighed, let our account of the King’s +general deportment be again referred to; let us impress, that he has +never once adverted to our destruction of his troops before Annamaboe, +or of the critical situation of the fort; that he has evinced a +disposition to a sound understanding, by veiling every irritating +retrospect, by acknowledging every conciliatory circumstance. + +We do not presume to enter our opinions into the important question of +the King’s demand of the whole of these two notes; we have advanced +nothing but our assurance that the Governor will do what is right, and +we have pledged our lives to convince the King of this; the importance +of the Mission would have claimed a more valuable pledge. + +Whilst we impress the surprising power and influence of the King, we +must do him the justice to acknowledge the convincing manner in which he +urged the injuries and forbearance which preceded the Fantee war; his +willingness to do every thing for the forts, and the conduct of the +Dutch Governor in giving him the whole of the four ounces, were +impressively and ingeniously associated. + +To wear away suspicion, Mr. Bowdich has ceased his enquiries and +observations for a time. The resources for intelligence of the Interior +are infinite. Timbuctoo has been visited by most of the sojourners, and +a mass of valuable information may be gathered with caution.[6] The +eclipses of Jupiter’s satellites will be regularly observed by Mr. +Bowdich, and the mean longitude reported; the want of a good watch +imposes considerable trouble. + +We have reflected on what we have done, and if we are so unfortunate as +to be visited by your and the Committee’s displeasure, we shall console +ourselves in our reluctant change of pursuit, by the satisfaction of our +own minds of the honourable zeal of our motives. + +We most respectfully solicit our recall, as we cannot implicate our +character and our responsibility with Mr. James’s judgment and +perseverance in prosecuting the Mission, of the consummation of which we +cannot agree to despond. We could not reconcile ourselves to the +sacrifice of one of its important objects to our personal apprehensions +(supported as we are by authority and circumstances) whilst the +recollection of the illustrious energies of an enterprising traveller, +forlorn and destitute, appeals to our spirit, and impresses the +expectations of our country. We are, &c. + + (Signed) + + T. EDWARD BOWDICH. + + W. HUTCHISON. + + HENRY TEDLIE. + + * * * * * + + + _Coomassie, May 24_, 1817. + + TO THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL, CAPE COAST CASTLE. + + GENTLEMEN, + +THE act our former letter has avowed, and we would presume (after the +most deliberate reflection) to add justified, has made it our duty to +communicate (independently of Mr. James) the circumstances of the +interval we may await your pleasure. + +If this duty had not been imposed on us by the act in question, the +imminent fatality engendered in the debate of to day, and quickened by +the ardor of the captains, would have demanded from our private as well +as our public feelings, the most energetic representations (as auxiliary +to those of Mr. James,) in impressing the calamities and the sacrifices +which menace the Settlements and the Mission, to secure your serious +deliberation, as the only preventive we can look to with confidence. + +Yesterday we were conducted some way without the town to an assembly of +the Moorish caboceers and dignitaries, who exert every device against +us. A chapter was read from the Koran, and we were ordered to swear by +that book that we had no rogues palaver, and that we had put no poison +in the King’s liquor. We severally refused to swear on the Koran, but +offered to do so on our own prayer books. The King’s linguist mediated, +and asked us if we would only strike that book three times, and then +declare as much, because the Moors said, that book would kill us if we +lied. We did this, and were about two hours afterwards ordered to sit +without our house and receive the following present from the King: + +One bullock, 2 pigs, 8 oz. of gold, for Mr. James. + +One sheep, 2 oz. 4 ackies of gold, for each of us. + +To each of the numerous Fantee messengers, 10 ackies of gold. + +To our cooks, a large assortment of pots and country vessels, 100 large +billets of wood, 100 yams, 100 bunches of plantains, four of sugar cane, +four (24 gallon) pots of palm oil, three jars of palm wine. + +To the soldiers, 10 ackies of gold. + +To the Accra linguist, 10 ackies of gold. + +On Saturday we were summoned to the King, and waited as usual a +considerable time in one of the outer courts of the palace, which is an +immense building of a variety of oblong courts and regular squares, the +former with arcades along the one side, some of round arches +symmetrically turned, having a skeleton of bamboo; the entablatures +exuberantly adorned with bold fan and trellis work of Egyptian +character. They have a suit of rooms over them, with small windows of +wooden lattice, of intricate but regular carved work, and some have +frames cased with thin gold. The squares have a large apartment on each +side, open in front, with two supporting pillars, which break the view +and give it all the appearance of the proscenium or front of the stage +of the older Italian theatres. They are lofty and regular, and the +cornices of a very bold cane work in alto relievo. A drop curtain of +curiously plaited cane is suspended in front, and in each we observed +chairs and stools embossed with gold, and beds of silk, with scattered +regalia. The most ornamented part of the palace is the residence of the +women. We have passed through it once; the fronts of the apartments were +closed (except two open door ways) by pannels of curious open carving, +conveying a striking resemblance at first sight to an early Gothic +screen; one was entirely closed and had two curious doors of a low arch, +and strengthened or battened with wood-work, carved in high relief and +painted red. Doors chancing to open as we passed, surprised us with a +glimpse of large apartments in corners we could not have thought of, the +most secret appeared the most adorned. In our daily course through the +palace there is always a delay of some minutes, before the door of each +of the several distinct squares is unlocked; within the inmost square is +the council chamber. + +To day, after the delay of nearly an hour (which seems an indispensible +ceremony) in the outer court, (where different dignitaries were passing +to and fro with their insignia and retinues,) we were conducted to a +large yard, where the King, encircled by a varied profusion of insignia, +even more sumptuous than that we had seen before, sat at the end of two +long files of counsellors, caboceers, and captains; they were seated +under their umbrellas, composed of scarlet and yellow cloth, silks, +shawls, cottons, and every glaring variety, with carved and golden +pelicans, panthers, baboons, barrels, crescents, &c. on the top; the +shape generally a dome. Distinct and pompous retinues were placed +around, with gold canes, spangled elephants tails to brush off the +flies, gold headed swords, and embossed muskets, and many splendid +novelties too numerous but for a particular report, which will not be +neglected. Each had the dignitaries of his own province or establishment +to his right and left; and it was truly “Concilium in Concilio.” When we +recollected the insignificant, though neat appearance of the few +Ashantee towns we had passed through on the southern frontier, and even +the extent and superior character of the capital, this magnificence +seemed the effect of enchantment. + +We have intruded this sketch to impress the power and resources of the +monarch we are to conciliate, and to anticipate in some degree the delay +of Mr. Bowdich’s report, the transcription of which must yield to the +present momentous communication. + +The King having decided a cause then in course, by which one of his +captains was condemned to death for cowardice, ordered the question of +the Annamaboe and Braffoe notes to be resumed. The several Fantee +messengers were heard, the King of Annamaboe’s, Amooney’s, and +Payntree’s (the interior caboceer) having joined us in the path. They +appeared all equivocation and embarrassment, as Quashie’s +interpretations confirmed; they were incompetent to answer the King’s +linguists, and unable to use the few uninterrupted intervals which were +allowed them to any purpose: it seems they would not acknowledge what +the full amount of these notes was. Mr. James was asked, he said “white +men’s heads were not like black men’s, and he could not recollect; but +he thought 4 oz. and 2 oz.” He did not offer to learn from the Governor. +Several impassioned harangues were made by the King’s linguists and +counsellors: the King said, “he had 4 oz. from Elmina, and 2 oz. from +English Accra; was it not putting shame upon him to send him 4 ackies +from Cape Coast?” The Cape Coast messenger (Quashie Tom had absented +himself) spoke again with great trepidation; the King could not conceal +his emotions; his counsellors became clamorous; in an instant there was +a flourish of all the horns; all the captains rose and seized their gold +headed swords from their attendants; the head general snatched Mr. +Tedlie’s from his scabbard; numerous canopies crowded one upon the other +in the background, as if some considerable personages had arrived; there +was nothing but commotion, wrath, and impatience. The captains, old and +young, rushed before the King, and exclaimed, as Quashie reported, (who +seems to have been afraid to tell us all, and was restrained by Quamina) +“King, this shames you too much; you must let us go to night and kill +all the Fantees, and burn all the towns under the forts.” They then +presented themselves successively with their bands of music and +retinues, and bowing before the King, received his foot upon their +heads; each then directed his sword to the King (who held up the two +first fingers of his right hand) and swore by the King’s head, that they +would go with the army that night, and bring him the books, and the +heads of all the Fantees. Each captain made the oath impressive in his +own peculiar manner; some seriously, some by ridicule, at our expense, +and that of the Fantees, pointing at our heads and ears, and +endeavouring to intimidate us by the most insolent action and gesture as +they held out their swords. The old general (Apokoo) who swore the last, +after he had done so in the most expressive manner, threw Mr. Tedlie’s +sword to him, over the heads of the people with contemptuous defiance. +The number was so great, that we thought this awful ceremony would never +finish. + +The King left the council a short time. In the interval, Quamina Bwa +(our guide) told Accra Quashie to beg Mr. James to speak to the King +when he came back, and try and appease him. Mr. James did so, but +without the zeal, presence of mind, or argument the crisis demanded; it +was not adequate even to ameliorate the King’s impression of the +Governor and the English; it was no more than he said at first. The King +took not the least notice of it, but declared angrily, that “if he did +not see white men’s faces he would cut off the heads of every Fantee +messenger on the spot.” Some sheep and gold were then brought forward +and presented to the Captains, and the King rose abruptly from his +chair. In this anxious moment we reflected that the mulatto of General +Daendels had a long audience of the King just before we were received; +no resource was to be left untried, that was manly and appropriate. Mr. +Bowdich stepped before the King, and declared through the linguist, +“that he wished to speak what he knew would make the King think that the +Governor would do him right, and was his good friend.” The King said he +would hear him speak in the house; we retired amidst the insults and +menaces of the assembly. + +About two hours after, we were summoned, and, as is the etiquette, kept +some time in waiting; in this interval, Mr. James said that our +situation being very critical, it was a pity any difference should be +observed, and that he thought it much better to be reconciled. Mr. +Bowdich replied, that he could not think it possible our sentiments to +be delivered to the King could differ at such a moment; that if they did +we should assimilate ours to his as much as possible; but feeling the +necessity for the greatest energy, for every address and argument for +the conviction of the King, we must, for the public good, continue our +assumption of the privilege of strengthening his declarations by our own +until our recall, that we should be tender of his dignity, but that it +being a difference on a point of public duty, we could not compound it, +but would take the consequences. We were received; the King’s aspect was +stern; he prefaced that “he did not wish to make war with the English; +but that the 4 ackies a month shamed him too much; that the captains +said to him, King! they cheat you, they put shame on you; we will go to +night and bring you the heads of all the Fantees; that he was forced to +say to them, I beg your pardon, but as I see the white men’s faces, I +beg you to stay till to-morrow, when they can write to the Governor, and +they will tell me themselves what he says; then if he does not send me +Amooney’s and the Braffoes books, you shall go and kill all; that he had +been obliged afterwards to dash them sheep and gold to make them stay +until the white men got the Governor’s letter.” Mr. James assured the +King “that the King of England and the Governor wished to be friends +with him, to do all that was right; and he thought in his own mind that +the Governor would give up the books.” The King took no notice, and +continued serious: the moment called for the most energetic appeal to +his reason, for every imposing argument and circumstance. There was a +long pause; Mr. Bowdich rose, and charged Mr. James’s linguist to +interpret truly. We took the precaution of making notes of this speech, +feeling we should be particular where we pledge our honour, and +volunteer our affidavit; it was as follows. + +“We swore yesterday as the King wished, to day we wish to swear as we +should before our own King.” The King held up the two first fingers of +his right hand as he did to the captains. “We swear” (presenting our +swords and kissing the hilt, as the most imposing form that occurred to +us) “by our God, and by our King, and we know the Governor of Accra will +do the same, that we mean no bad to the King, that the King of England +and the Company ordered the Governor to send us to make the Ashantees +and English as one, that we are sure the Governor will do the King +right, and that when we write him all the King says, we will write also +that we think the King’s palaver good. We were sent to make the English +and Ashantees as one, because our’s is the greatest white, your’s the +greatest black nation, and when two great nations are friends, it makes +good. I came out in the ship that was sent to tell the Governor this, +and when he heard it, he said it gave him very much pleasure. The King +of England and the Company thought the Governor should send to the King, +to send some of his great men to Cape Coast, that we might be safe; but +the Governor said, no! there was no occasion, and wrote to the King and +the Company that he could trust all his officers in Ashantee, because +the King’s honour made them safe, so we came without sending, because we +knew the King was our true friend. + +“The Governor wished always to do the King right, but the Fantees never +would tell him what was right, so he wrote to the King of England to +send him some presents, that he might send his own officers to the King, +and hear properly from the King’s own mouth what was right, because the +Fantees never would tell him what was true, or what the King said. When +the Governor reads what we shall write him, then he will know the truth +for the first time. We shall stay to make the Ashantees and English one, +and we pledge our lives to the King, that we speak a proper palaver, and +when we speak true before God and the King we cannot fear.” + +There were repeated and general applauses as each sentence was +interpreted; the King smiled, and desired his linguist to say to Mr. +Bowdich as Quashie interpreted, “The King likes you, you speak a proper +good palaver, you speak like a man, the King wishes to be a friend to +white men; he thinks white men next to God.” Here the King raised his +hands to heaven, and then covering his face, Quashie continued to +interpret. “The King thanks God and his own fetish, that they have sent +him white men to talk proper like this to him, and when you three white +men go back to Cape Coast, and the Governor has bad put into his head, +and think you did wrong, then if you want any thing to eat, send a +messenger to him and he will send you plenty, for the King thinks you do +right to God and him, and to your King, and to the Governor, and that +you will get much honour when you go back; so the King thanks you, and +says you speak well.” The King then asked Mr. James if he would swear on +his sword like us, as we said; Mr. James did so. The King made an +observation which it seems we cannot convey to you in its full force, or +nearer than, that he liked the three white men because they always stood +up to speak, and pushed forward to get what they wanted. Many auxiliary +observations were afterwards offered casually by each of us, to confirm +his change of sentiment. The Fantee linguists attempted to intimidate +the linguist Quashie of Accra, but ineffectually; this man is invaluable +from his influence and intelligence, he is our only safe medium, and +interprets to the King anxiously and impressively. + +The King appeared much pleased, and made us a long speech. “The King +says the Fantees are all rogues, the Governor knows that very well; the +King thinks they always put bad palaver in the Governor’s head, he +always tells his captains so; he is sure you come to do him right. The +King wishes all good for the English; he swears by God and by the +fetish, that if the English could know how the Fantees serve him, and +all the bad they do, they would say his palaver was good. The King +speaks true.” He then gave us an outline of the Fantee war, which must +have convinced even the most prejudiced, of his injuries and +forbearance, and their injustice and cruelty. + +The King says, “if the English trust to him, he will take more care of +the forts than the Fantees can, he will do them great good, he does not +want to do nothing. He will send the English his trade; he will send +them good gold like what he wears himself, (shewing his armlets,) not +bad gold like he knows the Fantees make, his people don’t know how to do +that, the Fantees do it in their own houses before they give it to white +men. If at any time the English in the forts are in want of any thing to +eat, and send to him, he will send them every thing. To morrow is +Sunday, but the next day is Monday, then he will give you a proper +messenger.” + +We cannot do justice to the King’s sentiments either in detail or in +expression; they were incredibly liberal, and would have ennobled the +most civilized monarch; they seemed to break the spell which has shut +the Interior. He begged us to drink with him, and Mr. James agreed in +the toast of “May the Ashantees and English always be one;” it pleased +him, and he begged us to touch his glass with ours. He then turned +suddenly to the Fantee messengers (who were trembling in the rear) and +said, “you made me very angry with you, and I am very angry with you, +but never mind, come and drink some of my liquor.” + +Our critical situation demands the delivery of our sentiments on the +subject of these notes; we do so with diffidence and respect. The +services of the Braffoes, who hold the one, are merely nominal, their +enmity nugatory from their political situation; the issuing of a fresh +note to Amooney will be but a small addition to the expenditure, and +even the expense of renewing them both cannot be weighed with the +prevention of another Fantee war, of the destruction of a whole people, +and the ruin of our Settlements in their defence, with the defeat of the +intrigue and devices of our rival, and the acquisition of the confidence +of a powerful and liberal monarch, whose influence may perfect the views +of the British Government on the Interior. We hail the circumstances as +auspicious, even in the present serious moment. + +Mr. James confesses that he desponds of consummating the objects of the +Mission; we do not; we would be responsible for all of them, but we +diffidently await your decision. We must claim this momentary calm of +the King to ourselves, because it only affords us the credit, or rather +the justification of having done our duty, which we are resolute in +repeating Mr. James has not. What has been said through Mr. Bowdich is +here reported faithfully; we have not committed the Governor or +ourselves. + +Gentlemen, our situation is critical; if your answer determines the King +on war, we are his prisoners; if, as we cannot doubt, the valour of our +countrymen again retards his progress by defences as memorable as that +of Annamaboe, we may be the victims of an irritated soldiery, though we +feel it would be with the reluctance of a generous prince, who is not +independent, but, unfortunately, controlled by a military despotism, +which deposed his brother and invested him. + +But, Gentlemen, if in your better knowledge and reflection, you cannot +consistently with your honour and your trust, meet the King’s demand, +the history of our country has fortified our minds with the illustrious +example of a Vansittart, and his colleagues, who were situated as we +are, when the dawn of British intercourse in India was scarcely more +advanced than its dawn in Africa now; and their last request to their +Council is our present conclusion to you—“Do not put our lives in +competition with the honour and interests of our country.” + + We are, &c. &c. + + (Signed) T. EDWARD BOWDICH. + + W. HUTCHISON. + + HENRY TEDLIE. + + + _Coomassie, May 28th_, 1817. + + TO THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL. + + GENTLEMEN, + +ON Sunday the King visited us at our quarters, and expressed much +gratification with the trifles we presented him individually, and our +solicitude in explaining some plates of botanical and natural history, +which he sends for frequently. + +On Monday we had a public audience before the Captains, (whose ill-will +has been acknowledged,) when two messengers were ordered to accompany +one of ours to Cape Coast, with the letters to the Governor, and were +impressively sworn; they received their instructions in a speech from +the linguist of nearly two hours; it seemed to be intended to conciliate +the Captains at the same time. + +In the afternoon the King sent for us again, and said he wished to +dictate a letter to the Governor. Mr. James wrote the sense of the +King’s expressions, but was obliged to leave off from indisposition. The +King would not trust it out of his hands. Yesterday evening it was +concluded, when the King proposed to make his mark, and insisted on +repeating it in the direction. We have taken the pains to preserve this +curious letter verbatim, which from its length, and our constant +interruption, we are compelled to reserve with many curious particulars +for the General Report. + +We are anxiously waiting a summons to hand our dispatches to the +messenger. Nine days are allowed for the journey to Cape Coast, and nine +for the return. The whole time has been gradually extended, by intreaty +of the Fantee messengers, from eighteen to thirty days. + +Mr. Hutchison is ill with a bilious attack, and several of the people +with a fever and dysentery. The heat is very powerful here, but Mr. +Bowdich and Mr. Tedlie continue in excellent health. + +We would recommend the sending up a common green silk umbrella, and a +Company’s dirk, as presents to the King’s favourite nephew. + +Our confinement to the house is rather irksome; we are not allowed to +walk in the town without Captains accompanying us. + +12 o’clock. The King sent to say Mr. Bowdich must come to the palace, +and mount the chief captain’s horse, and shew him how Englishmen ride. +Mr. Bowdich went, and by the King’s desire gallopped up and down the +opposite hill. The King expressed great anxiety when the horse was made +to play his tricks; and when Mr. Bowdich persevered, and made him gallop +back and alighted, the King sent him word that “he rode like a proper +man, that he stayed on the horse well, and made him do proper.” + +4 o’clock. The King sent for us at two, to make some additions to the +letter, and to seal it in his presence. A long prayer was uttered by a +Moor after the sealing of the letter, and we were called back to be +again impressed with the example and justice of the Dutch as regards the +books. Mr. Hutchison’s illness prevented his attendance to day. The +messengers are to go to night. + +May 29th, 3 p.m. The messengers and the Fantee bearers, have been +delayed in consequence of the death of a person of rank, and their +assistance in the custom. I am now assured that they will leave +Coomassie at 4 o’clock. + +In reply to the request we urged to Mr. James, that he would dismiss our +hammock men, as they had been of so little service to us in coming up, +and were a considerable expense; he impressed that it would be contrary +to your instructions. + +Only one message from the King to day, and that a private one to Mr. +Bowdich, with permission for him to ride: he went all round the town, +which he considers to be about three miles in circumference: the King +afterwards sent him word, that to-morrow he must ride on a cloth only, +as he had heard the English did. + + We are, &c. &c. + + (Signed) T. E. BOWDICH. + + H. TEDLIE. + +P.S. Mr. James had a severe relapse of fever last night, and was very +ill this morning; at 10 o’clock a.m. he had the cold bath, and some +febrifuge medicine. Mr. Hutchison is rather better, the soldiers also, +but the hammock men continue much the same. + + * * * * * + +SAÏ TOOTOO QUAMINA, _King of Ashantee and its Dependencies, to_ JOHN +HOPE SMITH, _Esquire, Governor in Chief of the British Settlements on +the Gold Coast of Africa._ + +THE King sends his compliments to the Governor, he thanks the King of +England and him very much for the presents sent to him, he thinks them +very handsome. The King’s sisters and all his friends have seen them, +and think them very handsome, and thank him. The King thanks his God and +his fetish that he made the Governor send the white men’s faces for him +to see, like he does now; he likes the English very much, and the +Governor all the same as his brother. + +The King of England has made war against all the other white people a +long time, and killed all the people all about, and taken all the towns, +French, Dutch, and Danish, all the towns, all about. The King of +Ashantee has made war against all the people of the water side, and all +the black men all about, and taken all their towns. + +When the King of England takes a French town, he says, “come, all this +is mine, bring all your books, and give me all your pay,” and if they +don’t do it, does the Governor think the King of England likes it?[7] So +the King has beat the Fantees now two times, and taken all their towns, +and they send and say to him, you are a great King, we want to serve +you; but he says, Hah! you want to serve me, then bring all your books, +what you get from the forts, and then they send him four ackies, this +vexes him too much. + +The first time he made war against the Fantees, two great men in Assin +quarrelled, so half the people came to Ashantee, half went to Fantee. +The King said, what is the reason of this, so he sent his gold swords +and canes to know why they did so, and the Fantees killed his messengers +and took all their gold.[8] After they fought with the Elminas and +Accras, the Fantees sent word to the King they would serve him; the King +sent word to the Assins, if it is true that the Fantees want to serve +me, let me hear; after that they sent to say yes! they tired of +fighting, and wanted to serve him, he said, well, give me some gold, +what you get from the books, and then you shall hear what palaver I have +got in my head, and we can be friends; then he sent some messengers, and +after they waited more than two years, the Fantees sent word back, no! +we don’t want to serve the King, but only to make the path open and get +good trade: this vexed the King too much. + +Then the Fantees sent to a strong man, Cudjoe Coomah, and said, “come, +let us put our heads together against the King;” after that, when the +King heard this, he sent one, not a great man, but his own slave, and +said, well you will do, go kill all the people, all the Aquapims, and +Akims, and all; and so he killed all, and after he killed all he came +and told him. + +When he sent against Akim, the people in Akim sent word, that they told +their head men not to vex the King, but they would not mind them, so he +killed the head people, and the others begged his pardon. + +When the King went to fight with the Fantees they sent this saucy +word—we will kill you and your people, and stand on you; then they did +not kill one Ashantee captain, but the King killed all the Fantee +captains and people. They do not stand on him. + +That time, after the King fought, all the Fantees sent word, well we +will serve you, but you must not send more harm to hurt us, we don’t +want to fight more, but to make good friends with you. Then the King +said, what caboceer lives at Cape Coast and Annamaboe, what books they +get from the forts, let them send all, and then we can be friends. And +the King sent word too, if my messengers go to Cape Coast fort, and if +they bring pots of gold, and casks of goods, then I can’t take that, +_but I must have the books_. + +After that the King sent word to the Governor of Cape Coast and the +Governor of Annamaboe, well! you know I have killed all the Fantees, and +I must have Adocoo’s and Amooney’s books, and I can make friends with +you, good brother and good heart; but now they send four ackies, that is +what makes the King’s heart break out when he looks on the book and +thinks of four ackies, and his captains swear that the Fantees are +rogues and want to cheat him. When the white men see the Fantees do +this, and the English officers bring him this four ackies, it makes him +get up very angry, but he has no palaver with white men. + +All Fantee is his, all the black mans country is his; he hears that +white men bring all the things that come here; he wonders they do not +fight with the Fantees, for he knows they cheat them. Now he sees white +men, and he thanks God and his fetish for it. + +When the English made Apollonia fort he fought with the Aowins, the +masters of that country, and killed them; then he said to the caboceer, +I have killed all your people, your book is mine; the caboceer said, +true! so long as you take my town, the book belongs to you. + +He went to Dankara and fought, and killed the people, then he said; give +me the book you get from Elmina, so they did, and now Elmina belongs to +him.[9] + +The English fort at Accra gave a book to an Akim caboceer, called +Aboigin Adjumawcon. The King killed him and took the book. The Dutch +fort gave a book to another Akim caboceer, Curry Curry Apam. The Danish +fort gave a book to another Akim caboceer, Arrawa Akim; the King killed +all and took their books. + +This King, Saï, is young on the stool, but he keeps always in his head +what old men say, for it is good, and his great men and linguists tell +it him every morning. The King of England makes three great men, and +sends one to Cape Coast, one to Annamaboe, and one to Accra; Cape Coast +is the same as England. The King gets two ounces from Accra every moon, +and the English wish to give him only four ackies for the big fort at +Cape Coast, and the same for Annamboe; do white men think this proper? + +When the King killed the Dankara caboceer and got two ounces from +Elmina, the Dutch Governor said, this is a proper King, we shall not +play with him, and made the book four ounces. The King has killed all +the people, and all the forts are his; he sent his captains to see white +men, now he sees them, and thanks God and his fetish. If the path was +good when the captains went, the King would have gone under the forts +and seen all the white men. The Ashantees take good gold to Cape Coast, +but the Fantees mix it; he sent some of his captains like slaves to see, +and they saw it; ten handkerchiefs are cut to eight, water is put to +rum, and charcoal to powder, even for the King; they cheat him, but he +thinks the white men give all those things proper to the Fantees. + +The King knows the King of England is his good friend, for he has sent +him handsome dashes; he knows his officers are his good friends, for +they come to see him. The King wishes the Governor to send to Elmina to +see what is paid him there, and to write the King of England how much, +as the English say their nation passes the Dutch; he will see by the +books given him by both forts. If the King of England does not like +that, he may send him himself what he pleases, and then Saï can take it. + +He thanks the King and Governor for sending four white men to see him. +The old King wished to see some of them, but the Fantees stop it. He is +but a young man and sees them, and so again he thanks God and his +fetish. + +Dictated in the presence of, + + T. EDWARD BOWDICH, + + WILLIAM HUTCHISON, + + HENRY TEDLIE. + + * * * * * + +May 30. Apokoo sent us a present of 30 ackies of gold and some fruits. + +June 1. The King sent to desire Mr. Tedlie to bring his instruments and +medicines, and explain their uses to him; he was shrewdly inquisitive, +and presented Mr. Tedlie with 6 ackies of gold in approbation of his +intelligence. + +June 4. The King paid us a visit at our quarters, and expressed himself +highly gratified with some botanical engravings: he said white men tried +to know so much they would spoil their heads by and by. We were allowed +to take a walk in the town to day, in charge of two captains. We had +scarcely passed the palace when two men were decapitated for cowardice: +three others had been executed during the night. + +June 5. Bakkee, to whom our house formerly belonged, had been sent the +second in command of the army with which Appia Danqua invaded Fantee the +second time, in pursuit of the Akim and Aquapim revolters. Wearied of +the procrastination and labours of the campaign, he inconsiderately +observed to a public messenger, that, as the King had declared when he +invaded Fantee in person, that he would have the head of every Fantee +caboceer, and yet returned with a part only; so he could not be expected +to forego the enjoyment of the riches and luxuries of his home, until +every revolter was killed. On his return to the capital without leave, +he was charged with this, and not denying it, was stripped of all his +property, and hung himself. Aboidwee our present house master was raised +to Bakkee’s stool, or seat in council, to which 1700 retainers are +attached. + +June 9. The King sent us two sheep and a large quantity of fruit; his +nephew also sent us a sheep. + +June 11. We were invited to attend the King’s levee, on the Adaï custom, +and were presented with a flask of rum and a fat sheep. This walk was a +great relief, for the longest court in our quarters was not more than 14 +feet. + +June 12. The King sent us a large Hio sheep to look at; it measured 4½ +feet from the head to the insertion of the tail, which was two feet +long, its height was three feet, and it was covered with coarse shaggy +hair. + +June 13. The King sent for us late at night; he assured us he wished to +think well of the English; and that if Cape Coast was not so far off, he +should send messengers daily to wish the Governor good morning, but the +Crambos (Moors) and his great men thought we came to do bad, and spy the +country; so he sent for us when it was dark, that they might not know +it. He had only two persons with him. Mr. James was too ill to attend. + +17. The King sent a present to our quarters of + + 2 ounces of gold to the officers. + + 20 ackies to our people. + + 10 ackies to our linguists. + + 1 hog, 1 sheep, and a profusion of plantains and oranges. + +This was his reproof of a disgraceful attempt to borrow money of him for +our subsistence; of which Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Tedlie, and myself, had +publicly disclaimed our knowledge and sanction. Nothing could be more +injurious to our dignity. + +18th. Mr. Tedlie having ventured to walk a few yards without the town, +was arrested by a captain, with about 100 followers, who detained him in +his house whilst a message was sent to the King, who desiring Mr. Tedlie +to be brought before him, enquired if he had his small box (compass) in +his pocket, and finding he had not, affected to reprove the captain +severely, for supposing either of us could wish to run away, whilst the +King was our friend. After this we seldom went out. + +21st. Bundahenna, one of the King’s uncles, begged him for permission to +go and make custom for some relatives whom he had lost in the last +Fantee war, as he feared their spirits were beginning to trouble him. +The King subscribed four ounces of gold, two ankers of rum, one barrel +of powder, and four human victims for sacrifice, towards this custom. We +received a present of 11 ackies of gold from Quatchie Quofies household. + +26th. We received a present from a captain called Oöossa Cudjo, of 10 +ackies of gold, and another from Jessinting, of the same quantity, a +sheep and some plantains. + +28th. The King sent us a large quantity of plantains and oranges. +Apokoo, one of the four greatest men in the kingdom, hearing his +mother’s sister was dead, killed a slave before his house, and proceeded +to her croom to sacrifice many more, and celebrate her funeral custom; +but, when he found, on opening her boxes, that the old woman from her +dislike of him, had thrown almost all her rock gold into the river, and +that he should only inherit a number of hungry slaves, he sacrificed but +one more victim, and made but a very mean custom. + +29th. Attended the King’s levee, and were presented with a flask of rum, +and a fat sheep. The King sent us word that he would be glad to let us +walk out, but there were many bad people who would kill us if they +could. We were gratified by an invitation to visit Odumata, one of the +four aristocrats; he begged us to drink palm wine with him, and ordered +a large jar of it to be sent to our servants. He told us he was the +first captain who fought with the English at Annamaboe; and that if the +books were not sent, he would be the first to do so again; he asked us +if we would take him to England to see our King, and engage to bring him +back again; for, having sold an immense number of captives as slaves, he +expected some of them might recognise him, and call out to the King of +England to stop him, because he had sent them out of their own country. + +July 2. A girl was beheaded for insolence to one of the King’s sons, and +a man for transgressing the law by picking up gold which he had dropped +in the public market place, where all that falls is allowed to +accumulate until the soil is washed on state emergencies. + +3rd. This morning one of the King’s sons (about 10 years of age) shot +himself: his funeral custom was celebrated in the afternoon, and a smart +fire of musquetry was kept up until sun-set, amidst dancing, singing, +and revelry; two men and one girl were sacrificed, and their trunks and +heads were left in the market place till dark. The mother of this child, +a favourite wife of the King’s, having added crime to a continued +perversity of conduct, had been put to death; the boy was banished the +King’s presence from that time. This morning he had stolen into the +palace for the first time, and the King desiring him to be removed, +observing that he had, doubtless, as bad a head towards him as his +mother had shewn; he replied, that if he could not be allowed to come +and look at his father, he had better die; half an hour afterwards he +destroyed himself privately, by directing a blunderbuss into his mouth, +and discharging it with his foot. The keeper of the royal cemetry was +this day imprisoned. His wife was soon after charged by the council with +making fetish to turn the King’s head; she replied that it meant no more +than to make the King think better of her husband; but they insisted +that she invoked the Fetish to make the King mad, and she was executed. + +5th. A loud shout from our people announced the return of the messengers +from Cape Coast Castle, after an absence of thirty-eight days. + + +[Footnote 5: “The government of the country is a military despotism, and +I have this day received private information, that it is already +settled, that if the refusal of the notes occasions a war, and any one +is hurt or killed by the forts, our lives will be the forfeit.” Mr. +James’s Dispatch.] + +[Footnote 6: “In the present suspicious state of the King’s mind +respecting us, I fear it would be impolitic to make the enquiries you +ordered in your instructions. I think it will be more prudent to leave +them to time. Mr. H. if he remains, will be able, from time to time, to +obtain such information as they can give, without creating that +suspicion which would certainly arise from any questions put at the +present moment. I have kept Mr. H’s hammock men, as it is yet uncertain +whether he will remain.” Mr. James’s Dispatch.] + +[Footnote 7: This is an extraordinary impression, that all the towns in +Europe are supported like those under the forts, holding notes from +their governments for annual stipends.] + +[Footnote 8: Here the King’s linguist ceased, and by his desire +requested us to repeat all the King had said, he was much pleased with +our accuracy, and begged us to take some refreshment, (spirits and palm +wine were introduced in silver bowls) fearing he had kept us too long +without eating, and, would continue the letter to-morrow. He locked up +what had been written, and heard it read again the next day, before his +linguists continued.] + +[Footnote 9: The King always spoke of the acts of all his ancestors as +his own.] + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + * * * * * + + _Proceedings and Incidents until the Third Dispatch to Cape Coast + Castle._ + + + _Cape Coast Castle, June 21_, 1817. + + SIR, + +MR. JAMES being ordered to return here as soon as possible, will deliver +you his instructions, and you will immediately on receipt of this +letter, take upon yourself the management of the Mission. I have every +reliance on your prudence and discretion, and still firmly hope that the +termination of the Embassy will be attended with success, and that the +sanguine expectations which we have entertained as to the result of it, +will not be disappointed. + +The King has received a very erroneous impression of the affair of the +Fantee notes, which I regret to hear was the cause of a serious +disturbance: I am glad however to find that by your prompt mode of +conduct, you were in some measure able to repress the unfavourable bias +it seems to have occasioned, and I have no doubt that an explanation of +the circumstance will effectually remove any remaining prejudice. This +transaction was entirely between the Ashantee messengers and Fantees, +negociated, and determined on by them at Abrah, and afterwards ratified +here by their mutual consent. Hearing that messengers from the King were +at Abrah, I invited them down, wishing through their medium to +communicate with him concerning the conveyance of the presents I had +received from the Committee. After some delay they arrived, and on their +first interview made known their errand to the Fantees, and the manner +it had been arranged, applying at the same time for two notes to be made +out in favour of Zey, at four ackies each, which were to be deducted +from the notes of Amooney and Aduecoe; not being perfectly satisfied +from the representation of these people as to the justness of the claim, +I delayed complying until it was stated to be a pledge of good faith and +allegiance on the part of the Fantees, and a confirmation of the final +adjustment of all differences between the two parties, and as such they +were given them. The nature of the claim having been fully and +satisfactorily explained, I have no hesitation in complying with the +wishes of the King; and this I do the more readily, knowing that by the +extension of his authority, good order and subjection will be better +preserved. + +This will, I hope, evince to the King my friendly intention towards him; +and you will impress upon his mind, that it is my earnest desire to +cultivate his friendship, the establishment of which will be mutually +beneficial; and in order that the union between us may be more closely +cemented, I am particularly desirous that Mr. Hutchison be permitted to +reside at Ashantee, which will be the means of preventing any +interruption to the good understanding which, before you leave, will, I +hope, be firmly settled. + +I have no objection to you returning by way of Warsaw, but your +undertaking the journey on foot, I am apprehensive, you will find too +fatiguing. The hammock-men are engaged for the trip, therefore the only +additional expense will be their subsistence; I however leave it to you +to dismiss them or not. + +The Accra linguist being so very useful, and the only man who will +interpret faithfully, you will retain him until you return. + +I have sent you, by the King’s messenger, 40 oz. of gold to defray your +expenses; should any loan have been granted by the King, you will of +course repay him. + +I send you a piece of muslin and 10 danes for presents to the Moors, +whose friendship it will be highly necessary to conciliate. I have also +at your request, sent a dirk and umbrella, intended for the King’s chief +captain and his favourite nephew. + +Quamina, the Ashantee captain at Abrah, has refused to allow any letters +to pass that place which may be given in charge to Ashantee traders, on +the plea that by so doing he would incur the displeasure of the King; +who, he says, expects that especial messengers will be engaged here to +proceed with all letters to the capital. Not long ago a trader who had +received a letter, was detained by him at Abrah, and the letter +returned. The expense of employing messengers here on every occasion +would be material, which is quite unnecessary, as opportunities almost +daily occur for forwarding letters by the different traders going from +hence. I therefore hope your representation of this affair to the King, +will induce him to countermand his orders to Quamina, if any such have +been given him. + + I am, Sir, + + your most obedient Servant, + + JOHN HOPE SMITH. + +_To Thomas Edward Bowdich, Esq._ + +JOHN HOPE SMITH, _Esquire, Governor in Chief of the British Forts and +Settlements on the Gold Coast of Africa, to_ SAÏ TOOTOO QUAMINA, _King +of Ashantee._ + + SIR, + +I HAVE received your letter of the 26th ult. and am happy to find that +you are sincerely desirous of cultivating the friendship of the British +nation. Both inclination and duty urge me to reciprocate the sentiments +expressed by you, and I shall be anxious at all times to promote the +harmony and good understanding which, I hope, will now be established +between us respectively, and which cannot fail to be mutually +advantageous. + +I regret to find there has been so much trouble about the Fantee notes, +and I am sorry you did not apply to me in the first instance, as the +affair should have been settled immediately to your satisfaction; but I +knew not of it, except from the Fantees having begged me to take four +ackies per month from each note, which they said they had agreed for +with your messengers at Abrah. + +I observe by the many instances quoted in your letter, that the notes of +conquered countries have been transferred to your ancestors, therefore +it shall be the same on the present occasion. Herewith I send you two +notes, one for two oz. per month, formerly held by Amooney, also one +from the caboceer at Abrah for two oz, the latter was only 12 ackies per +month, and I have added 1 oz. 4 to it. These, and the notes you hold +from Accra, will make your Company’s pay six oz. per month, which shall +be regularly paid at the Castle. + +I hope my ready compliance with your wishes will convince you of the +good will of the British nation, but I have every reason to believe that +attempts have been made to prejudice you against it, however your own +good understanding will readily suggest to you that the only motive is +jealousy in trade. + +The conduct of the English you will always find very different; they +enter into fair competition with the other European residents here, but +they never, by clandestine means or false assertions, endeavour to +injure their character with the natives of this country. + +I have learned with regret that the people of Elmina are using their +influence to induce you to make a palaver with the Commendas. They are a +mere handful of people, extremely poor and not worth your notice; +besides they are under my protection, therefore I hope you will not +think further of the affair, and I shall consider your compliance in +this instance, as the greatest possible proof of the sincerity of your +intentions towards the English. + +I wish you health and happiness, and I hope you will reign many years, +enjoying the love of your subjects, and the respect of all the Europeans +resident in this country. + + I am, Sir, + + your faithful friend, + + (Signed) J. H. SMITH. + +_Cape Coast Castle, 20th June_, 1817. + +P.S. The abolition of the slave trade was an act of the King and the +Parliament in England, in which the government in this country had no +concern. + + + _Coomassie, July 9_, 1817. + + TO JOHN HOPE SMITH, ESQ. GOVERNOR IN CHIEF, &c. &c. &c. + + SIR, + +THE messengers returned on Saturday the 5th instant. + +To be confirmed by your approbation, in the opinion that my zeal for the +public good had not exceeded my duty, is a most flattering satisfaction. +The appointment you have conferred on me, is an acknowledgment so far +transcending my conduct, that it must stimulate every ability to exert +itself for the success of the Mission, to justify such an honourable +distinction. + +The box containing the letters was opened in the King’s presence, but +being engaged in a custom on the death of a son, he deferred the reading +of your letter, retaining it with the notes. His acknowledgments of your +justice were associated with the declaration, that, although you had +sent him the notes, still, if I could not fortify him with the prices of +the various articles to be received in payment, you would have it in +your power (though he did not suspect you) to reduce the intrinsic of +the whole, to that of the moiety rejected. The proposition of the same +prices as those attached to the Accra note, was annihilated by the +argument, that Accra was a small fort, and not like Cape Coast or +_Elmina_. So much stress was laid on the instance of the latter, that I +felt called upon to declare, as the only striking conviction, that you +did not wish, in the payment of these notes, to treat the King like a +trader, and therefore would not allow the Elmina Governor to act more +liberally in prices than yourself: the conviction was entire and +instantaneous. + +The next audience did not take place until Monday, Mr. James being +present. I did justice to the utmost of my ability to your impressive +letter; the effect was honourable to you, and encouraging to myself; the +King ordered me to take his hand, in his sensibility to the strong +appeal of the several paragraphs, and again at the conclusion, as a +pledge of his cordial satisfaction of the whole; his linguist followed +his example, (as did the whole council) when he laid his fore-finger on +his head and breast, as the invocation to Heaven for the vouchsafement +of your several good wishes, as I concluded with them. I was reluctantly +compelled to yield a minor object to a custom consecrated by their +constitution. The laws of the three first Kings (who were brothers, and +cotemporary leaders of the colony, whose conquests established the +Empire) are sacred; and it was a law of Saï Cudjo, the younger brother, +and the grandfather of the present King, which granted to particular +captains the honourable patent of receiving the pay of small forts, +distinctly, each being responsible for his separate duties to his +settlement. If this law were not inviolable, the King pleads, that it +would be an invidious act, and unjust to the merits of the Captain of +English Accra, (Asquah Amanquah) to remove the payment of the Accra note +to Cape Coast; but as the other appointments originate in him, he will +respect your wish, by constituting one captain to receive both the Abra +and Annamaboe notes at Cape Coast. He enquired if it was your wish that +no Ashantee trader should go to Accra? I replied no! you were only +desirous to induce as many as possible to come to Cape Coast. + +The Cape Coast linguists, and our guide, Quamina Bwa, confirmed your +report of the conduct of Quamina Bootaqua, the captain now at Payntree, +in the negociation of the notes; it excited the greatest surprise and +indignation; his interception of letters was disclaimed, and will be +done away with. I submitted to the King, on retiring, that in my next +audience, I should be desirous of declaring the purport of the official +instructions transferred to me (which had not been yet avowed) with +other credentials, explanatory and impressive of the good wishes and +intentions of the Government, the Committee, and yourself. I was +favoured with my first separate audience at 8 o’clock this morning. I +first impressed from the dispatches of the Committee, every motive and +sentiment that was convicting or imposing; urging your waving the +hostages and escort, as the demonstration of your confidence in the +King’s honour and friendship; and insinuating that the establishment of +a school at Cape Coast, was solely in anticipation of the King’s +committing some of his children to your care for education, as the +foundation of the pre-eminence of Europeans. I then passed to your +instructions, rendering them in a manner as persuasive and auspicious as +possible; associating in favour of the Residency, the commanding motive +of facilitating political interests, with the imposing one of securing +justice to the Ashantee traders. Lastly, I introduced the Treaty, as a +pledge from the King to give force to your application to the Government +at home, for the increase of his pay; for, as he continued to dwell on +the grant of 4 ounces from Elmina, I availed myself of this liberty of +my instructions, to divert the impression, and to propitiate his +ratification of the Treaty. I considered the pretence of your being +obliged to address the British Government on the subject, as +preservative of the opportunity of judging of the sincerity of his +professions, and of the duration of the union. + +I think I may pledge myself for three great pillars of our commercial +intercourse, by the accomplishment of the Residency, the Education, and +the Treaty. + +I reconcile myself to fresh difficulties by the reflection that they are +inseparable from all great political views; and that without them, I +should be deprived of the satisfaction of proving myself, in a small +degree, worthy this confidence and distinction, by patience and +perseverance. A letter accompanies this, written in the King’s presence, +on the subject of the Commenda palaver, which wears so decided an +aspect, that whilst I pledge all my energy and address, and look with +hope to the aid of your suggestions, I must candidly confess, I do not +think it can be compounded in any thing like a reasonable way. I +appealed to the King’s magnanimity, and depicted the poverty of the +Commendas, but every appeal and every argument was ineffectual; their +aggravated offences admit of no amelioration of the King’s feelings. I +depreciated the plea of General Daendels’ repeated messages, by +submitting that they were addressed to the Town, and not to the Fort, +and I succeeded in retiring him from the negociation, as an interference +inconsistent with your dignity, and the present good understanding. + +I did not discourage the King’s great anxiety for clothes of the English +costume, considering that his example would be more auspicious than any +thing else, to the introduction of these manufactures. I have +distributed the muslins, &c. as politically as possible, including with +the Moors of repute, the aristocracy, or four captains controuling the +King, his four linguists, his brother and successor, our housemaster, +and some other captains of superior influence. I made a point of +conciliating a Moor of influence, about to return through Sallagha or +Sarem (the capital of the Inta country, and the grand emporium of the +merchandize of the interior) to Houssa, feeling the policy of +communicating every favourable impression to the neighbouring kingdoms. +In my second interview I obtained permission from the King to dismiss +the remaining Fantees. It was one of the first considerations, for the +sake of our dignity, to avoid the humiliating circumstances and +impressions, which have ensued from the want of foresight, and the +consequent inability to meet the demands of our people. Their conduct +since has been so mutinous and insulting, with the exception of six, +that to preserve the impression of the firmness of an English officer, I +secured one who encouraged the others, by persisting in some insulting +indecencies, in contempt of my remonstrances, and ordered him to be +punished. + +The others (with the above exception) having refused in a body, +aggravating their disobedience with the grossest insolence, to go with a +cane to Payntree, and bring the biscuit which had been deserted there; I +have disclaimed them, and left them to act for themselves, only securing +them the King’s permission to depart. + +I shall request the King to furnish me with his own people, on the +conclusion of the business of the Embassy. Such an arrangement favours +œconomy, and impresses the confidence I affect. + +The frequent presents had enabled me to present the Fantees with large +supplies of plantains and hogs; and on paying them their arrears, which +I did the same evening I received your gold, I gave them a bullock which +fell to my share in a division with Mr. James. + +You will see by the balance of the annexed account, that (preserving our +dignity) every expense should be avoided that can be; and I assure you, +that in making the present arrangement for bearers for our baggage only, +I do not disregard your solicitude for our health. I shall order one +Cape Coast messenger to attend Mr. James, and also the bearers left +behind, being sufficiently recovered. + +The statistical and scientific desiderata so impressively recommended to +my attention, are daily realising beyond my expectations. Mr. Tedlie has +had a severe attack of fever and dysentery, but is convalescent: Mr. +Hutchison and myself are in perfect health. + + I am, with respect, Sir, + + Your most obedient Servant, + + T. E. BOWDICH. + +SAÏ TOOTOO QUAMINA, _King of Ashantee and its Dependencies, to_ JOHN +HOPE SMITH, _Esquire, Governor in Chief of the British Settlements on +the Gold Coast of Africa._ + +THE Commenda palaver now rests with you and the King of Ashantee only, +the Dutch Governor has no more to do with it, so the King recals the +captain sent to him, and sends a proper messenger to treat with you +individually. + +The conduct and messages of the Commendas have been so irritating and +insolent to the King, that nothing but believing you to be his good +friend, could induce him to treat at all with them, or do any thing but +kill them; but for your sake, he will settle the palaver, and you must +help him properly. + +The King wants to begin the union without any palaver remaining, and as +this Commenda palaver is the only one, it must be settled, and if you do +this, he will take care the Elminas shall not do wrong to the Fantees, +but he will help you in all your palavers. + +The Elminas are always sending him messages about the insulting conduct +and expressions of the Commendas towards him, and this is very vexatious +to him, so he wishes to put an end to it with your help. + +Adoo Bradie, his favorite nephew, the son of the former King Saï +Quamina, is sent with a proper captain, Quantree, to help you settle the +palaver. + +Two thousand ounces is the demand. + +The origin of the palaver is, that after the King returned from his own +campaign against the Fantees, the Commendas went to the Elminas and +said, “well, you help’d the King, and now he is gone back we will fight +for it.” + +Again, when a war was about to take place between the Cape Coast people +and the Elminas, the Commendas went to the latter and said, well, we +will help you if you will give us plenty of powder to fight for you: +they did so, and immediately the Commendas used it to seize 98 Elminas, +and sold them as slaves—this the King thinks you will say is very bad. + +The Cape Coast people and the Fantees having joined against the Elminas, +they sent to tell the King, stating, when he demanded the reason, that +it was because they had not resisted him when he came down against the +Fantees; adding, that the Commendas, who were their natural allies +before, had now joined their enemies, and begging the King to revenge +this act of perfidy. The King much angered, immediately sent a captain +for the purpose of their destruction (Yaquokroko,) but the Dutch +governor sent to him, and then sent to the King to beg him to stop, +because the English and Dutch being one, it would put shame on his face. + +Col. Torrane by giving up Cheeboo, induced the King to consider the Cape +Coast people as his friends, and they took fetish accordingly, but their +joining the Fantees afterwards to fight against Elmina for assisting the +King, has made him distrust them always since. + +He considers his favourite nephew as the adopted son of Col. Torrane, to +whom he gave him, and the Colonel gave him English clothes, so he is all +the same as a Cape Coast Boy. + +Col. Torrane being dead, he considers his nephew to stand in the same +relation to you, and that he is therefore the proper messenger to send +to you about this palaver. + +You must write in your great book, that the King is your good friend, +that he likes you too much, that he thanks God very much, so that every +future Governor may read that in the Cape Coast Books. + + The mark X of Saï Tootoo, King of Ashantee, + + Per T. E. BOWDICH. + +Present. + + WM. HUTCHISON. + + HENRY TEDLIE. + +_Coomassie, July 9th_, 1817. + + + _Coomassie, July 12th_, 1817. + + JOHN HOPE SMITH, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR IN CHIEF, &c. &c. + + SIR, + +I AM just returned from reading your letter to the King, and extracts +from that to myself, before the assembly of the captains: the effect was +satisfactory; and Quamina Bootaqua is ordered up to answer for his +conduct. The King enquired if the pay now due on the two notes would be +liquidated on application; I replied, immediately; he is anxious for it, +on account of the approaching yam custom. + + I am, &c. + + (Signed) T. EDWARD BOWDICH. + + * * * * * + +I will not continue to copy the rude diary before submitted, it is only +a register of dull or disgusting circumstances, illnesses, human +sacrifices, and ceremonious visits. I would not anticipate the better +arrangement of my reports, or break the thread of the correspondence on +the political difficulties opposed to the Mission. I will abridge some +passages of my diary, merely to give an idea of the nature of our +conversations, and the biography of the leading men. Mr. Hutchison has +sent me copious extracts from his diary, as Resident, his leisure and +tranquillity having afforded him better opportunities of social +intercourse and domestic observation, than I had, or could afford time +to cultivate, without neglecting my reports. I shall adjoin these +extracts, expecting they will contribute to the rational entertainment +of the public, and to the credit of an active and intelligent officer. + +A captain called Asofoo, sent us a present of seven ackies of gold, and +we also received twelve from Amanquateä, and three from our house +master. On the 9th of July the King sent us ten ackies of gold, and +repeated his satisfaction of the result of the late correspondence, and +daily presents of meat and fruits from various quarters, evinced the +better opinion of his chiefs. + +I paid my first private visit to Baba the chief Moor, and took some +pens, paper, ink, and pencils with me as a present; the paper and +pencils were much esteemed, but he preferred his reed and vegetable ink. +He received me courteously, and was contemplating a curiously intricate +figure like a horoscope; the ms. was filled with them; he laid his +finger on it, and said, if you have any hard palaver, this can make me +settle it for you when no other person can; or if you have any dear +friend in England you wish to see, tell me the name, and this shall +bring him to you. I thanked him, observing, that when Englishmen knew +their palaver was right, they always left it to God, and that England +was too good a place for me to wish any one I regarded to leave it. His +disciples and pupils were writing on wooden boards, like those Mr. Park +describes. When a charm was applied for, one of the oldest wrote the +body of it, and gave it to Baba, who added a sort of cabalistical mark, +and gave it a mysterious fold; the credulous native snatched it eagerly +as it was held out to him, paid the gold, and hurried away to enclose it +in the richest case he could afford. I had a long conversation with +Baba, and he begged me to visit him frequently; he was much gratified +with the specimens of African Arabic at the end of Mr. Jackson’s work, +and read them fluently. I visited him the next day, when he sent hastily +for a Moor, who he told me was very learned, and just come from +Timbuctoo. This man expressing no surprise when he first saw me, Baba +explained it, by telling me, spontaneously, that this Moor had seen +three white men before, at Boussa. I eagerly enquired the particulars of +the novelty, and they were again repeated to Baba, and were thus +interpreted: “that some years ago, a vessel with masts, suddenly +appeared on the Quolla or Niger near Boussa, with three white men, and +some black. The natives encouraged by these strange men, took off +provisions for sale, were well paid and received presents besides: it +seems the vessel had anchored. The next day, perceiving the vessel going +on, the natives hurried after her, (the Moor protested from their +anxiety to save her from some sunken rocks, with which the Quolla +abounds) but the white men mistaking, and thinking they pursued for a +bad purpose, deterred them. The vessel soon after struck, the men jumped +into the water and tried to swim, but could not, for the current, and +were drowned. He thought some of their clothes were now at Wauwaw, but +he did not believe there were any books or papers.” This spontaneous +narrative, so artlessly told, made a powerful impression on my mind. I +saw the man frequently afterwards, his manners were very mild, and he +never asked me for the most trifling present. He drew me a chart before +he went away, and I dispatched some certificates for Major Peddie by +him, endorsed with Baba’s recommendations. I heard exactly the same +thing afterwards from another Moor, but he had not been an eye witness. +I begged Mr. Hutchison, when I left Coomassie, to note any other report +on the subject of Mr. Park’s death, and he afterwards sent me the ms. a +translation of which is in the appendix. I continued to call on Baba +three or four times a week; these visits afforded much information, for +at each I found strange Moors just arrived from different parts of the +interior, sojourning with him. They always affected to deplore the +ignorance of the Ashantees, and presumed it must be as irksome to me as +to them. Baba telling one that I could speak different languages, he +said that he would try me, and addressed me in several, all very uncouth +to my ear, and their names even unintelligible, except one, which he +called Hindee or Hindoo; neither had I heard of any of the great cities +he enumerated, until at last he pronounced Room (Rome) and said, if I +did not know that I was not a Christian. I never saw the Shereef Brahima +(to whom I was introduced about this time by a Jennë Moor) at Baba’s, +they did not appear to be on terms; I think the latter was envious of +the greater learning and intelligence of the former, who had been to +Mecca and Medina. One day I requested Baba to draw me a map of the +world, he did so, encircling one large continent with a sea, bounded by +a girdle of rocks. Old Odumata’s notion of geography was as strange; for +he mentioned one day, that when on the coast above Apollonia, he had an +idea of walking to England, for he was told he should reach Santonee +(Portugal) in 30 days, and that after that, the path was very good. He +greatly enjoyed our singeing the hair of a foppish attendant of his, +with a burning glass; the man’s amazement was inconceivable, Mr. +Hutchison was at some distance, and not suspected. + +We were now permitted to walk four or five miles beyond the city, and +felt quite at home. We seldom went out in the morning, lest an occasion +for an audience should occur. Apokoo and several other daily visitors +diverted us with their anecdotes, and in the afternoon we made our round +of calls. Apokoo was always facetious, and looked with much anxiety for +our entry, as his greatest recreation; he was very desirous of learning +tennis and sparring, and daily made some essays, so comical, that +neither we nor his attendants could contain ourselves. Apokoo became +very communicative of Ashantee politics, and asked innumerable questions +about England; particularly, why the King of England did not send one of +his own sons to the King of Ashantee, with the presents, and why so +great a King sent such a small force to Africa. The Spanish campaign was +gone through, again and again, and never tired him. He gave us an +excellent dinner, as did Odumata repeatedly. Both were extravagantly +enraptured with the miniature of an English female, and called all their +wives to look at it. + +Having been advised by a note from the Governor, of the arrival of an +Ashantee boy and girl at Cape Coast Castle, sent by the King without any +explanation, I desired an audience on the subject, and forwarded the +following letter, which also communicates the baseness of one of the +King’s messengers, just returned from the Coast, and other inauspicious +circumstances. + + * * * * * + + + _Coomassie, 10th Aug._ 1817. + + JOHN HOPE SMITH, ESQ. GOVERNOR IN CHIEF, &c. &c. &c. + + SIR, + +THE King has explained to me that he sent the boy and girl you mention +to have arrived at Cape Coast, to become the property of the Committee +or Government, conceiving it to be obligatory on him, in justification +of his possession of the notes, to allow an Ashantee family to rear +itself under the Governor’s protection, for the service of the +Settlement, and as an acknowledgment of the duties he owes it. He begs +me to observe that he put the same plates of gold around their necks +which distinguish the royal attendants. + +I had reason to believe, from a coolness and some invidious comparisons +on the part of the King, that the messenger lately arrived, Ocranameah, +who was so particularly recommended to your favour, had been unjust in +his report of the treatment he had experienced. I did not hesitate to +avow my impression to the King, having solicited an audience for the +purpose. The King confessed he had felt his private feelings hurt ever +since the return of that messenger, having received his assurance, that +you would scarcely admit him to your presence; that he received no +present or compliment from you, and was wholly neglected during his stay +at head quarters. I instantly pledged my honour to the King that +Ocranameah (who was present) was guilty of falsehood and ingratitude, +adding, that I was not prepared to confront him with the particulars of +the presents he received from you and the officers; though I was +positive, from private letters, as well as my own conviction, that you +had not slighted the opportunity of evincing your private friendship for +the King; and as I might possibly identify some trifle, I wished the +King to allow a search to be made. On the messenger’s box being sent for +and opened, two engravings appeared, to the surprise of the King, and +which I recognised; but as the messenger still persists in _your_ entire +neglect of him, and of his not having received any present or compliment +worth mentioning, I must trouble you for the particulars of his +treatment at Cape Coast Castle, for the entire conviction of the King. +The King expressed his suspicion (founded on reports) that many +Ashantees imposed on your generosity, by introducing themselves as +attached to him in various capacities; and hoped that you would only +listen in future to such as he recommended to your notice by letter, +which his three messengers above had been; the second (Ocranameah) the +more particularly, and that recollection had made him so sensible of the +neglect. You will regret, with myself, that this inauspicious +circumstance has been unavoidable. + +The recent intelligence respecting the Buntooko war, has imposed serious +anxiety, in the place of the King’s former confidence. The revolt of +that people, as may be expected in all revolts from arbitrary controul, +has gradually induced the secessions of some other tributaries; and the +King feels called upon by these unexpected difficulties, to conduct the +war in person; not with his former expectation of witnessing their rapid +subjugation, but from his present conviction of the necessity for every +stimulus and energy. His precaution has dictated some popular acts, +ameliorating the condition of the lower order of his subjects. The +confidential ministers have been instructed to hint to me, that it would +be indiscreet in the King to expose even his temporary reverses in an +arduous war, by the residence of a British officer; and that he would +most probably defer that part of the mutual wish, until the contest was +terminated. I used the same medium to impress upon the King, that such a +feeling towards the delegate of a friendly power was misplaced; that you +had expedited his ex-parte views in the confidence of his consummation +of the reciprocal objects of the Mission, without which (as they had +been instituted for his benefit and aggrandisement) I could not think of +returning; since a protraction would be construed into a slight of the +friendly overtures of the British Government, which (from its dignity +and pre-eminence in Europe) could not be vouchsafed whenever they might +be solicited. + +I anxiously await your communications on the Commenda palaver, to +further my exertions for the full accomplishment of the Mission. The +King and his Council labour under so much anxiety and business at the +present moment, that though we pay and receive visits of ceremony, it is +almost impossible to effect an audience, but on the receipt of +dispatches. + + I am, &c. &c. + + T. EDWARD BOWDICH. + +The most entertaining _delassement_ of our conversations with the +chiefs, was, to introduce the liberty of English females; whom we +represented, not only to possess the advantage of enjoying the sole +affection of a husband, but the more enviable privilege of choosing that +husband for herself. The effect was truly comic, the women sidled up to +wipe the dust from our shoes with their cloths, and at the end of every +sentence brushed off an insect, or picked a burr from our trowsers; the +husbands suppressing their dislike in a laugh, would put their hands +before our mouths, declaring they did not want to hear that palaver any +more, abruptly change the subject to war, and order the women to the +harem. + +One of the King’s linguists was a very old man, called Quancum; he spoke +but seldom, yet the greatest deference was paid to his opinion; the King +appeared to consult him more than any other. I was so much interested by +this man’s deportment, that I enquired his history. He had been the +linguist of two former Kings, who paid frequent, and large sums of gold, +as damages for his intrigues; neither had age corrected his fault, until +very lately, though the present King used the most friendly +remonstrances; and urged, that from his paying large sums so frequently +for him on this account, his subjects thought, that he countenanced the +depravity. Quancum confessed to the King, that his ardour for women was +perpetuated by the sensual devices of one of his wives. Soon afterwards, +he was detected in an intrigue with the wife of a captain of great +consequence, and the King refused to interfere. The captain declaring +that the punishment of Quancum, and not gold, was his object, the King +permitted him to be despoiled of all his property, even to his bed. The +favourite wife was amongst the spoil, and the injured captain being much +smitten with her, assured her of an indulgence and preference, even +greater than that she had enjoyed with Quancum; she replied, she must +always hate him, and intreated to be sold. After much importunity the +captain agreed to do so, provided she would put him in possession of all +the presents Quancum had lavished on her; she produced them, +stipulating, that her son might retain a small sum of gold, which +Quancum had lately presented to him; this was agreed to, and she was +immediately sold to a distant caboceer; but her son followed her, and +buying her with his little property, presented her again to his father. +On this, the King gave Quancum a house, and some furniture, and takes +care to continue small supplies of gold daily, adequate to his and this +woman’s comfort; having exacted a solemn oath from him, that he would +devote himself to this one wife, and never try to recover any of the +others. + +Mr. Tedlie’s interesting interview with the King, when he desired his +attendance to exhibit and explain his surgical instruments, and +medicines, is best described in his own words. + +“The King sent for me this morning, saying he wished to see the +medicines, books, and instruments. I went immediately, and explained +through Quashie, the Accra linguist, the proper use and advantage of +each instrument: he was very particular in his enquiries, and asked if I +had performed the operations I described; I assured him that I had, and +as a proof, exhibited a piece of bone that I had taken out of an Indian +black man’s head in Ceylon, who had been wounded, and who lived. The +King held up his hand as a mark of approbation, and all his attendants +were astonished. I applied the instruments first on myself, then on the +linguists, afterwards on the King’s two captains, and lastly on the +King: nothing could exceed the King’s approbation. He then desired me to +shew him the medicines; he enquired the virtues and doses of each, what +time in the day they should be taken, and whether it was proper to eat +or drink after taking them? I told him: he asked if I would sell them? I +said no. I brought these medicines for the officers; I could not sell +them, but I would give him as much as I could, keeping in view that some +of the four officers might be sick; he said that I was right, but he +could not help coveting the greater part of the medicines; he viewed +them all over five or six times, and asked me to give him some of them. +I did give him as much innocent medicine as I could with propriety +afford; he thanked me “very much.” I then shewed him the botanical +books; he was astonished, held up his hand and exclaimed hah! at every +brilliant or high coloured plant which he saw. All his attendants were +closely arranged around: the two captains laid hold of a volume each, +and were admiring the flowers; when either of them ejaculated an +admiration, the King would seize it, and ask me what that tree was? +After I had told him the use of them, I said all these trees grow in +England; and the reason the English write all these in a book is, that +they may know which is a good tree, and which is bad. He expressed the +greatest astonishment at the flax (linum), oak “that we build our ships +with,” poppy “that makes a man sleep,” and the sensitive plant (mimosa), +which he pointed out and described himself. During this time he +whispered to one of his attendants, who went out, and returned in a +short time with a bit of cloth containing 9 ackies of gold; the King +presented it to me; I accepted it, and returned thanks. He then asked me +if I would come and see him at any time he sent for me; I assured him I +would do every thing to please him, consistent with my duty. He shook +hands with me and went into his house. He returned in a short time, +leading his sister by the hand, in a manner that would shame many beaux +in Europe, saying, “this is the white doctor I told you of; go, and take +his hand; you are sick, tell him your complaint, and he will do you +good:” the lady complied with his request. He then said “give me that +gold I gave you, the cloth is not clean; I want to put it in a clean +cloth for you.” He then put it in a piece of rich silk, and after he +returned the gold he said “I like you; I like all the English very much; +they are a proper people, and I wish to drink health with you.” He +retired to his own apartment, and returned with a flask of gin, and two +servants with a silver vase and water and glasses; he helped himself and +me, made a bow and said “Saï wishes you good health.” I returned the +bow, saying, I wish good health to the King, and hope he never will +require any of my medicine: when this was explained to him he held out +his glass to me, we touched and drank. He then took my hand, saying, “If +I send my sister to you will you talk with her?” I assured him I would +talk with and advise all the King’s friends whenever he wished. After I +gave all the medicine I could conveniently part with, he sent for a +small Dutch liqueur case; he desired 10 or 12 of his attendants, and his +eunuch, to keep in their heads what I said; and requested me to repeat +again the use and dose of each medicine I gave him, with the proper time +and method of using it. I did so. He placed his hand on his head saying +“Saï recollects what the white doctor says;” then placing the medicines +in the case himself said “that good for my head, that good for my belly, +that good for my stomach,” &c. One of the King’s sisters sent a message +that she wanted to come and see the white gentlemen; and shortly +afterwards arrived with her stool and retinue, being head caboceer of a +large town. After exchanging compliments, she complained that her left +hand pained her very much. I examined it, but must confess I could not +see any thing the matter with it; however I rubbed a little liniment on +her hand, which seemed to gratify her; she asked if I would come and see +her in the evening? I answered yes. Quamina, our Ashantee guide, came to +conduct me: he said I must dress, put on my sword and hat, as this woman +was a caboceer, and the King’s sister; he would carry my umbrella. When +I arrived I found the princess lying on a mat in one of the inner +apartments of the house she occupied; she ordered a stool for me; I +rubbed some more liniment on her hand; she wished me to stop and drink +palm wine; this I declined, alledging the English did not like palm wine +in the evening, because it is sour.” + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + * * * * * + + _Proceedings and Incidents until the Signing of the Preliminaries to a + General Treaty._ + + +[The Governor’s reply to my communication on the subject of the Commenda + palaver, reached me on the 27th of August.] + + _Cape Coast Castle, August 11_, 1817. + + T. E. BOWDICH, ESQ. + + SIR, + +I ENTERTAINED a confident hope that no further mention would have been +made by the King concerning the Commendas, after the receipt of my +letter, and I am sorry that he should allow so insignificant a set of +people to protract in the least the settlement of our union. As it is my +particular wish to remove this impediment, I have used every endeavour +to bring the affair to a conclusion, and trust the King will not suffer +it to be invincible. The Commendas are also naturally anxious for its +termination, but their poverty is so great, that they have it not in +their power to comply with his demand. They have acknowledged their +fealty to the King, and have agreed to pay the sum of 120 oz. of gold, +of which, messengers are sent by his nephew to enquire whether he will +accept. This, with the sum they have been unavoidably obliged to promise +the principal persons deputed to negociate this business, will increase +the sum to at least 150 oz. The many proofs the King has had of my +friendly intentions towards him, and the consideration of the benefits +that will accrue to him from his alliance with the English, will, I +hope, induce him to concede to the terms offered by the Commendas. A +refusal must be considered as an avowal of his determined resolution not +to conciliate the affair, and as the indigent circumstances of these +people, make it utterly impossible for them to pay a larger sum, you +will, should he persist in exacting more, procure his permission to +leave the country, and return with the other officers as soon as you +can. To sacrifice the Mission, after the heavy expences which have been +incurred, and when we are induced to believe that every other object is +propitiated to our utmost expectations, should be avoided if possible; +but if he insists on a larger sum being levied from the Commendas than +has been offered, there remains no other alternative. The dignity of the +flag must be the superior consideration to all others. + +The King has no need to doubt in the least the sincerity of the Cape +Coast people, they are his friends, and have every inclination to +continue so; and I am convinced his nephew will, on his return, confirm +this report to him. + +I will make known to the Committee his request for a crown and clothes, +and I have no doubt but it will be complied with. + + I am, Sir, + + your most obedient Servant, + + JOHN HOPE SMITH. + + + _Coomassie, Aug. 29_, 1817. + + JOHN HOPE SMITH, ESQ. GOVERNOR IN CHIEF, &c. &c. &c. + + SIR, + +I HAVE the satisfaction to enclose a copy of the Preliminaries to the +general Treaty, as signed this day by the King in Council, adjusting the +Commenda palaver, agreeably to your letter of the 11th, which did not +reach me till the 27th instant. + +I proceed to acquaint you with the transactions of the interval. + +The charge of a political Embassy, in a part of the world where respect +and security are founded upon the opinion imposed by our conduct, +exacted a spirit and dignity, which might have been abated in +insinuating a Mission through the country for scientific purposes, but +the inviolability of which was inseparable from the improvement and +safety of neighbouring settlements. Since my last dispatch, I have been +obligated to resist various encroachments, of which I shall mention two +or three to justify my treatment of them. + +The death of Quamina Bwa, our Ashantee guide, in the early part of the +last week, creating an idle, but popular superstition that he had been +killed by the fetish for bringing white men to take the country; I was +applied to in the King’s name, to ameliorate this impression, by +contributing an ounce of gold towards the custom to be made by the King +for his repose. I refused on two grounds; first, that Quamina Bwa had +himself unjustly incensed the people against us, by panyaring[10] their +provisions in the King’s name, for our subsistence, and defrauding them +of the gold we gave him for the payment: secondly, that the rites of +customs were unnatural to our religion, which bound us, at least, not to +encourage them. Fifteen persons had been sacrificed the week before (in +a custom for the mother of a captain) with aggravated barbarity. + +Several of the principal men having applied to me to send to Cape Coast +for silks, to be paid for on receipt at Coomassie (a very dangerous and +impolitic indulgence), I impressed, indignantly, that I was not sent as +a trader to make bargains with them, but as an officer to talk the +palavers with the King. + +These circumstances, and a personal chastisement of some insults from +inferior captains, which was provoked after much patience, influenced ex +parte representations, which, though they may not have sickened the +King’s regard, induced hauteur and neglect. In proceeding to the King’s +house on public occasions, which I never did without the flag, canes, +and soldiers, we had been expected to make way for the greater retinues +of superior captains, who would rudely have enforced it; and after +soliciting audiences for two days, I was kept in waiting above an hour +in the outer courts of the palace. On the last occasion of the latter +treatment, knowing that it was affected, I returned to our quarters +until I received the King’s invitation; representing to him, that as an +officer dignified by an authority to make a treaty with him in the name +of the British Government, I could not submit to disrespectful treatment +at the Palace, nor allow the English flag to give place to any but +himself; that, if it merely affected myself as an individual, my esteem +for the King would induce me to compromise these points of etiquette +with his captains; but, according to the custom of England, I dared not; +for if I did, my sword would be taken from me on my return to Cape Coast +Castle. It produced the desired effect; the gong gong proclaimed in +every street that all captains must make way for the flag; and at the +monthly levee of the captains (the Adaï custom) the King’s linguists +were deputed to us first, with the customary present of a sheep and rum; +and presented us the first to pay our compliments to the King, being +followed by Amanquateä, Quatchie Quophi, Apokoo, and Odumata; the four +captains composing the Privy Council, or Aristocracy, which checks the +King. The first (whose power approximates to that of the Mayor of the +Palace under the early French dynasty) sent his linguist and gold swords +to compliment us on the ground. I determined to take advantage of this +impression, and of the comparative facility of intercourse, and demanded +an audience to discuss the treaty, a copy of which I enclose, and hope +my additions will be satisfactory. I have the King’s assurance that it +shall be formally executed in eight days; when all his tributaries will +be present for the yam custom, and when I hope to make the King of +Dwabin and its dependencies a party, whose power is equal to the King of +Ashantee’s. + +To resume—the audience was granted; and I read the treaty before the +King and his Council, submitting it article by article, to their +consideration. It was debated the whole of that and the succeeding day. +I considered that if I could get the treaty discussed and executed in +this favourable interval, removing the Commenda palaver from the +situation of an obstacle, and reserving it as the first proof of the +King’s disposition to coincide with you in what was reasonable and just, +I might, on the receipt of dispatches, gain the better terms for that +people. + +On Saturday the 22d instant, I was summoned to declare the articles of +the treaty before the assembly of captains, who were seated with their +attendants and warriors in the large yard of the palace, with all the +imposing pomp and military parade, which had before been collected to +subdue us, in the scene of the declaration of war. The King’s sisters, +with the females of his family, were seated, with their numerous +attendants, on an elevated floor behind. The deputies from the Fantee +towns in the interior, were placed within hearing, and the crowd was +almost impervious: the most ghastly trophies were mixed with this blaze +of ostentation. We were seated near the King immediately opposite to his +linguists. + +In reading the treaty, I paused after every article, leaving it to be +formally repeated to the King through his linguists, and then sat down +whilst it was discussed by the assembly. It is not necessary to repeat +the various debates; and I will only notice that Amanquateä, through his +linguist, proposed the renewal of the Slave Trade as a sine qua non;[11] +this, however, as I had all along declared it to be impossible, was at +length over-ruled, but with considerable difficulty. It was also +proposed to attach a fine to the infraction of the treaty; but this I +resisted as derogatory to the dignity of the contracting parties; and +urged, that as the King and his dignitaries would consider his oath as +sacred, as you and the Government would mine, I considered no +_infraction_ of the treaty could take place; though it might possibly be +_offended_ by the conduct of his subjects, or of individuals under +British protection, which was provided for, and must be visited +accordingly by the authorities pledged to the treaty. + +I had declared from the first, that it would be expected that the King +should swear in the form of his country to the fulfilment and +preservation of the treaty, and that his oath should be attested by his +principal captains, from my anxiety to fortify to the utmost, a measure +not only valuable to commerce but to humanity, in averting the renewal +of a war, recorded by indelible marks of carnage and devastation. + +At the moment I expected the King to execute the treaty, a fresh design +was disclosed, in a long speech from the chief linguist, setting forth +the wrongs the King had just received from the people of Amissa, who had +scourged his messengers, and couched their insulting defiance in the +foulest language; yet, he said, the King did not want to invade the +Fantee country for the sake of one town, and therefore I must stay and +assist him to settle that palaver; he would then readily swear to the +treaty. I replied at length, declaring particularly that I could not, +and would not recognize the Amissa palaver; that the King vitiated the +compliments he had been pleased to pay me, in expecting me to be such a +fool as to involve you in the palaver of a people, over whom you neither +possessed nor desired authority; and that if I had not a right to think +better of the King, I should view such a proposal as evasive of the +treaty, and final to the hope of a thorough understanding. + +The chief linguist rejoined, that I had declared in announcing the +treaty, that it was the wish of the British Government to put an end to +war, and for the King to have no occasion to trouble the Fantees; +whereas, if the people of Amissa were not persuaded to retract, the King +must send a captain to destroy them, which could be done at a word, and +this perhaps would make another war. I urged that the Fantee towns under +the British forts must be considered distinctly, and that those, and +those only, were viewed by the Government and the treaty; yet, for the +cause of humanity, I would request you, for the King, to advise the +people of Amissa better, through some medium, which I hoped might do +good, but if disregarded, you could not even repeat it: that was all I +could promise, and if that was not enough, our negociations were at an +end. No! that was not enough, I must stay and see the palaver settled. + +We immediately rose, and I declared as impressively as I could, that as +the officer of the King of England, your orders only could be obeyed by +me, that I dared not remain or allow myself to be stopped, even if I +should be killed on the path, for my life was not my palaver, but the +King of England’s. As I bowed to retire, the linguist exclaimed, that +the King promised to see me again in an hour. + +I used the interval for reflection, and resolved to act upon the +conclusion, that nothing but an undaunted resolution could check these +encroachments, which were to be attributed to the Government rather than +to the King. + +The hour having fully expired, I sent a cane to Adoocee, the chief +linguist, to desire the audience; he sent me word that the King was +asleep, and no one dared to awake him. I then went to Odumata (who +resides within the palace) and repeated to him, that I was determined to +go, if the King did not keep his word and see me; he said I could not; I +rejoined, I would, and left him. I then went to Adoocee’s house, +declared the same, and received the same reply. I left a cane in waiting +at the palace, with orders to quit and return to me at 4 o’clock, (which +allowed altogether four hours instead of one) if he was not dispatched +with a message in the interval. No notice was taken; there was no +alternative to my making good what I had said. The views of the Mission +were at risk, but they would have been too dearly purchased by such +concessions, and I was sanguine, rather than apprehensive of the success +of the measure I adopted; without spirit and fortitude nothing was to be +done. + +I ordered all the baggage out, planted the flag, and giving the +soldiers’ muskets to the officers, converted them and the artificers +into bearers, as well as our own servants, for I saw the previous +dismissal of my own people was considered a hold on me. I ordered the +linguists to declare to the party publickly, that I would flog any man +who attempted to leave the town in debt; I paid all they confessed, by +advances on their pay to the amount of 10 ackies: this gave the greatest +publicity to our movements. + +The King’s uncle, Bundaenha, and another superior captain came in form +to entreat me to stay, whilst they affected to address the King. I saw +through this, and that I might presume on it; holding the watch in my +hand, I promised to wait half an hour, and no longer. They returned +within the time to conduct me to the King, but after being kept +unusually long in waiting, the answer to my remonstrance through the +linguists, was, that the King was very busy hearing a great palaver; I +saw they lingered still in their hope of my submission. I sent the two +canes to tell the King that mine was a great palaver, and ought to be +heard, not only from its importance, but because he had passed his word +that it should; that after a King disregarded his promise, it was +useless to wait any longer. Returning to our quarters, I ordered the +people to load the baggage. + +At the moment of starting, a royal messenger ran up, to say the King was +waiting to see me. I dismissed him with the message, that I could not +stop, unless a person of consequence was sent to promise for the King. +The King’s uncle came, and assured me the King would receive me himself +at the entrance of the palace. We went, and were instantly ushered into +the presence of the King and his captains, who were debating by torch +light: the clamour and deportment of this assembly might have been +subduing, had it been novel. The uproar having abated, the King +demanded, through his linguist, why I had determined to leave so +suddenly, and whether he had not behaved well to me, adding to much +declamation, that he knew the King of England and the Governor wished to +please him, and would not countenance the act. I replied, that “I had +not only gone the full length of my instructions to please the King, but +exceeded them; and all that I had to fear was, that you would not +approve my remaining a moment after he had trifled with me. The King’s +behaviour to me, as an individual, I should always be proud to speak of, +but his respect of the Embassy was a very superior consideration. Every +thing he wished had been done, and now he tried to impose a palaver on +me, with which you had no more to do than with the Buntooko war. The +King had promised me to settle the point of the treaty, I waited the +discussion patiently, he pledged his word to see me that evening, he had +avoided it; I had said I would wait no longer if he did not keep his +word; no English officer dared to break his word, if he did, he lost his +sword.” Much declamation ensued, but the King’s conviction silenced the +assembly, and realized the triumph I expected. He said, what I told him +was true, that he was very sorry, but he had too much to think about; he +liked the Law (the Treaty) very well, but begged me to wait a little +longer till all his captains came. I received his promise to see me the +following day. The next morning the head linguist came in form to +acquaint me that some palavers had arrived in the night, which had made +it necessary for the King to go to Berramang (a croom about five miles +to the N.E. on the road to Sallagha, the capital of the Inta country) +but he had orders to furnish us with the King’s hammock-men, if we were +inclined to follow him the next day. We did so, and I enclose an extract +from my diary, with the circumstances of the day, as they do not affect +the point in question: on taking leave in the evening, the King promised +that I should hear from him the next day. + +Apokoo, who had been left in charge of the town, visited me in form by +the King’s orders, with the criers and insignia, to assure me there +should be no more impediments to the treaty, and that the King would +return the next day. The evening was productive of another disturbance, +from my resistance of an indignity. The Cape Coast messenger arriving, +informed me that the dispatches and letters were retained by Adoo +Bradie’s messenger, who accompanied him. I sent the canes to Apokoo’s to +demand them, but ineffectually; I then went myself, and insisted on the +delivery; he said it could not be allowed until the King returned to the +capital. I protested so strongly against the act, that he sent for the +chief linguist (Adoocee) and after a palaver, they promised to send me +the letters on my return to the house: I left the canes in waiting. The +time allowed having expired without the receipt, I went again to +Apokoo’s, who referred me to Adoocee. I went to him, and he said he +dared not interfere in the business. The Cape Coast messengers refusing +to do so, we proceeded instantly to Adoo Bradie’s house, and finding the +messenger, demanded the letters, and obtained them. I had scarcely read +them, before Adoocee came with some captains, and about 100 persons, +(being then 9 o’clock) to demand my delivery of your letter to his +charge, until the King’s return. I indignantly refused, asserting my +authority, and criminating such a request as injurious to the rights of +the meanest subject of the King of England, and an insuperable affront +to you. He tried threats and entreaties alternately; the former I +treated with contempt, the latter I regretted I dared not yield to. The +palaver was prolonged till 10 o’clock at night. I determined not to lose +ground. The King did not arrive until the evening of the next day, I +sent three canes with my compliments on his return, and received his +with an appointment of an audience the next (this) morning. + +We were sent for early, the affair of the letters was opposed to me. I +repeated my declarations to Adoocee, and added, that I should not think +of leaving a Resident, if such were the forms of the Ashantee Court. The +Ashantee messengers declared that you had ordered your letters to be +delivered to the King. I said that was impossible. The King was very +gentle, but such was the suspicion of the assembly, that they requested +me to swear on my sword, that I had not altered any part of your letter; +I did so, prefacing the act as such a suspicion merited. I then read +your letter, abating nothing of its spirit and firmness, and laying +stress upon your disposition to benefit the King, and the proofs you had +given. I concluded my illustrations with the declaration, that you did +not settle the King’s palaver from fear, but from friendship, as it +remained with him to prove. I submitted the preliminaries in form, for +rejection or acceptance. After an ardent debate among the captains, they +were executed and attested, and I lose no time in forwarding the copy. I +left a duplicate with the King, as I shall of the treaty. + +The King intends to dispatch a messenger directly to empower Adoo Bradie +to receive the gold, and hopes you will recommend the people of Commenda +to restore any of the slaves in their possession belonging to Elmina, +although that is not his palaver. + +The King desired me to communicate his best thanks for your handsome +treatment of his nephew, whose reports have been very flattering. + +I urged my intercessions for Quamina Bootaqua, until the King vouchsafed +me his assurance that he would pardon him. + +I have the satisfaction to inform you, that I have been able, privately, +so far to conciliate the Moors, as to have witnessed their forwardance +of the certificates[12] to the Interior, with their own letters of +recommendation indorsed. + +I advocated the merits of the Castle linguist, De Graff, as you desired, +and successfully. I flatter myself this will anticipate the arrival of +the King’s, and the Cape Coast messengers. + + I am, &c. &c. + + T. E. BOWDICH. + +_Preliminaries of a General Treaty, to be made and entered into by_ +THOMAS EDWARD BOWDICH, _Esquire, for the Governor and Council of Cape +Coast Castle, and on the part of the British Government, with_ SAÏ +TOOTOO QUAMINA, _King of Ashantee and its Dependencies._ + +1st. The King accepts the offer of the people of Commenda, through the +Governor in Chief; namely, one hundred and twenty ounces of gold for +himself, and the customary fees to his embassadors, as a settlement in +full of all demands. + +2nd. The people of Commenda shall acknowledge their fealty to the King, +and be entitled to all the benefits of his protection. + +3d. The King shall authorize some responsible captain to receive the +gold, from the hands of the deputies of the people of Commenda, at Cape +Coast Castle. + +4th. It is hereby agreed, that every palaver is now settled preparatory +to the General Treaty, which shall be executed forthwith. + + Signed and sealed this twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our + Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen. + + The mark of SAÏ TOOTOO QUAMINA. X (L. S.) + + T. E. BOWDICH. (L. S.) + +In the presence of + + WILLIAM HUTCHISON. + + HENRY TEDLIE. + + ADOOCEE, Chief Linguist. + + APOKOO, Keeper of the Treasury. + + QUAMINA QUATCHIE, } + } Linguists to the Mission. + QUASHEE APAINTREE, } + +_Extract from Diary._—Monday, 25th August, we started soon after seven +o’clock, and proceeding in a N.E. direction, crossed the marsh close to +the town, where it was about two feet deep and one hundred and fifty +yards broad. We travelled the path to Sallagha, through a beautiful +country, abounding in neat crooms (of which we passed through seven), +the sites spacious, and environed by extensive plantations. The path was +wide and so nearly direct, that the eye was always in advance through +beautiful vistas varied by gentle risings. The iron stone still +prevailed. + +The King received us in the market place, and enquiring anxiously if we +had breakfasted, ordered refreshment. After some conversation we were +conducted to a house prepared for our reception, where a relish was +served (sufficient for an army) of soups, stews, plantains, yams, rice, +&c. (all excellently cooked) wine, spirits, oranges, and every fruit. +The messengers, soldiers, and servants were distinctly provided for. +Declining the offer of beds, we walked out in the town, and conversed +and played drafts with the Moors, who were reclining under trees; the +King joined us with cheerful affability, and seemed to have forgotten +his cares. About two o’clock dinner was announced. We had been taught to +prepare for a surprise, but it was exceeded. We were conducted to the +eastern side of the croom, to a door of green reeds, which excluded the +crowd, and admitted us through a short avenue to the King’s garden, an +area equal to one of the large squares in London. The breezes were +strong and constant. In the centre, four large umbrellas of new scarlet +cloth were fixed, under which was the King’s dining table (heigthened +for the occasion) and covered in the most imposing manner; his massy +plate was well disposed, and silver forks, knives, and spoons (Colonel +Torrane’s) were plentifully laid. The large silver waiter supported a +roasting pig in the centre; the other dishes on the table were roasted +ducks, fowls, stews, pease pudding, &c. &c. On the ground on one side of +the table were various soups, and every sort of vegetable; and elevated +parallel with the other side, were oranges, pines, and other fruits; +sugar-candy, Port and Madeira wine, spirits and Dutch cordials, with +glasses. Before we sat down the King met us, and said, that as we had +come out to see him, we must receive the following present from his +hands, 2 oz. 4 ackies of gold, one sheep and one large hog to the +officers, 10 ackies to the linguists, and 5 ackies to our servants. + +We never saw a dinner more handsomely served, and never ate a better. On +our expressing our relish, the King sent for his cooks, and gave them +ten ackies. The King and a few of his captains sat at a distance, but he +visited us constantly, and seemed quite proud of the scene; he conversed +freely, and expressed much satisfaction at our toasts, “The King of +Ashantee, the King of England, the Governor, the King’s Captains, a +perpetual union (with a speech, which is the sine qua non) and the +handsome women of England and Ashantee.” After dinner the King made many +enquiries about England, and retired, as we did, that our servants might +clear the table, which he insisted on. When he returned, some of the +wine and Dutch cordials remaining, he gave them to our servants to take +with them, and ordered the table cloth to be thrown to them and all the +napkins. A cold pig, cold fowls (with six that had not been dressed) +were dispatched to Coomassie for our supper. We took leave about five +o’clock, the King accompanying us to the end of the croom, where he took +our hands, and wished us good night. We reached the capital again at +six, much gratified by our excursion and treatment. + +Mr. Tedlie had brought Quamina Bwa (our guide) into a very advanced +state of convalescence; but he so eagerly betook himself from low diet +to palm oil soups, and stews of blood, that he soon relapsed, and a +gathering formed on his liver, aggravated not a little by the various +fetish draughts he swallowed. Seeing there was no other chance, Mr. +Tedlie, who is a very skilful operator, would have scarified the liver; +but although I had great reason to rely confidently on his judgment and +ability, I thought our situation too critical to run such a risk. A +Fantee boy having fractured his leg, and his dissolution appearing +inevitable, the parents, in great distress, applied to the surgeon of an +English outfort, who amputated the limb, and after much wearying +attendance, to the surprise of every one, restored the boy to health. +The family then brought him into the fort, and laying him down in the +hall, addressed the surgeon (who was in charge of the fort) thus; “As +Master cut off poor boy’s leg, and so spoil poor boy for work, we come +to ask Master how much he think to give poor boy to keep him.” + +Quamina Bwa was fetished until the last moment, and died amidst the +howls of a legion of old hags, plastering the walls, door posts, and +every thing about him, with chopped egg and different messes. I forget +how many sheep he had sacrificed to the fetish by the advice of these +harpies. The King sent him a sheep and a periguin of gold, when he heard +he was ill. This man had settled the palaver with Mr. White, after the +blockade of Cape Coast, in 1815, the third invasion of the Ashantees, +and was universally odious, for his cruel extortions; these being +reported to the King, he was disgraced; and being very extravagant, +became much involved. Being at Payntree, he prevailed on Quamina +Bushmaquaw to allow him to conduct us, to retrieve his finances a +little. Excepting Adoocee, the King’s chief linguist, he was the most +plausible villain I ever met with. + +The head of an Akim caboceer arrived in Coomassie about this time. The +King and the Ashantee government had proposed that every croom of Akim +should pay 20 periguins of gold as an atonement for their late revolt. +Ten periguins were advanced immediately by each, and the other moiety +was excused until after the harvest; but Aboidedroo caboceer of Manasoo +resolutely refused to pay a tokoo. The King’s messengers, however, +appealed to his people with so much address, that they rose upon their +caboceer, killed him, and sent his head to the King, with the 20 +periguins required. + + +[Footnote 10: Seizing.] + +[Footnote 11: Presents from two Spanish slave ships were received +through the Mulatto Brue on the 16th instant; they were general, but I +can only particularise the following: + + To the King, 3 pieces of cloth, 1 umbrella, and a hat. + + To the chief linguist, 1 piece, do. 2 flashes liquor. + + To the 4th do. (Otee) 1 do. 2 ditto, do. + + To Odumata, 2 do. 2 ditto, do. + + To Quamina Bwa, agent for the purchase of the slaves, 2 pieces of + cloth, 1 umbrella, and 1 Dane gun. + +] + +[Footnote 12: For a copy of these certificates vide the opposite +engraving.] + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + * * * * * + +_Proceedings and Incidents until the Ratification of a General Treaty._ + + +The report of an Ashantee having been flogged to death in Cape Coast +Castle, which was aggravated every hour to our prejudice, was explained +by the following letter: + + + _Cape Coast Castle, August 17_, 1817. + + T. E. BOWDICH, ESQ. + + SIR, + +THE day before yesterday an Ashantee man was guilty of a most daring +insult to the fort. On passing the gate, he was desired by the sentinel +to take his cloth off his shoulders, but instead of complying, he turned +round and struck him. The offender was instantly secured, and I ordered +him to be put in irons. Last night about nine o’clock, the captain of +the guard came to me to say, that the sentry on duty had reported the +Ashantee to have hung himself. The place in which he was with others +confined, was immediately opened, and he was found in a room adjoining +to that in which the prisoners sleep, with his under cloth attached to a +beam not more than three feet high, and very tightly drawn round his +throat, part of his body was lying on the ground, and it must have been +by the most determined resolution that he succeeded in strangling +himself. The surgeon was present, but his efforts to recover him were +ineffectual. This is the second offence of a similar nature that has +occurred; the first person, I most assuredly should have punished, had +he not ran past the sentry and made his escape. + +The King’s displeasure will no doubt be excited when he hears of such +acts of insolence, and I hope he will issue such orders to his people, +as will make them more circumspect in future. + + I am, Sir, + + your most obedient Servant, + + J. H. SMITH. + + * * * * * + + + _Coomassie, 31st August_, 1817. + + JOHN HOPE SMITH, ESQ. GOVERNOR IN CHIEF, &c. &c. &c. + + SIR, + +I RECEIVED your letter last evening respecting the suicide of the +Ashantee. I procured an audience this morning, and have just returned +from the palace, where I had the honour to address you a letter, in the +name of the King, on this, and other subjects. + +The messenger sent up by Adoo Bradie, was the brother of the deceased, +and declared before the King upon oath, that he had been killed by the +officers. The master (our landlord) proposed a fine to the captains +assembled, but after the audience was gone through, the King retired to +council, which is the form, and returning, dictated the sentiments I had +the honour to communicate to you, and rebuked our house-master severely +for his proposition. Of course I impressed the insult to the fort, as +the superior consideration of your letter. + +The insolence of the lower orders here became insufferable, they +proceeded even to pelting us with stones; after every effort on our part +to conciliate them by the exhibition of the telescope and other +novelties. As may be expected in a military government, they are beyond +the King’s control, out of the field. He declared however, that he would +behead any man I would point out to him, and begged me to punish them as +I thought proper: a summary chastisement of two inferior captains +repressed this spirit. + +All the captains of consequence have become friendly and respectful; +Apokoo was deputed in form yesterday, in the name of the whole, to thank +me for my conduct in negociating with the King. + +The Treaty will be brought forward to be executed in six days, before +the annual assembly of Kings, caboceers, and captains. All the Kings +tributaries and allies being compelled to attend him at the yam custom. + +The King intends your linguist De Graff, to take fetish with his five +linguists, to be just to both the powers to be pledged to the treaty, +and is convinced of his probity. + + I am, with respect, Sir, + + your most obedient Servant, + + T. EDWARD BOWDICH. + + * * * * * + + + _Coomassie, 31st Aug._ 1817. + + SAÏ TOOTOO QUAMINA, _King of Ashantee, &c. to_ JOHN HOPE SMITH, + _Esquire, Governor in Chief, &c. &c. &c._ + + SIR, + +THE King assures you, that, anticipating the permanent union of the +English and Ashantees, so far from allowing the death of one man to +retard it, he should take no notice if a thousand were flogged to death +by you, as reported here, well knowing the insolent disposition of the +lower order of Ashantees, which is as vexatious to him as to you. He is +satisfied however, that this man came to his death by his own hands. + +The King wishes you to adjust the palaver between the Commendas and +Elminas, as soon as convenient to you; that all the people who serve him +may be united, relying entirely on your justice. + +The King will thank you very much if you will make the people of Cape +Coast, Elmina, and Commenda “_all one together_.” + +The little palaver between these people, is the only one remaining; and +therefore, though it is not his, he wishes you to settle it. + +The King hereby, and by his messenger, empowers his nephew Adoo Bradie, +and the Captain Quantree, to receive the gold from the deputies of +Commenda in your presence. + +You must settle the compliments and fees, which the Commendas send to +the King’s linguists and captains. + +The King hopes you will advise the people of Amissa, through some +medium, to retract their insolent message to the King, that the whole of +the Fantee territory may be quiet. + +The King has condescended personally to solicit Mr. Bowdich to protract +his stay fifteen days, and obliged all his captains to the same +condescension, so that you will consider it the King’s act from the wish +to send him down with an honourable escort, and other marks of his +favour. + +The King wishes you health and happiness. + + The mark X of Saï Tootoo Quamina, &c. + + In the presence of + + WM. HUTCHISON. + + HENRY TEDLIE. + +A few only of the many curious observations of our Ashantee friends +recur to me. One captain told us he had heard that the English were so +constantly in palavers, one with another, that their houses, which he +understood to be made of wood, the same as their ships, were always +fixed on wheels; so that when a man had quarrelled with his neighbour, +he moved to another part of the bush. Another insisted that monkies +(whom the Moors said sprung from the Israelites, who disobeyed Moses) +could talk as well as men; but they were not such fools; for if they +did, they knew men would make them work.—This is better than Pliny’s +account of monkies playing chess. + +The King walked abroad in great state one day, an irresistible +caricature; he had on an old fashioned court suit of General Daendels’ +of brown velveteen, richly embroidered with silver thistles, with an +English epaulette sewn on each shoulder, the coat coming close round the +knees, from which the flaps of the waistcoat were not very distant, a +cocked hat bound with gold lace, in shape just like that of a +coachman’s, white shoes, the long silver headed cane we presented to +him, mounted with a crown, as a walking staff, and a small dirk round +his waist. + +The King presented one of our servants with six ackies of gold, for +making trowsers for his child, and mending him a pair of drawers, which +he thought it extravagant to put on under trowsers or small clothes, and +therefore wore them alone. + +I fixed a rude leaping bar in the outer yard of our house, and trained +the horse to it, preparatory to getting him over the trunks of trees on +the path: this brought even greater levees than the camera obscura, or +the telescope. Sometimes a gazer would start from the eye piece of the +latter, to lay hold of the figure at the end, as he expected; and they +all insisted on both being taken to pieces in their presence, that they +might see what was inside. At length, being inexplicable, it was +pronounced fetish. A captain had told the King, that with the telescope +we saw, when at Doompassie, all that he was doing at Coomassie: and +happening, in a sudden and heavy rain, to gallop from Asafoo to our +house, with Mr. Tedlie on the horse behind me, holding the umbrella, it +was immediately reported to the King as our plan of travelling to Cape +Coast. + +Our Accra linguist pointed out a man to me named Tando, whom he +recollected to have visited the Coast some years, in great pomp, never +going the shortest distance, but in his taffeta hammock, covered with a +gorgeous umbrella, and surrounded by flatterers, who even wiped the +ground before he trod on it. This man had now scarcely a cloth to cover +him. He had been retired from his embassy to Akim, in consequence of a +dispute with Attah, then the king of that country; for though Attah was +adjudged to be in fault, after the palaver was talked at Coomassie, the +Ashantee government thought it politic to displace Tando, though he had +become disagreeable to the other, only for his vigilance and fidelity. +After a long interval of the most luxurious life the capital could +afford, he was instructed to proceed to Elmina, to talk a palaver for +the King; but thinking it would be a coup d’éclat much more important +and agreeable, if he could settle the Warsaw palaver as well, he visited +the country on his return, and persuaded them to conciliate the King, +and avert their ruin, by carrying a considerable sum of gold to +Coomassie, and agreeing to pay twenty-four slaves for every Ashantee +subject killed or injured by one of Warsaw. Deputies returned with this +man for this purpose; but the King dismissed them contemptuously; and to +the disappointment and surprise of Tando, declared that no man must dare +to do good out of his own head, or perhaps he would find he did bad, as +Tando had done, in spoiling a palaver which he and his great men meant +to sleep a long time. Tando was immediately stripped of all his property +for his presumption, and from a noble became a beggar. + +The Moors now became friendly, and sent us some very good coffee, and +choice pieces of meat. + + * * * * * + + + _Coomassie, Sept. 8th_, 1817. + + JOHN HOPE SMITH, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR IN CHIEF, &c. &c. + + SIR, + +I HAVE the satisfaction to inform you, that the treaty was signed and +sworn to yesterday, by the King of Ashantee, and this day, by the King +of Dwabin. The whole of the caboceers, captains, and tributaries having +arrived, the treaty was finally discussed on Saturday, and two of the +four members of the Aristocracy, with the two oldest captains (Ashantee +and Nabbra) were deputed to swear for that assembly, with the King, +whose oaths (being very rare) are solemnized by the presence of his +wives. + +The King sent a handsome procession of flags, guns, and music, to +conduct us to the palace on the occasion; and meeting us in the outer +square, preceded us to the inmost, where about 300 females were seated, +in all the magnificence which a profusion of gold and silk could +furnish. The splendour of this coup d’oeil made our surprise almost +equal to theirs. We were seated with the King and the deputies, under +the large umbrellas in the centre, and I was desired to declare the +objects of the Embassy and the Treaty, to an old linguist, peculiar to +the women. The King displayed the presents to them; the flags were all +sewn together, and wrapped around him as a cloth. + +I was afterwards desired to stand before the King, and swear on my sword +that I had declared the truth: I did so, with the other officers. The +next form dictated was, that I should seat myself, and receive the oaths +of the deputies, and lastly, of the King himself, for his brother the +King of England. They advanced in turn, extending their gold swords +close to my face, as they declared their oaths. I rose to receive the +King’s, all the women holding up two fingers, as their mark of +approbation when he received the sword, and one of his counsellors +kneeling beside him with a large stone on his head. The King swore very +deliberately, that his words might be fully impressed on me, invoking +God and the fetish to kill him; first, if he did not keep the law, if we +had sworn true; and secondly, if he did not revenge the Ashantees to the +full, if we had bad in our heads, and did not come for the purpose I +avowed. The assurances, and the menaces of the oaths of the captains +were equally forcible. The King sent an anker of rum to our people to +drink on the occasion, and paid each captain the customary fee, of a +periguin of gold on his oath. + +The King having communicated my wish, by a formal message, to Boïtinnee +Quama, the King of Dwabin, who holds his temporary court on the north +side of the town, I seconded it, by sending the canes to request an +audience; at which I had again formally to declare the objects of the +Embassy and the Treaty, which, after a great deal of form and enquiry, +received his signature, with the attestations of his chief linguists, +Quama Saphoo, and Kobara Saphoo, who are his principal counsellors. His +court was equally crowded with the King of Ashantees, who sits on his +right hand when he visits Dwabin; a reciprocal etiquette. + +By an addition to the 4th article of the treaty, I reconciled the point +of the Amissa palaver; and the securing you the opportunity of +mediation, (without attaching any thing like responsibility) I +considered to be not only a precaution due to humanity, but a prudent +and legitimate measure for the extension of our influence. + +The value of this treaty is enhanced by the reflection, that the +justice, dignity, and spirit, of the British Government have been +preserved inviolate; and that it has been the result of the impression, +and not of the abatement of these characteristics. + +We are flattered by your acknowledgment of our offer to accompany the +King to the Buntooko war, and feel the force of your reason in the +present view of the invasion of that country. The lake proving to be +southward instead of northward, and close to the Accra path, I did not +think it prudent to aggravate suspicion, for so secondary and well +defined an object, whilst every day exacted some exertion (beyond +vigilance) to wear away the difficulties opposed to the more important +views of the Mission. + +I expect the King will permit me to take leave on Saturday next. To- +morrow Apokoo gives us a dinner in public. + + I am, with respect, Sir, + + your most obedient Servant, + + T. E. BOWDICH. + + * * * * * + +_Treaty made and entered into by_ THOMAS EDWARD BOWDICH, _Esquire, in +the name of the Governor and Council at Cape Coast Castle on the Gold +Coast of Africa, and on behalf of the British Government, with_ SAÏ +TOOTOO QUAMINA, _King of Ashantee and its Dependencies, and_ BOÏTINNEE +QUAMA, _King of Dwabin and its Dependencies._ + +1st. There shall be perpetual peace and harmony between the British +subjects in this country, and the subjects of the Kings of Ashantee and +Dwabin. + +2nd. The same shall exist between the subjects of the Kings of Ashantee +and Dwabin, and all nations of Africa residing under the protection of +the Company’s Forts and Settlements on the Gold Coast, and, it is hereby +agreed, that there are no palavers now existing, and that neither party +has any claim upon the other. + +3rd. The King of Ashantee guarantees the security of the people of Cape +Coast, from the hostilities threatened by the people of Elmina. + +4th. In order to avert the horrors of war, it is agreed, that in any +case of aggression on the part of the natives under British protection, +the Kings shall complain thereof to the Governor in Chief to obtain +redress, and that they will in no instance resort to hostilities, even +against the other towns of the Fantee territory, without endeavouring as +much as possible to effect an amicable arrangement, affording the +Governor the opportunity of propitiating it, as far as he may with +discretion. + +5th. The King of Ashantee agrees to permit a British officer to reside +constantly at his capital, for the purpose of instituting and preserving +a regular communication with the Governor in Chief at Cape Coast Castle. + +6th. The Kings of Ashantee and Dwabin pledge themselves to countenance, +promote, and encourage the trade of their subjects with Cape Coast +Castle and its dependencies to the extent of their power. + +7th. The Governors of the respective Forts shall at all times afford +every protection in their power to the persons and property of the +people of Ashantee and Dwabin, who may resort to the water side. + +8th. The Governor in Chief reserves to himself the right of punishing +any subject of Ashantee or Dwabin guilty of secondary offences, but in +case of any crime of magnitude, he will send the offender to the Kings, +to be dealt with according to the laws of his country. + +9th. The Kings agree to commit their children to the care of the +Governor in Chief, for education, at Cape Coast Castle, in the full +confidence of the good intentions of the British government, and of the +benefits to be derived therefrom. + +10th. The Kings promise to direct diligent inquiries to be made +respecting the officers attached to the Mission of Major John Peddie, +and Captain Thomas Campbell; and to influence and oblige the +neighbouring kingdoms and their tributaries, to befriend them as the +subjects of the British government. + +Signed and sealed at Coomassie, this seventh day of September, in the +year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen. + + The mark of SAÏ TOOTOO QUAMINA X (L. S.) + + The mark of BOÏTINNEE QUAMA X (L. S.) + + THOMAS EDWARD BOWDICH. (L. S.) + + In the presence of + +WILLIAM HUTCHISON, Resident. + +HENRY TEDLIE, Assistant Surgeon. + + The mark of APOKOO X } + } + ODUMATA X } Deputed from the General Assembly of caboceers + } and captains to swear with the King. + NABBRA X } + } + ASHANTEE X } + + KABRA SAPHOO X } + } Linguists to the King of Dwabin. + QUAMINA SAPHOO X } + + QUASHEE APAINTREE X Accra Linguist. + + QUASHEE TOM X } + } Cape Coast Linguists. + QUAMINA QUATCHEE X } + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: This _is to make known that Major John Peddie, Capt. +Thos. Campbell, and Surgeon Willm. Cowdry, have been employed by the +British Government to proceed from Senegal into the interior of Africa, +to trace the course of the River Niger; and to obtain such information +respecting the Countries through which they pass, as may be useful in +the extension and improvement of Commerce which is the object of the +British Government in sending those persons to Africa; and that any +Person who may happen to meet with those Gentlemen, and shall be the +Bearer of a Letter to the Governor of CAPE COAST CASTLE on the Gold +Coast, from either of them, shall receive five Ounces of Gold, and be +liberally rewarded for any Service or Act of kindness which it may +appear by such Letter may have been rendered to either of them._ + +_Witness my hand at Coomasie the Capital of the Kingdom of Ashantee the +30th. day of July 1817_ + +_Wm. Hutchinson Resident_ + +_T. E. Bowdich Conductor of the Mission from Cape Coast Castle_] + +We were present at the trial of Appia Nanu, who had accompanied his +brother Appia Danqua in the last invasion of Fantee, and was ordered by +the King, on his death, to take the command of the army, and prosecute +the campaign. In the irritation of the moment, he exclaimed, before the +royal messengers, that though the King did not prevent him from +succeeding to the stool, and the honours of his brother, he kept back +all the rock gold which belonged to the inheritance, and desired to wear +him out in the pursuit of the revolters, to prevent his claim and +enjoyment of the property of his family. From this time he was very +inactive, and became suspected of cowardice; however, having succeeded +in getting the head of one of the revolters, he returned to Coomassie; +where he was coolly received, but not accused until the 8th of July. The +witnesses were the messengers the King had sent to him, who had been +concealed in a distant part of the frontier ever since, that Appia Nanu, +believing the general report of their death, might be the more +confounded when they burst upon him at the moment of his denial of the +charge. He was deprived of his stool and the whole of his property, but +permitted to retire with three wives and ten slaves; the King hearing +the next day that he still loitered in the capital, exclaimed, that no +proper man would bear so much shame before all the people, rather than +leave his home, and ordered only one wife to be left to him, whereupon +Appia Nanu hung himself. The King considers, that none but the basest +spirits can endure life after severe disgrace. + +The Moors celebrated the feast of Ramadan in this month: there was +nothing curious in this ceremony. Men and women were dressed in their +richest suits, and seated on large skins before their houses, for they +occupy one street exclusively. They rose occasionally in small troops, +made short circuits in different directions, saluted each other, and +then sat down again. In the evening, the superiors exchanged visits at +their houses; the one visited always accompanied the other some distance +along the street on his way, where they exchanged blessings, and parted. +The slaves who carried their small umbrella’s over their heads, seemed +thoroughly jaded by this incessant parading. + +The King regretted in one of his visits about this time, that they were +not more frequent; he said, our conversation entertained him more than +any thing else, because it told him of so many things black men never +heard of, but when he wished to see us on that account, his great men +checked him, and said, it did not become him as a great King to want us, +but that he should only send his compliments, see us, and make us wait a +long time when he sent for us to the palace. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + * * * * * + + _Proceedings and Incidents until the completion of the Mission and its + return to Cape Coast Castle._ + + +On the 11th of September I received the Governor’s reply to my letter of +the 10th of August. + + + _Cape Coast Castle, August 25_, 1817. + + T. E. BOWDICH, ESQ. + + SIR, + +I HAVE received your letter of the 10th instant. The boy and girl shall +be disposed of under the protection of the Government here, agreeable to +the King’s wishes. + +The messenger (Ocranameah) has grossly misrepresented to the King, the +reception he met with at Cape Coast; he was treated with the greatest +civility during his stay, and on leaving, expressed himself gratified by +the attention which had been shewn him. + +For the King’s satisfaction, I have subjoined a list of the articles I +made him a present of;[13] the three first which I gave him, on taking +leave, will, when produced, convince him how much he has been deceived, +and prove to him, that his recommendation of the messenger was not +unattended to. + +The Buntooko war, I consider a mere pretext for getting rid of the +Resident; it cannot be the true motive: to oppose however, any +disinclination to the measure, either on the part of the King or his +principal men, would be entirely useless; the aversion to it has no +doubt originated in the latter, with whom, under the present order of +things, the Resident would be very unpopular; consequently unsafe. The +eager desire which the King has manifested for enquiring into every +trivial occurrence, is another cause of its being objectionable. The +residence of a British officer would afford him the opportunity, not +only of doing this, but of making demands which he might otherwise not +have thought of. These and other circumstances, which were entirely +unforeseen, have materially altered my opinion in regard to the +Residency, which is certainly not so desirable as I before considered +it. You will therefore, on your return, bring Mr. Hutchison with you. + +I am not aware of any Ashantees having introduced themselves here, but +such as were duly authorised by the King; you will however inform him, +that none will be attended to unless they bear his cane. + +As Mr. Hutchison is to return, it will be a most important point that +you bring down two of the King’s sons for education, and I am very +solicitous that you should accomplish this object if possible. + +The Commenda palaver being terminated, there will be nothing to detain +you longer at Ashantee. Your returning by way of Warsaw will be +desirable, and I hope the King will not object to your so doing. + + I am, Sir, + + your most obedient Servant, + + JOHN HOPE SMITH. + + + _Coomassie, Sept. 16_, 1817. + + JOHN HOPE SMITH, ESQ. GOVERNOR IN CHIEF, &c. &c. &c. + + SIR, + +I DID not receive your letter of the 25th of August, until the 11th +instant, four days after I had advised you of the execution of the +treaty. I considered it my duty to acquaint you of every variation in +the prospects of the Embassy, although, even when communicating the +discouraging circumstances of my letter of the 10th ult. I could not +abate my hopes, or allow doubt to sicken my exertions. I valued on the +reflection, that I had not been heard before the King in vindication of +the Residency; the motives of which I knew to have been grossly +misrepresented by our natural enemies the Moors, to whose arts the +suspicion of the natives have been suitably auxiliary. My confidence was +justified by the favourable impression the King and the Government +manifested, when the subject was publicly advocated; since which I have +never heard of an objection to it: it has indeed, become a favourite +measure with the superior captains, who, as far as may be judged from +the respect and deference with which they have treated us from that +time, seem not only to have been conciliated, but won by the recent +circumstances of the negotiation. The terms of the treaty, by exceeding +your expectations, will compensate for the accumulation of difficulties +which have been opposed to us. We are taught to believe that no law has +ever been enacted in this kingdom with equal solemnity, or an oath, so +serious, been before submitted to by the King, or imposed on the +captains. Had the treaty disappointed, instead of exceeded our +expectations, I must have viewed it as inviolable, and submitted myself +to your candour; which I would now, and justify myself by answering the +reasonable apprehensions which have recently affected your opinion of +the Residency, rather than by the plea that the treaty was executed +before I received them. + +If I had been convinced that it was dislike, and not suspicion, which +actuated the opposition to the Residency, I should not only have +considered it imprudent, but derogatory, to have persevered in the view; +but, sensible that it was the latter, (from the evidence of the King’s +deportment, and the knowledge of the intrigue and calumny excited +against us,) I felt the greater anxiety for its accomplishment; since, +to have yielded to suspicion, without every labour to eradicate it, +would have been to have excluded ourselves from the kingdom hereafter. + +If the King had been actuated, individually, by the desire of detecting +the frauds of his messengers, I should have viewed the measure as +pernicious; but the Government itself having anxiously recommended it, +for the sake of their own interest, (Fort pay, and purchases from the +treasury being always divided amongst the superior captains) I +considered it harmless; and not solely from the power of its advocates, +but also from the impotence of the royal messengers in state affairs, +being generally attendants on the King, and therefore jealously watched +by the other parts of the Government. This desire has only been +addressed to me in two instances, both of which I think justified it: +first, respecting the fort pay; it having been since proved, and +confessed, that, out of 62 oz. paid at Christiansburg Castle in 1816 and +17, the Ashantee Government has been defrauded of 23 oz. by the +messenger: and secondly, respecting the goods purchased by Ocranameah, +where the fraud could not escape notice. Such peculations have probably, +in the first case, given rise to doubts of our honour; and in the +latter, have certainly proved a prejudice to the trade. On the occasion +of Ocranameah’s baseness, I myself requested the King to allow me to +address you for the particulars of his treatment; and if you consider +the mischievous influence of the report, the fatality of the impression +that the King’s Embassy had been subjected to contempt, whilst we had +been treated with generosity and respect, you will admit that the +disproof was imperious on me: he has been disgraced, and owes his safety +to my intercession. Nothing but the most decisive conduct can arrest +villainy here. The reports of Adoo Bradie have been highly flattering. +The King will certainly have a better opportunity of making demands from +the residence of a British officer; neither can I lessen the probability +further than by my opinion, which though only indulgent of the people in +general, is certainly favourable of the honour of the King, and the +superior captains. The advantages and prospects of our preserving our +footing by a Residency, have been too fully suggested by your +experience, to require my dwelling on them. + +I will proceed to acquaint you of the circumstances subsequent to my +receipt of your letter, one of which had nearly been serious. After the +settlement of the Commenda palaver, the King requested me to wait 10 +days, which were afterwards extended to 15, as you were advised in his +letter of the 31st ult. This time expired on Saturday last, but the King +said then that we must not go until Monday. Accordingly, on that day, I +delivered Mr. Hutchison written instructions (a copy of which I enclose) +and sent several messages to the King to remind him of his promise. We +were not sent for until six o’clock in the evening, when the King said +he could not let me go then, nor before he had time to send me away +properly. This I considered to be the mere affectation of state; I +pleaded that your orders were binding, and that it was insulting to you, +as well as dangerous to me, to prevent my respect of them, now every +thing like business was settled. The King said he would only ask me to +stop until Wednesday. I replied, that if he would give me his hand, and +promise that I should go then, I would wait. No! he could not, but he +would promise me for the Monday following. I saw that yielding to this +would subject me to an indefinite delay. I told the King that I should +be obliged to go, though unwillingly, without his approbation, and that +not only my duty but his promise justified me. I had only to ask him if +he still wished me to leave Mr. Hutchison? All the reply I could get +was, that I might break the Law if I thought proper. I told them the Law +would never be broken by an English officer, but still, if they were +sorry that they had sworn to the Law, I would send for it and tear it in +pieces before them; we did not make laws from fear. No! they liked the +Law, and could not break it, but I might if I chose. I repeated my +willingness to stay till Wednesday; the promise could only be given for +the Monday: the King and the council retired abruptly. I followed them, +told them I was obliged to be determined, and begged the King to shew +his respect for you, and the friendship he had condescended to profess +for myself, by considering your orders; this was construed as +indecision; and Monday, or when the King has time, was the reply. I +thanked him formally for all his kindnesses, told him I must go, and +retired. It was necessary, at least, to make the attempt, although it +was then eight o’clock. I left all the luggage in the charge of Mr. +Hutchison, except two portmanteaus, the sextant, and the box containing +my papers. We had scarcely proceeded fifty yards before the gong-gongs +and drums were beat all around us, and we were attacked by a crowd of +swords and muskets, headed by our house master Aboïdwee, who in the +first rush seized the luggage and the flag. I felt myself compelled to +attempt to regain the flag; and the value of my papers, and the impolicy +of being intimidated by the outrage, were also considerations. I begged +the officers not to draw their swords till the last moment, and taking +the muskets, the butt ends of which cleared our way to the luggage, we +fastened on it, with the soldiers, artisans, and our servants, who +supported us vigorously. The Ashantees did not attempt to fire, but +attacked us only with their heavy swords and large stones. We kept our +ground nearly a quarter of an hour, though our belts and caps were torn +away, and we frequently fell. At this time, Mr. Tedlie (who had regained +his sword, which had been torn from his side) was stunned by a blow on +the head, and as all were much bruised, and some of the people cut, I +contented myself with the recovery of the flag, the sextant, and the +papers, and we retired slowly to the house, not expecting they would +follow us; but they did so, with a fury which led me to believe they +intended our destruction. We posted ourselves in the door-way, and I +immediately dispatched the canes by a back way to the King, to tell him +we had not yet drawn our swords, but we must do so unless he rescued us +immediately. The tumult did not allow expostulation, we had no +alternative but to defend ourselves, which the narrow passage favoured. +The captain, Aboïdwee, who was quite mad with fury and liquor, made a +cut at me as I held him from me, which would have been fatal but for the +presence of mind of one of the soldiers, through which it only grazed my +face. We were soon rescued by the presence of Adoocee, the chief +linguist, and Yokokroko, the King’s chamberlain, with their retinues. +Nothing could exceed their servility, they offered to swear the King was +not privy to the outrage, ordered Aboïdwee before them, and threatened +him with the loss of his head. I told them I knew the King’s controul, +and was not to be treated as a fool; he had forcibly detained us as +prisoners, and must take the consequences; I should say no more. They +continued their professions and entreaties upwards of an hour, and did +all they could by their menaces to Aboïdwee, and their deference to the +evidence of our people, to convince me of their discountenance of the +outrage. I divided the people into watches for the night. + +By day light the next morning all our luggage was returned, I refused to +receive it. Yokokroko and Adoo Quamina then sent to say they waited +below until we had done breakfast; a long palaver succeeded, of the same +tenour as that of the preceding night. About 11 o’clock, the linguists, +Adoocee, Otee, and Quancum; Yokokroko, and a crowd of captains came from +the King with a present of 20 ackies, two flasks of liquor, and a large +hog. I asked them if they came to put more shame on my face, by bribing +me to settle the great palaver they had made the night before with the +King of England. They flattered and menaced by turns to make me take it, +and urged, that to refuse the King’s present was to declare war. I +persisted in refusing every thing short of an interview with the King. +The Cape Coast messengers, impelled by their apprehensions and their +avarice, had the temerity to declare at this moment, that you had sent +them as a check upon me, and that they knew I was not doing as you +wished in talking so to the King, and that you would make a palaver with +me for not waiting the King’s pleasure. It was necessary to annihilate +the impression of such language immediately. I deprived them of their +canes, and threatened to put them in irons. The King not long after sent +his eunuch and followers to conduct us to the palace, where he had +assembled the superior captains. We went in plain clothes, alleging that +we dared not wear our uniforms as prisoners. The King said, I must not +say that; he was my good friend, and would do me right; he did not think +I would have tried to go without his leave, and never meant his people +to fight with us, he would give me the heads of all those who led them +on, and beg me himself for the rest, as I begged him for Quamina +Bootaqua; he never begged any body before; he did not send the gold, as +I thought, he sent it to pay for any thing the people had spoiled, and +meant to do us right all the same; it would break his heart if the King +of England heard he had used his officers ill, and if I liked him, I +must settle the palaver easy. + +Of course I would not hear of any heads being cut off, though they all +pressed it repeatedly, and doubtless would not have regarded sacrificing +a few inferior captains to varnish their allegation; yet, I must +declare, it is my firm opinion, and it is supported by the evidence of +our private friends, that the King and his principal men merely intended +Aboïdwee to stop us, by placing his numbers before us and pleading the +King’s orders, not dreaming of any outrage, or that the impetuosity of +this man, irritated by the loss of his retainer at Cape Coast,[14] would +hurry him to order his soldiers to assault us: he has not an atom of +influence; but the King selected him as a near relative of his own, to +succeed to Bakkee’s stool, to which 1700 men are attached: the King +repeatedly offered me his head. To resume, the King requested us to +drink with him, and then to shake hands, begged us to resume our +uniforms, and ordered his own people to attend us at our house. I +renewed the subject of our departure. The King said this was a bad week, +and he did not like us to go in it, he would thank me very much to stay +till Monday, and then he could get a proper present ready. Sunday too +was the Adaï custom, and then I must put Mr. Hutchison’s hand in +Adoocee’s, and Adoocee place it in his, and he would promise to take +proper care of him before all the captains. Odumata and Adoocee came +forward to give me their hands, as a pledge of their responsibility. I +said I could receive no one’s hand but the King’s on such an occasion, +but I ordered Quashie Apaintree to do so, and it was sworn to. The King +then said Adoocee had told him the Cape Coast messengers had tried to +put shame on my face—he was very angry with them—they ought to know God +made white man’s head better than black man’s, and they must come before +him, and put my foot on their heads. I told him, I could not let any one +do so, but I sent for their canes, and entrusted them to them again, +with a suitable reprimand. The King then begged me to receive his +present, which I did, giving the people the hog and liquor, they had +received another on the Friday before, which the King sent me, with 39 +yams. + +I have observed that the Government’s anxiety for the force of the +Treaty, and for the Residency, has heightened in proportion to the +indifference I have affected. I consider the affair of yesterday to have +perfected the impression of our spirit. I certainly would not think of +leaving any but an officer of the most considerate conduct as a +Resident, and, I believe, Mr. Hutchison, by tempering his spirit with +judgment, may safely realize the objects of the situation; if, however, +on my return, you consider I have left him in a precarious situation, I +volunteer my services to replace him, and deliberately to retire the +Residency. + +It occurs to me, the Amissa palaver may possibly be the design of this +interval, if it should, you may rely on my remaining resolute on the +subject. + + I am, &c. + + (Signed) T. EDWARD BOWDICH. + + + _Coomassie, Sept._ 1817. + + _To_ WILLIAM HUTCHISON, _Esquire, British Resident._ + + SIR, + +I AM directed by the Governor in Chief to leave you written instructions +for your future government. + +The conviction of the honour and justice of our public negotiations, +having procured us a footing in opposition to the arts which have been +practised upon the suspicion of the natives, your conduct is looked to, +with confidence, to support it, by originating an opinion of our moral +character, equally auspicious to the benevolent views of the British +Government. The simplicity of our religion, tolerating the calumny of +the Moors, that we are destitute of any, you will have the satisfaction +of perfecting the confutation, by a regular retirement to its duties, +and by the practice of that benevolence and forbearance, equally +congenial to the policy prescribed to us. + +It would be premature, as well as dangerous, to direct any other than +the tacit reproof of your own conduct and sentiments, to the cruelties +consecrated by the superstitions of the Ashantees; you must be content +to avoid the countenance of them by your presence, by adhering to the +plea of the repugnance of your religion. This conduct, associated with a +humanity always inclining you to induce mercy, whenever the offence, or +prudence, may admit of an interference, will propitiate your own wishes, +and the expectations of the Government. + +The friendship and respect which the King, and the superior captains +have manifested, will not only be preserved, but strengthened, by a +dignified deportment, and a considerate use of the private intercourse +these feelings have established; and you will cultivate the frequent +opportunities of instilling into their minds, that education originated +the pre-eminence of Europeans; and that peace is most auspicious to the +greatness of a Nation, directing all its powers to commerce and the +arts, and thereby founding its superior comfort, prosperity, and +embellishment. The power and resources of your own country should be +quoted to illustrate this truth; and you will impress that it is the +experience of it, which has imposed the benevolent anxiety of the +British Government, to improve the condition of the people of Africa, +through the legitimate medium of commerce. This impression you will +extend, deliberately, to the visitors from other kingdoms, particularly +to those from the Sarem and Mallowa countries. + +In encouraging the trade with the Coast, your measures must disprove any +view but that of a fair competition; and your vigilance of the British +interests must be distinct from any thing like jealousy, suspicion, or +intermeddling: you will act as the advocate of the views of Europe, but +not allow any interference to be imposed on you, without the sanction of +the Governor in Chief, whose letters will be, exclusively, attended to, +and to whom you will candidly communicate any circumstance or +reflection, affecting our new connection. + +You will repress, rather than encourage the disposition of the King and +the Council, to detect imposition through your assistance, by confining +your justifications, as much as possible, to public transactions; for +although the Government is gratified by it, it may tend to make the +Residency unpopular. + +I enclose you a copy of the Treaty, and particularly direct your +attention to the 4th article, which authorizes you to submit to every +thing like a mediation, separable from responsibility, to the discussion +of the Governor in Chief, for the sake of peace and humanity; but you +will do this, invariably, with diffidence; without betraying any +sanguine expectations. + +You will be more sensible to insult than injury; and the most politic +conduct will be, to declare that the British Government exacts from all +its officers, on pain of disgrace, a firm repulse of the former; and +that they dare not admit the influence of their private feelings, as in +the latter case. + +I leave you in possession of the esteem of the King, and the friendship +of the superior Captains, and with every thing favourable to the objects +of the Residency; but, should any caprice in the Government make you +invidious to any thing like a party, or diminish their respect, you will +immediately address the Governor in Chief, who will order your presence +at Head Quarters. Another important consideration will be your health; +also the character of the captain who may be left in charge of the +capital, should the King go himself to the Buntooko war. Your personal +safety is out of the question at present, but should the least doubt +arise in your own mind hereafter, you must consult the Governor’s +solicitude, rather than your own spirit. + +You see the necessity of keeping in with the Moors; the flattering their +intelligence is most conducive to this, and also elicits valuable +information. + +I shall afford you a perusal of the dispatch of the Committee, and the +instructions of the Governor in Chief, to perfect the present. + +I have directed Mr. Tedlie to leave you a supply of medicines, and you +will take charge of the Resident’s flag. + + I am, Sir, + + your most obedient Servant, + + (Signed) T. EDWARD BOWDICH. + +Baba had a great number of Arabic manuscripts; I have preserved a leaf +finely illuminated. Apokoo astonished us by offering to lend us some +books to read; he shewed us two French volumes on geography, a Dutch +bible, a volume of the Spectator, and a Dissuasion from Popery, 1620. It +was gratifying to recollect that this chief, now become so much attached +to us, was the man mentioned in our early dispatches as snatching Mr. +Tedlie’s sword from him, on the declaration of war, to make his oath +against us the more inveterate. Telling the King one day that Mr. +Hutchison’s and Mr. Tedlie’s countries, Scotland and Ireland, were +formerly distinct from mine, he begged directly to hear specimens of the +different languages, and was reluctantly persuaded that it was the +policy of England to get rid of all national distinctions between her +subjects. Apokoo was very fond of scribbling, and with a smile +frequently begged to know what he had written. They could not comprehend +how any hieroglyphic that was not a picture, could express an object. My +name, said the King, is not like me. He was rather uneasy at my +sketching; the Moors, he hinted, had insinuated that I could place a +spell on the buildings I drew. I told him, without drawings, the people +in England could not be convinced that I had visited him; he appeared +satisfied, and begged to be drawn handsome. + +There are only four direct descendants now living of the noble families +which accompanied the emigration of Saï Tootoo, the founder of the +Ashantee monarchy; none of them are wealthy, and Assaphi, who is one, is +a beggar, wandering in the bush, having been disgraced from the highest +favour, for the following fraud. An old linguist of the former King’s +(Saï Quamina) having died at a distant croom, the King, according to +custom, sent Assaphi with four periguins of gold, and a quantity of +expensive cloths and mats to bury him; Assaphi kept the gold, and +substituted inferior cloths of his own. The wife urged the great and +zealous services of her husband to Saï Quamina, and her indignation at +such a mean acknowledgment as the King had sent. Assaphi returned, +reported her gratitude, and that every thing had been handsomely done, +to the credit of the King. The wife privately dug up the cloths buried +with the corpse, and suspecting the fraud, secretly conveyed them to the +King, with a full account. The King sent for Assaphi and again enquiring +the particulars, with seeming indifference, suddenly required him to +swear to the truth, which he advanced to do, when the King said no! you +must not swear, and the woman was immediately discovered to him with all +the cloths. He then confessed the particulars, was stripped of every +thing, and is now the more despised for not killing himself; and the +King could not put him to death, as the direct descendant of one of Saï +Tootoo’s peers. Part of the King’s reproach to him was curious: “my +brother’s linguist did him great good, so when he and my brother, who +now live with God, make God recollect all, and tell him the shame you +put on him for me, in so burying him, God will kill me.” + +A man and a woman were beheaded on the 17th of this month, for an +intrigue: the woman was very handsome, and the wife of a captain: on +their being suspected, both were ordered to drink doom, which choking +them, they were immediately executed. The King’s sister sent for Mr. +Tedlie to go and see her, he enquired into her complaint and recommended +some medicine, which she very thankfully agreed to take; he prepared +some for her, and went to give her the proper directions; upon which, +she handed the cup to her husband, who beginning to swallow it very +fast, Mr. Tedlie stopped him, and said he had only prepared sufficient +for one person; the lady replied, “let him drink this to day, and I can +have more to-morrow;” he told her that he had very little medicine, and +could not afford to give it to people that were in good health: she did +not appear pleased with this reasoning. A man of Assiminia, who had +received medicine and advice from Mr. Tedlie on our march up, sent him a +third present about this time, of fruit, vegetables, and wild deer, with +the account that he was quite well. + +Apokoo enquired very anxiously, why the King of England had not sent one +of his sons with the presents to the King of Ashantee. He said he had +himself conquered five nations, during the present and the preceding +reign, and he named twenty one nations which now paid tribute to +Ashantee; but he added, there were three countries which would not; two +eastward, and one to the north-west; each of those eastward had defeated +the Ashantees; the one north-westward, on the King sending for tribute, +desired that he would come and take it, and afterwards entirely +destroyed an Ashantee army. + + * * * * * + + + _Akrofroom, Sept. 26_, 1817. + + JOHN HOPE SMITH, ESQ. GOVERNOR IN CHIEF, &c. &c. &c. + + SIR, + +THE King only availed himself of our detention to introduce us to fresh +ceremonies, and to augment the testimonies of his friendship. The Amissa +palaver was not attempted, and nothing like design has disclosed itself. + +On the Monday there was a general assembly of the caboceers and +captains, the King of Dwabin being present, with his linguists, also +several Dagwumba caboceers, and the Moorish dignitaries. The King +announced the execution of the Treaty by himself and the deputies, and +impressed, in a long speech through his linguists, that he would visit +the least offence against it with the greatest severity. I was then +requested to read it for the last time, and the King’s duplicate was +executed in a similar manner. + +In the evening, the King gave us our last audience before all his +superior captains: a letter was dictated, which I shall present to you +on my arrival; and Adoocee, the chief linguist, was formally deputed to +receive Mr. Hutchison’s hand from me, and to place it in the King’s, who +received it with a solemn avowal of his responsibility for the charge. +The linguist then presented from the King, + +To the Government, four boys for education. + +To the British Museum, six specimens of the goldsmith’s work. (I had +interested the King, by my account of this national repository.) + +To the Governor in Chief, one boy, one girl, to be brought up in his +service. + +To Mr. Bowdich, one boy, one girl, and 2 oz. 6 ac. of gold. + + Mr. Tedlie, one boy, and 1 oz. 4 ac. of gold. + + Accra linguist, one cloth, 10 ditto. + + Cape Coast linguists, two cloths, 10 ditto. + + De Graaff’s messenger, 10 ditto. + + The officers servants, 10 ditto. + + The soldiers, 10 ditto. + +I afterwards received a Sarem cloth and some trifles as a further dash +from Apokoo; one sheep, &c. &c. from Baba the chief of the Moors; and 15 +ackies of gold from the King’s linguists, with their acknowledgments of +my firmness during the negotiation. + +The King having a palaver at present with the Warsaws, objected so +strongly to our returning through their territory, that after one or two +attempts to over-rule his apprehensions, I found it would be imprudent +to persevere in the wish, although the disappointment was great; the +King assured me the Warsaw path was two days longer, and that he will +not spare any labour on that of Assin directly after the war. I had +permission to go some miles on the Warsaw path, to convince myself of +its neglected condition. + +The King’s favorite son (a child about five years old) whom he had +dressed in our uniform for the occasion, was so alarmed at the idea of +being given over to us, that the King’s feelings obliged him to promise +me that he would send the children after me; he is too jealous of the +advantages to allow those of his great men to participate, until his own +family are first distinguished by them. + +The King supplied me with bearers, and pressed me to take six hammock +men in case of sickness; he would not hear of pay for any, and persisted +in appointing one of his captains to take care of us. He yielded the +point of an escort reluctantly, which I had combated from the +consideration of the expense of a present to such a number. The King +requested me on taking leave, to wait a short time until his captains +had distributed the powder to salute as on our departure, and it being +then dark, to proceed no further than a small croom just beyond the +marsh, where the people should join us in the morning. The King and his +captains were seated by torch light with all their insignia, without the +palace, and we quitted the capital, preceded by the King’s banners, +discharges of musketry, and every flattering distinction that could be +thought of. + +The King has provided one of the best houses for Mr. Hutchison, very +superior to any we could have raised at so short a notice, and has +anticipated every thing to make him comfortable, and respected; nothing +could be more considerate or kind, than his speech to him on my taking +leave. + +A messenger of the King of Dwabin’s accompanies me for a suit of our +uniform for the King’s wear, which I could not refuse. + + I am, &c. &c. + + (Signed) T. EDWARD BOWDICH. + + + _Coomassie, September 22_, 1817. + + SAÏ TOOTOO QUAMINA, _King of Ashantee, &c. to_ JOHN HOPE SMITH, + _Esquire, Governor in Chief, &c. &c. &c._ + + SIR, + +WE are from this time forth good friends, and I shall send all the trade +I can to Cape Coast Castle, and I hope that you will by and by have +confidence in my word. + +I beg you will send my best compliments to the King of England, and +accept them yourself, in proof of my satisfaction of the purposes of the +Embassy, and its happy termination. + +You will call all the Fantee caboceers before you, and impress the +importance of the Treaty, and exact their respect of it, as I have from +all my great men and caboceers. + +I hope you will always act towards me as a friend, and I shall always be +ready to protect and support the British interests. + +I wish you health and happiness, and all my captains send their best +compliments to you. + + I am, Sir, + + your sincere friend, + + The mark X of Saï Tootoo Quamina. + + Present, + +W. HUTCHISON. + +HENRY TEDLIE. + +I will thank you to impress on the King of England that I have sworn not +to renew the war with the Fantees, out of respect to him, and I shall +consider them as his people. I hope therefore he will, in turn, consider +if he cannot renew the Slave Trade, which will be good for me. + +I hope the King of England will now let all foreign vessels come to the +coast to trade, and you must say that the path is now clear to do as +much English trade as your supplies will allow. + + * * * * * + + The following letter was sent after me, to Doompassie. + + + _Coomassie, 23d September_, 1817. + + JOHN HOPE SMITH, ESQ. GOVERNOR IN CHIEF, &c. &c. &c. + + SIR, + +THE King of Ashantee desires me to request you will write to all the +Governors of English forts, on the African coast, to order the caboceers +of each town, to send a proper person to Cape Coast, and that you will +add one messenger yourself; that they may all proceed to Coomassie to +take the King’s fetish in his presence, that none may plead ignorance of +the Treaty concluded between his Majesty and the British nation. + +The King wishes me to express, that he is fully satisfied with the +objects of the Mission, and that the Treaty may be read by me to all the +Fantee deputies you may send for that purpose. + + I am, &c. &c. + + (Signed) W. HUTCHISON. + + * * * * * + +My last private letters from Cape Coast Castle had imposed the most +painful anxiety; the two lives naturally beyond all others the dearest +to me, were imminently endangered by the seasoning illness of the +country; one yielded to it before I could arrive, yet, under all the +impatience of my affliction, I must confess, when I took the King’s hand +for the last time, when I reflected on the benevolence, the solicitude, +and the generosity I had experienced whilst my life was in his hands, +affected by the most untoward and irritating political circumstances, by +the aggravated suspicions of his chiefs, and by the poisonous jealousy +of the Moors, there was a painful gratification in the retrospect, which +blended the wish to linger another hour in listening to acknowledgments +of esteem and obligation, more affecting than flattering, and enhanced +by the consoling reflection, that they were the natural emotions of one +of those monarchs we are pleased to call barbarians. Night was coming +on, but as I had so positively declared before the King and his council, +on the former occasion, that nothing should deter me from keeping my +word in quitting Coomassie on this day, it would not do to delay even +until the morning. A strict observance of your word, is every thing in +the eye of a Negro. The King said, he would not beg me to stay, as I had +declared I dared not; he would only ask me to go no further than Ogogoo, +that night, and his people should join me early in the morning. Our exit +was a brilliant scene, from the reflection of the glittering ornaments +of the King and his captains by the torches; they were seated in a deep +and long line, without the palace, accompanied by their retinues; all +their bands burst forth together, as we saluted the King in passing, and +we were enveloped in the smoke of the musketry. The darkness of the +forest was an instantaneous and awful contrast, and the howlings and +screeches of the wild beasts, startled us as we groped our way, as if we +had never heard them before. The torches provided for our protection +against them were extinguished in crossing the marsh, which had swollen +to between four and five feet deep, and the descent to it from Coomassie +was rocky and abrupt. The linguists and soldiers lost themselves in the +forest, and did not arrive at Ogogoo until long after Mr. Tedlie and +myself. The inhabitants were asleep, but they rose cheerfully, cleared +the best house for us, and made fires. The next morning I received the +dash of gold from the King’s linguists, in a Mallowa bag, with a long +compliment; the conclusion of which was, that I must always be ready to +use the same spirit and address, in talking a palaver for the King of +Ashantee, as I had shewn in talking that of my own King. This testimony +of their good feeling and esteem, which they could not avow whilst we +were political antagonists, was grateful. + +Marching through Sarrasoo, where we were liberally refreshed with palm +wine, we halted in the evening at Assiminia. We were received with great +hospitality by the principal man, who provided us with excellent +lodging, to his own inconvenience, and presented us with some fowls. The +path was almost a continued bog, for the rainy season had set in +violently. The next day we marched through Dadasey to Doompassie, and +occupied our former comfortable dwelling. One party spent the night in +the woods. Thursday morning, the 6th, we had a short but most fatiguing +march over the mountains dividing the frontiers, to Moisee, the first +Assin town. The difficulty of procuring provisions until the people +returned from the plantations, detained us in Moisee until four o’clock +in the evening. As the stage from Doompassie had been short, (although +fatiguing) I determined to proceed to Akrofroom, as we should gain a day +by it. The Ashantees remonstrated, knowing the swollen state of the +several small rivers, and the aggravated difficulties of the path from +the heavy rain; but I was so apprehensive of being detained, by their +pleading their superstitious observance of good and bad days for +travelling, that I was afraid of seeming to yield to them, lest it might +encourage the disposition. I recommended them to go back, and started +without them, but they were soon at my heels, declaring, they should +lose their heads if they quitted us. Mr. Tedlie, myself, a soldier, and +the Ashantee next in authority under the captain, outwalked the rest of +the party, and found ourselves out of their hearing when it grew dark. +We lost some time in trying to make torches to keep off the beasts, and +to direct us in the right track, for we were walking through a continued +bog, and had long before lost our shoes. A violent tornado ushered in +the night, we could not hear each other holla, and were soon separated; +luckily I found I had one person left with me (the Ashantee) who, after +I had groped him out, tying his cloth tight round his middle, gave me +the other end, and thus plunged along, pulling me after him, through +bogs and rivers, exactly like an owl tied to a duck in a pond. The +thunder, the darkness, and the howlings of the wild beasts were awful, +but the loud and continuing crash of a large tree, which fell very near +us during the storm, was even more so to my ear. The Ashantee had +dragged me along, or rather through, in this manner until I judged it to +be midnight, when, quite exhausted, with the remnants of my clothes +scarcely hanging together, I let go his cloth, and falling on the +ground, was asleep before I could call out to him. I was awoke by this +faithful guide, who had felt me out, and seated me on the trunk of a +tree, with my head resting on his shoulder; he gave me to understand I +must die if I sat there, and we pursued the duck and owl method once +more. In an hour we forded the last river, which had swollen +considerably above my chin, and spread to a great width. This last +labour I considered final, and my drowsiness became so fascinating, that +it seemed to beguile me of every painful thought and apprehension, and +the yielding to it was an exquisite, though momentary pleasure. I +presume I must have slept above an hour, lifted by this humane man from +the bank of the river to a drier corner of the forest, more impervious +to the torrents of rain; when, being awoke, I was surprised to see him +with a companion and a torch; he took me on his back, and in about three +quarters of an hour we reached Akrofroom. This man knew I carried about +me several ounces of gold, for the subsistence of the people, not +trusting to our luggage, which we could not reckon on in such a season +and journey. Exhausted and insensible, my life was in his hands, and +infested as the forest was with wild beasts, he might after such a +night, without suspicion, have reported me as destroyed by them; this +had occurred to me, and was an uneasy feeling as long as my torpor left +me any. It was about two o’clock in the morning, and the inhabitants of +Akrofroom were almost all asleep, for it was too rude a night for Negro +revelry; however, I was directly carried to a dry and clean apartment, +furnished with a brass pan full of water to wash in, some fruits and +palm wine, an excellent bed of mats and cushions, and an abundance of +country cloths to wrap around me, for I was all but naked. After I had +washed, I rolled myself up in the cloths, one after the other, until I +became a gigantic size, and by a profuse perspiration escaped any other +ill than a slight fever. A soldier came up about mid-day, and gave me +some hopes of seeing Mr. Tedlie again, who arrived soon afterwards, +having left his companions in a bog, waiting until he sent them +assistance from the town. Our gratification was mutual, for the only +trace he had had of me was by no means an encouraging one; my servant +meeting an Ashantee in the forest with fragments of my clothes, which he +persisted he had not taken from any person, but picked up on his way. +Mr. Tedlie (whose feet were cut and bruised much more than mine, and +whose wretched plight made him envy the African toga I had assumed) +after we had separated, and the storm had drowned our mutual hollaings, +the howlings of the wild beasts meeting his ears on all sides, had just +determined to roost in a tree for the night, when an Ashantee appeared +with a torch, and conducted him out of the track to the remains of a +shed, where four or five of the people had before strayed and settled +themselves. Another party arrived at Akrofroom about four o’clock, and +the last, with the Cape Coast linguist and the corporal, not until sun +set; they had lost the track altogether, and spent the whole day, as +well as the previous night, in the woods. We made an excellent duck +soup, our grace to which was, “what a luxury to poor Mungo Park;” the +name recalled sufferings which made us laugh at our own as mere +adventures. + +On Saturday the 8th we marched to Asharamang. Here we found great +difficulties in getting provisions until the Ashantees came up, for +Quamina Bwa’s knavery had been ascribed to us; and here, panyaring all +we required, he had not given the inhabitants a tokoo of the gold. At +length we were well supplied and comfortably lodged. The next day we +marched through Kickiwherree to Prasoo, where we occupied a good house, +and an Ashantee captain proceeding on an embassy, dashed us a supply of +fowls and yams. We crossed the Boosempra early the next morning, and +thence began to leave the rains behind us. Persevering in making but one +journey of the distances which occupied us two and three days going up, +we pressed forward, passing by our former bivouacs in the woods, +scarcely distinguishable, until we reached the site of Accomfodey, for +only one hut now remained; the wretched inhabitants having deserted it +in terror of the Ashantees. The solitary Fantee who occupied it, had the +address to assure me, that I should find much better lodging at +Ancomassa, where we recollected to have left some comfortable huts going +up, and we resolved to try another stage, and were recompensed by +finding scarcely a wreck of the place, and some tattered sheds only +instead of the sound roof we had quitted. We proceeded early the next +morning, passed Foosou, which was entirely deserted, and marched until +we found ourselves at sun set on the banks of the Aniabirrim. The people +were all behind, and the Ashantees coming up about an hour afterwards, +informed us they had settled themselves for the night about two hours +walk distant. Unfortunately we had no flint, and after fasting all day, +we had the mortification of losing our supper merely for want of a fire; +the wood was all so wet that friction had no effect on it, we could find +no shelter, and a heavy rain set in as it grew dark; fatigue luckily +beguiled us of cold and hunger, and of our apprehensions of a visit from +the beasts, who were howling about the banks of their watering place. I +wrapped myself up in the Inta cloth Apokoo had given me, and wet as the +ground was, I never slept better. Hence the forest visibly declined in +height towards the coast. We pressed on by day light, found some +excellent guavas to allay our hunger, and reaching Mansue, made a good +soup of our fowls, peppers growing luxuriantly all around us. We waited +until we heard of the people behind us, and then proceeded; about five +in the evening I reached Cottacoomacasa, with the Dwabin messenger only. +The place was deserted, and a body of Ashantee traders had occupied the +remaining shed. I would not disturb them, but waiting until sun set for +Mr. Tedlie, I left him a supply of guavas, and proceeded to Payntree. +There was a charm in the name of that place, being but one journey from +the sea, superior to the recollection of the former night’s adventure. +It was a brilliant night, and the dark gloom and hollow echos of the +long vistas of the forest, formed a fine contrast to the extensive areas +(sites of large Fantee crooms destroyed by the Ashantees) into which we +frequently emerged. The wild music and cheerful revelry of the +inhabitants of Payntree stole upon my ear, and raised the tone of my +spirits in proportion as the sounds strengthened. + +A loud and continued shout warned me that I was announced; torches and +music instantly encircled me, and I was conducted to old Payntree’s +residence, who had built himself a new house somewhat in the Ashantee +fashion. An excellent bed was prepared for me of an accumulation of mats +and country cloths, and a famous supper of soups, stews, fruit, and palm +wine. Quamina Bootaqua paid his respects, and old Payntree, Amooney King +of Annamaboe, and two or three other caboceers, unknown to me, made a +long adulatory speech, complimenting my ability, bewailing my hardships, +and magnifying their obligations. I was requested to seat myself on old +Payntree’s state stool, whilst they stood around me, and he begged me to +listen to an air composed by his band on the occasion of the embassy, +and its successful termination; “all would now be well, and Fantee +revive and flourish.” I sat up till midnight, vainly expecting Mr. +Tedlie and the soldiers; they awoke me by their arrival before sun rise; +they had passed the night in a sound hut, on the path, which from the +want of a torch had escaped my notice. + +Hearing, as I expected, that there was a path from Payntree to Cape +Coast Castle, avoiding Annamaboe (whence the Mission had departed), I +determined to explore it, and Payntree furnished me with a guide. The +country was beautifully diversified with hill and dale, but the soil was +generally lighter and more gravelly than that between Annamaboe and +Payntree. We passed through several groves of guava trees, and all the +other tropical fruits abounded. Occasionally there were small +plantations of Guinea corn, where a few wretched Fantees still lurked in +the ruins of the crooms the Ashantees had destroyed. We passed through +eleven which had been considerable, and now presented but a few mud +houses scattered over extensive sites. Their names were Assequah, +Daöoramong, Amparoo, Taächoo, Coorikirraboo, Perridjoo, Abikarrampa, +Aquoitee, Miensa, and Amosima. The only water was near Amparoo; it was a +large pond nearly two miles in circumference, and sixty yards broad, +impregnated with vegetable matter. After travelling 15 miles, we climbed +some very steep and rocky hills, apparently of iron stone, and descended +into a flat country, continuing until a small rising about two miles +from Cape Coast Castle, (which I judged to be 20 miles from Payntree by +this interior path) opened the sea to our view; as delightful to our +sight, as land would have been after a prolonged and perilous voyage. +The shouts and greetings of the natives were a grateful introduction to +the more congenial congratulations of our countrymen. + + +[Footnote 13: One piece of silk. 10 handkerchiefs of Dane. 1 umbrella. 4 +gallons of rum. 20 lbs. of pork. 1 basket of rice. Biscuit. 1 sheep.] + +[Footnote 14: The man who hung himself.] + + + + + * * * * * + MISSION TO ASHANTEE. + PART II. + * * * * * + + + CHAPTER I. + + * * * * * + + _Geography._ + + +The impression of the Natives that we came “to spy the country” was +sedulously strengthened by the Moors, who were actuated by alarm, +jealousy, and a spirit of intolerance unmitigated by a previous +intercourse with Europeans. I felt compelled, therefore, to suppress all +curiosity for a considerable time, lest the anxiety to detect us in +geographical enquiries, to make their calumny more imposing, might have +been gratified. Latterly, when better feelings had been induced through +patience and candour, as the Moorish charts and MSS. evidence, the +inaptitude rather than the reluctance of the natives, made the shortness +of our stay unaccommodating. I shall pass over a mass of memoranda +recorded on individual report, and only select such, wherein Moors and +natives, unknown to each other, have agreed; describing their travels in +their own way, without my questions anticipating or directing them. +These routes and observations were further confirmed by the evidence of +children, recently arrived as slaves from the various countries, whose +artless replies decided my credence. It may be remarked, that the +children of the African Negroes, early accustomed to travel with their +parents for their convenience or their assistance, and unoccupied by the +difficulties of incipient education, observe nature more attentively +than European children of the same age would; for they have nothing else +to think of, or to divert the fatigue of these reiterated trading +journies: their evidence, therefore, was a genuine and acceptable check +on the Moorish and Negro adults. + +The difficulty of adjusting geography by investigation only, is not +diminished by the numerous small states, scarcely less frequent than +those of modern Italy, which we find to compose this part of Western +Africa. + +Any thing like observations of the Sun’s place, during a journey, seemed +to be so uncommon to the Natives, and so secondary to the Moors, from +their confused accounts of the occasional changes, that, after expending +much time to no purpose, I was obliged to content myself with placing +the different kingdoms in the same direction as their several paths bore +from Coomassie, taking every precaution to be convinced that the paths +did not cross each other; and afterwards adjusting the positions by the +various auxiliary evidence which occurred in the general course of my +enquiries. I allow 15 miles for each days journey (which, from +observation and report, I have reason to think is the average) and two +thirds of the sum to be made good on the horizontal distance, as we +found this to be nearly the case in our journey from Annamaboe to +Coomassie; the distance travelled being 146 miles, Annamaboe laying in +5° 4′ N., and 1° 43′ W., and the latitude of Coomassie being 6° 34′ 50″ +N.; and the longitude 2° 11′ W. by the mean of the observations of the +eclipses of Jupiter’s 1st and 2nd satellites. + +I procured the numerals of the various countries whenever I could, to +assist future enquirers. + +There are nine great paths leading from Coomassie, the Dwabin, Akim, +Assin, Warsaw, Sauee, Gaman, Soko, Daboia, and Sallagha. + +Dwabin is not more than three quarters of a day’s journey eastward from +Coomassie, by the route No. 1.; in which I have retained only the larger +towns, omitting the villages; as I shall invariably. The river Dah is +crossed close to the westward of Dwabin, and said to be as wide as we +found it at Sarrasoo. Two journies beyond Dwabin is a small dependent +district called Mohoo. Several names, such as Meäsee, Marmpon, +Akrofroom, &c. will be found common to different states, as Larissa, +Argos, and Thebes were in antient Greece. + +There is an eastern branch of the Akim path, entered immediately on +leaving Coomassie, to a country called Quaöo, northward of Akim, (of +which it seems formerly to have been a district) and adjoining the +Volta. Diabbee is its principal town, and the second Wantomoo, 8 +journies from Coomassie by route No. 2. The latter is situated at the +foot of a mountain whence the Boosempra issues, with two smaller rivers, +the Soobirree and Sesee, running to the Kirradee. This district is +entered the 3d day from Coomassie. + +There are two routes to Accra through Akim, the capital of which is +Bannasoo, 5 journies, and the northern frontier town Feëa, 3 journies +from Coomassie. The easternmost route to Accra is 15 journies; the other +is made 17 journies to pass near the lake Boosmaquee. This lake, 3 +journies from Coomassie, was described as four miles long, and nearly +three broad; upwards of thirty small crooms were reckoned situated +around it, supported by fishing: the water was said to be unpleasant to +drink, and to give a reddish hue to the hair of the people who washed in +it. Fish were forwarded thence daily for the King’s table, by relays of +men. It was called the white mans fetish, there being a popular +superstition, nourished by the Moors, that Europeans were to join it +with the sea, to introduce vessels for the subjugation of the country. +Close to the lake is a mountain called Quashee Boposoo, sometimes seen +clearly from Coomassie, abounding in large black stones, described as +basaltes. By this route (No. 3.) to Accra, the Akim country is entered +the 4th day, the Boosempra is crossed on the 6th, by a tree laid over +it, and the Birrim, by a line and raft on the 12th; it is much wider +than the Boosempra is where we crossed it, and runs to that river, +falling into it just above our crossing. The Aquapim, a clear and +mountainous country, is entered on the 16th day. By the eastern route, +No. 4, the Akim country is entered the 4th day; a large hill called +Abirrawantoo is passed the 9th; thence the Birrim springs, crossing the +path twice before it runs to the Boosempra. Three days westward from +this mountain, is a second, called Papow, in which the Aïnshue or the +Winnebah river rises. A river called Dinshue rises also in this +neighbourhood, running to the Saccomo, which falls into the sea 8 miles +west of Accra. Isert, who visited Aquapim, called the capital Kommang, +but Akropong is so now. The distance from Coomassie to Accra may be +estimated at 230 miles, which bears about the same proportion to the +horizontal distance, as the path we travelled through Assin from +Annamaboe. Dr. Leyden was much imposed on in the extravagant account he +has given of the extent, power, and commerce of Akim,[15] which is +placed in the map accompanying his work, eastward of Dahomey, instead of +westward of the Volta. Dr. Isert was a Danish gentleman, who had the +good fortune to cure the former King of Ashantee’s sister of a lingering +disorder, after she had exhausted all the skill of the fetish women, and +came to Christiansburg Castle in despair. He afterwards expressed his +wish to visit the Ashantee kingdom; and being encouraged, he set out in +June 1786, and staying some days in Aquapim, was just about to enter +Akim, when he was recalled by the Governor. A dangerous illness, +heightened by his disappointment, soon afterwards disgusted him with the +country, and he left it for the West Indies. As Dr. Isert’s letters are +only known in German and Dutch,[16] and he was an industrious and +scientific observer, an extract from his description of the Aquapim +country will be acceptable. I am indebted for a Latin translation of +this and other passages, adduced on different subjects, to Dr. Reynhaut +of Elmina Castle. + +“I began my journey early in the morning of the 17th of June, and after +walking two hours I arrived at a little village, picturesquely situated, +named Aschiama. Two hours behind this lies a chain of mountains, which +are composed of granitous stones; flints are but rarely found. The whole +prospect shews itself here in a very different manner to that observed +in sandy countries; the rocks are covered with lofty trees, which are +encompassed with small forests almost impervious. The soil, no longer +sandy, becomes argillaceous, and excellent for vegetation. Behind these +forests I arrived at a Negro village called Abodee, eight leagues from +Christiansburg: the inhabitants of this place are very tenacious of +native ceremony and etiquette. Thence I passed by an irregular path +through the following villages, Fiasso, Fientema, Futu, Mampon, Odaky, +Manno, and Manseng. An hour afterwards I reached a village named +Kommong, the residence of H.R.H. the Duke of Aquapim. Here the country +is charming, though forests are still to be found. Mountains, rocks, and +vallies vary each other in the most striking order; fresh water, so +rarely obtained in maritime countries, is found here of an excellent +quality. Near this village a stream constantly rushes from the summit of +a rock, and affords a fresh and crystalline water. Trees of a very large +circumference are also found; I calculated one of the biggest to be 45 +feet round and 15 in diameter. These trees are not the same as those of +which Adanson speaks in his description of Senegal, (Adansonia digitata) +but are of a peculiar species; they much resemble a round tower, as they +do not bear either flowers or fruits. Here I found the Ammonium Grana +Paradisi, the Ammonium Zerumber, and a new genus in a perpendicular tree +ornamented by flowers, which resembled tulips, (Novum Genus Tetandriæ) +and of great elegance: also a new species of aloe, of which the +inhabitants make thread; a new species of citron with indented leaves, +and a multitude of unknown trees and shrubs. In the thickest forests +grows a species of Spanish cane, very straight and well proportioned, +and often attaining six feet in height; it is to be wished that it could +be made use of, treating it as the Chinese do, for if, when dry, an +equal degree of tenacity could be induced, it would prove superior in +quality. I observed, on the boughs of the trees, the Senna plant (which +is parasitic, and consists entirely of a flower), it was almost the +shape of a pine when open, and the inside is of a very deep red; the +Negroes use it in the syphilitic disorder, when first attacked. I took +it for the Aphuteia Hydrora of Thunberg, but on examination it differs +much, as it belongs to Icosandria. Palm trees are here very rare, except +the oliferous (Elois Guineensis) and the viniferous (an Phœnix) which +are cultivated in great numbers; also the true cocoa nut trees (Cocas +nucifera) and the false (an Borassus.) In a word, nature entirely +changes her form as soon as you reach the summit of the chain of +mountains, and I do not believe one twentieth part of the plants found +here are the same as those on the Coast. With regard to natural history, +I was less happy in making discoveries. The elephant, so abundantly +inhabiting the environs of Fidah, (Whydah) and other wild beasts, are +here very rare, which may be attributed to the scarcity of grass, the +growth of which is prevented by the almost impenetrable forests. Several +sorts of birds are here seen, principally paroquets, of which I knew six +species, Psittacus, Erythæus and Pullarius (Linn.) the others seem to be +new, and I also saw a great number of insects of new species. The +mineral kingdom would perhaps be richer if they had mines here. The +rocks are solely composed of rough stones like granite and grens, and +their species; dry quartz and slate stones are often found; on the other +hand I could not discover calcareous earth. The soil is varied, but +consists in general of a rich aluminous earth, traced in different +colours, and of a rich black earth with which sand is never mixed. The +atmosphere seemed more salubrious than on the sea coast, though +physicians generally deny this quality to exist near the forests which +grow in warm climates. I believe the elevated situation of the country +contributes much to it. The Europeans who inhabit the Coast in forts, +would do well to establish an hospital and a garden here. The Arum +Esculentum, the Banana (Musa sapientum) the Ananas (Bromelia Ananas) the +Carica Papaia and Citron all abound here.” + +The Assin path is that described in the route from Annamaboe to +Coomassie, it branches off at Foosoo to Ensabra, two journies from +Winnebah, through Anissoo, Asoidroo (the head quarters of the King of +Ashantee in the invasion of 1807) and Atoäperrim, which means “to fire a +gun.” The principal town of Assin is Ansa, through which we passed, +Akrofroom, apparently larger, is called the second. A range of stony +hills is the boundary of Assin and Akim. + +The path to Elmina, through the Warsaw country, makes so considerable an +angle to the westward, that the Ashantees invariably declared it +occupied more time to travel than the Assin; it is allowed to be ten +journies at Elmina, by route No. 5. The Dah is crossed the first day at +its town Adahsoo, and in the evening Becquoi (one of the five large +towns built by the Ashantees) is reached. The Dankara country is entered +the third day, the Tufel the fourth, the Warsaw the sixth, the Boosempra +is crossed the tenth day, the Ofim, which skirts this path to the +westward (having received the Dah at Meeäsee) falling into it. The +capital of the Dankara country is four journies westward of Coomassie, +and the frontier is entered the second by route No. 6: it is the most +productive of gold, but has been extravagantly over-rated in Bosman’s +report of its population. The river Seënnee, or, as the Portuguese have +called it, Ancobra, from its serpentine course, has been thought to rise +just beyond the north eastern frontier, but it will presently appear to +be a branch of the Tando of the Ashantees. In the Dutch copies of the +old Portuguese charts, Dankara is placed eastward of Ashantee. The +Warsaw country will be noticed more particularly, in considering the +maritime geography from Cape Coast Castle to the river Assinee. + +The Warsaw path has two grand branches, one to Apollonia and one to +Aöwin, each thirteen journies; the former is in the small kingdom of +Amanăheä. The Aöwin country extends from Apollonia to the river Assinee, +five journies in length and three in breadth; it is governed by seven or +eight caboceers, like those of Warsaw, independent of each other: it can +furnish about 5000 soldiers. The numerals of Amanăheä and Aöwin will +appear in an essay on the Fantee language. Both countries are at the +mercy of the Ashantees, who extort gold from them frequently, though +they have not yet fixed the tributes. + +Sauëe lies eight journies W.N.W. from Coomassie, and Moinsan fifteen. I +could not procure the routes, but Wom and Sannasee are two of the +largest towns which are passed through. + +Buntookoo, the capital of the kingdom of Gaman, is 11 journies N.N.W. of +Coomassie by route No. 7. The river Ofim is crossed the second day, the +Tando the fifth, thence the country becomes open. Yammee, the frontier +town of Gaman, is reached the eighth day. The name of the King of Gaman +is Adinkara; the capital, though not so large, is allowed to be better +built than Coomassie, and the Moorish influence has been longer +established. It is incomparably the richest country in gold, and small +pits were described to me, like those Mr. Park saw at Shrondo. The +numerals are, + + One Tah. + + Two Noo. + + Three Sah. + + Four Nah. + + Five Taw. + + Six Torata. + + Seven Toorifeenoo. + + Eight Toorifeessa. + + Nine Toorifeena. + + Ten Noonoo. + +The four principal Gaman towns, are Sarem, which some call the capital, +Bandakeeä, Bundoo, and Nasseä, five journies from Kong, and seven from +Buntookoo. + +A powerful kingdom called Bahooree, which has hitherto successfully +resisted the Ashantees, was described to be westward, and expected to +afford refuge to the King of Gaman on the approaching invasion. + +I had heard it reported that the Tando formed the Assinee river, about +35 miles westward of Cape Apollonia, but a very intelligent Ashantee +satisfied me this was a mistake, arising probably from Seënee being the +native name of the Ancobra, which is formed by one branch of the Tando; +a second running westward. The Tando is not near so large as the +Boosempra, and therefore very unlikely to form so large a river as the +Assinee; the western branch may possibly run into it. Mr. Meredith, +writing from report without sufficiently checking it, has made the Tando +and the Chamah or Boosempra the same; yet, p. 225, he adds, “the Volta +is more probably a branch of the Tando, a large river reported as +running to the eastward, and which the Ashantees are obliged to cross in +coming to the Coast;” he did not reflect that he thus laid down a river +running out of the sea. The Tando, we have seen, is five days northward +of Coomassie, it rises in some rocky hills called Toofeeä, near the +large town Aënkroo, between the Banda and Inta paths. + +Soko (formerly a province of Gaman) is 11 journies from Coomassie; and +Banda, four beyond, and a little to the eastward; see route No. 8. The +first day, Tafoo is reached, a large aboriginal Inta town, for, as will +be seen in the historical report, the Ashantees emigrated, and subjected +several Inta districts now forming the northern part of their dominions, +and trenched considerably on that declining kingdom, now entirely at +their mercy. If Mr. Dalzel had reflected, it would have occurred to him, +that the Taffoe, Tafoe, or Tafu of Snelgrave (placed so absurdly in his +map, 60 miles west of the mouth of the Volta) and the In-ta[17] he heard +of at Dahomey, and confounded with Ashantee, were the same: for the In +in In-ta is scarcely audible, and only a slight nasal sound barely +amounting to n, as N-ta; foo is merely an adjunct equal to people or men +in our language, affixed in the present infancy of African language to +all names of countries, as if we always said the Scotchmen or Irishmen, +instead of the Scotch and Irish. The Ofim is crossed one day beyond +Tafoo at its croom Ofeesoo, the Tando four journies beyond at Tandosoo. +Takima is reached the eighth day, whence the Fantees are reported, by +tradition, to have emigrated, and there is yet but little difference in +the languages. + +Sixteen journies N.N.E. of Coomassie is Boopee (which I have placed +accordingly in 8° 42′ N. and 1° 19′ W.) the frontier town of Inta, +hitherto confounded with Ashantee, than which it is more populous and +more civilized. The Moorish influence has been long established there, +and almost all its caboceers affect to profess that faith. The river +Adirri, which we shall presently identify with the Volta, is crossed +four hours southward of Boopee, and is described as about 120 yards +broad; it rises eight journies N.W. of Boopee, in a large mountain +called Kondoongooree, one of the mountains of Kong, which were +distinctly and invariably reported not to be a chain, but frequently and +individually scattered, from Kong eastward. Seven journies from +Coomassie, on the Inta route, is the smaller kingdom Coranza (probably +the Corisseno of the old maps) the people of which are of the same +origin as the Ashantees by tradition, but, as the King himself assured +me, of much more genius and aptitude. Three journies from Boopee is +Daboia, the second town of Inta. The first journey is to Minsiroo, where +lions are numerous; the second to Moronko, the inhabitants of which are +so fearful of being carried off as slaves by the Ashantee traders (who +travel in great numbers) that they have no doors to their houses, but +ascending by a ladder, which they immediately draw up, they enter +through the thatch. Close to Moronko is a river, about as large as the +Boosempra, called Adiffofoo. Pahmee, three journies south eastward of +Daboia, and Yabo which I cannot place so precisely, are the alternate +residences of the King of Inta. There is a constant commercial +intercourse between Inta and Dahomey, the frontiers being five journies +apart. The numerals of Inta are + + One Koko. + + Two Anyoe. + + Three Assa. + + Four Anna. + + Five Annoo. + + Six Assee. + + Seven Assoonno. + + Eight Adoobrooa. + + Nine Digrakoono. + + Ten Koodoo. + +Sallagha, the grand market of the Inta kingdom, is 17 journies north- +eastward from Coomassie, by route No. 10. The first is to Marmpon, one +of the five large towns built by the Ashantees, and possessing palatine +privileges; the second, through five smaller towns to Aphwaguiassie, the +largest market in the Ashantee kingdom; the 9th day the rivers Kirradee +and Oboosoom are crossed, each about 60 yards wide, and flowing so near +together, as to appear one in the rainy season; a high mountain, +Aduarreekennee, is just beyond them, the boundary of Ashantee and +Booroom. The tenth day the river Sennee is forded, which afterwards +enlarges considerably, and runs into the Volta; it rises five journies +from Coomassie (by route No. 11) between the Boopee and Sallagha paths. +The Booroom country is quite open, and the Ashantees give the river the +figurative name of Birrinsoo, which means that its distance is so +deceiving, that you will cry before you reach it. The capital of Booroom +is Guia, a considerable town, noticed in the route to Odentee, a fetish +sanctuary of great repute, and said to be splendidly furnished. The +Ashantee language is spoken very commonly in Booroom, but the vernacular +numerals are + + One Ekoo. + + Two Enoo. + + Three Essa. + + Four Enna. + + Five Annoo. + + Six Esseä. + + Seven Assoono. + + Eight Aquiay. + + Nine Akonno. + + Ten Edoo. + +The tenth day the Adirri or Volta is crossed, more than a mile wide, but +much interrupted by rocks, and described to be full of hippopotami +(which they call sea elephants,) and alligators. This river divides +Booroom from Inta, Sallagha being one day’s long march from it. +Calculating the 17 journies to Sallagha at 15 miles each, the course as +N.E. by E. and supposing two thirds to be made good on the horizontal +distance, according to our own experience, which gives 170 B. equal to +147 G. miles, Sallagha will lie in latitude 7° 56′ N., and longitude 9″ +W. As a check upon this position, it will be necessary to follow the +Adirri or Volta as far as the natives navigate it from Adda, where it is +called the Flou (as the falls of the Senegal.) Isert’s report may be +interesting as an introduction. + +“The people of Adda think it derogatory to cultivate land, and live by +fishing, and making salt, which they sell to the people of the Interior. +The Volta has no breakers, and therefore may be presumed to be deep.” +This is an extraordinary mistake; Dalzel says there are high breakers. +Colonel Starrenberg (of Engineers) at Elmina Castle, who went about 60 +miles up the Volta, accompanied by a Danish officer and flag, and met +with no impediment so far, but turned back reluctantly in three or four +fathoms of water, observed to me, that he thought the channel between +the breakers about a mile wide. Dalzel mentions an American brig making +good her passage over the bar, on which there is about two fathoms +water; and a Danish schooner has done so since. “An arm goes from the +mouth to Quitta.” This must be the river running from Lagos into the +Volta, near the mouth, as will be shewn in considering the errors in the +maritime geography. “Six English miles from the mouth, it forms a lake +60 miles long and 48 broad, whence an arm extends to Pottriba, 3 miles +eastward of Quitta: in this lake are more than a hundred islands.” +Colonel Starrenberg thought the river widened about 9 British miles from +the mouth, but the number of small islands prevented even ocular +demonstration. So large a lake would certainly have been spoken of by +the natives to Europeans ere this; those whom I have questioned, have +gone up the river to the extreme navigable point, and crossed it in many +parts; and they all declare that at Ascharee, 2 days from Adda, it is +not two miles wide. I never could find either an Ashantee, or a +waterside native, who knew of the arm running to Pottriba, a name they +had not heard of; neither could Col. Starrenberg learn any thing of it; +no branch appeared as far as he went. Isert probably alluded, from +report, to the river Assuafroo, which runs from eastward into the Volta, +7 journies from Adda, as will appear in the natives account. “From May +to December the water is good to drink, being then higher than the sea; +in the other months it is not so, but produces more fish. The river +overflows in July, and August, and the neighbourhood of its banks is +excellent for the cultivation of rice.” Rice is abundantly cultivated in +the Inta kingdom. “Three miles from the sea is an island, called Bird +Island, full of pelicans of peculiar kinds. There is a fish in this +river called hardrass, which, when smoked, is exactly like European +salmon. There are also hippopotami and crocodiles: quantities of oysters +adhere to the mangroves, but when the river is fresh they are good for +nothing. There are a great number of singing birds, and a nightingale +equal to the Polish, which sings in May and December.” Col. Starrenberg +heard a nightingale, but saw only one hippopotamus. There is a kind of +cedar tree, (Avicenniæ nov. spec.) which shoots up many branches from +the ground, about as thick as a pipe, and bare of leaves: this tree is +so very salt in its nature, that in the morning a great quantity of +liquid salt is found on the leaves, chrystallizing in the course of the +day.[18] Amalfee is on an island, 48 miles from the mouth, the +inhabitants of which, and those on the banks of the river, of Agrafee, +Wefee, Tophirree, and Bettoo, call themselves river inhabitants. The +former are the brokers of slaves for the Creppee country, and receive a +vast number from one of its provinces called Acottim, 3 journies +eastward.” + +Mr. Meredith could scarcely have enquired about the Creppee or Aquamboe +countries, to have placed them west of the Volta. The natives who carry +salt up the Volta, pull the 1st day, by Agrafee, Foomee, and Tefferee to +Amanfee, on the banks; the 2nd to Dofo on an island; the 3rd, by +Ascharee, on the western bank, to Adomë; the 4th by Assafoo to the +Aquamboe country; the 5th to Sowa; the 6th to Pessee; the 7th by +Appasoo, to Deyatoompon, where a large river flows into the Volta from +the eastward; to Doodee the 8th; to Tombo the 9th; to Akorosoo the 10th; +to Odentee the 11th. Here the river becomes too rocky to proceed +conveniently, and hence to Sallagha by land is 4 journies, through the +large towns Oboëkee, Akuntong, Enkungquakroo, and Apapassee, famous for +making cotton cloth. There is a small state northward, between Aquamboe +and Inta, called Anoöchoo, subject to Ashantee, bordering on which is +Guasoo, the southern district or province of Inta. The Creppee country +borders on Aquamboe eastward, and is independent. + +I am not in possession of Colonel Starrenberg’s bearings, but the course +of the river may be pretty well ascertained from fixing the points of +Odentee, Quaöo, and Ascharee. Odentee is 6 journies southward of east +(by route No. 12) from Pattooda, in the Booroom country, and mentioned +in the route to Sallagha. Quaöo, the country where the Boosempra rises, +has already been mentioned as entered 8 journies from Coomassie. +Ascharee, 2 days and a half pull up the river, is reached in 1 day’s +walk from Ningo. The course of the Volta is consequently about W.N.W. to +Quaöo, N.E. by N. to Odentee, and N.W. by Sallagha, which course it +appears to continue to Boopee, if not to its source in the Kondoongooree +mountain. The 10 days pull from Adda to Odentee, and the 4 journies by +land thence to Sallagha, agree very well with the distance and position +of that place, as before calculated by the 17 days route from Coomassie. +The houses of Sallagha and other towns of Inta were mentioned as +peculiar from being round. Leo Africanus observed houses built in the +form of bells at Timbuctoo. + +Seven days from Sallagha, N.E. according to the Moors, through the Inta +town of Zongoo, is Yahndi, the capital of Dagwumba, which I have placed, +calculating the course at N.E. by E., and allowing 18 miles for each +journey, as the country is said to be open, in 55′ E. and 8° 38′ N.: the +position is assisted by the common account of its being 8 journies from +Daboia, by route No. 13, and that two obscure, but direct paths to +Daboia and Yahndi, from Coomassie, occupy the first 19 days, and the +latter (described as laying between Daboia and Sallagha) 23 days. Sir +William Young, in his Report of the Geography and History of Northern +Africa, writes, “the Slatees of Old Calebar are said to carry on their +trade to Degombah _northward_,” which also supports my placing it more +to the eastward than it appears in Major Rennel’s map. Yngwa, a district +and large town of Dagwumba, is said to lie 8 days north-westward of +Yahndi, through Sakoigoo; its distance from Daboia, by report 6 +journies, places it about N.N.W. Two journies from Daboia, towards +Yngwa, is the river Adiffofoo, about 60 yards wide, running eastward, 2 +journies from which is Kooboro, a large Dagwumba town. + +North-eastward of Yahndi is Tonomah, of which I do not recollect more +than the name, though I think it is a town and district of Dagwumba. The +kingdom of Tonowah, of which Assentai has been described as the capital +by the Shereef Imhammed,[19] must have been derived from this name, +being otherwise unknown. Three journies north-eastward of Yahndi is +Sokoquo or Ensoko, also a considerable town. + +Yahndi is described to be beyond comparison larger than Coomassie, the +houses much better built and ornamented. The Ashantees who had visited +it, told me, they frequently lost themselves in the streets. The King, +Inăna Tanquăree, has been converted by the Moors, who have settled there +in great numbers. Mr. Lucas called it the Mahomedan kingdom of Degomba, +and it was represented to him as peculiarly wealthy and civilized. The +markets of Yahndi are described as animated scenes of commerce, +constantly crowded with merchants from almost all the countries of the +interior. Horses and cattle abound, and immense flocks are possessed +even by the poorer class. The numerals of Dagwumba and Yngwa differing, +I submit both. + + _Yngwa._ _Dagwumba._ + + One Lakoo Yahndo + + Two Ayee Ayee + + Three Attah Attah + + Four Anāhee Nasee + + Five Leerennoo Ennoon + + Six Ayoboo Yohbee + + Seven Ayapaï Poiee + + Eight Annee Nehenoo + + Nine Awai Whyee + + Ten Peä Edoo. + +Yahndi is named after the numeral one, from its pre-eminence. Sarem is +the name of a region, including Gaman, Inta, and Dagwumba, so called +from the open nature of those countries. + +One day from Sallagha, towards Yahndi, and scarcely one journey westward +from the latter, is the river Laka, described to be as large and as +rapid as the Adirri or Volta, which it joins below Odentee, and may +therefore be safely concluded to be the Assuafroo; for the names of +rivers are very mutable in Africa, each country through which they pass +naturalising them to its own language, and thus increasing the +perplexities of a geography founded on investigation. I could not +procure any authorized account of the northward course of this river, +the best opportunities had escaped me when I heard of it. + +Five journies N.E. from Yahndi is the smaller kingdom of Gamba, the +birth place of Baba the chief Moor at Coomassie, and the boundary of the +Ashantee authority, though its influence, through the much respected +medium of Dagwumba, would extend to the Niger. Seven journies northward +of Yngwa is the kingdom of Fobee: the river Koontoorooa is crossed four +days from it, being about half a mile broad, it has an eastern and +western branch, the former running to the Karhala, one day farther, +considerably wider, and the course south-eastward. One journey from the +river is a large mountain called Sarraka, the same distance from Fobee, +the capital of the kingdom. Lakoo, Lamma, Karhala, and Koomada are the +next largest towns. Five journies northward is an independent kingdom +called Chouoocha. The position of Fobee is checked by Goorooma, being 15 +journies from it, (a kingdom to be noticed presently in the direct +northern route from Yahndi to Houssa,) and Kawerree only nine, doubtless +Cayree, a kingdom in the route of the Moors from Coomassie to Jinnie. +The numerals of Fobee are + + One Koroom. + + Two Nalay. + + Three Poompevarra. + + Four Leetaynalee. + + Five Kakwassee. + + Six Mannassa. + + Seven Noottoosoo. + + Eight Borafay. + + Nine Pirrifay. + + Ten Nanooa. + +Five journies from Yngwa is Mosee, a more warlike but less visited +kingdom; it consists of many states, but the superior monarch is named +Billa, and the capital Kookoopella. I place this N.W., because, although +its traders pass through Yngwa, they do not cross the Karhala, or indeed +any river but what they can walk through. The numerals are + + One Yimbo. + + Two Ayeeboo. + + Three Ataboo. + + Four Annasee. + + Five Annoo. + + Six Ayobee. + + Seven Owhi. + + Eight Ennee. + + Nine Aïhopoi. + + Ten Peega. + +A few days northward of Fobee, through Chamday and Kobafoo, is Calanna, +described as a very large city, rivalling Yahndi as a market, and +situated at the foot of a mountain abounding in iron stone, which they +manufacture for rude purposes in much the same manner as Mr. Park +witnessed at Jeningalla. Calanna is probably the Calanshee of Imhammed, +who told Mr. Lucas that it was a dependency of Tounouwah or Assentai, +situated mid-way between it and the coast, 18 journies from each. The +numerals are + + One Kodoom. + + Two Naboolla. + + Three Naweedazoo. + + Four Nabonaza. + + Five Nabonoa. + + Six Lodoo. + + Seven Logwa. + + Eight Littaïzoo. + + Nine Nako. + + Ten Yewoo. + +Kumsallahoo I have not attempted to lay down, having no other guide for +placing it than the report that it is one moon’s journey from Dagwumba, +that its traders pass through Mosee, and cross only one river, the +Fachinga, and that not large. The numerals are + + One Yumbo. + + Two Yeeboo. + + Three Tabo. + + Four Nasee. + + Five Annoo. + + Six Yobo. + + Seven Poihee. + + Eight Nehee. + + Nine Wahee. + + Ten Pega. + +We will now return to Coomassie and proceed northwards to Jinnie, or as +it was generally pronounced, Jennë. This route to Tombuctoo (or +Timbooctoo) is much less frequented by the Moors than that from +Dagwumba, through Houssa. They alledge that the people northward, are +neither so commercial, so civilized, or so wealthy as those north- +eastward. The first 12 journies are to Buntookoo, seven journies whence +is a river called by the natives Coombo, and by the Moors, Zamma; it is +described as half a mile broad, and running westward. I could not find +any Ashantee who had travelled beyond this river, which is the northern +limit of their authority. Five journies eastward of north from the +river, is Kong, the King of which is named Asequoo. A large mountain +called Toolileseena is near the capital, and a small river, Woora, four +journies from it. The kingdom is said to be by no means so wealthy or +powerful as that of Ashantee; the market is supplied from Houssa, the +country is populous, horses numerous, and elephants killed daily. The +people fight with spears, and bows and arrows. Seven journies from Kong +several mountains are passed, called Koonkoori. Mr. Park says, that +“Kong signifies mountain in the Mandingo language, which language is in +use from the frontier of Bambarra to the western sea.” The language of +Kong seems to be a corruption of the Bambarra or Mandingo: the numerals +are + + One Kiddee. + + Two Filla. + + Three Sowa. + + Four Nanoo. + + Five Looroa. + + Six Wora. + + Seven Ooranfilla. + + Eight Leeaygee. + + Nine Konunto. + + Ten Tah. + +The Ashantees calling all the slaves whom they brought down to the water +side Dunkos, it had been, for many years, naturally concluded that there +was a large country of that name in their neighbourhood. Isert writes, +“the Dunkoers are a people behind Ashantee.” On enquiry, however, I +found to my surprise, that there is no country of that name, but that it +is merely an epithet, synonymous with the barbarian of the Greeks and +Romans, which they apply to all the people of the interior but +themselves, and implies an ignorant fellow. I first suspected this from +observing some Dunkos were cut in the face, and some not, and I +presently discovered their vernacular languages were various, and +unintelligible to each other. Generally speaking, the bush or country +people of Dagwumba have three light cuts on each cheek bone, and three +below, with one horizontal under the eye; those of Yahndi, three deep +continued cuts; the people of Mosee, three very deep and long, and one +under the eye; those of Bornoo are frequently cut in the forehead; of +Marrowa all over the body in fine, small, and intricate patterns. In +Fobee, Kumsallahoo, and Calanna, the lower orders have a hole bored +through the cartilage of the nose. These cuts are made during infancy, +to insinuate fetish liquids to invigorate and preserve the child. + +Nine journies northward of Kong is Kaybee, the King of which, named +Mamooroo, killed the former monarch Dabbira. The country was said to be +very populous, the capital behind a mountain called Beseeree, the soil +chalky, and asses as numerous as horses. Three journies from the +frontier of Kaybee, over a large mountain called Seboopoo, and across a +large river, is Kayree, through which country it is very dangerous to +pass, the people laying in ambush in small parties to rob or kidnap +travellers, and subsisting by rapine. Five journies thence is Garoo +(probably Gago[20]) a very powerful kingdom, the King, Batoomo, lives at +Netaquolla. Twenty journies beyond is the kingdom of Doowarra, the +people of which are indifferent warriors, but superior agriculturists, +and plant extensively; the soil is red earth. A smaller kingdom called +Filladoo or Firrasoo, is in the neighbourhood. Five journies north of +Doowarra is the Niger, and on an island, about a mile from the southern +bank, is Jennë. The route from Kong to Jennë is the only one which has +not been checked by Negro evidence, but I had reason to think well of +the Moor who furnished it, who never contradicted himself, though +repeatedly cross questioned during the four months I was at Coomassie. +The places reported to Mr. Park on this route, it is true, are none of +them mentioned, but, probably, the people who were insuperably adverse +to his proceeding, were the least likely to satisfy his curiosity but by +imposing on him.[21] Mr. Park in his route from Sego to Bædoo, has a +town called Doowassoo, only four journies from Sego; but I was assured +repeatedly that Doowarra is a powerful kingdom. In the first Mission, +Mr. Park reported the kingdom of Gotto to be so close to the Niger, that +its chief, Moösee, embarked on it to attack Jinnie, and Major Rennell +has placed it accordingly: but, in the second, he writes, “one month’s +travel south of Bædoo,” (which he makes 30 journies southward of Sego) +“through the kingdom of Gotto, will bring the traveller to the country +of the Christians, who have their houses on the banks of the Ba Sea +Feena.” He says the Ba Nimma rises in the Kong mountains south of +Marraboo, but does not mention the kingdom of Kong in his route, which +is about one moon’s travel from the sea, as he has described Bædoo to +be. Now it is very unlikely, if Bædoo had been but 20 journies from +Coomassie, that we should not have heard of it; and it is next to +impossible, that if any kingdom called Gotto laid still nearer, (which +it must have done, to have been passed through from Bædoo to the sea) +that it should have been unknown. Indeed, if the kingdom of Bambarra +extended 28 days south of Sego, as appears by the route given to Mr. +Park, the Ashantees would not have spoken of it from mere report, but +would probably have become acquainted with it, either through war, +commerce, or negotiation. It is a little extraordinary that the kingdom +of Ashantee, reported as eminently powerful to Mr. Lucas even so far +distant as Mesurata, and which must be well known in the neighbourhood +of Jennë, from the number of Moors who visit it from that city, should +not even have been noticed to Mr. Park in this southern route from Silla +or Sego to the sea. Mr. Park writes of the Moors not being able to +subject Jinbala; I believe they insinuate themselves as residents every +where, but I could not hear of their having established themselves by +force, or of their composing even the greater part of a population any +where.[22] + +Having reached the Niger it is time to observe, that it is only known to +the Moors by the name of Quolla, pronounced rather as Quorra by the +Negroes, who, from whatever countries they came, all spoke of this as +the largest river they knew; and it was the grand feature in all the +routes (whether from Houssa, Bornoo, or the intermediate countries) to +Ashantee. Mr. Horneman wrote that the Niger, in some parts of Houssa, +was called _Gaora_, which must sound very like Quorra. The Niger, after +leaving the lake Dibbir, was invariably described as dividing in two +large streams; the Quolla, the greater, pursuing its course south- +eastward until it joined the Bahr Abiad, and the other branch running +northward of east near Timbuctoo, and dividing again soon afterwards; +the smaller stream running northwards by Yahoodee, a place of great +trade,[23] and the larger turning directly eastward, and increasing +considerably, running to the lake Caudi or Cadi under the name of +Gambaroo.[24] The Moors call the branch running by Timbuctoo the +Jolliba, I presume figuratively, as a great water, for I was assured by +a native of Jennë, who had frequently visited Timbuctoo, that this +branch was called Zah-mer by the Negroes.[25] + +The variety of the concurrent evidence respecting the Gambaroo, +certainly made an impression on my mind almost amounting to conviction. +De Lisle, in his map of Africa for the use of Louis XV, (the accuracy of +which in one point where our latest charts are in error, the Lagos +river, will be shewn towards the close of this Report) makes a branch +from the Niger running near Timbuctoo; and what is even more to the +point, writes “Gambarou ou Niger.” It was not till sometime after my +return from Ashantee, that I unexpectedly discovered this solitary +European record of such a name, and it will at least be allowed that so +respectable a character as De Lisle, would neither have laid down the +branch from the Niger (for it is as likely to be so in the absence of +explanation, as a river running into it) without some authority, nor +have invented the name Gambarou: and it will also be allowed, that he +must have heard of it as being a very large river, to have confounded it +with the Niger. De Lisle has preserved most of the names reported to me, +more closely than any other geographer.[26] In the judicious compendium +of Mr. Murray, I observe the following note. “It is but justice to +D’Anville to say, that in his map of central Africa, inserted in the +26th volume of the Academie des Inscriptions, he has represented a river +passing close to Timbuctoo, running S.W., and falling into the Niger. +This delineation has not been copied by others, but it is not the less +probable that that excellent geographer may have had positive +information on which to found it.” Now, I may presume, this is only +recorded in delineation, and not noticed by D’Anville in the text, or, +his authority would have appeared. I shall be indulged in such a +conjecture, when it is recollected I am writing where I cannot satisfy +myself, in a place destitute of literary facilities. If it is only to be +found in the delineation, it is of course, as likely to be a branch +running N.E. from the Niger, as a river running S.W. into it. Mr. Park +has described the Niger as dividing into two large branches after +leaving Dibbie, and their re-union has been admitted by considerate +investigators, to be a very improbable addition to that report.[27] Sidi +Hamet assigns no course to the great river which he described as about +an hour’s ride with a camel south of Timbuctoo, and distinguished from +the Niger, or, as he called it, Zolilib, by saying the latter was two +hours ride. Adams placed La-mar-Zarah, about three quarters of a mile +wide, two miles south of the town, without hesitation, but he only +_conceived_ that the course was S.W.[28] Leo, ambiguous as the context +may be, certainly writes that there is a _branch_ of the Niger passing +Timbuctoo, “Vicino a un ramo del Niger.” Mr. Beaufoy’s Moor says that +below Ghinea is the sea into which the river of Tombuctoo disembogues +itself; on which Major Rennell observes, “by the word sea, it is well +known the Arabs mean to express a lake also:” this river of Timbuctoo +is, doubtless, the branch of the Niger forming the Gambaroo, and the sea +below Ghinea, the lake Caude. In the Description de l’Afrique, traduite +du Flamand, D’O. Dapper, à Amsterdam, 1686, I find “Ce Royaume de Tombut +ou Tongbutu environ à quatre lieuës _d’un bras_ du Niger.” The account, +to be submitted presently, that this branch of the Niger passing +Timbuctoo is not crossed until the third day going from Timbuctoo to +Houssa, is not an argument against its identity with the Zarah of Adams, +or the river of Sidi Hamet, only two or three miles from the city; +because, giving a northerly course to the branch, and Houssa laying +north eastward 20 journies from Timbuctoo, as will be shewn presently, +the direction of the path would not require the river to be crossed +immediately, but, evidently, not till the second or third day. + +De Barros, who considered the Senegal to be the Niger, wrote, that it +received various names,[29] and was called by the Caragoles +(Serawoollies) Collë; on which Mr. Murray reasonably observes, “this +name seems readily convertible into Joli-ba, the latter syllable being +merely an adjunct, meaning a river:” this I was also given to +understand. Now, if the name Joliba had not been reported on the +authority of Mr. Park, I might submit that Collë is more readily +convertible into Quolla, which approximating even more closely to Kulla, +seems to identify the Collë and Kulla under the common name of +Quolla.[30] Mr. Park in his memoir to Lord Camden, writes, “the river of +Dar Kulla, mentioned by Mr. Browne, is generally supposed to be the +Niger, or at least to have a communication with that river.” The name +and course of the Quolla suggested this to me before I observed the +above remark, which I did not until my return.[31] Other arguments will +presently appear for the identity of the Kulla and the Niger.[32] + +The Gambaroo seems to me to identify the Gir of Ptolemy,[33] carried by +him into the centre of Africa, and which would appear as large as the +Niger by the expression, “maximi sunt Gir et Nigir.” The river of +Bornoo, hitherto assumed, is not adequate to the impression Ptolemy +conveys, and the names “Gir et Nigir,” seem to indicate a connection. +The Niger may be considered to terminate when the smaller stream is lost +in the Nile. + +Concerning the source of the Niger, there was a difference of opinion +amongst the Moors, and not the least notion amongst the Negroes. Some +said that it rose in Bambooch, meaning, as I presume, Bambouk, and +others in Jabowa, where they described another large river to rise also, +running westward. Jabowa was said to be 40 journies from Sego, and +Bambooch 43. + +From Jabowa the Niger was described to run to Fouta Gollabi, and in six +days thence to Fouta Towra; the Moors must certainly have meant Foota +Galla, and Footatora, for their pronunciation was more imperfect than +their knowledge of the native names westward, whither they rarely +travelled. I induced a Moor on each side the question, and of different +countries, to draw in my quarters, unknown to each other, what they +called a chart of the Quolla, for the sake of preserving the several +names in their own writing. They were only inferior to one Moor, from +whom I never had an opportunity of inducing a chart. Both parties met, +apparently, at Hasoo, as will be seen by submitting the names.[34] + + _Bambooch._ _Jabowa._ + + _Journies._ + + 10 to Gadima, probably Gadoo, little more than 6 + journies from the capital of Bambook, according + to Major Rennell. + + 20 to Hasoo Hasoowa. + + 4 to Jaoora Jaoona. + + 2 to Jamoo Gamsoö. + + 5 to Mallaïa Mallaïu. + + 2 to Shégo Sego. + +Sego was correctly described according to Mr. Park, and the death of the +monarch he first knew spontaneously mentioned, with his warlike +disposition, and great power. Mr. Park observes that he found the +language of Bambarra a sort of corrupted Mandingo; this confirms the +numerals repeated to me as the Bambarra: + + _Bambarra._ _Mandingo._ + + One Killi Killin. + + Two Foolla Foola. + + Three Sabba Sabba. + + Four Nani Nani. + + Five Looroo Looloo. + + Six Wora Woro. + + Seven Worroola Oronglo. + + Eight Sagi Sie. + + Nine Konunto Konunto. + + Ten Ta Tang. + +From Sego to Sansanding was called one journey, from Sansanding to Jennë +three. Jennë was described as on an island of the Niger, the town +considerable, and fortified, and with large houses to pray in. I did not +understand that it was subject to Timbuctoo; it certainly has a distinct +monarch, who was called Malaï Smaera, and the head Moor, Malaï Bacharoo. +From Jennë through Dibbir, at the entrance of which is Sanina, to +Kabarra or Kabra, the port of Timbuctoo (half a day’s walk from it) is a +voyage of 20 days. By land, it was only 12 journies, through Mashena +(Masina) Farrimabbie, Jimballa (the Jinbala of Mr. Park, which they +persisted was not on an island of the Niger, but on the northern bank of +it) Taäkim, Assoofoo, Zeddaï, Douraï (probably the Downie in Major +Rennell’s map) Matarooch, and Makkasoorfoo, probably the Soorka’s, whom +Mr. Park mentioned as inhabiting the northern bank of the river between +Jinnie and Timbuctoo: he also writes that it is 12 journies by land from +Jinnie to Timbuctoo. The horizontal distance from Jennë to Jimballa, on +Major Rennell’s map is about 100 B. miles, and thence to Timbuctoo 90 +more. Now 12 journies at 18 miles, give but a horizontal distance of 144 +B. miles, wherefore, I should think the northern bank of the lake +Dibbir, is not so high as it has been hitherto drawn, and the path so +distant as not to be deflected by any curve of the lake. Timbuctoo was +described as a large city, but inferior to Houssa, and not comparable +with Bornoo. The Moorish influence was said to be powerful, but not +superior. A small river goes nearly round the town, overflowing in the +rains, and obliging the people of the suburbs to move to an eminence in +the centre of the town, where the King lives. This is, probably, the +smaller river described by Sidi Hamet as close to the town. Leo says, +when the Niger rises, the waters flow through certain canals to the +city. There were very few muskets to be seen; the King, a Moorish Negro +called Billabahada, had a few double barrelled guns, which were only +fired at customs, and gunpowder was almost as valuable as gold. The two +latter circumstances, besides the name of the river, were all that I +recognised in their reports confirming the description given by Adams, +which I conceive to be as inadequate as those collected by Mr. Jackson +are extravagant.[35] The three last Kings before Billa, were Osamana, +Dawoolloo, and Abass. Mr. Jackson says there was a King Woollo reigning +in 1800, and a Moor who had come from Timbuctoo to Coomassie ten years +ago, did not know King Woollo (Adams’s King) was dead, as he was +reigning at the time he left Timbuctoo. Abass probably had a short reign +like Saï Apokoo the second. This Moor also said that Woollo’s favourite +wife (called by Adams, Fatima) was named Fatooma Allizato. The editor of +Adams shews that the name of Fatima, affords in itself no proof that its +possessor was Moorish, or even a Mohammedan woman. I think it is +probably derived from a numeral, for it answers to five in the numerals +of Garangi (a country described to be northwards of Jennë) which are + + One Kerriminna. + + Two Ferriminna. + + Three Sowaninna. + + Four Firrima. + + Five Fahtima. + + Six Tata. + + Seven Mannima. + + Eight Pirima. + + Nine Missirĭma. + + Ten Guahee. + +Numerals are frequently added to names in Ashantee. + +Perhaps the old ms. which I purchased with difficulty from a Jennë Moor, +will recompense the translator by a fuller account, but I fear religion +only is the subject. It contains thirteen pages, with some marginal +notes in a different hand. I should have observed, that, generally +speaking, I found the Moors very cautious in their accounts, declining +to speak unless they were positive, and frequently referring doubtful +points to others whom they knew to be better acquainted with them. I did +not succeed in procuring the numerals of Timbuctoo, but the language is +different from that of Houssa, as the words opposed to those recollected +by Adams will shew: + + _Timbuctoo._ _Houssa._ + + Man Jungo Motoo. + + Woman Jumpsa Motee. + + Camel So Rakoomee. + + Dog Killab Karree. + + Cow Fallee Saneä. + + House Dah Garree. + + Water Boca Looa. + + Tree Carna Leeseeä. + + Gold Or Jennarreä. + + A Moor Seckar Bibay. + +From Timbuctoo[36] to Houssa is 20 journies; the three first through a +woody country, and over the branch of the Niger to Azibbie, the frontier +town. Houssa was said to be the largest city north or south of the +Quolla, except Bornoo; the Moorish influence to have been established +there beyond memory, and the King’s name Serragkee. Cabi is not the name +of the kingdom, but of a large dependent town and district on the Niger. +Mallowa, or Marrowa, as the Negroes pronounce it, (for they seemed +invariably to substitute _r_ for the _l_ of the Moors, as Quorra for +Quolla)[37] is the next extensive in its limits to Bornoo. It is, no +doubt, the kingdom of Mellè, misplaced by Leo, and reported to Cadamosto +in 1455, as 30 journies beyond Timbuctoo. Major Rennell observes, “we +should naturally look for it on the eastward of Timbuctoo,” and it has +only been placed south eastward, and south of the Niger, because Edrisi +has a city called Malel thereabouts, though he calls the name of the +kingdom of which it is the capital Lamlam, which Hartman would reconcile +by supposing it to be a transposition of Malel, certainly a forced +conjecture.[38] A large town called Mahalaba is the nearest I have found +to Malel, to be noticed on the route from Dagwumba to the Niger.[39] In +speaking of all fortified cities, the negroes of Mallowa invariably +prefixed Berinnë or Brinnë to the name, as an indication that they were +so; this was always the case in mentioning Houssa, Cabi, Cassina, +Katinna, &c. &c. I shall place the numerals of Cassina, as written by +Mr. Lucas after the Shereef Imhammed, to the right of those of Houssa or +Mallowa, from their close affinity, perhaps identity; for this language +is spoken far eastward, and the Shereef, as we shall presently see, was +rather inaccurate in his recollection of the numerals of Bornoo. + + One Daia Deiyah. + + Two Beeyoo Beeyou. + + Three Okoo Okoo. + + Four Odoo Foodoo. + + Five Beä Beat. + + Six Seddah Sheedah. + + Seven Becquay Bookai. + + Eight Tacquass Takoos. + + Nine Tarra Tarrah. + + Ten Gwoma Goumah. + +Two large lakes were described close to the northward of Houssa, one +called Balahar Soudan, and the other Girrigi Marragasee. Calculating the +20 journies from Timbuctoo at 18 miles each, supposing two-thirds to be +made good on the horizontal distance (equal to 212 g. miles) and the +course N.E., I have placed Houssa, 18° 59′ N. and 3° 59′ E. This agrees +pretty well with the account of its being 17 journies from the Niger, or +Quolla, which give 306 B. miles, and the horizontal distance 176 g. +miles. Houssa has hitherto been laid down about 2 journies N. of the +Niger. I have an impression that the city of Houssa will be found to lay +about E.N.E. of Timbuctoo, of course nearer the Gambaroo, which runs +through its dominions, and thus account for the reports of its being +situated upon the Niger. Leo certainly meant Mallowa and the Gambaroo, +when he wrote, “Melli regio quæ extendit se ad flumen quoddam quod ex +Nilo (i.e. Nigro) effluit trecenta millia passuum,” adding, “regnum +opulentissimum, maximè artificum et mercatorum copia, frequentia templa, +sacerdotes et populus qui Nigritas omnes civilitate antecedunt;” which +they certainly appear to do: see a few of their articles for the British +Museum. May not the Maurali of Ptolemy be the Melli of Leo, and the +modern Mallowa or Marrowa? his large adjunct to the Niger to the south +indicates the two rivers. Major Rennell seems to have expected the +present discovery, when he writes (commenting on Mr. Park’s report that +Houssa was 30 journies by land from Tombuctoo, and 45 by water) +“Possibly it may be that Houssa is situated on a different river from +that which passes by Tombuctoo (the Joliba,) but which may be an adjunct +of it, and may run into it in the quarter of Tombuctoo.” In Dapper’s +translation of the Description De l’Afrique du Flamand, 1686, I find +“Cette contreé (Melli) s’etend environ cent lieuës _le long d’un bras_ +du Niger.” + +Tarrabaleese, 50 journies westward of north, was much spoken of from the +number of its market places. This must be Tripoli, the Arabic corruption +of which is Trabŏlis. The Moors gave me a route to Tunis or Toonis, but +I cannot recognise any name in Major Rennell’s map, (which I could not +procure until my return,) unless Sabbai be Sebba, and Mookanassa +Mourzouk, in Fezzan. There is also another route eastward which I cannot +trace. See Appendix. + +From Kabarra the Quolla, continuing its course southward of east, passed +by Uzzalin, Googara,[40] Koolmanna, Gauw, Tokogirri, (perhaps the Tokrur +of Edrisi and Gatterer) Askeä, Zabirmë, and Cabi to Yaoora, which I +imagine to be the Youri of Major Rennell’s map.[41] De Lisle places a +kingdom, Yaouree, south of the Niger. It is a very celebrated ferry, +occurring in a variety of routes from the north of the Quolla to +Ashantee, spoken of always as westward of Cassina, and with little +variation as 25 journies from Timbuctoo. Now as the Moors called it one +day’s journey from Sego to Sansanding, and Mr. Park made it scarcely +more, I will assume this as the rule to calculate the distance from +Timbuctoo to Yaooree, and afterwards consider its place according to the +routes from Dagwumba, through it, to Cassina. Twenty five journies from +Timbuctoo would place Yaoora about 70 miles above the Berrisa in Major +Rennell’s map, but this makes the horizontal distance from Yaoora to +Dagwumba about 850 B. miles, and therefore too great for 42 journies, +the greatest number allowed in the routes from Dagwumba to Yaoora. + +I would not presume to investigate after Major Rennell, it would be +absurd in me to expect to throw any new interest into the discussion, +but by making clear the accounts I collected; to do which I must decline +the course of the Niger from Cabi (Mr. Horneman writes it flows +southward from Haoussa) even to a junction with the Bahr Kulla. For, +placing Yaoora in 13° 30′ N. and 8° 30′ E. in conformity with its +distance from Timbuctoo and a declining course to the Kulla, the +horizontal distance to Yahndi, the capital of Dagwumba, will be 600 B. +miles: now 42 journies, the greatest number allowed by the travellers, +at 20 miles each, (rejecting one third, as heretofore, lost in the +windings of the path) give the horizontal distance at 560 B. miles. This +is certainly an additional argument to the similarity of the names +Quolla and Kulla, for the identity of these rivers; but not so strong a +one as that the routes both of Moors and Negroes, allow but 40 journies +from Dagwumba to the point of crossing the Niger for Houssa. The course +to this point was described by the Moors as a little to the eastward of +north: now 40 journies on a N.N.E. course, by the former rule, places +this ferry 15° 1′ N. and 3° 33′ E. agreeing very well with our previous +position of Houssa, and proving that the course of the Niger must +decline considerably, for more than two extra journies would otherwise +be required for the north eastward route from Dagwumba to Yaoora. Major +Rennell only writes that the course of the Niger is _probably_ to +Wangara. Mr. Ledyard, in his comparatively minute description of that +country, (which I shall notice in the route to Bornoo) says nothing of +its bordering on the Niger. Major Rennell, in the construction of the +geography of Mr. Horneman’s report, writes, “M. D’Anville also had an +idea, and so describes it in his map of Africa, 1749 (possibly from +actual information,) that the Niger declined to the south beyond Gana, +so that the termination of it in the lake Semegonda was 3½ degrees of +latitude to the south of Gana.” There is a kingdom called Kulla as well +as a river, and there is also a kingdom Quollaraba: raba being probably +no more than an adjunct equal to the prefix dar, and signifying a +kingdom. Mr. Dupuis, in his notes on Adams, says of an intelligent +Negro, “his account was chiefly curious from his description of a nation +which he called Gallo or _Quallo_, which conveyed to me an idea of a +people, more advanced in the arts, and wealthier than any that I had +previously heard of: within three days journey of the capital was a +large lake or river which communicated with the Wed Nile.” The commended +arguments of the Quarterly Review, (which I have never had the advantage +of reading,) must be in a great degree auxiliary, in arguing, to support +the Congo hypothesis, a course of the Niger equally declined with that +which I have followed for the identity of the Quolla and Kulla. The +junction of the Quolla with the Bahr Abiad, or Nil, as the Moors called +it, cannot be more descriptively expressed, according to every account I +received, than in the words of Mr. Horneman. “Some days past I spoke to +a man who had seen Mr. Brown in Darfoor, he gave me some information +respecting the countries he travelled through, and told me that the +communication of the Niger with the Nile was not to be doubted, but that +this communication before the rainy season was very little.”[42] + +We will pursue the course of the Quolla from Yaoora (where I should +judge from description it must be about 3 miles wide) before we apply +the routes northward of it.[43] One journey eastward of Yaoora, +(sometimes called Yawooree by the Negroes,) it passed Nooffie, doubtless +the Nyffe of Mr. Horneman and others, and which De Lisle has written +Nouffy: 3 journies thence it passed Boussa, which Amadi Fatouma +reported, as it was to me also (see Diary) as the place of Mr. Park’s +death, but I could hear nothing of the rock and door. Boussa is not in +Major Rennell’s map, but I observed Bousa in the map of De Lisle before +alluded to; it is probably the Berrisa of Edrisi. Twelve journies thence +it passed Atagara, but, previously, Hoomee, and Rakkah.[44] Southward of +the latter, they described an inland country called Koofee, possibly +Kosie, a country I shall presently introduce, as visited by a mulatto, +behind Lagos. Thirty journies from Atagara, it flowed through the +kingdom of Quollaraba,[45] which thus falls precisely where Major +Rennell has laid down the kingdom of Kulla. Six journies thence it +passed Mafeegoodoo, and 13 journies beyond, the lake Cadee or Caudee. +This I should consider to be the Cauga of Edrisi, which Major Rennell +has identified with the Fittri of Mr. Brown, for into this the second +large branch of the Niger, or the river Gambaroo, is said to run; but it +is considerably too much to the southward for the Cauga in Major +Rennell’s map, being, according to the accounts of the Moors, only 3 +journies northward of the Quolla: yet Edrisi writes “besides a river of +the name of Nile or Neel _passes by_ Kauga.” What inclines me to think +the Cauga may be more distant from Bornoo the capital, though not from +the frontier of that kingdom, (15 journies being the number reported to +me as well as to Mr. Brown) is, that the Negroes of that city were not +so well acquainted with this lake as the Moors. My sketch in the map, of +course, represents the sketches and descriptions of the natives. They +described the Cadee or Caudee as an immense water, like a small sea, +frequently overflowing the neighbouring country, and sometimes so +convulsed as to throw up large quantities of fish and other contents; +meaning, in short, a volcanic lake. The Moors called it also the Bahr el +Noä, having a tradition that the waters of the deluge retired to, and +were absorbed in it. A very high mountain was spoken of, at an equal +distance between the Caudee and the Quolla.[46] Twelve journies from +Caudee, the Quolla received the river Sharee from northward, which, I +imagine, if not the Misselad, may be a river deriving its name from the +Abu Shareb of Major Rennell’s map. The Quolla was said to pass to the +southward of Bagarrimee, (the Baghermee of Mr. Brown.) Kalafarradoo, (I +cannot find any name nearer to this than the Courourfa of De Lisle, and +Kororfa, said in Mr. Beaufoy’s MSS. to be W. of Begarmee). Foör (Darfur, +according to Mr. Brown, means the kingdom of Foör) and lastly to skirt +Waddaï, the Waddey of Mr. Horneman, who wrote that it was east of +Begharmee, and west of Darfoor; but, as it was reported to me east of +Darfoor, by every person, and as Mr. Brown did not hear of it to adjust +its position, I have placed it so.[47] + +The junction with the Nile having taken place, as Mr. Horneman before +reported, south of Darfoor, they continued the course to a large country +called Soonar,[48] indisputably the kingdom of Sennaar. Hence to +Massar,[49] or Egypt, they did not always agree themselves in the +various names, nor can I recognise any on the map, unless their Shewa +Abenhassa be Bennassa, Minsoor, Misur, Gammeacha, Gammazie; Sooess, +Sohaig; Kaheea, Kahoul; Zaragoo, Nayazoogoo; and their Lamabalara, in +the country of Egypt, the Bahr be la ma of Mr. Horneman; of the latter +there can be no doubt.[50] + +My friend, the Shereef Brahima had, as well as some others, been to +Mecca and Medina. I place great reliance on this man’s information +(invariably confirmed by the Negroes) from his caution and diffidence, +and my experience of his character; for he was ultimately a valuable +friend to the Mission: he was the only Moor who dared to refuse to be +present at human sacrifices. The MS. No. 2. is his writing, and +professedly the route from Dagwumba through Bornoo to Massar,[51] it +consists of six pages well written. This would have been a valuable man +to have engaged to travel through the interior, for he was capable of +making circumstantial minutes, and I think he might have been engaged to +do so by a moderate Fort pay. The Moors talk much of the King of +Santambool,[52] as a powerful monarch and formidable to the Christians. + +It will excite surprise that I heard nothing of Wangara,[53] as was the +case with Mr. Brown, not even after I had, contrary to my general +custom, submitted the name: but I heard very much spontaneously of +Oongooroo. Mr. Horneman called Wangara, Ungura, and De Lisle, Ouangara, +we shall find it in the route from Yaoora to Bornoo or Barranoo. Bornoo +was described to me about north-east from Yaoora, which agrees very well +with Major Rennell’s position, established beyond all contradiction +short of an observation, but, the horizontal distance, (lowering the +place of Yaoora as I have done) thence to Bornoo would be upwards of +1000 B. miles, whereas they described it to be but 51 journies, which +allowing 20 miles to each, as the country was said to be much more +favourable to travelling, and the path more direct than that we came, +would give but an horizontal distance of 680 B. miles. Mr. Horneman +heard that Bornu was but 15 journies from Kassina; I was told 33 if +walked, 19 if rode. Major Rennell has made the distance about 30 +journies, considering the 15 journies applicable to the western +boundaries of the empire, and not to the capital. + +We will now return to Yahndi and proceed northwards to Houssa. Nineteen +journies from Yahndi is Matchaquawdie, six beyond is Goorooma, 10 thence +Dolooë, subject to Goorooma, and only five journies from the Quolla, +described as about two miles wide there. When Amadi Fatouma mentioned +that he passed Gourouma, I should suppose he meant this kingdom of +Goorooma, Dolooë, as subject to it, being probably included under that +name. I must impress, however, that this northern route from Dagwumba to +the Niger, being, with that from Kong to Jennë, the only ones +unauthenticated, otherwise than by cross examination, I do not report +them with the same confidence, which I do the others. Two journies from +the northern bank of the Quolla is Gamhadi, to which three large towns +belong, Dogondaghi, Toodonkassalee, and Toompasseä, and numerous +dependent crooms. There were three routes from Gamhadi, the first +northward to Houssa 15 journies, passing the large river Gambaroo the +ninth, between which and Houssa is a district called Zessa. The second +route is to Katinnee, a city and state of the Mallowa kingdom, one month +from the Quolla. On this route the Gambaroo is crossed the tenth day, +and Sowhoondë, Souoola, (perhaps Sala) Quattaraquassee, Doorooma, Soroo, +Zabbakou, Dinka, Doochingamza, and Dammisamia were mentioned as large +towns on the route. The third route was through the Fillanee country, +(doubtless the Fullan[54] of Ben Ali) which had been frequently at war +with Mallowa, to the kingdom of Kallaghee, 14 journies from the Quolla, +the Gambaroo being passed the tenth. The numerals of Kallaghee are + + One Gadee. + + Two Sillil. + + Three Quan. + + Four Foolloo. + + Five Vydee. + + Six Zoodoo. + + Seven Etkassa. + + Eight Shiddowka. + + Nine Woollaä. + + Ten Woma. + +A country called Barrabadi was described eastward of Mallowa, between it +and Bornoo; its numerals corresponded with those of Bornoo. + +We will now return again to Dagwumba, and follow the route thence, over +the Quolla, through Yaoora to Bornoo. Gamba we have already described as +five journies north eastward of Yahndi, thence two journies, over a high +mountain called Yerim, and across a river running southwards (which the +Moors called Mory, but which it would seem is the continuation of the +Karhala) is Gooroosie, four journies thence Zoogoo, probably the Zeggo +of Major Rennell’s map; 10 farther the kingdom of Barragoo. De Lisle has +placed his kingdom of Bourgou thereabouts. North-westward of Barragoo is +Koomba, the Kombah of Major Rennell’s map. The position of this kingdom +is pretty well ascertained, because those who came from it, described +Goorooma as its northern neighbour, and Barragoo to be the first kingdom +passed through in their journies to the coast below Whydah. Eight +journies from Barragoo is Toombeä, three beyond is Goodoobirree. A river +running to the Quolla (as it was said, but more probably from it) called +Leeäsa, flows close to the eastward of this path, and is crossed, going +from Goodoobirree southwards, to a large kingdom called Yariba by the +Moors, but Yarba more generally by the natives. Major Rennell has drawn +a river communicating with the Niger close to Youri, so has De Lisle. +This river Leeäsa is the only one I heard of, answering in the least +degree to that of Sidi Hamet, but Wassana was a name unknown. Aquallie +is the frontier town of Yariba, one journey from Goodoobirree, and one +from Bootee, second only to the capital, Katanga, four journies beyond +it. Yariba was described to be about 24 journies, through Hio, (its +immediate neighbour) from Arătakassee or Alătakassee, which we shall +hereafter recognise in Ardra: this determines its position pretty +well.[55] Dahomey was said to be tributary to Yariba, as well as to Hio, +which I have an impression is also tributary to Hio. From Hio to Dahomey +is seven journies. The military are despotic in Hio, they always +intercept the new King on his way to the palace, and demand his naming +some neighbouring country for their invasion and plunder, before they +confirm him. The King before the present, had named Dahomey, but after +three years neglect of the fulfilment, he ordered the army against a +northern neighbour. The army went, wasted and pillaged the country, but +when within a day’s march of the capital on their return, they sent +deputies to enjoin his abdication, as inevitable to a falsehood to them; +he was obstinate; they arrived and cut off his head. The numerals of Hio +are + + One Innee. + + Two Eygee. + + Three Etta. + + Four Ernee. + + Five Aroon. + + Six Effa. + + Seven Eggay. + + Eight Eggo. + + Nine Essun. + + Ten Eywaw. + +The Hio man, who gave me the above numerals, spoke of the Apaccas as a +more powerful northern neighbour, but I never heard of them from any +other person. + +Yariba must certainly be the Yarba of Imhammed, though he described it +as 18 or 20 journies from Gonjah towards the N.W., for he is likely to +have been incorrect in this, because we have proved him to be so, in +stating, that Ashantee was the capital of Tonouwah, which appears to be +a district or town of Dagwumba, the people of which kingdom are by no +means warlike as he represented them, nor have they any notion of taming +the elephant: he reported that Calanshee was a dependency of Ashantee, +whereas no Ashantee knows the name; that Gonjah was 46 journies from the +coast, when it is but 30. Major Rennell reasonably conceived the Yarba +of Imhammed to be the Yarra of De Lisle, at the back of Sierra Leone, +but as this country is not preserved in his own map, I presume it cannot +be of much consequence, politically or commercially, whereas Yariba, +indisputably eastward of Kong, is always announced to enquirers, both by +Moors and Negroes, as a very powerful, and much frequented kingdom. +Another argument is, that all the Moors I saw at Coomassie, were almost +ignorant of the countries westward, only speaking of those their +enquiries for the source of the Quolla had made known to them: indeed, I +did not see one who had travelled westward, or south westward of +Bambarra, but our Accra linguist told me that he had recognised a Moor +at the Rio Pongos, whom he had seen in Coomassie (when sent there on the +eve of the second Ashantee invasion) who told him that he had been two +months travelling from Kong, and crossed a very large river. Imhammed’s +Affow (if not Taffoo, or the Inta country) I conceive to be Afflou, a +town and district of the Krepee or Kerrapay country, and a short walk +from the sea by Quitta, westward of Yarba, as he says, but more than +eight journies. The Kerrapay country, which is extensive and +independent, will be described, in proceeding from Cape Coast Castle, +along the coast, eastward. + +[Illustration: _London published as the Act directs by John Murray +Albemarle Street 4th. Jany. 1819._ + +_J. Walker Sculpt._] + +To return to the route from Yahndi to Yaoora, three journies from +Goodoobirree towards the Quolla through Gillimakafoo, Garagaroogee, and +Paänghee, is the large city of Kaiama, and four beyond it, through +Mahalaba, (the nearest name to the Malel of Edrisi,) Marramoo, and +across the small river Wooroo, (running to the Quolla) is the city of +Wauwaw,[56] three journies from the Quolla. Ten journies from the +northern bank, through Yaoora, and skirting the eastern limits of +Zamfara, is Goobirree, so called by the Moors, and Goobur by the +Negroes.[57] Mr. Beaufoy learned that Gubur was to the south of Wangara, +and De Lisle writes it Goubour. Thence to Kassina, having crossed the +large river Gambaroo, is eight journies. Eighteen journies, calculated +at 18 miles each on a N.E. course, from the altered position of Yaoora, +would place Kassina in 15° 43′ N. and 10° 43′ E., instead of 16° N. and +11° 45′ E. Mr. Lucas learned that Kassina was five journies from the +Niger, or about 100 miles from that water, which it is likely to be from +the upper branch or the Gambaroo, which river skirting Kanoo, and +Oongooroo, (or Wangara,) before it descends to the lake Cadee, (though I +could not prove satisfactorily that it did so,) would account for +Edrisi’s placing Kano, and Wangara, on the Niger.[58] From Kassina to +Dawoorra is six journies: this must be the Daura of Mr. Horneman, though +in the drawing of the Marrabut it is placed north of Kano. From Dawoorra +to Kanoo is four journies. D’Anville placed it 90 miles to the N.E. of +Kassina, and in the drawing just alluded to, it is placed inland +northward of the Niger. The only authority for supporting Edrisi’s +position of it, is what Mr. Matra was told at Marocco. The Moor who +informed Mr. Beaufoy that boats went with the stream to Ghineä, (the +Gano or Kano of Major Rennell) placed Jinnie between it and Houssa, so +gross an inaccuracy as to justify our doubting him on the other point. +The Ginea of Leo more probably meant Jennë, and he seems to write of +that navigation as a distinct one from that to Melli eastward.[59] From +Kanoo, through the large towns Madagee and Adagia, to Oongooroo is nine +journies, but seven on a joma or camel, “Est iter octo dierum versus +orientem” (Edrisi.) From Oongooroo to Barranoo is 15 journies on foot +according to the Moors, nine on horseback according to the Negroes, by +route No. 12. Bornoo or Barranoo was spoken of as the first empire in +Africa,[60] the King’s name, according to the Moors, was Baba Alloo, but +the Negroes called him Massinnama.[61] Kassina, and the intermediate +countries on the route, were subject to him with many others. One +district belonging to Bornoo was named Panaroo, and the vassal King or +governor of it, Yandee Kooma. A small river, called Gaboöa[62] by the +Negroes, ran southwards near Bornoo, and six journies eastward from it, +close to Aweeac, a large one Zerrookoo Keroboobee. Mr. Horneman writes, +the Wad el Gazel is not a river, but a large and fertile valley. The +Negroes of Bornoo were well acquainted with Baghermee. Imhammed’s +recollection of the numerals of Bornoo must have been very imperfect, +for I have written them at least half a dozen times, both from Moorish +and Negro inhabitants, and my spelling agreed with that of another +person present. They are + + _Imhammed’s._ + + One Leskar Lakkah. + + Two Ahndee Endee. + + Three Yaskar Nieskoo. + + Four Deegah Dekoo. + + Five Oöogoo Okoo. + + Six Araskoo Araskoo. + + Seven Tooloor Naskoo. + + Eight Woskoo Tallóre. + + Nine Likkar L’ilkar. + + Ten Meeägoo Meikoo. + +Ben Ali said the language of the common people of Bornoo had a strong +resemblance to that of the neighbouring Negroes. Mr. Lucas writes that +no less than 30 languages are spoken in these dominions. The following +are the numerals of Maïha, one month to the north-eastward, subject to +Bornoo, and the King’s name Smaï Doonama. + + One Lagen. + + Two Indë. + + Three Eäska. + + Four Daäger. + + Five Ohoo. + + Six Araska. + + Seven Tooloor. + + Eight Weska. + + Nine Likar. + + Ten Inagoon. + +The Negroes called Kanem, Kandem; were well acquainted with Doomboo, and +spoke much of the kingdom of Asben. + +We will now return to Cape Coast Castle, and seek the best descriptive +authorities, in aid of the observations which have been made by the +Commissioners and others, for the maritime geography from the river +Assinee to Lagos. + +The latitude and longitude of Cape Coast (called by the natives Igwa, +and in the Affettoo district) according to Messrs. Ludlam and Dawes, the +Government Commissioners who surveyed the coast in 1810, is 5° 6′ N. and +1° 51′ W. Elmina, the native name of which is Addĭna, is about seven +miles to windward of Cape Coast. Twelve miles from Elmina is Commenda, +an English fort, the town is called by the natives Akatayki, the Dutch +fort was destroyed in the American war. Nine miles thence is Chama, or +Assĕma, at the mouth of the Boosempra. Six hours pull up the river, is +an island, where Attobra, one of the Warsaw caboceers, who supplies the +Dutch with canoes, is building a large house to retire to; four hours +above which is his croom. Colonel Starrenberg was pulled three days up +the river in a canoe; his progress was much impeded by rocks, and at +length arrested by a large cataract, which, being considered a powerful +fetish by the natives, the canoe-men dared not to approach. Nine miles +from Chama, where the Dutch have a fort called Sebastian, is Succondee, +the first town in the Ahanta country. The English fort was destroyed by +the French in the American war, but there is a settlement house. The +Dutch fort is called Orange. Four miles from Succondee is Taccorary, and +a Dutch fort. Nine miles beyond is Boutrie where the Dutch have a fort, +formerly belonging to the Brandenburgh Company. Three miles from Boutrie +is Dix-Cove, or Nfooma, and in the interval Boossooä, the capital of +Ahanta, which is divided into three districts, Amanfoo, Adoom, and Poho. +The first is about one journey (through Geämma) behind Boossooa, and one +from the river Ancobra, the caboceer is of the next consequence to the +King, whose power and means are extremely limited. The two latter +districts are not more than half a journey behind Taccorary. The small +river running into the sea at Boutrie, rises in the Adoom district, +which is said to abound in gold, but the pits have not been worked for +many years, from their fear of the Warsaws. Amanfee also abounds in very +fine gold, which is generally found in quartz, and is ground upon stones +arranged under large sheds for the purpose. In a respectable periodical +publication of the last year, I observe, the King of Ashantee called +King of Ahanta, Inta, or Ashantee; this is one of the many proofs of the +indiscriminate ideas of that monarch before the Mission. Eighteen miles +from Dix-Cove passing Achooma and Accoda, (where the Dutch have a fort, +and which is close to Cape Three Points) are the ruins of Hollandia, +formerly belonging to the Brandenburgh Company, and called Fort Royal +Fredericksburg. Sixteen miles farther is Axim, where the Dutch fort +Anthony, their Vice Presidency, is situated. The people of Axim speak a +dialect of the Ahanta. About two miles westward is the mouth of the +Ancobra, so called by the Portuguese from its windings, the native name +is Seënna. Col. Starrenberg, who went up the river as far as the ruins +of Elisa Carthago, the extreme navigable point, for any but a very small +canoe, says, he cannot form any accurate idea of the distance, but +supposes it was about 20 Dutch miles and the course N.E. Meredith says +50 English: he was very careless and incorrect in writing, “the French +built a fort on the right bank of this river, and at about 50 miles from +its mouth; where they had a great gold trade, that soon excited the +jealousy of the Dutch, who expelled them. The Dutch however did not long +enjoy this acquisition, for the chief got embroiled with the natives, +and betook himself to the desperate remedy of blowing up the fort.” +Elisa Carthago was built by the Dutch governor Ruighaven, who died, as +appears by his tomb stone at Elmina, before 1700. The French never had +any but a small factory, almost at the mouth of the river, and the Dutch +officer in charge of Elisa Carthago had enjoyed a good trade many years +before the cupidity of the natives reduced him to the act of despair, +related by Bosman, and still recorded by the natives, who narrated it to +Col. Starrenberg. The following is from the Latin translation of Dr. +Reynhaut: “The chief of Elisa Carthago being at variance with the +natives, who invested the fort, and finding he could not resist them any +longer” (for as the story goes, he had been reduced to fire pieces of +rock gold from the want of bullets) “feigned to treat with them, and +invited them for that purpose into the hall of the fort, under which he +had placed several barrels of gunpowder, and a small boy with a match, +ordering him to apply it directly he stamped his foot on the floor of +the hall above. This he did, after reproaching the natives with their +cupidity, and they were all blown up together. One of the servants of +the fort had just before contrived to effect his escape with most of the +papers.” In navigating from the mouth of the Ancobra or Seënna to Elisa +Carthago, the following towns, on the banks, are passed, Boasso, Tarbo, +Marmeresse, Ejujan, Tetchbrouw, Gura, Barnesoe, Uromanio, Afamkan, and +Aduwa. Gura is a small state, the people of which speak the same +language as those of Axim. From Aduwa there are three grand roads, one +to the Aowin country, one to the Dankara, and one to Asankarie, a +considerable town in Warsaw. From Aduwa to Dankara numerous small crooms +are passed through, and the first large one of the latter country is +Kenkoomabaraso, only three journies from Coomassie. The people of +Dankara come to Axim to trade. From Aduwa to Aowin the first +considerable town is Taqua. The Warsaw country is governed by four +caboceers, independent of each other, of whose relation and power, the +best idea I can give, is by comparing it with that of the tyrants Geron +and Theron, who ruled at the same time in Sicily. Intiffa, the richest +caboceer, and whose power extends the farthest, resides at Abbradie, one +short journey from Elmina. Cudjo Miensa (Miensa is the numeral three) is +his principal counsellor, and will succeed him. Nerbehin was formerly +the residence of Quashee Jacon, another independent caboceer, but of +Intiffa’s family; he was driven from thence by Esson Cudjo, who now +rules there: he fled to Samcow (situated about one day’s journey on the +frontier of Warsaw, behind Succondee) of which Musoe, a slave of his, +has raised himself to be the caboceer, and now protects his master until +Esson Cudjoe’s death. Attobra, another independent caboceer, lives at +Dabroādie, on the Boosempra. The greatest breadth of the Warsaw country +is supposed to be 60 B. miles, and the greatest length 100 or 120. About +28 miles from the Ancobra, begins the kingdom of Amanaheä, in which the +English fort Apollonia is situated: it extends about 100 miles along the +coast, but not more than 20 in-land. The various numerals of the coast +will be submitted in an essay on the Fantee language. + +Barely four miles eastward of Cape Coast is Moree, and the Dutch fort +Nassau. Six miles from Moree is Annamaboe, the most complete +fortification in the country; five miles thence Cormantine, the first +fort possessed by the English, and built by them about the middle of the +seventeenth century. It was taken afterwards by the Dutch, and being +stormed, was almost destroyed by the Ashantee army, before it attacked +Annamaboe: the position is very commanding. Tantumquerry, a small +English fort, is about 18 miles from Cormantine, (crossing the small +river Amissa, an hour’s walk in-land from which is Mankasim, the capital +of the Braffoe district of Fantee) the natives call the town Tuam. Eight +miles from Tantum is the town of Apam, where is a Dutch fort and a small +river. Eight miles from Apam is Simpah or Winnebah. The people of Simpah +are Fantees, but their language is called Affoottoo. They are in the +district of Agoona. About nine miles from Simpah is the Dutch fort +Berracoe, the natives call the town Seniah. Attah of Akim laid a +contribution on this fort in March 1811. About 27 miles from Berracoe is +Accra, or Inkran, once subject to Aquamboo, which people, according to +Isert, formerly drove them to Popo. Meredith fully describes Accra and +the environs, but he does not mention that according to the natives the +Portuguese settled here first, (Isert writes in 1452) and exercising the +greatest cruelties and enormities, were extirpated by the Accras (their +town was then situated a little behind the present), who executed the +governor and his countrymen, on a spot whence they still take the earth +to rub a new born child, in commemoration of the event. Accra, according +to the observations of the Commissioners, is in 5° 20′ N. and 10′ W. Mr. +Meredith, after quoting this observation, placed it in his outline of +the coast in 58′ E. Between two and three miles from the English fort, +is Christiansburg Castle, the Danish head-quarters. + +We will follow[63] Isert in his route from Accra to the Volta, as he +travelled it several times. “Two miles from Christiansburg is Labbodee, +where there was formerly a fort: this is the residence of the grand +fetish, and the Bishop. Two miles to Pessin, two to Temmen, where the +Dutch had a small fort, abandoned in 1781, two (leaving Nimboe a little +in the bush) to Ponee, a deserted Dutch fort, now a Dutch factory; two +miles thence (crossing a brakke streek or low land, up to the shoulders +in the rains, and 300 fathoms broad, sometimes called Ponee river) are +great and small Pram Pram, where the English have a small fort or +fortified factory. Two long miles thence is Friedensbourg fort at Ningo, +the people of which speak a different language called Adampee, (the name +given to their country,) a mixture of Ashantee, Kerrapee, and Accra; it +is a republic.” Behind Adampee is the Crobo mountain, the people of +which, though but a few hundreds, have hitherto baffled the Ashantees, +by leaving their croom at the bottom of the mountain, which is of great +height, rugged, accessible but by one narrow path, and with springs of +water on the top, whence they roll down upon their enemies, the large +stones and fragments of rock which abound. “From Adampee I went in one +day to Addah, 12 miles. Two and a half from Ningo is a croom called Laï, +the inhabitants of which have removed, some to Addah, some to Ningo: the +English had a factory here, long gone to ruin. One mile west of the +Volta, there was formerly a croom called Foutchi.” Reckoning four +English miles to one Danish or Dutch, Addah would be 96 miles from +Christiansburg, but Meredith makes it but 67, therefore we will take the +medium and call it 87. From the Volta to Cape St. Paul’s is five leagues +by sea, according to Dalzel, and 15 miles by land, according to Norris’s +map of Dahomey and its environs. Quitta, about 12 miles from it +(according to Norris) by the observation made in H.M.S. Argo in 1802, is +in 5° 45′ N. and 1° 29′ 30″ E. by chronometer. Accra lies, according to +the Commissioners, in 10′ W. Taking the medium between Isert and +Meredith, Christiansburg Castle, about three miles eastward of the +English fort, is 87 from Addah, but as that place is six miles from the +mouth of the Volta, we will call it 81: allowing one mile for the +breadth of the river and 18 miles for the difference of longitude +between it and Quitta, (according to Norris,) the distance from English +Accra to Quitta will be 103 B. miles, which being equal to 89 +geographical miles, place Quitta in 1° 19′ E. instead of 1° 29′ 30″ as +by the observation of the Argo, and that supposing the whole distance to +be made good horizontally, which is impossible. Wherefore I should think +Isert, who had travelled it, was more likely to be correct in making the +distance from Christiansburg to Addah 96 miles, than Meredith in calling +it 67. + +Norris’s observation, placing Cape St. Paul’s in 5° 52′ N., I conceive +to be incorrect, as that of the Argo must be preferred, which places +Quitta in 5° 42′ N., instead of 6° 2′ N., as in Norris’s map. This +should not have escaped Mr. Dalzel’s notice in the “New Sailing +Directions,” where both observations are cited in the same page, without +any remark on the inconsistency, for Quitta and not St. Paul’s, is thus +made the Cape or western limit of the Bight, the eastern side of which +is called the Bight of Benin, I regret, amongst other disadvantages, +that of not having the opportunity to consult the chart of Mr. Demayne +(the master of H.M.S. Amelia) which is said to be more accurate than any +other.[64] + +Quitta is included in an independent state of Kerrapay, called Agwoona, +which extends thence along the coast to the Volta; the towns from that +river to Quitta are Attoko, Terrobee, Footee, Agwoona, Whiëe, and +Tegbay. Agwoona lays half a mile from the shore, and about 15 miles from +the Volta. The inhabitants of all the other towns are obliged by the law +to bury their dead in Agwoona, the capital; the caboceer of which is +supreme over the others, but not absolute. Between Quitta and Popo, lay +the Kerrapay towns Egbiffeemee, to which several of the Quittas have +retired, Edjenowah, Oöogloobooë, and Afflou or Afflahoo, a little way +from the beach. These towns are governed by caboceers, independent of +each other, as well as of Agwoona; and in the last a mixture of Adampë +and Kerrapay is spoken, accounted for by the emigration of a large body +of the former people. Another independent state of Kerrapay is +Tettaytokoo, 2 journies behind Popo; the King is said to be despotic, +and the capital composed of circular houses. There is also another +smaller interior state, governed by a caboceer called Quaminagah. Tadoo, +however, is allowed to be the largest kingdom of Kerrapay, 6 journies +behind Popo, (which the Fantees call Inshan, but the natives Taun or +Taum) described as a large town; and the Accra language is spoken there +as well as the Kerrapay, in consequence of the temporary emigration of +the former people in 1680. The Kerrapay numerals are + + One Eddee. + + Two Effee. + + Three Eltong. + + Four Ennay. + + Five Altong. + + Six Adday. + + Seven Adrinnee. + + Eight Ennee. + + Nine Indee. + + Ten Owoo. + +The Negroes of this country are of a much more daring and desperate +character than their neighbours, and were always the most severely +treated in the slave ships. Mr. Meredith, who writes it Crepee, placed +it west of the Volta. + +Whydah, according to an observation of the Argo, is 6° 14′ N. 2° 31′ E. +I do not recollect Dalzel to have mentioned that Anotto is produced in +the neighbourhood of Whydah. I am not certain whether it is by the Bixa +orellana; but the shrub at Whydah may be classed under Polyandria +Monogynia. Lambe made it 200 miles from Whydah beach to Abomey; Norris +112, Dalzel 96. By Mr. Norris’s own account of his journey, not more +than 20 hours were occupied in travelling, which at 4 miles an hour, the +greatest pace which I think the hammock men can average, would make the +distance 80 miles. An officer in this service went to Dahomey, without +hurrying, in 3 days; and considers a dispatch would reach it in 2: he +thinks it can scarcely be 70 miles; but calling it 80 as above, and +supposing 54, two thirds, to be the horizontal distance made good, equal +to almost 47 G. miles, Abomey would lay in 7° 12′ N. Yet Mr. Dalzel +writes it lays in about 7° 59′ N.: Whydah being in about 6° 25′ in the +map affixed to his history; this requires 108 B. miles to be made good +on the horizontal distance, whereas he calls that of the whole journey +but 96, and Mr. Norris, who drew the map, 112. The public were certainly +indebted to Mr. Dalzel for the History of Dahomey, but it was his duty, +as an intelligent and considerate man, to correct such an error as this; +and if the author of the preface had reflected, he would not have +written, “The map, is that of Mr. Norris, with a few additions, which +for the places on the coast, and the position of Abomey, is near enough +to the truth.” Mr. Dalzel should have corrected a greater error in this +map, the course of the Lagos river, for altering which I shall presently +quote his own authority in addition to others. + +An officer in this service, who resided at Lagos three years, and is the +only European resident who has survived of those who have made the +attempt, enables me to correct the following errors. The Pelican bank is +much smaller than it appears on the charts; the Doo island (which lays +N.W. and not N. of Lagos town) where the natives go to make fetish, is +not more than one mile in circumference; and there is no river of that +name. The beach over which the Portuguese and French (who never cross +the bar, where there are 3 fathoms water) transport their goods to the +canoes, is not more than 100 yards wide, instead of one mile. In +Norris’s map prefixed to Dalzel’s History, the Lagos river is made to +cross the path to Dahomey near Torë. In the Sailing Directions for the +Coast of Africa, to which Mr. Dalzel was the chief contributor, and who +revised the work, we find, “River Lagos is the mouth not only of the +river of that name, which runs to the _eastward from Ardrah_,” &c. and +the river Mr. Norris crossed near Torë, which he calls pretty deep and +rapid, but with a bridge over it, is by the account of other gentlemen, +officers in this service, who have been to Dahomey, no more than a +marsh. The gentleman before mentioned to have resided three years in +Lagos, informs me the grand branch of that river flows from the +northward of the island, where the pretended river Doo is placed, he +found it so wide on entering it, that being in the middle, where there +are 10 fathoms water, he could scarcely see the land on either side. The +current is impetuous, and floating islands, and large masses of alluvial +matter come down with such force, in the rainy season, as to trip +vessels from their anchors in the English road. De Lisle makes the Lagos +river flowing from the N., and the French are allowed to be much better +acquainted with this part of the coast. That called the West river in +Norris’s map, is only a creek; and what he calls the Lagos river, and +draws running close to Bădaggry, Ardrah, and passing Torë, is the +Western river. Bădaggry is not more than 5 or 7 miles from the beach, +instead of 15, and the tide only ebbs and flows so far. Ardrah is from +25 to 30 miles from the beach, instead of 18; and the river is crossed +at about one-third of the distance from the sea: this is what we call +Porto Novo, for there is not more than beachmen’s huts on the shore +opposite the anchorage. The natives call Ardrah Aratakassee, or +Allatakassee, and the country Essaäm, or the great. The river continues +its course not more than 100 yards from the sea, at Whydah, and proceeds +equally close (indeed frequently the ridge between them is covered with +water) until passing Quitta, it falls into the Volta near the mouth. + +The above mentioned gentleman proves the informant of Adams’s editor +incorrect, in stating that the Houssa traders were constantly to be met +with at Lagos, previous to the abolition of the slave trade, for it has +always been the policy of Kosie, a kingdom on the eastern bank of the +river, and about 60 miles inland from the mouth, to prevent all +intercourse between the traders of the interior, and those of Lagos, to +secure to themselves the exorbitant profits they made as the brokers or +medium. The Europeans who traded at Lagos, once meditated forcing a +passage up the river in armed boats, and a vessel of 18 guns was got +over the bar, and anchored close to Lagos town; but the project was +abandoned as too perilous. Sometime afterwards the King of Kosie desired +a European might visit him, to gratify his curiosity, and that of his +people; but no one being willing, a mulatto, named Peter Brown, was +dressed up and sent. This man, being now at Cape Coast, I have +questioned. Several armed men were sent to conduct him, and relays of +canoe men sufficient to continue brisk pulling; which they did from the +evening till the next day, before he left the river to proceed by land; +it was still very wide, and more than 4 fathoms deep; considerably, for +aught he knew, for the bamboo poles of that length, with which the +natives push the canoe forward, when they get close enough to the banks +to do so, would not touch the bottom in the middle. Relays of hammock +men then carried him at a brisk pace until evening, when he reached +Kosie, which he described as a town of great extent, and the buildings +to resemble those in the drawings of Coomassie. The King gave orders +that the crowd should not intrude themselves into his house, treated him +very handsomely, and dismissed him after three days. He only heard the +people of Kosie speak of two great nations, the Hios, and the Awissees. + +The gentleman before mentioned has an impression, from all the enquiries +he recollects to have made, of the slaves of the interior, that the +merchants convey them by water the greater part of the way; and their +reports were strengthened by his having an opportunity of seeing canoes +brought from Kosie to Lagos, and purchased from the slave merchants of +the interior. They were very superior in size and convenience to those +of the coast, were covered in, with a distinct apartment for the trader +and his wives, and would hold a hundred slaves. I never heard any slaves +speak of being brought any part of the way by water, but I have not seen +any who were brought to Kosie or Lagos. + +The Karhala is the only large river likely to communicate with, or to +form that of Lagos; possibly the Karhala might run to the large lake in +Hio, which Snelgrave says (from the information of the Portuguese +mulatto he found at Abomey) “is the fountain of several large rivers +which empty themselves into the Bay of Guinea.” The Lagos river may flow +from this lake, but this is mere conjecture. The gentleman to whom I am +indebted, places the Mahees north of Dahomey, instead of north-west as +in Norris’s map, which is allowed to be far from discriminate in the +interior parts, in the preface to Dalzel’s History, and this is also +more probable, because about nine years ago, the King of Hio entirely +conquered the Mahees, and upwards of 20,000 of them were brought for +sale to Lagos. + +The Joös, inconsiderately reported to Adams’s editor as being, with the +Anagoos and Mahees, the principal nations on the journey to the Niger, +and nearer to the coast, avoiding Dahomey, are probably the Jaboos, who +are about 40 miles westward of Kosie, and not behind Cradoo, as in +Norris’s map. They are celebrated for the cloths of their name, of which +the Portuguese have shipped such large quantities. The Anagoos, or +Nagoos, are the north westward neighbours of Dahomey. + +The extent of Fantee is corrected from the conjectural enlargement of it +by Mr. Meredith, and, with that of Ashantee, Akim, Assin, Warsaw, +Ahanta, &c. &c. is sufficiently distinct in the present map. A more +enlarged, and particular map of Fantee, &c. would not be interesting to +the public, but as it might be desirable to geographers, I shall keep it +in view as a duty, and, at some future time, endeavor to add to the +observations of latitude and longitude which have been already made on +the coast. + +I may not conclude without acknowledging the guidance, and assistance, +which Major Rennell’s previous investigations have afforded me; without +impressing, that had not some sketches of the interior been collected by +the industry of the emissaries of the African Association, and +afterwards connected and formed into a general outline, blended with the +feeble lights of the ancients, my enquiries would neither have been +excited or directed; and this present small contribution to our slender +knowledge would have perished an embryo. When I reflect on the creative +researches of the genius of D’Anville, and the acumen and erudition of +Major Rennell, it is my greatest anxiety to make my deference in +investigation, as manifest as the public duty which exacted the +involuntary presumption; and I cannot conclude more appropriately, than +by addressing the latter in the expressive lines of Virgil: + + + “Nec calamis solum æquiparas sed voce magistrum + + Fortunate—tu nunc eris alter ab illo. + + Nos tamen hæc quocunque modo tibi nostra vicissim + + Dicemus.” + + +[Footnote 15: “On the west of Aquamboe lies the powerful state of Akim, +sometimes denominated Akam, Achem, and Accany, which occupies almost all +the interior of the Gold Coast, and is supposed by the natives to extend +to Barbary. The Accanese are represented as carrying on an extensive +commerce with the interior kingdoms of Africa, particularly Tonouwah, +Gago, and Meczara, by which Mourzouk the capital of Fezzan seems to be +intended.”] + +[Footnote 16: “Reize van Koppenhagen naar Guinea, &c. Door den Heer +Isert. Amsteldam, 1797. Naar het Hoog Duitsch.”] + +[Footnote 17: This induced me to think that In-ta and Ta-pah, as well as +Assiantee might mean the same place, as we find of Mahee, Yahon, +&c.—Dalzel.] + +[Footnote 18: “In the province of St. Jago, in Chili, there is a plant +of this class and order (Didynamiæ gymnosperma) supposed to be a species +of wild basil (Ocimum salinum), resembling the common basil so much as +to be hardly distinguished from it, except that the flower stem is round +and jointed, and its scent and taste not like the basil, but rather like +the sea flag, or some marine plant. It is an annual, shooting forth in +the spring, and continuing till the commencement of winter: every +morning it is covered with hard and shining saline globules, resembling +dew, which the countrymen shake off the leaves to serve them as common +salt, and in some respects is thought to be of a superior quality. Every +plant produces daily about half an ounce of this salt; but Molina, a +scientific naturalist, to whom we are indebted for this information, +says, that it is extremely difficult to account for this phenomenon, as +the situation where he found these plants was in the most fertile part +of the kingdom, and at a distance from the sea of more than seventy +miles. When we see some plants secrete flint, separate and distinct from +their fibres, as well as combined with their organic structure; and when +we also know that plants secrete alkali, in every situation, I cannot +perceive why Molina should consider the contiguity of the sea to be +essential to the production of a neutral salt in the Ocimum salinum.” +Linnæan System, London, 1816, vol. ii. p. 303. + +Riley, whose narrative has recently appeared, saw in the desert, “A +dwarf thorn bush from two to five feet high with succulent leaves +strongly impregnated with salt.”] + +[Footnote 19: In the Dutch copies of the old Portuguese charts, Xabunda +(perhaps Banda) is placed as the capital of Ashantee, and two or three +large Portuguese towns, one St. Lawrence, with several convents and +crosses between it and the Coast.] + +[Footnote 20: Gago oppidum amplissimum nullis quoque cingitur muris, +distat a Tumbuto meridiem versus quadringentes fere passuum millibus, +inclinatusque fere ad Euroaustrum. Leo Af.] + +[Footnote 21: “To what degree the natives of Silla would have +contradicted each other in their accounts of Tombuctoo, Park’s short +stay there could not have allowed him time to ascertain, even if his +knowledge of their language had enabled him to understand their accounts +as well as he did those of the slatees on the Gambia. + +“Several instances of the contradictory testimony of the Negroes occur +in Park’s travels, Jennië, for instance, is stated in his first Mission +to be situated on the Niger, but on his second journey he renounces that +opinion, on the apparently good authority of an old Somonie (canoe man) +who had been seven times at Tombuctoo.” Adams’s Editor.] + +[Footnote 22: Mr. Hutchison writes, that from Inta to Jennë is said to +be 41 journies. This Gentleman, the Resident at Coomassie, merely +accompanied the Mission to act in that capacity in case the object could +be accomplished, and was not instructed to report: the officer +conducting the Mission being responsible to the extent of his industry, +and the opportunities, for the various desiderata, excepting the +Botanical and Medical, which were expected from the Surgeon, Mr. Tedlie. +Mr. Hutchison’s time was much employed in making duplicates and copies +of the frequent and voluminous dispatches to head quarters. The Moors +disliking even a second European to be present at their geographical +communications, Mr. Hutchison, through his obliging disposition, which +accommodated itself to every thing auxiliary to the pursuits of the +Mission, rendered me a great service, and quieted the uneasiness of the +Moors by keeping watch, and diverting the various Ashantee visitors who +would have intruded, with great patience and address. There was no time +even for a communication of the data I had collected before the Mission +left Coomassie, for we may be said to have lived in public the latter +part of the four months, and Mr. Hutchison’s genius inclining more to +the cultivation of the Ashantee and Arabic languages, which I had no +doubt would yield to his great industry, I did not intrude less +congenial pursuits on his attention, (the desiderata having been amply +realized,) but merely requested he would let me know what any +intelligent Moor, arriving after my departure, might say of the +Interior, and, if possible, procure a chart from him, especially if he +was not a native of Houssa or Bornoo, which two of the Moors who had +drawn for me were. After I had finished my Geographical Report, Mr. +Hutchison sent, with some other interesting particulars, added as notes +with his initials, a chart drawn by a Jennë Moor just arrived, +confirming all I had collected in the most satisfactory manner. The +names of the countries from the source of the Niger to Egypt were +written in Arabic, with Mr. Hutchison’s expression of the pronunciation +in English opposite. I particularly recollect that his ear differed +somewhat from mine, which accounts for the trifling differences in our +spelling. I shewed Mr. Hutchison my charts as curiosities, but he took +no minutes of the names, uninteresting from his never having had an +opportunity of reading Major Rennell’s Dissertations, which would alone +make them so to any one. He gives a better proof of this, than my own +impression, by the following extract from his letter to me, accompanying +the chart: “The Bornoo you used to talk about, you will find the same as +the lake Chaudi, or Al Bahare Noohoo, or else you know a country I I do +not recollect hearing of;” but, in the postscript, he writes, “On +looking over my memoranda, I find Bornoo is the principal monarchy the +Arabs alone stand in awe of, and one of the four kingdoms best known on +the Quolla.” Mr. Hutchison _unconsciously_ confirming what I had +learned, is even more satisfactory than if I had left him any basis for +his enquiries; indeed, his own object, the acquirement of the language, +was too important to be interrupted unnecessarily. Before I attach any +quotation from this Gentleman’s letters, I must acknowledge the +assistance I had previously derived from his spirited zeal as an +officer, as well as that which has since resulted from his interest in +intellectual pursuits.] + +[Footnote 23: The Moors particularly mentioned buying their writing +paper there. One told me that the Joliba ran to a river called Hotaiba +after it passed Yahoodee, which river ran towards Toonis. Several talked +of vessels coming to Yahoodee, navigated by white men, but whence I +could not learn, and Brahima had never visited it, though such reports +were familiar to him.] + +[Footnote 24: The rivers Arauca and Capanaparo in Cumana form +bifurcations similar to those of the Niger. The Arauca divides itself +into two rivers, the northern one, the Arauquito, runs through the lake +Cabullarito into the Orinoco, and the southern retaining the name of +Arauca, also flows to the Orinoco. The Capanaparo falls into the Orinoco +in two streams, the northern retaining the original name, and the +southern acquiring that of Mina. See Humboldt’s map of the eastern part +of the province of Verina.] + +[Footnote 25: See note, p. 189.] + +[Footnote 26: “No one who compares the maps of De Lisle and D’Anville +with the materials then published, can doubt the excellent means of +information with which they must have been supplied both by government, +and by private individuals.” Murray. + +We find a remarkable instance of De Lisle’s accuracy in Major Rennell’s +construction of the geography of Mr. Horneman’s expedition. “Mr. +Horneman was informed that there are 101 inhabited places in Fezzan.” It +is remarkable that this is precisely the number stated in M. Delisle’s +map of Africa, drawn in 1707; and, according to Mr. Beaufoy’s informant, +there are nearly 100. + +I have since found an older authority for the name _Gambaroo_, and which +also shews that the name _Quolla_ and its connection with the Gambaroo, +have not been wholly unknown hitherto. It is in the L’Afrique de Marmol, +livre viii. chap. 3. “C’est une chose estrange que ce fleuve venant de +si loin, car Ptolomée le fait venir du lac _Quélonide_, et de celui de +Nuba, il n’entraine pas tant d’eaux par ce costé-là, et la marée ne +monte pas si avant, _que par l’autre bras que l’on appelle Gamber_.” One +may almost fancy Quolla and Quellonide to have been derived from the +Chalonides of Ptolemy.] + +[Footnote 27: “The fact of a large lake like the Dibbie, discharging its +waters by two streams flowing from distant parts of the lake, and re- +uniting after a separate course of a hundred miles in length, has always +appeared to us extremely apocryphal, at least we believe that the +geography of the world does not afford a parallel case.” Adams’s +Editor.] + +[Footnote 28: “According to these statements of the Moorish traders, +Adams would seem to have mistaken the course of the stream at Tombuctoo. +In fact, I do not recollect that he told me at Mogadore that it flowed +in a westerly direction: but, I think, I am correct in saying, that he +discovered some uncertainty in speaking upon this subject, (and almost +upon this subject alone) observing, in answer to my inquiries, that he +had not taken very particular notice, and that the river was steady, +without any appearance of a strong current.” Dupuis on Adams. + +Adams’s name, La-mar-Zarah (for of course he did not attach _La_ mar to +indicate water, but pronounced La-mar-Zarah, as an integral name) seems +accounted for by his confounding or connecting the Arabic name of the +river, _Lahamar_, with the Negro name _Yça_ (for we find these names in +Marmol, tom. 3. liv. 8.) making _Lahamar-yça_, La-mar-Zarah.] + +[Footnote 29: Les Sénégurs le nomment Sénédec, les Jalofes Dengueh, les +Turcorons qui sont plus au-dedans du pays Maye, les Saragoles qui sont +plus haut Colle, et en un contrée plus vers l’orient Zimbale: au royaume +de Tombut on le nomme Yça. Marmol, tom. 3, livre 8. The name Zimbale +must be derived from Jimballa, by which country the river passes; it +occurs in the route from Shégo to Timbuctoo. P. 194.] + +[Footnote 30: Kulla, in the Mallowa, if not in the Kassina language, +means _child_; perhaps, allegory being the character of African +language, the southern river may be called Quolla or Kulla, from being a +_branch_ only of the great river which forms it and the Gambaroo.] + +[Footnote 31: See the account of the large interior river known at +Gaboon, under the name of _Wole_ or _Wolela_.] + +[Footnote 32: “There is one thing that disagrees with Mr. Park’s +account, they call the Niger Quolla at Jennë, Sansanding, &c. &c. and +describe the Jolliba as falling into the Quolla east of Timbuctoo.” W. +H. + +The Moors invariably reported to me that it ran from it. Mr. H. might +perhaps have misunderstood the Jennë Moor, whose single authority cannot +be opposed to the concurrence of several.] + +[Footnote 33: Illorum verò qui per interiorem Æthiopiam fluant, quique +fontes et ostia in continente habent maximi sunt Gir et Nigir. (Lib. 2. +E. 1. De maximis _fluminibus_.)] + +[Footnote 34: The Jennë Moor does not appear to have been so +particularly acquainted with the source of the Niger. He has drawn two +hills, from one of which springs a large river he could not name, +running westward, the other is the source of the Quolla, and Mr. +Hutchison has written its name Bieteerilmiloo. Between this source and +Mala, the King of which he describes as a great monarch, he mentions no +towns or kingdoms. This Mala is the Malay of the Moorish charts I +procured, between the source and which five places or countries were +written. Mr. Hutchison writes the course thus, without time or distance, +Mala, Bambarra, Shego, Sansanding, Jena, Mashina, Dahleä (a small croom +on the lake Dibber,) Kabarra: he adds, cannibals are close to the +Joliba, and 30 journies from Timbuctoo, they eat their prisoners: the +dead of their own people are put in the Joliba, in wooden coffins.] + +[Footnote 35: The following sentence in the description of Leo, conveys +an idea of the decline or decay of the city. “Cujus domus omnes in +tuguriola cretacea stramineis tectis _sunt mutatæ_.” Yet immediately +after we receive the contrary impression on reading “Visitur tamen +elegantissimum quoddam templum cujus murus ex lapidibus atque calce vivo +est fabricatus: deinde et palacium quoddam regium quodam Granato viro +artificissimo conditum. Frequentissimæ hic sunt artificum mercatorum +præcipuè autem telæ atque gossypii textorum officinæ; huc mercatores +Barbari pannum ex Europa adferunt.” In the Description de l’Afrique en +Flamand, published about a century and a half afterwards, the author +seems to be aware of the advanced decline or decay of Timbuctoo. “Les +maisons étoient autrefois fort sumptueuses, mais elles ne sont +maintenant que de bois enduites de terre grasse et couvertes de +paille.”] + +[Footnote 36: “All the country from where the Joliba discharges itself +into the Quolla is subject to the Sultan Malisimiel. What makes the +Sultan of Timbuctoo so much talked of, is his being near the water side; +but his master, the Sultan of Malisimiel considers him merely as a +deputy or governor. The four greatest monarchs known on the banks of the +Quolla, are Baharnoo, Santambool, Malisimiel, and Malla.” W. H. Malla is +Mallowa.] + +[Footnote 37: “The Chaymas substitute _r_ for _l_, a substitution that +arises from a defect of pronunciation, common in every zone. The +substitution of _r_ for _l_ characterizes, for example, the Bashmouric +dialect of the Coptic language. It is thus that the Caribbees of the +Oroonoko have been transformed into Galibi, in French Guiana, by +confounding _r_ with _l_, and softening the _c_. The Tamanach has made +choraro (solalo) of the Spanish word soldado.” Humboldt’s personal +narrative, book iii. chap. 9.] + +[Footnote 38: The position of Mellè is further confirmed in Dapper “Le +Roi de _Tombut_ prend le nom d’Empereur de _Melli_.” This title seems to +have been transferred to the King of Houssa from the decline of +Timbuctoo, to which the aggrandisement of the former city is to be +attributed.] + +[Footnote 39: The King residing in Houssa is the King of Malla; he has +seven tributary Kings. W. H.] + +[Footnote 40: I did not hear of the Gotoijegee, Carmasse, or Gourmon of +Amadi Fatouma; it is clear that he was not very correct in names. I +never once heard Silla called Sellee, Dibbie, Sibbie, or Kabra, +Rakbarra.] + +[Footnote 41: The Jennë Moor notices between Kabarra and Cabi, Gauw (a +great kingdom) Quoülla, Askeä, Zabirma. Ptolemy has a city called Geua +on the Gir.] + +[Footnote 42: The Jennë Moor told Mr. Hutchison, “the Quolla was the +largest river in the world, and about 5 miles wide, having a very rocky +channel, the banks on both sides very high, and rugged: in many parts +canoes often take a day to cross, from the dangerous whirlpools, and +sudden squalls; at other places the stream runs with great rapidity. The +houses in its environs are either terraced or shingled, as thatch cannot +resist the frequent high winds.”] + +[Footnote 43: The Jennë Moor has placed Gangë as an island in the Quolla +just below Bousa. This must be the Gongoo of Imhammed, and Ben Ali, +south of Cassina. Mr. Lucas writes “the width of the Niger is such, that +even at the island of Gongoo, where the ferrymen reside, the sound of +the loudest voice from the northern shore is scarcely heard.”] + +[Footnote 44: The Jennë Moor traces the course from Yaoora, thus: +Boussa, Gangë, Wawa, Noofa, Quollaliffa, Atagara; the only difference +being the position of the latter place, possibly an error of mine, as +the name Atagara was not noticed in the charts I made the Moors draw, +but only in the more particular enumerations of the countries the Quolla +passed; the names of which I minuted from their utterance, and +afterwards attached their remarks as interpreted to me.] + +[Footnote 45: The Jennë Moor calls this Quolla liffa. Mr. Hutchison, who +has a servant, a native of it, describes it as a very powerful kingdom, +as the Shereef Brahima described it to me, and as was the impression of +Mr. Dupuis. Mr. H. adds, on Negro and Moorish authority, “it is to the +King of Quallowliffa that the country in which Canna, Dall, and Yum Yum, +where cannibals are, is subject.” Mr. Horneman mentions Yem Yems +cannibals south of Kano 10 days; and the account is further confirmed in +my subsequent geographical sketch of the interior of Gaboon. Mr. +Horneman’s information that the Niger flowed towards the Egyptian Nile +through the land of the Heathens, which Mr. Park quoted as an argument +for the Congo hypothesis, doubtless referred to these cannibals.] + +[Footnote 46: “At times the water of this lake is hot, and it boils and +bubbles with a great noise, often overflowing the surrounding country. +The bones of fish thrown up by the volcano are so numerous, that the +Arabs mix them in the swish of their houses. There are a great many +islets in the lake, which is so extensive, that they cannot see the end. +Between it and the Quolla rises a very high hill, from the top of which +is an extensive view; it is a day’s journey from the water on either +side. The Arabs eat black rice, corn, and sweet beans, called Tummer.” +W. H.] + +[Footnote 47: The Jennë Moor has also placed it E. of Foor. Mr. +Hutchison writes the course, after him, from Atagara, thus: +“Maffagoodoo, Sharee, Lake Chadee, Phorr (beginning of Arabs) “Wadie.” +Mr. Horneman writes “A great part of the people of Wadey, together with +their King, are Arabs.”] + +[Footnote 48: Mr. Hutchison has written it Sooänar.] + +[Footnote 49: “Cairo is still called, in the figurative language of the +East, Misr, without an equal; Misr, the mistress of the world.” +Quarterly Review. Mr. Hutchison writes, that the Moors told him it was +so called after Misraim, who settled there.] + +[Footnote 50: The following, in the left hand column, are the places or +countries as written by Mr. Hutchison, after the Jennë Moor, agreeing +with those the Moors reported to me. + + Shuewa Shewa Abenassa. + + Swiss Sooess. + + Zall Zaloo. + + Machazoogee Machawazoo. + + Tabarbass, cultivation, volcano from + the Quolla two days, two days to the top, Tabarrabass. + + Askanderee Askandaraia or Sakunderree. + +The latter place is Alexandria. The Moors called the Mediterranean Sea +to me by two names, Baharlë Malee, and Sabbaha Bahoori. Mr. Hutchison +writes it Baramela or Bahermale, and adds, “Seven rivers from Africa +turn their course to it, but only two reach the shores, of which the +Nile is one. The rush of the waters of the Nile when they meet the sea, +is so great, that the waves are driven into the air with great force, +and retire like waves against a rock. The Red Sea, they say, assumes +various colours at different periods from seven streams pouring their +course into it, salt water and fresh, red, blue, yellow, &c.”] + +[Footnote 51: “Half of the inhabitants of Massar are white, and half +black; they have a Fort and Governor.” W. H.] + +[Footnote 52: Stambool is the Arabic pronunciation of the familiar or +vulgar name of Constantinople, the etymology of which is ιϛαμαι πολιν.] + +[Footnote 53: Mr. Hutchison writes, “Wangara is the name of a region +comprehending Mosee Kong, and other neighbouring countries south of the +Niger (if not some to the north of it) but Oongooroo is the name of the +country laying between Cassina and Bornoo.)” Mr. Park has _Wangeera_ in +the route from Sego to the coast of Guinea.] + +[Footnote 54: “The dress of the people of Fullan (a country to the west +of Kassina) resembles the cloth of which the plaids of the Scotch +Highlanders are made.” Ben Ali.] + +[Footnote 55: Mr. Hutchison sends me this route, as given him by the +Jennë Moor, thus, (supposing me not to have heard of Yariba) “from +Goodaberry, over Lasa small water to Quolla, at Boussa; few hours walk +to Yaraba; 28 days from Dahomey:” he adds, “recollect that the King of +Dahomey is tributary to the King of Yaraba, who is the same in that +quarter, as the King of Ashantee is here.”] + +[Footnote 56: The Jennë Moor gave this route thus: Wawa to Kiama, a +great kingdom, 3 days; close to the eastward a desert; 1 day +Garagroogee; 1 day Wala; 1 day Goodaberry.] + +[Footnote 57: “Guber est à cent lieuës de Gago vers l’Orient, et en est +separé par un desert inhabitable à quatorze ou quinze lieuës du Niger. +Cette contrée est entre de hautes montagnes, et toute pleine de +villages; celui où le Prince tient sa Cour a quelque mille maisons.” +Dapper.] + +[Footnote 58: I shall adjoin an outline of the great river in one of the +maps of Dapper’s Description de l’Afrique, traduit du Flamand, because +the book is very scarce, and I do not remember to have seen the Niger, +the Gir, or the Congo so laid down in any other.] + +[Footnote 59: The removal of Cano from the banks of the Niger agreeable +with every report I received, is supported by Dapper. “A cent soixante +et dix lieuës d’Agadez et à deux cent du Niger on trouve ce royaume +(Guber), au milieu du quel est la ville de Cano fermée de murailles de +bois et de pierre, et qui a des maisons bâties de même.”] + +[Footnote 60: “The Mahometans of Senaar number Bornoo amongst the four +most powerful monarchies of the world; the other three are Turkey, +Persia, and Abyssinia: the sovereign of Bornoo is more powerful than the +Emperor of Morocco.” Lucas.] + +[Footnote 61: Ce royame, qu’on croit avoir été la demeure des +Garamantes, est une vaste Province au levant de Gangara, qui s’étend +vers l’Orient l’espace de cent soixante dix lieuës et est éloignée du +Niger de cinquante.] + +[Footnote 62: Mr. Hutchison heard of another river near Bornoo called +Koomoodoo gaiguina: he could not hear of the Wad el Gazel.] + +[Footnote 63: I observe, in a modern publication, Dr. Isert’s described +as a second visit to Africa, under the auspices of the Danish +government, encouraged by his reports to attempt colonization in +Aquapim, and that he died from anxiety and exertion. This was not the +case, it was his first and only visit, the Danes never attempted +colonization, and he embarked for the West Indies as I have before +stated. Having read the above, however, I wrote to Dr. Reynhaut, who +translated some passages from the Dutch into Latin for me, and the +following is an extract from his letter in reply. “Quod attinet Iserti +in Africam reditum, ibique ejus obitum, ficta hæc est fama. Verum est +juxta Quitam post victoriam in Augnaeos populos reportatam, Danos arcem +condidisse, cui nomen insigniverunt Prinzenstein; sed nullæ culturæ +incubuerunt, nec colonias struxerunt, nec minus falsum est umquam +Isertum in Africæ littoræ inferiora regis jussu rediisse, colonias +extruendi gratia, nam præter opus Botanicum quod Floræ Guinensis titulo +occurrit, nullum aliud de illo scriptum existit.”] + +[Footnote 64: Since I have been at sea I have drawn the maritime part of +my map again, and laid down the Forts and other points according to the +observations quoted in Norrie, (4th edition, 1816,) which agree so very +nearly with those of the Commissioners in the two instances cited, that +I conclude he has been allowed to copy the whole series from their +papers, which I believe have never been published. Even in Dr. Mackay’s +valuable publication, Cape Coast Castle is laid 1° 23′ too much to the +eastward. I presume too that the observations made by H.M.S. Amelia, are +part of those quoted by Norrie, although the Argo’s observations of the +longitude of Quitta and Whydah are not confirmed. I observe a small +error which makes 1′ 28″ N. and 7′ 24″ E. the difference between +Kormantine and Annamaboe, the former is only 5 miles eastward of the +latter.] + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + * * * * * + + _History._ + + +To speak of the death of a former king, the Ashantees imagine to affect +the life of the present equally with enquiring who would be his +successor; and superstition and policy strengthening this impression, it +is made capital by the law, to converse either of the one or the other. +The inability of the natives to compute time, and the comparatively +recent establishment of the Moors, may be pleaded as additional +apologies for the imperfect history I have collected. + +According to a common tradition, which I never heard contradicted but +once, the Ashantees emigrated from a country nearer the water side, and +subjecting the western Intas, and two lesser powers, founded the present +kingdom. These people being comparatively advanced in several arts, the +Ashantees necessarily adopted a portion of their language with the +various novelties; which probably created the limited radical difference +between their language and that of the Fantees; for I could not find, +after taking the greatest pains, more than 200 words unknown to the +latter. The weights of the Inta country, in particular, were adopted +with their names, by the conquerors, without the least alteration. + +The tradition, scanty in itself, is very cautiously adverted to, the +government politically undermining every monument which perpetuates +their intrusion, or records the distinct origins of their subjects: but, +from the little I could collect, it appeared to have been an emigration +of numerous enterprising or discontented families, to whom the parent +state afterwards became subject. I am inclined to think, (the account of +their coming from a country nearer the sea being too general for +conjecture to revolt from,) that they emigrated from the eastward of +south, where the territory admitted to be Ashantee proper is remote, +compared with its extent southward, or westward of south, and the former +consequence of Doompassie, and the towns eastward of it, support this: +yet, the very few natives who pretended to any opinion on the subject, +had an impression, that their ancestors emigrated from the neighbourhood +of a small river, Ainshue, behind Winnebah: a croom called Coomadie is +to be found there, but there is nothing else to countenance the report. + +The Ashantee, Fantee, Warsaw, Akim, Assin, and Aquapim languages are +indisputably dialects of the same root; their identity is even more +striking than that of the dialects of the ancient Greek: now the Fantees +and Warsaws both cherish a tradition, which exists also in many Ahanta +families, that they were pressed from the interior to the water side by +the successful ambition of a remote power; whence it may be concluded, +that the Ashantee emigration we are now considering, was posterior to a +more important movement of the whole people, corresponding with that of +their neighbours. I will not dilate upon this secondary subject by +referring to internal evidence, there is nothing to recompense either +the investigation or the perusal. + +One curious evidence however may be added of the former identity of the +Ashantee, Warsaw, Fantee, Akim, Assin, Aquamboe, and part of the Ahanta +nations; which is a tradition that the whole of these people were +originally comprehended in twelve tribes or families; the Aquonna, +Abrootoo, Abbradi, Essonna, Annŏna, Yoko, Intchwa, Abadie, Appiadie, +Tchweedam, Agoona, and Doomina; in which they class themselves still, +without any regard to national distinction. For instance, Ashantees, +Warsaws, Akims, Ahantas, or men of any of the nations before mentioned +will severally declare, that they belong to the Annŏna family; other +individuals of the different countries, that they are of the Tchweedam +family; and when this is announced on meeting, they salute each other as +brothers. The King of Ashantee is of the Annŏna family, so was our Accra +and one of the Fantee linguists; Amanquateä is of the Essonna family. +The Aquonna, Essonna, Intchwa, and Tchweedam, are the four patriarchal +families, and preside over the intermediate ones, which are considered +as the younger branches. I have taken some pains to acquire the +etymology of these words, but with imperfect success; it requires much +labour and patience, both to make a native comprehend, and to be +comprehended by him. Quonna is a buffalo, an animal forbade to be eaten +by that family. Abrootoo signifies a corn stalk, and Abbradi a plantain. +Annŏna is a parrot, but it is also said to be a characteristic of +forbearance and patience. Esso is a bush cat, forbidden food to that +family. Yoko is the red earth used to paint the lower parts of the +houses in the interior. Intchwa is a dog, much relished by native +epicures, and therefore a serious privation. Appiadie signifies a +servant race. Etchwee is a panther, frequently eaten in the interior, +and therefore not unnecessarily forbidden. Agoona signifies a place +where palm oil is collected. These are all the etymologies in which the +natives agree. Regarding these families as primæval institutions, I +leave the subject to the conjectures of others, merely submitting, that +the four patriarchal families, the Buffalo, the Bush Cat, the Panther, +and the Dog, appear to record the first race of men living on hunting; +the Dog family, probably, first training that animal to assist in the +chase. The introduction of planting and agriculture, seems marked in the +age of their immediate descendents, the Corn stalk and Plantain +branches. The origin and improvement of architecture in the Red earth; +and of commerce, probably, in the Palm oil: indeed, the natives have +included the Portuguese, the first foreign traders they knew, in that +family, alleging, that their long and more intimate intercourse with the +blacks, has made the present race a mixture of the African and +Portuguese. The Servant race reminds us of the curse of Canaan. This +resembles a Jewish institution, but the people of Accra alone practise +circumcision, and they speak a language, as will be shewn, radically +distinct, yet not to be assimilated to the Intā, to which nation they +are referred by the Fantees, merely because it is the nearest which +practises circumcision. Accra is a European corruption of the word +Inkran, which means an ant, and they say the name was either given or +assumed on account of their numbers; this must have been before their +wars with the Aquamboes. + +When Adokoo, chief of the Braffoes, a Fantee nation, consulted the +venerable fetish men of the sanctuary, near Sooprooroo, on the Ashantee +war, they answered, that nothing could be more offensive to the fetish, +than the Fantees preventing the peaceable intercourse of their inland +neighbours with the water side, because they were formerly all one +family. + +The conduct of the later emigration of the Ashantees is ascribed to Saï +Tootoo, who, assisted by other leading men of the party, and encouraged +by superstitious omens, founded Coomassie, and was presented with the +stool, or made King, from his superior qualifications. This account is +supported by the mixed nature of the government, founded on equality and +obligation, and the existence of a law, exempting the direct descendants +of any of Saï Tootoo’s peers and assistants, (in whom the Aristocracy +originated) from capital punishment. + +The Dwabin monarchy is said to have been founded at the same time by +Boitinnë, who was of the same family as Saï Tootoo, being the sons of +sisters. Boitinnë and his party, took possession of Dwabin, the largest +of the aboriginal towns, (leaving Saï Tootoo to build Coomassie) whence +it seems his followers were the more powerful; indeed I have heard it +confessed by a few Ashantees, that Dwabin had formerly the pre-eminence, +though they have always been firm allies in war, and equal sharers in +spoil and conquest. This common interest, preserved uninterrupted more +than a century, by two rising powers, close to each other, with the view +of a more rapid aggrandisement, and their firm discretion in making many +serious disagreements subservient to the policy, is one of the few +circumstances worth considering in a history composed of wars and +successions. I do not think there is such an instance in our heptarchy, +nor do I recollect any other in history, but that of Chalcis and +Eretria. + +Bakkee, who died, as I have related,[65] about a year ago, was the son +of Saï Apokoo, the second king, and an infant at the breast at the time +of his father’s death; he was a very old man when he incurred the +present King’s displeasure, which supports the report of the Moors, that +the kingdom has been founded about 110 years. Bosman and Barbot mention +the Ashantees, as just heard of by Europeans, about the year 1700, which +confirms this account. The anxiety of the Ashantee government for daily +records, immediately on the establishment of the Moors, who were only +visitors until the present reign, acknowledges the perplexities and +deficiencies of their early history too candidly, to leave any +encouragement to the researches of strangers. Records beyond half a +century are not to be found in the archives either of Cape Coast, or +Christiansburg Castles, so that the chronology can only be founded on +that of the Moors, and circumstances. + +The Ashantee government concentred the mass of its original force, and +making the chiefs resident in Coomassie and the few large towns they +built in its neighbourhood, with titular dignities, conciliated those +whom they subdued by continuing them in their governments, and checked +them by exacting their frequent attendance at festivals, politically +instituted. Military command seems to have been the sole prerogative of +Saï Tootoo; his judicial and legislative power being controlled by the +chiefs or aristocracy much more than at present, who, as in the Teutonic +governments, directed the common business of the state, only consulting +a general assembly on extraordinary occasions. + +Saï Tootoo defeated the Akims and Assins, subjected the Tufel country, +and subdued many small states in the neighbourhood. He also conquered +Dankara, the King of which, Intim Dakarey, was so considerable a trader +in slaves, that the Dutch Governor General paid him a monthly note from +his own purse, and assisted him with two or three small cannons, and a +few Europeans, on the eve of the Ashantee invasion: the former are now +placed as trophies in Coomassie, at the top of the street in which the +Mission was quartered. Booroom was subjugated soon after. + +Saï Tootoo did not live to see all the streets of Coomassie completed, +for war being declared against Atoä, a district between Akim and Assin, +he invaded that country. The chief of the Atoas, unable to face such a +power, dexterously insinuated his small force through the forest, until +he reached the rear of the Ashantee army, which the King was following +leisurely with a guard of a few hundred men, all of whom were destroyed +by the Atoäs, who shot the King in his hammock. This happening near a +place called Cormantee, (razed to the ground in vengeance,) and on a +Saturday, the most solemn oath of the Ashantees, is “by Saturday and +Cormantee;” (“Mĭminda Cormantee;”) and no enterprise has since been +undertaken on that day of the week. + +1720. Saï Apokoo, brother of Saï Tootoo, was next placed on the stool. +Had there been no brother, the sister’s son would have been the heir; +this extraordinary rule of succession, excluding all children but those +of a sister, is founded on the argument, that if the wives of the sons +are faithless, the blood of the family is entirely lost in the +offspring, but should the daughters deceive their husbands, it is still +preserved. + +Saï Apokoo finished the building of Coomassie, and exchanged compliments +with the King of Dahomey, since which there has been no intercourse; the +latter, probably, as a despotic monarch, did not wish to give his people +any opportunity of contemplating the greater freedom of the Ashantee +government. + +Saï is the family name of the present race of Kings, some of their +relatives bearing it as well. Innăna is also the cognomen of the Kings +of Dagwumba. + +Apokoo invading the kingdom of Gaman, Abo, the King, fled to Kong, +whither the Ashantee army pursued him. The King of Kong politically +compelled Abo to meet his enemies on the frontier, least they might +disturb a neutral kingdom. Abo being defeated, purchased a peace by +presenting large sums of gold to the various chiefs, and consenting to +an annual tribute. Apokoo next subjected Takima, whence the Fantees are +said to have emigrated, and forced a second emigration of the people to +Gomawa, at the back of Winnebah. He dispossessed the Akims of the +English, Dutch, and Danish Accra notes.[66] The mortifying destruction +of European records, confines me to the report of the more intelligent +natives on the subject of these notes, who declare, that the people of +Accra being deprived of them by the fraud of the Akims, when they were +assisted by them against the Aquamboes, the Akims were in their turn +obliged to yield them to their conquerors the Ashantees. + +Tribute being demanded from the neighbouring kingdom of Dagwumba, a war +ensued, and its troops were defeated. The King of Dagwumba, convinced +that his former reliance on a superior population was vain, from the +military genius of the Ashantees, and the commercial disposition of his +own people, dispirited from their want of fire arms,[67] prudently +invited a peace, before a more decisive defeat left him no dignity, and +his enemies no moderation for treating. As it was, they still respected +his resources, and were content to secure him as a tributary, rather +than exhaust their forces in his subjugation, in the infancy of their +kingdom. A triumph in policy was in the view of the King of Dagwumba, +equivalent to the small diminution of personal dignity; and at the +expense of an inconsiderable tribute, he established a commercial +intercourse, which, his markets being regularly supplied from the +interior, was both an advantage and a security to him, from the great +convenience to his warlike neighbours, whose superstition assenting to +his great reputation for making saphies, and for augury, would not only +augment his revenue, but insure him superior respect as a tributary. +Intā had previously become tributary. + +I should have mentioned, that every subject state was placed under the +immediate care of some Ashantee chief, generally resident in the +capital, who seldom visited it but to receive the tribute from the +native ruler, for whose conduct he was in a reasonable degree +responsible. Thus Quatchi Quofie has now the care of Dankara, Odumata of +Soota, Apokoo of Aquamboe, Oöosa Quantabisa of Daboia, &c. &c. Their +policy, in short, not only in this particular, but in many others, seems +to have been closely similar to that of the Persians, as described by +Herodotus. + +Boitinnë, the founder of Dwabin, died in this reign. + +1741. Saï Apokoo was succeeded by his brother Saï Aquissi. I could not +learn any particular exploits of his, excepting that he preserved the +subjection of the states previously reduced. The King of Akim, in his +time, (the last who had the power of governing without consulting the +pynins or elders) desiring to go to war with his neighbours, was obliged +to obtain permission from the Ashantee government, which he did by the +promise of sending them half the spoil; but, gaining little or nothing, +he did not do so. He soon afterwards heard of Aquissi’s intention, to +demand his head; and knowing that King’s word was irrevocable, he +summoned his ministers, and desired to sacrifice his life for the quiet +of his people: his ministers insisted on sharing his fate; and a barrel +of powder being brought for each to sit on, they drank a large quantity +of rum, and blew themselves up with the fire from their pipes. Dr. Isert +also heard of this in Akim. + +1753. Aquissi was succeeded by Saï Cudjo. The Aristocracy was retrenched +and conciliated by this monarch, who raised his favourite captains to +the vacant stools,[68] uniting three or four in one, and swearing that +their lives should be equally sacred, (see p. 4,) to anticipate any +doubts of his fidelity to the constitution. + +Saï Cudjo defeating the Warsaws and Assins more decisively than his +predecessors, first compelled them to acknowledge their fealty to +Ashantee. He also subjected Aquamboe, and Aquapim, quelled several +revolts of other countries, and was esteemed a very great captain. The +grandfather of Amanquateä Atooa, conquered Sawee, killing the king +Boomancumma; and Bakkee, soon afterwards, subjugated Moinseä. In this +reign Quama, king of Dwabin, died. + +1785. Saï Quamina succeeded his grandfather Saï Cudjo, at a very early +age. The Akims revolted soon after his accession, under Ofoosoo, their +most active ruler for many years: he engaged several smaller states in +alliance, and defeated the Ashantees repeatedly; at length the treachery +of his followers procured Quatchi Quofie, the Ashantee general, his +head; with which he returned to Coomassie, the country having again +submitted. The fame of Ofoosoo made Quatchi Quofie so vain of this +achievement, that he had a figure of him made, with which his umbrella +is still crowned, and before which he dances with every insulting +gesture and vaunt, when he arrives on the ground at the various +ceremonies. The present king has frequently been heard to say, that it +was a great pity this old man did not know better, for the Akim +caboceers generally attended his summons with alacrity and good will; +but the sight of the insulted effigy of their favourite leader, +disgusted them, and excited their revolt. These brave people have risen +from their dependence at least eight times. + +The government finding a pretext to invade Banda, the King Odrasee +vigorously opposed the Ashantee army; but at length, seeing he must +inevitably fall into their hands, to prevent his head being found, which +circumstance he knew would sorely disquiet the enemy,[69] and solace his +own people, ordered, just before he killed himself, a woman to be +sacrificed, and the abdomen being ripped, his head to be sewn up within +it, and her body afterwards to be buried in the heap of the slain. It +was discovered by bribes, and is now on one of the King’s great drums. +Soota was also subjugated in this reign, occupying the army under +Odumata ten years, during which period he was not allowed to see +Coomassie. Odumata afterwards subdued Coranza, the larger part of his +army being Gaman auxiliaries. + +Saï Quamina raised Apokoo to the stool of Assimadoo, to whom he had been +a servant, in exclusion of the family. + +The Danish Governor-General, meditating the punishment of the Popos, +applied to Saï Quamina for 5000 Ashantee auxiliaries; the request was +granted, but while the troops were on their march down, the Governor +died, and his successor prudently paid 250 ounces of gold, (alleged to +have been advanced by the King for their subsistence on their march to +Christiansburg Castle) rather than involve himself in the expenses and +troubles of such an alliance. + +1798. Saï Quamina had remained twelve months on a visit at Dwabin, deaf +to the remonstrances of various deputations urging his return, and +infatuated beyond recovery by the arts of his mistress, Gyawa, the +daughter of the King; when it was formally announced to him, that if he +was not present at the approaching Yam custom, he would be deprived of +the stool. It is said, that this woman refused to accompany him to +Coomassie, either dreading the resentment of his mother, a woman of +violent passions, and great ambition, or, which is more probable, +influenced by her father to mingle this repugnance with her +blandishments, to accelerate the ruin of Saï Quamina, which he was not +without hopes might lead to his own aggrandisement. The form of the +dethronement is interesting. Appia Danqua, whose power seems to have +been equal to that of mayor of the palace, repaired to the King’s mother +with the chief captains, and deliberately recounting the offences of her +son, commanded her to remonstrate with him, as the daughter of their old +king, and the parent to whom he owed his elevation. The mother, who no +doubt had assisted in the private council, affecting to bewail her own +misfortune and her son’s disgrace, confessed, with seeming reluctance, +that her remonstrances had already been despised, that the king had even +attempted her life, and begged them to raise her second son, Saï Apokoo, +to the stool the elder had forfeited. This was complied with, and they +sent Saï Quamina a few of his women and slaves, desiring him to retire +into the bush and build himself a croom, and on his death, which +happened soon after, as it was said, from the poignancy of his feelings, +they made the greatest custom for him which had ever been known. The +sable Cleopatra died soon after him. It was whispered, that those he had +formerly injured incessantly insulting him in his retirement, even to +abusing his wives before his face, he had a private interview with the +present King, communicated several schemes of conquests, invoked him to +distrust, and, if possible, to punish those who had forsaken him, and +implored death; which was inflicted (as the blood of the royal family +could not be shed, and as he could not be privately drowned in the +sacred river) by fixing his feet on the ground, bending his body +backwards with a prop in the small of his back, and suspending several +large teeth of ivory from a noose around his neck, which, hanging from +the prop, strangled him. + +1799. Saï Apokoo did not live more than a few weeks after being elevated +to the stool, and was succeeded by his brother Saï Tootoo Quamina, the +present King, who must then have been about seventeen years of age. On +this occasion, the general assembly of the captains, jealous of the +aristocracy, and desirous of making a favourable impression on the young +King, insisted that the remaining members of it, should propitiate the +reign, by publicly disclaiming their exemption from capital punishment. + +The invasion of the Fantee kingdom in 1807 was the first important +military act of the present reign, the circumstances and origin of +which, being pretty accurately described by Mr. Meredith, in the extract +in the Appendix, I need not repeat. Whilst the invasion was meditating, +Baba, now the chief of the Moors, presented himself to solicit an asylum +in Coomassie, having been driven from Gamba by the rapacity of the King, +his near relative; and professing solely to desire the recovery of a +large property with held from him, to make the King of Ashantee the heir +to it. The King promised he would oblige the King of Gamba to do him +justice, on his return from the Fantee war, if Baba and his companions +were fortunate in their prayers and charms for his success. The King of +Gamba did not think proper to resist the demand afterwards made through +the Ashantee government. + +1807. Coonadua, the King’s mother, was left regent during his absence; +this woman was a second Messalina, and many young captains who refused +to intrigue with her, from fear or disgust, have been ultimately the +victims of her artifice and vengeance. + +Yaboquorra, the King of Dwabin, died in this interval, and was succeeded +by his grandson, Boitinnë Quama, now about twenty years of age. + +1811. Attah, caboceer or King of Akim, had followed the King to the +first Fantee war, and behaved well. Apokoo being sent on an expedition +against the Fantees of Winnebah and Berracoo, Attah received orders to +join him with his contingency; instead of which, he sent a message to +Apokoo, before he passed the Boosempra river, refusing to join him, and +advising him not to attempt to pass through his country. Apokoo reported +this immediately to the King, who, as is usual, sent to Attah to enquire +if he had said so. He confessed that he had, without hesitation, adding, +that the King treated him like a slave, in incessantly summoning him to +attend his wars, and besides, that he never could forget that Saï Cudjo +had cut off his grandfather’s head, and that he would fight with Apokoo +whenever he came. Soon afterwards, Quamina Guma, (the father of Becqua, +captain of Danish Accra,) and one of the King’s sons, returning to +Coomassie with a large quantity of gold collected to make custom for the +King’s mother, Attah intercepted, robbed, and murdered them and their +party, with the exception of one, whom he desired to tell the King that +this act would convince him he was in earnest, and determined to go to +war with him. Apokoo was immediately ordered to proceed against Attah, +who had engaged Quaw Saffătchee as a party in the revolt, who was weary +of the same laborious vassalage. When Apokoo entered the Akim country, +Attah was for attacking him immediately, and at sun rise, but Quaw +impressing his doubts of their succeeding against the superior warfare +of the Ashantees, begged him to stop until three o’clock, when the +Ashantees generally ate and slept, and when they might be better able to +retreat if worsted, as the enemy never pursued in the dusk. The attack +was a surprise, but the fight continued obstinate and undecided until +night, when Apokoo found he had lost so many men, that he immediately +dispatched a messenger to summon the Accras to his aid, as vassals to +the King. His messenger reached Accra the next day, and that people +joined him on the following, on which the enemy retreated precipitately; +Attah to windward, and Quaw to Adda. Apokoo followed the latter, who +having escaped him after a tedious watchfulness, Apokoo, believing the +Danish governor, Mr. Flindt, to have connived, made him his prisoner, +and kept him with the army, which soon afterwards encamped in Aquapim, +five months, during which time he was treated with kindness and respect, +but his ransom amounted to nearly £400. Apokoo was soon after ordered +back to Coomassie. He told me he brought the bell of Adda fort as a +trophy. + +Appia Danqua had been sent, at the same time with Apokoo, with 6000 men +against the Fantee states which were disposed to the revolters. He +defeated them at Apam, and took Baffoo the Annamaboe caboceer prisoner, +but whilst his army was before Tantum, intelligence of the approach of +Attah, who had retreated from Apokoo, but whose name was as redoubtable +as his disposition was rapacious, subdued his firmness, and under the +plea of prudence, hurried him back to the interior. + +[Sidenote: 1814.] + +The path was afterwards shut for two years, through the vigilance, and +from the terror of Cudjo Cooma, who had been elected to the stool of +Akim, six months after the death of Attah, whose immediate successor +(Quawko Ashantee) tyrannized so cruelly during that period, that he was +commanded by the people to kill himself, and could only obtain the +indulgence of a week’s respite, which he spent in singing and dancing, +in fact in making his own custom Quaw Saffătchee had also leagued with +the Fantees who attacked the Accra town, but were repulsed. The King +suddenly determined to open the path to receive the arrears of pay due +from the Forts, and sent Amanqua Abiniowa with an army of 20,000 men, +charging him to offer no violence nor commit hostility, unless provoked +by attack, but to receive the submission of the Akims and Aquapims, and +merely to exact a fine to seal it. Appia Danqua was sent at the same +time with a smaller army to the back of Winnebah and Tantum, to +intercept the revolters if they fled to windward. Abiniowa proceeded to +Aguiasso, one day’s march from Aquapim, unmolested, when one of his +foraging parties was attacked by Cudjo Cooma and seven men killed. A +general engagement took place the next morning, and after six hours +fighting the Ashantees were victorious, and sent a jaw-bone and a slave +to each of the Accra towns. Amanqua then marched to Accra to receive the +King’s pay, and remained nearly twelve months in its neighbourhood. He +then returned to Aquapim, where, after some time, he received a message +from the King, with a large quantity of gold, advising him that he must +not see his face again unless he brought the heads of Cudjo and Quaw. +Amanqua did not immediately communicate this message to his captains, +but ordered them to deposit their equipage and property in Accra, and +then, making a large custom for three days, to propitiate the +enterprise, he took fetish with all his captains that they would never +return to Coomassie without the heads. + +1816. Appia Danqua had died in Assin in the interim, and was succeeded +by his brother Appia Nanu, under whom Bakkee was the second in command. +The King hearing nothing of his progress, and his indolence being +reported to him, sent orders to Amanqua to join him, which he did at +Essecooma, reproaching him for his cowardice. Soon after this, the +skirmish at the salt pond near Cape Coast took place, the detachment was +principally of Assins, and commanded by Quasheemanqua. Yokokroko soon +afterwards joined the combined army, (which had marched to Abra,) with a +few hundred men destined to attack Commenda. + +Not long after the palaver was settled at Cape Coast, and the army again +divided, Cudjo Cooma was killed by a party of Appia Nanu’s at Insoom or +Incoom near Essecooma; upon which, Appia, instead of marching to join +Amanqua as had been concerted, returned to Coomassie, where he was +coldly received, but not accused until the 12th of July last (see +Diary). Adoo Danqua, the brother of Quaw Saffătchee, came to the Accras +and concerted the delivering of him up, as he had tired him out with his +wanderings. The Ashantees agreed to prevail on the King to give him the +stool if he did. A few Accras and a few Ashantees accompanied him, and +when he came near where his brother was hid, one day’s journey from +Accra, he placed an ambush, and sitting down, expostulated with him, and +recommended him to kill himself; but Quaw would not, alleging that he +should eventually wear out the King’s patience in pursuing him; on this +Adoo rose, and a shot was immediately fired at Quaw, who was brought +down and rose again four times, exclaiming that his brother was his +murderer, who reflected the reproach on his own obstinacy. The body was +brought to Accra, and his head sent to Coomassie, and it is now a trophy +at Bantama or the back town. Amanqua then returned to Coomassie, and +arrived about six months before the Mission. + +The Aowins, to anticipate the ambitious views of the Ashantee +government, lately sent an embassy with offers of service and tribute, +but the amount of the latter has not yet been decided. + +The King had sent to demand the royal stool of Buntooko or Gaman which +was thickly plated and embossed with gold; it was given up by Adinkara, +the King, from fear; his sister, a woman of masculine spirit and talent, +and the soul of the government, being absent. On her return, she +reproached her brother severely, and ordered a solid gold stool to be +made to replace it. That being also demanded, as the right of the +superior, with a large gold ornament in the shape of an elephant, dug +out from some ruins, the sister, receiving the ambassadors, replied, +that the King should not have either, and added, impressing it with more +force than delicacy, that her brother and she must change sexes, for she +was most proper for a King, and would fight to the last rather than be +so constantly despoiled. The King of Ashantee sent word that she was fit +to be a king’s sister, and a strong woman, and he would give her twelve +months to prepare for war. Several embassies have been sent however to +negotiate; two during our stay, the latter, it was said, with an offer +of 400 Bendas, (£3200.) but the aristocracy were obstinate, and urged to +the King, that his other tributaries would laugh at him, if he did not +get the King of Gaman’s head. The small pox was raging in Buntooko. + +It is clear, that the King of Ashantee contemplates the reduction of the +King of Dwabin from an independent ally to a tributary. We witnessed one +circumstance to the point. A messenger being sent to require gold of +Dwabin, the King of which is a very weak young man, a captain of the +royal family replied, that there was no war on foot to require gold, and +as it could only be for the individual benefit of Ashantee, the +government must be reminded that Dwabin had formerly exacted gold, and +was not now to be subjected to imposition, because the right had been +yielded from respect to the sister kingdom. This being reported to the +King, he suppressed his anger, and sent a gold headed sword, with other +marks of dignity and favour to this man, who, to his surprise, refused +them, alleging, that the honours he already possessed at home became him +better. The King still temporised. Some months after, at the full +assembly convened for the proclamation of the treaty with the British +Government, the mother of the King of Dwabin, who acts as regent, and +over whom Saï is known to have much influence, suddenly, and no doubt at +his instance, accused this captain of plotting to deprive her son of the +stool. The accusation was supported by others, who prayed the King to +judge the palaver. The King of Dwabin sat with the greatest +indifference. The accused made an animated appeal to the assembly, and +Saï affected to support him vehemently, and ordered the linguists to +give him chalk, or acquit him. The man thanking him very earnestly, +Adoosee was desired to tell him, that his ill-will to the King of +Ashantee had been reported in a very aggravated manner; but as it was no +longer believed, he was only required to take fetish, that he liked the +King, and would do him all the good he could; this done, the man +received several marks of favour and bounty. + +Saï Tootoo is considered to take better care of the treasury than any of +his predecessors: he cautiously extends his prerogative, and takes every +opportunity of increasing the number of secondary captains, by +dignifying the young men brought up about his person, and still +retaining them in his immediate service. + +Saï Acotoo, the King’s brother, and the heir to the stool, appeared to +me very inferior in ability; but the Ashantees say otherwise. + +The King’s private character is amiable; the children of his brothers +share the fondness and indulgence which endear him to his own, and his +few moments of recreation are the liveliest of theirs. The circumstances +connected with the various instances which we witnessed of his +generosity to others, justify me in ascribing it to the benevolence of +his disposition. His admiration of ingenious rather than splendid +novelty, has frequently imposed the appearance of a covetousness, +scarcely culpable from his reverence for invention, and the amazement +its extent excited. To present him with the trifles which attracted his +notice when he visited us, offended him, he told us we must only answer +his questions, and let him examine them; to make dashes on the occasion +of a private visit, was to vitiate the motive of the condescension, +which could not be repeated unless we paid more respect to his dignity +and friendship. The King is certainly capricious, and his liberality of +mind is stained by prejudices against individuals which he confesses to +be unaccountable; and to several of the principal actors in his +brother’s deposition, (which, desirous to extend his prerogative, he +would tacitly censure,) he has been unjustly severe. His humanity is +frequently superior to his superstition and policy, he offended Quatchi +Quofie, one of the four, by limiting the human sacrifices at his +mother’s funeral, and resisted all the importunities, founded on +precedent, for the allowance of a greater number. He dismissed us twice +with apologies for not proceeding to business, confessing, the first +time, that he had been unusually irritated just after he sent for us, +and had not recovered his calmness; the latter, that some agreeable news +had induced him to drink more than fitted him to hear great palavers +like ours. In his judicial administration, a lie always aggravated the +punishment, and truth generally extenuated, and sometimes atoned of +itself for the offence: he invariably anticipated the temerity of +perjury, where convicting evidence was to be opposed to the accused. The +King’s manners are a happy mixture of dignity and affability, they +engage rather than encourage, and his general deportment is conciliating +though repressive. He speaks well, and more logically than most of his +council, who are diffuse, but his superior talent is marked in the +shrewd questions by which he fathoms a design or a narrative. He excels +in courtesy, is wisely inquisitive, and candid in his comparisons: war, +legislature, and mechanism, were his favourite topics in our private +conversations. The great, but natural fault of the King is his ambition; +I do not think it has ever proved superior to the pledge of his honour, +but it certainly has, and that frequently, to his sense of justice, +which is repressed rather than impaired by it. This sketch of his +character being narrowed to my own knowledge, will be assisted by the +following history of Agay, the second linguist. + +Agay, when a boy, carried salt from Aquoomo to Coomassie for sale; he +was afterwards taken into the service of Aquootoo, caboceer of that +place, against whom the government had instituted a palaver, but +wrongfully. Agay accompanied the caboceer when he was sent for to +Coomassie for judgment. After the King’s messengers had spoken, +misrepresenting the case in preference to confessing the King to be in +the wrong, and the caboceer was confused, this boy suddenly rose, and +said, to use the words of the narrators, “King, you have people to wash +you, to feed you, to serve you, but you have no people to speak the +truth to you, and tell you when God does not like your palaver.” The +assembly cried out unanimously, that the boy might be hurried away and +his head taken off; but the King said, “No! let him finish;” and Agay is +said to have spoken three hours, and to have disclosed and argued the +palaver to the King’s conviction, and his master’s acquittal. He was +retained to attend the King, but treated with no particular distinction. +A serious palaver occurring between two principal men, it was debated +before the council, who were at a loss to decide, but inclined to the +man whom the King doubted; judgment was suspended. In the interim the +King sent Agay, privately, to the house of each, to hear their palavers +in turn, tête-à-tête; he did so, and when the King asked him who he +thought was right, he confirmed his impression. “Now,” said the King, “I +know you have a good head.” Agay was then made a Linguist, and presented +with a house, wives, slaves, and gold. Sometime afterwards, the King +confessing a prejudice against a wealthy captain, his linguists, always +inclined to support him, said, “If you wish to take his stool from him, +we will make the palaver;” but Agay sprung up, exclaiming, “No, King! +that is not good; that man never did you any wrong, you know all the +gold of your subjects is your’s at their death, but if you get all now, +strangers will go away and say, only the King has gold, and that will +not be good, but let them say the King has gold, all his captains have +gold, and all his people have gold, then your country will look +handsome, and the bush people fear you.” For this the King made him +second linguist, and much increased his property. When Amanqua had the +command of the army against Cudjo Cooma, the King asked him which +linguist he would take, he replied, Adoosee or Otee; the King said, no! +I will give you this boy, he has the best head for hard palavers. +Amanqua urged that he was too young, the King told him he was a fool to +say so. He then made Amanqua take fetish with him to report the merits +of Agay faithfully, who distinguished himself so much, that he is always +employed in difficult foreign palavers. + +The manners of the higher orders of captains, always dignified, are +courteous and hospitable in private, though haughty and abrupt in +public. I believe them to be jealous rather than tenacious of their +honour, and their sophistry is as ingenious as their maxims are +prepossessing. They consider that war alone affords an exertion or +display of ability, and they esteem the ambition of their King as his +greatest virtue. They have no idea of the aggrandisement of a state by +civil policy alone. They are candid in acknowledging their defeats, and +just to the prowess of their enemies, but they possess little humanity, +and are very avaricious and oppressive. They listen to superstition with +the most childish credulity, but they only cultivate it for the +preservation of life and the indulgence of passion; beyond this, the +Moors could never advance their enquiries; they are neither curious nor +anxious about a future state, pretending to it from rank and achievement +rather than domestic virtue; and believing, if the latter were outraged, +the solemnities and sacrifices of their funeral customs would purchase +their repose. Indeed, licensed as they are by the zealous conflicts of +rival superstitions, (Moorish and Pagan,) their lives are moderate and +benevolent to what might be expected, and merit more than our excuses. + +The lower order of people are ungrateful, insolent, and licentious. The +King repeatedly said, he believed them to be the worst people existing, +except the Fantees, and not comparable with many of their inland +neighbours. Perhaps we should agree with Voltaire, “Je crois qu’il faut +plutôt juger d’une puissante nation par ceux qui sont à la tête, que par +la populace.”[70] + + +[Footnote 65: See Diary.] + +[Footnote 66: See the explanatory list of words and the early dispatches +in the First Part.] + +[Footnote 67: Fire arms are unknown to such of the nations on the south +of the Niger as the Shereef has visited; and the reason which he assigns +for it is, that the Kings in the neighbourhood of the coast, persuaded +that if these powerful instruments of war should reach the possession of +the populous inland states, their own independence would be lost, have +strictly prohibited, and by the wisdom of their measures, have +effectually prevented this dangerous merchandise from passing beyond the +limits of their dominions. Lucas.] + +[Footnote 68: “To succeed to the stool,” does not mean to the seat in +the council, but is the common expression for succeeding to a property +even in private life. The same stool, or seat descends through many +generations.] + +[Footnote 69: On the death of the late King of Amanaheä, two competitors +for the stool appeared, one called Suikee or Suiquah; the other’s name I +am ignorant of. Both collected their slaves and adherents, and fought. +Suikee was obliged to fly, and hide himself in the bush; but the people +being dissatisfied with the conqueror, Suikee re-appeared against the +town. When his rival was reduced beyond all hope, he threw all his gold, +which filled several jars, into the lake; and then collecting his wives +and the different branches of his family, went with them into a remote +part of the bush, and cut all their throats, with the exception of one +son, whom he reserved to assist him in burying the bodies. He then made +this son swear on his fetish, to kill and bury him, and never to +discover where the bodies were laid: the son fulfilled the oath, and +returned to Apollonia, but I am not certain what became of him. After +Suikee had seated himself firmly on the stool, he by some means +discovered where the bodies were concealed; he caused them to be dug up, +and taken to Apollonia town; he then ranged them in a sitting posture, +in a row along the beach, with stakes to extend their arms, and support +their heads: this horrid spectacle was exhibited until even their bones +had perished. One of Suikee’s first acts after his accession, was to +consecrate his hiding place in the bush, making it death, or a heavy +fine, for any one to swear by Suikee’s bush, and not to keep the oath.] + +[Footnote 70: The principal districts of Fantee, are, the Affettoo, the +Braffoo, and the Essecoomah; Cape Coast is in the former. The Dey of +Affettoo (a title probably introduced by the Portuguese) was formerly +supreme in Fantee, so far as summoning the other kings and caboceers at +pleasure, prescribing their political conduct, and being appealed to and +sentencing in all cases of life and death, wherever or by whomsoever the +crime may have been committed; witchcraft excepted. Upwards of a century +ago the small pox almost depopulated Affettoo, then the largest town and +capital of all Fantee, (it is about 10 miles inland from Cape Coast,) +and all the immediate heirs to the stool being cut off, the supremacy +was transferred to Mankasim. The present Dey, however, preserves a +spiritual authority over the other kings and caboceers, and is esteemed +as the superior fetish man; when they desire rain, for instance, they +apply to him to procure it, and they look to him solely for their +chronology, which he preserves by knotting strings. Mankasim then became +the capital and largest town of Fantee, but it was almost destroyed by +the Ashantees in their first invasion of 1807. Any Fantee caboceer who +did not attend the summons of the King of Mankasim, was suspended by +him, and afterwards displaced by the diet. Adoo, the last King of the +Braffoos, despoiling all his subjects of their most valuable property, +and countenancing the individuals of his family in the same assumption +and violation, without any regard to persons; they were all seized, on +his death, by a simultaneous rising of the people, and sold off the +coast as slaves, to get rid of the race. Adookoo, one of the leading +men, was then called to the care of the stool, with the title of +caboceer only, it being still considered as an interregnum, but he +exercised the same supremacy and privileges which the King had done, and +was acknowledged by the whole country. During his retreat and wanderings +in the bush, after several defeats by the Ashantees, the Fantee towns +have assumed many political and judicial rights before centered in +Mankasim; but Adookoo is now expected to summon them all, and re- +establish the ancient order of things, which they deem too sacred to +think of resisting. It was not the Braffoos, or the whole people of that +district, who had the privilege of living abroad at the public expense, +and who took whatever they pleased of the property of others, as Mr. +Meredith has stated; but the state officers of that district called +Brofoos, who acquired that name from the hide in which the tobacco is +rolled, being formed into a seat peculiar to them, never using a wooden +stool. They were the executors, and not the organs of the law, and +always sat to the right and left of Adookoo, but had no voice. The +number was twelve, and the dignity immemorially hereditary in as many +families. These men were allowed to take whatever they pleased at home +and abroad, but since Adookoo’s misfortunes, and inability to support +them, they have been content to beg for their tithes in the large towns, +and only exercise their rapacity in the small crooms of their own +district.] + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + * * * * * + + _Constitution and Laws._ + + +The King, the Aristocracy, now reduced to four, and the Assembly of +Captains,[71] are the three estates of the Ashantee government. + +The constitution requires or admits an interference of the Aristocracy +in all _foreign_ politics, extending even to a veto on the King’s +decision; but they watch rather than share the _domestic_ +administration, generally influencing it by their opinion, but never +appearing to control it from authority; and their opinions on civil +questions, are submitted with a deference, directly in contrast to their +bold declarations on subjects of war or tribute, which amount to +injunction. + +The Ashantees advocated this constitution by the argument, that the +interference of the Aristocracy in all foreign politics, makes the +nation more formidable to its enemies, who feel they cannot provoke with +impunity, where there are so many guardians of the military glory; who, +by insisting on a war, become responsible in a great degree for the +issue, and pledge an energy and exertion, in comparison with which, such +as could be excited by a despotic monarch, must be deemed disinterested. +They added, that an almost independent administration of the King, was +better calculated for the domestic government, because the decrees of a +monarch have naturally more force with the people, (over whom his power +is unlimited) and, further, that a civil power in the Aristocracy could +not be reconciled to the Assembly of Captains, to whom the former estate +was already sufficiently invidious for the health of the constitution. + +In exercising his judicial authority, the King always retired in private +with the Aristocracy to hear their opinions, to encourage their candor +without diminishing his majesty in the eye of the people; and in using +his legislative prerogative, he was said always to give them a private +opportunity of defending the old law, rather than of objecting to the +new; though, from the same state policy, the latter was announced to the +Aristocracy as well as to the Assembly of Captains, before the people, +as the sudden and arbitrary pleasure of the King. + +The general Assembly of the Caboceers and Captains, is summoned merely +to give publicity to the will of the King and Aristocracy, and to +provide for its observance; unless on state emergencies, or +unprecedented occasions, such as the Treaty with the British Government. +The following anecdote, related to me by many Ashantees, will illustrate +the freedom of their constitution. + +A son of the King’s quarrelling with a son of Amanquateä’s, (one of the +four) told him, that in comparison with himself, he was the son of a +slave; this being reported to Amanquateä, he sent a party of his +soldiers, who pulled down the house of the King’s son and seized his +person. The King hearing of it sent to Amanquateä, and learning the +particulars, interceded for his son, and redeemed his head for 20 +periguins of gold. + +The most original feature of their law, that of succession, has been +mentioned in the History, with the argument on which it is founded: it +is universally binding; the course is, the brother, the sister’s son, +the son, the chief vassal or slave to the stool. In the Fantee country, +the principal slave succeeds to the exclusion of the son, who only +inherits his mother’s property, frequently considerable, and inherited +from her family independently of her husband: the daughters share a +small part of the fetish or ornamental gold, which is much alloyed with +silver. + +The sisters of the King may marry or intrigue with whom they please, +provided he be an eminently strong or personable man; that the heirs of +the stool may be, at least, personably superior to the generality of +their countrymen. + +The King is heir to the gold of every subject, from the highest to the +lowest; the fetish gold and the cloths are generally presented by him to +the successor to the stool, from which the slaves and other property of +the deceased are inseparable. The King contributes to the funeral custom +to validate his claim, and usually bestows ten periguins of the dust +gold on the successor, (if of a rich man,) who is in all cases liable +for the debts of the deceased, though the amount is generally made good +to him sooner or later, if he has influence with those about the King, +or recommends himself to his notice personally. This law is sometimes +anticipated, by a father presenting his children with large sums of gold +just before his death. Boiteëm, the father of Otee, one of the King’s +linguists, is known to have done so, but the son discovers his wealth +very deliberately. + +The gold buried with members of the royal family, and afterwards +deposited with their bones in the fetish house at Bantama, is sacred; +and cannot be used, but to redeem the capital from the hands of an +enemy, or in extreme national distress; and even then, the King must +avoid the sight of it, if he would avoid the fatal vengeance of the +fetish or deity. + +If a slave seeks refuge from an ally or tributary, he is restored; if +from an unconnected power, he is received as a free subject. + +The tributary state which distinguishes itself in suppressing the revolt +of another, is rewarded by privileges at the expense of the offending +power: thus if a subject of the former kills a subject of the latter, +the price of a slave only can be recovered, instead of the fine +otherwise attached to the death of a freeman; and the damages for other +injuries are reduced in proportion. + +If the subjects of any tributary do not like the decision of their +ruler, according to the laws of their own country, they may appeal to +the King, and claim decision by the law of Ashantee. The commission +allowed to the collectors of tribute or fine, is two periguins out of +ten. + +The direct descendants of the noble families who assisted the enterprise +of Saï Tootoo, the founder of the kingdom, are not subject to capital +punishment, but can only be despoiled. There are now but four remaining, +Ananqui, Assafee, (see Diary,) and two others, all beggars. + +We were present at the promulgation of the following law: “All persons +sent on the King’s business shall no longer seize provisions in any +country, whether tributary or otherwise, in his name; but requiring +food, shall offer a fair price for the first they meet with, if this is +refused, they shall then demand one meal, and one meal only, in the +King’s name, and proceed. This extends to all messengers sent by the +head captains, whose servants, as well as the King’s, have been long in +the habit of extorting goods from traders, and tobacco and provisions in +the market place, in the names of their masters, which they shall do no +longer without incurring the same penalty which is attached to the +former part of this law, 110 penguins.” The form of making this law, +was, the linguists with their insignia advanced and announced it to each +of the four members of the Aristocracy, then to the whole assembly; +afterwards Cudjo Appăni, the chief crier, proclaimed it to the people, +who shouted their thanks; his fee from the King was ten ackies, from the +people twenty. This attachment of the penalty to the law (the chief +merit of Zaleucus) manifests some advancement in polity, in securing the +accused against arbitrary judgment.[72] + +The caboceers of Soota, Marmpon, Becqua, and Kokofoo, the four large +towns built by the Ashantees at the same time with Coomassie, have +several palatine privileges; they have an independent treasury, though +subject to the demands of the government and a judicial power, with the +reserve of an appeal to the King. They celebrate their own yam custom +after they have attended that at Coomassie, at which all dependents and +tributaries must be present, and which seems to have been instituted +like the Panathenæa of Theseus, to unite such various nations by a +common festival. These four caboceers, only, are allowed, with the King, +to stud their sandals with gold. + +The blood of the son of a King, or of any of the royal family cannot be +shed; but when guilty of a crime of magnitude, they are drowned in the +river Dah, by a particular captain, named Cudjo Samfani. + +If a man swears on the King’s head, that another must kill him, which is +understood to be invoking the King’s death if he does not, the other man +must do so, or forfeit the whole of his property, and generally his +life. This very frequently occurs, for the blacks in their ardor for +revenge, do not regard sacrificing their own lives to bring a palaver on +their murderer, which their families are sure to do. + +To be convicted of cowardice is death. + +A subject may clear any part of the bush for building a croom, or making +a plantation, without paying any thing to the King as lord of the soil; +but he must pay a small sum to the possessor of the nearest croom or +plantation, through which his path runs. + +The government has no power to direct the traders to any particular +market, though it interdicts the commerce with any power which may have +offended it. + +All the King’s linguists take fetish to be true to each other, and to +report faithfully. + +If any subject picks up gold dropped in the market place, it is death, +being collected only by order of the government on emergencies; see +Revenue. + +Theft of the King’s property, or intrigue with the female attendants of +the royal family, or habitual incontinence, is punished by emasculation; +but crim. con. with the wife of a man who has been so punished, is +death: being considered an aggravated contempt of law. + +Interest of money is 33⅓ per cent. for every forty days, which is +accompanied after the first period by a dash of liquor. When the +patience of the creditor is exhausted, he seizes the debtor, or even any +of his family, as slaves, and they can only be redeemed by the payment. +This barbarous law was nearly the same in Athens.[73] + +In almost all charges of treason, the life of the accuser is at risk as +well as that of the accused, and is forfeited on the acquittal of the +latter. I understood this, from the best authorities, to be +indispensible as a check on the palavers; envy, spleen, or covetousness +would otherwise accumulate. + +The accuser is never discovered or confronted to the accused, nor the +evidence revealed, until the latter has fully replied to the charge, as +outlined by the King’s linguists. + +Palavers are frequently allowed to sleep even for years, as in the +Fantee country, to make the damages sued for, the heavier: for instance, +if a man stole a hen twelve months before, the value of the broods and +eggs it would have produced, on a fair average, in the interval, would +be shrewdly calculated, and sued for.[74] State palavers are also +allowed to sleep for years, but that is to impose the confidence on the +accused that the principal witnesses are dead, and the impression is +artfully assisted by the policy of the council. The witnesses against +Appia Nanu, who had reported his haughty message to the King, had not +been seen for nearly twelve months before they burst before him on the +day of his trial, having been sent into the bush on the most distant +frontier. + +No man is punished for killing his own slave, but he is for the murder +of his wife or child.[75] If he kills the slave of another, he must pay +the value. If a great man kills his equal in rank, he is generally +allowed to die by his own hands: the death of an inferior is generally +compensated by a fine to the family, equal to seven slaves.[76] + +If a person brings a frivolous palaver against another, he must give an +entertainment to the family and friends of the acquitted. + +If an aggry bead is broken in a scuffle, seven slaves are to be paid to +the owner. + +Trifling thefts are generally punished by the exposure of the party in +various parts of the town, whilst the act is published; but more serious +thefts cannot be visited on the guilty by any but his family, who are +bound to compensate the accuser, and punish their relative or not as +they think fit; they may even put him or her to death, if the injury is +serious, or the crime repeated or habitual. + +If a man cohabits with a woman without the house, or in the bush, they +are both the slaves of the first person who discovers them; but +redeemable by their families. + +It is forbidden, as it was by Lycurgus, to praise the beauty of another +man’s wife, being intrigue by implication. + +A captain generally gives a periguin to the family on taking a wife, a +poor man two ackies: the damages for intrigue in the former case are ten +periguins; in the latter, one ackie and a half, and a pot of palm wine. + +If a woman involves herself in a palaver, she involves her family, but +not her husband. + +None but a captain can sell his wife, and he, only, if her family are +unable to redeem her by the repayment of the marriage fee. + +The property of the wife is distinct, and independent of the husband, +though the King is the heir to it. + +None but a captain can put his wife to death for infidelity, and even +then he is expected to accept a liberal offer of gold from the family, +for her redemption. To intrigue with a wife of the King’s is death. + +If the family of a woman are able and willing, on her report of her +dislike to her husband, or his ill-treatment of her, to tender him the +marriage fee, he must accept it, and the woman returns to her family, +but may not marry again. + +If a husband is not heard of by his wife for three years, she may marry +again, and if the first husband returns, the claim of the second is the +better; but all the children of the after marriage are considered the +property of the first husband, and may be pawned by him. + +Those accused of witchcraft, or having a devil, are tortured to death. + +The good treatment of slaves is in some degree provided for, by the +liberty they have of dashing or transferring themselves to any freeman; +whom they enjoin to make them his property by invoking his death if he +does not; an imperative appeal. + + +[Footnote 71: It has been shewn in the history, that the Aristocracy was +originally formed of the peers and associates of Saï Tootoo the founder +of the monarchy, who owed his elevation not to his superior rank, but to +his superior endowments and address. The Aristocracy has been gradually +retrenched since Saï Cudjo pointed out the way.] + +[Footnote 72: By the laws of Ahanta, which are peculiar, if any subject +or sojourner is in urgent want of provisions, he may seize the first he +meets with, paying the owner the prices which have been fixed by the +caboceers: this is similar to the law of Lycurgus. At the Contoom or +annual Harvest Custom, the Ahantas revise their laws, as Solon enjoined +the Athenians to do, annulling some and adding others.] + +[Footnote 73: In Ahanta, all old debts must be paid within six weeks +from the commencement of the Contoom or Harvest Custom. The creditor can +panyar or seize not only the family, but the townsmen of the debtor.] + +[Footnote 74: The Ahanta laws do not allow of these protracted palavers, +and only award the intrinsic value of the articles stolen or destroyed. +If a man robs a plantation of a yam, he must pay the owner a tokoo of +gold, and take two more. In Fantee the pettiest theft frequently entails +slavery.] + +[Footnote 75: In the kingdom of Amanaheä or Apollonia, the tenth child +is always buried alive.] + +[Footnote 76: A person accidentally killing another in Ahanta, pays 5 +oz. of gold to the family, and defrays the burial customs. In the case +of murder, it is 20 oz. of gold and a slave; or, he and his family +become the slaves of the family of the deceased. If a man dashes himself +to the fetish on the head of another, the other must redeem him. If a +man kills himself on the head of another, the other must kill himself +also, or pay 20 oz. to the family: in Fantee the sum is indefinitely +great: this is frequently resorted to, when there is no other prospect +of revenge. + +Adumissa, an extraordinarily beautiful red skinned woman of Cape Coast, +possessed numerous admirers, but rejected them all. One of them, in +despair, shot himself on her head close to her house. The family +demanding satisfaction; to save her relations from a ruinous palaver, +she resolved to shoot herself in expiation. She accordingly assembled +her friends and relatives from various parts of the country, and +sitting, richly dressed, killed herself in their presence with golden +bullets. After the body had been exposed in state, it was buried with a +profusion of cloths and gold. The beautiful Adumissa is still eulogised, +and her favourite patterned cloth bears her name amongst the natives.] + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + * * * * * + + _Superstitions._ + + +The Negro tradition of the book and the calabash, cited by St. Pierre, +is familiar to every native of these parts, and seems the source of +their religious opinions. Impressed that the blind avarice of their +forefathers inclined all the favour of the supreme God to white men, +they believe themselves to have been committed to the mediating care of +subordinate deities, necessarily as inferior to the primary, as they are +to Europeans. + +As the Ashantee manner of relating this tradition differs a little from +that of the Fantee, I will repeat it, on the authority of Odumata and +other principal men. In the beginning of the world, God created three +white and three black men, with the same number of women; he resolved, +that they might not afterwards complain, to give them their choice of +good and evil. A large box or calabash was set on the ground, with a +piece of paper, sealed up, on one side of it. God gave the black men the +first choice, who took the box, expecting it contained every thing, but, +on opening it, there appeared only a piece of gold, a piece of iron, and +several other metals, of which they did not know the use. The white men +opening the paper, it told them every thing. God left the blacks in the +bush, but conducted the whites to the water side, (for this happened in +Africa) communicated with them every night, and taught them to build a +small ship which carried them to another country, whence they returned +after a long period, with various merchandise to barter with the blacks, +who might have been the superior people. + +With this imaginary alienation from the God of the universe, not a shade +of despondency is associated; they consider that it diminishes their +comforts and their endowments on earth, but that futurity is a dull and +torpid state to the majority of mankind. + +Their fetishes or subordinate deities, are supposed to inhabit +particular rivers, woods, and mountains, as the imaginary deities of the +Celts. They are venerated in proportion as their predictions (always +equivocal) chance to be realized. The present favourite fetish of +Ashantee is that of the river Tando. Cobee, a river in Dankara, and +Odentee on the Adirree, are two of the others. + +The kings, caboceers, and the higher class, are believed to dwell with +the superior Deity after death, enjoying an eternal renewal of the state +and luxury they possessed on earth. It is with this impression, that +they kill a certain number of both sexes at the funeral customs, to +accompany the deceased, to announce his distinction, and to administer +to his pleasures. + +The spirits of the inferior classes are believed to inhabit the houses +of the fetish, in a state of torpid indolence, which recompenses them +for the drudgery of their lives, and which is truly congenial to the +feelings of the Negro. Those of superior wisdom and experience, are said +to be endued with foresight after death, and to be appointed to observe +the lives, and advise the good of those mortals who acknowledge the +fetish; their state corresponding, in short, with that of the first race +of men after death, as described by Hesiod. Those whose enormities +nullify the mediation of the funeral custom, or, whom neglect or +circumstances might have deprived of it, are doomed, in the imagination +of others, to haunt the gloom of the forest, stealing occasionally to +their former abodes in rare but lingering visits. Those who have +neglected the custom, or funeral rites of their family, are thought to +be accursed and troubled by their spirits. + +There are two orders of fetishmen. The first class dwell with the +fetish,[77] who has a small round house, built generally at a distance +from the town. They question the oracle respecting the future fortune of +a state or an individual, convey its advice, and enjoin the attention of +the _audible_ spirits of those, any member of their family would +question respecting property or domestic circumstances: + + + “Auditur tumulo et vox reddita fertur ad aures.” Æn. vi. + + +The inferior class pursue their various occupations in society, assist +in customs and superstitious ceremonies, and are applied to as fortune +tellers or conjurors are in Europe; especially in cases of theft; when, +from a secret system of espionage, and a reluctance, frequently +amounting to a refusal to discover the culprit, or to do more than +replace the property whence it was taken, they are generally successful. +The magical ceremony consists in knotting, confusing, and dividing +behind the back, several strings and shreds of leather. They are also +frequently applied to by slippery wives, to work charms to keep their +husbands in ignorance of a projected intrigue, which they affect to do. + +The primary dignity is hereditary in families, as the priesthood was in +Egypt, celibacy not being enjoined; their property is also hereditary, +and they possess other immunities. The latter order is frequently +augmented by those, who declare that the fetish has suddenly seized, or +come upon them, and who, after inflicting great severities on +themselves, in the manner of the convulsionists, are ultimately +acknowledged. The fetish women, generally preferred for medical aid, as +they possess a thorough knowledge of barks and herbs, deleterious and +sanative, closely resemble the second class of Druidesses as described, +I think by Mela: they seem licensed prostitutes, before and after +marriage. + +The present state of these people referring them to a comparison with +the nations of ancient Europe,[78] the close resemblance of many points +of their superstition to relative particulars recorded of Greece and +Gaul, recalls the following reflection of an eminent writer. “The truth +is, there is hardly any thing more surprising in the history of mankind, +than the similitude, or rather identity, of the opinions, institutions, +and manners of all these orders of ancient priests, though they lived +under such different climates, and at so great a distance from one +another, without intercourse or communication. This amounts to a +demonstration, that all these opinions and institutions flowed +originally from one fountain.” + +Half the offerings to the fetish, are pretended to be thrown into the +river, the other half belongs to the priests. The King’s offering is +generally ten ounces, and three or four slaves: that of a poor subject +about four ackies. Children are frequently vowed to the service of the +fetish before their birth. A slave flying to the temple, may dash or +devote himself to the fetish; but, by paying a fee of two ounces of gold +and four sheep, any person shuts the door of the fetish house against +all his run away slaves.[79] + +Every family has a variety of domestic fetishes, furnished by the +priests, and answering to the Penates of the Romans; some are wooden +figures, others of arbitrary shapes and materials; they receive +offerings and libations at the yam custom, but are not brought out of +the house.[80] + +In Ashantee there is not a common fetish day, as on the coast.[81] +Different families solemnize different days of the week, by wearing +white cloths, abstaining from palm wine and labour, as they do the day +of the week on which they were born, which is in fact their second +fetish day. The King’s family keep Tuesday as their fetish day. +Odumata’s, Friday. Saturday was the King’s birth day, when, as well as +on his fetish day, he always sat on a stool placed before his chair as a +foot stool would be. Some families never eat beef, others abstain from +pork. Fowls and beef are the fetish of the King’s family, and +consequently never eaten by it. + +The Ashantees have their Fasti and Nefasti, or lucky and unlucky days, +as the Romans had.[82] The former consecrated by some good fortune, the +latter condemned from some national calamity, as Saturday, for instance, +from the defeat and death of Saï Tootoo. They are also otherwise marked +than by the week; for I was told, that our month of September contained +fewer bad days than any other, and was besides deemed auspicious to +travelling: + + + Ipsa dies alios alio dedit ordine Luna + + Felices operum · · · · + + · · · · nona fugæ melior. Geor. I. + + +I have known Ashantees thirty days coming with dispatches from Cape +Coast Castle to Coomassie, in August; and in September, to have arrived +in twelve. + +If the successor to a stool, or any rich inheritance is a child, they +grind aggry beads into a powder, and rub him with it daily, after +washing, believing that it hastens his growth and maturity. When any one +denies a theft, an aggry bead is placed in a small vessel, with some +water, the person holding it puts his right foot against the right foot +of the accused, who invokes the power of the bead to kill him if he is +guilty, and then takes it into his mouth with a little of the water, the +rest being thrown on the ground, and crossed as he repeats the +invocation: their superstition is generally superior to their +resolution. I shall be expected to notice these aggry beads. + +The natives invariably declare that the aggry beads are found in the +Dankara, Akim, Warsaw, Ahanta, and Fantee countries, the greater number +in the former, being the richer in gold; they say they are directed to +dig for them by a spiral vapour issuing from the ground, and that they +rarely lay near the surface; the finder is said to be sure of a series +of good fortune. The plain aggry beads are blue, yellow, green, or a +dull red, the variegated consist of every colour and shade. The Fantees +prefer the plain yellow bead, the Amanaheäns the blue and yellow, for +which they will give double the weight in gold; those of inferior beauty +frequently fetch a large price, from having been worn by some royal or +eminent character. Dr. Leyden, who writes, “the aigris is a stone of a +greenish blue colour, supposed to be a species of jasper, small +perforated pieces of which, valued at their weight in gold, are used for +money,” (which I never heard of,) rather describes the popo bead; though +that is semi-transparent, (of a bright blue,) resembling carnelian, +(which is frequently found in these countries) and said to be obtained +in the same manner as the aggry bead. Isert writes, “they are a sort of +coral, with inlaid work: the art of making beads is entirely lost, or +was never known in these parts: it is not improbable, that in the golden +age of Egypt, she had communication with the Gold Coast; indeed, it has +been thought, and perhaps not without some reason, that the Gold Coast +is the Ophir of Solomon.” + +The variegated strata of the aggry beads are so firmly united, and so +imperceptibly blended, that the perfection seems superior to art: some +resemble mosaic work, the surfaces of others are covered with flowers +and regular patterns, so very minute, and the shades so delicately +softened one into the other, and into the ground of the bead, that +nothing but the finest touch of the pencil could equal them. The +agatized parts disclose flowers and patterns, deep in the body of the +bead, and thin shafts, of opaque colours, running from the centre to the +surface. The natives pretend that imitations are made in the country, +which they call boiled beads, alleging that they are broken aggry beads +ground into powder, and boiled together, and that they know them because +they are heavier; but this I find to be mere conjecture among +themselves, unsupported by any thing like observation or discovery. The +natives believe that by burying the aggry beads in sand they not only +grow but breed.[83] + +To return to the superstitions of the Ashantees: when they drink, they +spill a little of the liquor on the ground as an offering to the fetish; +and on rising from their chairs or stools, their attendants instantly +lay them on their sides, to prevent the devil (whom they represent to be +white) from slipping into their master’s places. + +But the most surprising superstition of the Ashantees, is their +confidence in the fetishes or saphies they purchase so extravagantly +from the Moors, believing firmly that they make them invulnerable and +invincible in war, paralyse the hand of the enemy, shiver their weapons, +divert the course of balls, render both sexes prolific, and avert all +evils but sickness, (which they can only assuage,) and natural death. +The King gave to the King of Dagwumba, for the fetish or war coat of +Apokoo, the value of thirty slaves; for Odumata’s, twenty; for Adoo +Quamina’s, thirteen; for Akimpon’s, twelve; for Akimponteä’s, nine; and +for those of greater captains in proportion. The generals being always +in the rear of the army are pretty sure to escape, a circumstance much +in favour of the Moors. The drawing of Adoo Quamina will convey the best +idea of this dress, which has been described before, in our entrée; it +is so weighty that old Odumata could scarcely move in his. Jannequin, +who visited Mandingo in 1637, describes exactly the same sort of dress +as worn by the chiefs of that country, and adds, “their bodies are so +encumbered with these defences, that they are often unable to mount on +horseback without assistance.” For a small fetish of about six lines, +sewn in a case of red cloth, which the King presented to our Accra +linguist, Baba charged and received six ackies. The man valued the gift +highly; he had expended two pieces of cloth and a quantity of rum in +fetish, at Accra, before he joined the Mission; but for which, he told +me, he was convinced the Ashantees would have managed to poison him: +yet, he was one of the most sensible natives I ever conversed with. A +sheet of paper would support an inferior Moor in Coomassie for a month. +Several of the Ashantee captains offered seriously to let us fire at +them; in short, their confidence in these fetishes is almost as +incredible, as the despondency and panic imposed on their southern and +western enemies by the recollection of them: they impel the Ashantees, +fearless and headlong, to the most daring enterprises, they dispirit +their adversaries, almost to the neglect of an interposition of fortune +in their favour. The Ashantees believe that the constant prayers of the +Moors, who have persuaded them that they converse with the Deity, +invigorate themselves, and gradually waste the spirit and strength of +their enemies. This faith is not less impulsive than that which achieved +the Arabian conquests. + +Neither the Ashantees or their neighbours have any tradition of a +deluge, nor does Catcott, the only writer I recollect to have read on +its universality, report any Negro tradition, though he submits that of +the American tribes, with those of the other nations of the world. The +Moors told me, that the waters of the deluge retired to, and were +absorbed in the lake Caudi or Caughi, which they also called Bahar +Noohoo, or the sea of Noah. + +Amongst other observations, I recollect the Moors to have said, that +Moses spoke like God, that Abraham was the friend of God, that Jesus was +a spirit of God, but that Mahomet was the best beloved of God. They +added, that there were four books written by the inspiration of God, at +different times. Moses wrote Tauratoo; David, Zaboura; Jesus, Lingheel; +and Mahomet, Al Koran. Lightning, they said, was occasioned by God +waving his hand to direct the courses of his angels. One Moor was a +great etymologist; he told me, that Mahomet rushing between two armies, +who were fighting, exclaimed to one party, “Toorek! Toorek!” (leave off! +leave off!) and that those people were thenceforward called Turks. I +questioned them concerning the origin of nations; they told me, that +Japhet was the most active in covering the nakedness of his father, +which Ham discovered, and thence the subjection of black men the +descendants of Ham, to Europeans the descendants of Japhet. Shem, from +whom they were themselves descended, they said, was neither so good or +so bad as his brothers, and therefore his children enjoyed a medium of +endowment and favour. They augured from the sacrifice of sheep, with +which the King supplied them abundantly, and, excepting those who had +made a pilgrimage to Mecca, (of which they told us wonderful tales) did +not hesitate mingling the superstitions of the natives with their own, +either for their profit or safety. They were tolerably expert in slight +of hand tricks. + + +[Footnote 77: At Nanampong (Nanan means a grand-father) near Mankasim, +in the Braffoo country, there is a deep dell, inhabited by a number of +aged fetish men, whom the Fantees believe to be immortal, and to have +lived there beyond all memory, in close converse with the fetish, and +ignorant of the world but by intuition. The spirits of the aged and wise +are believed to dwell amongst them, and their prophecies and advice are +revered as emanations from the fetish. Adookoo, the chief of the +Braffoos, used sometimes to consult them in person, but generally +through his head fetishman, and the Fantees now attribute the successes +of the Ashantees, and their own defeats and misfortunes, to the +disregard of what the oracle enjoined; for, whilst it was obeyed, they +say the country always prospered; and, indeed, from the instances which +have been reported to me, the responses appear to have directed a just +and prudent policy, highly conducive to the welfare of Fantee. This dell +is so impervious, and yet so capacious, that many hundred Fantees were +secreted there, during the Ashantee invasions, which these priests had +predicted. The house or temple of the principal fetish of the Ahanta +country, called Checquoo, is at Apremmadoo, about four miles up the +Takaradee river: upwards of fifty superior priests are resident there.] + +[Footnote 78: “And here I cannot but remark, that those accounts, when +compared, shew how little manners and minds improve in Africa, and how +long, and how much society has been there at a stand:—Jobson saw, in +1620, exactly what Park saw in 1798.” Sir W. Young.] + +[Footnote 79: A slave dashing or devoting himself to Checquoo, the great +fetish of Ahanta, is never redeemed; the impression of the superior +power of that fetish being so awful, that the proprietor of the slave, +would believe the death of all his family inevitable, were he to redeem +him from the sanctuary.] + +[Footnote 80: The different states of the water side revere different +animals as fetish: the hyæna is esteemed so at Accra, the alligator at +Dix Cove and Annamaboe, and vultures universally; and with more apparent +reason, as they consume all the offal of the neighbourhood, and thus +contribute to its health and cleanliness. A black man killing a hyæna at +Accra, would incur a serious penalty. A European is obliged to pay a +case of neat rum and one piece of white baft, in which the head of the +animal is wrapped, and afterwards buried by the natives. Almost every +resident on the coast, can speak to the imitative powers of the hyæna, +which Pliny has been ridiculed for reporting. In a fresh water pond at +Dix Cove, there is an alligator, about twelve feet long, which always +appears on the bank, at the call of the fetish men, who then throw it a +white fowl. In a modern natural history, I read, “in this part of the +world (Africa) also, as well as at Siam, the crocodile makes an object +of savage pomp, near the palaces of their monarchs. Philips informs us, +that at Sabi, on the slave coast, there are two pools of water near the +royal palace, where crocodiles are bred as we breed carp in our ponds in +Europe.” I never heard of any royal palaces, or of Sabi (probably +Assaboo) on the Slave Coast; the alligator of Dix Cove may possibly be +alluded to.] + +[Footnote 81: Tuesday is the common fetish day on the coast, when they +neither fish or work in their plantations.] + +[Footnote 82: + + + Ille et nefasto te posuit die. Hor. 12, 13. + + +Romani pariter quosdam atros et nefastos habuere, eo quod in iis clades +acceperant; · · ·] + +[Footnote 83: The coloring matter of the blue beads has been proved, by +experiment, to be iron; that of the yellow, without doubt, is lead and +antimony, with a trifling quantity of copper, though not essential to +the production of the color. The generality of these beads appear to be +produced from clays colored in thin layers, afterwards twisted together +into a spiral form, and then cut across: also from different colored +clays raked together without blending. How the flowers and delicate +patterns, in the body and on the surface of the rarer beads, have been +produced, cannot be so well explained. Besides the suite deposited in +the British Museum, I had the pleasure of presenting one of the most +interesting kind to Baron Humboldt; and I have also sent one to Sir +Richard Hoare, as it seemed to correspond so closely with the bead which +he found in one of the barrows, and describes, as follows, in his +History of Wiltshire. The notion of the rare virtues of the Glain +Neidyr, as well as of the continued good fortune of the finder, accords +exactly with the African superstitions. “A large glass bead, of the same +imperfect petrefaction as the pully beads, and resembling also, in +matter, the little figures that are found with the mummies in Egypt, and +are to be seen in the British Museum. This very curious bead has two +circular lines of opaque sky blue and white, which seem to represent a +serpent entwined round a centre, which is perforated. This was certainly +one of the Glain Neidyr of the Britons, derived from glain, which is +pure and holy, and neidyr a snake. Under the word glain, Mr. Owen, in +his Welsh Dictionary, has given the following article: “The Glain +neidyr, transparent stones, or adder stones, were worn by the different +orders of the bards, each having its appropriate color. There is no +certainty that they were worn from superstition originally; perhaps that +was the circumstance which gave rise to it. Whatever might have been the +cause, the _notion of their rare virtues was universal_ in all places +where the Bardic religion was taught. It may still be questioned whether +they are the production of nature or art.” The beads which are the +present object of my attention, are thus noticed by Bishop Gibson in his +improved edition of Camden’s Britannia. “In most parts of Wales, and +throughout all Scotland, and in Cornwall, we find it a common opinion of +the vulgar, that about Midsummer eve (although in the time they do not +all agree,) it is usual for snakes to meet in companies; and that by +joining heads together, and hissing, a kind of bubble is formed like a +ring, about the head of one of them, which the rest, by continual +hissing blow on till it comes off at the tail; and then it immediately +hardens, and resembles a glass ring, _which whoever finds (as some old +women and children are persuaded) shall prosper in all their +undertakings_. The rings which they suppose to be thus generated are +called Gleinu Nadroedh, i.e. Gemmæ Anguinum, whereof I have seen at +several places about twenty or thirty. They are small glass annulets, +commonly about half as wide as our finger rings, but much thicker; of a +green color, usually, though some of them are blue, and others curiously +waved with blue, red, and white. I have also seen two or three earthen +rings of this kind, but glazed with blue, and adorned with transverse +streaks in furrows on the outside. There seems to be some connection +between the Glein Neidyr of the Britons, and the Ovum Anguinum mentioned +by Pliny,[a] as being held in veneration by the Druids of Gaul, and to +the formation of which he gives nearly the same origin. They were +probably worn as an insigne, or mark of distinction, and suspended +around the neck, as the perforation is not sufficiently large to admit +the finger.” + +The bead engraved in Tumulus No. 9, resembles closely a coarse sort of +bead, still manufactured in Syria, brought over by Dr. Meryon. The glass +globes dug up in Lincolnshire, and presented by Sir Joseph Banks to the +British Museum, are very like a distinct sort of aggry bead, dug by the +natives even more rarely than the others, but not larger than a moderate +sized apple: they are more opaque than the other beads, and the ground +or body is generally black, speckled confusedly with red, white, and +yellow. + +_Aggry_ is the generic, not the abstract name; ‘_awynnee_’ is _bead_, +but aggry is an exotic word no native can explain. When first I heard of +similar beads having been lately dug in India, I associated for an +instant the expectation that it might have been in the neighbourhood of +Agra, and thus have thrown some light on the name; but it appears they +were found in Malabar. I am indebted for the following account of this +interesting discovery to a gentleman lately returned from India. “The +bead you sent me is more like those I saw in India, than any I have seen +before; but it is thicker and shorter; neither does the material of +which it is formed exactly agree with those in India, which appear to be +of a red glass, very like red carnelian (such, however, are frequent +among the Aggry beads) with white lines of enamel, inlaid, as it were, +in the body of the bead. I gave these to a friend in India, who promised +to send them to the Asiatic Society in Calcutta. The circles of stone in +which these beads have been found, abound most in Malabar, in the +neighbourhood of Calicut; but I have seen them in other parts of India, +and I am of opinion that they might be traced throughout the whole of +the southern peninsula. They are formed of large masses of rough stones, +placed round in irregular circles, some of very large extent, some of +smaller: they appear so much like natural rocks, that most persons would +pass them unobserved. Several of these circles about three years since +were excavated, in the vicinity of Calicut, and in the centre of each of +them we found, at the depth of about five feet, a large earthen jar of +the same shape as those found in Wiltshire, as near as we could judge, +for it was broken to pieces: it was about four or five feet deep, its +mouth in general closed with a square piece of granite: the beads were +found at the bottom of these jars with some pieces of iron, apparently +parts of swords and spears. There was an iron javelin found in one of +these places, tolerably perfect: it was about five feet long, with a +large iron knob at one end of it. In the centre of one of the circles we +came to a flight of seven steps, which led to a cave excavated in the +rock; it measured 11 feet in diameter, and 7 feet in its highest part; +the entrance to it was a square opening of about 18 inches, which was +closed up by an immense block of granite. We found in this place a great +number of earthen pots of very curious shape; in one of these there were +the remains of bones, which appeared to have been but imperfectly +calcined; in several of the larger jars there were the husks of rice, +which dropped into dust immediately they were opened. We found here also +an iron tripod, and a very curious stone, somewhat similar to what the +Indians now use for grinding their curry powder on. The large stones +forming the circles were set upright and capped with still larger ones. +They are not of granite, but of the stone of the country in which they +are situated; they are of different sizes; I have seen some of them 10 +or 12 feet high, and the large stone on the top from 10 to 12 feet in +diameter, or perhaps more. Coimbatore is a district situated between the +Coromandel and Malabar coasts; it is bounded on the east by the river +Cavery, on the banks of which the tumuli are in general situated. In +some, a few silver coins have been found, of a square figure, with +characters on them, which none of the most learned Bramins have been as +yet able to make out; it is in these also that remains of very large +swords, &c. have been found. The Roman coins to the number of upwards of +90 were all of gold, and Nero’s; each of them had a cut or slit in it. +They were not found in one of these barrows, but were discovered in a +garden by one of the natives when digging: they were in a small copper +pot. Pandu Kuri literally means Pandu’s caves or holes. Pandu is a very +celebrated personage in the Hindoo Mythology, and a great warrior; it is +common in India to ascribe to him all great works of antiquity; this +term therefore only shews that those places are very ancient, and that +the present inhabitants are quite ignorant of their origin.”] + +[Footnote a: Præterea est ovorum genus in magna Galliarum fama, omissum +Græcis. Angues innumeri æstate convoluti, salivis faucium, corporumque +spumis artifici complexu glomerantur, anguinum appellantur. Druidæ +sibilis id dicunt in sublime jactari, sagoque oportere intercipi ne +tellurem attingat. Profugere raptorem equo. Serpentes enim insequi donec +arceant amnis alicujus interventu. Experimentum ejus esse si contra +aquas fluitet vel auro cinctum Insigne Druidis. Ad victorias litium ac +regum aditus maxime laudat. Plinii Hist. Natural. L. 29. c. 3.] + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + * * * * * + + _Customs._ + + +The Yam Custom is annual, just at the maturity of that vegetable, which +is planted in December, and not eaten until the conclusion of the +custom, the early part of September. All the caboceers and captains, and +the majority of the tributaries, are enjoined to attend, none being +excused, but such as the Kings of Inta, and Dagwumba, (who send +deputations of their principal caboceers,) and those who have been +dispatched elsewhere on public business. If a chief or caboceer has +offended, or if his fidelity be suspected, he is seldom accused or +punished until the Yam Custom, which they attend frequently unconscious, +and always uncertain of what may be laid to their charge. The Yam Custom +is like the Saturnalia; neither theft, intrigue, or assault are +punishable during the continuance, but the grossest liberty prevails, +and each sex abandons itself to its passions. + +On Friday the 5th of September, the number, splendor, and variety of +arrivals, thronging from the different paths, was as astonishing as +entertaining; but there was an alloy in the gratification, for the +principal caboceers sacrificed a slave at each quarter of the town, on +their entré. + +In the afternoon of Saturday, the King received all the caboceers and +captains in the large area, where the Dankara canons are placed. The +scene was marked with all the splendor of our own entré, and many +additional novelties. The crush in the distance was awful and +distressing. All the heads of the kings and caboceers whose kingdoms had +been conquered, from Saï Tootoo to the present reign, with those of the +chiefs who had been executed for subsequent revolts, were displayed by +two parties of executioners, each upwards of a hundred, who passed in an +impassioned dance, some with the most irresistible grimace, some with +the most frightful gesture: they clashed their knives on the skulls, in +which sprigs of thyme were inserted, to keep the spirits from troubling +the King. I never felt so grateful for being born in a civilized +country. Firing and drinking palm wine were the only divertissemens to +the ceremony of the caboceers presenting themselves to the King; they +were announced, and passed all round the circle saluting every umbrella: +their bands preceded; we reckoned above forty drums in that of the King +of Dwabin. The effect of the splendor, the tumult, and the musquetry, +was afterwards heightened by torch light. We left the ground at 10 +o’clock; the umbrellas were crowded even in the distant streets, the +town was covered like a large fair, the broken sounds of distant horns +and drums filled up the momentary pauses of the firing which encircled +us: the uproar continued until four in the morning, just before which +the King retired. I have attempted a drawing, (No. 2.) it is by no means +adequate, yet more so than description could be. + +[Illustration: _Drawn by T. E. Bowdich Esqr._ + +_Engraved by R. Havell & Son._ + +THE FIRST DAY OF THE YAM CUSTOM. + +_Published Decr. 2, 1818, by John Murray, Albemarle Street._] + +On the left side of the drawing is a group of captains dancing and +firing, as described in our entré. Immediately above the encircling +soldiery, is a young caboceer under his umbrella, borne on the shoulders +of his chief slave; he salutes as he passes along, and is preceded and +surrounded by boys (with elephants tails, feathers, &c.) and his +captains, who, lifting their swords in the air, halloo out the deeds of +his fore-fathers; his stool is borne close to him, ornamented with a +large brass bell. Above is the fanciful standard of a chief, who is +preceded and followed by numerous attendants; he is supported round the +waist by a confidential slave, and one wrist is so heavily laden with +gold, that it is supported on the head of a small boy; with the other +hand he is saluting a seated caboceer, sawing the air by a motion from +the wrist. His umbrella is sprung up and down to increase the breeze, +and large grass fans are also playing; his handsomest slave girl +follows, bearing on her head a small red leather trunk, full of gold +ornaments, and rich cloths; behind are soldiers and drummers, who throw +their white-washed drums in the air, and catch them again, with much +agility and grimace, as they walk along. Boys are in the front, bearing +elephants tails, fly flappers, &c. and his captains with uplifted +swords, are hastening forward the musicians and soldiers. Amongst the +latter is the stool, so stained with blood that it is thought decent to +cover it with red silk. Behind the musicians is Odumata, coming round to +join the procession in his state hammock lined with red taffeta, and +smoking under his umbrella, at the top of which is a stuffed leopard. In +the area below is an unfortunate victim, tortured in the manner +described in the entré, and two of the King’s messengers clearing the +way for him. The King’s four linguists are seen next; two, Otee and +Quancum, are seated in conversation under an umbrella; the chief, +Adoosey, is swearing a royal messenger, (to fetch an absent caboceer,) +by putting a gold handled sword between his teeth, whilst Agay delivers +the charge, and exhorts him to be resolute. The criers, all deformed and +with monkey skin caps, are seated in the front. Under the next umbrella +is the royal stool, thickly cased in gold. Gold pipes, fans of ostrich +wing feathers, captains seated with gold swords, wolves heads and snakes +as large as life of the same metal, depending from the handles, girls +bearing silver bowls, body guards, &c. &c. are mingled together till we +come to the King, seated in a chair of ebony and gold, and dressed much +in the same way as described at the first interview. He is holding up +his two fingers to receive the oath of the captain to the right, who, +pointing to a distant country, vows to conquer it. On the right and left +of the state umbrella are the flags of Great Britain, Holland, and +Denmark. A group of painted figures are dancing up to the King, in the +most extravagant attitudes, beating time with their long knives on the +skulls stuck full of thyme. On the right of the King is the eunuch, who +superintends the group of small boys, the children of the nobility, +waving elephants tails, (spangled with gold,) feathers, &c.: behind him +is the above mentioned captain and other chiefs dressed as in the left +end of the drawing. Musicians, seated and standing, are playing on +instruments cased or plated with gold. The officers of the Mission are +next seen, their linguists in front, their soldiers, servants, and flag +behind, at the back of whom is placed the King’s state hammock, under +its own umbrella. Adjoining the officers is old Quatchie Quofie and his +followers; at the top of his umbrella is stuck a small black wooden +image, with a bunch of rusty hair on the head, intending to represent +the famous Akim caboceer who was killed by him; vain of the action, he +is seen according to his usual custom, dancing before and deriding his +fallen enemy, whilst his captains bawl out the deed, and halloo their +acclamations. The manner of drinking palm wine is exhibited in the next +group, a boy kneels beneath with a second bowl to catch the droppings, +(it being a great luxury to suffer the liquor to run over the beard,) +whilst the horns flourish, and the captains halloo the strong names. The +Moors are easily distinguished by their caps, and preposterous turbans. +One is blessing a Dagwumba caboceer, who is passing on horseback, (the +animal covered with fetishes and bells,) escorted by his men in tunics, +bearing lances, and his musicians with rude violins, distinct from the +sanko. The back of the whole assembly is lined with royal soldiers, and +the commoner ones are ranged in front, with here and there a captain and +a group of musicians, who, some with an old cocked hat, some with a +soldier’s jacket, &c. &c. afford a ludicrous appearance. This +description will be rendered more illustrative of the drawing, by +referring to that of our entré. + +The next morning the King ordered a large quantity of rum to be poured +into brass pans, in various parts of the town; the crowd pressing +around, and drinking like hogs; freemen and slaves, women and children, +striking, kicking, and trampling each other under foot, pushed head +foremost into the pans, and spilling much more than they drank. In less +than an hour, excepting the principal men, not a sober person was to be +seen, parties of four reeling and rolling under the weight of another, +whom they affected to be carrying home; strings of women covered with +red paint, hand in hand, falling down like rows of cards; the commonest +mechanics and slaves furiously declaiming on state palavers; the most +discordant music, the most obscene songs, children of both sexes +prostrate in insensibility. All wore their handsomest cloths, which they +trailed after them to a great length, in a drunken emulation of +extravagance and dirtiness.[84] + +Towards evening the populace grew sober again, the strange caboceers +displayed their equipages in every direction, and at five o’clock there +was a procession from the palace to the south end of the town and back; +the King and the dignitaries were carried in their hammocks, and passed +through a continued blaze of musketry: the crush was dreadful. The next +day (Monday) was occupied in state palavers, and on Tuesday the diet +broke up, and most of the caboceers took leave. + +About a hundred persons, mostly culprits reserved, are generally +sacrificed, in different quarters of the town, at this custom. Several +slaves were also sacrificed at Bantama, over the large brass pan, their +blood mingling with the various vegetable and animal matter within, +(fresh and putrefied,) to complete the charm, and produce invincible +fetish. All the chiefs kill several slaves, that their blood may flow +into the hole from whence the new yam is taken. Those who cannot afford +to kill slaves, take the head of one already sacrificed and place it on +the hole.[85] + +The royal gold ornaments are melted down every Yam Custom, and fashioned +into new patterns, as novel as possible. This is a piece of state policy +very imposing on the populace, and the tributary chiefs who pay but an +annual visit. + +About ten days after the custom, the whole of the royal houshold eat new +yam for the first time, in the market place, the King attending. The +next day he and the captains set off for Sarrasoo before sun rise, to +perform their annual ablutions in the river Dah. Almost all the +inhabitants follow him, and the capital appears deserted; the succeeding +day the King washes in the marsh at the south-east end of the town, the +captains lining the streets leading to it on both sides. He is attended +by his suite, but he laves the water with his own hands over himself, +his chairs, stools, gold and silver plate, and the various articles of +furniture used especially by him. Several brass pans are covered with +white cloth, with various fetish under them. About twenty sheep are +dipped, (one sheep and one goat only are sacrificed at the time,) to be +killed in the palace in the afternoon, that their blood may be poured on +the stools and door posts. All the doors, windows, and arcades of the +palace, are plentifully besmeared with a mixture of eggs, and palm oil; +as also the stools of the different tribes and families. After the +ceremony of washing is over, the principal captains precede the King to +the palace, where, contrary to usual custom, none but those of the first +rank are allowed to enter, to see the procession pass. The King’s fetish +men walk first, with attendants holding basins of sacred water, which +they sprinkle plentifully over the chiefs with branches,[86] the more +superstitious running to have a little poured on their heads, and even +on their tongues. The King and his attendants all wear white cloths on +this occasion. Three white lambs are led before him, intended for +sacrifice at his bed chamber. All his wives follow, with a guard of +archers. + +Another national custom is the Adaï, by the number of which the +Ashantees appear to reckon their year, which began, I could not +understand why, on the first of October. The common people pretend, or +believe, that the time for repeating the Adaï, is marked by the falling +of a fruit like a gourd, from a tree called Brebretim, and which +generally takes place in about twenty days from its first appearance, +all the birds and beasts in the neighbourhood crying out simultaneously. +They further pretend, that from the fruit of this tree spring various +kinds of vegetables. This account of the tree, known in Warsaw as well, +is peculiar to Ashantee. The customs are alternately called the great +and little Adaï, the former taking place always on a Sunday, the latter +on a Wednesday; and it appeared to me, from calculation, that there were +six weeks between each great Adaï, and six between each little one, so +that the custom was generally held every twenty-one days. + +The large drum which stands at the entrance of the palace, adorned with +skulls and thigh bones, is struck with great force at sun set the +preceding day, as a signal; the whole of the establishment of the palace +shout, and their shout is echoed by the people throughout the town. +Music and firing generally beguile the night. The next morning the King +goes to the fetish house, (Himma,) opposite the palace, and offers +several sheep; the blood of this sacrifice is poured on the gold stool, +to which extraordinary virtues are ascribed, being considered the +palladium of the kingdom: the deposition of Saï Quamina was protracted +from his having it in his possession at Dwabin. The caboceers and +captains, many coming from towns two or three days distant, begin to +march to the large yard of the palace about sun rise, to secure their +places. We generally attended between nine and ten, when the King had +just seated himself. The first ceremony was penetrating to the King, +through the various state officers and attendants, to wish him good +morning, at which he slightly inclined his head. The chiefs as they +advanced to do so, were supported and followed by a few favourite +attendants, who flourished their swords in the air, the gold handles +upwards, and the band of each began to play as he left his seat. Young +caboceers of five and six years of age, stalked by with interesting +vanity. After this the King left his chair, which was turned upside +down, and retired a few minutes into the palace. All the horns +flourished as he made his exit and entrée; swords, feathers, elephants +tails, were waved rapidly, and the drums beaten with deafening effect. +After he was seated, the linguists, preceded by their gold canes and +insignia, presented a sheep, a flask of rum, (drank on the ground,) and +ten ackies of gold to each superior captain, and somewhat less to the +others. Another flourish proclaimed the dispensation of the King’s +bounty. Five or six men then rose; and chaunted his deeds and titles for +about ten minutes. I regret exceedingly that this chaunt was not noted, +it was so harmonious. I observed them put something between their teeth +before they began. The same tedious form of saluting the King was now +repeated to return thanks. Any new law was afterwards promulgated, which +occurred but twice during our stay, and the levee broke up on the King’s +leaving his chair. Not unfrequently the whole took place during heavy +rain. It was computed that the King dashed or presented forty pereguins +of gold (£400.) every Adaï custom.[87] + +The decease of a person is announced by a discharge of musketry, +proportionate to his rank, or the wealth of his family. In an instant +you see a crowd of slaves burst from the house, and run towards the +bush, flattering themselves that the hindmost, or those surprised in the +house, will furnish the human victims for sacrifice, if they can but +secrete themselves until the custom is over. The body is then handsomely +drest in silk and gold, and laid out on the bed, the richest cloths +beside it.[88] One or two slaves are then sacrificed at the door of the +house. I shall describe the custom for Quatchie Quofie’s mother, which +we witnessed August the 2d.; it was by no means a great one, but it will +give the most correct idea of these splendid, but barbarous ceremonies. +The King, Quatchie Quofie, and Odumata each sacrificed a young girl +directly the deceased had breathed her last, that she might not want for +attendants until the greater sacrifice was made. The retainers, +adherents, and friends of the family then sent contributions of gold, +powder, rum, and cloth, to be expended at the custom; the King, as heir, +exceeding every quota but that of the nearest relative, who succeeded to +the stool and slaves. The King also sent a sum of gold, and some rich +cloths to be buried with the deceased, in the basket or coffin. I could +not learn the various sums of gold dust with sufficient accuracy to note +them, but the following were the quantities of powder presented on the +occasion: + + Quatchie Quofie 20 oz. (of gold) kegs. + + King 4 + + King’s brother 2 + + Amanquateä 2 + + Odumata 2 + + Apokoo 1 + + Otee 1 + + Yapensoo 1 + + Amanqua Abiniowa (the nephew) 2 + + (Name illegible) 1 + + Adoosey 1 + + Jessinting 1 + + Saphoo 1 + + Ooshoo 1 + + Inferior retainers 4 + -- + 44 nearly 12 barrels. + +The inferior retainers of Quatchie Quofie gave four ackies of gold, and +eight fathoms of cloth each. I was told these contributions were +unusually small, from the command of the King that the greatest economy +should be observed in every expenditure of powder, on account of the +approaching war. + +We walked to Assafoo about twelve o’clock; the vultures were hovering +around two headless trunks, scarcely cold. Several troops of women, from +fifty to a hundred in each, were dancing by in movements resembling +skaiting, lauding and bewailing the deceased in the most dismal, yet not +discordant strains; audible, from the vast number, at a considerable +distance. Other troops carried the rich cloths and silks of the deceased +on their heads, in shining brass pans, twisted and stuffed into crosses, +cones, globes, and a fanciful variety of shapes only to be imagined, and +imposing at a small distance the appearance of rude deities. The faces, +arms, and breasts of these women were profusely daubed with red earth, +in horrid emulation of those who had succeeded in besmearing themselves +with the blood of the victims. The crowd was overbearing; horns, drums, +and muskets, yells, groans, and screeches invaded our hearing with as +many horrors as were crowded on our sight. Now and then a victim was +hurried by, generally dragged or run along at full speed; the uncouth +dress, and the exulting countenances of those who surrounded him, +likening them to as many fiends. I observed apathy, more frequently than +despair or emotion, in the looks of the victims. The chiefs and captains +were arriving in all directions, announced by the firing of muskets, and +the peculiar flourishes of their horns, many of which were by this time +familiar to us; they were then habited plainly as warriors, and were +soon lost to our sight in the crowd. As old Odumata passed in his +hammock, he bade us observe him well when he passed again: this prepared +us in a small degree. Presently the King’s arrival in the market place +was announced, the crowd rolled towards it impetuously, but the soldiery +hacked on all sides indiscriminately, and formed a passage for the +procession. Quatchie Quofie hurried by, plunging from side to side like +a Bacchanal, drunk with the adulation of his bellowing supporters; his +attitudes were responsive to the horror and barbarism of the exultations +which inspired them. The victims, with large knives driven through their +cheeks, eyed him with indifference; he them with a savage joy, bordering +on phrenzy: insults were aggravated on the one, flattery lavished on the +other. Our disgust was beguiled for an instant by surprise. The chiefs +who had just before passed us in their swarthy cloths, and the dark +gloomy habits of war, now followed Quatchie Quofie, glistening in all +the splendor of their fetish dresses; (see drawing, No. I.) the +sprightly variety of their movements ill accorded with the ceremony. Old +Odumata’s vest was covered with fetish, cased invariably in gold or +silver. A variety of extraordinary ornament and novel insignia, courted +and reflected the sun in every direction. It was like a splendid +pantomime after a Gothic tragedy. + +We followed to the market place. The King, and the chiefs not +immediately connected with Quatchie Quofie, were seated under their +canopies, with the usual insignia and retinue, and lined about the half +of a circle, apparently half a mile in circumference; the soldiery +completed it, their respective chiefs situated amongst them. Thirteen +victims, surrounded by their executioners, whose black shaggy caps and +vests gave them the appearance of bears rather than men, were pressed +together by the crowd to the left of the King. The troops of women, +before described, paraded without the circle, vociferating the dirge. +Rum and palm wine were flowing copiously, horns and drums were exerted +even to frenzy. In an instant there was a burst of musketry near the +King, and it spread and continued incessantly, around the circle, for +upwards of an hour. The soldiers kept their stations, but the chiefs, +after firing, bounded once round the area with the gesture and +extravagance of madmen; their panting followers enveloping them in +flags, occasionally firing in all the attitudes of a scaramouch, and +incessantly bellowing the strong names of their exulting chief, whose +musket they snatched from his hands directly he had fired. An old hag, +described as the head fetish woman of the family, screamed and plunged +about in the midst of the fire as if in the greatest agonies. The +greater the chief the heavier the charge of powder he is allowed to +fire; the heaviest charge recollected, was that fired by the King on the +death of his sister, 18 ackies, or an ounce avoirdupoise. Their +blunderbusses and long guns were almost all braced closely with the +cordage of the country; they were generally supported by their +attendants whilst they fired, several did not appear to recover it for +nearly a minute; Odumata’s old frame seemed shaken almost to +dissolution. Many made a point of collecting near us, just within the +circle, and firing as close as possible to startle us; the frequent +bursting of their muskets made this rather alarming as well as +disagreeable. The firing abated, they drank freely from the bowls of +palm wine, religiously pouring a small quantity on the ground before +they raised them to their lips.[89] + +The principal females of the family, many of them very handsome, and of +elegant figures, came forward to dance; dressed, generally, in yellow +silk, with a silver knife hung by a chain round their necks; one with a +gold, another with a silver horn; a few were dressed as fetish women; an +umbrella was held over the grand daughter as she danced. The Ashantees +dance incomparably better than the people of the water side, indeed +elegantly; the sexes do not dance separately, as in Fantee, but the man +encircles the woman with a piece of silk which he generally flirts in +his right hand, supports her round the waist, receives her elbows in the +palms of his hands, and a variety of figures approximating, with the +time and movement, very closely to the waltz. + +A dash of sheep and rum was exchanged between the King and Quatchie +Quofie, and the drums announced the sacrifice of the victims. All the +chiefs first visited them in turn; I was not near enough to distinguish +wherefore. The executioners wrangled and struggled for the office, and +the indifference with which the first poor creature looked on, in the +torture he was from the knife passed through his cheeks, was remarkable: +the nearest executioner snatched the sword from the others, the right +hand of the victim was then lopped off, he was thrown down, and his head +was sawed rather than cut off; it was cruelly prolonged, I will not say +wilfully. Twelve more were dragged forward, but we forced our way +through the crowd, and retired to our quarters. Other sacrifices, +principally female, were made in the bush where the body was buried. It +is usual to “wet the grave” with the blood of a freeman of +respectability. All the retainers of the family being present, and the +heads of all the victims deposited in the bottom of the grave, several +are unsuspectingly called on in a hurry to assist in placing the coffin +or basket, and just as it rests on the heads or skulls, a slave from +behind stuns one of these freemen by a violent blow, followed by a deep +gash in the back part of the neck, and he is rolled in on the top of the +body, and the grave instantly filled up. A sort of carnival, varied by +firing, drinking, singing, and dancing, was kept up in Assafoo for +several days; the chiefs generally visiting it every evening, or sending +their linguists with a dash of palm wine or rum to Quatchie Quofie; and +I was given to understand, that, but for the approaching war and the +necessary economy of powder, there would have been eight great customs +instead of one, for this woman, one weekly, the King himself firing at +the last. The last day, all the females in any way connected with the +family (who are not allowed to eat for three days after the death, +though they may drink as much palm wine as they please,) paraded round +the town, singing a compliment and thanks to all those who had assisted +in making the custom. + +On the death of a King, all the Customs which have been made for the +subjects who have died during his reign, must be simultaneously repeated +by the families, (the human sacrifices as well as the carousals and +pageantry) to amplify that for the monarch, which is also solemnised, +independently, but at the same time, in every excess of extravagance and +barbarity. The brothers, sons, and nephews of the King, affecting +temporary insanity, burst forth with their muskets, and fire +promiscously amongst the crowd; even a man of rank, if they meet him, is +their victim, nor is their murder of him or any other, on such an +occasion, visited or prevented; the scene can scarcely be imagined. Few +persons of rank dare to stir from their houses for the first two or +three days, but religiously drive forth all their vassals and slaves, as +the most acceptable composition of their own absence. The King’s Ocras, +who will be mentioned presently, are all murdered on his tomb, to the +number of a hundred or more, and women in abundance. I was assured by +several, that the custom for Saï Quamina, was repeated weekly for three +months, and that two hundred slaves were sacrificed, and 25 barrels of +powder fired, each time. But the custom for the King’s mother, the +regent of the kingdom during the invasion of Fantee, is most celebrated. +The King of himself devoted 3000 victims, (upwards of 2000 of whom were +Fantee prisoners) and 25 barrels of powder.[90] Dwabin, Kokoofoo, +Becqua, Soota, and Marmpong, furnished 100 victims, and 20 barrels of +powder, each, and most of the smaller towns 10 victims, and two barrels +of powder, each. The Kings, and Kings only, are buried in the cemetery +at Bantama, and the sacred gold buried with them; (see Laws;) their +bones are afterwards deposited in a building there, opposite to which is +the largest brass pan I ever saw, (for sacrifices,) being about five +feet in diameter, with four small lions on the edge. Here human +sacrifices are frequent and ordinary, to water the graves of the Kings. +The bodies of chiefs are frequently carried about with the army, to keep +them for interment at home, and eminent revolters or enemies also, to be +exposed in the capital. Boiteäm, (the father of Otee the fourth +linguist,) who accompanied the army of Abiniowa in his political +capacity, dying at Akrofroom in Aquapim, during the campaign, his body +was kept with the army two months before it arrived at Coomassie. I +could not get any information on their treatment of the corpse, beyond +their invariable reply that they smoked it well over a slow fire. + +The laws of Ashantee allow the King 3333 wives, which number is +carefully kept up, to enable him to present women to those who +distinguish themselves, but never exceeded, being in their eyes a +mystical one. Many of these reside in a secluded part of the King’s +croom, or country residence, at Barramang; a greater number in a croom, +at the back of the palace, immediately in the marsh; and the remainder +in two streets of the capital. Many, probably, the King has never seen. +The streets as well as the croom, are inhabited by them exclusively, and +never approached but by the King’s messengers, or their female +relatives, who only communicate with them at the entrances, which are +closed at each end with bamboo doors, where there is always a guard. If +the King _consaws_ or marries an infant at the breast, which is not +unfrequent, she is thenceforth confined to the house, and rigorously +secluded from the sight of any but the female part of her family. The +King has seldom more than six wives resident with him in the palace. On +the occasion of signing the treaty, as explained in the public letter, +about 300 were assembled, and none but the King’s Chamberlain, and the +deputies of the parts of the government, were allowed to be present: +they were addressed through their own linguist, a very decrepid old man; +many of them were very handsome, and their figures exquisite. When they +go out, which is seldom, they are encircled and preceded by troops of +small boys with thongs or whips of elephants hide, who lash every one +severely who does not quit their path for another, or jump into the bush +with his hands before his eyes; and sometimes the offenders are heavily +fined besides. The scrambling their approach occasioned, in the more +public parts of the city, was very diverting; captains, caboceers, +slaves, and children tumbling one over another. I was told what it cost +the King daily to support them, but it has escaped me; they are said to +live as daintily as himself. None but the chief eunuch, an immense +creature, is allowed to bear a message to the King when in the seraglio +of the palace. + +It has been mentioned before, that the King’s sisters are not only +countenanced in intrigue, with any handsome subject, but they are +allowed to choose any eminently so, (however inferior otherwise,) as a +husband; who is presently advised by the King of his good fortune; thus +they consider they provide for a personal superiority in their monarchs. +But if the royal bride dies before the husband, unless his rank be +originally elevated, he is expected to kill himself on the occasion, and +also if the only male child dies: if he hesitates, he is peremptorily +reminded that as either are his superiors, to whom he is to be +considered as a slave, so he must attend them wherever they go; and when +a male child is born, the father does it homage and acknowledges his +vassalage in the most abject manner. + +The Ocra’s are distinguished by a large circle of gold suspended from +the neck; many of them are favourite slaves, many, commoners who have +distinguished themselves, and who are glad to stake their lives on the +King’s, to be kept free from palavers and supported by his bounty, which +they are entirely; some few are relatives and men of rank. All of the +two former classes, excepting only the two or three individuals known to +have been entrusted with the King’s state secrets, are sacrificed on his +tomb. The royal messengers, and others of the suite have been described +in the processions; they are sometimes fed in the palace, but they have +a free seat at the table of every subject. + +The King has a troop of small boys, who carry the fetish bows and +arrows, and are licensed plunderers; they are so sly and nimble, that it +is very diverting to watch them in the market place, which they infest +every morning. Whatever they can carry off is fair game, and cannot be +required or recovered; but the loser, if he can catch them before they +arrive at the palace, may beat them as severely as he pleases, short of +mortal injury; however, they bear it as obdurately as young Spartans. +Sometimes one party trips up a person with a load of provisions, whilst +another scrambles them up: the anxious alarm of the market people, +sitting with sticks in their hands, and the comic archness of these boys +threading the crowd in all directions, is indescribable. Some of the +earliest European travellers in Abyssinia met with a similar troop of +royal plunderers, and I believe suffered from them; our property was +always respected by them, but they used to entertain themselves with +mimicking our common expressions and our actions, which they did +inimitably: whilst sketching, they buzzed about me like musquitoes. The +Ashantees are without exception the most surprising mimics I have ever +heard. I have known a captain, called Adoo Quamina, repeat a sentence +after I had finished it, of at least a dozen words, which he knew +nothing about, and had not heard before. The King has a sort of buffoon, +whose movements were as irresistibly comic as those of Grimaldi. + +The King appeared to have nearly a hundred negroes of different colors, +through the shades of red and pink to white; they were collected for +state, but were generally disgusting objects, diseased and emaciated; +they always seemed as if going to shed their skins, and their eyes +blinked in the light, as if it was not their element. + +About twenty pots of white soup, and twenty pots of black (made with +palm nuts) are cooked daily at the palace, (besides those for the +consumption of the household,) for visitors of consequence, and a +periguin of gold is given daily to Yokokroko, the chamberlain, for palm +wine. This would have appeared too large a sum, had I not witnessed the +vast consumption and waste of it; for the vigour of an Ashantee being +estimated by the measure of the draught he can drink off; nearly half is +generally spilt over his beard, which it is his greatest pride and +luxury to draw through his fingers when wet. The King was very proud of +the superior length of his beard. A large quantity of palm wine is +dashed to the retinues of all the captains attending in the course of +the day; much is expended in the almost daily ceremony of drinking it in +state in the market place; and our party was always well provided for in +the course of the evening. The palm wine at the palace was seldom good, +but a zest was excited by the exquisite polish of the plate in which it +was served. Apokoo, Odumata, and others, sent us some daily that was +excellent. + +It is to be observed that the King’s weights are one third heavier than +the current weights of the country; and all the gold expended in +provision being weighed out in the former, and laid out in the latter, +the difference enriches the chamberlain, cook, and chief domestic +officers of the palace, as it is thought derogatory to a King avowedly +to pay his subjects for their services. In the same manner the linguists +derive the greater part of their incomes, (their influence being +occasionally purchased,) for all the dashes or presents of gold the King +makes in the year, are weighed out by the royal weights, and re-weighed +by them in the current ones. The law allows a debtor to recover of a +reluctant or tardy creditor, in the King’s weights, besides the +interest, (noticed in the laws,) if he is esteemed enough by Apokoo the +treasurer, to be trusted with them; or rather, if he can afford to bribe +him, or engages to share the profit with him. + +After a subject is executed for crime, the body and head are carried out +of town by some of the King’s slaves, appointed for that purpose, and +thrown where the wild beasts may devour them; but if the deceased be of +any consequence, some of his friends conceal themselves near where they +know the body will be carried, and purchase it, and the right of burial, +of these domestics, generally for eight ackies. There are a number of +fine large sheep, decorated with bells and other ornaments, about the +palace. If any person gets into an ordinary palaver, and wishes the +King’s interference in his favor, he goes to the captain who has the +charge of these sheep, pays him 20 ackies for one, and sends or takes it +to the King, as a dash, who commits it again to the care of the captain. + +When the King sends an ambassador, he enriches the splendor of his suite +and attire as much as possible; sometimes provides it entirely; but it +is all surrendered on the return, (except the additional wives) and +forms a sort of public state wardrobe. The King’s system of espionage is +much spoken of (for its address and infallibility) by Apokoo and others, +who abet it. A shrewd but mean boy is attached to, or follows the +embassy, (sometimes with a trader,) in the commonest capacity and +meanest attire; and he is instructed to collect every report as he +passes, and to watch the motions of the embassy as closely as possible. +As the extortions of these deputies are always loudly and publicly +complained of by the injured inhabitants of the dependent or tributary +crooms they pass through, (perhaps being aware they will reach the +King’s ears,) the particulars are easily acquired. The messengers who +were sent with our first dispatches to Cape Coast, excusing the length +of the time, (forty days) by alleging that it was found necessary to +collect a session of the Fantee caboceers at Paintree; the King replied, +“You tell me a lie; you fined a captain there four ounces for breaking +an Ashantee law, and you waited to procure and expend the gold, not +intending it should be known.” The men instantly confessed, and were put +in irons; one was the brother of Yokokroko, who paid six ounces for his +release, after several days. + +When the King spits, the boys with the elephants tails sedulously wipe +it up, or cover it with sand; when he sneezes, every person present +touches, or lays the two first fingers across the forehead and breast, +as the Moors did when they pronounced a blessing, and the Ashantees, +invariably, to propitiate one. These troops of boys who carry the +elephants tails, are the sons of men of rank and confidence; for +whenever the King dignifies a deserving subject, with what may be termed +nobility, he exchanges some of his own sons or nephews, (from eight to +fourteen years of age,) for those of the individual, who maintains them, +and for whom they perform the same offices, as his own and others do for +the King. Thus the present King (the short reign of his brother Saï +Apokoo being unanticipated) carried an elephants tail before Apokoo, +whose kindness and indulgence to the child secured the preference of the +monarch. + +It is a frequent practice of the King’s, to consign sums of gold to the +care of rising captains, without requiring them from them for two or +three years, at the end of which time he expects the captain not only to +restore the principal, but to prove that he has acquired sufficient of +his own, from the use of it, to support the greater dignity the King +would confer on him. If he has not, his talent is thought too mean for +further elevation. Should he have no good traders amongst his +dependents, (for if he has there is no difficulty) usury and worse +resources are countenanced, and thought more creditable than a failure, +ascribed to want of talent rather than to a regard of principle. + +The fees to the King’s household on a captain being raised to a stool, +are generally eight ounces. I saw two instances of the King paying them +himself; the individuals, very suddenly elevated for extraordinary +courage, being too poor to do so. They were immediately dispatched to +collect tributes, the per centage on which, (see Laws,) and the +douceurs, which may be judged of by the amount provided for them in the +settlement of the Commenda palaver, would possess them of a good sum to +begin with. + +The interference of Amanquateä, Quatchie Quofie, Odumata, and Apokoo, is +purchased at a most extravagant rate by offenders, whether foreigners or +subjects; it is irresistible with the King; Apokoo is generally +preferred; minor influence is purchased in proportion. No subject can +sit in public with a cushion on his stool, unless it has been presented +to him by the King, or one of the four, who, as well as all the other +superior captains, receive a periguin of gold for every oath the King +exacts of them. + +During the minority, or the earlier part of the reign of a monarch, the +linguists and oldest counsellors visit him betimes every morning, and +repeat, in turn, all the great deeds of his ancestors. The greatest +deference seemed to be paid to aged experience or wisdom. + +Apokoo is the keeper of the royal treasury, and has the care of all the +tributes, which are deposited, separately, in a large apartment of the +palace, of which he only has the key. Numerous and various as the sums +are, he disposes of them by a local association which is said to be +infallible with him, for the Moorish secretary, (who resided some time +at Hio,) only records the greater political events. Apokoo holds a sort +of exchequer court at his own house daily, (when he is attended by two +of the King’s linguists, and various state insignia,) to decide all +cases affecting tribute or revenue, and the appeal to the King is seldom +resorted to. He generally reclined on his lofty bed, (of accumulated +cushions, and covered with a large rich cloth or piece of silk,) with +two or three of his handsomest wives near him, whilst the pleadings were +going forward. He was always much gratified when I attended, and rose to +seat me beside him. I observed that all calculations were made, +explained, and recorded, by cowries. In one instance, after being +convinced by a variety of evidence that a public debtor was unable to +pay gold, he commuted sixteen ounces of gold, for twenty men slaves. +Several captains, who were his followers, attended this court daily with +large suites, and it was not only a crowded, but frequently a splendid +scene. Before the footoorh or treasury bag is unlocked by the weigher, +though it be by the King’s order, Apokoo must strike it with his hand in +sanction. + +In all public trials, the charges are preferred, in outline, against the +criminal by the King’s linguists, and he is always heard fully, and +obliged to commit or exculpate himself on every point, and to take the +various primary oaths, before the witnesses are confronted with him; of +whom he is kept as ignorant as possible until the moment of their +appearance. The oaths, sometimes four or five, are progressive, +generally beginning by the King’s foot, or some arbitrary form, and are, +apparently, not considered awful or decisive; such perjuries being +commutable by fine. But when the oath, “by the King’s father,” is +administered, every one looks serious, and if, “by Cormantee and +Saturday” (see History) is resorted to, there is a gloomy silence; but +this is seldom ventured, if the witnesses, (hurried in with a sort of +stage effect between that and the former oaths,) confound or perplex the +accused. + +There are various ways of taking fetish; the two I observed, were, +licking a white fowl twice or thrice, and drinking a nauseous vegetable +juice without coughing: it was administered by the linguists out of a +brass pan in a folded leaf of the plant. If the accused is cleared, he +comes forward, and is marked with white chalk by the linguists, after +which he bows to, and thanks all the great men in the council. Taking +doom is the infallible test, when they consider the case to be too +doubtful for human decision. The bark of that tree is put into a large +calabash with water, so as to make a strong infusion; it is stirred up +whilst the suspected parties sip in turn. It operates, instantaneously +and convulsively, as a most violent emetic and purge; those who sip +first may recover, and the dregs are frequently left designedly for the +obnoxious.[91] + +The criers, upwards of a hundred, who always attend the linguists, are +all deformed or maimed, to make them more conspicuous; they wear a +monkey skin cap, with a gold plate in front, and the tail hanging down +behind. Their common exclamations are, Tehoo! Tehing! Odiddee! Be +silent! Be quiet! Pray hear! and these are so incessantly uttered, that +they are themselves the only interruption. Several less interesting +peculiarities are represented in the drawings of the Yam Custom, and +associated with other subjects. + +A general is appointed to the command of an army by receiving a gold +handled sword of the King’s from his hand, (who strikes him gently with +it three times on the head,) swearing to return it encrusted with the +blood of his conquered enemies. One of the King’s linguists always +accompanies an army of any consequence, to whom all the politics of the +war are entrusted, and whose talent and intelligence in negotiating, are +expected to mature the fruits of the military genius of the general, and +to reimburse the expense of the war by heavy fines and contributions. +The Ashantees are as superior in discipline as in courage to the people +of the water side, though their discipline is limited to the following +precautions. They never pursue when it is near sun set; the general is +always in the rear; the secondary captains lead the soldiers on, whilst +those in command, with a few chosen individuals, urge them forward from +the rear with their heavy swords, and cut any man down who retreats +until the case is desperate. The first object of the Ashantee in close +fight, is, to fire and spring upon the throat of his enemy; to advance +every time he fires he feels to be imperative, if his commander thinks +it possible, who would, otherwise, if he escaped death in the action, +inflict it on him directly it was over. It is one of the sentences of +the most popular song in Coomassie, “if I fight I die, if I run away I +die, better I go on and die.” They are as the antient Spaniards have +been described, “prodiga gens animæ et properare facillima mortem.” The +general has his umbrella spread in the rear, and, besides his guard, has +several extra muskets ready loaded for those soldiers who may be driven +to him in case of reverse. His band plays all the time, and in his +assumed contempt for the enemy, it is the etiquette for him to divert +himself at some game, whilst the heads of the slain of any rank in the +hostile army are sent to him to put his foot on. When the result of an +important action is expected, even with an anxiety by no means sanguine, +and the messengers are known to be near the capital, the King is always +seated in public, with his golden worra board before him, playing with +some dignitary; and thus receives the news, to impress the people with +confidence by his affected indifference to victory or defeat, when +superstition had revealed and fated inevitable success ultimately. + +All the superior captains have peculiar flourishes or strains for their +horns, adapted to short sentences, which are always recognised, and will +be repeated on enquiry by any Ashantee you may meet walking in the +streets, though the horns are not only out of sight, but at a distance +to be scarcely audible. These flourishes are of a strong and distinct +character. The King’s horns uttered, “I pass all Kings in the world.” +Apokoo’s, “Ashantees, do you do right now?” Gimma’s, “Whilst I live no +harm can come.” Bundahenna’s, “I am a great King’s son.” Amanqua’s, “No +one dares trouble me.” This will be further noticed in the chapter on +Music. These peculiar flourishes are more particularly for their +government in action, for all the soldiery, indeed I might say all the +women and children, being familiar with every flourish, the positions of +the various chiefs are judged of when they cannot be seen; whether they +are advancing, falling back, or attempting to flank the enemy by +penetrating the woods, is known, and the movements of all the others +become co-operative, as much as possible. The King’s horns go to the +market place every night, as near to midnight as they can judge, and +flourish a very peculiar strain, which was rendered to me, “King Saï +thanks all his captains and all his people for to-day.” + +Several of the hearts of the enemy are cut out by the fetish men who +follow the army, and the blood and small pieces being mixed, (with much +ceremony and incantation,) with various consecrated herbs, all those who +have never killed an enemy before eat a portion, for it is believed that +if they did not, their vigor and courage would be secretly wasted by the +haunting spirit of the deceased. It was said that the King and all the +dignitaries partook of the heart of any celebrated enemy; this was only +whispered; that they wore the smaller joints, bones, and the teeth of +the slain monarchs was evident as well as boasted. One man was pointed +out to me, as always eating the heart of the enemy he killed with his +own hand. The number of an army is ascertained or preserved in cowries +or coin by Apokoo. When a successful general returns, he waits about two +days at a short distance from the capital, to receive the King’s +compliments, and to collect all the splendor possible for his entrée, to +encourage the army and infatuate the people. The most famous generals +are distinguished by the addition of warlike names, more terrific than +glorious, as they designate their manner of destroying their prisoners. +Apokoo was called Aboäwassa, because he was in the habit of cutting off +their arms. Appia, Sheäboo, as he beats their heads in pieces with a +stone. Amanqua, Abiniowa, as he cuts off their legs. + +The army is prohibited during the active parts of a campaign, from all +food but meal, which each man carries in a small bag at his side, and +mixes in his hands with the first water he comes to; this, they allege, +is to prevent cooking fires from betraying their position, or +anticipating a surprise. In the intervals, (for this meal is seldom +eaten more than once a day,) they chew the boossee or gooroo nut. This +meal is very nourishing and soon satisfies; we tried it on our march +down. Ashantee spies have been stationed three and four days in the high +trees overlooking Cape Coast Castle, with no other supply than this meal +and a little water, before the army has shewn itself. There is always a +distinct body of recruits with the army, to dispatch those with their +knives whom the musket has only wounded, and they are all expected to +return well armed from despoiling the enemy, or they are not esteemed of +promise, and dismissed to some servile occupation. I could not find that +they had any idea of fortifications, though undoubtedly common to the +large cities on the Niger. + +It is the invariable policy of Ashantee to make the contingency of the +power last subdued, the revolters recently quelled, or the allies last +accepted, the van of their army throughout the campaign, and very +frequently there are no Ashantees but captains with the army; but it is +composed entirely of tributaries and allies. Thus Odumata subdued Banda +with an army of Gamans. In the Ashantee body of the army, which is +always that of reserve, the youngest or last made captain marches and +engages first, and the others follow seriatim, until Odumata precedes +Quatchie Quofie, Amanqua follows him, and Apokoo precedes the King. Were +the country generally open, I have no doubt, necessity and their +military genius would have suggested greater arrangement and compactness +in their movement, which is nevertheless very orderly. Two divisions of +an army are rarely allowed to go the same path, lest, being in want of +supplies, the neighbourhood should prove inadequate. Aboidwee, our house +master, (see correspondence on the Ashantee suicide) who has 1700 +retainers, always precedes the King’s or Apokoo’s division, (which will +exclusively occupy the Banda path in the invasion of Gaman) to raise a +bamboo house for the King’s reception when he comes up. + +Infants are frequently married to infants, for the connection of +families; and infants are as frequently wedded by adults and elderly +men. The ceremony is to send the smaller piece of cloth, worn around the +middle, to the infant, and a handsome dash of gold to the mother, as her +care then ceases to be a duty, but becomes a service performed to the +husband, who also sends frequent presents for the support of the child. +Apokoo told me it was a good plan for a man to adopt who wished to get +gold, for as the circumstance was seldom generally known, the most +innocent freedom when the girl became ten or eleven years old, grounded +a palaver against the individual, though he might consider he was but +fondling a child, and be wholly ignorant of her marriage. I afterwards +understood from several others, that this view was the leading +motive.[92] + +It frequently happens, when the family of the wife is too powerful for +the husband to venture to put her to death for intrigue, that he takes +off her nose as a stigma and punishment, and makes her the wife of one +of his slaves. A wife who betrays a secret is sure to lose her upper +lip, and, if discovered listening to a private conversation of her +husband’s, an ear. Women so maimed are to be met with in all parts of +the town. Prostitutes are numerous and countenanced. No Ashantee forces +his daughter to become the wife of the man he wishes, but he instantly +disclaims her support and protection on her refusal, and would persecute +the mother if she afforded it; thus abandoned, they have no resource but +prostitution. During the menses, the women of the capital retire to the +plantations or crooms in the bush.[93] + +In visiting, the chief always gives his principal slaves a few sips of +the liquor offered to him, not for security, for it is more frequently +after than before he has drank, but as a mark of his favour. He will +frequently give his daughter in marriage to a confidential slave, but +where there are a few thus distinguished and indulged, (apparently as a +political check upon a heterogeneous populace,) there are thousands +barely existing. + +Their principal games are Worra[94] (see drawing, No. 10.) which I could +not understand, and Drafts, which both Moors and Negroes play well and +constantly. Their method resembles the Polish, they take and move +backwards and forwards, and a king has the bishop’s move in chess. They +have another game, for which a board is perforated like a cribbage +board, but in numerous oblique lines, traversing each other in all +directions, and each composed of three holes for pegs; the players begin +at the same instant, with an equal number of pegs, and he who inserts or +completes a line first, in spite of the baulks of his adversary, takes a +peg from him, until the stock of either is exhausted. + + +[Footnote 84: The description of the siege of Pondicherry in Voltaire +occurred to me; it will assist the imagination of the reader: “De grands +magasins de liqueurs fortes y entretenaient l’ivrognerie et tous les +maux dont elle est le germe. C’est une situation qu’il faut avoir vue. +Les travaux, les gardes de la tranchée étaient faits par des hommes +ivres · · · · · · · · De-là les scènes les plus honteuses et les plus +destructives de la subordination et de la discipline. On a vu des +officiers se colleter avec des soldats et mille autres actions infâmes, +dont le détail, renfermé dans les bornes de la vérité la plus exacte, +paraîtrait une exagération monstreuse.”] + +[Footnote 85: In Ahanta, at the Contoom or Harvest custom, each family +erects its rude altar, composed of four sticks driven in the ground, and +twigs laid across the top; the whole is then covered with fresh pulled +leaves. A hog, a sheep, a goat, or a fowl is killed, according to the +means of the family, and the most delicate parts laid on the altar, a +mixture is made of eggs, palm oil, palm wine, the blood of the animal +slain, and other ingredients, and also dedicated to the fetish, in small +pots placed on the altar. In a few days these altars become so offensive +as to render it disagreeable to pass them, but they are never removed.] + +[Footnote 86: + + + “Idem ter socios purâ circumtulit undâ, + + Spargens rore levi et ramo felicis olivæ.” Æn. VI. + + +] + +[Footnote 87: The Ahanta’s divide time into periods of three weeks. The +first week is called Adaï, and is termed the good week, in which much +work is done; and traders visit the markets more frequently in this week +than at any other time, supposing all they do in it must prosper. The +second week is Ajamfoe, or the bad week, in which no work or trade is +done, the natives believing every thing undertaken in it must fail. The +third week is Adim, or the little good week, in which they both work and +trade, but not as much as in the Adaï.] + +[Footnote 88: + + + · · · Tum membra toro defleta reponunt, + + Purpureasque super vestes, velamina nota, + + Conjiciunt; + + Æn. VI. + + +In Fantee they dress the body richly, and usually prop it erect in a +chair, exposing it until it is dangerous to do so any longer: they bury +it in their house, with as many gold ornaments as they can afford to +dedicate. The men called the town drummers are only allowed to die +standing, and when expiring are snatched up, and supported in that +posture. In Ahanta they frequently exhibit the body chalked all over.] + +[Footnote 89: + + + “Hic duo rite mero libans carchesia Baccho + + “Fundit humi. + + Æn. V. + + “Οἶνον δ’ἐκ δεπάων χαμάδις χέον, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη + + “Πρὶν πιέειν, πρὶν λεῖψαι ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι.” + + Ομηρ. η. + + +The Ashantees do so not only on solemn occasions, but invariably; and it +would seem that the Greeks did, from the following words of Hecuba to +Hector, + + + “Ἀλλὰ μέν’, ὄφρα κέ τοι μελιηδέα οἶνον ἐνείκω, + + Ὡς σπείσῃς Διῒ πατρὶ καὶ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισι + + Πρῶτον· ἔπειτα δέ κ’αὐτὸς ὀνήσεαι, αἴ κε πίῃσθα·” + + Ομηρ, ζ. +] + +[Footnote 90: Suetonius tells us that Augustus sacrificed 300 of the +principal citizens of Perusia, to the manes of his uncle Julius. We read +in Prevost, that 64080 persons were sacrificed, with aggravated +barbarity, in the dedication of a temple in Mexico.] + +[Footnote 91: In the Warsaw country there is said to be a more dreadful +poison called Sabë: if it is thrown upon the skin, it is absorbed by the +pores, and has nearly the same instantaneous mortal effect as when given +internally.] + +[Footnote 92: On the Coast, the bride’s character is very notoriously +published, for part of the husband’s present to her family being a flask +of rum, and that not sent until the next day; whether it is brimful, or +somewhat wanting, indicates her virginity, or early frailty.] + +[Footnote 93: The women of Ahanta, on the same occasion, are prohibited +from entering any inhabited place; and if they attempt to go into a +house, are heavily fined or punished. If the family is respectable, they +generally erect a temporary shed to shelter her; the poorer class are +forced to endure the inclemencies of the weather without any retreat.] + +[Footnote 94: This game is said to be played in Syria also.] + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + * * * * * + + _Architecture, Arts, and Manufactures._ + + +The construction of the ornamental architecture of Coomassie reminded me +forcibly of the ingenious essay of Sir James Hall, (in the Edinburgh +Philosophical Transactions,) tracing the Gothic order to an +architectural imitation of wicker work. The drawings will serve to shew +the various and uncommon character of their architectural ornaments, +adopted from those of interior countries, and, confessedly, in no degree +originating with themselves. + +In building a house, a mould was made for receiving the swish or clay, +by two rows of stakes and wattle work, placed at a distance equal to the +intended thickness of the wall; as two mud walls were raised at +convenient distances, to receive the plum pudding stone which formed the +walls of the vitrified fortresses in Scotland. The interval was then +filled up with a gravelly clay, mixed with water, with which the outward +surface of the frame or stake work was also thickly plastered, so as to +impose the appearance of an entire thick mud wall. The houses had all +gable ends, and three thick poles were joined to each; one from the +highest point, forming the ridge of the roof, and one on each side, from +the base of the triangular part of the gable; these supported a frame +work of bamboo, over which an interwoven thatch of palm leaves was laid, +and tied with the runners of trees, first to the large poles running +from gable to gable, and afterwards, (within,) to the interlacing of the +bamboo frame work, which was painted black and polished, so as to look +much better than any rude cieling would, of which they have no idea; a +small part appears in the houses in the drawing of Adoom-street (No. 9.) +The pillars, which assist to support the roof, and form the proscenium +or open front, (which none but captains are allowed to have to their +houses) were thick poles, afterwards squared with a plastering of swish. +The steps and raised floor of these rooms were clay and stone, with a +thick layer of red earth, which abounds in the neighbourhood, and these +were washed and painted daily, with an infusion of the same earth in +water; it has all the appearance of red ochre, and from the abundance of +iron ore in the neighbourhood, I do not doubt it is. + +The walls still soft, they formed moulds or frame works of the patterns +in delicate slips of cane, connected by grass. The two first slips (one +end of each being inserted in the soft wall) projected the relief, +commonly mezzo: the interstices were then filled up with the plaster, +and assumed the appearance depicted. The poles or pillars were sometimes +encircled by twists of cane, intersecting each other, which, being +filled up with thin plaster, resembled the lozenge and cable ornaments +of the Anglo-Norman order; the quatre-foil was very common, and by no +means rude, from the symmetrical bend of the cane which formed it. I saw +a few pillars, (after they had been squared with the plaster) with +numerous slips of cane pressed perpendicularly on to the wet surface, +which being covered again with a very thin coat of plaster, closely +resembled fluting. When they formed a large arch, they inserted one end +of a thick piece of cane in the wet clay of the floor or base, and +bending the other over, inserted it in the same manner; the entablature +was filled up with wattle work plastered over. Arcades and piazzas were +common. A white wash, very frequently renewed, was made from a clay in +the neighbourhood. Of course the plastering is very frail, and in the +relief frequently discloses the edges of the cane, giving however a +piquant effect, auxiliary to the ornament. The doors were an entire +piece of cotton wood, cut with great labour out of the stems or +buttresses of that tree; battens variously cut and painted were +afterwards nailed across. (See drawing, No. 5.) So disproportionate was +the price of labour to that of provision, that I gave but two tokoos for +a slab of cotton wood, five feet by three. The locks they use are from +Houssa, and quite original; one will be sent to the British Museum. +Where they raised a first floor, the under room was divided into two by +an intersecting wall, to support the rafters for the upper room, which +were generally covered with a frame work thickly plastered over with red +ochre. I saw but one attempt at flooring with plank, it was cotton wood +shaped entirely with an adze, and looked like a ship’s deck. The windows +were open wood work, carved in fanciful figures and intricate patterns, +and painted red; the frames were frequently cased in gold, about as +thick as cartridge paper. + +What surprised me most, and is not the least of the many circumstances +deciding their great superiority over the generality of Negroes, was the +discovery that every house had its cloacæ, besides the common ones for +the lower orders without the town. They were generally situated under a +small arch way in the most retired angle of the building, but not +unfrequently up stairs, within a separate room like a small closet, (see +drawing No. 3.) where the large hollow pillar also assists to support +the upper story: the holes are of a small circumference, but dug to a +surprising depth, and boiling water is daily poured down, which +effectually prevents the least offence. The rubbish and offal of each +house was burnt every morning at the back of the street, and they were +as nice and cleanly in their dwellings as in their persons. + +[Illustration: ODUMATA’S SLEEPING ROOM. + +_No. 5._] + +[Illustration: _Drawn by T. E. Bowdich Esqr._ + +_No. 6._ + +INNER SQUARE of APOOKOOS HOUSE. + +_Published Decr. 2, 1818, by John Murray, Albemarle Street._] + +[Illustration: THE OLDEST HOUSE in COOMASSEE. + +_No. 3._] + +[Illustration: _Drawn by T. E. Bowdich Esqr._ + +_No. 4._ + +PART of the QUARTERS of the MISSION. + +_Published Decr. 2, 1818, by John Murray, Albemarle Street._] + +Drawing No. 3, is one of the oldest houses in Coomassie, inherited by +the unfortunate Bakkee, and part of the quarters of the Mission. Its +comparative rudeness is evident. + +No. 4, is a more modern part of the same house, being one side of a +small area about 15 feet square, allotted to the chief officer of the +Embassy. These areas are all distinct, and a house consists of an +indefinite number of them, some 36 feet square, with several long +courts. In paying a visit to a principal man, the state was to detain us +some minutes at the door of each area, as he generally received us in +the innermost. The figure is one of the King’s body guards, which have +been described before. The figures are introduced to shew the proportion +of the buildings, and to give some idea of the costume. + +No. 5, is the exterior of a bed room of Odumata’s, which is one side of +an oblong area in a very retired angle of his house, about 25 feet by 8. +The cloth suspended to the left of the door on the top of the steps, +hides the bloody stools which are in the recess. The small gallery in +front of the upper room is only wide enough for one person to walk in. +The recess and small room below accommodate confidential slaves. The bed +room was very small, about 8 feet square, but being hung round with a +variety of gold and silver ornaments, had a very rich appearance. The +bed is generally about 5 feet high, and composed entirely of large silk- +cotton pillows piled one above another. The King of Gaman, we were +assured, had steps of solid gold to ascend to his bed. A man wearing a +crier’s cap, is playing the sanko. + +No. 6, is a perspective view of the entrance area to Apokoo’s house; the +fourth side is an open fronted building like those on the right and left +for attendants to wait in, and for the hearing of palavers. The opposite +closed side is a bed room. The figure is playing the bentwa (see Music.) + +[Illustration: PART of a PIAZZA in the PALACE. + +_No. 7._] + +[Illustration: _Drawn by T. E. Bowdich Esqr._ + +_No. 8._ + +PART of a PIAZZA in the PALACE. + +_Published Decr. 2, 1818, by John Murray, Albemarle Street._] + +[Illustration: _Drawn by T. E. Bowdich Esqr._ + +_No. 9._ + +PART of ADOOM STREET. + +_Published Decr. 2, 1818, by John Murray, Albemarle Street._] + +[Illustration: _Drawn by T. E. Bowdich Esqr._ + +_No. 10._ + +THE KINGS SLEEPING ROOM. + +_Published Decr. 2, 1818, by John Murray, Albemarle Street._] + +No. 7, is a part of a piazza, which lines the interior of the wall +secluding the palace from the street. The piazza is 200 yards long, and +inhabited by captains and other attendants on the King; above is a small +gallery. Piles of skulls, and drums ornamented with them, are frequent +in this piazza. The figure is a common soldier of Ashantee, his belt +ornamented with red shells, and stuck full of knives. + +No. 8, is the upper end of the piazza, which is more ornamented, and +appropriated to the superior captains, who have each a suite of rooms, +marked by the small doors under the piazza. A woman is dancing whilst a +man plays the flute and rattle. + +No. 9, is a view of part of Adoom-street: each open front denotes the +residence of a captain, being used for talking palavers, receiving +strangers, observing or superintending customs, and evening recreation. +The dwelling is entered by the small door at the side, which generally +leads through a narrow passage or court to a large area like No. 6, and +thence by various intricate ways to smaller and more retired areas like +No. 4 and No. 5. A fetish woman has just quitted the centre house; she +has on a white cloth, and various pieces of rich silk are hanging round +her girdle, her breasts are confined with a scarf, a fillet encircles +her head, in each hand she waves a horse’s tail, and she continues +yelling and swinging round and round until she is quite stupified. A +weaver and loom are on her right, and a market woman under her shed on +the left. + +No. 10, is the exterior of the King’s bed room, being one side of an +inner area, about 30 feet square. The stunted silk-cotton and the +manchineal tree are fetish or sacred, as are the white and red rags at +the top of the pole, and the small brass cups supported by the forked +sticks. The colored bags hanging over the round doors (the chequering of +which is in relief,) contain Moorish charms. The carving of the left +hand window is cased in silver, of the right hand, in gold. The two men +are playing at Worra. The King made frequent enquiries about the +architecture of England, of which we gave him some idea by drawings. He +was very fond of referring to a project ascribed to Saï Cudjo, and which +he declared he would carry into effect directly the Gaman war was over. +This was to build a house for his own immediate residence, roofed with +brass pans, beaten into flat surfaces, and laid over an ivory frame work +appearing within. The windows and the doors to be cased in gold, and the +door posts and pillars of ivory. Whether the Moors originated or +encouraged this extravagance by the descriptions in their tales, for +some of the stories of the Arabian Nights were commonly in their mouths, +or whether it was the scheme of his own disposition, prone to +magnificence and novelty, the King dwelt ardently on the intention, and +by their frequent conversations on the subject, his chiefs appeared +scarcely less anxious for the execution than himself. He meditated great +improvements and embellishments in his capital, on his return from the +war, when it was intended that every captain should be presented with an +extraordinary sum out of the public treasury, for adorning or enlarging +his house. The ruined streets between Asafoo and Bantama were to be +rebuilt, and the six or seven small crooms between Coomassie and +Baramang, (the King’s country residence,) were to be pulled down, and +the inhabitants to occupy a wide street to extend from the city to that +croom. This was the darling design of the King; he had already made a +sound, broad, and almost direct road, and numerous labourers were +continuing to bring it as near as possible to a straight line. + +The Ashantee loom is precisely on the same principle as the English; it +is worked by strings held between the toes; the web is never more than +four inches broad. A weaver is represented in the drawing, No. 3, and a +small loom complete is amongst the articles for the British Museum. They +use a spindle, and not a distaff, for spinning, holding it in one hand, +and twisting the thread, (which has a weight at the end,) with the +finger and thumb of the other. The fineness, variety, brilliance, and +size of their cloths would astonish, could a more costly one be +exhibited; in the absence of which, that for the Museum will doubtless +be admired for the two first qualities, and for having precisely the +same appearance on both sides. I shall notice in the Chapter on Trade, +that the richest silks are unravelled to weave into them. The white +cloths, which are principally manufactured in Inta and Dagwumba, they +paint for mourning with a mixture of blood and a red dye wood. The +patterns are various, and not inelegant, and painted with so much +regularity, with a fowl’s feather, that they have all the appearance of +a coarse print at a distance. I have seen a man paint as fast as I could +write. There will be a very fair specimen in the British Museum, the +price of painting which was one ackie. + +They have two dye woods, a red and a yellow, specimens of which I +brought down; they make a green by mixing the latter with their blue +dye, in which they excel; it is made from a plant called acassie, +certainly not the indigo, which grows plentifully on the Coast. The +acassie rises to the height of about two feet, and according to the +natives, bears a red flower, but the leaf is not small, fleshy, or soft, +nor is it pale or silvery coloured underneath; it is a thin acuminate +leaf about five inches long, and three broad, of a dark green.[95] I +regret to add, our best specimens of this plant perished in the +disasters of our march, and no drawing was made of it, as it bore no +flower in that season; it grows abundantly in the woods, and produces a +fast and beautiful colour without requiring a mordant. They gather a +quantity of the leaves, bruise them in a wooden mortar, and spread them +out on a mat to dry, this mass is kept for use, a proportion of it is +put into a pot of water and remains six days previous to immersing the +thread, which is left in six days, drying it once every day in the sun, +it is then a deep lasting blue colour. When a light blue is wished for, +the thread is only allowed to remain in the dye pot three days. + +They excel in pottery, as the pipes for the Museum will shew; they are +rested on the ground when smoked; the clay is very fine, polished (after +baking) by friction, and the grooves of the patterns filled up with +chalk. They have also a black pottery which admits of a high polish. + +The people of Dagwumba surpass the Ashantees in goldsmith’s work, though +the latter may be esteemed proficients in the art. The small articles +for the Museum, a gold stool, sanko, bell, jaw bone, and drum, are not +such neat specimens as I could wish; the man who made them having too +much costly work on hand for the King, to pay our trifles his wonted +attention; unfortunately too, he was committed to prison before they +were quite finished; however, they will give an idea. I weighed out +nineteen ackies and a half of gold dust for making these articles, one +third of an ackie was lost in melting, and five was the charge of the +goldsmith. We lost a beautiful silver pipe in the bustle. Bees wax for +making the model of the article wanted, is spun out on a smooth block of +wood, by the side of a fire, on which stands a pot of water; a flat +stick is dipped into this, with which the wax is made of a proper +softness; it takes about a quarter of an hour to make enough for a ring. +When the model is finished, it is enclosed in a composition of wet clay +and charcoal, (which being closely pressed around it forms a mould,) +dried in the sun, and having a small cup of the same materials attached +to it, (to contain the gold for fusion,) communicating with the model by +a small perforation. When the whole model is finished, and the gold +carefully enclosed in the cup, it is put in a charcoal fire with the cup +undermost. When the gold is supposed to be fused, the cup is turned +uppermost, that it may run into the place of the melted wax; when cool +the clay is broken, and if the article is not perfect it goes through +the whole process again. To give the gold its proper colour, they put a +layer of finely ground red ochre, (which they call Inchuma,) all over +it, and immerge it in boiling water mixed with the same substance and a +little salt; after it has boiled half an hour, it is taken out and +thoroughly cleansed from any clay that may adhere to it. Their bellows +are imitations of ours, but the sheep skin they use being tied to the +wood with leather thongs, the wind escapes through the crevices, +therefore when much gold is on the fire they are obliged to use two or +three pair at the same time. Their anvils are generally a large stone, +or a piece of iron placed on the ground. Their stoves are built of swish +(about three or four feet high) in a circular form, and are open about +one fifth of the circumference; a hole is made through the closed part +level with the ground, for the nozzle of the bellows. Their weights are +very neat brass casts of almost every animal, fruit, or vegetable known +in the country. The King’s scales, blow pan, boxes, and weights, and +even the tongs which hold the cinder to light his pipe, were neatly made +of the purest gold that could be manufactured. + +Their blacksmith’s work is performed with the same sort of forge as the +above, but they have no idea of making iron from ore, as their interior +neighbours do. Their swords are generally perforated in patterns like +fish trowels; frequently they make two blades springing parallel from +one handle, which evince very fine workmanship. The needles and +castanets will only give some idea of their progress. The iron stone is +of a dark red colour, spotted with gray, and intermixed with what had +all the appearance of lava, they cut bullets out of it for the army, +when lead is scarce. I have brought some arrows of native iron. They +have no idea of making a lock like the people of Houssa and Marrowa. + +They tan or dress leather in Ashantee, but they do this, and dye it, in +a very superior manner in Houssa and Dagwumba; see the sandals and +cushion in the British Museum, the former varied and apparently +stitched; doubting that there could be such stitching, I undid a part, +and discovered that they perforated the surface, and then stuck in the +fine shreds of leather. The curious will observe, that the patterns of +the stool cushion are all produced by paring the surface. They make +their soldiers belts and pouches out of elephant or pig skin, ornamented +with red shells. (See drawing, No. 7.) + +Of their carpenter’s work the stool is a fair specimen, being carved out +of a solid piece of a wood called zesso, white, soft, and bearing a high +polish; it is first soaked in water. They sell such a stool for about +three shillings, in Accra or Fantee it would fetch twenty. The umbrella +is even more curious, the bird is cut almost equal to turning, and the +whole is so supple that it may be turned inside out. This, only a +child’s umbrella, is a model of the large canopies I have described in +the procession; I gave a piece of cloth value twenty shillings for it. +The sanko or guitar is also neatly made, and the chasteness and Etruscan +character of the carving is very surprising. The surface of the wood is +first charred in the fire, and then carved deep enough to disclose the +original white in the stripes or lines of the patterns. + +Numbers of workmen are employed in breaking, rounding, and boring the +snail shells, as big as a turkey’s egg generally, and sometimes as large +as a conch. They are first broken into numerous pieces, then chipped +round, the size of a sleeve button, and afterwards bored with a bow and +iron style fixed in a piece of wood. Lastly they are strung, and +extended in rows on a log of wood, and rubbed with a soft and bluish +gray stone and water, until they become perfectly round. + +Their pine apple thread is very strong, and is made from the fineness of +a hair to the thickness of whip cord, it bleaches to a beautiful +whiteness, and would answer for sewing any strong material, but, when +muslin is stitched with it, it is liable to be cut from the harshness. +The women frequently join their cloths, and ornament their handkerchiefs +with a zigzag pattern, worked with unravelled silks of different +colours. The fetish case is a specimen of their needle work, in the +manner of chain stitch. + + +[Footnote 95: It is a shrub with opposite leaves, no stipules, and +having a certain degree of resemblance to _Marsdenia suave-olens_ (the +indigo of Sumatra) but as the leaves are toothed in the acassie, it +probably does not belong even to the same natural order.] + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + * * * * * + + _Climate, Population, Revenue, City, Market, &c._ + + +The climate will be best judged of by the account of the thermometer +(from May to February) in the Appendix. During the first two months, May +and June, it rained about one third of the time, throughout July and +August it rained nearly half, and abrupt tornadoes were frequent in the +evening, just after sun set, ushered in by a strong wind from the south- +west. The heaviest rains were from the latter end of September to the +beginning of November, they fell even in more impetuous torrents than +are witnessed on the coast.[96] The influence of the harmattan was +described as very powerful. Generally speaking, from the elevation of +Ashantee, (unfortunately we had no barometer,) it was much cooler in +Coomassie than at Cape Coast; indeed, from four to six in the morning, +there was a severity of cold unknown on the coast. + +I can only calculate the population of the kingdom of Ashantee, small in +itself, from its military force, of which the following is the most +moderate of the estimates I received. + + Coomassie district (extending to the northern frontier) 60,000 + + Dwabin ditto 35,000 + + Marmpon ditto 15,000 + + Soota ditto 15,000 + + Kokoofoo ditto 15,000 + + Becqua ditto 12,000 + + Adiabin ditto (between Coomassie and the lake) 12,000 + + Aphwagwiasee ditto 10,000 + + Daniasee ditto (southwards of Coomassie) 8,000 + + Koontarasie ditto (on the lake) 8,000 + + Gamasie ditto 8,000 + + Amafoo ditto 6,000 + ------- + 204,000 + +This appears an extravagant force, until we recollect that it is +probably one fifth of the whole population.[97] The Romans when they +were a nation of warriors, which these people are, raised a military +force equally great in proportion to their population. Barbot heard of +the Ashantees losing 50,000 men in two actions, an exaggeration which, +nevertheless, serves to argue great military resources. Since the +Ashantee invasions, their disposable force has been estimated by old +residents in public reports, as upwards of 150,000. From the above +particular statement, the population may be estimated at one million, +which I believe is little more than half the population of Scotland, the +area of which must be more than double that of Ashantee, which certainly +does not contain more than 14,000 square miles. Amanquateä, Quatchie +Quofie, Odumata, and Apokoo’s forces alone amounted to 25,000. The +contingencies at command from tributaries, (21 in number) are too +indefinite to attempt to detail. Neither Inta or Dagwumba furnish any, +the Ashantees pretending to despise their troops too much to use them. +The following, which are known to be pretty correct, have generally been +the first called into action: + + Coranza 10,000 + + Assin 8,000 + + Takima 6,000 + + Dankara 5,000 + + Warsaw 7,000 + + Booroom 12,000 + + Sawee 4,000 + + Akim 4,000, before their later destructive revolts 16,000 + + Aquapim, &c. 1,000 + +Though polygamy is tolerated to such an excess amongst the higher +orders, I do not think, from observation, that the proportion of women +to men is two to one. Most of the lower order of freemen have but one +wife, and very few of the slaves (the greater proportion of the military +force) any. The following calculation is the only one I can think of, +and it supports my impression after five months residence. + + 204,000 Men able to bear arms, about one-fifth of the + whole population 1,000,000 + + 101,000 Or one-fourth, children under ten years of age as + found in Great Britain. + + 50,000 Boys above that age not capable of bearing arms. + + 7,000 Or one in about 28 incapacitated by old age or + accidents, as found in Great Britain. + ------- + 362,000 Males 362,000 + ------- + Females 638,000 + +The men are very well made, but not so muscular as the Fantees; their +countenances are frequently aquiline. The women also are generally +handsomer than those of Fantee, but it is only amongst the higher orders +that beauty is to be found, and amongst them, free from all labour or +hardship, I have not only seen the finest figures, (which the ease of +their costume and habits may account for,) but, in many instances, +regular Grecian features, with brilliant eyes set rather obliquely in +the head. Beauty in a Negress must be genuine, since complexion +prejudices instead of imposes, and the European adjudges it to the +features only, which appeared in this class to be Indian rather than +African; nor is it surprising, when we recollect that they are selected +from, or are the daughters of the handsomest slaves or captives; or are +expressly chosen by their interior neighbours, to compose part of their +tribute to the King of Ashantee, who retains but a small proportion. + +Both men and women are particularly cleanly in their persons, the latter +washing themselves, and the former being washed by them daily on rising, +from head to foot, with warm water and Portuguese soap, using afterwards +the vegetable grease or butter, which is a fine cosmetic. Their cloths, +which are beetled, are always scrupulously clean. The lowest orders are +generally dirty. Occasionally, small delicate patterns in green or white +paint are traced on their cheeks and temples. The Moorish negresses +darken the edges of their eye lids with lead reduced to a fine powder. +The ore was brought from Mallowa and is very rich. The powder is +moistened a little, and kept in small boxes, like bodkin cases with a +bulb at the end, and prettily covered with cow’s hair, within which is a +metal stylus to apply the powder, as the women of India do antimony for +this purpose. Top-cloths are generally worn, and not by the higher order +only as in Fantee. They are commonly of a coarse silk bought at +Dagwumba. They wear little or no antiffoo, a sort of cushion projecting +from just below the small of the back in the Fantee women, by the size +of which, frequently preposterous, and at all times unsightly, their +rank, or the number of their children is known. The bosoms of girls of +thirteen and fourteen are frequently models, but the young women +sedulously destroy this beauty for what is considered a greater, wearing +a broad band tight across their breasts, until ceasing to be globular +they project conically. Their heads are shaved in fanciful elaborate +patterns, having as intricate an appearance as a rich carpet. + +The food of the higher orders is principally soup of dried fish, fowls, +beef, or mutton, (according to the fetish,) and ground nuts stewed in +blood. The poorer class make their soups of dried deer, monkeys flesh, +and frequently of the pelts of skins. Yams, plantains, and foofoos, (see +the kouskous of Mr. Park) are commonly eaten, and they do not make +cankey of their corn, (a coarser sort of kouskous not cleared from the +husk) as the Fantees do, but they roast it on the stalk, and when young +the flavour closely resembles that of green peas. Besides palm wine they +drink Pittō, made from dried corn, which I think must have been the beer +Lieutenant Martyn relished so much, for it is quite as pleasant as a +brisk small ale. They are forbidden eggs by the fetish, and cannot be +persuaded to taste milk, which is only drank by the Moors. Their stews +and white soups are excellent, and my companions reported their black +soups (made with palm oil) to be equally so. + +I cannot pretend to calculate the variable revenue of Ashantee, nor +indeed to report its optional sources; I noted a few particulars. + +1. The dust gold of all deceased and disgraced subjects. Boiteäm, the +father of Otee, left five jars (said to hold about four gallons each) +and two flasks. On Appia Nanu’s disgrace three jars were seized. + +2. A tax in gold upon all slaves purchased for the coast.[98] Customs +paid in gold by all traders returning from the coast, levied near Ansa +in Assin. + +3. A tax on the elephant hunters. + +4. The small pits in Soko, which with the washings were reported to +yield, sometimes 2,000 ounces per month, at others not more than 700. + +5. The daily washings throughout Dankara, and the hills dividing Akim +and Assin; very rich in gold. + +6. A tax on every chief increasing the number of his gold ornaments. +Apokoo paid 20 periguins to the King on melting 100. + +7. The soil of the market place (see Laws) has been washed but twice +during the present reign. I was told it produced about 800 ounces of +gold each time. During our stay a heavy rain washed down a large +quantity, which was replaced and carefully covered with the soil, by the +Captain in charge of the market place. It was very easily seen after +rain. + +The tributes of the various nations they had subdued, were in some +instances fixed, but more frequently indefinite, being proportioned to +the exigencies of the year; indeed from various conversations with +Apokoo and others, and my own observations during state palavers, it +appeared that the necessities and the designs of the Ashantee government +were the superior considerations, and the rule in levying tribute every +where. I made the following memoranda. + +Inta and Dagwumba never pay in gold, which though plentiful from +commerce, is not found there, cowries being the circulating medium. +Their capitals and all their large towns send the following tribute +annually, and the smaller in proportion. + + 500 Slaves. + + 200 Cows. + + 400 Sheep. + + 400 Cotton cloths. + + 200 Ditto and silk. + +Takima a smaller proportion of the same kind. + +Coranza is generally excused, from fidelity, and a long series of +military services. + + Sawee 200 periguins annually. + + Moinseän 50 bendas ditto. + + Gaman had paid, (besides all large + pieces of rock gold,) 100 periguins ditto. + +Akim, Assin, Warsaw, Aowin, &c. &c. were taxed indefinitely by crooms. + +Coomassie is built upon the side of a large rocky hill of iron stone. It +is insulated by a marsh close to the town northwards, and but a narrow +stream; half a mile distant from it N.W., and 60 yards broad; close to +it N.E., E., S.E., and S., and about 100, 20, 70, and 50 yards broad at +these points. In many parts depth after heavy rains was five feet, and +commonly two. The marsh contains many springs, and supplies the town +with water, but the exhalation covers the city with a thick fog morning +and evening, and engenders dysentery, with which the natives of the +coast who accompanied us were almost immediately attacked, as well as +the officers. It is a little extraordinary that we never saw a musquito +in Ashantee. I could find none but birds eye views of the city, which +were uninteresting, presenting nothing but the thatch of the houses; it +was encircled by a beautiful forest, which required more time than I +could spare, and a more expressive pencil to pourtray. Coomassie is an +oblong of nearly four miles in circumference, not including the suburbs +of Assafoo nor Bantama, (the back town,) half a mile distant, and +formerly connected by streets with the city, as is evident from the +numerous ruins of houses on the path. The slaughter of constant warfare, +and the extinction or removal of several ill affected chiefs with their +adherents, account for this even in a rising state. The ruins in the +interval to Bantama were indeed accounted for by Amanquateä (who holds +his court there, as Quatchie Quofie does at Assafoo) informing us, that +almost all the Ashantees killed before Annamaboe (about 2000 by the most +moderate computation) belonged to him, as it was his division which +marched along the beach from Cormantine, exposed to the cannon of the +fort. Four of the principal streets are half a mile long, and from 50 to +100 yards wide. I observed them building one, and a line was stretched +on each side to make it regular. The streets were all named, and a +superior captain in charge of each; ours for instance, was Aperremsoo, +big gun or cannon street, because those taken when Dankara was +conquered, were placed on a mound at the top of it, near Adoo Quamina’s +house. The area in which we had our first audience was called Daëbrim, +the great market, in distinction to a lower street called Gwaba, or the +small market. The street above where we lived was called Osamarandiduüm, +meaning literally, “with 1000 muskets you could not fight those who live +there.” One street was named after Odumata, and there was another near +it, whose title I forget, but it was equal to prison street. The palace +was situated in a long and wide street running through the middle of the +town, from which it was shut out by a high wall, terminating at each end +at the marsh, where it was discontinued, that being a sufficient +boundary. It included Odumata’s and the King’s brothers residences, and +two or three small streets, (besides the several areas and piazzas,) for +the King’s relief and recreation when the superstitions of the country +confine him to the palace. I reckoned twenty seven streets in all, which +I have laid down in a ground plan of the town. The small grove at the +back of the large market place was called Sammonpomë or the spirit- +house, because the trunks of all the human victims were thrown into it. +The bloody tracks, daily renewed, shewed the various directions they had +been dragged from, and the number of vultures on the trees indicated the +extent of the recent sacrifice; the stench was insupportable, and the +visits of panthers nightly. Several trees were individually scattered +about the town for the recreation of the inhabitants of those quarters, +and small circular elevations of two steps, the lower about 20 feet in +circumference, like the bases of the old market crosses in England, were +raised in the middle of several streets, on which the King’s chair was +placed when he went to drink palm wine there, his attendants encircling +him. + +[Illustration: _Ichnographical Sketch of_ COOMASSIE, _with the principal +Streets and the Situations of remarkable Houses._ + + 1. Entrance from Fantee and Assin. + + 2. Agwabu or the small market. + + 3. King’s eldest Sister’s house. + + 4. —— Goldsmith’s ditto. + + 5. Appia Nanu’s ditto. + + 6. Otee’s (3d Linguist) ditto. + + 7. Odumata’s (1 of the 4) ditto. + + 8. King’s youngest Sister’s ditto. + + 9. Adoom Street. + + 9.* Baba’s house and the Crambos (Moors) Street. + + 10.* Aboogaywa or place of execution. + + 10. Palace. + + 11. King’s wives Croom. + + 12. Marsh. + + 13. Entrance from Dwabin. + + 14. ——— Barramang. + + 15. King of Dwabin’s temporary Court. + + 16. King’s Blacksmith’s Croom. + + _a._ Himma or the King’s fetish temple. + + _b._ Apokoo’s (1 of the 4) house. + + _c._ Adoocee’s (chief linguist.) + + _d._ Apirremsoo Street. + + _e[Symbol]._ Aboidwee’s house, the quarters of the Embassy. + + _f._ Adoo Quamina’s (chief Captain) house. + + _g._ Osarramandiduum Street. + + _h._ King’s Umbrella maker’s Croom. + + _i._ Entrance to the high street of Bantama. + + _k._ Croom. + + _l._ Ditto. + + _m._ Ditto. + + _n._ Long irregular suburb, and road to Dankara. + + _o._ Sammonpome or the Spirit Grove. + + _p._ Adooebrim, the large market place. + + _p*._ Small Market. + + _q._ High Street of Assafoo. Course of the procession of the Embassy + on its entré. + + _r._ Halted to witness the war dance. + + _s._ Halted to pass the baggage and presents. + + _t._ Halted to witness the human sacrifice. + + _u._ Presented to the King and Chiefs. + + _w._ Seated to see them march home. + +_T. E. Bowdich_, 1817.] + +The Ashantees persisted that the population of Coomassie, when +collected, was upwards of 100,000. I think it likely to be much greater +than that of Sego, (which Mr. Park reported as 30,000,) from the +extended masses of crowd I observed on festivals, when the plantations +of the environs are almost wholly deserted. I compared them in my +recollection with the crowds I have seen collected in the secondary +cities of England, on similar occasions of public curiosity; the only +criterion, as I had not time to finish reckoning the number of houses. I +say when collected, because the higher class could not support their +numerous followers, or the lower their large families, in the city, and +therefore employed them in plantations, (in which small crooms were +situated,) generally within two or three miles of the capital, where +their labours not only feed themselves, but supply the wants of the +chief, his family, and more immediate suite. The middling orders station +their slaves for the same purpose, and also to collect fruits and +vegetables for sale, and when their children become numerous, a part are +generally sent to be supported by these slaves in the bush. Perhaps the +average resident population of Coomassie is not more than from 12 to +15,000. + +The markets were held daily from about eight o’clock in the morning +until sun set. The larger contains about sixty stalls or sheds, (a small +square frame covered with cotton cloth with a pole from the centre, +stuck into the ground, see drawing, No. 9.) besides throngs of inferior +venders, seated in all directions. Amongst the articles for sale, were +beef, (to us about 8_d._ per lb.) and mutton, cut in small pieces for +soup, wild hog, deer, and monkey’s flesh, fowls, pelts of skins; yams, +plantains, corn, sugar-cane, rice, encruma, (a mucilaginous vegetable, +richer than asparagus, which it resembles,) peppers, vegetable butter; +oranges, papaws, pine apples, (not equal to those on the coast,) +bananas; salt and dried fish from the coast; large snails smoke dried, +and stuck in rows on small sticks in the form of herring bone; eggs for +fetish; pittō, palm wine, rum; pipes, beads, looking-glasses, sandals, +silk, cotton cloth, powder, small pillows, white and blue cotton thread, +calabashes, &c. &c. See Chapter on Trade. + +The following are the comparative prices of the markets of Coomassie and +Yahndi, the capital of Dagwumba: + + _Coomassie._ _Yahndi._ + + A fat bullock £.6 0 0 £.1 0 0 + + A sheep 0 15 0 0 4 0 + + A fowl 0 1 8 0 0 5 + + A horse 24 0 0 8 0 0 + + Yams 0 0 8 for two 0 0 8 for ten. + +The surprising exorbitance of the former is to be accounted for by the +abundance of gold, yet labour and manufacture was moderately purchased. +In Mallowa, provision is dearer than in Dagwumba, but the articles of +trade much cheaper; they manufacture very little cloth, the Moorish +traders supplying it so abundantly. The cattle we saw in Ashantee were +as large as the English, unlike those on the coast, which resemble the +Jersey. The sheep are hairy in Ashantee, but woolly in Dagwumba, an open +country, where they manufacture a coarse blanket. The horses in Dagwumba +are generally small, some were described to be 15 hands high, but these +were never parted with, and the Ashantees did not desire them, for I +never saw but one who rode fearlessly. The horses I saw were like half +bred galloways, their legs lathy, with a wiry hair about the fetlock, +only requiring to be pulled. Their heads were large; dun and mouse +colours were said to be common; they were never shod, and their hoofs +consequently in the eye of the European, though not in nature, +disproportionate; they were fed on guinea grass, occasionally mixed with +salt, and sal-ammoniac was frequently dissolved in the water. The +saddles were Moorish, of red leather, and cumbersome; the bridles of +twisted black leather thongs, and brass links, with a whip at the end; +the bit severe, with a large ring hanging from the middle, and slipped +over the under jaw instead of a curb chain; the stirrups were like large +blow pans, and hung very short. Some of the Moors rode on bullocks, with +a ring through the nose. + +The extent and order of the Ashantee plantations surprised us, yet I do +not think they were adequate to the population; in a military government +they were not likely to be so. Their neatness and method have been +already noticed in our route up. They use no implement but the hoe. They +have two crops of corn a year, plant their yams at Christmas, and dig +them early in September. The latter plantations had much the appearance +of a hop garden well fenced in, and regularly planted in lines, with a +broad walk around, and a hut at each wicker gate, where a slave and his +family resided to protect the plantation. + +All the fruits mentioned as sold in the market grew in spontaneous +abundance, as did the sugar cane: the oranges were of a large size and +exquisite flavour. I believe this fruit has hitherto been considered +indigenous to India only. We saw no cocoa nut trees, nor was that fruit +in the market. Mr. Park’s route was through a very different +country.[99] In the marshy ground, a large species of fern is very +abundant, there are four varieties of it; in shady places that have been +cultivated, various tribes of urtica; and the leontodon grows abundantly +to the north of Coomassie. The miraculous berry, which gives acids the +flavour of sweets, making limes taste like honey, is common.[100] The +castor oil, (ricinus communis) rises to a large tree, I have only seen +it as a bush about three feet high on the coast; and the wild fig is +abundant, though neither of them are used by the natives. The cotton +plant is very plentiful, but little cultivated. The only use to which +they apply the silk cotton, is to the stuffing of cushions and +pillows.[101] Mr. Park observed the tobacco-plant, which grows +luxuriantly in Inta and Dagwumba, and is called toah. The visitors from +those countries recognised it in a botanical work. They first dry the +leaves in the sun, then, having rubbed them well between their hands, +mix them with water into oval masses, as will be seen; it is further +noticed in the Trade Report. + +Lions are numerous on the northern frontiers of Inta, elephants (assoon, +F. A. soorer, B.[102]) are remarkably numerous in Kong, but they are +also found in Ashantee, with wild hogs (yambo, F. A.) hyænas (patacoo, +F. A. boofooree, B.,) cows (anantwee, F. A. B.,) sheep (ygwan, F. A. +tsan, B.,) goats (apunkie, F. A. terrie, B.,) deer (wonsan, F. A. B.,) +antelopes (ettwan, F. A. B.,) dogs (boddum, etcha, F. tweä, A. opooree, +B.,) approximating to the Danish, cats (agramwaw, F. A. B.,) extremely +sharp visaged and long necked, Gennet cats (essoor, F. A. B.,) pangolins +(appra, F. A. aypra, B.,) alligators (dankim, F. A. B.,) &c. &c. &c. The +rhinoceros (năree) is found in Boroom, and the hippopotamus (shonsa, A. +tchoosooree, B.) in the Odirree river. + +The Ashantees say, that an animal called sissah or sissirree, will +attack every other however superior in size. The Fantees who had never +seen it, had imbibed a tremendous idea of it, from the stories in their +own country. I doubt its being so formidable to all other animals, for +the skin I saw was not more than three feet long, and the legs short, it +resembled that of a boar, but the natives said it was between a pig and +a goat. I enquired of the people of Inta and Dagwumba if they had ever +heard of a unicorn; one replied, yes! in the white man’s country. It is +extraordinary that the gnoo, (antelope gnu,) which is found behind the +Cape of Good Hope, is known in Inta by the same name.[103] Where the +beds were not an accumulation of cushions, the skin of the gnoo was +nailed to a large wooden frame, raised on legs about a foot from the +ground, and stretched as we would sacking. It was a revered custom that +no virgin of either sex should sleep on this kind of bed. Another +animal, called otrum, was described by the inhabitants of the eastern +frontier as having one very long horn on one side of the head and a +short one on the other; it is much larger than the gnoo. We met with a +spotted animal of the cat kind (gahin, F. A. B.,) very common, and +allied to the leopard or panther, but whether referable to either of +those species, or to be considered as distinct, we could not determine, +owing to the very vague and unsatisfactory character by which +naturalists have attempted to distinguish them, the kind and number of +the rows of spots; which we have observed in individuals of the same +decided species, to present almost an infinity of variation. + +The vulture (pittay, F. A. epraykee, B.,) which I have before mentioned +to be venerated by the natives, for the same reason which the Egyptians +venerated the Vulturus Percnopterus, is the Vulturus Monachus, figured +by Le Vaillant. Green pigeons (assam) are found, and crows with a white +ring round their necks, probably the corvus scapularis figured by Le +Vaillant. There were several small birds of beautiful plumage, which +sung melodiously; two in particular, the one like a blackbird, and the +other of the same colour as the English thrush, but larger. Also a +variety of parrots beautifully spangled with different colours. M. +Cuvier was misinformed when he wrote (Regne animal, tom. i. p. 108) +“Macaque est le nom générique des singes à la côte de Guinée.” The name +is unknown there as well as in the interior. Dokoo is the generic name. +The Simia Diana (effoor, F. A. B.,) which has the most beautiful skin of +any monkey, is found in Ashantee as well as in Warsaw. All the natives +agree that they do not know of any monkies which dare to attack men, but +the akonëson, which they describe as small, and always seen in troops. + +Snakes (aboïtinnee, F. A. ewaw, B.,) green, and of all colours; +scorpions, lizards, &c. &c. were found as on the coast, with a curious +variety of beetles, and the most beautiful butterflies. A few specimens +preserved in spirits will be sent to the British Museum,[104] as the +best apology for my ignorance rather than neglect of natural history. + + +[Footnote 96: At Cape Coast in 1815 there was scarcely any rain fell in +its season, from May to August. In 1816, the rains were heavy, but no +fogs succeeded. In 1817, there was but little rain, but a protracted +succession of slight fogs. The climate has been observed, by old +residents, to alter as unaccountably within these few years as that of +Europe.] + +[Footnote 97: “My friend Mr. Morton Pitt, M.P. has proved, by the +enumeration of the inhabitants of a country parish in Dorsetshire, that +the men of an age capable of bearing arms are one fourth of the whole +community. Mr. Horneman, if I understand him rightly, states the number +of actual warriors to be 1500; so that we ought, perhaps, to multiply +that number by 5, to get nearer to the total amount of the population.” +_Major Rennell_.] + +[Footnote 98: Issert mentions this being levied in Akim and other +tributary states.] + +[Footnote 99: “It is observable, however, that although many species of +the edible roots which grow in the West India islands, are found in +Africa, yet I never saw, in any part of my journey, either the sugar +cane, the coffee, or the cocoa tree; nor could I learn, on inquiry, that +they were known to the natives. The pine apple, and the thousand other +delicious fruits, which the industry of civilized man (improving the +bounties of nature,) has brought to such great perfection in the +tropical climates of America, are here equally unknown. I observed, +indeed, a few orange and banana trees, near the mouth of the Gambia; but +whether they were indigenous, or were formerly planted there by some of +the white traders, I could not positively learn. I suspect that they +were originally introduced by the Portuguese.” Park’s First Mission.] + +[Footnote 100: The curious fruit mentioned in the introduction, and to +which I have given the name of oxyglycus, I find was known to Des +Marchais, who describes it as a little red fruit, which, being chewed, +gives a sweet taste to the most sour or bitter things. Dalzel’s +Dahomey.] + +[Footnote 101: Cotton of the cotton tree (or _silk_ cotton) _Bombax +Pentandrium_ _Lin._ This cotton is not made into thread, but is used +for making pillows and beds. It is also, from its catching fire so +easily, commonly put into tinder boxes, and employed in the preparation +of fire works. Ainslie’s Materia Medica of Hindostan.] + +[Footnote 102: F. A. affixed to assoon, denote that to be the native +name in the Fantee and Ashantee languages, as B. represents Boroom.] + +[Footnote 103: C’est probablement lui qui a donné lieu à leur +_catoblepas_. Voyez Pline, lib. 8, c. 32, et Ælien, lib. 7, c. 5, +Cuvier. The gnoo is almost always _looking down_.] + +[Footnote 104: See Dr. Leach’s notice in the Appendix.] + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + * * * * * + + _Trade._ + + +The currency of Ashantee is gold dust, that of Inta, Dagwumba, Gaman, +and Kong, cowries. Mr. Lucas writes, “to the merchants of Fezzan who +travel to the southern states of the Negroes, the purchase of gold, +which the dominions of several, and especially those of Degombah, +abundantly afford, is always the first object of commercial +acquisition.” I could not learn that any gold was dug or collected in +Dagwumba, though considerable quantities are imported, from its +extensive commerce. Sixteen ackies make an ounce or newemeën, 36 a +benda, 40 a periguin: eight tokoos (a small berry) are reckoned to the +ackie, but it will not weigh more than seven: there are eight distinct +names for quantities of gold dust from one to eight ackies. Five strings +or 200 cowries are equal to a tokoo, as at Accra. The clearest manner of +shewing the articles, prices, and profits of the Ashantee, Inta, and +Dagwumba markets, will be by a table with remarks; substituting, for the +greater convenience, English monies calculated at the currency of gold +here, which is £4. the oz. + + [Q.: Quantity.; P.: Profit.; P. pC.: Profit. per Cent.; + Pce.: Piece.; Gll.: Gallon.; Brl.: Barrel.; fth.: fathom.; + hdk.: hdkchf.; chg.: charge.] + + +------------------------------+------------------+------------------+ + | _Cape Coast._ | _Coomassie._ | Sallagha and | + | | | Yahndi. | + +---------------+--+--+--+-----+--+--+--+-----+---+--+--+--+-----+---+ + | Articles. |£ |s.|d.| Q. |£.|s.|d.| Q. |P. |£.|s.|d.| Q. |P. | + | | | | | | | | | |pC.| | | | | | + +---------------+--+--+--+-----+--+--+--+-----+---+--+--+--+-----+---+ + |(_a_) Silk, |4 | | | per | |5 | | 1 |175| | | | | | + |India | | | |Pce. | | | |span.| | | | | | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + | —— Fezzan | | | | |2 | | | 1 |100|1 | | | 1 | | + | | | | | | | | |fth. | | | | |fth. | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |(_b_) |1 |10| | | |2 |6 | 1 |400| | | | | | + |Sarstracunda | | | | | | | |span.| | | | | | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |(_c_) Glasgow |1 |10| | | |5 | | 1 |75 | | | | | | + |Dane | | | | | | | |hdk. | | | | | | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |(_d_) Romal |1 | | | |1 |5 | |pce. |20 | | | | | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |(_e_) Guinea | |10| | | |15| | |33 | | | | | | + |Stuff | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |(_f_) Silesia | |10| | | |15| | |33 | | | | | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |Dagwumba | | | | | |5 | | sq. |100| |2 |6 | sq. | | + |white Cotton | | | | | | | |yard.| | | | |yard.| | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |Rum | |10| |Gll. | | |7½|dram.|400| | | | | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |(_g_) Tobacco, |6 | | |Roll.|10| | |roll.|75 | | | | | | + |Portuguese | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + | | | | | | | |7½|span.| | | | | | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + | —— Inta | | | | | |2 |6 | lb. |150| | | | lb. | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |(_h_) Gunpowder|4 | | | ¼ | | |7½| 1 |400| | | | | | + | | | | |Brl. | | | |chg. | | | | | | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |Iron |1 | | |Bar. |1 |15| |bar. |75 |3 | | |bar. |200| + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |Lead | |10| | | | |7½| ½ |75 | | | | | | + | | | | | | | | |inch.| | | | | | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |Flints | |5 | | 100 | | |¼ |each.|600| | | | | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |(_i_) Spanish | |5 | | ea. | |5 | | | | | | | | | + |Dollar | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |(_k_) Sandals | | | | | |10| |pair.|100| |5 | |pair.| | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |Cushions | | | | |1 | | | ea. |100| |10| | ea. | | + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + |Marrowa Locks | | | | | |5 | | |100| |2 |6 | | | + +---------------+--+--+--+-----+--+--+--+-----+---+--+--+--+-----+---+ + +(_a_) The red taffetas (11 yards in each piece) are unravelled by the +Ashantees, and wove into the cloths of their own manufacture: they +unravel a few of the fancy silks, but these are generally bought for +wear, though they prefer those from Fezzan for that purpose, because the +colours are more shewy. Coarse thick scarves are also brought from the +interior, equal in substance to a double wove ribbon. One ackie a span +was the price in the public market, where it was retailed in these small +quantities, for the convenience of the weavers, who did not require, or +could not afford to purchase more: the price of a piece was uncertain, +as the person who could purchase so much, generally sent a trusty +servant to the foreign market, and seldom bought of the traders but when +they were necessitated to sell at little more than prime cost. The +richest silks, I saw, were worn by the Moors, who had bought them at +Yahndi and Houssa.[105] Reckoning nine inches to a span, there are eight +spans in a fathom, which is the Ashantee measure; but the fathom of Inta +and Dagwumba, contains only six spans. Even if the Ashantee traders give +twenty shillings a fathom, in barter of boossee, salt, rum, iron, &c.; +it is considerably cheaper to them than ours, considering that they get +100 per cent. on it at Coomassie. Mr. Lucas mentions “silk wrought and +unwrought amongst the articles exported from Fezzan to Kassina. Apokoo +and several others related to me, that Saï Cudjo bought a piece of silk +at Yahndi, so very fine, that although it could be compressed between +two hands, it was nevertheless larger than any cloth I had seen the +present King wear, and his appeared monstrous. Apokoo added, that six +slaves were paid for it, which would have produced £160. at the water +side. + +(_b_) This is a highly glazed British cotton of bright red stripes with +a bar of white: it is bought solely for the red stripe, (as there is no +red dye nearer than Marrowa) which they weave into their own cloths, +throwing away the white. There are 280 inches in a piece. A cloth of +Ashantee manufacture will be sent to the British Museum, and, I expect, +the size, fineness, and variety will surprise. + +(_c_) This is also a highly glazed British cotton of more colours, and +in handkerchiefs; ten of which are in a 30_s._ piece. + +(_d_) This is an unglazed India cotton, not much in demand, and yielding +the least profit. The Manchester cotton called Tom Coffee is preferred. + +(_e_) This is India cotton unglazed, for all of which there is, in +proportion, but a small demand. The Ashantees invariably prefer cloths +of the Dagwumba, or their own manufacture, and we rarely saw any others +worn in Coomassie. + +(_f_) These are white cottons, six yards in a piece, but narrow, they +are bought for fetish cloths; but the next article, the white cotton +cloth of Dagwumba, is preferred, a piece of which, painted, will be sent +to the British Museum. + +(_g_) These are the wholesale and retail prices at Coomassie, the +average length of a roll is 42 fathoms. + +(_h_) Powder is retailed for customs or festivals: those who purchase it +for war, or can afford a ¼ barrel, send to the water side for it. A ¼ +barrel contains 25 lbs. and the Ashantee charge weighs 16 ackies, equal +to ¾ of an ounce avoirdupoise. + +(_i_) This was owing to their brisk intercourse with the Spanish and +Portuguese slave ships, a dollar generally fetches two ackies or 10_s._ +Mr. Park writes, from £1. 5_s._ to £2. 10_s._ at Sansanding. + +(_k_) Sandals and a cushion will be sent to the British Museum. In +Marrowa they decoct a good red dye from a tree called mossarātee. + +The reason green ells are purchased by the Warsaws only, is, that they +must be the wedding garment of the females of that country: if they are +fast colours, and will not change to a blue with lime-juice, they will +not look at them. + +Most of the slaves in Coomassie, were sent as part of the annual tribute +of Inta, Dagwumba, and their neighbours, to Ashantee; very many were +kidnapped, and for the few who were bought, I was assured by several +respectable Ashantees, 2000 cowries, or 1 basket of Boossee was the +greatest price given; so full were the markets of the interior. I have +brought some pods of the Boossee; it is astringent, and the natives chew +it to excite a flow of saliva, and allay the sensation of hunger. +The[106] Boossee must be the Gooroo nut, which Mr. Lucas describes as +one of the articles of trade between Fezzan, Kassina, Bornoo, and the +states south of the Niger. He writes, “Gooroo nuts, which are brought +from the Negro states on the south of the Niger, and which are +principally valued for the pleasant bitter that they communicate to any +liquor in which they are infused,” and again “a species of nut—which is +much valued in the kingdoms to the north of the Niger, and which is +called Gooroo. It grows on a large and broad leafed tree, that bears a +pod of about 18 inches in length, in which are inclosed a number of nuts +that varies from 7 to 9. Their colour is a yellowish green; their size +is that of a chesnut, which they also resemble, in being covered by a +husk of a similar thickness, and their taste, which is described as a +pleasant bitter, is so grateful to those who are accustomed to its use, +and so important as a corrective to the unpalatable or unwholesome +waters of Fezzan, and of the other kingdoms that border on the vast +Zahara, as to be deemed of importance to the happiness of life. They +are purchased at the rate of 12_s._ for 100 pods.” + +Sal ammonia is found abundantly in Dagwumba: in the Ashantee market, a +lump the size of a duck’s egg, was sold for 2_s._: they grind it to mix +with their snuff, (of which they take large quantities,) as it gives it +a pungency agreeable to them. They also dissolve it in the water they +give to their cattle, and sometimes drink it themselves for pains in the +bowels. The Tamool practitioners in the East Indies suppose it to be a +useful remedy in certain female obstructions, and morbid uterine +enlargements. Mr. Lucas writes, “No commercial value appears to be +annexed to the fleeces which the numerous flocks of the Negro kingdoms +afford; for the cotton manufacture, which, the Shereef says, is +established among the tribes to the south of the Niger, seems to be the +only species of weaving that is known among them.” In Dagwumba, however, +they manufacture a coarse kind of blanket from sheep’s wool. There is a +white grease, which has long been called Ashantee grease by the natives +on the coast, who supposed it to be produced in that country. They use +it daily to anoint their skins, which otherwise become coarse and +unhealthy. The Ashantees purchase it from the interior, and make a great +profit by it: it is a vegetable butter, decocted from a tree, called +Timkeëä: it is doubtless the Shea butter of Mr. Park.[107] Mr. Lucas +mentions, “small Turkey and plain Mesurata carpets,” among the articles +exported from Fezzan to Kassina: a small carpet fetches 2 oz. of gold at +Coomassie. The Ashantees procure most of their ivory from Kong, where +they give 8 ackies, or 40_s._ in barter, for a very large tooth. + +“The preference of the Ashantees for the Dagwumba and Inta markets, for +silk and cloth, results not merely from their having been so long +accustomed to them, but because they admit of a barter trade. The +Boossee or Gooroo nut, salt, (which is easily procured, and affords an +extravagant profit,) and small quantities of the European commodities, +rum, and iron,[108] yield them those articles of comfort and luxury, +which they can only purchase with gold and ivory from the settlements on +the coast. Gold they are all desirous of hoarding; even those less +covetous than is generally their nature, that they may be prepared for +the purchase of guns and powder to a large extent, on any sudden war, +and thus ingratiate themselves with the king and the government. Were +the Ashantees a commercial people, they might be the brokers between the +interior and Europeans, or, purchasing supplies more adequate to the +demands of their neighbours for European commodities, which would be +bought with avidity, realize large properties. But they have no idea of +buying more of the various articles than will supply themselves; and +leave a small residue to barter for the cloth, silk, and tobacco in the +Inta and Dagwumba markets. They are as little commercial as the Romans +were in their infancy, and their government would repress rather than +countenance the inclination, (believing no state can be aggrandized but +by conquest,) lest their genius for war might be enervated by it, and +lest, either from the merchants increasing to a body too formidable for +their wishes to be resisted, or too artful from their experience to be +detected, they might sacrifice the national honour and ambition to their +avarice, and furnishing Inta, Dagwumba, or any of their more powerful +neighbours (who have yielded to circumstances rather than force) with +guns and powder (which are never allowed to be exported from +Ashantee,[109]) break the spell of their conquests, and undermine their +power. The chiefs are fed bountifully by the labours of their slaves, +and sharing large sums of the revenue, (the fines their oppression has +imposed on other governments,) with incalculable fees for corruption or +interference, refine upon the splendor of equipage even to satiety, and +still possess a large surplus of income daily accumulating. Were they to +encourage commerce, pomp, the idol of which they are most jealous, would +soon cease to be their prerogative, because it would be attainable by +others; the traders growing wealthy, would vie with them; and for their +own security, stimulated by reflections they have now too little at risk +to originate, they would unite to repress the arbitrary power of the +Aristocracy; and even if they did not, inevitably (as the chiefs +conceive) divert the people’s genius for war. + +It will occur that even to furnish the necessities or luxuries of the +Ashantees alone, in cloth, silk, &c. would, considering the extent of +the kingdom, considerably augment the returns of our commerce in this +part of the world; and therefore it would be well to wean them, +gradually, from the markets of the interior, by inducing their +cultivation of cotton, which grows abundantly, is of a superior quality, +and which, offered in quantities, in addition to the ivory, would lessen +the balance of trade now in our favor, and by enabling them, in some +degree to purchase with produce instead of gold dust, remove the present +comparative disadvantage in trading with Europeans entirely. This +occurred to me, and I explained the view not only to the king, but to +the more enterprising and reflecting natives: but they had no idea of a +quantity, and immediately concluded cotton to be so desirable to us, +that 40 or 50 lbs. would be received in barter for twenty times its +value; and they required one tokoo and a half per lb. for it, (say one +shilling,) even in gold, and on the spot. When I urged that they must +clear the ground, form plantations, and superintend the labours of their +slaves; they replied, that the Boossee or Gooroo nut grew spontaneously, +and required no labour, that salt was brought to their frontier by +poorer nations, and sold for little without the trouble of fetching it; +and these articles, with the value, their prevention of all intercourse +but their own with the water side nations, attached to a little rum and +iron in the interior, furnished them with silks and cotton cloths at a +much easier rate, pattern and quality. + +A serious disadvantage opposed to the English trade, is that the +Ashantees will purchase no tobacco but the Portuguese, and that eagerly +even at 2 oz. of gold the roll. Of this, (the Portuguese and Spanish +slave ships regularly calling at Elmina,) the Dutch Governor-General is +enabled to obtain frequent supplies, in exchange for canoes, two of +which, though they cost him comparatively nothing, fetch 32 rolls of +tobacco; and the General has sometimes received 80 oz. of gold a day +from the Ashantees for tobacco only. If they cannot have this tobacco, +they will content themselves with that grown in the interior, of which I +have brought a sample. A preference for the Dutch has long been natural +to the Ashantees, from an earlier though limited intercourse with them, +and from the natural impression, that the English settling amongst their +enemies, the Fantees, have encouraged and assisted their provocations +and resistance. With this bias in his favor, though the Dutch market, +destitute of supplies, had not been visited for many years, the talent +of General Daendels, “callidum quicquid placuit,” would no doubt have +again raised it to a level with the English, cæteris paribus; and his +unlimited importation of powder and guns in the first place, with the +still more valuable supplies of Portuguese tobacco he receives at +present, as superior advantages, have, of course, possessed the Dutch +market of superior inducements. + +It is to be lamented, the indifference of the Dutch and Danes to their +settlements here, being evident from their neglect and reduction of +them, that the British government did not take advantage of the +disregard, and add them to their own. Elmina is a much finer position +for head quarters than Cape Coast; the Dutch fort at Succondee, the best +point for the Warsaw trade, and where we have but a house, is strong, +admirably situated, and might be put in good condition for £1000. in +addition to which, Axim, near the mouth of the Ancobra, would be the +only fort to windward worth keeping; and the Danish head quarters, +Christiansburg Castle at Accra, with their fort at Adda, (to secure the +navigation of the Volta,) would have answered every purpose and view to +leeward. One system could then have been acted upon towards the natives, +the commerce, confined to the English, would have grown from wholesome +regulations, which no other settlers could counteract by selfishness, +jealousy, or by facilitating the illegitimate trade we would crush; and +the benevolent views of the British government for the improvement and +civilization of the natives, would not be defeated by those, who, +holding their private interest superior to views in which their own +government has evinced no interest, militate against them by fostering +suspicions to bar our progress in the interior, and by indulging those +habits and customs of the natives, which it must be our first step to +correct and divert. + +In addition to the obstacles which the inconsistent and selfish conduct +of the different European powers towards the natives presents to +intercourse and civilization, the continuance of the slave trade under +the Spanish flag, is one more serious: no one can imagine the stubborn +impediment it was to our negotiations at Ashantee, where the native +emissaries from these slave ships arrived not long after us. It not only +injures the British commerce here, almost to annihilation, but, slaving +being the natural trade of the natives, because it is the most indolent +and the most lucrative, the opposition, which is insinuated and believed +to proceed from the English alone, conveys a disagreeable impression of +us to the interior, as inauspicious to our intercourse and progress, as +the even partial continuance of such a trade is to legitimate commerce +and civilization. One thousand slaves left Ashantee for two Spanish +schooners or Americans under that flag, to our knowledge, during our +residence there, doubtless the whole number was much greater; since our +return it must have been very considerable, for the slave trade was +never more brisk than it is at this moment under the cloak of the +Spanish flag, and great risk has been incurred, in consequence, of +offending our new friend and formidable neighbour the King of Ashantee, +from the firm resistance of his strong intreaties to the Governor in +Chief, to allow the return of a powerful mulatto slave trader to Cape +Coast town, whence he had been expelled under the present government, as +the most daring promoter of that commerce. It is a great pity, in the +infancy of our intercourse with this great interior power, that there +should have been occasion either for the request or refusal; which there +would not have been had the slave trade been abolished, instead of +crippled, at the expense, probably, of our own interests and views in +the interior, and, which is worse, of the happiness and improvement of +the natives. For it is certainly our duty, because it is the most +acceptable and the only efficient acknowledgment we can make of the +superior blessings and endowments by which we are so indulgently +distinguished from these nations, to extend the influence and the +participation, both by enterprise and policy, even if our commerce may +not be benefitted; and if we gain no other recompense than the +satisfaction of our own minds in the ameliorated condition of others, +and the opportunity we have made to ourselves of exemplifying our own +gratitude.[110] Whilst one slave ship is allowed to visit this coast, +the great convenience and the great profits of the trade will recur, and +be perpetuated amongst the Ashantees; they will linger in the hope of +its entire renewal, and view the English invidiously, as the enemies to +what they conceive to be their only natural commerce; this is another +advantage to the Dutch, added to the inherent bias in their favour; and, +from the reception and facilities which slave ships meet with at Elmina, +our odium is aggravated instead of being participated. “Delenda est +Carthago.” + +Let us suppose this irreconcilable obstacle to be annihilated, as no +doubt it will be, and resume our reflections on a commercial intercourse +with the interior. The people of Inta and Dagwumba, being commercial +rather than warlike, the object, deliberately to be obtained, is an +intercourse with them, which would in fact be an intercourse with the +interior as far as Timbuctoo and Houssa northwards, and Cassina, if not +to Bornoo, eastwards. The wealth, civilization, and commerce of +Dagwumba, Mr. Lucas has before reported. Now, in effecting such an +intercourse through the Ashantees, who are indisputably the greatest and +the rising power of western Africa, and who, having acquired their +present extent of influence and command in little more than a century, +may be expected to aggrandize their empire considerably; in seeking this +connection through them, there are these adverse circumstances, their +policy, their jealousy, and their inaptitude to commerce. It has been +suggested to the King, and urged with all the address of General +Daendels, to open a path to the interior through his kingdom, and to +receive a duty or tax on all the merchandize transported, which would +afford him a certain and considerable addition to his revenue; but even +this appeal to the avarice of the Ashantee government has had no +influence. It would be dangerous as well as impolitic to offend the King +of Ashantee at any time, with the present garrisons of the forts, +madness; and though his influence through that of Dagwumba, which is at +his command, would extend to the Niger, yet, I think our anxiety to +explore so far should be suppressed for two or three years, until he is +satisfied that commerce and not ambition is the impulse. But in the +interim, it would be desirable gradually to approach Inta and Dagwumba, +by establishing a settlement up the Volta, which has been shewn to run +close to Sallagha, the grand emporium of Inta, and is navigable within +four days of it; and possibly might be made so even nearer. The Danes +would no doubt relinquish their claim to the navigation of the Volta, +for it is a doubtful one. Dalzel writes, “the Danes claim the exclusive +navigation of the Volta, which is disputed by the English, who have a +settlement near it, called Loy.” The great prices the Ashantees get for +rum, iron, &c. from the people of Inta and Dagwumba, and the avidity +with which they purchase their small supplies, leave no doubt of the +eagerness with which they would resort to our market; and the silks they +obtain from Fezzan being dearer than our own, I should think we could +induce a preference. Our Manchester cloth and cotton manufactures would +be novel and useful to them, as those I saw wore vests and tunics. But +here I must observe, that whenever our commerce with the interior may be +established, the returns of it, in my opinion, will fall short of the +general idea and expectation. + +The King of Ashantee viewing our settlements on the Volta, would, I have +no doubt, be reconciled by our undertaking to sell neither guns or +powder to any but his own people; a measure due to humanity as well as +policy, for the preponderance of one great nation is auspicious to the +civilization as well as the tranquillity of Africa; but for that, the +slaughter of the human species would be incalculable; there would be a +constant warfare between the numerous states, naturally querulous, and +our passage to the interior would be impossible, not only on that +account, but because there would be no powerful monarch to recommend or +protect us. If the King of Ashantee were not satisfied with our new +settlement confining the trade of guns and powder to himself, he would +certainly be repressed by the alarming reflection, that it was at our +discretion, (depending on his behaviour,) to supply Inta and Dagwumba +with both, and thus to undermine his empire; for it is well known, and +has been confessed, that the greater population of these countries, +could they but procure fire-arms, would give them a superiority over the +Ashantees, to which their greater civilization seems to entitle them. +Our force and establishments should be respectable; not to arrogate or +to intrude, but to protect the legitimate commercial views, sanctioned +and invited by the voice of less arbitrary powers, and also to make +their first impression of the English imposing and preservative. +Residencies should be established at these courts, and young men of +talent, temper, and discrimination be found to fill them, collecting the +geographical and statistical desiderata, and forwarding them to be +investigated and digested into one report at head quarters, before they +were transmitted to England. One or two intelligent Moors might also be +engaged to trade by different routes, and minute the directions, +distances, and descriptions of the several places; thus paving the way, +and lessening the difficulties of a future Mission to the Niger. If the +working of gold mines were also an object, the vicinity of the Ancobra +affords a rich field; and a small district might either be purchased of +the natives, or they might receive a dividend of the proceeds, which +would produce them much more than their present inadequate researches, +suppressed by their more powerful neighbours the Warsaws. + +The benevolent and politic views of the British Government, would thus, +by making use of what we have or might easily get, be more probably, if +not more speedily realized, than by the perilous, desultory, and limited +enterprises of two or three individuals. + + +[Footnote 105: Since my return to England I have seen some silk brought +from Aleppo, and manufactured there, precisely resembling these, which +were frequently enriched by gold threads interwoven.] + +[Footnote 106: Sterculia acuminata _Palis de Beauvais Flore d’Oware_, 1. +_p._ 41, _tab._ 24.] + +[Footnote 107: See Sketch of Gaboon.] + +[Footnote 108: Though iron is manufactured in Dagwumba, that from Europe +is preferred for finer purposes. The former is an imperfect steel +containing a mechanical mixture of unreduced ore.] + +[Footnote 109: “Fire arms are unknown to such of the nations on the +south of the Niger as the Shereef has visited; and the reason which he +assigns for it is, that the kings in the neighbourhood of the coast, +persuaded that if these powerful instruments of war should reach the +possession of the populous inland states, their own independence would +be lost, have strictly prohibited, and by the wisdom of their measures +have effectually prevented this dangerous merchandize from passing +beyond the limits of their dominions.” Lucas.] + +[Footnote 110: The dissuasion from barbarities of which millions are now +the victims, as the descriptions of the customs of Ashantee and the +interior have shewn, and the interests of science, render this duty more +imperious. It has been well observed, “apologies for our present +ignorance of every thing that regards geography, &c. might be pleaded by +mercantile speculators, but can have little weight with those who have +the interests of science at heart, or the national honour and fame, +which are intimately connected with those interests. It was not with a +view to any immediate commercial advantages, that this liberal +encouragement for the discovery of the north-west passage was held out, +but with the same expanded objects that sent Cook in search of a +southern continent.” + +Voltaire’s remark on India is now only applicable to Africa, “Plusieurs +y ont fait des fortunes immenses, peu se sont appliqués à connoître ce +pays.” I would even recommend indulging the wish of the King of Dahomey +to renew and perpetuate his connection with the English, not indeed by +resuming the fort, that would be a useless expense, as there is no trade +but in ivory, but by establishing a Residency at his capital, the most +frugal method of collecting the various accounts of the interior of that +neighbourhood for geographical investigators, besides supplying the +naturalist. Geographical discoveries in Africa have long been ardently +emulated between England and France, and they have stimulated a generous +rivalry of investigation between the men of science of both countries. +An Englishman first penetrating to the Niger, and determining its course +at the moment a learned investigator of the other kingdom had concluded +it to be a contrary one, was one of those rational and illustrious +triumphs which adorn the historical pages of a nation much more than +those of war; for the gratification and the benefit is shared by both, +and such successes cease to be invidious when the interests of science +are thus mutually at heart. The following immortal tribute from a +classic of a rival nation, should stimulate us to challenge as +illustrious a record of intellectual research, + + + · · · · “monumentum ære perennius, + + Regalique situ pyramidum altius;” + + +by a correspondent pursuit of intelligence in Africa. + +“Un Anglais, détruit tout ce vain amas d’erreurs dont sont remplies nos +histoires des Indes, et confirme ce que le petit nombre d’hommes +instruits en a pensé.” Voltaire.] + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + * * * * * + + _Language._ + + +The hypothesis I have met with, I think in Parsons’s Remains of Japhet, +that the confusion of languages at Babel was a visitation on the family +of Ham only, which spread itself over Africa, is certainly supported +(considering the radical affinities which have been traced between the +Arabic the Russ and the Greek, the Persian and the German, the Qquichua, +or language of the Incas, and the Sanscrit, and many others[111]) by the +variety of languages in Africa which cannot be assimilated in the least +degree to each other, and which would, I think, resist the laborious +ingenuity of the philologist. + +I have heard about half a dozen words in the Fantee, which might be said +to be not unlike the same nouns in the Welsh language; and this is the +only affinity which has been imagined. Two words only in the Accra +language have struck me as assimilating to those of any other, the +conjunction “_kay_” (_and_), which with a broader sound would answer the +corresponding Greek conjunction και; and _fai_ (_to do_,) pronounced as +the perfect participle of the same verb in French, and which is spelled +_fai_ in the old songs of Richard the first, and the troubadour Faydit. +The Fantee word _umpa_ (_true, indeed_,) may be imagined to resemble the +Greek εμπας, which has the same meaning; but it is a solitary instance. + +From Apollonia or Amănăheä to the Volta, about 300 miles, six languages +are spoken: the Amanaheä, Ahanta, Fantee, Affoottoo, Accra, and the +Adampë. The numerals of which will appear, collaterally with others +hitherto unknown, at the end of this chapter. + +The Ashantee, in comparison with the Fantee, Warsaw, &c. &c. from its +refinement of idiom, oratory being so much more cultivated, may be +considered as the Attic amongst the dialects of the Greek, but it owes +its superior euphony, striking to any ear, to the characteristics of the +Ionic, an abundance of vowel sounds, and a rejection of aspirates: + + _Fantee._ _Ashantee._ + + Key Sāfie Saphwooa. + + Lock Karradacoo Karradoo. + + Night Adayfwa Adagio. + + Day Aweeabil Aweeabillee. + + Gun Etoorh Oteuh. + +Vocabularies of these languages would not be interesting to the public, +especially as no affinity can be traced; and I know not how to acquit +myself of every thing like indifference to the curiosity at home, +(without the dulness of the subject proving more irksome than a +disappointment,) unless I endeavour to give an idea of the philosophy of +the languages,[112] and submit their progress, collaterally with that of +the arts and manners. The genius of the Accra language differing the +most essentially from that of the Ashantee or Fantee, examples from both +will be instanced for illustration. I have principally consulted two +gentlemen, natives of the country, but educated in Europe: the one +resident between forty and fifty years; the other, who has a respectable +knowledge of the grammar of the English and French languages, returned +from England about ten years back, and both are as fluent as the Negroes +in the Fantee and Accra, the latter being their vernacular tongue. + +Impressed with the ingenious hypothesis of the learned author of the +Diversions of Purley, my first care has been to investigate the +particles of the Fantee and Accra, considering the languages of +uncivilised people, to be least advanced or removed from the primeval +simplicity, to which Mr. Horne Tooke’s system refers. I found, however, +both the Accra and Fantee languages more complete than I expected in +conjunctions, and seldom using verbs instead of them, which I presumed +they might do. Yet I have no doubt, their half dozen of conjunctions, if +examined etymologically by a person thoroughly conversant in the +languages, might be traced, and shewn to be the contracted imperatives +of the most recurrent verbs, as Mr. Tooke has proved those of our own +language to be. Neither the Accra or Fantee have conjunctions answering +to each of ours; the distinction between many is neither comprehensible +or necessary to them. I will submit their conjunctions, with those +investigated in the first volume of the Diversions of Purley. + + _Fantee._ _Accra._ + + Onee and Kay + + { if + Sey { Kedgee + { unless + + { still + Emphee { Shee + { but + + { because Nooyĕwon + Interah { + { since Nunnë + + { notwithstanding + Namoo { Nemoolay + { though + + { otherwise + Anna { Noollay + { or + +There are no adverbs in either language. There are but two in our own +which may not be expressed by a verb or an adnoun, _still_ and _since_; +and these they express by the conjunctions _but_ and _because_. “I +intreated, but (still) he would not,” “because (since) it is so,” as the +Latins frequently used prepositions for the Greek adverbs. Indeed +_since_ is expressible by a verb, being derived according to Mr. Tooke +from the Saxon _sithan_, seeing that. They express the adverb _much_ by +the adjective _many_; _ago_ by a verb, “_it passes_ ten years;” _almost_ +by the verb _it wants_, “_it wants_ to rain;” and _when_ by a noun, +“_the time_ I was there,” coincident with Jones’s derivation of +ὁτε.[113] _Nooyĕwon_, (_because_) in Accra, is literally, “_for the sake +of_.” _Intērah_, the corresponding word in Fantee, “on the head of,” +(_tirree_ is head) thus, they would say, “I do this on your head,” or +because you told me. Lest, which is considered by Mr. Horne Tooke to be +the past participle of the Saxon verb leyan, to dismiss, is not to be +found either in the Accra or Fantee: in the former they would say, +“_Menkaw hauh ebbēbărădi_,” “do not go there, you fall down;” and in the +latter, “_Kaiheah djai nee oheäbwayshee_,” “do not go there, and (or +for) you fall down.” The use of the noun for the adverb is frequent in +Demosthenes, (“εϛι δικαιος εχειν,” “he justly deserves”) and can only be +accounted for in a prose writer, who does not need poetical licenses, as +an archaism, disused generally, through invention or refinement. The +term adverb is not a just indication of the origin of that part of +speech, for, although they are derived from verbs as well as nouns, yet, +in our own language, as well as in the Greek, following Mr. Horne Tooke, +the greater number are derived from nouns: and those (of which there are +some in the Greek) which may be indifferently derived from a noun, or a +verb, may be referred to the former; because, many of the adnouns from +which adverbs are derived in the Greek, have been pointed out as +disused; and therefore the verbs from which adverbs are exclusively +derived, are likely to be derived themselves from obsolete adnouns, +which cannot be recalled; for it has been philosophically advanced, that +originally there could have been but one sort of words, that is, nouns, +or the names of the objects of our sensations and ideas.[114] + +I consider the absence of adverbs, participles, and prepositions, +certainly the least indispensible parts of speech, and favouring +copiousness rather than energy, to be a proof of the almost genuine, or +primeval simplicity of the Accra and Fantee languages, which have not +advanced or altered, even in the small degree of their arts or manners; +for these have only been ameliorated by commercial intercourse with +strangers, who not understanding their language could not have suggested +improvements, and from whose languages, they being equally +unintelligible, amendments could not have been copied. We find +Portuguese nouns, and nouns only, adopted in the Fantee; and that, of +necessity, as Saxon nouns were adopted in the Welsh or Celtic, because +they had no words to designate novelties they had never before seen or +heard of; and, therefore, they called them as those did who introduced +them. These primitive languages being, nevertheless, thoroughly adequate +to oratory as well as the commoner purposes of speech, is a strong proof +that language was revealed, as Johnson, Blair, Warburton, and others +have maintained, and that it was not the fruit of human invention or +industry, as Lucretius, Horace, and most of the antients imagined. + +Neither the Accra or Fantee distinguish genders, the name of the person, +or the context, is the only explication; they have not even a third +person feminine, but one pronoun serves for _he, she, it_. + +The Accra has a definite and indefinite article, but both are affixed to +the noun, as “_minna nooleh_,” I saw the man; “_minna nookoo_,” I saw a +man. The indefinite article “_koo_” is the contraction of numeral one, +“_ekoo_,” so that I saw a man, is literally “I saw man one.” _An_ is +simply another form of the numeral one, still used in North Britain +under the form ane; and in the French, the numeral and the article +corresponding to one, are the same. The Fantee, like the Greek, has no +indefinite article, or according to Mr. Harris’s expression, on which +Mr. Horne Tooke is so pleasant, “supplies it by a negation of the +definite,” which is “_noo_,” affixed, as “_mehoon nimpanoo_,” I saw the +man.[115] + +In the Accra, the plural is formed by inflection, epenthesis, paragoge, +and apocope: these changes are almost peculiar in every noun; the more +frequent inflections are, ai, ay, and ee. + + _Singular._ _Plural._ + + A woman yeo yeay. + + A box adikka adikkai. + + A stone teh tai. + + Ground shepong shepongee. + + A hyæna krang krangee. + + A father tchay tchaymë. + + A liar amallalo amallaloi. + + A gun toon tween. + + A vessel lelen ledgenë. + + A man noon nhal. + + A house tchoon tchuë. + +In the Fantee the plural number is distinguished by the prefix _en_, +though generally, if they can, (in a glance whilst speaking) discover +the number of objects, they use a numeral with the noun singular; or, if +they cannot be so precise in the instant, they substitute _many_ to mark +an indefinite number. The Chinese also, are said to drop their plural +adjunct “_min_,” when there is another word of plurality attached to the +noun. + +Neither language has prepositions, and of course peraphrasis is +generally resorted to: conjunctions are sometimes substituted, as _and_ +for _with_; occasionally verbs, as “the King _to give_ his captain,” for +_to his captain_; and, sometimes, they are presumed from the tone or the +context. Mr. Horne Tooke, who values prepositions very much, has traced +all but five, of our own language, to nouns and verbs; and of these +five, three have since been traced to nouns and a numeral; so that _out_ +and _off_, only, are unaccounted for. Jones, in his Greek Grammar, +writes, “the roots of prepositions are nouns and verbs,” and, +accordingly, he derives απο from the Hebrew, _ab_, a stem, περι from the +Arabic _pera_, eminence, υπερ from the Hebrew _aber_, sky, or the +Persian _ober_, a cloud: the inseparable prepositions had been traced to +nouns and verbs long before. + +Degrees of comparison are not expressed by adjectives or adverbs, in +either language: but, for he is richer than he, the Accras would say, +“_eh phay leh ne_;” the Fantees, “_aw tchen adee_,” he _passes him_ (in) +things: neither language has an adjective answering to rich or wealthy, +but “_ne_,” and “_adee_,” in both, correspond exactly in meaning and use +with the _res_ of the Latins: the superlative would be expressed by “_he +passes all_.” The antient idiom of comparison, antecedent to the general +use of inflections or adverbs, was probably similar, judging from the +following, and many other sentences in the Greek, “Παῥ ἑαυτὸν μηδένα +ἐπιτὴδειον ἡγεῖτο, he thought no body fitter than himself;” “πλείονος +δοξης παρὰ Μωσῆν ἠξίωται, Heb. xiii. he was counted of more glory, or +more glorious than Moses.” Here παρα, so frequently expressing +comparison, being derived from the verb περαω, _to pass_, is identical +with the Accra and Fantee expression. + +I observed before that the Accra and Fantee have no adjective answering +to rich, they are also deficient in many others, which they supply by a +second substantive in the same manner. This idiom is found in the Greek, +“Το σωμα της ταπεινωσεως ἠμων, our humiliated body, the body of our +humiliation; Αιρεσεις απωλειας. destructive heresies, &c. &c.” and it +is said to be both a Hebrew and Celtic idiom; primeval languages, and +the latter, I presume, as rude as those we are investigating. + +In the Accra, the personal pronouns are + + I me + + thou boh + + he, she, it lheh + + we whah + + you nnheay + + they amăy + +_Me_ is generally reduplicate before verbs, as “_me me yay_” I eat. +_Boh_ before verbs generally suffers aphæresis as “_oh yay_,” thou +eatest, but sometimes not, as “_boh fai_,” thou doest: this is also the +case with _lheh_ as “_heh yay, lheh fai_.” _Me_ is added, as _met_ in +Latin, to make these pronouns compound. In Fantee the personal pronouns +are + + I me + + thou awaw + + he, she, it narra + + we yarra + + you awoo + + they warra; + +the latter is used as a possessive pronoun also; _woodde_ is affixed to +make them compound; they are irregularly contracted before verbs. +Considering these barbarous languages of primitive simplicity, and +recollecting the original and philosophical deduction of pronouns from +verbs, by the Greek professor of Glasgow, as εγω or εγων (which is the +more ancient) from λεγων, ipse from επω, I particularly enquired for +verbs resembling their pronouns; but, after a long and diligent +recollection, neither of my authorities could furnish me with any to the +point. It is curious to observe, that the _me_ represents the pronoun I, +in both these rude languages,[116] as it does, though not in the +nominative case, in most other primitive languages, and in the modern +ones derived from them: it would seem to be the natural and involuntary +expression for that pronoun. + +There is only an active voice in the Accra or Fantee; the passive is +expressed by a circumlocution, as he loves, or they love me, for I am +loved, &c.[117] It appears erroneous to consider the infinitive mood as +the root of the verb, when it has a separable or distinguishing +termination, and _mong_ is as distinctly the verbalizing adjunct in the +Accra language, as _ere_ or _are_ in the Latin, ειν in Greek, or an in +the Anglo-Saxon. If we consider the imperative as the divested +fundamental form of the verb, it is still difficult in these languages +to get at the root, for the use of the infinitive for the imperative, +occasional in the Greek, is, in the Accra, so general, that for some +time I thought it unexceptionable, and that it had not the two moods. + +The Accra has the neuter verb _to be_ in the present, perfect, and +future tenses, but in the perfect, it is irregular. + + I am I have been I shall be + + meyeh metay mahyeh + +The Fantee only has it in the present, “_oh yea_, he is.” It is +remarkable that even the linguists of our forts, who speak English +fluently, never understand or use our neuter verb _to be_, but +substitute _live_ for it, and that, whether they speak of animate or +inanimate things; a servant would say, “your keys live in your pocket.” + +The imperative mood has a present tense complete in each language. + +They express the potential mood by adding auxiliary verbs, such as our +can, may, &c., have been shewn to be derived from. + +The termination of the infinitive in the Accra is generally _mong_, +which is rejected in conjugating. In the Fantee it is not distinguished +from the first person present, or root. The use of the infinitive mood, +even in Accra, is very circumscribed, for it is not found even in the +most natural case when two verbs come together, as I want to eat, for +which they say, “_metōn meyay_,” I want I eat. The infinitive is +generally used for the imperative in the Accra, but, otherwise, it only +occurs in an idiom almost peculiar to that language, for instance, for +are you walking now, they say, + + “_Neo_mong oh _neo_ neh,” + + “To walk are you walking now.” + +For I am straightening it, + + “_Jadjumong_ me _jadjio_ leh.” + + “To straighten I am straightening it.” + +Verbs are invariably used thus, interrogatively, and, generally, in +replies. I said almost peculiar, because I think this pleonasm is +identified in the Greek idiom, “Ουχι μενον σοι εμενε. Remaining, did it +not remain to thee.” + +The Accra has the present, imperfect, perfect, and future tenses: the +imperfect and future being distinguished by the prefixes _bleh_ and +_ah_, the one before, the other after the pronoun. + + “me yāyne. bleh me yayne. me yăy. m’ahye.” + + I eat it. I was eating it. I eat. I will eat. + +But the imperfect tense is never used, unless a sentence precedes it, as + + “Bennay heh bă bleh me yay.” + + “When he came I was eating.” + +Otherwise, they use the perfect for the imperfect, never replying to a +question even, in the latter. The perfect is only distinguished from the +present by being pronounced short. These explicative particles, _bleh_ +and _ah_, would, no doubt, be found to be remnants of verbs of +appropriate signification, as the _ai_ of the French future is derived +from _avoir_, were any philologist sufficiently acquainted with the +languages to investigate them. _Ne_, signifying it or thing, is adjoined +to many verbs, frequently in the present tense only, like the +explicative particle _en_ conjugated with “_aller_.” + +The Fantee has a present, perfect, and pluperfect: as “me dedee,” I eat, +“me adee,” I have eaten, “me waya dedee,” I had eat. It has no future, +yet the time is marked precisely, by adding _soon_, _to-morrow_, &c. to +the present. + +Neither language has participles; for, I see him coming, the Accras +would say, according to their idiom, + + “Minnā eh ba’lheh.” + + “I see his coming.” + +_Ba_ being a noun, with the definite article _lheh_ affixed. The Fantees +would say, + + “Mehoon deh orraba.” + + “I see that he comes.” + +Many verbs in the Accra language are conjugated like reflectives, though +they are not so in their nature, as + + “Me nakoo me fai lheh + + I not I did it, for I did not do it. + +In the Accra, _ko_, the contraction of _nakoo_, (not,) is added to verbs +as a negative, as “_meyayko_,” I did not eat; yet, in some instances, +they have distinct verbs to express the negative of the action, as +“_mahttay_,” I will go, “_meyang_,” I will not go. + +The Fantee prefixes _neën_, not, as “_me dedee_,” I eat, “_me neën +dedee_,” I do not eat; and they have also, apparently, distinct negative +verbs, as “_me becko_,” I go, “_me’nkoko_,” I do not go. + +The Accra resembles the Greek in the nice distinctions of some of its +verbs and nouns. + + Gnăghmong To salute in the morning. + + Cotaghmong To roll up. + + Balbaghtoomong To draw towards + + Tehtemong To gather up + + Kakow The tooth ache (_nanyong_ a tooth) + + Kodjomong To talk a palaver + + Song To work as a smith } + } neechoomong to work + Ghnāmong mechanic } + + Ninnamong To separate weeds from earth + +The Accra and Fantee interjections are generally parts of sentences, as, +Mr. Horne Tooke has shewn most of our own to be: “_minnannako_,” what do +I see now, “_me ä whoo!_” I die, “_màdja!_” oh my father, equally +responsive to grief, joy, or surprise; and used as involuntarily, and as +frequently as the two syllables _boh_, _hah_, which answer to our _oh_, +and _ah_, and which, of course, cannot be called words. An Ashantee +striking his foot against a stone, or any thing in his way, exclaims +“the thing is mad.” + +I was surprised to find little, or no inversion in the Accra or Fantee +prose[118]; the substantive precedes the adjective, but there is +scarcely any other trace of it: yet, it is one of their poetical +licenses, as may be instanced in the following line of a Fantee song; + + “Abirrikirri croom ogah odum.” + + Foreign town fire put in, + +for “the foreign town is set on fire.” In addition to this inversion, so +many peculiar additives, (generally vowels,) and inflexions are allowed, +as well as the figures Synæresis, Diæresis, Metathesis, and Anastrophe, +in their poetry, and in their poetry only, (making it unintelligible +even to those who can converse fluently with them) that both languages +may be said to have a Prosody. From the following song, I imagined the +Fantees (for the Accra’s are said to possess none but fetish hymns in +their own language) to have some idea of rhyme, considering the +inversion of the first line as forced, and expressly accommodated to the +metre, + + Abirrikirri croom ogah odum, + + Ocoontinkiï bonoo fum, + + Cooroompun, + + Coom agwun, + +but I have not met with any other instance. + +The Ashantees generally use much and vehement gesture, and speak in +recitative: their action is exuberant, but graceful; and from the +infancy of the language,[119] nouns and verbs are constantly repeated, +for force, and distinction, as _one one_, for, _one by one_, or, _each_; +_one tokoo one tokoo_, for, _one tokoo a-piece_. They frequently are +obliged to vary the tone, in pronouncing a word which has more than one +meaning, as the Chinese do. They have no expression short of you are a +liar, and the king was surprised, when I told him we made a great +difference between a mistake and a lie; he said the truth was not spoken +in either case, and, therefore, it was the same thing; they did not +consider the motive but only the fact. + +Like the American languages, those of this part of Africa, are full of +figures, hyperbolical and picturesque.[120] One of the kings of the +interior, whose territories the Ashantees had long talked of invading, +sent forty pots of palm oil to Coomassie, with the message, that, “he +feared they could not find their way, so he sent the oil to light them.” +The Accras instead of good night, say “_wooäu d’tcherrimong_,” sleep +till the lighting of the world: one of their imprecations against their +enemies, is, “may their hiding place be our flute,” that is, “our +plaything:” when they speak of a man imposing on them, they say, “he +turned the backs of our heads into our mouths.” Having occasion, whilst +at Coomassie, to protest against the conduct of an individual, the king +replied, through Adoosee, “The horse comes from the bush, and is a fool, +but the man who rides him knows sense, and by and by makes him do what +he wishes; you, by yourself, made the horse, who was a fool, do better +the other day, therefore, three of you ought to teach a man, who is not +born a fool, and does not come from the bush, to do what you know to be +right by and by, though I see he does wrong now.” Other instances will +appear in their songs. + +I shall transfer the imperfect Vocabularies which I formed, and the +incidental observations, to the Appendix; as they may not be indulged +with so much attention by the generality of readers, as the +investigation of the structure. + + +[Footnote 111: The eastern and western branch of this polar race, the +Eskimoes and the Tschougazes, notwithstanding the enormous distance of +800 leagues which separates them, are united by the most intimate +analogy of languages. This analogy extends, as has been recently proved +in the most evident manner, even to the inhabitants of the north-east of +Asia; for the idiom of the Tschouktshes at the mouth of the Anadin has +the same roots, as the language of the Eskimoes who inhabit the coast of +America opposite to Europe. The Tschouktsches are the Eskimoes of Asia. +Humbolt, P. N. v. 3, p. 291.] + +[Footnote 112: “I am aware that languages are much more strongly +characterised by their structure and grammatical forms, than by the +analogy of their sounds and of their roots; and that their analogy of +sounds is sometimes so disfigured in the different dialects of the same +tongue, as not to be distinguishable; for the tribes into which a nation +is divided, often designate the same objects by words altogether +heterogeneous. Hence it follows, that we are easily mistaken, if, +neglecting the study of the inflexions, and consulting only the roots, +for instance the words which designate the moon, sky, water, and earth, +we decide on the absolute difference of two idioms from the simple want +of resemblance in sounds.” Humboldt’s Personal Narrative, vol. iii. p. +251. + +I am gratified to find, since my return to England, and consequent +perusal of the Congo publication, that my investigations of these +languages have happened to be consonant with the instructions of Mr. +Marsden in his letter to Captain Tuckey, as appears from the following +extract. “Where a longer residence admits of freer intercourse, and a +means of acquiring a more perfect knowledge of the language, it will be +desirable, besides attempting to fill up the larger vocabulary, that +pains should be taken to examine its grammatical structure, and to +ascertain, for instance, how the nominative and subjunctive words in a +sentence are placed with respect to the verb; how the adjective with +regard to the substantive; how plurals and degrees of comparison are +formed; whether there is any kind of inflexion or variation of syllables +of the same word, according to its position in the sentence and +connection with other words; whether the pronouns personal vary +according to the rank or sex of the person addressing or person +addressed; and whether they are incorporated with the verb; and to +observe any other peculiarities of idiom, that the language may present; +noting the degree of softness, harshness, indistinctness, intonation, +guttural sounds, and the prevalence or deficiency of any particular +letters of the alphabet, as we should term them, such as R and F. The +extent of country over which a language is understood to prevail should +also be a subject of investigation; and, by what others it is bounded on +every side. Also, whether there may not be a correct language of +communication between nations, whose proper languages are distinct.” I +think the very frequent use of _q_ is one distinguishing character of +African languages: the _r_ and _f_ are very frequent, the latter +especially; the former as a liquid is frequently substituted for _l_, as +I have illustrated in the Chapter on Geography. Their pronunciation of +_z_ approximates to that of the _aspro z_ of the Italians. I hope to +have leisure and opportunity hereafter for paying this subject more +attention. I have not yet had time to make sufficient progress in German +to read Vater’s Mithridatis, which will no doubt assist my +observations.] + +[Footnote 113: “From the Hebrew עתה, ote, _time_, has flowed ὁτε, +_when_; which τ, π, οπ, being prefixed, becomes τοτε, ποτε, ὁποτε.”] + +[Footnote 114: “Every verb consists of a pronoun, expressing an agent, +and of a noun, or the substitute of a noun, expressing an object. Thus, +οινος and εγω joined and abbreviated is οινοω; and this term would be +sufficient to express _I drink wine_, though originally it meant only +_wine I_; association supplying to the speaker and the person addressed +the intermediate notion _of drinking_.” Jones.] + +[Footnote 115: The word _caboceer_ (_chief_,) which I have used in the +correspondence, history, and other parts of this work, as the only title +familiar to Europeans, (being always substituted, even by native +interpreters for the vernacular,) was of course introduced by the +Portuguese, and consequently unknown in the interior. It is applied to a +chief who has the charge or government of a town, (_croom_.) Such +however are indiscriminately called _ōhen_ or _king_, in Fantee. +Throughout Ashantee the monarch only is called _ōhennie_ or _king_, and +the chiefs who have the care or government of the towns of his +dominions, _sāf ĕhen_. _Sāfie_ or _saphwooa_, means _key_, and the last +syllable of the compound, _hen_, is evidently an abbreviation of +_ōhennie_. _Safie_, a _charm_, is without doubt identical in a +figurative sense with _sāfee_, _key_; and should, on consideration, be +spelt as such, and not _saphie_ as I have generally written it hitherto. +A Moor is called _Crambo_ by the Negroes of the interior, which bears +the same interpretation as _Pongheme_, a Spaniard, in the Tamanack, i.e. +_a man clothed_.] + +[Footnote 116: It is also found in the Empoönga, and other African +languages.] + +[Footnote 117: “The distinction of active and passive is not essential +to verbs. In the infancy of language, it was in all probability not +known; in Hebrew, the difference but imperfectly exists, and in the +early periods of it, possibly did not exist at all. In Arabic, the only +distinction which obtains, arises from the vowel points, a late +invention compared with the antiquity of that language. And in our own +tongue the names of active and passive would have remained unknown, if +they had not been learnt in Latin.” Jones.] + +[Footnote 118: “He (the savage) would not express himself according to +our English order of construction, Give me fruit, but according to the +Latin order, Fruit give me, Fructum da mihi, for this plain reason, that +his attention was wholly directed towards fruit, the desired object. +This was the exciting idea; the object which moved him to speak, and of +course would be the first named. Such an arrangement is precisely +putting into words the gesture which nature taught the savage to make, +before he was acquainted with words; and therefore it may be depended +upon as certain, that he would fall most readily into this arrangement. +· · · · · · We might therefore conclude, à priori, that this would be +the order in which things were most commonly arranged at the beginning +of language, and accordingly we find, in fact, that in this order words +are arranged in most of the antient tongues; as in the Greek and the +Latin; and it is also said, in the Russian, the Sclavonic, the Gaelic, +and several of the American tongues.” Blair. + +The arrangement of words in the Chayma is such as is found in every +language of both continents, which has preserved a certain air of youth. +The object is placed before the verb, the verb before the personal +pronoun. The object on which the attention should be principally fixed, +precedes all the modifications of that object. + +The American would say; “liberty complete love we;” instead of we love +complete liberty; “Thee with happy am I”—instead of I am happy with +thee. Humboldt’s Personal Narrative, vol. 3, p. 261.] + +[Footnote 119: “In the infancy of language, while words were yet scanty, +the most natural way, whereby a writer or speaker might give an +additional force to his discourse, was to _repeat_ such terms as he +wished to render _emphatic_. The more ancient any language is, the more +numerous appear the traces of such repetitions; and next to the Hebrew, +they form a remarkable feature in the Greek tongue. This μαω μαω, I +desire desire, blended into one word, become μιμαω, and mean, I greatly +desire. βαω βαω, I walk walk, βιβαω, I stride, &c. &c. &c. See Jones.] + +[Footnote 120: “The messenger concluded this insulting notification by +presenting the king with a pair of iron sandals, at the same time +adding, that until such time as Daisy had worn out these sandals in his +flight, he should never be secure from the arrows of Bambarra.” Park’s +1st Mission.] + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + * * * * * + + _Music._ + + +The wild music of these people is scarcely to be brought within the +regular rules of harmony,[121] yet their airs have a sweetness and +animation beyond any barbarous compositions I ever heard. Few of their +instruments possess much power, but the combination of several +frequently produces a surprising effect. The flute is made of a long +hollow reed, and has not more than three holes; the tone is low at all +times, and when they play in concert they graduate them with such nicety +as to produce the common chords. Several instances of thirds occur, +especially in one of the annexed airs, played as a funeral dirge; nor is +this extraordinary considering it is the most natural interval; the +addition of fifths, at the same time, is rare. The natives declare they +can converse by means of their flutes, and an old resident at Accra has +assured me he has heard these dialogues, and that every sentence was +explained to him. + +On the Sanko (see Drawing No. 5, and Specimen in the Museum) they +display the variety of their musical talents, and the Ashantees are +allowed to surpass all others. It consists of a narrow box, the open top +of which is covered with alligator, or antelope skin; a bridge is raised +on this, over which eight strings are conducted to the end of a long +stick, fastened to the fore part of the box, and thickly notched, and +they raise or depress the strings into these notches as occasion +requires. The upper string assimilates with the tenor C of the piano, +and the lower with the octave above: sometimes they are tuned in +Diatonic succession, but too frequently the intermediate strings are +drawn up at random, producing flats and sharps in every Chromatic +variety, though they are not skilful enough to take advantage of it. I +frequently urged this by trying to convince them they were not playing +the same tune I had heard the day before, but the answer was invariably, +“I pull the same string, it must be the same tune.” The strings are made +from the runners of a tree called Enta, abounding in the forests. All +airs on this instrument are played very quick, and it is barely possible +to make even an experienced player lessen the time, which quick as it +is, is kept in a surprising manner, especially as every tune is loaded +with ornament. They have a method of stopping the strings with the +finger, so as to produce a very soft and pleasing effect, like the Meyer +touch of the harp. + +The horns form their loudest sounds, and are made of elephant’s tusks, +they are generally very large, and, being graduated like the flutes, +their flourishes have a martial and grand effect. It has been mentioned +in the Military Customs of the Ashantees, that peculiar sentences are +immediately recognised by the soldiers, and people, in the distinct +flourishes of the horns of the various chiefs: the words of some of +these sentences are almost expressible by the notes of the horns; the +following, uttered by the horns of a captain named Gettoä, occurs to me +as an instance + + “O Saï tĭntĭntoo, ma yūāyĭä pa pa.” + + O Saï great king! I laud thee every where, or exceedingly. + +The Bentwa (see Drawing No. 6.) is a stick bent in the form of a bow, +and across it, is fastened a very thin piece of split cane, which is +held between the lips at one end, and struck with a small stick; whilst +at the other it is occasionally stopped, or rather buffed, by a thick +one; on this they play only lively airs, and it owes its various sounds +to the lips. + +The Mosees, Mallowas, Bournous, and natives from the more remote parts +of the interior, play on a rude violin: the body is a calabash, the top +is covered with deer skin, and two large holes are cut in it for the +sound to escape; the strings, or rather string, is composed of cow’s +hair, and broad like that of the bow with which they play, which +resembles the bow of a violin. Their grimace equals that of an Italian +Buffo: they generally accompany themselves with the voice, and increase +the humour by a strong nasal sound. + +The Oompoochwa is a box, one end of which is left open; two flat bridges +are fastened across the top, and five pieces of thin curved stick, +scraped very smooth, are attached to them, and (their ends being +raised,) are struck with some force by the thumb. I can compare it to +nothing but the Staccado nearly deprived of its tone. + +The Ashantees have an instrument like a Bagpipe, but the drone is +scarcely to be heard. + +The rest of the instruments can hardly be called musical, and consist of +drums, castanets, gong-gongs, flat sticks, rattles, and even old brass +pans. + +The Drums (see Drawing No. 7.) are hollow’d trunks of trees, frequently +carved with much nicety, mostly open at one end, and of many sizes: +those with heads of common skin (that is of any other than Leopard skin) +are beaten with sticks in the form of a crotchet rest; the largest are +borne on the head of a man, and struck by one or more followers; the +smaller are slung round the neck, or stand on the ground; in the latter +case they are mostly played with the inside of the fingers, at which the +natives are very expert: amongst these drums are some with heads of +leopard skin, (looking like vellum,) only sounded by two fingers, which +are scraped along, as the middle finger is on the tamborine, but +producing a much louder noise. The gong-gongs are made of hollow pieces +of iron, and struck with the same metal. The Castanets are also of iron. +The Rattles are hollow gourds, the stalks being left as handles, and +contain shells or pebbles, and are frequently covered with a net work of +beads; the grimaces with which these are played make them much more +entertaining to sight than hearing. + +I was fortunate enough to find a rare instance of a native able to play +the radical notes of each tune; he is the best player in the country, +and I was enabled to collect the airs now offered: with some of the +oldest date I have also selected a few of the latest compositions. Their +graces are so numerous, some extempore, some transmitted from father to +son, that the constant repetition only can distinguish the commencement +of the air: sometimes between each beginning they introduce a few +chords, sometimes they leave out a bar, sometimes they only return to +the middle, so entirely is it left to the fancy of the performer. The +observation made on the time of the Sanko may be extended to almost +every other instrument, but it is always perfect, and the children will +move their heads and limbs, whilst on their mother’s backs, in exact +unison with the tune which is playing: the contrasts of piano and forte +are very well managed. + +The singing is almost all recitative, and this is the only part of music +in which the women partake; they join in the chorusses, and at the +funeral of a female sing the dirge itself; but the frenzy of the moment +renders it such a mixture of yells and screeches, that it bids defiance +to all notation. The songs of the Canoe men are peculiar to themselves, +and very much resemble the chants used in cathedrals, but as they are +all made for the moment, I have not been able to retain any of them. + +To have attempted any thing like arrangement, beyond what the annexed +airs naturally possess, would have altered them, and destroyed the +intention of making them known in their original character. I have not +even dared to insert a flat or a sharp. + +No. 1. is the oldest air in the whole collection, and common both to +Ashantees and Warsaws; I could trace it through four generations, but +the answer made to my enquiries will give the best idea of its +antiquity; “it was made when the country was made.” The key appears to +be E minor. + +The old and simple air No. 2, is almost spoiled from the quick method of +playing it, but when slow it has a melancholy rarely found in African +music, and it is one of the very few in which the words are adapted to +the tune. I think it is decidedly in the key of C major. The noun +aganka, an orphan, is from the verb agan to leave. Oboïbee is a bird +that sings only at night, for which I know no other name than the +Ashantee. The Warsaw air, No. 3, also in C major, was composed in +consequence of a contest between the two principal caboceers of that +country, Intiffa and Attobra; one extremely thin and the other very fat; +Attobra ran away, and is derided by Intiffa in the following satirical +words: + + Asoom cōōcŏŏrŏŏcōō ŏninny ăgwanny. + +Asoom is a dolphin, which, as a beardless creature, is an epithet of the +strongest contempt. The literal translation is, + + The big dolphin runs away from the small man. + +No. 5, which I should conjecture to begin in E minor, and to end in D +minor, was occasioned by an English vessel bringing the report of a +battle, in which the French were defeated and their town burned. The +words are allegorical. + + Abirrikirri croom ogah odum; + + French town fire put in; + + Ocoontinkii bonoo fum; + + Great fighting man, wolf take you away; + + Cooroompun coom agwun. + + Cooroompun kills all goats. + +Abirrikirri applies indiscriminately to all nations beyond the sea, as +Dunko does to all nations far in the interior. Cooroompun is a very +large insect of the genus mantis (soothsayer) frequently met with here, +and the natives believe that it kills the sheep and goats by +fascination, standing with its eyes fixed on those of the object, and +swinging its head and body from side to side without moving its feet, +until the animal falls in fits and dies.[122] Agwun is a noun of +multitude, comprehending all the goat kind. + +A long tale accompanies No. 6. An Ashantee having been surprised in an +intrigue with another man’s wife, becomes the slave of the King, and is +obliged to follow the army in a campaign against the celebrated Attah, +the Akim caboceer mentioned in the history. The Ashantee army having +retired, this man either deserted or could not join his division, and +after concealing himself some time in the forest, was taken by a party +of Attah’s, whom he addresses in the following words: + + Eqqwee odin ahi, + + Panther bush here (belongs to) + + Minăwoo! Minăwoo! + + I die! I die! + + Me’din adoo croom, + + Bush now my croom, + + Minăwoo! Minăwoo! + + I die! I die! + + Babisseäche Minăwoo! Minăwoo! + + For woman’s sake I die! I die! + + Attah m’incomie! Attah m’incomie! + + Attah don’t kill me! Attah don’t kill me! + +The man’s life, it was added, was preserved when he urged that he +understood how to make sandals. The key appears to be E minor. + +No. 7, in G major, seems to convey the moral, that riches prompt mankind +to wickedness, the word “_makes_” is understood. + +No. 9, became a common song in March last in praise of the present +Governor in Chief; who, in consequence of the famine occasioned by the +preceding invasion from the Ashantees, daily distributed corn to the +starving multitude: the words are even more incoherent and figurative +than the others, therefore I have not written them, but the meaning to +be gathered is, “Poor woman and poor child got no gold to buy kanky; +good white man gives you corn.” It will be observed that the air much +resembles No. 11, wherefore I suspect it is an alteration, and not a +composition; although the key seems to be G major, and it is impossible +to attach any key to the latter. + +The dirge, No. 12, certainly in the key of C major, has been mentioned +before, but here I must add, that in venturing the intervening and +concluding bass chord, I merely attempt to describe the castanets, gong- +gongs, drums, &c. bursting in after the soft and mellow tones of the +flutes; as if the ear was not to retain a vibration of the sweeter +melody. + +No. 13, in D minor, is played by only two flutes, and is one of the +softest airs I have met with. + +No. 14, is an Accra fetish hymn, sung by one man and one woman, or more, +at Christmas: + + Afĭnaïē pweë, + + The year’s ends have met, + + Gnōr woorra + + Somebody’s child + + Mŏrbee. + + Take blessing. + +“Somebody’s child,” means the child of a person of consequence, +reminding us of Hidalgos, “the son of somebody,” so applied in Spanish. +Its regularity is surprising, and its transition from G major to C major +is very harmonious. + +No. 15, in G major, is a specimen of the Kerrapee or Kerrapay music, +which I have made a point of preserving, as it appeared to me superior +even to Ashantee. A young man acknowledges a crime he had attempted to +conceal: + + Kennĕödvay nooblou adomevai, + + Oh pity! the palaver is spoiled, + + Noodooloo adomevai, + + It is found, it is spoiled; + + Ēnnŏblou; + + Think for me; + + Dootŏh mĕ pŏ mĕ blōh, + + Elders, settle it for me, + + Adăn vō, + + I am at a loss, + + Iëe! + + Oh! + +The following is a translation of a long Ashantee song, with little or +no air. The men sit together in a line on one side, with their sankos +and other instruments; and the women in a line opposite to them. +Individuals rise and advance, singing in turn.[123] + + _1st Woman._ My husband likes me too much, + + He is good to me, + + But I cannot like him, + + So I must listen to my lover. + + _1st Man._ My wife does not please me, + + I tire of her now; + + So I will please myself with another, + + Who is very handsome. + + _2nd Woman._ My lover tempts me with sweet words, + + But my husband always does me good, + + So I must like him well, + + And I must be true to him. + + _2nd Man._ Girl you pass my wife handsome, + + But I cannot call you wife; + + A wife pleases her husband only, + + But when I leave you, you go to others. + +[Illustration: Music score + +The oldest ASHANTEE and WARSAW AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +A very old ASHANTEE AIR. + + Aganka oshoom noofa Oboibee oshoom noofa Aganka oshoomnoofa + + Orphan cries at night · · · cries at night Orphan cries at night + + wekirree wekirree oimiyow wekirree wekirree oimiyow wekirree + + sad thing sad thing I’m sorry sad thing sad thing I’m sorry sad thing +] + +[Illustration: Music score + +WARSAW AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +ASHANTEE AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +FANTEE AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +AN ASHANTEE AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +AN ASHANTEE AIR. + + Onoompah yahpah onompah yahpah onoompah yahpah + + (Makes) Person do bad · · · · · · · · · · + + sicca sicca onoompah yahpah onoompah yahpah + + gold gold (makes) person do bad · · · · · · · · + + onoompah yahpah Akim sicca onoompah yahpah. + + · · · · · · Akim gold (makes) person do bad. +] + +[Illustration: Music score + +MODERN FANTEE AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +MODERN FANTEE AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +ASHANTEE AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +ASHANTEE AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +A FANTEE DIRGE.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +AN ASHANTEE AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +AN ACCRA FETISH HYMN. + + Afinaiepwaëe gnorwoorra afinaiepwaëe + + gnorwoorra gnorwoorra + + gnorwoorra afinaiepwaëe gnorwoorra morbee gnorwoorra + + gnorwoorra gnorwoorra morbee gnorwoorra +] + +[Illustration: Music score + +A KERRAPEE SONG. + + Kenneovay nooblou adomevai Kenneovay nooblou adomevai + + noodooloo adomevai ennoblou Dootoh me po me bloh adanvo Iëe +] + +[Illustration: Music score + +FANTEE AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +FANTEE AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +ASHANTEE AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +MALLOWA AIR.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +MOSEE AIR.] + + +[Footnote 121: “A few melodies in national music have been found +incapable of harmony; such as the two first bars of the second part of +the Irish tune called The Fair Hair’d Child.” Dr. Crotch.] + +[Footnote 122: The power of fascination by the eyes, is believed and +dreaded in those parts of Africa as mortal, whether exercised by the +fetish priests against men, or by the cooroompun against animals. The +idea prevailed in Pliny’s time, but it was ascribed to the voice. “In +libro quodam Plinii naturalis historiæ legi esse quasdam in terrâ Africâ +familias hominum voce atque linguâ effascinantium. Qui si impensiùs +fortè laudaverint pulchras arbores, segetes lætiores, infantes +amœniores, egregios equos, pecudes pastu, atque cultu optimas, +emoriantur repentè hæc omnia.” A cooroompun will be found amongst the +specimens for the British Museum.] + +[Footnote 123: I never heard this sung without its recalling Horace’s +beautiful little dialogue ode, (9. lib. 3) “Donec gratus eram tibi.”] + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + * * * * * + + _Materia Medica and Diseases._ + + +The report of the Materia Medica and Botany of Ashantee, was the only +one which I was not required to furnish. It was afforded by Mr. Henry +Tedlie, assistant surgeon, whose subsequent death has mingled a regret +with the recollection of the Embassy, which the recall of my own +sufferings, and the family affliction it entailed on me, could never +have exacted. The intelligence reached me in England, to correct the +pride of success by associating misfortune with it; for the recollection +of Mr. Tedlie’s social virtues, of his enterprise and ability, makes it +a severe one to myself, and to the world. Mr. Tedlie suffered severely +from intermitting dysentery during the Mission, but I had hoped it would +have been eradicated after his return. He had previously attended the +expedition to Candy, and expired at Cape Coast Castle in the 27th year +of his age. Throughout the Mission he indulged the feelings of the +natives, in his professional capacity, with a patience few could have +exerted; whether labouring under sickness himself, or disturbed in the +moments of a scanty rest; he awed and conciliated the people by the +importance of his cures, and thus contributed to the success of the +enterprise. + +“During the earlier part of our residence at Coomassie, the season was +tolerably favourable to the gathering of plants, but we were then +allowed to go out but seldom, and never beyond the town. Latterly, when +better impressions succeeded, and our walks were unrestrained by limits +or attendants, the rains not only checked, but generally disappointed my +researches, by presenting the subject flowerless, (or in an unfit state +for preservation,) and consequently not admitting their classification, +as is too evident in the following list of such plants as are used as +medicines by the Ashantees. + +1. Cutturasuh. ([124]_Chrysanthellum procumbens_. _Persoon. syn._ 2. +_p._ 471, _Verbesina mutica_ _Willd._) A small plant, a decoction of +which is purgative, before boiling it should be bruised. + +2. Adumba, (a species of Ficus.) The bark and fruit are pounded with +Mallaguetta pepper and a small plant called awhinteywhinting, boiled in +fish soup: two doses in the third month of gestation are said to cause +abortion. + +3. Koofoobah (_Gloriosa superba_. _Linn._) is bruised with Mallaguetta +pepper (lesser cardamom seeds) and applied to the ancle or foot when +sprained. + +4. Tandoorue (_perhaps a_ _Cupania_ _or_ _Trichilia_.) The bark is +pounded and boiled with Mallaguetta pepper; used for pain in the belly, +and acts as a purgative. + +5. Bissey. (_Sterculia acuminata_. _Palis. de Beauvois, Flore d’Oware_ +1. _p._ 41. _tab._ 24.) The fruit is constantly chewed by the Ashantees, +especially on a journey; it is said to prevent hunger and strengthen the +stomach and bowels; has a slight bitter aromatic astringent taste, and +causes an increase of the saliva while chewed. + +6. Attueh. (_Blighia sapida_. _Hort. Kew. ed._ 2. _vol._ 3, _p._ 350. +_Akeesia africana_ _Tussac Flor. des Antilles_ 66.) A decoction of the +bark is said to be anti-venereal. The fruit is eaten. + +7. Ricinus Communis _Linn._ Castor oil nut tree, 30 feet high here, and +not a bush as on the coast: not used as medicine by the natives. + +8. Apooder. (_Two species of_ _Leucas_, _of which one is hardly +different from_ _L. Martinicensis_ _Hort. Kew. ed._ 2. _vol._ 3, _p._ +409, _the other is perhaps new._) A mixture of the bruised leaves with +lime juice is applied to inflammations. + +9. Hooghong. (A species of Urtica) is bruised, mixed with chalk, and +drank by pregnant women to correct acidity in the stomach, heartburn, +&c. + +10. Accocottocotorawah. (_Heliotropium indicum_. _Linn._) The juice +expressed from this plant is snuffed up the nostrils in cases of severe +head-ach. They also inhale the smoke of it into the nose. + +11. Crowera (_Acalypha ciliata_. _Willd. sp. pl._) is bruised with +lesser cardamom seed, and rubbed on the chest and side when pained. + +12. Enminim (_a species of_ _Vitis_.) A climbing plant. The juice +expressed from the leaves is dropped into the eyes when affected with +opthalmia or pain. + +13. Secoco. (_Leptanthus_?) A small marshy plant. Is pounded with lime +juice and rubbed on the body to cure the crawcraws; a severe and +obstinate species of itch. + +14. Ammo.—The juice is applied to cuts and bruises. + +15. Petey (_possibly a_ _Piper_.) The leaves are pounded and applied as +a plaister to inflammatory swellings and boils. + +16. Abromotome.—The bruised leaves are used to discuss boils. + +17. Yangkompro. (_A syngenesious plant related to_ _Cacalia_.) The +pounded leaves are applied to cuts and contusions. + +18. Oeduema. (_Musanga cecropioides_ _Br. See Tuckey’s Congo, p._ 453.) +The hairy sheath or stipule of a large palmated leaved tree; it +resembles a skin, is boiled in soup, and used as a powerful emmenagogue. + +19. Semeney, (_probably a species of_ _Aneilema_.) The leaves are +pounded and applied as a plaister to favour the discharge of boils and +collections of pus. + +20. Wowwah (_perhaps a_ _Sterculia_.) The inner bark of this tree is +scraped fine and mixed with Mallaguetta pepper, and drank for colic and +other pains in the belly. + +21. Anafranakoo.—The bruised leaves are applied to discuss boils and +other inflammatory swelling. + +22. Kattacaiben (_Leea sambucina_.) A decoction of the leaves is drank +every morning by pregnant women when they experience any uneasiness in +the abdomen. The bark of the tree powdered is rubbed on chronic +swellings. + +23. Aserumbdrue (_a species of_ _Piper_ _related to_ _umbellatum_.) The +leaves are used in soup to allay swellings of the belly. + +24. Ocisseeree.—The bark of this tree is used to stop the purging in +dysentery and diarrhoea. + +25. Gingang. (_Paullinia africana_ _Br. See Tuckeys Congo, p._ 427.) The +bark of this tree is used internally and externally, mixed with +Mallaguetta pepper for pain in the side. + +26. Cudeyakoo.—A very small plant. The leaves and stalk pounded are +applied to eruptions on the head. A mixture of it with lime juice is +applied to the yaws. + +27. Affeuah (_unknown_) and Nuinnuerafuh (_Hedysari species_.) A mixture +of the bruised leaves of these plants with Mallaguetta pepper, is rubbed +on the body and limbs when swelled or pained: a decoction of them, with +an addition of the plant Comfany (_Alternantheræ, sp._) is used +internally in the same cases. + +28. Adummah. (_Paullinia africana_. _The same as No._ 25.) A decoction +of the bark of this tree, reduced to powder with Mallaguetta pepper, +drank once a day, stops the discharge of blood and cures the dysentery. + +29. Tointinney (_probably a_ _Menispermum_.) Is chewed with Mallaguetta +pepper as a cure for a cough. + +30. Apussey. (_A leguminous plant, probably allied to_ _Robinia_.) + +The bark of this tree pounded with Mallaguetta pepper is applied to the +head in cases of head-ach. + +31. Thuquamah.—The bark is pounded and drank in Palm wine, with +Mallaguetta pepper, for pain in the belly. + +32. Conkknoney, a dark purple coloured Toadstool, the size of a hazel +nut, rubbed with Mallaguetta pepper and lime juice, it purges briskly. +To stop the purging, a mess of boiled Guinea corn meal and lime juice +should be eaten. + +33. Suetinney.—(_Brillantaisia owariensis_. _Palis. de Beauvois Flor. +d’Oware_, 2. _p._ 68 _tab._ 100, _fig._ 2.) A decoction of the leaves is +drank for pain in the belly. + +34. Soominna, (Tetandria Monogynia,) is bruised with lime juice and used +to abate cough. + +35. Thattha (_Scoparia dulcis_. _Linn._)—The expressed juice of this +plant is dropped into the ears when pained. + +36. Aquey (_Melia Azedarach_. _Linn._) A decoction of the leaves of this +tree is used with Palm wine as a corroborant. + +37. Dammaram (_Mussænda fulgens_. _nov. spec._) + +The diseases most common in the Ashantee Country are the Lues, Yaws, +Itch, Ulcers, Scald-heads, and griping pains in the bowels. Other +diseases are occasionally met with, I should suppose in the same +proportion that they occur in civilized countries; but I do not know to +what cause to assign the prevalence and frequency of one of the most +unsightly diseases that can occur in any country: it is an obstinate +species of ulcer, or, Noli me tangere, which destroys the nose and upper +lip; it attacks women chiefly, although men are not exempt from it; +there are more than 100 women in Coomassie who have lost the nose or +upper lip from this cause alone: it commences with a small ulcer in the +alæ nasi, or upper lip, the size of a split pea, excavated, with the +edges ragged and turned inwards, it proceeds by ulcerating under the +skin; the bottom of the ulcer is uneven, covered with a foul slough, of +a very disagreeable smell, and the discharge is thin, watery, and very +irritating: it seldom cicatrices before the alæ nasi and lip are +completely destroyed; when it does cease, the skin is puckered and +uneven, and has a very disagreeable appearance; the only remedy which +the natives use, is an external application of bruised leaves; they seem +to let it take its course, without being very anxious about a cure. + +Framboesia, the Yaws, is a very frequent disease with the children of +the poor and slaves: before the eruption takes place they are severely +afflicted with pains in the joints, and along the course of the muscles +of the superior and inferior extremities; in young persons, hard, round +bony excrescences, the size of a walnut, form on each side of the nose +under the eyes. The Natives either are not acquainted with a remedy for +this enlargement of the bones, or if they are, they do not put it in +practice. I administered alterative doses of calomel and antimonial +powder with success, as it stopped the enlargement of the bones and +caused them to be absorbed, and relieved the pain in the arms and legs +particularly; during the exhibition of the alterative pills, a foul +ulcer on the head got well: the natives apply a mixture of the plant +Cudey-akoo, with lime juice, to the eruption, but apparently with very +little benefit. + +Psora, the itch, a very severe species of which, called craw craw, is a +frequent disease, and is very contagious; it is most commonly met with +in children, few of the Dunko slaves are without it, from their poor +diet and extreme dirtiness; they do not seem to experience much +uneasiness from it, as they seldom apply any remedy; sometimes they use +a rubefaciant, made of a plant called secoco, bruised and mixed with +lime juice. + +Gonorrhœa is of rare occurrence, two cases came under my care, the +patients had never used injections, they drank decoctions of leaves and +bark, but could not tell me the plants they used; one of the +ingredients, was a small plant call Cutturasuh, of a purgative nature. +The disease is allowed to take its course by the natives, as they are +unacquainted with any method to stop it. + +Tinea Capitis, the scald head, is a common disease with the poorer sort +of Ashantees and slaves, arising from their neglect of cleanliness; the +applications which they use to cure it have seldom the desired effect. +They apply plaisters of pounded leaves and charcoal, but do not wash the +head. In one case, where a boy was placed under my care, he got well in +eight days, by having his head very well washed with a brush, soap, and +warm water; then a strong infusion of tobacco, applied with a sponge, +and when the head was dry, a composition of resinous and mercurial +ointment was rubbed on it. + +Hydrocele occasionally occurs; they attempt to cure it by frictions of +the castor oil nut, burnt and bruised with Mallaguetta pepper, but +without any benefit. I drew off the water from one hydrocele, but, from +our want of stimulants, could not perform any radical cure. Their +applications to Inguinal hernia are equally ineffectual. They never +attempt the reduction of umbilical hernia, although some are very large, +and the disease very frequent. + +When a fracture of the leg or arm happens, the part is rubbed with a +soft species of grass and palm oil, and the limb bound up with splints. +“If God does not take the patient he recovers in four months,” as they +say. + +I have not seen a single instance of fracture in the Ashantee country. +Gun-shot wounds of the extremities, when the bone is fractured, are +generally fatal, or, where a large blood vessel is wounded, as they are +unacquainted with any method of stopping the hæmorrage; in fact they pay +little attention to their wounded men; if they are not able to travel, +they are abandoned. One of the King’s criers had his thigh dislocated at +the hip joint with an anchylosis of the knee; the limb was considerably +longer than the other, and the accident must have occurred a long time +ago, as he walks very well. + +During the time we remained in Coomassie, and from our first entrance +into the Ashantee country, I was every day applied to for advice and +medicines by those who were afflicted with diseases, of which the number +was great, and in the capital more especially, from its very unhealthy +situation, being entirely surrounded by an extensive tract of swampy +ground, and the natives consequently very subject to dysentery and +fever. On first entering the country I was applied to by numbers of +patients, many of them miserable objects, from the effects of the +venereal disease: to as many of those as applied, during our halt in a +town, I gave boxes of pills and strict directions for their use, and +told them if they came to Coomassie during my residence there, I would +do every thing in my power to cure them. Many availed themselves of my +offer, and attended me on my arrival. To those who had ulcers or wounds, +I applied the proper dressings, and left with them lint, adhesive +plaister, and ointment. Most of them as a mark of their gratitude, sent +presents of fowls, fruit, palm oil, wine, &c. to me after I had arrived +in the capital. One man in Assiminia, who was nearly in the last stage +of existence from a complication of disorders, originating from lues +venerea, after I had seen him, sent every week to Coomassie for +medicines, and completely recovered. Another in Sarrasoo who had the +worst looking ulcers of the inferior extremities, that I have ever seen, +did the same, and with the same success. A great many caboceers attended +me every morning with their slaves and children affected with dropsy, +crawcraws, yaws, fever, bowel complaints, &c. and expressed the most +unbounded thanks for the medicine and advice they received. + +At the King’s particular request, I attended his own brother, the heir +apparent, who had oedematous feet: by the use of friction, a roller, and +an alterative course of calomel, and diuretics, he soon recovered. + +The King’s uncle, heir to the crown after the brother, was severely +tormented with stricture of the urethra; he could only pass urine, drop +by drop; three weeks passing the catheter, enabled him to make it in a +full stream; when he immediately requested some powerfully stimulating +medicine to correct impotency, which it was not in my power to grant. + +The captain whose office it is to drown any of the King’s family who +have offended, had an ulcer two inches long in the palate bone; when he +drank, part of the fluid passed out of his nose, and his speech was very +unintelligible; the sides of the opening were scarified, and the +granulations touched every third or fourth day with lunar caustic until +they united; he got well in one month. + +The only unfortunate case I attended, was our guide Quamina Bwa; shortly +after we arrived in Coomassie he was attacked with remittent fever; by +the use of febrifuge medicines, the cold bath, bark, &c. he recovered, +and was able to attend his usual duty of waiting on us, when we visited +the king; he went into the country, and I did not see him for six weeks; +at the end of that time, he sent for me, and I found him labouring under +a severe bilious dysentery, and liver complaint. I was unable to prevent +the formation of matter in his liver; it formed a large swelling with +distinct fluctuation, and as he hesitated to have it discharged by +puncturing with a trochar, it burst internally, and he died. I had one +case of cancer of the upper lip, although the disease is said rarely to +occur in that part. This case had all the marks of a true cancer; I +dressed it every day during the whole time I remained in Coomassie, but +the effect flattered and disappointed me by turns. + +The most importunate man for medicine, especially of an invigorating +kind, in the whole Ashantee country, was old Apokoo, the treasurer and +chief favourite. He was afflicted with inguinal hernia: I wrote to Cape +Coast for a truss, which I applied, and it gave him immediate relief and +satisfaction. He would take the most nauseous drug with pleasure. I +generally gave him bark and peppermint water, which he regularly either +sent or came for every day, during the two last months of our residence, +and earnestly requested me to leave plenty of medicine with Mr. +Hutchison, the British resident there. Most of the chief men were very +earnest in their solicitations for me to give them stimulating +medicines. I always assured them that it was impossible, that the +English never used any, and that nothing astonished me more than that +they should ask for such things. Their answers were, “they knew that the +English had good heads and knew every thing, and must know that too, but +I did not wish to give them any.” + + _A List of the Diseases which I have seen in the Ashantee country._ + + Febris remittens 2 cases + + Hepatitis 1 + + Dysenteria mucosa 6 + + Colica 1 + + Anasarca 3 + + Ascites 3 + + Scrophula many cases + + Syphilis many + + Gonorrhœa 2 + + Stricture 3 + + Cataract 2 + + Staphyloma 5 + + Ectropium 1 + + Bronchocele many + + Cephalagia many + + Odontalgia 10 + + Ulcers 8 + + Framboesia many + + Psora many + + Hernia inguinal 1 + + Umbilical (hernia) many + + Dracunculus 7 + + Tinea capitis many + + Hydrocele many + + Cancer 1 + + Elephantiasis 1 + + Lepra 7 + + +[Footnote 124: I am indebted to Mr. Brown’s knowledge for the names and +references in the parentheses.] + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + * * * * * + + _Mr. Hutchison’s Diary._ + + +September 26. After we left the palace this morning, Apokoo invited me +home to take some refreshment. He entered into a long conversation +concerning the slave trade: he heard, he said, that an English vessel +had arrived at Cape Coast, and had brought out a letter from the King of +England to the Governor-in-Chief, ordering a renewal of the slave trade, +and asked me, if I had received any letter. I said I had not, but if +such a thing had taken place, I thought I should have early accounts. He +enquired what were the objections we had to “buy men?” I told him what I +conceived to be proper; he laughed at our ideas, and enquired if the +king of Dahomey had not sent a “book four moons ago to Cape Coast, +inviting the English to trade again, in his kingdom.” I replied there +was a message sent, but I could not say exactly in what words, as I was +at Dix Cove at the time. “England,” he said, “was too fond of fighting, +her soldiers were the same as dropping a stone in a pond, they go +farther and farther:” at the same time he described an enlarging circle +with his hand, and shook his finger and head significantly at me. He was +anxious for me to write a “proper book” on the slave trade, many slaves, +he told me, had revolted, and joining the Buntokoo standard were to +fight against them; there were too many slaves in the country, (an +opinion I tacitly acquiesced in), and they wanted to get rid of some of +them. There might be a deal of trouble from them; he alone had one +slave, who had 1000 followers at arms, and he might trouble them as +Cudjo Cooma did, who was a slave of his when he revolted, and whose +adherents alone were 10,000, independent of runaways, &c. + +In the afternoon the King sent me a ceremonious message, with his +compliments, saying he would be glad if I attended him in his customs, +&c. when he should sit in public. I replied that I would be happy to do +so, as it was the King’s wish, except when human sacrifices were +offered, but then it would be contrary to my inclinations, my religion, +and my instructions. + +Shortly after I was told the King was in the market-place drinking palm +wine. I went for the first time and took my seat on his left. The King +made me a present of a pot of wine, as did several of his chiefs. When +he drank, the whole of the music played, while the executioners, holding +their swords with their right hands, covered their noses with their +left, whilst they sung his victories and titles. About half a dozen +small boys stood behind his chair, and finished the whole with a fetish +hymn. The King enquired how many servants I had, and several questions +of the same kind. After sitting about half an hour the assembly broke +up, the King rising first, which is the signal to retire. + +Since the mission departed I have not been annoyed by any boys calling +after me. After seeing Messrs. Bowdich and Tedlie through the town, on +their going away, as I returned home the crowds thanked me as I passed, +for staying. I suppose they hardly imagined, when it came to the last, +that I would do so: indeed when I returned to my lodgings I found them +solitary enough; and, in the night time, three men found their way into +the house; one of my servants awakening, shouted out; I struck at one of +them with my sword, but missed him: in the morning it was discovered +that he had succeeded in stealing nearly half a sheep, a quantity of +kankey belonging to the boys, and a table knife. I am not sanguine +enough to imagine I shall be long allowed to take my walks unmolested; +when the novelty of my remaining alone passes away, they will return to +their old insolencies. + +Monday 29. Paid Apokoo a visit, and dashed him a razor. Several people +were there talking palavers, and wishing him to interest the King for +them; among others, an old captain complained heavily of Quamina Bwa, +our guide, but since dead, who he said had stolen a slave from him and +sold him during the Fantee war; he had unavailingly applied to the +family, he therefore wished it to be brought before the King. + +Apokoo complained of head-ach, and one of his women brought a decoction +of herbs, which she poured into a hollow piece of wood with two tubes, +these were inserted in the nostrils, and the liquor poured in, while the +head was held back, and afterwards spit out by the mouth; I have seen +the same poured into the ear for a like complaint. He wished me to try a +little of it; I of course declined it. He called one of his daughter’s, +and wished me to consaw, or espouse her; I told him she was too young; +he said that was nothing, as he would keep her for me: he added, the +Ashantee custom was, if a great man’s wife with child took another man’s +fancy, he consawed the child in the womb, and if born a girl, when she +grew up she became his wife; if a boy, it was his to serve and attend on +him, and he took care of it. Four ounces of gold it generally cost to +consaw a girl. I said he was a rich man; “true,” he replied, “but it +sometimes costs eight or ten ounces, sometimes only two.” Observing a +bow and arrows standing in the room, I began to amuse myself with +shooting them; he told me these were only for play, but when they went +to fight, they tipped them with iron, and put a deadly poison on it, +which caused almost instant death; the poison is made from vegetables +boiled in a large pot, and the arrows steeped in it. He shewed me the +marks of two arrow wounds which he received in battle. He then began to +consult his fetish, by a quantity of strings, with various ornaments on +one end to denote their good or evil qualities; these were mixed +promiscuously together, and taking them in his right hand, he put them +behind his back, and drew out one with his left; this was repeated about +20 times. A wicker basket was then brought on a small stool covered with +a silk cloth, in it were two lumps like pincushions, made of eggs, palm +oil, &c.: he then turned up the bottom of his stool, and making three +holes in it with something like a cobler’s awl, he drove in three pegs +with a stone, muttering to himself all the time, and waving each string +round his right ear; an egg was then brought in broken at one end, and +placed alternately on the lumps in the basket, and crushed on the stool +where the pegs were put in: this he did every morning before he went +out, to keep him out of bad palavers through the day. + +Tuesday 30. This morning Apokoo invited me to take a share of his +umbrella, and attend the King, who went to finish his ablutions. We +walked along through an immense crowd; the streets were lined with the +chiefs and their respective suites. We went down to the place where the +King washes; a low platform was erected where the stools were laid on +their sides. The linguists and officers of the household stood on one +side holding gold rods and canes, the fetishmen formed a crescent to the +north side. The King performed the ceremony of laving the water over +himself, sprinkling the various articles the same as on Saturday, and +the procession concluded as before. + +On walking back Apokoo wished to try on one of my gloves, and as usual +put it on the wrong hand; his gold castanets pinched him when the glove +was on, which made him shout out rather lustily, and stop short, I +called out “you stop the King;” “never mind,” said he, and his +attendants pulled to get the glove off. The King sent to know what +occasioned the stoppage, Apokoo held up his hand compressed, exclaiming, +“_Gamphnee_,” (it hurts me,) and stopped till it was got off. + +In the afternoon I called on Odumata, who said he was angry that I had +not called before. I told him I came to thank him for allowing a slave +boy he has, to do any thing for me; he said I might have him so as I fed +him, I replied I would do so. He entered into conversation concerning +the power of England over other nations, and the danger of going to sea; +he had lived three years at Apollonia when a young man, and had seen +many Portuguese, but did not like them, “as they were all wenches!” He +seemed pleased that I did not like them either. He wished me to purchase +a horse from him for eight ounces, I said I would give him four.“ “I +must not want one, or I would not offer him so,” was his reply. I said +that I had no place to ride it in, the country being all bush, and the +King did not like me to go very far; he replied, they were soon going to +fight, and, as I should go with them, it would be better for me to have +a horse to ride than to walk. I answered, I should lay hold of some wild +boar and gallop it; this observation struck him with astonishment, and +stroking down his beard, he asked my servant if he thought I could do +so, who replied, if I took it in my head I certainly would. Odumata said +the people would think the devil was come among them. This he told me is +the last day of the year, according to their calculation, but from what +reason I do not know. In the Sarem countries, he told me, they work iron +from the stone, and silver, gold, &c. into trinkets, better than in +Ashantee. I enquired why they did not make iron here, as they have +plenty of ore; his reply was truly African; “why should they do so, when +they had plenty of gold to buy it, and could get it so near.” I told him +of England’s resources from her own manufactories; he said it was not +good for white men to know so much; if black men knew those things they +would all run to England. When I got home I sent him a present of a +razor, he sent two messengers to thank me, such is their fashion; and +for even the smallest article they return thanks the next day. Odumata +enquired why I did not get drunk sometimes, and come to see him then, I +told him, were I to get drunk in Ashantee, I ought to have my sword +broke over my head, that I had indeed got tipsey the evening before I +came away, with my friends, and might perhaps do so when I returned, but +not till then. He gave me some palm wine, and looked amazed at my +swallowing only half a tumbler full, “he would drink three pots before +he went to bed!” (about 15 gallons.) + +Wednesday, October 1. The King dictated a letter to the Governor at Cape +Coast, stating, that the King of Cape Coast had broken the law by +insulting an Ashantee man, who swore, by the King of Ashantee’s head, +that if the Cape Coast King did not kill him, he must pay 110 periguins +of gold to the King. This practice, though it savours of madness, is yet +often resorted to for revenge, as it is almost sure to end in the ruin +of the other party. The Cape Coast King had threatened, that the +Governor would put the Ashantee man in the slave hole till he died, +which appeard to irritate the King very much. + +The King then enquired if I had any yams at home; I told him I had a few +of his last present; he told me he would send more to the house for me, +which he did, and gave me 5½ ackies gold; then pressed me to take some +gin and water; on his being told that it must be very little, for I was +afraid of an attack of spleen and liver, and eat little and walked much, +he said that was proper. + +Thursday 2. Through this and the afternoon of yesterday I felt very +feverish, not being able to get any sleep for the rats at night. I kept +my room all day; the King sent a pot of palm wine in the evening. Adoo +Quamina called. + +Friday 3. Whilst writing letters, Apokoo sent his compliments and would +be happy to see me; I went, and he said he was sorry he had not seen me +for some days. I told him I was sick the two former days, and to-day was +writing to my family how I liked Ashantee; he hoped I would give the +King a good name in England. I should tell truth. He enquired if I would +like to see his croom (village.) I replied yes! He was going there this +evening, and if no palaver came, he would send his people for me in the +morning, to carry me. He asked if I was not for one of his daughters, +that he might be called my father. He then enquired why I did not wear +my hair tied, and let my beard grow; he recollected Colonel Torrane and +Mr. White having tails at the siege of Annamaboe, and they looked very +handsome. He requested me to show him the skin of my arm, he gazed on it +with seeming pleasure, begged I would allow him to touch it; on +receiving permission, he rubbed his hand over it, exclaiming “_Papa +Taffia_,” (very handsome) and repeated his invitation to go to the +croom. I took my leave. + +As I was going home I met a man white-washed, carrying a vessel covered +over with a white cloth: this I have been often told is Tando fetish, +but can learn nothing more. Music and a great crowd went with it to Adoo +Quamina’s house, at the front of which they put it down, and sacrificed +a child of Cudjoo Cooma’s, the Akim revolter, over it, as an annual +sacrifice of the King’s. + +Saturday 4. Apokoo sent his people for me in the morning, who took me to +his croom, about three miles S.W. of Coomassie. The road was in good +order, and newly cut on account of my going; his slaves all turned out +to see me, many of them never having seen a white man before. Apokoo +came to the entrance of the croom, which is small, to meet me, and took +me into the place where he lives himself; it is like all country houses +here, a square lined with palm leaves and thatched with grass; his own +room, raised on the floor, painted with red inchuma or ochre, and at one +end of it, his couch raised on wood with plaited palm leaves, and +covered with large cotton cushions. Near his head hung three strings of +fetish, made of gold, red earth, horn, and bone, in the shape of thigh +bones, horns, jaw bones, &c. &c. One side of the square was fitted up +with a forge and bellows to work gold; another served as a cooking +place, and the fourth for his sons to sleep in. About 11 o’clock he went +to one of the side places to eat, that he might not trouble me in his +room, as he said. Before he began, small pieces of yam were laid on his +fetish; a small table was then set before him, and clean water poured +into a brass pan, with which he washed his right hand, and then eat with +it:—they are careful not to touch victuals with their left hand. A large +pot of yams and another of fish being boiled, he satisfied himself +first; the remainder was then divided into as many lots as there were +persons to partake; when the door was opened, and about twenty sons and +daughters, with their calabashes, received each their mess. He had given +my servant two fowls, some fish and yams, and told him to make any thing +I could eat; I told him to make a soup of the fowls. When I was eating, +Apokoo said he thought I was ashamed, and requested I would let him put +down the screen; I told him I dared not eat much through the day, being +afraid of sickness. He enquired if I wished to go to sleep, for his +couch was at my service. I declined the offer, and he went to sleep +himself. Shortly after, four of his wives came from town with a mess for +him; he was awaked to know if they were to have admittance, as usual: he +ordered them to set down the meat and go away; they pretended to do so, +but sat down under one of the sheds, and began to annoy the slaves, but +their stifled laughter soon awoke Apokoo, who stretched out his neck, +and seeing them, told them in a passion, it was because I was there that +they wished to stop, and that they had better be off; they took the hint +and made their retreat. He got up to shew me his gold ornaments, which +weighed 146 bendas (£1168.) and made his people kindle the forge fire to +melt some rock gold to make a fish; but the mould not being perfect, it +was spoiled. He enquired if ever I had been in a yam plantation; on my +replying in the negative, we went to see one; he asked if I would allow +him to ride in my hammock, I gave him leave; it was better than his +basket, he said, except that he did not like his legs hanging down. He +wished me to dig up a yam; the people brought me a long pointed stick, +which is forced into the earth to loosen the yam, afterwards the fibres +are cut with a knife. After I had dug up ten, he hoped I would accept of +them as a present; yams are set like potatoes in Europe, they are put in +the ground about December, so that they are nine months growing to +maturity. He said he should not go to Coomassie that night, as he had to +decorate his drums with tigers skins, but that he would be in on +Tuesday. If I wished to come out and see him before that time he would +send people for me, and be glad. I said I should come out some other +time, but not so soon. I set off for Coomassie about six o’clock, having +spent a very agreeable day. + +About seven o’clock the King sent for me; on my going, he would trouble +me, he said, to read a book he had that day found in a man’s possession. +It proved to be a Danish note to the King for three ounces per month, +dated August 1, 1811; it seemed as if a seal had been affixed to it, but +the impression had disappeared, and it was very much worn. The King said +he never knew of it; that an Ashantee captain had received and kept it, +but he would enquire about it. His majesty wished me to drink something, +I declined it; he hoped I was not sick, I said no, but drinking made my +head ach; he hoped I would sleep sound, paid me many compliments that I +cannot repeat; enquired of my servant if I was a good master, with other +questions of the like nature. + +Saturday 11. The King sent for me, and on going to the palace I found +them in full council talking palavers. Adoosee was ordering a messenger +to go to Quamina Bootaqua, to make him proceed to Cape Coast, and inform +the Governor that Payntree had sworn by the King and had broke his oath, +Bootaqua having sent word to the King of it; but they did not mention +any thing to me. After this, Adoosee informed me, that messengers have +gone from Amanfoo, sent by Sam Brue, to complain that the Cape Coast +people had come armed against him to kill him. After hearing a long +statement of grievances, they told me I must write to the Governor about +it; I said I would, at the same time I assured the King that Sam Brue +was a slave trader, and not to be tolerated at Cape Coast, his conduct +was so infamous; they then called on his messenger to know what reason +Sam had to leave Cape Coast; he entered at great length into the +grievances experienced by Brue from the Governor in Chief and officers, +because he owed eight ounces of gold; I was called in to reply, which I +said I could not condescend to do, until I heard from the Governor in +Chief, as they had sent messengers to complain to him. Adoosee charged +four messengers with what they were to tell the Governor, making them +take fetish and other formalities usual only on great occasions, thereby +giving the affair an importance it did not merit. The King, on the +breaking up of the council, said he would send for me shortly after, to +write an account of the affair to the Governor; when I returned home, I +did communicate the whole to the Governor, as the King’s letters are so +hurried. + +I heard nothing from the King all day, but at night a Fantee man called +on me, who had been taken by the Ashantees in last year’s war, and whom +I had been trying to liberate by speaking in his behalf to the King, and +concerning four ounces of gold that had been taken. The captain +concerned in it, to get quit of the palaver, had urged one of his wives +to swear the man had lain with her; she accordingly made a formal +complaint; the man was put in irons in the bush and only released +yesterday morning as they thought to catch the King when he had some +palavers pending, which would make him angry; they therefore brought it +before the King yesterday morning, thinking he would order the man’s +head to be cut off; but he told the King that this palaver was brought +against him because I had spoken for him; the woman was called, who +insisted the man had lain with her, the man denied it, and on being +offered fetish he cheerfully took it, and swore by the King to the +contrary. The woman would not do so, and the King ordered the irons to +be taken from the man, and put on the woman, telling her, she had not +looked at the man properly, as it must be some other person. + +Tuesday 14. This morning a man was beheaded at the door of the house +where I live, by Aboidwee, the house master: it appears, the man in +question was brother to a caboceer, and presumptive heir to his +property; tired of waiting so long he made fetish incantations, and +other ceremonies peculiar to them, to destroy his brother; this coming +to the brother’s ears, and also, that he had enjoyed one of his wives +five times, he complained to the King and requested he would put the +offender to death to save his own life; the King complied, and ordered +Aboidwee to put the sentence in execution. + +Wednesday 15. The Adaï custom. I went as usual with flags, and first +received the usual offering of rum, and ten ackies of gold instead of a +sheep. I called on Baba, the chief of the Moors, in the afternoon, who +said he would teach me Arabic if I would teach him English; I said I +would; but I am afraid he is too old for progress. I called on Odumata +in my way back, who annoyed me as usual to drink palm wine, although it +gives me a head ache. Akotoo, the King’s brother, was there, who said he +had only seen me four times since the mission went away, and wished me +to call on him. The conversation turned on the King’s going to war, and +his anxiety for me to go and see how they killed their enemies, and he +would give me gold to feed me. I was told by a Fantee man, that Sam Brue +had procured 200 guns and a quantity of powder for the King, for slaves +he had sold to the Spaniards now on the coast. + +Friday 17. Deputies from the Warsaw states arrived a few days ago, to +settle the differences between them and the Ashantees. It is thought, a +fine to the King and future tribute may compromise the matter. Odumata +informed me, that the slave ship has 600 slaves on board; and that, +through Sam Brue’s exertions; he confirmed the report of the guns and +powder. + +Sunday 19. The heaviest rain, thunder, and lightning I ever saw, and has +continued for several days and nights. About 7 o’clock A.M. the King’s +drums announced his going to the market-place, where all his chiefs went +and were drenched with wet till 2 o’clock P.M. when the King sent for +rum and palm wine and dismissed them drunk and dirty. On Monday the +scene was continued till the slaves had got the house covered in. + +Tuesday 21. Agay the linguist returned from Assin, where he had been +four months; and brought with him a number of Fantees and their +families, as slaves. During the eruption of the Fantees in 1816, many of +them ran to the Assin country to try and elude the vigilance of the +King, but he heard of it, and sent Agay to demand them, who, after a +long negociation, succeeded. A council was held at Abrassoo on the +Barramang road, and the slaves were sent to Barramang to build a new +croom for the King. + +Sunday, November 2. The King has been busy for the last twelve days +making fetish, &c. for the success of the war; the Moors going every +morning to the palace for prayer and sacrifice: to day being Adaï +custom, I went as usual, and received ten ackies of gold and a flask of +rum, the foremost in the assembly, which was numerous. + +Friday 7. A serious palaver has arisen between the King and Adoosee the +chief linguist, he having taken a bribe from some person to misrepresent +a palaver to the King; this coming to the King’s ear, he sent in a fury +to Adoosee, who, on being charged with it, thought his life would be the +forfeit, and sent an express to Apokoo to come and intercede for him; +Apokoo being at his croom, it has been several times talked before the +King, but no settlement, has taken place. + +Several people have been making application to me to demand them of the +King, as belonging to the forts, having been detained as slaves during +the Fantee war, and when Winnebah fort was destroyed. They are commonly +very old, and of the female sex. + +Saturday 8. Adoosee has got his palaver settled by paying twenty ounces +of gold, and six or eight sheep to the King; Adoosee’s friends alleged +that he ought not to pay any thing, because when any palaver comes he +settles it at once; but if he is not there, they have to go to council, +which in fact is true; but notwithstanding his abilities, and that he +takes his seat as usual, the King looks at him with a gloomy eye. The +King has been busy making human sacrifices for the success of the war, +at Bantama, Assafoo, and Aduma, in the evenings; and the Moors make +their offerings of sheep in the palace in the mornings according to the +moslem ritual. Though the zealous Christian may lament that the Gospel +has not taken place of the fetish, yet the friends of humanity will +rejoice that the King favours the Moors, as many lives have been saved +that would otherwise have been destroyed at the present crisis. To day a +bullock was offered up in the chief market-place, previous to the +entrance of the chiefs, caboceers, &c. into the town, to meet in +council, and determine on the method of conducting the war: in the +afternoon, Boitinnë Quama, King of Dwabin, sent his compliments to me to +announce his arrival. Shortly after, the various bands of music declared +the arrival of the tributaries, &c.; the King of Ashantee took his seat +in the market-place, and received their compliments as they passed +before him. About nine o’clock at night Boitinnë, King of Dwabin paid me +a private visit, and brought me a present of two curious Gennet cats. + +Sunday 9. At day break the firing of guns, music, &c. announced a custom +for the husband of the King’s sister (the second woman in the kingdom), +he having died in the bush on Friday, about 7 o’clock; the King went to +the market-place to make custom, and sacrificed two men; several others +were killed by various caboceers. In the evening Apokoo and the other +captains who are to exhibit their gold, paraded the streets, firing +musketry, &c.; the crowd was great. At 8 o’clock, his majesty of Dwabin +came with the messengers he sent to Cape Coast to have a suit of +clothes, he said two trunks were at his house and he brought a sword to +shew me, which the Governor had sent. + +Friday 14. Before I got up, I was annoyed with a crowd of captains who +began to annoy me for liquor. I ordered them out and desired a boy to +keep the door fast. I sent a dash of wine, rum, sugar, soap, butter, and +perfumery to the king, who was highly pleased. To all the principal +captains, a dash of rum, wine, and sugar, till I had nearly expended my +stock: the whole day was a continual annoyance from visitors, troubling +me for drink, but as I was resolved to give to those only who were +worthy, many of them were disappointed. This week past Apokoo and +several of the captains have been making an exhibition of their riches; +this is generally done once in life, by those who are in favour with the +King, and think themselves free from palavers. It is done by making +their gold into various articles of dress for show. Apokoo, who sent for +me before his uproar began, shewed me his varieties, weighing upwards of +800 bendas of the finest gold; among the articles, was a girdle two +inches broad. Gold chains for the neck, arms, legs, &c. ornaments for +the ancles of all descriptions, consisting of manacles, with keys, +bells, chairs, and padlocks. For his numerous family of wives, children, +and captains, were armlets and various ornaments. A superb war cap of +eagle’s feathers, fetishes, Moorish charms, &c. Moorish caps, silk +dresses, purses, bags, &c. made of monkey skin. Fans, with ivory +handles, made of tiger skin, and decorated with silk. New umbrellas made +in fantastical shapes, gold swords and figures of animals, birds, +beasts, and fishes of the same metal; his drums, and various instruments +of music, were covered with tiger skin, with red belts for hanging them. +Ivory arrows and bows, covered with silk and skins, and many other +weapons of war or fancy, such as the mind in a like situation would +devise. Apokoo was anxious that I should come and see him when out, but +from the noise, I judged that they were too turbulent for me to venture +without a chance of being insulted. + +Saturday 15. Again annoyed by the people wishing for drink. Apokoo +called with his retinue to thank me; for the Governor had given his +people a flask of Jamaica rum. He had got three days to play, as he +called it, and was sorry that he had not seen me. I told him I had very +seldom been out, except when there was no noise, as the people were so +unruly in the evening. + +Monday 17. In the afternoon Apokoo sent a message, saying he was come to +the door of the house to play and shew me his gold, hoping I would come +out. I went and found a Moorish carpet spread, at one end of which I was +seated under an umbrella, while Apokoo and his wives, children, and +captains danced by turns before me. Some of his young wives were dressed +with great taste, a rich silk cloth with a bag made of fine fur, slung +over the shoulder, studded with gold ornaments: on the left shoulder +they held a pistol, and in the right hand a silver bow and arrow. During +the dance, if Apokoo was pleased with them he took the bow and hung it +on some of the ornaments, when she retired from the dance; this was a +strong mark of approbation, if I may judge from the applause that +followed: to some he gave a little gold. Several times he took from +their necks various ornaments which he placed on my knees and over my +left shoulder; this was the greatest mark of honour he could shew me; +and his band played a tune in praise of England, and of our abilities in +settling differences. Many of the captains sent him presents of gold and +rum. I gave him a large flask of wine, which he said pleased him more +than all the others, as it would shew the people I thought him a good +man. + +Thursday 20. The Moorish caboceer of Alphia called to day, requesting I +would allow him to bring his brother and nephew who had arrived, as they +wished to see me: on receiving my permission he sent for them, and as +they immediately made their appearance, they must have been waiting at +the door. I shewed them a compass, sand-glass, quadrant, some +phosphorus, and several other things; at the sight of each they bent +their heads to the ground, exclaiming “Allahoo Akabir!” God is great. I +gave the caboceer a wax candle, piece of a perfumed soap (which he was +going to eat!) a flask of Jamaica rum, and some sugar; things he had +never seen before: he begged to be allowed to touch my hand, and +continued calling out Ah! bielane Wasieh! Ah Nasara! Ah white visier! Ah +Christian. He said he had a sister whom he would make me a present of, +if I would have her. The caboceer of Alphia is brother to the caboceer +of Premehinie, east of Ashantee, in the Sarem region, and subject to Saï +Tootoo; it is 14 days journey to Alphia, one day to Brookoom, where the +head fetish of that country dwells, and one day more to Crumassia and +Sodie, a range of high hills. + +I told him I would buy his horse if he would put a reasonable price on +it, and would give him a note to get powder, rum, &c. at the Cape: he +said the Ashantees brought rum to Sarem, but they boiled pepper in water +and sold it to them; he never tasted such good adrue (medicine) as mine. + +I have been learning Arabic this last month, principally from the +Shereef Abraham, who comes from Boussa, where Mungo Park was drowned, +and he, as he says, was an eye witness to it; his great sanctity made +the King of Ashantee send for him to pray and make sacrifice for the +success of the war. The other Moors here look on him with an evil eye, +because he will not wear fetishes as they do, and be present at human +sacrifice. This place now presents the singular spectacle of a Christian +and Mahometan agreeing in two particulars, rejecting fetishes, and +absenting themselves from human sacrifices and other abominations: the +rest of the people, of whatever country they may be, when the King’s +horns announce any thing of the kind, strive who will get there first to +enjoy the agonies of the victims. The Shereef told me to-day, that the +reason he came so seldom to see me, was, that the King had heard he was +teaching me the Koran, but he wished him not to do so, he did not wish +me to know how “to call on God;” but, said Abraham, I shall teach you as +much as I can, that when you go to your own country you may give the +Moors a good name, for I told the King you knew Arabic before you saw +me, and we sometimes spake together in that language. He had a beautiful +copy of the Koran which he intended to leave me, but the King had told +him he must have it, that when any trouble came he might hold it up to +God, and beg his mercy and pardon: but he would try and get a small one +for me. + +Saturday 22. This morning a slave belonging to the house master swore by +the King’s head that he must kill him to-day. A great uproar ensued, +while they put him in irons, and they got out the family stools and +sacrificed fowls and sheep, pouring the blood on them to propitiate the +wrath of the King from the family. The King was then told of it, who +said as that was his fetish day he could not kill a man that day, but +to-morrow he would behead him. + +It appears he had connection with one of his brother’s wives, who, +hearing of it, cautioned him from doing so again, or else he would tell +the King and make him kill him: he was again found with the woman, and +his brother went to the King to complain. Hearing this, and fearing the +torture, he swore by the King that he must shoot him with eight muskets. +The King on being told this, said he would put such small shot into the +muskets as only to wound him, and then he should torture him; hereby +fulfilling his own law, which he considers sacred. + +Sunday 23. About 12 o’clock sent for by the King, whom I found scolding +his sister for disobedience in one of her slaves. After sitting some +time talking on indifferent subjects, the King said he should go to +council, about what he was going to say to me. Shortly after he sent one +of his sons to say his father was going to eat and wash, if I would be +kind enough to return home. I heard that messengers from Elmina had +arrived the evening before, and expected to hear of some complaint of +breaking the law, as they style it: although I could not reconcile it +with an observation I had made; a pair of razors I had presented to the +King were invariably sent to me to sharpen, as the King wished to shave +with them, when any favourable affair was to be talked, and that morning +they came as usual. + +I was again sent for, and the King announced in a formal manner his +intention of going in person to make war on Adinkara, the King of +Buntookoo, and wished me to announce it to the Governor. I therefore +wrote a letter of the King’s dictating, stating this to the Governor, +and requesting him to give on trust 300 oz. kegs, powder, and 300 +muskets, and sending to the Governor in Chief six periguins of gold, and +to the Governor of Annamaboe four periguins, to purchase a cloth for +him, the handsomest they could find, and inviting them to send him a +dash and make the town’s people do the same, for the prosperity of the +war. His Majesty was very lavish in his compliments of the generosity of +the English, and their great riches; he then enquired if I was willing +to go to fight, I replied certainly, if I could obtain the Governor’s +permission, I should like it very much: he thanked me very warmly. I +heard, on my return to the house, that the Dutch General had sent as a +present to the King 60 oz. kegs powder, and the Elmina people 40, which +caused this stir. + +Monday 24. Sent for again to write the Governor word that the King sent +down 30 men to be clothed as soldiers, if the Governor could spare +clothes, one of them to be as captain and one a serjeant, with a flag. +His Majesty also wished to have arrow root, Port wine, sugar, candles, +and a few other things for the campaign. I was then told to write a +letter to the Danish Governor in Chief to the same effect, and to ask +him for payment of what was due on his note. I foresaw this would make +an uproar; and on the note being handed to me to know what was due on +it, when I told the King that nothing was on it, he got into the +greatest rage I have yet seen him in, with the captain who receives the +pay. This man had been sent down to Accra about three months ago, to +receive what pay was due, Mr. Bowdich writing to the Danish Governor in +Chief to know, for the King’s satisfaction, what was sent. On his +return, the latter stated that the King’s note was paid up to the +ensuing Christmas. There being a great deficiency between what was +stated in the letter, and what the captain produced, he charged Mr. +Bowdich with mis-stating what was in the letter; Quashie Apaintree, the +linguist, was sworn on the King’s fetish to interpret proper; the +Ashantee still insisted, and to clear himself, said the book was _not_ +paid to Christmas. The King and linguists remembered this, and when they +heard that the note was actually paid to the end of the year, every one +tried who would be loudest in their accusations against him. Apokoo, who +is his chief, was loudest against him, he said he had used him +disrespectfully, and never gave him any of the dashes he received; +besides he had given the lie to an English officer, and at the same time +he cheated the King; he therefore left him to the mercy of his Majesty. +The King said he must return him all the gold back he had lent him; and +as for the fort at Accra, he might take the pay when he pleased. A hat, +certainly a bad one, was brought in, and the King asked me if I thought +it worth the price charged for it. I replied I was not a judge, as such +hats were not sent out for us; but if I were, I must positively decline +interfering in the King’s affairs with his servants. By degrees the King +worked himself to such a height of passion, that throwing his cloth +around him, and hastily rising, he ordered the captain’s arrest. The +King’s sons seized on him, and he stood appalled, as the silver cane +fell from his hand. I once thought the King would have committed some +extravagance, none of the chiefs daring to rise; Agay at length arose, +and in his energetic manner requested that his majesty would recollect I +was present. The King ordered his sons to go with the captain to his +house, and bring him all the gold they found; he then withdrew, but I +heard him storming in his apartments. Shortly after, Odumata’s brother +came to say, that the chiefs might thank me, as were it not for my sake, +every one of them would have been turned out of the palace by the +slaves. Agay, who was the only one who followed the King, came to +apologise for the abrupt departure of his Majesty: he hoped I would not +be offended, and requested I would go home and dine, as it was late, and +the King would send for me soon. + +Tuesday 25. The King sent for me to write another letter to the +Governor, saying he had sent down three pieces of rock gold as a pawn +for powder; they were the largest I have yet seen, one of them weighing +about 20 ounces. I gave his Majesty a packet of letters to be forwarded +to Cape Coast: he rallied me on the size of it, and said he supposed I +wrote the Governor and Mr. Bowdich every palaver in town. + +To-day the stool of Alphia was declared in abeyance; the son of the +caboceer Premehinia having brought a complaint against the caboceer of +Alphia, who is brother to the former; his sable highness came on a +beautiful Arabian, of a very small size; at the sound of drums and horns +he danced and went through various evolutions. + +Friday 28. To-day the caboceer of Alphia was deposed, and his brother +the caboceer of Premehinia had the stool attached to his other +possessions. In the afternoon whilst I was out, the Moorish prince, with +a large retinue, called to pay me a visit, I found one of his attendants +sitting at the door with a gold sword, who, on receiving permission, +went and told him I was come home; shortly after he came, and expressed +great wonder at all he saw. He said I had too many silver spoons, and +modestly requested I would give him one or two; his attendant who fanned +him thought so too, as he attempted to steal one, but one of the +servants happening to pass, he threw it under the table. I wished him to +sell me his horse, but he said he was too great a man to walk home, and +the ground hurt his feet. + +Sunday 30. The King paid me a long visit, he heard, he said, that my +horse had died, and had come to see me least I should think he forgot +me, but he had so much fetish to make, and so many palavers to settle, +that he had little time. The conversation then turned on the travels of +Englishmen, and the white men drowned in the Quolla (Niger.) I explained +to his Majesty the objects of the expeditions sent from England to the +interior of Africa, and expressed how anxious I was to get Mr. Park’s +books and papers for the King of England; his Majesty promised to aid me +in doing so, and before he went away, desired me to point out to him +what I conceived the proper method. + +The King then began to talk about my living with him, and if I liked to +do so; he said I was like a king, and wished his people to treat me with +respect, and every one run to see me when I went out, as they run to see +him. I said that some of his people wished to accuse me of treason for +putting buckles in my shoes at the Adaï custom. The King said that none +dared do so, but those whom he ordered, any other would have their heads +cut off: but I was different, and he knew Englishmen did what was +proper. His majesty took his leave with many expressions of personal +attention, which, whether they were sincere or not, were at least to be +received with politeness. + +Monday, December 1. One of the King’s nephews came to see me, but was +terribly afraid to pass the man in irons who swore on the King, least he +should swear that when the King killed him, he must also kill his +nephew, which would cost a deal of gold; for such is the sacredness of +the law, that in that case the King must do it. I had a key of a door +where I could privately let him out, without passing through the courts +of the house, by which he gladly made his escape. This man has been no +small annoyance, as no person of rank will venture to call on me, least +they should be brought into trouble by his swearing on their heads. + +Tuesday 2. The King to-day made a present of 10 periguins of gold to the +Moors in town for their services, and they were to divide it themselves. +This created no small altercation among them; those belonging to the +town wished to keep it all, and not give the Shereef Abraham any, who +came from the banks of the Niger; as the King had that morning told him +he wished him to accompany him to the war, he told them it was of no +consequence, as he should not accompany the King unless he was looked on +with the same degree of rank as Baba, as, indeed, he was superior from +his knowledge, and belonging to Mahomet’s family. On this they gave him +three periguins, the same that Baba had: all were then pleased with +their portion except one, called Aboo, who only had 10 ackies; he +consoled himself by making the usual exclamation, “God is great! he +never dies, he never sleeps,” and said he left the palaver in his hands. + +Thursday 4. Apokoo paid me a visit to thank me for some medicine I had +given him, being sick after his great custom; he enquired if I heard +that Fantee messengers were come to this place, I said no, but I +expected them soon to take the King’s fetish, as he wished them to do +so, previous to his going to war; he then told me that the King heard +there were some on the path, and could not think what their message was; +I told him they must either be those the Governor was sending up, or +Fantees with the King’s tribute; on his going away, he requested I would +let him out by the door I had the key of, as he also was afraid of the +man in irons swearing on his life, and was glad he could avoid passing +him. + +Friday 5. This was the coldest morning I have felt since I came to +Africa, being scarcely able to take breakfast, I was so chilly; the +thermometer stood at 65°. + +I was desired to write a letter to General Daendels, telling him the +King had lost his notes for the Dutch forts, and requesting him to give +new ones to Akimpon. The King’s father had conquered the Akim chief, who +held a note for Dutch Accra; he also conquered the King of Adinkara, who +had the Elmina note, both of which were given up to him; he would not +take them both in one note as the General wished, but he must have one +payable at Elmina and one at Accra. When the King weighed out the gold +for his messengers expences, he weighed 10 ackies for me, which I hoped +his Majesty would take back, as I did not wish for them, and requested +he would not think I wished payment for writing a letter for him. My +scruples were laughed at by them all, and the King said “that white men +were very singular, as they gave gold or a good dash to any one who did +any thing for them, yet they would not take any: he wished to do +something like white men, and when any one did any thing for him he gave +them something, and he wished me to take this to shew his good will.” +Odumata, who is the greediest man in Coomassie for gold, whispered, if I +did not like it, I might send it to him when I got home. I did not +exactly understand him, or I would have offered it to him then with +pleasure, to expose his avarice. + +The captain who was arrested last week for peculation on Danish Accra, +appeared in his place to day; he had promised Amanquateä and Quatchie +Quophie, the two chief captains, a large present if they would settle +the affair for him, which they did, and he received the letters to +proceed to the fort as usual. + +Apokoo having told the King of the inconvenience arising to any chief +coming to me, from the culprit in irons being in the way, he was removed +to a private part of Apokoo’s house, where he could annoy no one, till +the Adaï custom, when he is to be beheaded, as the affair cannot be +settled without. + +Sunday 7. Several of the Moorish caboceers came to take leave, as they +were going to-morrow to their own country previous to the war, and were +to meet the King on the road when he went, and consequently would not +see me again for some time; on my enquiring how long the King was to be +absent, they replied, God had told them seven months would finish the +war; they enquired if I should like to see them at Cape Coast, as they +should come and see me, to which I said I should. After drinking coffee, +&c. they took a hurried leave, as one of the King’s people came to tell +me one of his Majesty’s daughters was dead, and shortly after, constant +discharges of musketry announced the custom. The King in the afternoon +came to the market place close to the house, to make custom with his +chiefs. I understood that human sacrifices were to be offered, and +walked out to avoid the uproar. + +On my way I paid a visit to Baba, who was performing ablution; he said +he was going to prayer, but would soon have done, I told him I would sit +down till he had finished. Cow hides were spread in rows for the +worshippers, in the front was a large hide for Baba. All having taken +off their sandals and prostrated themselves with their faces to the east +(to Mecca,) the service began by one of them chaunting the usual call to +prayer; the chorus of Allahoo Akaber! (God is great) was well performed +by the others. + +There was something solemn and affecting in it, contrasted with the +heavy discharges of musketry and shouts of the populace in the distance, +which proclaimed the bloody sacrifice was begun, while the vultures and +crows wheeled in mazy circles expecting their usual share of the +banquet, and the sun shot his last gleams through the heavy fogs that +encircled the town. + +As I went home I passed the headless trunks of two female slaves, laying +neglected and exposed in the market place, that had been sacrificed, one +by the King and one by the deceased’s family. The vultures were +revelling undisturbed amidst the blood. + +I happened to-day to throw down a tumbler of wine and water with my +foot, having placed it on the ground, while the Moorish Shereef was with +me; he bent his head to Mecca, pronouncing “God is great!” and told me +it was my good angel who had done so, for who might tell but there was +poison in the cup to destroy me? he said man had always two angels +attending him, one on his right hand as his good angel, and one on his +left as his evil one; whatever good he did was prompted by the former, +and whatever ill by the latter one. I have never found them without a +reason for every thing, or a name, except to the mother of Moses, whom +they say nobody knows on earth; the Shereef gravely enquired if I knew +the name of Aboobaker’s father, I assured him I did not; he told me many +of the Moors could not tell, but as he was of Mahomet’s family he knew +more things, and told me it was _Kahābata_. + +I heard from the Sarem Moors that they fight with bows and arrows +steeped in deadly poison, the least scratch of which is instant death. +They gather scorpions tails, snakes heads, and the poisonous parts of +any reptile that affects man; this, with several vegetable substances +which they would not name, are put in a pot, and set over the fire at +sun rise; they boil it all day and must not eat or drink, but stir it +about repeating incantations, and shaking a pair of iron castanets, +without which, the charm would be incomplete. I saw an old hag at this +work on the Bantama road, who would not answer my question as to what +she was doing, but made many wry faces, and squint looks, for me to be +gone and not spoil her work, and while I stood, she stirred, and +muttered, and clattered the castanets with greater fury. + +My attention being anxiously turned towards information concerning the +Niger and its course, all enquiries end in making the Nile its +continuation. An old Moor from Jennë told me, unasked, that while he was +at Askanderee (Alexandria) twenty-six years ago he saw a fight at the +mouth of the Nile between ships, and one of them was blown up in the air +with a terrible explosion. This must have been the battle fought by Lord +Nelson, although there is a mistake in the date of seven years; he +surely could not invent such a story. He states also, that returning to +Masser (Grand Cairo) the European armies advanced to that place; the +first army took every thing they wanted and would not pay: but when the +second European and Turkish army got possession of it, they paid for +whatever they wanted. All the Moors were ordered to retire to one +quarter of the city, and not allowed to mix with the soldiers; this +agrees with Sir Robert Wilson’s account of the Egyptian campaign. I +shewed him a seal I have, of Pompey’s pillar, which he said he knew; he +had travelled from Jennë to Masser on a joma (camel) and drew me a map +of the Quolla and Nile from its source to its emptying itself into the +sea at Alexandria. There is one thing that disagrees with Mr. Park’s +account, they call the Niger Quolla at Jennë, Sansanding, &c. and +describe the Jolliba as falling into the Quolla to the east of +Timbuctoo. When I told them of the conjectures that the great river of +Africa emptied itself into a large lake, they laughed at such an idea, +and reasoned so as to put wiser heads to the blush. “God,” say they, +“made all rivers to run to the sea, you say that small rivers go there: +the Quolla is the largest river in the world, and why should it not go +there also? Was it to lose itself in the lake, where could the waters go +to?” They describe the Quolla as about five miles in breadth, and having +a very rocky channel, the banks on both sides very high and rugged; in +many places, canoes often take a day to pass a short distance, from the +dangerous whirlpools, and sudden squalls: at other places, the stream +runs with great rapidity. + +They think the Mediterranean sea to be circular, without mixing with the +ocean; seven rivers from Africa turn their course to it, but only two +reach the shores, of which the Nile is one. The rush of the waters of +the Nile, when they meet the sea is so great, that the waves are driven +into the air with great force, and retire like waves against a rock. +They call the Mediterranean sea Bahare Mall. The Red sea, say they, +assumes various colours at different periods, from seven streams pouring +their course into it, red, blue, yellow, &c. Hence they call it Majumaal +Bahare, or the confluence of streams. They are very fond of mystical +numbers, and often quote seven. The lake Caudie they call Bahare Nohoo, +or the water of Noah, from the tradition that the deluge broke out from +thence. They describe it as encompassed with rocks, within which is a +bed of sand, and then the water. This we may allow to be a little +fanciful, as I have seen a map of the earth drawn by Baba, where the +world is supposed to be round, and encompassed with a rocky girdle, the +sea is supposed to flow between this and the earth, which is placed in +the centre. They are not singular in this idea; as all rude nations form +the same notions of the globe: but though we reject, with reason, their +foolish notions of many things, it would be no great sign of wisdom to +refuse every information from them. + +Man is a reasoning animal, and enquires into the nature of things in a +rude, as well as in a civilised state; and if he cannot give a just, +will at least give a plausible reason for many things. + +The Moors say “That the noise people hear, when they stop their ears +with their hands, is the rolling of the waters of libation in paradise, +where Mahomet purifies all those he saves from hell, before they enter +into the state of the blessed. It is for this reason they perform +ablution before they pray; the fire burning other parts of their bodies, +while their face, hands, feet, &c. remained untouched, hence Mahomet +when he looks for them, knows them from Jews, Christians, &c. They have +also a sentence written on their foreheads, “Hooalie Jahanamoo naataka +raboo baskafaatee Mahomada roosoola lahee sallee allahoo alahe +wasalame.” + +Inoculation for the small pox is practised in the Moorish countries; +they take the matter, and puncture the patient in seven places, both on +the arms and legs. The sickness continues but a few days, and rarely any +person dies of it. It is also done in Ashantee. Seven is their mystical +number. + +Monday, December 8. To day the King killed a man on account of his +daughter who died yesterday, and to be out of the way, I called on +Odumata, whom I found well charged with palm wine: his usual discourse +of the greatness of the King and the manner of the Ashantees fighting +took up his time: he said that when white men wished to fight, they sent +a book to the other party, telling them they would meet them on such a +day, but the Ashantees took their enemies by surprise, which shortened +their wars. I told him he had repeated the same story about fifty times +in two months, and wished to know if the English did so at Annamaboe, +where fifteen white men killed thousands of Ashantees; this put him on +the fidget, as I knew it would, and he said that it was on him the +English fired first, and he fought them without the King’s leave, who +was angry when he heard that they had returned the fire of the fort; I +told him it was a fine excuse to cover their defeat. He enquired if I +thought they could not have taken the fort? I told him if they could +have done it they would. He said, if the King says we must do any thing, +we must do it. I asked him, if the King told them to pull down the moon, +if they could do it? He then got up from his chair and began to +manoeuvre how he and Apokoo were to have made a breach in Annamaboe +fort, to the no small enjoyment of several of his wives, captains, and +slaves, who were present; they were to have burned the gates, and with +axes to have cut through the walls. He said they had Dutch and Danish +flags, which they had taken from forts; why, I enquired, did they not +show the English trophies? They had none, he said: and the King had told +them, that were he to kill white men from England, he might as well kill +all the cocks in the kingdom; the one told the hour, and when to rise in +the morning; the other brought them good things from England, and +learned them sense; besides, if any of their slaves did ill, they told +them they would sell them to the whites, which made them better. I told +him black men had the eyes of a thief, the paws of a tiger, and the +belly of a hog, for they were never satisfied; he said I was right, for +they were now going to war, and would take whatever they could find; he +thought 30,000 Ashantees would be killed, but that was nothing. He then +locked up his wives because I put evil in their heads, by saying that +Englishmen allowed every one a husband. I then took my leave. + +Monday 15. Baba, the chief of the Moors, having told me that a Moor was +going to Jennë, I took the opportunity of writing a letter to two +Europeans who reside there, and, I suppose, belonged to Mungo Park’s +expedition, seven soldiers being unaccounted for, who were in good +health when they were separated from Mr. Park. There are also two white +men at Timbuctoo, who have been there several years. The Moors are +confident that the letter will reach them, which is much to be desired, +as some information may be obtained of that celebrated traveller. Baba +came, and the old Moor with him, to whom I delivered the letter; he +received it from Baba with much ceremony, and to induce him to forward +an answer, I promised him a suitable reward[125]. The whole of the Moors +came in a body with drums, muskets, horns, and all the attendant pomp of +chiefs; they had just taken leave of the King, and came to do the same +to me. Having remained about half an hour, and drank some wine, they set +out for their journey with noisy clamour. + +Sunday 21. Apokoo called and told me he was going to morrow, with the +King, to the camp, on the Barramang path, to make fetish, and would +return on Wednesday: he seemed to expect that I would say I would go +also; but as the King had not sent to me, I did not express any wish. A +boy brought some milk covered up, and he lifted the lid to look what it +was, some of it touched his fingers, and he sent for water, herbs, and +different things to purify his fingers; he said he would give me a +present if I would give over drinking milk: I told him if he sent me an +ounce of gold daily, I would not do it; he cursed the milk, and the boy +for bringing it. Thus many of them are so particular, they will not stay +where eggs are, another shuns a fowl, one hates beef, and many mutter a +charm if they meet a pig. The Moorish Shereef discovered a piece of pork +one day in the boy’s room, and made such a noise, that I thought one had +struck him, nor would he cease till I ordered it away. + +Monday 22. The King, and almost all the captains, set out early this +morning, with great bustle for the camp, many sent their compliments +previous to going. + +Wednesday 24. The King and all the people returned in the evening, and +went to the upper market place; where the King seeing me at the door, +ordered them to pass down the street to the palace, the chiefs all +saluting as they passed. The King, who was the only one that did not +walk, made his people halt, and held out his hand to me, which I took, +and bade him welcome to his capital; he enquired if I was well, and +after he passed, he looked round with a smile and shook his finger at +me: I suppose because I did not follow him to the camp. His Majesty +afterwards sent his compliments, as did several of the chiefs. + +Thursday 25. This being Christmas day, I displayed the flag, and paid +every attention to it that I possibly could; many of the chiefs hearing +of it, sent their compliments, expecting a present, but of course were +disappointed. + +Friday 24. Baba called, and began an oration about Sam Brue, hinting +that he should like if I could get Brue, the slave trader, back to Cape +Coast. He was my good friend, I was his friend, the Governor was my +friend, Brue was his friend, and a long genealogy fit to puzzle a +Scottish or Welch family herald. I told him no person must interfere in +such affairs. He had that morning received from Brue, powder, guns, and +cloth for slaves he had sent down; he brought me a piece of the cloth to +shew me, it was very coarse with large red figures on it. I told him +when he washed it, he would need to take his staff and put on his +sandals to hunt after the colours; he told me he had found that out; for +he had washed a piece, and he could not tell what colour it was. He then +began a dissertation on the _good_ the slave trade did them, and what +changes he had seen since he came here; he thought God intended to +change the power of white men, and give it to the blacks and Moors. I +told him he was going to make Mahomet a liar, as the Alkoran told them +that the whites were to have sovereign dominion to the end, because of +Noah’s sons’ behaviour to him when drunk; and if God was inclined to +hide his face from white men, because of any ill they did, I did not +think he would transfer it to Africans for any good they had done; he +said I was right, and when they thought wrong the Christians could put +them right. Seeing a Prayer Book on the table, he enquired if that was +“Lingeel,” the name they give the New Testament; I replied it was the +form of worshipping God in English Churches; he wished me to read a +little of it to him, as he had heard that white men prayed to God so—and +muttered in a form, it must be allowed, too often resorted to by lazy +clergymen. They conceive to worship God in any other way than chaunting +or singing is absurd. I have had more than once to sing (if I may +presume to call it so) from the psalms of David, and chaunt the +responses of the service, to convince them that there is something more +than mere muttering in prayer, were it properly performed, besides +describing the organ used in churches to assist the harmony. They have +often asked me about the high priest at Rome, and whether or not we had +any thing shaped out that we called god. I told them the English +abhorred all representations of the Eternal, and that nothing was +adequate to represent him. They are very tenacious on this point, and as +scrupulous as any Protestant may wish, conceiving it an inexcusable +crime to have any thing of the kind. They have many times enquired if we +offer any sacrifice to God. I told them that our Scriptures do not allow +the shedding of blood of any kind; the last great expiation of the +Christians being performed by Jesus when he died on the cross, in +commemoration of which, the offering of bread and wine formed the +sacrifice. Neither did we pour out libations[126] before drinking, +because any thing poured forth before drinking, or victuals set apart +before eating, is an offering to devils. + +The Shereef Abraham coming in with one or two more, I enquired about +Solomon’s Al Genii, and whether or not they knew any thing of free +masonry. I had questioned them several times before, and knew none of +them were free masons; they now told me that there was such a sect in +Arabia, and conceived them to be magicians, as they controlled the +spirits of air. They were much astonished to hear that I was one, and +eagerly enquired if I knew about Solomon’s seal, the building of the +temple, and other matters, which universal belief endows free masons +with,—matters, I told them, I might not speak of. They told me they knew +we kept some of our genii on a floating island in the sea; if any ships +came near it, the genii were instructed to laugh at them, and the island +disappeared; with other such stories. One of the boys told them I had a +stuff (phosphorus) which they supposed gave me such power; they wished +to see it, and laughed at first at the idea of any thing in water +producing fire, or that I could confine that element and dare to keep it +in a trunk; I put it to the proof, by burning a piece of cloth, paper, +and mat, and told them if they were not satisfied they might have some +on their skins, but they did not choose it, and called out in wonder, +“Houa Kahina iakul naroo malekaneran,” “he is a magician and eats fire, +he is the King of fire;” be it remembered that this last appellation is +peculiar to the devil. The Shereef after thinking some time, enquired if +that stuff was not made from the bones of genii? I told him bones were +in the composition. He wished to know if we killed genii and took their +bones, I told him blood was never shed in England but for great crimes; +true, he said, but none could see _us_ do so. I told him there was an +eye that never sleeps, at which he bent his head, pronouncing “God is +great.” The Moors then held a conversation in Arabic, by which they +settled that I must be in the secrets of Solomon, and the Shereef +Abraham related one of the Arabian tales, by which Balkes or Bilkis, +Queen of Sheba, is made out to be the child carried away by the dog in +one of the stories of that work. Balkis, according to them, adored the +sun, and Solomon made her turn and worship God; he commanded the genii +to transport her palace from her own country to Jerusalem, and the three +palaces he built for her in Arabia Felix had gold mixed with the mortar +with which they were formed. They wished to know if I could move a +house? I told them, such was the mystery attached to our concerns, that +it was difficult to answer them; any thing not concerned with masonry, I +might answer; this, they said, was what the people in their country +said. Abraham said he was sure the Arabian magicians made use of bones +from genii to make fire and control them. It would be a curious +circumstance to know that phosphorus, and inoculation, existed in Arabia +in the days of its splendour, and continue now; as they are considered +as two of the most eminent among modern European discoveries. After they +were gone, I called on Odumata, whom I found all talk as usual. He said +he knew I wished to take some of the King’s sons to Cape Coast for +education, but the captains had represented to his Majesty, that they +did not wish it. If the King wanted gold, and they had it, they would +give it him; and were always ready when he called them, to receive his +foot on their necks, and swear to do whatever he wished them, or never +to return. The reason he gave, was, that they were afraid of being +discovered when they cheated the King, which they made no secret of +avowing, and having their heads cut off. I told him he did not like a +white man to live here then; yes, he said, they all liked that; but he +was sufficient to settle all palavers between the King and the English, +without any of the King’s people knowing English. He began to boast of +the many wives and children he had, more than Englishmen. I told him +there was a possibility of an Englishman knowing his father; but no +black man could tell his; they were all slaves, and rendered incapable +of inheriting their father’s property; none of his children need to +thank him, he neither could give them any thing while alive, nor leave +them any thing when dead, and many of them kept wives, while their +slaves enjoyed them. He said I spoke very true, but that I could not +show keys with him; he produced two large bunches, and I offered him an +ounce of gold if he would shew me a lock for each key; he evaded this: I +took them in my hand, and found many of them broken, and various +articles of lead and iron to make the bunches large; his people, and +some chiefs that were with him, enjoyed his perplexity, if I might judge +from their chuckling. + +Several of the King’s brother’s slaves appeared in pursuit of two of +their fellows, flogging them with whips; one of the culprits bounding +over every obstacle, threw himself at Odumata’s feet, which saved him +from their flogging; the man who had charge of him appeared, and in a +long and animated harangue, with many gestures, stated the trouble he +had had from the runaway, and concluded by swearing, the man must be +given up to him in the morning to go and work. It is customary for +slaves, when they fall under their master’s displeasure, to take shelter +in some other chief’s house, who tries to get them excused. + +Saturday 27. The King sent for me, to give me letters which had arrived; +and on my opening them, two small packages of gold tumbled out. The King +asked, if they were for me or him. I enquired if he expected gold from +any one at Cape Coast, he said, no. I told him, it was unlikely gold +would be sent to any one but me. The King, turning to his captains, said +the Governor was a good man, sending me gold whenever I asked for it, +and I eat a great deal of gold. I told him, I never wished a present of +gold from any one; what I got was my pay, as Englishmen did not give +gold to one another. He intended returning his messengers on Tuesday, as +he said, two of them having come up in English uniforms, as the Governor +was to fit out thirty at the King’s request. His Majesty wished me to +taste a bottle of tincture of rhubarb the Governor had sent him; I did +so, lest he should think there was something bad in it. I had then to +taste some tincture of cinnamon he had received some time ago; I +swallowed them with great distaste, as I had felt very unwell the +preceding day, and that morning, and had taken medicine just before the +King sent, and not eaten any breakfast. + +In the afternoon Apokoo called; he had heard Adoo Bradie had been on +board a ship, and that 400 flags were hoisted to receive him;[127] that +was the reason, he said, they did nor wish any of the King’s people to +learn to read and write, they became white men, and saw so many fine +things, they never thought of returning to Ashantee. I told him if it +was disagreeable, it would be given over. Every one was pleased, he +said, to think any Ashantee great man was well used at Cape Coast; but +it turned their heads, not being accustomed to it. The King would give +Adoo Bradie fetish when he came back, and if he told the King lies, the +fetish would catch him, and where would be the good? The English would +have all their trouble for nothing. + +His Majesty, some years ago, took one of Apokoo’s daughters to wife; she +is now one of the finest women in Coomassie, and must have been a great +beauty. It was discovered by the chief eunuch that she had intrigued +with one of the attendants. It was told the King that one of his wives +had proved false; “let her die instantly,” said he in a rage; the slave +whispered him “it is Apokoo’s child.” He rose in silence, and went to +the harem, and the culprit being sent for, the King turned his head +away, while he folded his cloth around him, and lifting the curtain to +let her pass, he exclaimed “go, you are free! your father was my +father,[128] he is my friend, and for his sake, I forget you; when you +find any man good enough for you, let me know and I will give him gold.” +Her father has not allowed her to marry again. + +When any public execution, or sacrifice, is to take place, the ivory +horns of the King proclaim at the palace door, “wow! wow! wow!” “death! +death, death, death!” and, as they cut off their heads, the bands play a +peculiar strain, till the operation is finished. + +The greatest human sacrifice that has been made in Coomassie during my +residence, took place on the eve of the Adaï custom early in January. I +had a mysterious intimation of it two days before, from a quarter not to +be named. My servants being ordered out of the way, I was thus +addressed, “Christian, take care and watch over your family; the angel +of death has drawn his sword, and will strike on the neck of many +Ashantees; when the drum is struck, on Adaï eve, it will be the death +signal of many. Shun the King if you can, but fear not.” When the time +came to strike the drum, I was sitting thinking on the horrors of the +approaching night, and was rather startled at a summons to attend the +King. This is the manner he always takes to cut off any captain or +person of rank; they are sent for to talk a palaver, and the moment they +enter, the slaves lay hold of them, and pinion them, and throw them +down; if they are thought desperate characters, a knife is thrust +through their mouth to keep them from swearing the death of any other, +when they are charged with their crime, real or supposed, and put to +death or torture. + +Whilst I was with the King, the officers, whose duty it is to attend at +sacrifices, and are in the confidence of the King, came in with their +knives, &c. and a message was sent to one chief to say, that the King +was going to his mother’s house to talk a palaver, and shortly after his +Majesty rose, and proceeded thither, ordering the attendants to conduct +me out by another door. + +This sacrifice was in consequence of the King imagining, that if he +washed the bones of his mother and sisters, who died while he was on the +throne, it would propitiate the fetish, and make the war successful. +Their bones, were therefore taken from their coffins, and bathed in rum +and water with great ceremony; after being wiped with silks, they were +rolled in gold dust, and wrapped in strings of rock gold, aggry beads, +and other things of the most costly nature. Those who had done any thing +to displease the King, were then sent for in succession, and immolated +as they entered, “that their blood might water the graves.” The whole of +the night, the King’s executioners traversed the streets, and dragged +every one they found to the palace, where they were put in irons: but +(which is often the case) some one had disclosed the secret, and almost +every one had fled, and the King was disappointed of most of his +distinguished victims. Next morning being Adaï custom, which generally +brought an immense crowd to the city, every place was silent and +forlorn; nothing could be found in the market, and his Majesty proceeded +to the morning sacrifice of sheep, &c. attended only by his confidents, +and the members of his own family. When I appeared at the usual time, he +seemed pleased at my confidence, and remarked that I observed how few +captains were present. He appeared agitated and fatigued, and sat a very +short time. + +As soon as it was dark, the human sacrifices were renewed, and, during +the night, the bones of the royal deceased were removed to the sacred +tomb at Bantama, to be deposited along with the remains of those who had +sat on the throne. The procession was splendid, but not numerous, the +chiefs and attendants being dressed in the war costume, with a musket, +and preceded by torches; the sacred stools, and all the ornaments used +on great occasions, were carried with them; the victims, with their +hands tied behind them, and in chains, preceded the bones, whilst at +intervals, the songs of death and victory proved their wish to begin the +war. The procession returned about three P.M. on Monday, when the King +took his seat in the market place with his small band, and “death! +death! death!” was echoed by his horns. He sat with a silver goblet of +palm wine in his hand, and when they cut off any head, imitated a +dancing motion in his chair; a little before dark, he finished his +terrors for that day, by retiring to the palace, and soon after, the +chiefs came from their concealment, and paraded the streets, rejoicing +that they had escaped death, although a few days might put them in the +same fear. I had been attacked by a violent fit of ague in the morning, +from having stood so long in the sun the day before while with the King, +it being unusually hot. I dared not send out my people to procure any +thing, least they should be murdered, and in fact there was nothing in +the market to be had: there was not even a drop of water in the house. +The sacrifice was continued till the next Adaï custom, seventeen days. + + +[Footnote 125: “Mr. Wm. Hutchison, British Resident at Coomassie, the +capital of Ashantee, hearing there are two Europeans at Jennë, takes the +opportunity of a Moor returning to that place, to write to them. It is +earnestly requested, that some information will be sent to Cape Coast +Castle, whether or not, those, to whom this is addressed, belonged to +the expedition of Captain Mungo Park, or by what means they reached +Jennë. As no certain accounts have reached England of the fate of that +gentleman and his companions, any particulars will be interesting; also, +whether or not the Niger is the river known here by the name of Quolla, +Joliba, or any other appellation unknown in Europe. Also, its course, +and the opinions among the natives as to its termination, with the names +of any towns or countries it may run through. It is also reported that +there are two white men at Timbuctoo: should it be possible to render +any assistance to either, it will be done from Cape Coast Castle on +accounts being received of the certainty of their situation; and the +means which may be found to make the Europeans on the Quolla revisit +their native country: in the mean time, any information will be +anxiously expected, as to the fate of their companions; and whether they +have heard of an English expedition, lately arrived at the Niger. Two +notices in English and Arabic accompany this, offering a reward for +information. + +December 9th.] + +[Footnote 126: I have observed some of the Moors who have been a long +time in Ashantee pour forth a little of any thing before drinking. It +may be remarked, that all the worshippers of the fetish do this, and +also set apart some of their victuals before they eat.] + +[Footnote 127: The signals happened to be drying on board H.M.S. Cherub, +Captain Wills, then lying in the roads of Cape Coast.] + +[Footnote 128: It will be remembered, that the present King carried an +elephant’s tail before Apokoo, until he unexpectedly succeeded to the +stool.—See page 295.] + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + * * * * * + + _Sketch of Gaboon, and its Interior._ + + +The River Gabon, or Gaboon, as the English pronounce it, is placed by +some, N. 30’, E. 8° 42’, by others, on the equator and E. 9° 23’: the +former longitude is certainly the more correct; judging from three +reckonings of the vessel in which I visited it; unfortunately, I had not +the requisites for an observation. The former latitude also, is, +doubtless, the correct one of Cape Clara; for an observation, taken as +we were beating in by Round Corner, gave 23’ N.; and another, taken +about 35 miles up the river, 15’ N. From Cape Clara (which is not ‘very +high land,’) to Sandy point, being an oblique line, may be about 25 +miles, but the direct width of the mouth of the river, cannot be more +than 18. From 22 to 25 miles up the river, lay Parrot and Konig islands, +called by the natives Embenee and Dambee; the former (on which ships +have been hauled to careen) 1¾ miles in circumference and uninhabited, +the latter considerably larger, and having a village on the hill. The +natives mentioned the ruins of a Portuguese fort there. Konig island is +not more than a mile from Rodney’s or Oweëndo point, where there is a +large bight; which, with the one opposite, within Eghirrighee point, +makes the width of the river nearly thirty miles in this part. From +these points it seems to form an inner basin, the greatest width of +which, just above Goombena creek, is about twelve miles, judging from +shots; for the work of the ship being heavy whilst in the river, and the +crew suffering from the climate, (the first mate and carpenter dying,) +no assistance could be spared for a survey. There are several large +creeks in the river, Goöngway is the most so, and Goombena the second. + +These names, being, of themselves, as uninteresting as the list of +bearings would be, I shall reserve both the one and the other, with the +outline of the river adjusted to them, for the Portfolio of the African +Association; and also two or three sketches of the different parts of +the river, not worth publishing, but, possibly, useful for the +introduction of more accurate observers.[129] + +About forty-five miles from the mouth, the river forms two arms. The one +runs north eastwards, by a point called Ohlombompole by the natives of +Gaboon, and Gongoloba by the Shekans or interior people; the entrance is +about four miles wide. The other, runs apparently S.S.E. by a point +called Quawkaw, and Quanlie by the two nations, and is about two miles +broad. It was an inconsiderate observation of Mr. Maxwell’s, “If the +Niger has a sensible outlet, I have no doubt of its proving the Congo, +knowing all the rivers between Cape Palmas and Cape Lopez to be +inadequate to the purpose.” The Volta may be thought so, but the Lagos +certainly cannot, nor the Danger, or Gaboon; and, surely, the rivers del +Rey, and Formoso are not; which are thus noticed, within a few pages of +Mr. Maxwell’s observation, by the judicious Editor of Mr. Park’s last +mission, “The Rio del Rey and the Formoso, are stated to be of +considerable size, being each of them seven or eight miles broad at the +mouth; and the supposed Delta, estimated by the line of coast, is much +larger than that of the Ganges: consequently, the two streams, if +united, must form a river of prodigious magnitude.” + +There being little prospect of the ship completing her cargo (red wood +and ebony) within two months, I determined to divert such a tædium under +an insalubrious climate, by investigating and compiling the interior +geography, as far as I could from the reports of the slaves, and +traders. The most enterprising of the latter, and the greatest +travellers in the interior, living on board the vessel during her +loading, I conversed with them constantly, as they spoke good English; +and I went on shore twice, passing a night the latter time, to Naängo or +George’s Town, two miles up the romantic creek of Abaäga, about forty- +five miles from the mouth of the river. I found the Governor (so his +title was interpreted) a very hospitable and intelligent native, and +speaking good English. He had travelled much in the interior, when +young, was still very inquisitive for particulars, and produced me a +troop of slaves for questioning, which furnished a native of almost +every country I could hear of. I saw two young negroes, the sons of +native rulers, who spoke and wrote French fluently. The one had been +sent to that country for education, and the other in his voyage to +England for the same purpose, was taken and carried to France, and +generously educated and maintained by the owner of the privateer.[130] +Each remained in France upwards of eight years before they were sent +back to Gaboon, and professed to be very anxious to return to it, +depicting the native habits not only as uncongenial, but disgusting to +them. The Congo hypothesis, the primary stimulus to my enquiries, making +geographical particulars the most desirable, I will defer those on other +subjects, and submit the compilation of seven weeks investigation and +inquiry under the above advantageous circumstances. + +The native name of the country of Gaboon, is Empoöngwa; it dos not +extend above the branching of the river, or more than forty miles in +length; and is about thirty in breadth, including the river, which they +call Aroöngo. We will pursue the north-eastern arm first. There is a +sand-bank in the middle of the entrance, and three small islands, +Soombëä, Ningahinga, and Ompoöngee, are just beyond it, where the water +becomes fresh. About two miles further, is a larger island called +Cheēndue, inhabited, and the women of which are constantly employed in +fishing for white mullet, being abundant. They dress them with a kind of +chocolate, which I shall notice presently. Several large trees grow out +of the water, one, eminently high, is directly in the middle of the +river; they are called Intinga, or the iron tree. The eastern banks of +this arm are inhabited by the Sheekans, who, with all the nations of the +interior, are called Boolas by the Gaboons, a term synonymous with Dunko +in Ashantee. Adjoining Sheekan are the Jomays, who speak a dialect of +the same language. The Sheekans bury their dead within the house, under +their beds. The Gaboons prohibit these people from visiting the coast, +lest they should deprive them of their profits, as the medium between +the interior and shipping, whether for slaves or manufactures. + +The Sheekans, like their neighbours, only reckon from 1 to 5, conjoining +these numerals afterwards, as Mr. Park has shewn the Feloops and the +Jaloffs to do. + + One Ilwawtoe + + Two Ibba + + Three Bittach + + Four Binnay + + Five Bittah + + Ten Ducoom + + Twenty Eboomebba + + Hundred Kama + +The source of the north-eastern arm is unknown, it probably flows from +the River Danger, called by the natives Moöhnda, which flows very far +from the interior; and, though not so wide, is considerably deeper than +the Aroöngo or Gabon. There is a creek passing Quaw Ben’s town in the +River Gabon, which runs inland, within a short distance of the Moöhnda, +so that traders proceeding so far by it, carry their canoes over the +interval to that river. The Nokos, Apooks, and Komebays, inhabit the +lower space between the Rivers Gaboon and Danger. + +Having pulled up the N.E. arm for two days and nights, they land, +leaving the river about one mile broad; and after two journies, +(skirting Sheekan,) reach Samashialee, the capital of the country of +Kaylee, (sometimes called Kalay,) and the residence of the King Ohmbay. +Samashialee, is described as a considerable town, and Asāko, as the +second to it; their houses are all of bamboo. The Kaylees manufacture +iron from the ore, which abounds every where in this part of Africa; but +they are very careful not to let the coast people see them do so, as +knives, spears, mats, and bamboo cloth, are their articles of barter +with them, for brass rods, cottons, and other European commodities. I +procured some of the knives and spear heads, of their own iron. The +bamboo-cloth has the appearance of coarse brown Holland. Their mats are +very fine, and much varied in colors and patterns. It is remarkable, +that the latter do not partake at all of their own wild character, but +are of that chaste, simple outline which would be called elegant by +civilized nations. These people are cannibals, not only eating their +prisoners but their dead, whose bodies are bid for directly the breath +is out of them. A father has frequently been seen to eat his own child. +Fowls abound in their country, but they never eat them, nor will they +goats, which are equally numerous, whilst human flesh is to be had. Salt +fetches an enormous price. The people of Gaboon would be afraid to +venture amongst them, even as traders, but for their musquets, and a +strong body of Sheekans, always engaged to accompany them. Their country +is mountainous and woody. There are people inhabiting a mountain close +to the north-eastward of Kalay, who are said to see best in the night +time, when they travel and work, sleeping most of the day, because the +light hurts their eyes, which are remarkably brilliant. Ivory is +plentiful. The Kaylee seems to be a dialect of the Sheekan. + + One Woto + + Two Ibba + + Three Battach + + Four Binnay + + Five Bittan + + Ten Duëoom + +Northward of Kaylee, two journies, is Imbekee, adjoining the Moöhnda or +Danger. One moon distant, in the same direction, passing through the +countries, Beesoo (three journies from Imbeekee) Aösa, and Hetan, are +the larger kingdoms of Badayhee, and Oongoomo; the King of the latter is +Enjukayamoo, and the capital Mattadee, described as a very large town. +The numerals assimilate to those of Kaylee. + + One Woötta + + Two Beeba + + Three Bittach + + Four Binnay + + Five Bitten + +Travelling (still northward,) through the small states of Oondamee and +Bolaykee, in six journies they reach the extensive countries of Paämway, +and Shaybee, which adjoin each other; and on their northern frontier is +Bayhee, through which kingdom the River Wola or Wole flows; the largest +river they had ever seen or heard of, and running eastward. My friend +the Governor, always impressed on me, that this was the largest river in +the world, and ran, to use his own words, “farther than any one, except +God, knows, farther than Indee; all the great rivers in this country +come from Wole.” The Moöhnda, he had always understood in the long +course of his enquiries, to flow from it; but he could not speak so +positively of that, as of the junction of the Ogooawai and the Wole, as +he had himself been to a considerable distance up the Ogooawai, which, +returning to Gaboon, we shall proceed to. All the nations on this route +were said to be cannibals, the Paämways not so voraciously so as the +others, because they cultivate a breed of large dogs for their eating; +this seems the favourite meat in most parts of Africa. + +Those who travel eastward, pull for a day and a half up the right hand +or south-eastern arm of the Gaboon or Aroöngo, which arm is formed by +the junction of several small streams, about sixty miles from its +confluence with the north-eastern arm. Landing about thirty-five miles +up it, two and a half journies are occupied in travelling over an +uninhabited country, described as savannah, and called Woongawoonga; it +is entirely open, and buffaloes are numerous. Here they reach the +Ogooäwai, a rapid river, frequently as wide, and, generally, +considerably deeper than the Gaboon; and which, as we shall presently +see, runs to the Congo, of itself insignificant. One day up the +Ogoöawai, is the small kingdom of Adjoomba, consisting but of four +towns. One journey beyond, on the Ogooäwai, and north-eastward, is +Gaelwa, a kingdom of more importance, its length three journies. The +King’s name is Roiela, and the capital, a considerable town, Inkanjee: +Goondemsie is second to it. Adjoining Gaelwa is Eninga, where the river +widens considerably; this country is larger than Adjoomba, very +populous, and composed of several small governments. The river winds +very much; frequently they save time by carrying their canoes over the +peninsulas; they are also opposed by impetuous currents. Hitherto the +language is the same as the Empoöngwa or Gaboon. Twenty journies from +the frontier of Gaelwa and Eninga, through the small state of Okota, is +the kingdom of Asheera; and ten beyond it, that of Okandee, the greatest +they know. The King’s name is Adoomoo, the capital extensive, and kept +particularly clean: their law forbids any native of Okandee to be sold +as a slave. None of the nations on the Ogooäwai are cannibals. On the +eastern confines of Okandee this river is described to join or flow from +the Wōla. The countries between the Moöhnda and Ogooäwai, are called +Sappalah, Koomakaimalong, and Okaykay, and described as vast extents of +savannah. Deeha was spoken of as a large country in the neighbourhood of +the Wōla. I could not make these interior natives, or the people of +Gaboon, understand what I meant by a Moor; there are none but pagan +negroes throughout. The slaves recently arrived viewed me with affright; +they said none in their country would believe there were white men. + +I could hear of no great controlling kingdom, like Ashantee, in these +parts of the interior, nor do I think any such exists eastward of +Yarriba, or other than numerous small states, as far behind Dagwumba and +its neighbours in civilization, as they are behind Europeans. The +name,[131] situation, magnitude, and course of the Wōla, leave little +doubt of its being the Kulla or Quolla; though I am not clear that they +said there was a country of the name of the river, nor did I recognize +the name of any of the countries I had before heard of, as being in its +neighbourhood. With those on the northern banks of this large river they +did not profess to be acquainted, and those on the southern may be +intermediate between the Moöhnda and Ogooawai routes, which diverge from +Empoöngwa, the former northward, the latter north-eastward. Forty +journies from the Empoöngwa frontier to the Bahr Kulla agree very well +with the distance. A strong argument, in addition to the above, for the +Wōla and the Quolla being the same river, (recollecting my description +of the Paämways, and all the nations on the line of the Moöhnda, as +cannibals,) is suggested by the reperusal of the following remarks of +Mr. Horneman, and Mr. Hutchison, already quoted in page 202: “The Yem +Yems, cannibals, are south of Kano, ten days,” which agrees very well +with the lowered course of the Niger, which I have been obliged to lay +down. “It is to the King of Quallowliffa that the country in which +Canna, Dall, and Yum Yum, where cannibals are, is subject.” It is true, +that the character only, and not the names of the nations visited from +Empoöngwa, can be identified with Mr. Hutchison’s Canna, Dall, and Yum +Yum; but the Moorish pronunciation, or writing of negro names, +especially those only known to them by report, is very incorrect and +capricious. To Mr. Horneman, they were called Yem Yems; to Mr. +Hutchison, Yum Yums, and sometimes Jum Jums. The names Bapoonoo, +Okobella, Banginniga, Oonbamba, and Asango, may possibly be identified +hereafter amongst the countries approximating to the Wōla. + +We will return to Adjoomba, where the Ogooäwai divides itself; the +smaller arm called Assazee runs to Cape Lopez, which is in the kingdom +of Oroöngoo; the monarch, Ogoöla, from his power surpassing every other +in the neighbourhood of the coast, has acquired the name of Pass-all +with the traders who speak English. Between Oroöngoo and Adjoomba is the +kingdom of Oongobai. The King’s name is Pendanga, and the numerals are, + + One Rappeek. + + Two Ramboise. + + Three Mittasee. + + Four Binnay. + + Five Bittan. + + Six Sambal. + + Seven Bittooba. + + Eight Bissamen. + + Nine Bwoi. + + Ten Deëoom. + +An intelligent native of this country had fled to Gaboon to avoid +execution. + +The larger arm of the Ogooäwai, flowing south-eastward, as wide as the +Gaboon, through the country of Tanyan, (the western frontier of which is +five journies from that of Adjoomba,) runs into the Congo, (which is +comparatively small before the confluence,) about ten days pull from the +mouth of that river. A very intelligent man who acts as interpreter or +trade man to the vessels which frequent the river Gaboon, confirming +this account of the slaves and traders, I enquired into the +circumstances to which he owed his knowledge. He is the son of the +principal trader in Gaboon, called Tom Lawson, who speaks English +fluently. Eight years ago, this young man, Wondo, went from Gaboon to +the Congo, in the Nimble, Everett master. After the vessel had traded +some time, as high up in the river as she might safely venture, the +captain sent him and three or four other negroes in a boat with goods, +to go up as much higher as they could. His account was, that they passed +Evehelee and Cormee, when they came to a fall of water upwards of twenty +feet high. A native, who preceded them in his canoe, directed them to +enter a small channel to the east, which, by a considerable sweep, +avoided it, but the natives, he persisted, both pulled their canoes up, +and let them down this fall, by long fibrous roots twisted into cordage, +and affixed to the large trees above; frequently, however, the most +expert were victims to their intrepidity, generally in the descent; +their canoes were made purposely in the shape of a bow. I expressed my +doubts, questioned him with seeming indifference, at many different +times, on this subject, and requested others to do the same; his account +never varied. He was naturally very cautious in what he said, by no +means given to the marvellous in recounting his travels, but a corrector +of that disposition in others. To the last moment he persisted in this +report. Just beyond this fall is the confluence of the Ogooawai and the +Congo, which takes place in Tanyan.[132] From this point he described +the latter as gradually dwindling to its source, (not more than six days +distant, by Encombë and Eveheea,) so that the Congo owed its magnitude +and rapidity entirely to the Ogooawai.[133] He mentioned a chief named +Mangoff, to have been a principal man in the Congo, and he sung his boat +chorus as a specimen of the language, “Malava napa, malava mabootay, +mabootay.” He said, Mangoff lived at Barrima. He spoke of a place called +Ohlobe, but I omitted to minute the particulars. + +The master of a Liverpool ship, laying in Gaboon river, having visited +the Congo annually for many years, I availed myself of an opportunity of +conversing with him also. He mentioned Bōma as the principal place of +trade, but he did not consider it more than forty miles up the river; it +was so called after a chief, whose son has now succeeded him. Binda, a +secondary place of trade, he reckoned to be ninety miles from the +entrance of the river, on the north side; but there are so many arms or +branches there, that it is very difficult to distinguish the Congo +itself, which he had always understood to terminate soon +afterwards.[134] The houses he described as wretched, and transportable, +so that a trader buying one for a trifle, could have it moved to any +part of the banks he pleased. Sea horse teeth were to be bought +plentifully, they buried them with their dead, dedicating them as the +Ashantees do gold, and generally sticking one erect on the grave, as a +sort of monument. He spoke very ill of them from his own experience; +they had frequently attempted to poison the water on board his vessel. A +few months back they cut off a Portuguese vessel, destroyed the crew, +and plundered her. I anxiously anticipate the perusal of Captain +Tuckey’s journal. + +Tom Lawson, who has as much, if not more influence than his brother the +King, says he would provide an escort headed by his son Wondo, and +guarantee the safety of any exploratory party to the river Ogooawai, and +five days up it; that is as far as Okota. Two hundred pounds laid out in +goods, I think, would defray the expenses, and presents, en passant, +handsomely, and there are many opportunities by which two officers might +be sent from Cape Coast to Gaboon for the purpose, and by way of the +islands, return to it. A man of war might convey them, and call for +them, on her cruise. + +Kings are numerous in Gaboon, and scarcely comparable even with the +petty caboceers of Fantee. The greatest trader, or the richest man of +almost every small village assumes the title, and frequently suffers +gross indignities from his subjects, from not having the power to punish +them. The King of Naängo seems of acknowledged superiority, and is +comparatively respectable, both in means and power; he is known to +trading vessels by the name of King George. The brother succeeds before +the son. The legislative and judicial power is vested in the Governor, +controlled by the King, who may order the death of a man; but, if he +assigns no good reason, the offensive party is generally allowed to +retire elsewhere. All children share the property of the father in equal +portions, except the eldest son, who has about half as much again as any +other. If a man kills another, he has a public trial; and, if he cannot +justify the act, which it seems he may in many instances, his own death +is inevitable. If he kills one of his wives, (his rank is designated by +the number,) he pays a fine to her family, who, and not the husband, are +involved in all her palavers. The acknowledged heir to a property may +bring a palaver against his father, or whoever may be possessor of it, +for killing a slave unjustly, or otherwise injuring the property, and +oblige him to make good the injury. + +A man may not look at, or converse with his mother-in-law, on pain of a +heavy, perhaps a ruinous fine; this singular law is founded on the +tradition of an incest. It is a common custom to lend their wives to one +another; if a man evades a promise of this kind, the Governor awards +heavy damages to the plaintiff. If an applicant is refused, and is +detected in intrigue, the whole of his property is forfeited to the +husband of the woman, who, if it is not speedily delivered, may kill the +man, and burn his house. I heard of no law so barbarous or disgusting, +as this any where in the interior of the Gold Coast. They assured me +they never made human sacrifices. + +A man of consequence never drinks before his inferiors, without hiding +his face from them, believing that at this moment only, his enemies have +the power of imposing a spell on his faculties, in spite of the +guardiance of his fetish. When a man dies, the door of his house is kept +shut seven days. The whiskers of the men, and the side locks both of +them and the women, hang down in narrow braids, sometimes below their +shoulders, the ends commonly tipped with small beads, and the front +locks are generally braided to project like horns. The women wear a +number of thick brass rings (the trade brass rod twisted) round their +legs. A woman of consequence has a succession of them from the ancle to +the knee, which announce her approach when walking, and jingle when she +dances. The female slaves support even the heaviest burdens from a broad +band or string around the temples. Like other negroes, different +families have different fetish, some will not eat a cock, nor others a +hen. I could not discover any distinct ideas of the creation, or of a +future life. They believe implicitly in the superior fetish of +individuals from Sappalah and other countries in the interior. + +Tom Lawson’s ‘fetish man,’ a native of Sappalah, has so thoroughly +persuaded his master, by his address and fortuitous circumstances in +war, that no bullet can injure him, strike him where it will, (either +rebounding, or penetrating to be thrown from the stomach at pleasure) +that this old man, who has lived almost the whole of his life in +European vessels, always presses every stranger to become equally +convinced by firing at him. His son bribed this man to endue him with +the same fetish, and eagerly making trial of its virtue, received a +musket ball, which fractured the small bone of his arm. The address of +the fetish man accounted for this, to the entire satisfaction of every +body, by declaring (being the most probable crime he could guess in the +emergency) that it was at that instant revealed to him by the offended +fetish, that this young man once had a stolen intercourse with his wife +at an improper season; it was immediately confessed as a truth, and they +are as obstinate believers as ever. + +Naängo consists of one street, wide, regular, and clean. The houses are +very neatly constructed of bamboo, and afford a ground floor of spacious +and lofty apartments. They sleep on bedsteads encircled with musquito +curtains of bamboo cloth. The manners of the superiors are very pleasing +and hospitable, and a European may reside amongst them, not only with +safety, but with comfort and dignity. I do not think the old and new +town contain 500 inhabitants between them. From the sickness which +prevailed on board the vessel, the climate must be very insalubrious. +The density of the atmosphere from exhalation was even more oppressive +than the heat, which was intense before the setting in of the sea- +breeze, and at all times sensibly much greater than I had experienced on +the Gold Coast, or in the interior: there was no thermometer on board. +The Empoöngwa is the softest negro language I have ever heard, being +characterized by the duplication of vowels, separately pronounced. Their +numerals are; + + One Hemoödee + + Two Mban + + Three Ntcharoo + + Four Nahee + + Five Nchanee + + Six Oroöba + + Seven Ragginnoömoo + + Eight Ennanakee + + Nine Enogoöm + + Ten Hegoöm + +They do not possess a single manufacture, depending for all their +comforts and conveniences on the superior ingenuity of their inland +neighbours, and the supplies of shipping. They plant but handfuls of +corn, and rear a few goats and fowls. Cotton grows spontaneously. They +make a good black dye from the mangrove and ebony shavings. They reduce +the red wood to a very soft powder, by breaking a soft species of stone, +and sprinkling the finest particles of it on a flat piece of red wood, +which they rub violently against another flat piece; the mixed powders +are then thrown into water, and that of the wood floating on the surface +is strained and dried. They rub children with this powder for cutaneous +eruptions. + +The African Ourang-outan (Pithecus Troglodites) is found here, the one I +saw was two feet and a half high, but said to be growing. I offered a +fair price for it, considering they are not rare there, and would not +give more when I heard of one being already in England. The native name +is Inchego: it had the cry, visage, and action of a very old man, and +was obedient to the voice of its master; its agony on espying the +panther on board was inconceivable.[135] There is a curious variety of +monkeys. The favourite and most extraordinary subject of our +conversations on natural history, (which I introduce merely to excite +enquiry) was the Ingēna, compared with an Ourang-outan, but much +exceeding it in size, being generally five feet high, and four across +the shoulders; its paw was said to be even more disproportionate than +its breadth, and one blow of it to be fatal; it is seen commonly by +those who travel to Kaylee, lurking in the bush to destroy passengers, +and feeding principally on the wild honey, which abounds. Their death is +frequently accelerated by the silliness which characterizes most of +their actions: observing men carry heavy burthens through the forest, +they tear off the largest branches from the trees, and accumulating a +weight (sometimes of elephants teeth,) disproportionate even to their +superior strength, emulously hurry with it from one part of the woods to +another, with little or no cessation, until the fatigue, and the want of +rest and nourishment, exhausts them. Amongst other of their actions, +reported without variation by the men, women, and children of Empoöngwa +and Sheekan, is that of building a house in rude imitation of the +natives, and sleeping outside or on the roof of it; and also of carrying +about their infant dead, closely pressed to them, until they drop away +in putrefaction.[136] The larger birds in the creeks were uncommon, if +not unknown. Pelicans abounded. + +Chamelions were plentifully caught, but none lived more than a month on +board the vessel, whether fed with flies, or not at all. The changes of +those I watched seemed confined to the shades between a very dark, dusky +green, and a bright yellow; when placed on any black substance they +became the former, and when any thing light approached them, they +changed to a bright green, which hue, if the substance was yellow, was +interspersed with the most brilliant spots of that colour. I could not +discern that they ever acquired a tinge of blue or red; when at rest in +their cage, their color was dark green, mottled with still darker spots. + +In my rambles about the environs of Naängo, I formed some idea of the +general face of vegetation in Empoöngwa. Being the rainy season, of +course it did not possess its usual beauty. The red wood trees abounded, +with many which were new to me. The Mangroves clothed the banks of the +creeks and river, even growing some yards from the banks in the water, +and their lower branches frequently covered with oysters. The palm wine +tree was plentiful. Like most parts of Western Africa, the woods were so +covered beneath with shrubs and plants, that they seemed impenetrable. +Immense runners, twisting together, dropped from the branches like large +cables, generally covered with parasites; sometimes adhering to the +parent stem, they became themselves a tree, and at others, shooting +across to the branches of neighbouring trees, seemed to connect the +forest in a general link. The climbing plants contributed to this +entanglement, for, interlacing their tendrils amongst the trees, they +enwreathed them in the most beautiful flowers, or dropping in festoons, +formed a splendid drapery to the sober green of the canopy: amongst +these the convolvolus cairicus was conspicuous, from its extreme +variety, the flowers being not only of that beautiful lilac, so much +esteemed in England, but of the brightest blue, dark brown, pale yellow, +white, pink, buff with a purple eye, and all the shades which an opening +flower presents from budding to decay.[137] I gathered a few specimens +of the plants as I walked along, which may be acceptable to botanists. I +can only lament that so many circumstances conspired to render my +account of them imperfect; the rainy season, my slight knowledge of +botany, and the absence of all instruments which might have enabled me +to examine the very minute flowers which frequently presented +themselves; but I am convinced many new species might be discovered. I +will submit a few which were remarkable for their different virtues, and +of which drawings or specimens are preserved. + +The Cosa Cosa grew upon a tree about ten feet high, the flowers in +clusters, but rarely two fully blown at the same moment, the corolla +white, tube shaped, but cleft to the bottom, tinged at the top with +crimson and yellow; a slightly tinged glutinous petal was fixed within +the corolla, and adhered firmly to it; when separated, I found the two +anthera fastened to it, without filaments, and between them laid the +style, the stigma having a small hook at the back to fasten it between +the two anthera. The juice is used for curing inflammations of the eyes. + +The Endaägoo (_Cyperas articulatus_. _Linn._) had the appearance of a +grass, the bulbous root was used as a worm medicine. + +The Owallifa was not in blossom, the prickly leaf was applied to +swellings when they wished to reduce them by bleeding; flogging the part +affected, as boys frequently do their chilblains with holly. + +The Edjamba (_a species of_ _Urtica_) bears a multitude of minute green +flowers, the leaves wear the appearance of nettles, and when laid on the +skin produce blisters. + +The Eninda Aboönee (_Leea sambucina_) is an umbelliferous plant, the +infusion of which is said to correct nausea. + +The Oonkoolankolee (_Aneilema bracteolata_. _Br._) bears a very delicate +lilac blossom, with only two petals, which fly back and expose the other +parts of the flower; the least breath of air will disturb them. The +natives wash their children with its infusion, if they are backward in +walking. + +The Econda Boomba (_Bidens_, probably a new species, but too imperfect +to be determined) is anti-venereal, as an infusion; the flower resembles +the chamomile. + +The Shewawono bears a spike with leaves resembling those of Hedysarum. +The decoction is said to cure rheumatism. + +The tobacco grows spontaneously, but I do not consider this so strong a +proof of its being indigenous to Africa, as that it grows in Inta. The +Portuguese have probably introduced it into Gaboon. + +The natives here as well as elsewhere have a number of fetish plants; +the most remarkable seems the Ewelly welly, (the Aserumbdrue of +Ashantee, a species of Piper related to Umbellatum) the broad leaf of +which, when rubbed on a fetish man, is said to render him invisible. + +The Eroga, a favourite but violent medicine, is no doubt a fungus, for +they describe it as growing on a tree called the Ocamboo, when decaying; +they burn it first, and take as much as would lay on a shilling. + +The medicine they most prize is the Neoöndoo; a small quantity was +spared to me reluctantly. Four nuts grow in a pod on a very large tree +of the hardest wood; it is purchased greedily, only growing on the +frontier of Empoöngwa, and is used successfully by those afflicted with +gravel. + +In killing elephants they use two poisons, both of which are the milky +juices of the stalks of plants. Inquaw indjoo (a plant belonging to the +natural order _Aroidea_, and referable to the Linnean genus _Arum_) +bears a hard white berry in a spiral cluster. The Ygwan agwan berries +are red, and in perfection at the time that the flowers are budding. +These juices are rubbed on the muskets balls, spears, arrows, and +knives, and the effect on the elephant is described as almost +instantaneous. + +They make bird lime from a tree called Epoowa. + +Besides the pine apple, the common thread of Africa, they use that of +two other plants, the Ezoönee (_Triumfitta elliptica_, _Nov. Sp._) and +the Naängoo, an _Urtica_, or genus nearly allied to it. The former bears +a yellow flower, too minute for my inspection. The top of the latter is +surmounted by five or six delicate flower stalks; the blossoms were +exceedingly minute, and of a lively green. + +The governor of the town brought me two or three very harsh rough +leaves, which he said were from the plant Egoögoo (a species of _ficus_) +not then in blossom; they are used in planing wood, polishing and +cleaning various articles of household furniture, and feel like emery +paper. At the same time he gave me what they are very fond of chewing, a +delicate little mimosa, (_Abrus precatorius_. _Linn._) the taste of +which resembles liquorice. + +A beautiful red pod, the blossom of which was out of season, contains +small black seeds, in taste exactly resembling the cardamom. The natives +of this place, and also of the interior, are very fond of them. In +Booroom the plant is called Booroomma, and at Gaboon, Entoöndo. + +The Caoutchouc is to be met with here; the natives describe it as the +product of one tree only,[138] the olamboo; their method of collecting +it is curious. After the incision is made in the tree, whence it oozes +like a glutinous milk, they spread it over their arms and breasts with a +knife, (having first shaved themselves, that the hair of the skin may +not be torn up when it is taken off,) in the form of a plaister. It is +either rolled up in balls to play with, or stretched over the heads of +drums; they do not seem to apply it to any other use. + +They make their torches from the wood (odjoo) of which they form their +canoes, the resinous parts are broken in small pieces, and tied closely +in very long leaves; the smaller end is fixed to an upright stick placed +in the ground of the apartment; they afford a brilliant light, and the +resin, when burning, emits a grateful odour. + +The Odica, from which they make a kind of chocolate, is a very high and +large tree, bearing an acuminate shining leaf. The nuts, which are +white, are contained in a round pod with a bulb at the end, twice as +large as a man’s fist, green without, and yellow within; the parts +surrounding the nuts are squeezed into water, which they sweeten like +honey. The kernels are strung and smoke dried, and then beat in water +into large masses, having the appearance of coarse chocolate, but the +flavour of a rank gross gravy. It might be more palatable otherwise +prepared. + +The vegetable butter (which certainly belongs to the natural order +_Sapoteæ_) brought to the Ashantee market, is here well known by the +name of Onoöngoo: it is a large tree, and the nuts are enclosed in a +round red pod, containing from four to six: the flower is also red, from +description. My servant, a native of Booroom, called the tree +Kirrimkoon, and the butter Incoom; the Ashantees call the latter +Sarradee; in Mallowa the tree is called Timkeëä. The nut is first +boiled, and the oil or butter afterwards expressed; in Booroom and +Mallowa it is skimmed from the surface. It tasted quite as good as fresh +butter before any salt is added, and we relished the meat fried in it +exceedingly. Being the rainy season I could neither get a sight of the +flower or the pod of this or the odica, but I procured the nuts and +produce of both. The curious may compare this butter with the specimen +of the Ashantee grease. Before I understood them to be distinct trees, I +concluded the odica and the butter both to be the produce of the cacao- +nut, but the butter answers closely to Mr. Park’s description of the +shea-tolu, though the tree did not resemble the American oak. + +The Kolla nut grows on one of those trees which are supposed to sow +their own seed; it is round, and the size of an Orleans plum, having a +very hard shell, the kernel is white, and, after being exposed to the +sun for a few days, becomes even sweeter than a filbert. The natives +frequently soak them in salt water for a few weeks, and relish the rank +flavour they then acquire. They form the principal food of the lower +orders. They have a round orange coloured fruit, called Incheema, the +size varies from that of a small cocoa nut to a large one; the capsule +is very thick, and when cut yields a milky juice; a number of hard, dark +brown seeds, surrounded by a pulp, are found within, the latter only is +eaten, and when gathered fresh from the tree, is of a very delicious +flavour, not unlike that of a green gage. If the fruit is suffered to +fall from the tree, the bruise renders it unwholesome and unpalatable. + +Every dark night, Tom Lawson was sure to direct me to look in the +direction of what some foolish Europeans had persuaded him must be a +diamond mountain. It lays about three days eastward of Empoöngwa in +direct distance, but from the fear of the intervening people, he had +been obliged to visit it by a circuitous route, which occupied seven +days; he lost the pieces he procured, in a skirmish on his return; they +illuminated a great circumference. It is considered a powerful fetish, +and described as a very high mountain. I must admit, that when there was +no moon, a pale but distinct light was invariably reflected from a +mountain in that quarter, and from no other. + +The red and yellow ochres brought to me, were dug in the neighbourhood +of a savannah three journies south-eastward of Empoöngwa, where they +insisted there were large pits of strata, not only of red and yellow, +but of other colours. They believe, that if a man attempts to carry off +different colours at the same time, he is paralyzed on the spot. Gold +has never been found in this part of Africa. + +[Illustration: Music score + +EMPOÖNGWA SONG.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +EMPOÖNGWA SONG.] + +[Illustration: Music score + +Notes sung by the white Negro from Imbeekee.] + +The music of Empoöngwa is, generally, very inferior to that I have +before noticed. The enchambee, their only peculiar instrument, resembles +the mandolino, but has only five strings, made from the root of the palm +tree; the neck consists of five pieces of bamboo, to which the strings +are fastened, and, slipping up and down, are easily, but not securely +tuned; it is played with both hands; the tones are sweet, but have +little power or variety. Long stories are recited to the enchambee in +the moon-light evenings, in a sort of recitative; a favourite one, is an +account of the arts by which the Sun gained the ascendancy over the +Moon, who were first made of coeval power by their common father. + +No. 1, (which, I imagine, commences in F major, and ends in G major) is +an Empoöngwa air played on the enchambee. I do not know if the inversion +of words is common in their conversation as well as in their songs. A +native envies a neighbour, named Engaëlla, who has ivory to barter with +a vessel. + + Amorill injanja Engaëlla; impoongee m’adgillinjanja. + + A brass pan he has got Engaëlla; ivory, I have got none. + +Here again we find _me_ answers to the personal pronoun I. + +No. 2, in G major, is a song in which the men sing the air alone, and +the women join in the chorus. It is an old one, and the subject the +first appearance of a white man. One verse will be quite enough to +satisfy others and exculpate myself. At least half a dozen followed it. + + Ma bengwoo ma bengwa baïa. + + A fine strange thing, A fine strange thing, my mother. + + Deboonga sai camberwoona nayennee. + + Like the leaf of the fat tree,[139] true I say, so it is. + + Sangwa moochoo, baïa. + + I make you look to-day, my mother. + + Baï yamgwan boonoo. + + My mother fears this fetish man. + +My patience during a series of dull Empoöngwa songs, was recompensed by +the introduction of a performer, as loathsome as his music was +astonishing. It was a white negro from the interior country of Imbeekee; +his features betrayed his race, his hair was woolly, and of a sandy +colour, with thick eye brows of the same; his eyes small, bright, and of +a dark grey; the light seemed to hurt them, and their constant quivering +and rolling gave his countenance an air of insanity, which was confirmed +by the actions of his head, and limbs, and the distortions of his mouth. +His stature was middling, and his limbs very small; his skin was +dreadfully diseased, and where it was free from sores bore the +appearance of being thrown on, it hung about him so loose and so +shrivelled; his voice was hollow, and his laugh loud, interspersed with +African howls. His harp was formed of wood, except that part emitting +the sound, which was covered with goat skin, perforated at the bottom. +The bow to which the eight strings were fixed, was considerably curved, +and there was no upright; the figure head, which was well carved, was +placed at the top of the body, the strings were twisted round long pegs, +which easily turned when they wanted tuning, and, being made of the +fibrous roots of palm wine tree, were very tough and not apt to slip. +The tone was full, harmonious, and deep. He sat on a low stool, and +supporting his harp on his knee and shoulder, proceeded to tune it with +great nicety; his hands seemed to wander amongst the strings until he +gradually formed a running accompaniment (but with little variety) to +his extraordinary vociferations. At times, one deep and hollow note +burst forth and died away; the sounds of the harp became broken; +presently he looked up, pursuing all the actions of a maniac, taking one +hand from the strings, to wave it up and down, stretching forth one leg +and drawing it up again as if convulsed, lowering the harp on to the +other foot, and tossing it up and down. Whilst the one hand continued +playing, he rung forth a peal which vibrated on the ear long after it +had ceased; he was silent; the running accompaniment served again as a +prelude to a loud recitative, uttered with the greatest volubility, and +ending with one word, with which he ascended and descended, far beyond +the extent of his harp, with the most beautiful precision. Sometimes he +became more collected, and a mournful air succeeded the recitative, +though without the least connection, and he would again burst out with +the whole force of his powerful voice in the notes of the Hallelujah of +Handel. To meet with this chorus in the wilds of Africa, and from such a +being, had an effect I can scarcely describe, and I was lost in +astonishment at the coincidence. There could not be a stronger proof of +the nature of Handel, or the powers of the negro. + +I naturally enquired if this man was in his senses, and the reply was, +that he was always rational but when he played, when he invariably used +the same gestures, and evinced the same incoherency. The accompanying +notes were caught whilst he was singing; to do more than set them down +in their respective lengths, was impossible, and every notation must be +far inadequate. + +As regards the words, there was such a rhapsody of recitative, of +mournful, impetuous, and exhilarated air, wandering through the life of +man, throughout the animal and vegetable kingdom for its subjects, +without period, without connection, so transient, abrupt, and +allegorical, that the Governor of the town could translate a line but +occasionally, and I was too much possessed by the music, and the +alternate rapture and phrenzy of the performer, to minute the half +which he communicated. I can only submit the fragments of a melancholy +and a descriptive part. + +Burst of a man led to execution, + + Yawa yawa wo wo oh + + Yawa waï yawa + + What have I done? what have I done? + +Bewailing the loss of his mother, + + Yawa gooba shangawelladi yaisa + + Wo na boo, &c. + + My mother dies; who’ll cry for me now + + When I die? &c. + + Pahmbolee gwoongee yayoo, &c. + + Which path shall I seek my love? + + Hark! I know now, + + I hear her snap the dry sticks, + + To speak, to call to me. + +Jiggledy jiggledy, jiggledy, too too tee too, often invaded or broke off +a mournful strain; it was said to be an imitation of the note of a bird, +described as the wood-pecker. + +Three Portuguese, one French, and two large Spanish ships, visited the +river for slaves during our stay, and the master of a Liverpool vessel +assured me that he had fallen in with 22 between Gaboon and the Congo. +Their grand rendezvous is Mayumba. The Portuguese of St. Thomas’s and +Prince’s islands send small schooner boats to Gaboon for slaves, which +are kept after they are transported this short distance, until the coast +is clear for shipping them to America. A third large Spanish ship, well +armed, entered the river the night before we quitted it, and hurried our +exit, for one of that character was committing piracy in the +neighbouring rivers. Having suffered from falling into their hands +before, I felicitated myself on the escape. We were afterwards chased +and boarded by a Spanish armed schooner, with three hundred slaves on +board; they only desired provisions. + + +[Footnote 129: I believe no instructions for entering the River Gabon +are in print, the following were compiled from the log-book of the Lord +Mulgrave, which has been laden in the river the three successive years +she has been chartered as a store-ship by the African Committee, and +beat into it this time. When standing for the river, from the southward, +it is best to give Round Corner a good birth, as a shoal or sand-bank +runs off between that and Sandy point, and also in case of being +becalmed, as the ground is foul and bad for anchoring. A channel goes in +by Sandy point, but it is rarely used but by small vessels. Leave Round +Corner about three leagues, and stand over for Cape Clara until you have +the river well open, then steer for a bluff point about two miles inside +of the Cape, where you will find from eight to ten fathom water. You may +stand in, till you are about two miles from the above point, and then +steer up the river, keeping the north shore aboard, and steering for the +highest land you see, which lies above Quaw Ben’s town. In mid-channel, +you will find nine fathoms, until you bring Sandy point on a line with +Cape Clara bearing S.S.E. You are then in the narrowest part of the +channel, which is not more than two or three miles wide, and your +greatest soundings will be six fathoms. When you are well inside these +bearings you may haul off from the shore at your leisure, and steer for +Parrot Island. When athwart of Quaw Ben’s town, and about five miles off +shore, you will find twelve and thirteen fathoms. In standing up from +Quaw Ben’s, give Prince Glass’s town a good birth, as a shoal runs off +to some distance, your soundings will be from seven to nine fathoms; you +may anchor on any part of the north side, without danger. Between Konig +and Parrot Islands, is very good anchorage in seven fathoms, and a soft, +muddy, bottom; thence to Abraham’s town, you will have from seven to +four fathoms at low water; and small vessels may go a considerable way +up the river, for there are three fathoms at Naängoo or George-Town +creek, about forty-five miles up the river. If you are turning into the +river, when you are within the Cape, stand no further off than into five +fathoms, for as you close the middle ground, the soundings are very +irregular; you may have five fathoms; and, before the next cast, the +ship may be ashore. The widest part of the channel, is not more than +about 5½ miles, until you are nearly athwart of Quaw Ben’s town, when +you may stand over to the south side, as you are then inside the bank. +There is a very good watering-place at Rodney’s point. Ships +unacquainted, may anchor off the Cape and wait for the sea breeze, which +generally sets in before noon.] + +[Footnote 130: I am sorry to say those whom their parents have been +persuaded to entrust to English vessels for the same purpose, have +invariably been sold as slaves, in violation of every assurance; an +infamy of which the French have never been guilty in a single instance.] + +[Footnote 131: Wōla is probably the Empoöngwa corruption of the original +name Quolla or Kulla, for, presuming that name to be given to it in the +Mallowa or Houssa country,[a] to denote its being a branch or arm of the +great river, dividing into it and the Gambaroo after leaving the lake +Dibbir, (Kulla being _child_ in the Mallowa,) it doubtless retains the +same name in the country known at Gaboon; not only because Mr. Brown +first reported the river Kulla (_Bahr Kulla_) and the kingdom (_Dar +Kulla_) to be situated thereabouts, but because from the following +observation of Mr. Hutchison’s, received since I wrote my geographical +chapter, it appears, that the language of the kingdom which bears the +name of the river, is at least a dialect of the Mallowa language. “I +send you the numerals of Quolla liffa, as given me by the servant boy I +have got lately, who comes from that country, which is near the +cannibals:” see Appendix, Language.] + +[Footnote a: The Jennë Moors however called it Quolla, which inclined me +at first to derive its name from _Killi_, the numeral _one_ in the +Bambarra, as if to denote it the first or greatest river; as Yahndi, the +name of the capital of Dagwumba, implies its pre-eminence; _Yahndi_ +being _one_ in the language of the country.] + +[Footnote 132: “The information received here (at Mavoonda) of the +upward course of the river, was more distinct than any we have yet had; +all the persons we spoke to agreeing that after ten days in a canoe, we +should come to a large sandy island, which makes _two channels, one to +the north west, and the other to the north east; that in the latter +there is a fall, but that canoes are easily got above it_; that twenty +days above the island, the river issues by many small streams from a +great marsh or lake of mud.” Captain Tuckey’s Narrative. In a map, +“Regna Congo et Angola,” in Dapper’s Description de l’Afrique, 1686, a +large arm is laid down, about two hundred and fifty miles up the Zaire, +running to or coming from the north-east. As this book is scarcely +known, there being but one copy in England, it may be interesting to the +reader to see a description of the Congo and its source, according to +the geographical opinions, a century and a half ago, for 1686 is the +date of the translation from the German. Refer first to my copy of a +part of one of the many maps in Dapper’s work, p. 211. Au midi de cette +riviere (Niger) est le Zaire, ou la grande riviere de Congo qui prend sa +source de trois lacs, au sentiment de Pigaser. Le premier se nomme +Zambre d’où procede le Nil, le second Zaire d’où sortent les rivieres de +Lelunde et de Coanze, et le troisiême est un lac formé par le Nil. Mais +le principal est le Zambre qui est comme le centre d’où les fleuves de +nord le Nil, au levant Cuama et Coavo, au midi Zeila et Manice ou +Manhessen, et au couchant la riviere de Zaire, qui par divers bras +arrose toute la partie occidentale de l’Afrique, situé au delà de la +ligne, les royaumes de Congo, d’Angola, de Monomatapa, de Matamam, de +Bagamadiri et d’Agasymba jusqu’au cap de bonne-esperance; pendant que le +Nil, Cuama, Coavo, Zeila, et Manice traversent l’Abyssinie et tous les +pais qui sont entre la mer-Rouge et Cuama. L’embouchure de Zaire est à +cinq degrez quarante minutes de latitude Meridionale. Elle a trois +milles de large et se décharge dans l’ocean avec tant d’impetuosité, que +l’impression qu’elle donne à la marée, dont elle rend le cours ouëst- +nord-ouëst et nord-ouëst au nord se ressent en pleine mer, à douze +milles de la côte. Quand on a perdu la terre de vue, on découvre une eau +noire, de la verdure, des cannes et des roseaux qui ressemblent à de +petites îles, et que la violence de la marée entraine après soi du haut +des ecœuils. De sorte qu’à moins d’un vent d’arrière il est fort +difficile de resister au courant et d’aller jetter l’ancre dans la rade +de Cabo Padron. On ne sauroit remonter ce fleuve plus de vint ou vint +cinq lieues au-dessus de son embouchure, à cause des cascades qui sont +au milieu de son lit et qui s’élancent du haut des rochers avec tant de +bruit qu’on l’entend à deux ou trois lieues de là. Plusieurs ruisseaux +se déchargent ou sortent de ce fleuve et arrosent le pais: ce qui est +fort commode pour les marchands et les habitans qui peuvent aller +commodément d’un village à l’autre sur des canots. Les peuples qui +demeurent le long de ces ruisseaux sont des gens de petite taille.] + +[Footnote 133: The following, which Baron Humboldt sketched before me, +(and which is only laid down in Walker’s Map of the World on the +globular projection) is a more extraordinary concatenation of rivers; +considering the opposite courses of the Orinoco and Amazon when +connected by the Casiquaire, which is more curiously situated than the +south eastern branch of the Ogooawai, flowing, through Tanyan, into the +Zaire. + +[Illustration] +] + +[Footnote 134: “Captain Tuckey could only learn that the paramount +Sovereign was named Blindy N’Congo, and resided at a banza named Congo, +which was six days journey, in the interior from the ‘Tall Trees,’ +where, by the account of the negroes, the Portuguese had an +establishment, and where there were soldiers and white women. This place +is no doubt the St. Salvador of the Portuguese. The following is the +description in Dapper: La province de Pembo est la plus considerable de +tout le royaume dont elle contient la ville capitale, et forme comme le +centre. Cette ville porte le nom de banza chez les Ethiopiens, les +Portugais la nomment présentement S. Salvador, et Marmol l’appelloit +Ambas Congo. Elle est presque au milieu de la province, située sur une +roche fort haute, _à 76 lieues de France ou 150 milles de la mer_, au +sud-est de la riviere de Zaire, et ombragée de Palmiers, de Tamarins, de +Bacoves, de Colas, de Limoniers et d’Orangers. Le côtau sur lequel elle +est bâtie est si haut, que de dessus son sommet on porte la vue aussi +loin qu’elle se peut étendre, sans qu’aucune montagne l’arrête. Il n’y a +point de murailles autour de cette ville, si ce n’est d’un côté de +devers le Midi, que le premier roi chrétien donna aux Portugais pour les +mettre à couvert des insultes. Il fit aussi fermer de murailles son +palais et toutes les maisons royales qui sont aux environs, laissant une +place vuide où l’on bâtit ensuite un palais et un cimétiere. La cime de +la montagne est occupé par des maisons baties fort près l’une de +l’autre: les personnes de qualité en possedent la plus grande partie, et +sont des enceintes de bâtimens qui ressemblent à une petite ville. Les +habitations des personnes du commun sont rangées de file, en diverses +rues, elles sont assez grandes, mais les murailles ne sont que de +paille; excepté quelques unes que les Portugais ont faites, dont les +murs sont de brique & le toit de chaume. Le palais du roi est aussi +grand qu’une ville ordinaire; il est fermé de quatre murailles, celle +qui regarde sur le quartier des Portugais est de chaux & de pierre, les +autres ne sont que de paille, mais travaillée fort proprement. Les +murailles des sales & des chambres sont orneés de tapisseries de paille +nattées avec beaucoup d’art. Dans l’enceinte interieure du Palais, il y +a des jardins & des vergers embellis de berceaux & de pavilions fort +beaux pour le pais, quoiqu’au fond ce ne soit pas grande chose. Il y a +dix ou douze Eglises, la Cathedrale, sept chapelles dans la ville & +trois Eglises dans le chateau du Prince. Il y a aussi un couvent de +Jesuites, où trois ou quatre de ces Peres sent tous le jours le +Catechisme au peuple, & des écoles où l’on enseigne le Latin & le +Portugais. Il y a deux fontaines, l’une dans la rue de St. Jaques & +l’autre dans une cour du Palais, qui fournissent abondance d’eau +fraiche, sans qu’on se donne la peine de refaire les aqueducs ou de les +entretenir. Outre cela il y a un bras de la riviere Lelunde, qu’on nomme +Vese, qui sort au pié de la montagne, au Levant de la ville; son eau est +fort bonne, le peuple en va puiser, & elle sert à arroser & rendre +fertiles les campagnes d’alentour. On y a des pourceaux & des chevres; +mais peu de moutons & boeufs; on les renferme la nuit dans des parcs qui +sont dans la ville près des maisons.] + +[Footnote 135: This panther or leopard, was sent to the Governor-in- +Chief by the King of Ashantee, and was so perfectly tame as never to be +tied up, but strolled at liberty through the apartments, playing with +the servants and children. It was presented to the Duchess of York, and +died at Exeter ’Change, a short time after it landed, of an inflammation +on the lungs. The extraordinary playfulness and good humour of the +animal, and the preservation of its health and tameness during a four +months voyage, (during the colder part of which he banquetted +sumptuously on dead parrots) made the loss very mortifying.] + +[Footnote 136: The description the natives give of this animal agrees +extraordinarily with that of the Quoja Morrou in Dapper. + +Les Quojas Morrou, dont on a parlé dans le royaume de Quoja, naissent +dans le royaume d’Angola. Comme cet animal tient beaucoup de l’homme, +bien des gens ont cru qu’il étoit issu d’un homme & d’un singe, mais les +Negres même rejettent cette opinion. Il y a trente ou quarante ans qu’on +apporta en Hollande un de ses animaux, dont on fit present à son Altesse +le Prince Frederic Henri. Il étoit de la grandeur d’un enfant de trois +ans, _mais il avoit bien le double d’épais, étant d’une taille carreé_, +fort vigoureux & agile: _car il levoit des choses fort pesantes & les +portoit d’un lieu en un autre_. Le devant de son corps étoit nud, mais +le dos étoit couvert de poil noir. Sa face avoit quelque chose d’humain, +mais son nez étoit plat & retroussé. Ses oreilles, son sein, et ses +mamelles, ses coudes ses mains, le bas de son ventre & ses parties +naturelles, ses jambes & ses pieds resembloient parfaitement à ceux +d’une femme, parce que c’étoit un animal femelle. _Il se tenoit debout & +marchoit souvent tout droit; il buvoit fort proprement, portant, d’une +main le pot à la bouche et le soutenant de l’autre; il se couchoit de +même, mettoit sa tête sur un chevet, ajustoit la couverture sur son +corps, & à le voir ainsi étendu on l’auroit pris pour un homme_. Aussi +les Negres rapportent-ils des choses prodigieuses de cet animal; ils +assurent qu’il force des femmes & des filles, _& qu’il ose s’en prendre +à des hommes armez_. Et selon toutes les apparences c’est là ce Satyre +si celebre chez les Anciens, dont Pline & les poëtes ont tant parlé par +oui-dire & sur des rapports incertains.] + +[Footnote 137: “Les Botanistes remarquent même très fréquemment ces +accidens de couleurs dans les plantes venues en lieux agrestes. Je n’en +citerai qu’un exemple entre mille. Sur les rives sauvages du Volga et du +Samara, Pallas a trouvé l’_Anemone patens_ chargé de périanthes tantôt +bleus, tantôt blancs, tantôt jaunes.”—Mirbel 1ère partie, p. 264.] + +[Footnote 138: “India rubber is obtained from the milky juice of +different plants in hot countries. The chief of these are, the Jatropha +elastica and Urceola elastica. The juice is applied in successive +coatings on a mould of clay, and dried by the fire or in the sun, and +when of a sufficient thickness the mould is crushed and the pieces +shaken out.” Nicholson. + +“It has been discovered that caoutchouc is not exclusively the produce +of the Heven caoutchouc, but that it is furnished by several other +plants. We know it to be obtained in large quantities from the Jatropha +elastica of South America, and Dr. Roxburgh has given us a description +of an Indian plant (Urceola elastica) which affords a juice that when +thickened has all the properties of the caoutchouc. We moreover know +that the milky exudations of the Jack tree (Artocarpus integrifolia) the +Banyan tree (Ficus Indica) and also that of the Arasum tree (Ficus +religiosa) possess nearly similar qualities.” Ainslie’s Materia Medica +of Hindoostan.] + +[Footnote 139: The vegetable butter.] + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + * * * * * + + _Suggestions for future Missions to the Interior of Africa._ + + +A mission to Dagwumba is of the first importance. See Geography, p. 178. +The commercial genius and opulence of its people, their disinclination +and inaptitude to war, their superior civilization, and the numerous +caravans which frequent this emporium, from the most remote parts of the +interior, make a treaty of intercourse most desirable, both for commerce +and science. But it is more imperiously desirable, or rather this +enterprise becomes a duty, from the recollection, that, from this King’s +proverbial repute for sanctity, if he were persuaded by the deliberate +remonstrance of a British Resident, at least to mitigate, if not +ultimately to abolish human sacrifices, his example would naturally be +followed by the several neighbouring monarchs who make him their oracle. + +Mr. Hutchison’s courage, his love of enterprise, and his interest in +intellectual pursuit, to say nothing of a feeling towards myself, which +I cannot but be proud of, would, I am sure, lead him to anticipate my +wishes and strengthen my hopes of success, by having him again as a +companion; and his diary must have proved, though very imperfectly, +compared with a personal acquaintance with him, how well he is qualified +for an appointment, so important to the interests of commerce, science, +and humanity, by his discretion, zeal, and benevolence.[140] + +A third officer (and a zealous and able successor to Mr. Tedlie has +presented himself) should accompany this mission, to proceed under the +King of Dagwumba’s guarantee and recommendation, which is omnipotent to +the Niger, to Wauwaw (on the banks of that river where Mr. Park was +buried; for no plea could be less suspicious, than the King of England’s +natural anxiety to send an officer to the Sultan of Wauwaw, to learn the +particulars of Mr. Park’s death, and to enquire for his papers, +especially as a Moorish emissary passing through Yahndi, was instructed +to do so, directly we heard of the circumstance in Ashantee. The officer +alluded to (who is a medical man, well acquainted with natural history, +and an accurate draftsman) should be content with a sight of the Niger, +and remain at Wauwaw collecting and observing, until an exchange of +letters with Cape Coast, through the Resident at Yahndi[141]; when it +would be seen how far it might be prudent, (having replaced him at +Wauwaw) to allow him to proceed to Cassina, Houssa, or Timbuctoo; that +is, if the Sultan of Wauwaw would guarantee his safety, under the same +promise of reward previously held out to the King of Dagwumba. + +No moment could be more auspicious than the present for this enterprise +to Dagwumba, since the King of Ashantee’s absence and perplexity in the +Gaman war bars his molestation or hindrance; though I have no +expectation that he would offer either, were he at liberty, or aware of +the occasion: see page 342. + +If the trade of Dagwumba be so extensive as was invariably reported to +us (and to Mr. Lucas at Mesurata on the Mediterranean) it might then +become desirable to establish a British market up the Volta; but this is +an after consideration. Geographical circumstances are much more in +favour of a mission to Dagwumba than they were in that to Ashantee, +(besides, that there are no irritating political retrospects to be +debated on arrival,) for the Volta or Adirree is navigable from the sea +to within eight days march of Yahndi; (see page 176;) even if we do not +calculate on the reported junction of the river Laka, which would bring +us close to Yahndi. + +The presents should all be ingenious novelties, rather than costly +apparel, for they are not only more acceptable and more imposing, but, +which is very important, much more portable; and would require so few +carriers, as to diminish the expense of conveyance as much as the +expense of purchase. The negroes have more than anticipated our +_portable_ displays of splendour, from the pageantry and descriptions of +the Moors; and we have had the advantage of witnessing what kind of +presents made the most auspicious impression on the King of Dagwumba’s +powerful neighbour, which were certainly all of the class of ingenious +novelty. I should recommend, therefore, a few pieces of tissue and rich +silk, with gold thread interwoven, to shew that our manufactures can be +accommodated to their taste; see note page 331. + +Pieces of worked muslin. + +One piece of ditto, worked with gold thread. + +Scotch damask. + +Palampours, with gold and silver leaf. + +Manchester cottons, of rich pattern. + +Red, blue, and yellow broad cloth. + +Raw silk, of various colours; see page 331. + +Of the foregoing, only small quantities as presents to the King and +principal Moors, by way of samples of our manufactures. + +Two pair of richly cut glass decanters. + +A small silver bowl embossed. + +A handsome lamp. + +A military saddle and bridle, with pistols, &c. + +Two musical snuff boxes. + +A good bird organ. + +Two or three common violins, being the instrument of the country. + +Pandean pipes. + +Cymbals. + +Two bugles. + +Kaleidescopes. + +An inferior gold repeater for the King. + +Two or three common silver watches. + +A telescope. + +Camera obscura. + +Magic lantern. + +Microscope. + +Pocket compasses. + +Boxes of phosphorous matches. + +Arabic Bibles, and Arabic literature. + +Two or three landscapes, in sympathetic ink. + +A port-folio of engravings of English costume and public buildings, with +a set of the drawings of this work. + +A copying writing apparatus for the chief Moor. + +Wax, seals, pencils, Indian rubber. + +Two boxes of water colours. + +Drawing and writing paper, and vellum. + +Razors, scissors, knives. + +A handsome double barrelled gun. + +Two boxes of carpenters tools. + +A small turning lathe. + +A small plough. + +A made up turban of gold tissue, with a gilt circle for the head, set +with false stones, for the chief Moor. + +A silk union flag. + +An air gun. + +Candles and perfumed soap. + +Bark, and other medicines. + +The officers of the mission should be provided with Troughton’s pocket +sextant, Dollond’s 32 feet telescope, the new barometers, &c. &c. + +The Danes having deserted their fort (Adda) at the mouth of the Volta, +their government, on being solicited, would surely not only not +obstruct, but favour so important a scientific enterprise, and not +compel us to reach the river over land, as we could do, by marching +through Aquapim and Quaoo. The man of war on the station might convey +the mission to the mouth of the Volta, and one of her boats accompany +the canoes (which should be brought from Cape Coast) a day or two up the +river. + +It would be well to be prepared with several impressions of a manifesto +(in Arabic,) explanatory and impressive of the legitimate and benevolent +views of the British government, as an introduction to the King of +Dagwumba, preparatory to our negociation, and also to serve the same +purpose at Wauwaw, and to circulate through the interior. Numerous +impressions of the certificates circulated in behalf of Major Peddie, +should also be circulated, Mr. Ritchie’s name being substituted, and the +reward for an act of kindness acknowledged in a letter from that +gentleman, being made payable (after an authority from Cape Coast) at +either of the British Residencies, Coomassie, Yahndi, or Dahomey; for as +there are many officers to spare at Cape Coast, the expressed wish of +the latter monarch should be immediately gratified, and our intercourse +renewed by a Residency. See note, p. 340. + +I think all the objects of the Dagwumba mission could be effected in +four months; when I should feel impatient to visit the river Gaboon, for +the purpose of penetrating to the Ogooawai, and going as far up it as I +might with prudence. See p. 436. The discovery of so large a river in +this situation is very important. + +Arrangements could probably be made at Eninga or Okota (p. 429.) for the +guarantee of an after mission to Asheera: also for one from Gaboon to +Kaylee; and, which is most important, for the south-eastern navigation +(from Adjoomba, p. 431) of the branch of the Ogooawai running through +Tanyan into the Congo. + +But there is another enterprise which should not be forgotten, the +navigation of the Lagos river to the highest point, (p. 224) and a visit +to Kosie, (p. 225,) a Residency at which court would doubtless lead to a +similar establishment in the powerful and commercial kingdom of Yarriba. +See p. 209. + +The Residents at the various courts, who, as I have impressed before, +should be young men of acquirement, patience, and address, should +receive occasional instructions from head quarters, directing their +enquiries and observations to the geographical and scientific +desiderata, more peculiarly belonging to or expected from their +different neighbourhoods, which would be suggested from the closer study +of these subjects by the individual at the head of a department of +discovery at head quarters, and also by the scientific Societies in +England according to their peculiar pursuits. + +The Residents should make quarterly reports, accompanied by specimens of +natural history, to be digested into one annual report at head quarters, +(with the various geographical improvements and discoveries, adjusted +and embodied in one large chart) for forwardance to England. + +All Residents and Conductors of Missions, should be provided with small +copying apparatuses, so that they might forward their original dispatch, +and one duplicate, to Cape Coast, by two different opportunities, always +retaining the other copy, in case of accident, or until the receipt were +acknowledged. + +If it could be afforded, a medical officer should afterwards be added to +the more important Residencies, to attach and relieve the natives. + +Botanical and Mineralogical excursions, (taking sextants, telescopes, +and barometers,) into Ahanta, Aowin, Warsaw, Akim, and Aquapim, small +surveys, &c. &c. should be undertaken, ad interim, not only from the +smallness of the expense and the great comparative benefit, (as we know +nothing of these countries beyond their position,) but to qualify the +younger officers (of congenial disposition and acquirement,) for future +missions and residencies. + +The young men soliciting appointments in England, should be required to +make themselves acquainted with the grammar of the Arabic language, and +practical astronomy, before they receive their commissions; and one or +two intelligent Moors from the interior, should be invited, by a pay, to +settle at Cape Coast Castle, to perfect these officers in writing and +speaking the language. The Fantee language should also be cultivated, as +it is a dialect of the Ashantee. + +The soldiers of the settlements should no longer be enlisted from the +mulattoes and Fantees of the neighbourhood, making the present paltry +force the more inefficient, from local and family attachments, +inseparable from human nature, and preventing their acting cordially, if +at all, on emergencies for the rescue of human victims, or the +punishment of their relatives and townsmen, for insult, or contempt of +the British legislation for the abolition of the slave trade, &c. The +Negroes captured in the illicit Spanish and Portuguese slave ships, of +whom there must be a number unemployed at Sierra Leone, would form the +most desirable military force, even preferable to European, which has +recently been adopted by the Dutch. These rescued Negroes would possess +no attachment, beyond that which the considerate kindness and good +conduct of their officers might induce; the climate would be natural to +them; and they would prove valuable companions, if not intelligent +guides, in future missions to the interior. There should at least be two +hundred and fifty of these soldiers at head quarters, (one company being +trained as artillery by European serjeants) and fifty at each other +settlement, if but two. + +The three missions, to Dagwumba, Wauwaw, and Ogooawai, would not cost +above a thousand pounds, judiciously expended in England; which is not +so much as the annual expense of either of the six paltry out-forts +(exclusive of the head quarters, and the vice presidency, which is but 9 +miles from Cape Coast, and, since the abolition of the slave trade, an +useless and absurd position;) the mere existence of which, although it +may excite astonishment, and reflect credit on the mercantile ingenuity +and economy of the African Committee, is notoriously a disgraceful +caricature on the British name. + +Three respectable establishments, one at Cape Coast Castle, one at +Accra, (a rich and open country,) and one at Succondee, (if we could not +purchase Axim, which commands the navigation of the Ancobra,) with an +allowance of a thousand a year for a progress in the interior, +(beneficial to commerce, science, and humanity,) would be productive of +fame and honour, and probably of wealth, to our nation. + + +[Footnote 140: This gentleman being already superseded by Mr. Dupuis +(formerly Vice-consul at Mogadore, and now Consul at Coomassie) is of +course at liberty to indulge his disposition for enterprise.] + +[Footnote 141: The King of Dagwumba should be promised additional +presents on the receipt at Cape Coast Castle of the first dispatch from +the Niger.] + + * * * * * + APPENDIX. + * * * * * + + + APPENDIX. No. I. + + * * * * * + + _Extract from Meredith’s Account of the Gold Coast._ + + + _Origin and History of the Ashantee War._ + + +The Assin country lies at the rear of the Fantee, and borders on the +Ashantee country. It was divided into two states: the one governed by +King Cheboo and Quacoe Apoutay; and the other by King Amoo. Apoutay, +although not elevated to the dignity of King, held equal sway with +Cheboo; but they were each subordinate to the King of Ashantee. A man of +opulence died in Amoo’s town; and, as is customary on such occasions, +gold and other valuable articles were deposited with the body in the +grave. On this occasion, one of Cheboo’s people was present, and seeing +what was done, watched an opportunity to rob the grave; which he +effected, and escaped with the treasure. Amoo his neighbour sought +redress of Cheboo and Apoutay, but without success: he then laid the +affair before the King of Ashantee; who summoned all the parties before +him, gave them an impartial hearing, and awarded in favour of Amoo. +Quacoe Apoutay was detained as a hostage until restitution should be +made: but he, in a short time, contrived to make his escape, and, when +at liberty, refused to accede to the award made by the King of Ashantee. +On this Amoo attacked the town in which Cheboo and Apoutay resided, and +routed his opponents: after this, at the instigation of the King of +Ashantee, the parties met to settle the dispute; but Quacoe Apoutay +acting treacherously on the occasion, sent privately to Cheboo for an +armed force to support him: and a battle was the consequence, which +ended in the death of the man who had committed the theft, and the total +defeat of Apoutay and his forces. At this crisis the King of Ashantee, +willing to bring about a peace, again interfered. He sent two gold +manillas, the one to Amoo, the other to his adversary, directing them to +cease all hostilities; to which both parties agreed, and took the +manillas. Amoo obeyed the King; but Quacoe Apoutay attacked Amoo, and +drove him in his turn from his town. Amoo, indignant at the repeated +deceptions of Apoutay, obtained succours, and overthrew his treacherous +opponent. The King of Ashantee still anxious to reconcile his +neighbours, and unwilling to draw his sword, presented two gold swords +and an axe to Amoo, and recommended him to conciliate Quacoe Apoutay, +and terminate their quarrels. Amoo consented to obey the King, but in +the mean time was again attacked by his implacable foe, and totally +defeated, and lost in the contest the golden sword and hatchet. His +opponent committed ravages wherever he came, killing messengers, and +every man who fell into his hands, not sparing even the King of +Ashantee’s messengers! A war with the King of Ashantee followed +hereupon: Quacoe Apoutay and Cheboo dreading his vengeance, fled to the +Fantee country: in consequence of which the King sent a message to +Acoom, the caboceer or mayor of Assecoomah (a small state tributary to +the King of Ashantee,) accompanied by a present of twenty ounces of +gold; stating the necessity of his pursuing his enemies to the Fantee +country, but giving assurance of the King’s pacific disposition towards +the Fantees, and that his only object was to get into his possession +Cheboo and Apoutay: the Fantees would not interfere, nor allow the +Ashantee forces to come into their country. Upon this answer, Appey +Dougah,[142] the King of Ashantee’s general, collected, by command of +his master, a large force, and gave the enemy battle at Buinka in +Fantee; he displayed great gallantry, and defeated the two Kings, in +conjunction with the Fantee forces that had joined them. Next day Cheboo +and Apoutay having rallied their forces, and formed a junction with a +fresh Fantee force, gave Appey Dougah battle; but were totally defeated, +with the loss of many killed and made prisoners: among the latter was +Atia,[143] the caboceer of Abrah, the principal town of Fantee. A large +sum was offered for his ransom, but refused; and he was committed to the +care of Acoom, the caboceer of Assecoomah, in whom the King had great +confidence; but this person betrayed his trust, and liberated the enemy. +Quacoe Apoutay, baffled at all points, sent to the King of Ashantee to +accept his conditions, provided he would discharge his debts on his +return home. To this proposal the King agreed, and, in token of his +friendship, sent various presents to Cheboo and Apoutay; who, instead of +receiving them with gratitude, beheaded the messengers. This wicked and +unprovoked act roused the indignation of the King of Ashantee, and he +vowed eternal war against the aggressors. Acoom (who had been forgiven +by the King for his treachery in suffering Atia to escape,) being in +possession of a large quantity of provisions, was applied to by the King +of Ashantee for a supply, which he with seeming cheerfulness granted: +six times he delivered faithfully those that were contracted for, but, +the seventh time, he betrayed about one thousand men who had been sent +for them, and sold them in March or April, 1806. In consequence of this +conduct Acoom became involved in the war: very shortly afterwards the +King of Ashantee defeated him, and made rapid progress with his army +towards the coast in search of Cheboo and Apoutay. The Fantees opposed +his march, but were defeated in every onset, and the Braffoes were +nearly extirpated by the Ashantees in their march. The Annamaboes, +instigated by the remaining Braffoes, were impudent enough to receive +and protect Cheboo and Apoutay; which proved fatal to them. At this +period the Governor of Cape Coast Castle, being under some apprehension +for the safety of the British settlements, was inclined to send a flag +of truce with a message to the King of Ashantee, who was now (May, 1806) +at Abrah, and only fifteen or twenty miles from the coast. The +Annamaboes (who were consulted on the measure) objected to it, and the +design was consequently suspended. The Governor was anxious to know upon +what terms the King would consider the British, and wished to become a +mediator; but the Annamaboes, who placed a vain dependence on their name +and strength, fully expected that the King and his army would be +conquered; and that if not the whole, the greater part of the army would +fall into their hands; and hence were not disposed to pacific measures, +nor would they permit the Governor’s messenger to proceed inland. +Shortly after this, a division of the Ashantee army made its appearance +at Cormantine, and routing the inhabitants from the town, completely +destroyed it. The captain of this division contrived to get into the +Dutch fort, and having pillaged it of a number of articles, took up his +residence there. It was now time to become acquainted with the King’s +intentions; and for that purpose the Governor of Annamaboe fort sent a +messenger with a flag of truce to the commander of this division, +intimating a wish to be acquainted with the King’s motives for marching +an army to the coast, and proposing himself as a mediator. This message, +we may suppose, was conveyed to the King; and on the following day three +men were observed coming from Cormantine with a white flag displayed, +and (Mr. White) the Governor, expected they were the bearers of some +agreeable and satisfactory intelligence: in this however he was much +disappointed; for the commander of that division of the Ashantee army +being in possession of fort Amsterdam, was elated with his success, +particularly in getting to the sea side; (a circumstance which inspired +him with such joy, that he went to the beach and dipped his sword three +times in the sea, some of which he had conveyed to the King as a proof +of his success:)—whether those circumstances stimulated him to try the +disposition of the English chief, we know not; but the message he sent, +imported a degree of haughtiness by no means agreeable to Mr. White, and +was to this effect: that when the Governor would send him twenty barrels +of gunpowder, and one hundred muskets, he would be told what the King’s +designs were. To comply with this demand would be acknowledging too much +submission, and would doubtless give the King a very indifferent opinion +of the British character. Mr. White behaved politely to the people, gave +them some refreshment, and told them that he regretted that the King, or +their master, did not appear inclined to come to an explanation, or to +conciliate matters: that if the King would point out in what manner the +Annamaboes had offended, he would use his authority to have satisfaction +given: that until he was assured of their having transgressed, or having +injured his Majesty, they were entitled to the protection of the fort, +if they sought for it: and that, finally, if the King’s army should come +with any hostile intentions near the fort, it would be fired upon. + +After this two or three of the heavy guns were fired with shot, for the +purpose of giving them an idea of the destructive power of artillery; +and they were preparing to depart, when private information was +received, that the flag of truce would be violated in its return, and +the men murdered. Whereupon Mr. White and Mr. Wilson (a gentleman not in +the service,) escorted them, and left them in safety within a short +distance from their quarters. The Governor now anxiously looked for a +definitive reply from the King, and every assiduity was used to place +things in a defensive position; and the towns-people having heretofore +placed a firm reliance on their strength, became alarmed, and were +solicitous to be assured of the Governor’s protection. Mr. White +informed them, that if the King of Ashantee intended to attack the town, +he would give them all the assistance and protection in his power; at +the same time advised them of the most prudent measures to be employed +for their safety and defence. He instructed them, in the first instance, +to have strong parties on the look-out, and to guard every avenue +leading into the town; and, on the first alarm, or approach of the +enemy, to send the old men, women, and children to the fort, where they +would be received; and as many as the fort would not accommodate, to +come close to the walls, where they would be under the protection of the +guns. + +At this crisis Mr. White and the inhabitants of the town were ignorant +as to the strength of the Ashantee forces, and had but an imperfect idea +of the bravery and intrepidity of the men who composed the King’s army. +It was supposed that the Ashantees partook of the dispositions of the +natives on the coast, who in general cannot stand against a regular and +determined fire, and often creep into some concealed hole, when cannon +or musket shot are heard to whiz among them; or, if the Ashantees were +superior, it was little imagined that their courage, or ardour for +conquest, would carry them to the very muzzles of the guns, and +consequently expose them to inevitable destruction. + +About a week had elapsed, and no news from the King; which was no +favourable indication of pacific measures. The commander of the division +at Cormantine, and who proved to be the King of Dinkara, sent forward a +party to ascertain the strength of the town of Annamaboe, and succeeded +in gaining possession of a village called Agah, situated upon a point of +land about one mile eastward from Annamaboe; whence every movement of +the Annamaboes on that side could be observed. This was considered an +annoyance, and on the 14th of June a strong body (indeed almost the +whole of the town’s people) marched out for the purpose of dislodging +the Ashantees. The action was clearly seen from the fort. The Annamaboes +were received in the most gallant and spirited manner by nearly a third +of their force, and for some time the contest was doubtful. The +Ashantees fired with more regularity than could be expected, and their +muskets were well directed; whereas the Fantees kept up a confused fire +without taking aim; they however succeeded, and the Ashantees retreated +in excellent order, keeping possession of part of the village which lay +concealed in a valley, and where the Annamaboes did not think proper to +proceed. The Annamaboes were either too confident of their strong +position, or thought too insignificantly of their opponents, to attend +to the advice given them by Mr. White; for while they were amused by +this small party, the King, with the main body, was vigilant in securing +the different passes leading to the town, and was at this time only +three miles to the rear of it. + +Early on the 15th those who were on the look-out observed the Ashantee +army in motion: the alarm was given, and every man who was able to carry +a musket, repaired to meet the enemy. As the town was situated at the +rear of the fort, and extended some distance inland, no prospect of the +contending parties could be obtained; smoke was seen to arise from +different parts of the surrounding country, and heavy discharges of +musketry were distinctly heard. Alarm and confusion now prevailed +throughout the town, and the women, children, and old men, made the best +of their way to the fort, the area of which they soon filled, after +which the gates were closed. The volleys of musketry were advancing very +fast, and the Fantees were retreating in great disorder: one or two +great guns were fired over the town with a view to impel terror on the +assailants, but they were too much elated with hopes of conquest, and +too resolute to be affrighted: about eleven o’clock the musket balls +were heard to whistle in every part of the fort, and the Ashantees +entered the town in every direction, pursuing the vanquished to the +beach, where the slaughter was great. + +The Annamaboes conceived, that with the aid of their canoes and their +knowledge of swimming, they should be able to escape, but they were +pursued too closely by the Ashantees, whose fury appeared to be +insatiable; men, women, and children were followed by indiscriminate +destruction. During this work of carnage, the Governor was very active +with his small garrison to repel the assailants; a twenty-four pounder, +that pointed along the beach to the westward, several times discharged +grape-shot among them, whereby vast numbers must have fallen: a three- +pounder likewise, which flanked the gate on the east side was frequently +fired with grape, notwithstanding fresh parties came on much quicker +than they could be repelled; and at length they came under the walls for +the purpose of carrying away the women who could not be received into +the fort. About this period the Governor[144] was wounded in two places; +one ball struck his mouth and carried away four of his teeth, another +ball passed through his left arm; and nearly at the same time an officer +and two men were wounded, and one man killed. + +Things assumed now a more serious and dangerous aspect than was +apprehended, and gave the garrison a strong assurance of the disposition +of the enemy, who, it was evident, intended to bend his utmost efforts +against the fort. The Ashantees were confident that by gaining +possession of it, a large booty would be obtained. However, the small +number which composed the garrison of Annamaboe at this period, +consisting of Governor White, Messieurs Meredith, Swanzy, Smith, and +Baines; also four free mulattoes and twenty men, including soldiers, +artificers, and servants, were confident of the severity of their +situation. The walls being high, and accurately flanked, and the gates +sound and well barricadoed; the Governor, from the nature of his wounds, +from great debility in consequence of much effusion of blood, being +constrained to retire, and the command of the fort having devolved on +the senior officer, who perceiving that the cannon in one quarter could +not be used with effect, for the enemy fired with such precision as to +cut off every man who was exposed at an embrasure, depended solely on +the musket; and another man having been killed about noon, and two more +wounded:—the garrison was now reduced to the small number of eight, +including officers, who could be depended upon, and the Ashantees were +using every effort to force the western gate; but were twice repulsed +with no small loss. A third time they attempted it, and endeavoured to +apply fire to the gate; but the man who brought the materials for that +purpose, extinguished the fire by falling a corpse upon it. In all their +attempts they were defeated with musketry alone, and notwithstanding +that their efforts to gain an entrance into the fort proved ineffectual, +the contest was continued till six o’clock. After this cessation, and +before total darkness came on, the garrison used all possible energy in +repairing injuries, and preparing for the defensive, in case of +hostilities being renewed in the night. + +On the following day a scene replete with the horrors of war exhibited +itself:—heaps of dead and wounded around the walls, and for a mile along +the eastern shore, tossed about by a violent surf:—houses unroofed, and +others on fire:—the sorrowful countenances of the old men, who sought +refuge in the fort; the mournful lamentations of the women, and the +pitiable cries of the children, presented a picture of exquisite feeling +and of the greatest distress! Of the number the town contained, and +which we will calculate to have been at least fifteen thousand souls, we +may suppose that two-thirds of that number perished. The fort afforded +refuge to about two thousand of every description, and about two hundred +escaped to a rock surrounded by the sea, and at pistol-shot from the +beach, where they remained unmolested, and notwitstanding the vigilance +of the Ashantees, we may suppose that two or three thousand effected +their escape. Without going into further enquiry, we may venture to +state that eight thousand Fantees were destroyed; and although they were +attacked by at least three times their number, yet if they were actuated +by one-third of the bravery of their opponents, they would have +committed some execution, and doubtless would have checked that +intrepidity and ardour which were so pre-eminently conspicuous in their +enemy. Their resistance was very feeble; terror seized them at the +commencement of the attack, and it impressed them so forcibly, that the +sea formed but an indifferent barrier to their precipitate flight. + +When the fury of the Ashantees against the Fantees was a little +diminished, they turned part of their force against the fort with great +coolness and resolution, advancing with shouts expressive of their +loyalty and courage, to the very muzzles of the guns. At the east side +of the fort, two three pounders, which were well served, destroyed +numbers of them with every discharge of grape: but at the west side, the +cannon which flanked the gate could not be rendered useful, in +consequence of advantages the enemy possessed, and which were not to be +found on the opposite quarter, where the musket alone was to be +dependended upon: and we have the authority of the gentleman who +commanded (after Mr. White was wounded) of stating, that he and another +officer (Mr. Swanzy) fired nearly three hundred rounds of ball-cartridge +in keeping the gate clear, and protecting those who were under the +walls. Mr. Swanzy was so injured with the recoil of his musket, that he +could not use his right arm for some days without much pain, and the +other officer (Mr. Meredith) was nearly in the same state. + +What loss the Ashantees sustained cannot be precisely laid down: the +King, prior to his departure from Annamaboe, said, he lost three +thousand men: but in that number he probably included those who were +carried off by disease. His men however suffered very severely; for +their approach was made with such large bodies, that twenty, thirty, or +perhaps more, fell with every discharge of grape-shot; and the musket +not only killed, but very often wounded at the same time, so close were +the enemy. + +At this period (the 16th of June,) the fort was in an awkward +state,—completely blockaded on the land-side, and a very imperfect +communication by sea, and only a few weeks provisions for the number it +contained; add to which, the effluvia from the dead bodies, which were +approaching fast to a putrid state, excited very uneasy apprehensions. +These circumstances demanded some extraordinary effort, which the +garrison, from its weakness, could not attempt. Every person, from great +exertion and constant exposure to a vertical sun on the 15th, and from +solicitude and want of rest, was much fatigued. Nevertheless things wore +a more promising appearance; whenever plunder was attempted, which now +and then was the case, it met with resistance. There was not, however, +any desire manifested by the Ashantees to renew hostilities, and every +motion indicated a wish for peace. The garrison too was very desirous of +such an event, but did not wish to be the first to yield, or to offer +any terms without orders from the chief-governor. The King, from his +late successes, had a high opinion of his power and the bravery of his +army. On the other hand the small garrison, notwithstanding its reduced +state, had no mean opinion of itself, and wished to confirm in his +Majesty an idea of the superior skill of Europeans. + +The Governor at Cape Coast was apprised of the state of affairs at +Annamaboe, and lost no time in sending assistance. Two ships were +provided for the purpose, which sailed from the Cape on the morning of +the 16th: but, from unavoidable circumstances, the re-inforcement the +ships brought could not be landed before four o’clock in the afternoon. +This re-inforcement consisted of twelve men and four officers; and their +arrival in the fort afforded much satisfaction. This party was landed +under cover of the smoke of some heavy guns, and was not fired at; but +the canoe, on returning, was fired upon and one man wounded. It was the +Governor’s order that a flag of truce should be sent to the King, to +endeavour to bring about an amicable understanding. A white flag was +accordingly lowered over the wall, accompanied with the national +colours; and when the emblem of peace was observed, it is impossible to +express sufficiently the joy that diffused itself among the people: the +multitude which crowded around the flags was inconceivably great, and it +was with difficulty that the King’s officers, who were known by golden +swords and axes, could clear the way leading to his quarters: the air +resounded with acclamations in praise of their King, and expressive of +their satisfaction at the prospects of peace. + +And here we cannot forbear remarking, that although the Ashantees are so +remote from polished or civilized nations, they seem not to be +unacquainted with the customs of a civilized people, as they are +connected with the rules of war; for they paid every respect to the flag +of truce: a few indeed of them were making towards the rock on which +were a number of Fantees, but they well understood the signal of recall, +when a musket or two were fired over their heads. The flag of truce +returned about seven o’clock, with three messengers from the King; and +they, in order to justify the King for his proceedings against the +Fantees, entered into a long detail of the origin of the war, which we +have been attempting to describe. The King was pleased that the flag of +truce was sent, and expressed his satisfaction by giving the two +soldiers who were the bearers of it a fat sheep. After a conference that +continued beyond two hours, the messengers departed. + +A communication was thus established with the King and his army; but it +was considered prudent to keep the gates closed until a perfect +understanding was effected. It appeared, however, that this could not be +done, without a meeting between the chief Governor and the King. To +accomplish this Mr. Meredith tried to persuade the King to go to Cape +Coast, but in this he was disappointed; he however gained his Majesty’s +consent to send some of his confidential and chief men to wait upon the +Governor, and to hear his sentiments. + +It will, we doubt not, be gratifying to the reader, if we here subjoin +the correspondence between Mr. Meredith and Mr. Torrane, the Governor in +Chief, on this occasion. + + + _Annamaboe Fort, June 17_, 1807. + + SIR, + +MR. WHITE directs me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter to the +Governor of Elmina. The state Mr. White is in, being much weakened with +loss of blood and other causes, prevented him paying that attention to +your letters which they demanded, and my duty was such, that I could not +spare a moment to write you fully. I had a conference with three of the +King’s messengers last night, and at this instant there are two men with +his Majesty; when they return, you shall be acquainted with the result. +I have already mentioned to the King that Cheboo would be given up, and +if it was agreeable for him to send his cane, and one or two of his +gold-headed swords, I would engage their security by going to Cape Coast +with them. The message received from the King was of a favourable +tendency; and I trust he will perceive the expediency of putting an end +to this sanguinary war. Be assured we are all so employed on various +duties, it debars me more particularly of giving you a further detail of +our proceedings. But I trust, by a messenger this evening, to relate +fully every circumstance attending this very severe contest. The party +were landed in safety, viz. twelve privates, one corporal, with Messrs. +Bold, Galloway, and Woolbert. Both ships will remain here until to- +morrow. I am well pleased with the attention and assistance afforded us +by Captain Coley. + + I am, &c. + + HENRY MEREDITH. + + _Colonel Torrane, Governor in Chief, &c. &c. &c._ + _Cape Coast Castle._ + + * * * * * + + + _Annamaboe Fort, June 17_, 1807. + + SIR, + +I WROTE you this morning, acknowledging the receipt of your letters, +and, agreeably to my intentions then, I take the liberty of stating more +particularly the occurrences in this garrison on the 15th and subsequent +to it. I beg leave to remind you, that we were prepared for any attack +that might be made upon us, by any body of men unaccustomed to the shock +of artillery; and I believe Mr. White assured you of the confidence he +placed in the officers and men under his command, and every soul was +animated with a desire to do his duty. + +[Here follows a description of the battle as before related.] + +The re-inforcement you was pleased to send, got on shore without any +opposition about four o’clock P.M.; and I assure you we were very glad +to receive them, as, from the severe duty we had undergone the preceding +day, we were much cut up by fatigue. About six P.M. the flag of truce, +with a corporal and private from the detachment you sent, were conveyed +to the King; and as they proceeded, they were warmly greeted by the +Ashantees. The message the King returned was modest; he said, it was not +his intention to commence hostilities with the fort, nor to distress any +of the whites; his enemies were the Assins and Fantees, and he now +conceived his anger against them pretty well assuaged. This morning +(17th) according to agreement, his messengers came, and said, that the +King wished to see the same person that conveyed the flag of truce, that +they might hear from his own lips what he had to deliver. Accordingly I +sent them with Dutton, a man of quick understanding, to hear more +particularly the sentiments of his Majesty. After remaining some time +hearing the opinion of his counsellors they returned, and after some +preliminary discourse, they informed me that the King had deputed six of +his principal men, with six deputed by the men of power in his train, to +repair to Cape Coast to hear what you have to say, and to negotiate. In +course of their communication the King deplored the number of lives that +were lost in consequence of the fire from the fort. + +As the messengers mean to repair to Cape Coast, I will forbear relating +every particular. The King seemed to say that he must have those who +sought protection in the fort: this he only hinted at, and probably the +same may be hinted to you; but in giving them up, we ought to be assured +of their being used kindly. I send a canoe with this, and have agreed +with the messengers, that you will send canoes and a guard for their +protection. Mr. White’s travelling canoe is in good order, therefore be +pleased to send eleven canoe-men for her. This canoe, with three more +from the Cape, will, in my opinion, be fully sufficient to convey the +whole twelve messengers with their guard. The number of persons here are +reducing our provisions very fast, and if not removed soon, some of them +will be most likely starved, or will be the cause of some serious +malady: the sooner we are rid of them the better. But if you can gain +their protection, it will be a humane act. Mr. White, who I am happy to +say is in a fair way, desires his respects. + + I am, &c. + + (Signed) HENRY MEREDITH. + + _Colonel Torrane, Governor in Chief, + &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + SIR, + +BOTH your letters of yesterday’s date I have received; the latter has +given me particular satisfaction, not only as it affords every prospect +that this war will be terminated, but also as it removes great anxiety +from my mind respecting the state of Mr. White’s wounds. The assurances +you now give me that he is in a fair way of recovery, are highly +gratifying. I dispatch eleven canoe-men for Mr. White’s canoe; and I +also send three other canoes. I trust the King will appoint persons of +sufficient consequence to negotiate with me: I have an earnest wish to +see the King: make this desire known to him; tell him I think it may +essentially lead to the arrangement of affairs of much importance; that +I have greatly to deplore with him this war; that although these events +cannot always be guarded against, they may even ultimately bring future +good consequences; and herein I think much depends on our meeting. +Assure the King, that notwithstanding the steps I have taken to give +protection to the Fantees, I have ever held him in the highest respect, +from the many reports I have heard of him, and that, had I seen any +messenger from him antecedent to his attack on Annamaboe, I am of +opinion we should have avoided the blow in that quarter. The King I +understand to be a man of strong mind: it will naturally suggest itself +to him, that a meeting between us may be of vast importance to the +country. Assure him I have too high a consideration for my own +character, as well as his consequence, to suffer the smallest indignity +to be offered to him; that if he will come to the castle I shall be +proud to shew him every honour, and that I will give every possible +security for his personal safety. I have apartments ready for him, and +officers shall be sent to attend him here. On receipt of this, send your +accustomed messenger to the King, saying, that you have a letter from +me, and that an officer will wait personally on him to explain the +contents. This officer with this letter in his hand, you will send (say +Mr. F. L. Swanzy) as early as you shall receive the King’s reply. I know +not whether you have a good flag for the occasion; I therefore send one. +Mr. F. L. Swanzy will have two flag-bearers, one with a white flag, the +other carrying the union; and he will be very particular in explaining +every part of this letter, and do his utmost to persuade the King to +visit the Cape. He may also add, that a ship can be procured, if he (the +King) prefers coming that way, and that an officer of distinction shall +be sent to accompany him. In a few words, Mr. F. L. Swanzy will do his +utmost to persuade the King to visit the castle. An officer should come +here, with the guard you send to protect the messengers. You must let me +know of what consequence the messengers are, that I may treat them +accordingly, and this it will be advisable to acquaint me of before +their arrival. + + I am, &c. + + (Signed) GEORGE TORRANE. + +_To Henry Meredith, Esq._ + +Although these men proceeded to the Cape, it was found that nothing +important could be transacted without an interview with the King, and +for this purpose Colonel Torrane was obliged to go to Annamaboe, and a +day was fixed for a conference. To give as favourable and as respectable +an opinion as possible of the British, a number of articles as presents +were sent to the King, and as many officers and soldiers as the service +could afford, were assembled to attend the Governor on the day +appointed; but previous to those preparations, and a few days after the +flag of truce was received by the King, Cheboo (one of the men who was +the cause of the war) was secured by the Governor at Cape Coast and sent +to Annamaboe, to be delivered up to the King, in expectation that any +further effusion of blood would be prevented, and that it would be the +means of saving the Fantees from entire destruction. These benevolent +purposes were not realized: the King had proceeded so far in the war, +that he could not recede without displeasing those auxiliaries he had +with him, and who expected a vast deal of plunder; and besides, Apoutay +and Acoom were again in arms, and collecting all the Fantees they could +to oppose the King’s progress. On the day appointed for the interview, +the Governor and his party were put in motion, and although the +procession was not very numerous, it was arranged with taste, and made +no despicable appearance. About twenty of the Company’s artificers, +habited in a neat manner, marched in front; a guard of forty men, and a +band of music followed them; next walked the Governor, followed by ten +officers, two and two, and some gentlemen traders (who were enticed from +the Cape by curiosity), brought up the rear. When the procession had got +a short distance it was met by a principal man, who was sent by the King +to conduct the Governor, and to keep off the multitude, which was +assembling in great numbers, some of whom had never seen a white man. +Notwithstanding the authority of this person, and the exertions of his +attendants, the curiosity of the people was so great that every avenue +was crowded; which, by preventing the circulation of air, augmented the +natural heat of the day, and this inconvenience was farther increased by +the putrid smell from the dead bodies, and the vast swarm of flies. The +Governor was obliged to visit each man of rank, before he could be +received by the King; a ceremony that could not be prudently denied, and +which occupied some time: for those men had their several courts, and +collectively had formed an extensive circle. Every one of them was +seated under a huge umbrella, surrounded by attendants and guards, with +young persons employed in fanning the air and dispersing the flies, +which were numerous and troublesome. One of those men and his attendants +excited some curiosity and attention: his dress and appearance were so +different from those of the others, that it evidently proved he must +have come from countries situated a considerable distance inland. He was +a tall, athletic, and rather corpulent man, of a complexion resembling +an Arab or an Egyptian. His dress was heavy, and by no means adapted to +the climate. He wore a cap that came down below his ears, and being made +of yellow cloth, it did not contribute to diminish his tawny complexion. +He was a follower of the Mohammedan religion, possessed much gravity; +but was communicative, condescending, and agreeable. He had about him a +great number of sentences from the Alkoran, which were carefully incased +in gold and silver, and upon which he set a high value. He was a native +of Kassina, a country that appears to be situated to the south of east +from Tombuctou. He said he had been at Tunis and at Mecca; had seen many +white men and ships, and described the method of travelling over the +great desert. This person commanded a body of men who fought with +arrows, as well as muskets: four of the arrows were found in the fort; +they were short and pointed with barbed iron. He had many persons in his +train who were of the same colour, but varied a little as to dress: they +were all habited in the Turkish manner, but did not wear turbans. After +the ceremony of visiting those persons was over, the Governor was +conducted towards the King, who was surrounded by a number of +attendants, whose appearance bore evident signs of riches and authority: +chains, stools, axes, swords, flutes, message-canes, &c. were either of +solid gold, or richly adorned with that metal: those dazzling +appearances, added to damask, taffety, and other rich dresses, gave a +splendour to the scene highly interesting. When the Governor approached +the King, and when an interchange of compliments had passed, the air +resounded with the noise of musical instruments, such as drums, horns, +and flutes. After some conversation, during which much politeness was +observed in the behaviour of the King, the Governor wished this +ceremonial visit to be returned; which was agreed to, and a convenient +place was found to receive the King and his train. The Governor, his +officers, and attendants, were formed in a half-circle, and seated under +the shade of some trees, and a passage of sufficient breadth was formed +by the soldiers for the King and his attendants to pass through. It was +full two hours before his Majesty was announced, so numerous was his +train. Each man of rank, as he advanced, paid the necessary compliments +agreeably to the custom of his country, and then filed off. It was +previously directed, that the King should be received with arms +presented and the grenadiers march when passing the soldiers. This mark +of distinction and respect appeared to give him much satisfaction: he +halted to observe the orderly behaviour and uniform appearance of the +soldiers; and the martial air that was playing, seemed to produce the +most agreeable sensations on his mind. The writer had an opportunity of +seeing this man. He was of the middle size, well formed, and perfectly +black, with regular features and an open and pleasing countenance. His +manner indicated understanding and was adorned with gracefulness; and in +all respects he exceeded the expectations of every person. His dress was +plain: it consisted of a piece of silk wrapt loosely about him; a wreath +of green silk ornamented his head: his sandals were neatly made, and +curiously studded with gold. He was not distinguished by any gold +ornaments, as his attendants were. One man who was dressed in a +grotesque manner, and who appeared to act the buffoon, was, literally, +loaded with gold. + +As this was a visit of ceremony, no business of consequence was +transacted. The King politely enquired after Mr. White, and expressed a +hope that he would soon be well of his wounds. He said he would move +from Annamaboe soon, as his army felt ill effects from the water, and +from the dead bodies. After this visit, every confidence was placed in +the King and his army, and as the gates were now opened, a free +admittance was allowed: various conferences of a favourable nature were +carried on between both parties; but peace with the Fantees was +considered impracticable. Apoutay had escaped the King’s vigilance; and +Acoom was at the head of a strong party, and marching towards Annamaboe +to give the King battle. The King assured the Governor, that after he +had subdued his enemies to leeward, he would return to Annamaboe for the +purpose of making arrangements relative to the future welfare of the +country, and the regulations of trade. + +It was agreed, that those residing under British forts, provided they +observed a neutrality, should not be molested, and that every respect +should be paid to the British flag. The Governor likewise procured the +release of those who sought refuge in the fort, although the King +contested his right to them; for this reason, that as he destroyed the +town, he had a claim to every person and to every thing belonging to it. +On report of Acoom being in arms and making preparations to attack the +Ashantees, the King ordered his army to collect and march to meet him. +Two days subsequent to the King’s departure (3d July,) Acoom’s party and +the advanced guard of the Ashantee’s met; a battle was the consequence, +which ended in the defeat of Acoom, who, with his party, would have been +cut off, if a river, that was in their rear, had not favoured their +flight; the fordable parts of which were known to them, but not to the +Ashantees. After this defeat, the King’s enemies dared not shew +themselves in the field in any force; they however supported a kind of +predatory warfare, and were sometimes successful in cutting off small +foraging parties. As the Ashantees proceeded to leeward, desolation +accompanied them; almost every town and village were laid in ruins; but +disease, which got among them at Annamaboe, and which spread rapidly, +carried off vast numbers. This unexpected calamity altered the King’s +intentions: he could not return to Annamaboe without risking the loss of +his whole army; prudence therefore directed him to face towards his +kingdom, leaving at Accra a sufficient force to dispose of prisoners, +and to convey them in safety to Ashantee. + +Cheboo and Apoutay, who appeared inseparable friends at the commencement +of this war, and throughout it, fled to Cape Coast with about five +hundred followers, as soon as they perceived the Ashantees approaching +towards Annamaboe, on the 15th of June. The Cape Coast people were +willing to afford them protection and assistance, but when the Governor +heard how things were at Annamaboe, he warned them of the danger, and +advised them to be neutral. When an account arrived at Cape Coast of the +desperate attack made on Annamaboe fort, the Governor came to the +resolution of securing, if possible, both these men, and delivering them +up to the King as the most probable means of not only putting an end to +the war, but of securing the King’s friendship. A party was accordingly +selected for that purpose; but Apoutay, after a warm contest, wherein +some were killed on both sides, effected his escape. Cheboo was not so +fortunate; he was secured and sent to the King, as we have already +mentioned; his followers too made a precipitate flight, leaving behind +them some bulky articles, among which were the whole of Cheboo’s +regalia, which were carefully lodged for the King; and it had the effect +on his disposition that was intended; it gave a favourable opinion of +the British, and assured him of the Governor’s friendship, and at the +same time it abated the desire he encouraged, to be revenged for the +loss his army had sustained on the 15th. For he concerted a design to +attempt the fort by storm, and Wednesday the 17th was the day appointed +for this enterprise. The plan was not badly arranged; and was to be +conducted in the following manner. Six thousand men were to be selected; +half of them destined not only to mount the walls, but to apply a +quantity of gunpowder under them; the explosion from which was expected +to shake the fort very much, and likewise to create such a confusion +within as to cause the garrison to be off its guard; the other half were +to keep up a continued firing. The plan was averted by the prudent +policy of the Chief Governor, not only by his securing Cheboo, but by +his alacrity in demanding a truce, whereby the King’s resentment was +cooled, and his inclinations diverted towards pacific measures. + + +[Footnote 142: This should be Appia Dunqua; he was the elder brother of +Appia Nanu, an account of whose disgrace is in the Diary.] + +[Footnote 143: This should be Atta.] + +[Footnote 144: Mr. White, who, after an absence of twenty seven years +from his native country, expired a few hours after he landed in it.] + + + + + APPENDIX. No. II. + + * * * * * + + + _Translations of a Manuscript descriptive of Mr. Park’s Death._ + + + MR. SALAME’S TRANSLATION. + +[The words in italics, so distinguished at that Gentleman’s request, not + being in the original.] + +A literal translation of a Declaration, written in a corrupted Arabic, +from the town of Yaúd in the interior of Africa. + + In the name of God the Merciful and the Munificent. + +This Declaration is issued from the town called[145] Yaúd in the Country +of Kossa[146].—We (the writer,) do witness the _following_ case; +(statement.) We never saw, nor heard of the sea (River) called[148] +Koodd; but we sat to hear (understood) the voice (report) of some +persons _saying_, “We saw a ship, equal to her we never saw before; and +the King of Yaúd had sent plenty of every kind of food, with cows and +sheep; _There_ were two men, one woman, two male slaves and two maids in +the ship;[149] _The_ two white men _were_ derived from the race (_sect_) +of Nassrí; (Christ or Christianity.) The King of Yaúd asked them to come +out to him; (to land[150]; and they refused coming out, (landing,) and +they went to the _King of the_ Country of[151] Bassa, who is greater +than the King of Yaúd; And _while_ they _were_ sitting in the ship and +gaining a position (rounding) over the Cape of Koodd, and _were_ in +society with the people of the King of Bassa, the ship reached (struck) +a-head of Mountain which took (destroyed) _her_ away,[152] and the men +and women of Bassa all together, with every kind of arms; (goods); And +the ship could find no way to avoid the mountain; And the man who _was_ +in the ship, killed his wife, and threw all his property into the Sea, +(River), and _then_ they threw themselves _also_ from fear[153]: +Afterwards they took one _out of the_ water till the news reached the +town of Kanji,[154] the country of the King of Wawí, and the King of +Wawí heard of it, he buried him in his earth, (grave), and the other we +have not seen[155]; perhaps he is in the bottom of the water.”—And God +knows best. Authentic from the mouth of Sherif Abrahim.—Finis. + + + MR. JACKSON’S TRANSLATION. + +[Of this Gentleman’s considerate politeness in anticipating my wishes by +a spontaneous offer to translate this MS., I shall have occasion to +repeat my acknowledgments in the Geographical Appendix.] + + In the name of God the Merciful and Clement. + +This Narrative proceeds from the territory in Housa[146] called[145] +Eeauree. _We observed_ an extraordinary event or circumstance[147], _but +we neither saw nor heard of the River which is called[148] Kude_, and as +we were sitting, we heard the voice of children and _we saw a vessel_ +the like to which in size we never saw before; and, _we saw_ the King of +Eeauree send cattle and sheep, and a variety of vegetables in great +abundance: and there were two men and one woman, and two slaves, and +_they tied or fastened them in the vessel_.[149] + +There were also in the vessel, two white men of the race called +Christians (N’sarrah) and the Sultan of Eeauree called aloud to them to +come out of the vessel,[150] but they would not. + +They proceeded to the country of Busa, which is greater than that of the +Sultan of Eeauree, and as they were setting in the vessel, they hung or +were stopped, by the Cape or Head Land of Kude.[151] + +And the people of the Sultan of Busa called to them, and poured their +arms into the vessel, and the vessel reached the head-land or cliff, and +became attached or fixed to the head of the mountain, and could not pass +it. Then the men and women of Busa collected themselves hostilely +together, with arms of all descriptions, when the vessel being unable to +clear or pass the Cape, the man in the vessel killed his wife[153] and +threw the whole of her property into the river: they then threw +themselves into the river, fear seizing them (the news of this +occurrence was then conveyed to the Sultan Wawee) until it reached by +water the territory of Kanjee,[154] in the country of the Sultan Wawee, +and we buried it (a male body) in its earth, and one of them, we saw not +at all in the water,[155] and God knows the truth of this report. From +the mouth of the Shereef Ibrahim.—The end. + + * * * * * + +I have sent the original MS. to the African Association, the following +is Mr. Jackson’s transcript of it. I regret that Mr. Salamé did not also +furnish a transcript of this MS. + + بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم + +هذه الوثيقه خرج من بلد حوسا يقال يَور ونحن راينا الامر لم نري ولانسمع في +البحر الذي يقال كوض انما نحن جلسنا نسمع صاخ صبيان لرايت السفينه لم نري +مثله قط فارسل سلطان يَور لرايته مع البقر والكبس مع انواع الطعام كثيرِ +هما رجلان وامراة واحدة والعبدان وعقدان في السفينة رجلان بيضان خرجوا من +نسب نصري ويدعوهو سلطان يور الي ان خرجوا اليه وابوا خروج ومشوا الي بلد +بسا وهوا كبر من سلطان يور وهم يجلسون ويعلكون ملوك علي راس كُوض ويصاخور +اهل سلطان بُسا لرايته وهم ركوب في السفينة بلغ السفينة راس جبل وياخد +الجبل السفينة ورجال بُسا والنساه بسا يجمعون كلهم مع انواع السلاح +والسفينة لم يجد طريق المنع الجبل ورجل الدي في السفينة قتل امراته ورمي +ماله كله في البحر ورموا نفسهما في البحر لخوف ثم ياخدوا بلغ خبر الي سلطان +واوي حتي بلغ ماه به الي بلد كنجي بلد سلطان وَاوَيَ ودفنه في قرابه وواحد +منهما لم نره اقل في قهر الماه والله اعلم صح في فَم شريف اِبراهيم * تمت * + + +[Footnote 145: Sir William Ouseley (who very obligingly communicated a +hurried translation from Crickhowel, although the original had been but +two hours in his possession) read this Yaur or Yaôur.] + +[Footnote 146: Sir Wm. writes Husa or Haousa: the latter is occasionally +the Moorish pronunciation, but Houssa is invariably the negro. I +certainly never once heard that Houssa included Yawoorie, which has a +distinct Sovereign, who is mentioned in the MS.: Perhaps it may be +accounted for, from Yawoorie being one of the seven kingdoms tributary +to Houssa or Mallowa.] + +[Footnote 147: Mr. Jackson has preserved this apparent contradiction in +his fidelity to the original, according to his reading. He considers, it +may be reconciled by presuming that the writer only saw the vessel pass +Yawoorie, and did not witness the ultimate catastrophe at Boussa, where +he imagines the river may first receive the name of Kude, as African +rivers frequently have a different name in every country through which +they flow. This interpretation does not make the writer a mere reporter +as in the other translation, but a witness of all that happened at +Yawoorie, although not afterwards. I never understood the river to have +any other name than Quorra or Quolla, from Shego to Foör, yet of this we +ought not to feel positive.] + +[Footnote 148: It is very extraordinary that the name of the Quolla +should always be written Kude, Koad, or Koada, and that Mr. Hutchison, +who was learning Arabic of the Moors, in Ashantee, should be taught to +write and pronounce as Quolla, the same Arabic word which every European +proficient reads as above. I cannot help thinking that, from bad +writing, ignorance, or perhaps some occidental difference, the _d_ is +put for the _l_,[a] and that it should be Kule or Koala, especially as +there appears to be a town called Kula on its banks, (see routes in +Appendix) which comes very close to Kulla, Mr. Brown’s river. The +identity of the Quolla and Kulla, seems confirmed by Mr. Dupuis reading +the name of the kingdom, as written by the Moors, Koora, which seems as +if they had written it for once, according to the negro pronunciation, +(Quorra,) for as I have observed (p. 196) that the negroes always +substitute r for the Moorish _l_ (a defect also characterising a dialect +of the Coptic, the Chayma, the Tamanack, &c. &c., and common, as Baron +Humboldt observes, to every zone) Koora becomes Koola, for the same +reason which the Quorra of the negroes was always pronounced Quolla by +the Moors; and Koola, it will be allowed, is very near to Mr. Brown’s +Kulla.] + +[Footnote a: I recollect one, but only one instance of the negroes +substituting _d_ for the Moorish _l_, which was in Toppodo for Toppollo, +a town of Bornoo.] + +[Footnote 149: Mr. Jackson writes وعقدان في السفينة Uakkadan fee sfeena, +i.e. and tied or bound them in the vessel or ship, adding, that he is at +a loss to imagine how it can have been converted into “two maids in the +ship.”[a] Sir Wm., however, in his hurried notice, rendered it ‘female +slaves.’] + +[Footnote a: _Ockdan fi ássafinat_, means either “_Two maids_, or _two +female slaves_, in the ship,” and no otherwise.—A. S.] + +[Footnote 150: “Invited (or entertained them) until they left him,” Sir +Wm.] + +[Footnote 151: Sir William, in his hurried perusal, read this, “and went +on to the country of Besa, and (the Sultan of) this country is greater +than the Sultan of Yaour: there they settled or halted, above Ras (Cape) +Koumen. The people belonging to the Sultan of Besa saw the boat, and +they went into the boat, and it reached the Mountain Cape, (or +Headland,) and was there stopped.”] + +[Footnote 152] + +[Footnote 153: “And _the man who was_[a] in the boat slew his woman +(امراة) and threw every article of his property into the river, and then +cast _themselves_ into the river through fear.] + +[Footnote a: I translate this in the singular, yet afterwards, there +seems a confusion with the plural.” Sir Wm. This act, which appears very +improbable, and which I never heard of in the oral accounts which I +received whilst in Coomassie, (Diary, p. 91) if it was committed, must +have been by Lieut. Martyn, recollecting the difference of his and Mr. +Park’s dispositions, and Amadi Fatouma’s anecdote of the former wishing +to kill him for preventing him from firing any more at the people of the +King Gotoijege, I should observe here, that Amadi Fatouma’s _Poul_ +nation can be no other than the Fillani, (p. 207) the Fullan of Ben Ali, +for though it has been translated Poul, there is no _p_ in the Arabic, +and the Moors in Ashantee always wrote _f_ for the negro _p_, as _fon_ +for _pon_. As Col. Maxwell merely observes in his letter, that “Isaaco’s +Arabic Journal was translated into English, by a person resident in +Senegal, who probably had but an ordinary or colloquial knowledge of +Arabic, it is to be regretted that the original was not transmitted with +it, as a more careful perusal of it by Sir William Ouseley or some +Arabic scholar in England, would probably reconcile the two accounts, at +least in the names of places, if not in the circumstances, more than +they can be from the translation remitted.] + +[Footnote 154: See note; p. 202.] + +[Footnote 155: “And the other did not,——from the violence of the +water.”—Sir Wm.] + + + + + APPENDIX. No. III. + + * * * * * + + ROUTES. + + 1. + + To Dwabin. + + Seepa + + Marmpon + + Pakooroo + + Aquooquamong + + Okimdaia + + Weterkroom + + Bunkooroo + + Boomfeea + + Kinnesoo + + 2. + + To Quaoo. + + 1. Assiempong + + 2. Thro’ Amoom R. to Oseemadoo + + 3. Obogoo, Frontier Quaoo town. + + 4. Adumpong, the Government of the C. Coast Captain + + 5. Assebanasoo + + 6. Minidasoo, Famous for Palm Oil. + + 7. Assoona + + 8. Wantomo + + 3. + + To Accra. + + 1. Odossoo + + 3. Kroofoofroom, Two hours from the lake. + + 4. Obirribee, The 1st Akim town + + 5. Assinee + + 6. Over Boosempra to Gawasee + + 7. Meeasee + + 8. Monasa + + 9. Over the Aninnee, (rising in a hill called Quomshoo, 1 day to the + W.) on a tree + + 10. Ashoosoo + + 11. Aquapong + + 12. Over Birrim to Measa + + 13. Asheeaqua + + 14. Kookrantoom + + 15. Aguiesso + + 16. Marmpon and Aboödee, Visited by Issert, who calls it 24 miles from + Christiansburg Castle. + + 4. + + To Accra. + + 1. Ashiedumpong + + 2. Assaboo + + 3. Assuennie + + 5. Antarranaï + + 6. Ammoonoom + + 7. Akropong + + 9. Abirriwantoo + + 10. Aradntem + + 11. Kookrantoom + + 13. Aguiesso. + + 5. + + To Elmina. + + 1. Thro’ the towns Akasee, Kankawasee, Odasoo, Adiabin, Asakkraka, + Adoonko, Agafrompon, to Adoomasa + + 2. Fiasee, Bonechumay, Asanasoo, to Becquoi + + 3. Inshuentem, (_between waters_) Abimpingua, to Atobiasee + + 4. Thro’ Hoomassie, Assekosoo, Edoomassie, Akoorkerry, Akotokee, + Yankeren, to Abateä, the frontier town of Dankara + + 5. Thro’ Sewooterasee, (_put your head lower_) Aboposoo, the frontier + Tufel town, to Ensuaguesoo, (_woman’s town_) the capital of Tufel + + 6. Morobim + + 7. Thro’ Akoontarrem, (the 1st Warsaw town) Amodai, over Bopoquaw, (a + high hill where there was formerly a large croom, now deserted) & + Apachamba, to Kaïrakoo + + 8. Over Pra to Demamba + + 9. Dadiasoo + + 10. Asseecooma, Abannasoo, Abrādi, Elmina, or, as the natives call it, + Addĭna. + + 6. + + To Dankara. + + 1. Dakoon + + 2. Terraboöom, the frontier town of Dankara + + 3. Thro’ Mosiasoo to Enquanta + + 4. Thro’ Ofoo, Amasoo, to Dankara. + + 7. + + To Buntookoo. + + 1. Barree [156]or to Passaroo + + 2. Beamasoo, or to Dooniantiffee + + 3. Ensoota + + 4. Quanta + + 5. Across Tando, to Odomassee + + 6. Suaterree + + 7. Birrakoomee + + 8. Yammee + + 9. Kirribeeö + + 10. Kickiwerree + + 11. Buntookoo + + 8. + + To Banda. + + 1. Tafoo + + 2. Ofeesoo + + 3. Abofoo + + 4. Kinkawasoo + + 5. Akomada + + 6. Tandosoo + + 7. Koontoosoo + + 8. Takima + + 9. Weäkee + + 10. Aousa + + 11. Soko + + 12. Namasa + + 13. Coransoo + + 14. Bimma + + 15. Banda + + 9. + + To Boopee. + + 1. Esansoo, or Medima + + 2. Through Ofim, which rises close to the E. to Bümsoo or Akimakasie + + 3. Soodroo + + 4. Takimenteä, or Quamang + + 5. Akommadeä, or Boomang + + 6. Boisoo + + 7. Coranza + + 8. Boibin + + 9. Koonquoontee + + 10. Dawdaw + + 11. Akrofroom + + 12. Oboosmosoo + + 13. Moboäsoo + + 14. On the path + + 15. Over Adirri + + 16. Boopee + + 10. + + To Sallagha. + + 1. Marmpon + + 2. Aphwaguiasee + + 3. Gammasee a fetish temple + + 4. Akrofroom + + 5. Intonnasoo (Cloth Town) + + 6. Quanasee or Troabirree + + 7. Agwoona + + 8. Adoogan + + 9. Over rivers and mountains to Aguirra, or Poorra + + 10. Through Sennee to Amanting + + 11. Pattooda + + 12. Atoboboo + + 13. Weasee + + 14. Pannangha + + 15. Yadjee + + 16. Over Adirri to Sallagha + + 11. + + To Source of Sennee. + + 1. Agamachasee + + 2. Aboiman + + 3. Yatirrim + + 4. Oweeamasee + + 5. Anyanasue + + 6. Assekadoomasee + + 12. + + To Odentee ferry. + + 1. Kokoofoo + + 2. Guia + + 3. Weeäsee + + 4. Bassa + + 5. Tarrisoo + + 6. Over Sennee, to ferry + + 13. + + From Yahndi to Daboia + + 1. Through Patinga to Duetuem + + 2. Tampeūn + + 3. Through Nantong to Kompoongo + + 4. Through Boö to Dindinno + + 5. Daboia + + Large Towns on the Route from Boornoo to Oongoora. + + Deeagarra + + Digza + + Gellaroo + + Rakah + + Zaghgah + + Ariggum + + Madellarie + + Zogogdo + + Doobba + + Toppollo, or Toppodo + + Garaga + + Gaskaia + + Matchella + + Goozirrinkoorra + + Dumgabalo + + Potuskum, or Kuskum + + Dawaso + + Woodbo + + Gummo + + Zega + + Adagia, Mallagee, and Katanga, lay between Oongoora, and Kassina. + + Towns adjoining, or laying close to the right and left of the above + Route. + + Serrakeelaia + + Dakum + + Lismaroo + + Goobilwa + + Gobookalashee + + Dazakou + + Danga + + Likhalalie + + Looha + +The following transcripts of the most intelligible of the MSS. I +brought, according to the different readings, with the Negro +pronunciation as it was familiar to me in Ashantee, will show how +careless or incapable the Moors are of writing the names of Negro +kingdoms accurately according to the expression of the natives. The +original MSS. will be sent to the African Association, to whom I had +hoped to present the interesting itinerary of Shereef Brahima from +Dagwumba to Mecca, but this valuable MS. which it had cost me so much +pains to procure, after being kept three months by one gentleman before +he discovered that he had not time to translate it, was lost or mislaid +by another in the course of doing so, and I have the mortification of +being unable to submit any other than the mere skeleton of it. See +Geography, p. 205. + + + CHART No. I. + + _Course of the Niger or Quolla (by a Houssa Moor.)_ + + Negro pro- Mr. Jackson’s reading Mr. Dupuis’ reading and + nunciation. and transcript. transcript. + + Gebowa Gebawa جباو + + Toro Futa Jelua فوت جلوا Foota Joolaba فُوتَ جلوب + Jollabi + + Fota Tora Futa Tura فوت طورَ Foota Tooroo فُوتَ طُورُ + + Hasoo Kassua خَصوا Khassoua خَصُوا + + Jaoona Jäun جَعونْ Jafoona جفون + + Gammoe G¯remua غموا Ghemoua غمُوا + + Mallaia Maly Faly مَلَي فَلي Malia مَلي + + Shego Shag¯ru شاغُ Shagho شاغُ + + Sansandin Sansandia سَنسَندي Sansandia سَنسَندي + + Jennie Janni جَان Jinnie جَان + + Mashina Masheena مَاشِنَ Mashena مَاشينَ + + Jimballa G¯rimbala غِمْبَلَ [157]Ghimballa غِمْبَلَ + + (G¯r nearest sound + to غ.) + + Kabarra Kabra كَبرَ Kabara كَبَرَ + + Timbuctoo Timbuctoo ثمْبَكْتُ + + Jolliba Jilab Karihua جلاب كريهوا Jilleb Kareho جلاب كريهوا + + (or Garihua.[158]) + + Uzzabin Asabin احبن Azbene ازبن + + Gaw G¯raheh غاي Ghou غاو + + Kabi Keb كب Kabi كب + + Yaoora Eüra يورَ Yaoury يور + + Hooman حمن + (Dhooman) + + Raka Baka بَكا Raka رَكَا + + Quarraraba Kurauabee كرَوبَي Koorawaba كْرَوَبَ + + Mafeegoodoo Mafikadoo مَافِقُدَ Mafhygodo مَافْقِغُدُ + + Cadie, Shad شد Shada شَدَ + Caudee, + and Chadi + + Sharee R. Shar شر Sharry شَرِ + + Foor Fure فور Foor فُوُرْ + + Weddai Wadan وادان Wadana وَادَانَ + + (i.e. two rivers.) + + Soonar Sanar سَنَارْ Sanar سَنَارْ + + Shuar Sheua شوَا بنَسر Shewa ben شوَا بن حسن + Benassa benasser Hassan + + Shousuad شوسواد Shousooda شوسواد + + Doulamba دُلَنْبَ + + Kalen or فالن or كالن Kalana كالن + Falen + + Jefeesgo Jafag¯r جَفَغْ Jafegh جفغ + + Massar Mass’r مصر Massir مصر + + + MS. No. I. + + _Route from Boussa to Yarriba._ + + Wauwaw Wou واوْ + + Kaiama Kima كيما + + Godoobirrie Khudubar خدوبار + + Gamba Khamba خَمْبَ + + Kroomie Yarriba Kurmi Yarabia كُرْم يَرَبي + + Ageasee Abashee ابَشي + +A more familiar illustration of the difficulty or carelessness of the +Moors in writing Negro names, is the following route to Sallagha, to +which there are many paths, containing several Ashantee towns, which I +have laid down in the map. I rather think, however, the corrupt Arabic +of the interior is not quite understood. + + + MS. No. II. + + Negro pronun- Mr. Jackson’s reading and transcript. + ciation. + + Jemakashee جماكاشي + + Gammasee Khemashee or خماشي + Ghemashee + + Akrofroom Kukerume or كوقروم or كوكروم + Kuferume + + Ber kaleela (a برقليلا + narrow or close + country) + + Soota U badha Shta } + } + } وبعده شتا + } + And afterwards Shta or an } + alluvial country } + + The people of Sudi in the وحيل اسود كان في بلد شتا + territory of Shta + + Marmpon U badha Mamefm و بعده مَمفم + + Aduarrie Kennie D’keen Adjar دكين ادجار + + Aguira Ajuee or Ajree اجري or اجوي + + Antonasoo Anteenee عنتيني + + Akakuee اككوي + + Patooda (no P Ketdee كتدي + in Arabic) + + Atoboo Atab اتاب + + Weasee Hooashee or جومشي or حوعشي + Weeashu + + Feneeueekee فنيويقي + + Perhaps meaning Bure بور + frontier of + Booroom + + Sallagha Salag~r سلغ + +I shall submit more translations or transcripts of routes and charts in +Arabic, adding the Negro pronunciation, as the situations of most of the +places were not so clearly confirmed as to enable me to insert them in +my map, and consequently it is important to enable future travellers to +refer to them; such outlines being a great assistance in directing and +checking enquiry (which they frequently originate) and investigation. +The original MSS. will be sent to the African Association, in case a +further examination may be desirable hereafter. + + + MS. No. III. + + _Course of the Niger or Quolla (by a Bornoo Moor.)_ + + Negro Mr. Jackson’s reading Mr. Dupuis’ reading and + pronunciation. and transcript. transcript. + + Bambooch Banbug~r بَنبُغ الدي Banboogho بَنْبغ + eladi eeakul ياكل + + el Ham Abn الحم ابن ادم + Adam + + Banbug~r, who eat the flesh of men. + + Firmagr~a فرمَغَ Fermagha فرمَغَ + + Hasoo Hâsu حاسُ Hasoo حَاسُ + + Jaoona Jahunu جَاحُنُ Jahoonoo جَاحُيُ + + Gamoo Jamu جَمُ Jamoo جَمُ + + Malay or Mallaia Mali مَلي Malabi مَلبي + + Shego Shaegru شَيْغُ Shagho شَيْغُ + + Sansandin Sansandy سَنسَندِ Sansadia سَنسَدَ + + Jennie Jany جَنِ Jinnie جني + + Mashina Masina مَاسَنَ Massina مَاسنَ + + Timbuctoo Tunbûktu تُنبَقْتُ Timbuctoo تمبقْتُ + + Gauw G¯rau غَاوْ Ghaou غاوْ + + Kolomanni Kulman كُلْمَنِ Koolmani كُلْمَن + + Zinberme Dtanberma ذَنبرْمَ Danberma ذَنْبرْمَ + + Cabi Kabi كَبِ Kabi كَبِ + + Yawoorie or Eauri يَاوُرِ Yaouri يَاوُرِ + Yaoora + + Noofee Nufy نُفي Noufee نفي + + Boussa Busâa بوسَا Boussa بوسا + + Rakka Raka رَاقَا Rakka رَاقَا + + Bornoo B’rn Bernu برن Bornou برن + + Chadee L. (The lake drawn, but the name not written.) + + Bagarrimee Bag¯rarm باغرو Baghroom باغرم + + Kalamfarradoo Kaferk or كافرد or Kaferda كافرد + Kaferd كافرك Kalferka + + Weddaï Wadana (two وَدَان Wadai وَدَان + rivers) + + Soonar Surnar سُرنَرْ Soonar سُونَرْ + + Siua سيوا Sewa سيوا + + Schweess Suis سويس Souisa سويس + + Zaloo Jal جال Jaloo جال + + Kataëba Katab قَتَب Kataibi فَتَيب + + Makidzue Mek’duh مقدوح Mokad مقدوح + + Mertabass M’rtabas مرتباس Mertabas مرتباس + + Hoodayba Mamudeeb مَموديب Haoudeba هوديي + + Taiboos Teesuse تيسوس Tesoos تيسوس + + Jarooba Jerub جروب Jarouba جروب + + Tabarrabass Tidburse or تدبرس or Tarbasa ترباس + Tidfurse تدفرس + + Gedda. J’da جدا Jidda جدا + + Geddook J’duk جدوخ Jidoukh جدوخ + + Limbarr’ Linbabahr لنبَبَحر Linbahar لنبحر + + Tarrowm Term ترم Taroom ترم + + Massar M’nser منصر Minsor منصر + + Sakunderree or Skender, a سكندر مرج Sakundria, سْكَنْدَرِ + Askandarie swamp lake Alexandria + + _Route from Timbuctoo to Ferjan (from the same MS.)_ + + Tuan توان Toowano توان + + M’brûk مبروك Mobaruka مبَرْوك + + Jeerban حيربن Joojebani اجوجبن + + Abugiberk ابوجبرخ Kheerabi خيربي + + Tehekeem تحكيم Tahkema تحكيم + + Bageeacha } + } + Hootailee } + } + Goosaicha } not written, but position marked, and thus pronounced. + } + Hayloon } + } + Barrahese } + + Ferjan فرجان Ferjan فَرْجَانْ + + _From Timbuctoo to Tunis (from the same Chart.)_ + + Ziggie Jak, Jik, or جق Jagha جغ + Juk + + Arowalla Arun or Arul عرول or عرون Aaroon عرون + + Tarrabaleese Trahesen ترهيسن Trabolas ترهبليس + + Mooquinassa M’kenas ممكناس Mookanassa مَكْنَاس + + Hass Has حَاسْ Hhas حَاسْ + + Landoloos Lindalsu لَندَلْسُ Lankalsoo لَنكَلْسُ + + Toonis Tunis تونس Tunis تونس + + Near the sea كباله بحر + +Other towns named on this route were + + Hassaladee + + Hassazedeed + + Hassat + + Omattaras + + Dizzaela + + Dazeleel + + Katerbaîlie + + Bahadzai + + Maratooph + + Swamach + + + MS. No. IV. + + _Course of the Niger or Quolla (by a Jennie Moor who had been to + Egypt.)_ + + Negro Mr. Jackson’s reading Mr. Dupuis’ reading and + pronun- and transcript. transcript. + ciation. + + Mallaia Malh ملح Mahh مَاحْ + + Shego Shak سك Shako سكُ + + Sansandin Sansandee سنسدَي Sansandia سنسنديَ + + Jennie Jin جن Jinnie جنِ + + Massina Masheen ماشين Mashina ماشين + + Tinbuctoo Tinbut تنبت Tinbuctoo تنبت + + (Here he draws the Jolliba flowing from or into the Quolla by + Timbuctoo.) + + Gauw Gru غو Ghou غو + + Quoälla Kula كولا Koualla كولا + + Askeä Assaëe اَساَي Askea اسكي + + Zabirma Zabuaä زبوعا Zaberma زبرما + + Cabi Keb كب Kaby كبا + + Yaoora Eeurë يور Yeory يور + + Boussa B’sa بسا Bussu بسا + + (Here he branches off a southern route to Yarriba with precisely the + same names as in MS. I, by the Houssa Moor.) + + Noofee } + } + Quolla-liffa } + } + Atagara } not written, but position marked, and thus + } pronounced. + Sharee R. } + } + Chadee L. } + + Foor Foo فوُ Sour صُره + + Weddai Wadaee وداي Wadai وداي + + Joonar Jusenaw جوسناو Joosnou جوسناو + + Shewa Shuee شوي Shouy سوي + + Sooeess Siuse سُوسْ Sweis سُوسْ + + Zale Zal زاَل Zal زاَل + + Zaedooma Zeehwam زيهوم Zeedouma زيدوم + + Lachtamoo Lahellam لاحلام Lakhtamo لاخطام + + Makagoodoo Mehed’twa محذوْع Mohadzou محذوْع + + Dalooba Deeluba ديلوبا Djaoba دجاوبا + + Tarbass Tubas توباس Terbasa ترباس + + Jaheesoo Jekeesee جخيس Jakhesa جخيس + + Latooha Lituh or ليعوح or ليطوح Letouh ليطوح + Liauh + + Mabanoos M’benuse مبنوس Mabanouso مَبَنُوس + + Itkhame Atekam اتخام Etakhamo اطخدَمُ + + Massar Missu مصو Massir مصر + + Sooryada Sueed سويد Sourida سُويد + + Nezoogoo Teeawa تياوع Nezugh نيزوخح + + Kataramoo Kateram كترام Kateramo كترام + + Dahloomoo D’helume دحلوم Dhalomo دحلوم + + Hateboo Heteeb حتيب Hhateba حتيب + + Haheenie Heneen حنين Hahhene ححين + + Hajamie Khejam خجام Hajame حجام + + Tapasooloo Tefawn تفعون Tafsoona تفصون + + Askandarie Askundria اسكندري + + Bahar Mela (Bahar Melhah the Bahar al Malah + salt sea) + + + MS. No. IV. + +This was written by an old Moor, a native of the Mallowa country, but +unfortunately just as he had finished (for I made them all write at the +moment in my own apartment, however hurried, rather than allow them to +go home and compose for me) and was beginning to explain what he had +written, a summons from the King obliged me to quit him, and he left +Coomassie before I could procure another visit from him. In the absence +of all explanation, I can only conclude from some few names that are +familiar to me, that it is a route from Berragoo over the Quolla, and +then westward to Bergoo, known to Mr. Brown. I am only induced thus to +preserve a transcript of this ms. from its fortunate co-incidence in +several names with the valuable lost itinerary of my friend Brahima, as +far as can be collected from a mere sketch of a translation, which was +made in anticipation of the perfect one. I shall submit them +collaterally, as they assist to elucidate each other, and agree very +well in the relative positions of places, although the parties never saw +each other, which is some satisfaction under the disappointment. + + _Outline of Brahima’s MS. No. IV. + Itinerary._ + + Mr. Dupuis’ reading and Mr. Jackson’s reading Other readings. + transcript. and transcript. + + + Bazao بَزاوُ (بَراوُ) Burg¯ru بُرْغُ Bouroughoo + (Barao) + + Babigry بَبِغي Babaghe + + Kaikshi كَيَقشي Keekesh كيقش Keekash + + Droo دروو Serkune سركون Serkoon + + Mashooko مَشوُكوْ + + Banghoo بَانْغُوا Banaka بانعقا + + Toonooma تُونُومُ Tuee توي + + Yajoury يَجُورِ Tenbykukmaetunby تنب كوك مَيتُنْب + (doubtless + Yawoorie) + + Kenbua كنبوا Kanboo + + Dendawy دنداوي Danadoo + + Belg¯rua بلغوا Balaghou + + Jabdgho جَبْذْغُ Jebeng¯rua جبنغوا Jabadghoo + + Keemba or كمْبَا (كصْبَا) Kamba كمبه + Keerba + + Kadarkoo اَلجركَدَرْكُ Kedug¯reh R. كَدوغه Kadarko + R. + + Doodirba ذُذْرْبَا Dtedterba R. ذذربا Dodarba + R. + + Uwawfeh وواوفه + + Mhaka Kury محكا كوري + (arrival at + Kury) + + Saffer سفر + + Aäu Khashah اعَوو كحاشه + + Shawanka اشَوَنْكَا Shawangra شاوَنْغَ + + Ghoufel غوفل Jafu جافُو Japhoo + + Simmer سمر + + Yarkoo يركو + + Daghm دغم + + Bannanao بَنَنَوْا + + Doonkee دُنْقيْ Dunka دُنقَيْ Doonkot + + Ghodau غوضا G¯ru’w غووَ Ghouwa + + Salamo سَلَمْوُا + + Janboodoo جَانْبُدُوا Jabendu جابندوا + + Soosoo سُسُوْا Susu سُوسُوْا + + Kooreree كُرر Koos كوصْ + + Barghoowa برغَوَا Berg¯rua برغوا + + Nak or نك + Naka + + Water of وض + Wada + + Douga ضوغا + (probably + Donga) + + Mazim مزم + + Kal كل + + Makji مقجي + + Tafkat تفقت + + Shal L. شل + + Koad or كوض + Koada + + Here the writer signified that he went back to _Kateen_, as appeared + to the transcriber, but more probably_Kassina_, and thence proceeded + to + + Kano كَن + + Bornou برنو + + Sher R. شر + + Shadda L. شاد + + Foor فر + + Wada وداء + + Massir مصر + + Makata مكة + (Mecca) + + Madina مدينه + + Shem شام + (Damascus) + + Jerusalem, بيت المقدس + &c. &c. + + +[Footnote 156: When _or_ appears between two names, it means that each +town is equally close to the path, and indifferently visited.] + +[Footnote 157: Mr. Dupuis renders the Arabic غ g¯h agreeable to +Richardson. Mr. Jackson has insisted on preferring g˘r throughout. Mr. +Dupuis, having sailed for Africa, has not had the advantage of +correcting the press for himself, but every care has been taken.] + +[Footnote 158: Sir W. Ouseley remarks, that the letter _k_ is frequently +softened into _g_.] + + + + + APPENDIX. No. IV. + + * * * * * + + + REPTILIA. (REPTILES.) + +_Gen._ MONITOR, _Cuvier._ + + _Sp._ 1. _Pulcher_, _Leach._ + + M. Supra niger albo pulcherrime zonatus et maculatus: zonis + dorsalibus e maculis effectis, ventre albido nigro transversim vage + lineato, cauda compressa carinata. + + This elegant species was found in Fantee. The whole upper parts of + the body, the legs and tail, are black, most beautifully banded and + spotted with white. The bands on the tail are alternately wide and + narrow; the wider bands are each much and abruptly dilated above + into a kind of spot, whilst the narrow ones become gradually wider + in the inverse direction. The legs are spotted above with white; the + under parts of them, as well as of the belly and throat, are also of + the same colour with the spots. + +_Gen._ CHAMÆLEON, _of authors._ + + _Sp._ 1. _Dilepis_, _Leach._ + + Ch. Capite supra sub plano utrinque bicarinato: carinis antice + conniventibus, occipite utrinque squama magna instructo, dorso + subspinoso-carinato. + + This species may readily be distinguished from all that have been + hitherto discovered, by the two large scales, affixed one on each + side to the back part of the head. These scale-like processes, are + covered by the same scaly integuments which cover the head and body. + +_Gen._ ACONTIAS, _Cuvier._ + + _Sp._ 1. _Punctatus_, _Leach._ + + A. Supra brunneo-fuscus obsolete purpurascens, squamis postice + macula ventreque fulvescentibus. + + Fantee. + +_Gen._ MACROSOMA, _Leach._ + + 1. _Elegans, Leach._ + + Coluber elegans, _Shaw._ + + Fantee. + +_Gen._ COLUBER, _Cuvier._ + + 1. _Bicolor_, _Leach._ + + C. Supra badio-niger subtus albidus, squamis dorsalibus elongatis + gradatim angustioribus; apice obtusiusculis. + + Fantee. + + 2. _Irroratus_, _Leach._ + + C. Badio-fuscus, gula pallida, squamis pulcherrime albido irroratis; + dorsalibus subelongatis apice rotundatis. + + Fantee. + + 3. _Irregularis_, _Leach._ + + C. Azureo-virescens, ventre albido, squamis simplicibus + irregularibus: dorsalibus ovatis: lateralibus superioribus superne + truncatis; inferis subhexagonis. + + Fantee. + + The above three species of _Coluber_ are decidedly new, as well as + the _Acontias_; the latter is more particularly interesting, since + it encreases the species of a very limited genus. + + + ARACHNOÏDA. + +_Gen._ SCORPIO, _of authors._ + + _Sp._ 1. _Afer_, _Fabr._ + +_Gen._ MYGALE, _Latreille._ + + The only specimen was too mutilated to enable me to make out its + specific character. + + + MYRIAPODA. + + Of this class you found two species in Fantee; a _Scolopendra_, and + a gigantic _Julus_; neither of which are in a sufficiently good + state to enable me to make out whether they be described or not. + + + INSECTA. + +_Gen._ TEFFLUS, _Leach_, new genus. + + Generic character. + + CAPUT. _Mandibulæ_ æquales edentulæ. _Palpi labiales_ et _maxillares + externi_ articulo ultimo elongato-securiformi. + + THORAX hexagonus antice et postice rectus. _Alæ_ nullæ. _Elytra_ + coalita abdomen tegentia apicem versus utrinque sinuata. _Tibiæ_ + anticæ latere interiore apicem versus emarginatæ calcare elevato + instructæ. _Tarsi antici_ MARIS articulis duobus primis tenuiter + dilatatis. + + Habitus et Antennæ Carabi. + + _Sp._ 1. _Meyerlei_. + + Carabus Meyerlei, _Fabr. Syst. Eleut._ i. 169.—_Voet. col._ ii. + _tab._ 39, _f._ 49. + +_Gen._ ODONTOMERUS, _Dahl._ + + _Sp._ 1. _Serratus_. + + Buprestis serratus, _Fabr._ + + Fantee. + +_Gen._ CETONIA, _of authors._ + + _Sp._ 1. _Marginata_, _Fabr._ + + Fantee. + +_Gen._ PHYLLOTOMA, _Wm. MacLeay, MSS._ + + _Sp._ 1. _Reflexa_. + + Melolontha reflexa, _Fabr._ + + Fantee. + +_Gen._ HELOPS, _Fabr._ + + _Sp._ 1. _Marginatus_, _Olivier_. + + Fantee. + +_Gen._ UPIS? _Fabr._ + + _Sp._ 1. Cuprea. + + Tenebrio Cupreus, _Fabr._ + + Fantee. + +_Gen._ LAMIA, _Fabr._ + + _Sp._ 1. Tri-fasciata, _Fabr._ + + Fantee. This species is also found at Sierra Leone, and in the Back + Settlements of the Cape of Good Hope. + +_Gen._ PETROGNATHA, _Leach._ + + Character + + _Caput_ thorace paulo latius. _Antennæ_ (_maris_ corpore duplo + longiores et ultra,) articulo secundo longiore flexuoso. _Labrum_ + lineare transversum nudum utrinque rotundatum. _Mandibulæ_ petrosæ + (MARIS interne apicem versus obtuse unidentatæ,) infra et externe + irregulariter carinatas. _Palpi maxillares_ et _labiales_ articulo + ultimo basi subattenuato, apice externe oblique truncato-acuminato. + + THORAX transversus utrinque 1-spinosus. _Elytra_ humeris 1-spinosis, + apiceque ad saturam spinoso-subproducto. + + _Sp._ 1. _Gigas_. + + Lamia Gigas, _Fabr._ + + Fantee. + +_Gen._ CALLICHROMA, _Latreille._ + + _Sp._ 1. _Festivum_. + + Cerambyx festivus, _Oliv. Fabr._ + + Fantee. + +_Gen._ MANTIS. + + _Sp._ 1. _Superstitiosa_, _Fabr_. + + Fantee + + This species, as well as its congeners, is an object of + superstitious veneration amongst the natives of north-western + Africa, Syria, and India. It agrees in all points with the original + specimen of _Superstitiosa_, so named by Fabricius in the Banksian + Cabinet. + +_Gen._ GRYLLUS, _Fabr._ + + _Sp._ 1. _Squarrosus_, _Fabr._ + + Fantee. + +_Gen._ REDUVIUS, _Fabr._ + + _Sp._ 1. _Barbicornis_, _Fabr._ + + Fantee. + + I have received this species from the Cape of Good Hope. + +_Gen._ CANOPUS, _Rodhe._ + + _Sp._ 1. _Punctatus_, _Leach._ + + Supra olivaceo-ater impresso-punctulatus rubro punctatus, subtus + ruber segmentis marginibus stigmatibus tibiis tarsisque nigris, + capite rubro irrorato. + + Gaboon. + + + + + APPENDIX, No. V. + + * * * * * + + + _Mr._ TEDLIE’S _Account of the Thermometer._ + + Date. | A.M. | M. | P.M. | Weather. + | | | | + April 28 |6 74 | | | + | | | | + 29 |7½ 75 | | | + | | | | + |11 80 | | | + | | | | + 30 | | |2 88½ | + | | | | + | | |7 82½ | + | | | | + May 1 |8 77 | | | + | | | | + 2 |8 76½ | |1 91 | + | | | | + 3 |6 76 |12 89 | | + | | | | + May 4. |The Thermometer was broken last night at Asharaman. + | | | | + At Coomassie, from the 7th June to the 11th, it varied from 80 to 85, + between 12 and 2. + | | | | + June 15 | | |1 82 | + | | | | + 16 |10 79 | | | + | | | | + 17 | |12 82 | | + | | | | + 18 |9 79 | |2 84 | + | | | | + 19 |7½ 73 | |2½ 78 | + | | | | + | | |5 78 | + | | | | + 20 |10 78 | |1 81 | + | | | | + | | |2½ 82 | + | | | | + 21 |8 74 | |2½ 82 | + | | | | + 22 |8 76 |12 82 |1 74 |Tornado. + | | | | + 23 |8½ 74 | |1 81 |Tornado. + | | | | + 24 |11½ 76 | |2 73 |Rain. + | | | | + 25 |9 75 | |1 76 | + | | | | + 26 |9 76 |12 76 |2 78 | + | | | | + 27 |8½ 79 | |3½ 80 | + | | | | + 28 |8½ 74 |12 77 | | + | | | | + 29 |9½ 74 | |2 77 |Fair. + | | | | + 30 |9 77 | |1 80 |Rain. + | | | | + July 1 |9 76 | |1 80 | + | | | | + 2 |8 73 |12 78 | | + | | | | + 3 |9 78 | |1 78 | + | | | | + | | |6 75 | + | | | | + 4 |8 72 |12 74 | | + | | | | + 5 |8 72 | |1 78 |Fair. + | | | | + 6 |6 71 |12 76 | | + | | | | + 7 |6 71 | |2 80 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |6 75 | + | | | | + 8 |6 72 |12 78 | |Fair. + | | | | + | | |3 80 |Tornado. + | | | | + 9 |6 72 | | |Fair. + | | | | + | | |1 79 |Rain. + | | | | + 10 |7 73 | |2½ 81 | + | | | | + 11 |8 73 | |2 81 |Fair. + | | | | + | | |6 72 | + | | | | + 12 |6 72 | |2½ 80 | + | | | | + | | |6 76 | + | | | | + 13 |8 77 | | | + | | | | + |11 73 | |3 77 |Rain. + | | | | + 14 |8 71 | |2 77 | + | | | | + 15 |8 70 |12 74 |6 72 |Fair. + | | | | + 16 |7 69 | |2 78 | + | | | | + | | |7 73 | + | | | | + 17 |7 69 | |2½ 79 | + | | | | + 18 |8 71 | |3 79 | + | | | | + | | |6 76 | + | | | | + 19 |6 70 | | |Fair. + | | | | + | | |2½ 76 |Fair, + | | | | + | | |7 74 | + | | | | + 20 |8 72 | |2½ 78 | + | | | | + 21 |7½ 71 |12 75 |2½ 78 | + | | | | + | | |6½ 75 | + | | | | + 22 |6 70 | |2 78 | + | | | | + | | |7 73 |Rain. + | | | | + 23 |6 70 | |2 78 | + | | | | + | | |8 72 | + | | | | + 24 |8 70 | |2 74 | + | | | | + | | |8 72 | + | | | | + 25 |8 69 | |1 74 | + | | | | + | | |6 72 | + | | | | + 26 |7 70 | |2 75 | + | | | | + | | |6 74 | + | | | | + 27 |7 68 | |3½ 80½ | + | | | | + | | |8 71 | + | | | | + 28 |8 70 | | |Fair. + | | | | + | | |3 77 | + | | | | + | | |7½ 73 | + | | | | + 29 |7 70 | |2 78 | + | | | | + | | |8 73 | + | | | | + 39 |7 66½ | |2 78 | + | | | | + | | |7 73 | + | | | | + 31 |8 70 |12 76 |2 78 | + | | | | + | | |7 73 | + | | | | + Aug. 1 |7 70 | |2 77 | + | | | | + | | |7 73 |Rain. + | | | | + 2 |7 71 | |2 73 | + | | | | + | | |8 70 | + | | | | + 3 |7 69½ |12 72 |3 73 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |8 70½ |Fair. + | | | | + 4 |7 70 | |2 78 | + | | | | + | | |8 74 | + | | | | + 5 |7 71 | |2 79 | + | | | | + | | |6 75 |Rain. + | | | | + 6 |7 70 | | |Rain. + | | | | + | | |2 78½ | + | | | | + | | |8 73 |Fair. + | | | | + 7 |7 71 | |2 78 | + | | | | + | | |6 76 | + | | | | + 8 |6 70 |12 73 |2½ 77 | + | | | | + | | |7 73 | + | | | | + 9 |6 70 | |2½ 78 | + | | | | + | | |7 75 | + | | | | + 10 |7 71 | |2 76 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |7 74 |Rain. + | | | | + 11 |7 71 | |2 78 | + | | | | + | | |8 73 |Rain. + | | | | + 12 |7 70½ | |3 76 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |6 73 | + | | | | + | | |8 71 | + | | | | + 13 |7 70 | |2 77 | + | | | | + | | |8 73 | + | | | | + 14 |7 70 | |2 74 |Fair. + | | | | + | | |6 73 | + | | | | + | | |8 71 | + | | | | + 15 |7 70 | |2 72 | + | | | | + | | |7 73 | + | | | | + 16 |7 70 | |2 75 | + | | | | + | | |7 73 | + | | | | + 17 |7 70 | |2 80 | + | | | | + | | |7 74 | + | | | | + 18 |7 71 |12 77 |2 80½ | + | | | | + | | |3 81 | + | | | | + | | |7 77 | + | | | | + 19 |7 71 | |2 75 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |8 73 | + | | | | + 20 |7 68½ | | |Rain. + | | | | + | | |2 72½ | + | | | | + | | |6 71 | + | | | | + 21 |6 69 | | |Fair. + | | | | + | | |1 77 | + | | | | + | | |7 74 | + | | | | + 22 |6 68 |12 73 |2 77 | + | | | | + | | |7 71 | + | | | | + 23 |7 68 | |1 76 | + | | | | + | | |8 73 | + | | | | + 24 |7 69 | |3 74 | + | | | | + | | |7 71½ | + | | | | + 25 |6 68 | |6 74 | + | | | | + 26 |6 68 | |3 78½ | + | | | | + | | |7 74 | + | | | | + 27 |7 69 | | |Hazy. + | | | | + | | |1 72 | + | | | | + | | |3 72 | + | | | | + | | |7 70½ | + | | | | + 28 |6 69 ½ | | |Rain. + | | | | + | | |2 74 | + | | | | + | | |8 72 |Rain. + | | | | + 29 |7 70 | |3 78 |Fair + | | | | + | | |6 77 | + | | | | + 30 |7 70 | | |Fair. + | | | | + | | |2½ 76 | + | | | | + | | |7 73 |Rain. + | | | | + 31 |7 70½ | |3 77 | + | | | | + | | |7 73 | + | | | | + Sept. 1 |7 71 | | |Fair. + | | | | + | | |3 80 | + | | | | + | | |7 77 | + | | | | + 2 |6 71 | | |Hazy. + | | | | + | | |2 75 | + | | | | + | | |7 74 |Slight showers + | | | | + 3 |6 71 |12 74 | |Rain. + | | | | + | | |1 80 | + | | | | + | | |6 74 | + | | | | + 4 |7 71 |12 77 |7 74 | + | | | | + 5 |5 71 | |3 79 | + | | | | + | | |7 76 |Fair. + | | | | + 6 |6 70 | |2 74 | + | | | | + | | |7 73 | + | | | | + 7 |8 71 | |3 76 | + | | | | + | | |8 73 |Slight showers + | | | | + 8 |7 71 |12 76 | | + | | | | + | | |2 80 | + | | | | + | | |8 73 | + | | | | + 9 |6 71 | |2 80 | + | | | | + | | |8 74 | + | | | | + 10 |7 71 | | |Rain. + | | | | + | | |3 80 | + | | | | + | | |7 76 | + | | | | + 11 |6 72 | | |Heavy rain. + | | | | + | | |2 77 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |10 72 |Rain. + | | | | + 12 |7 72 |12 78 |3½ 80½ | + | | | | + | | |10 76 | + | | | | + 13 |7 22 | |2 78 | + | | | | + | | |3½ 80 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |9 76 | + | | | | + 14 |7 72 | | |Hazy. + | | | | + | | |2½ 79 | + | | | | + | | |6 76 | + | | | | + | | |8 75 | + | | | | + 15 |5 71 | |3 80 | + | | | | + | | |7 75 | + | | | | + 16 |7 72 | |2½ 80 | + | | | | + | | |8 75 | + | | | | + 17 |7 72 |12 78 |2½ 81 | + | | | | + | | |9 75 | + | | | | + 18 |7 72 | |2 77 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |8 73 | + | | | | + 19 |7 71 | |3 81 | + | | | | + | | |9 75 | + | | | | + 20 |7 72 | |2 79 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |8 74 | + | | | | + 21 |7 72 | |2½ 81 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |8 72 | + | | | | + 22 |8 71 | | |Hazy. + | | | | + |12½ 71 | |2 82½ | + + _Mr._ HUTCHISON’S _Account of the Thermometer, after the Departure of + Mr. Tedlie._ + + Date. | A.M. | M. | P.M. | Weather. + | | | | + Sept. 23 |8 73 | | |Thunder, with rain. + | | | | + | | |2 80 | + | | | | + | | |8 75 | + | | | | + 24 |6 72 | | |Rain. + | | | | + | |12 78 | | + | | | | + | | |2 82 |Fair, but cloudy + | | | | + | | |8 75 |Rain. + | | | | + 25 |6 71½ | | | + | | | | + |10 76 | | |Fair. + | | | | + | |12 83 | |Rain. + | | | | + | | |2 75 |Violent tornado + | | | | + | | |8 71½ |Rain. + | | | | + 26 |6 70 | | | + | | | | + | |12 73 | |Hazy. + | | | | + | | |2 80 |Cloudy + | | | | + | | |4 77 |Wind + | | | | + | | |8 71 |Heavy rain. + | | | | + 27 |6 73 | | | + | | | | + |10 75 | | |Fair. + | | | | + | |12 80½ |6 75 | + | | | | + 28 |6 71 | |2 81½ | + | | | | + | | |6 74 | + | | | | + 29 |6 71½ | |2 82 | + | | | | + 30 |6 73 | | |Cloudy. + | | | | + | | |2 80 | + | | | | + | | |7 71½ | + | | | | + Oct. 1 |6 72½ | |2 82 | + | | | | + |10 70 | |8 76 | + | | | | + 2 |6 70 | |2 79 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |8 78 |Sultry. + | | | | + 3 |6 71 | | |Rain. + | | | | + | | |2 82 |Fair. + | | | | + | | |6 80 | + | | | | + 5 |6 72 | |2 79 | + | | | | + | | |6 74 | + | | | | + 6 |6 72 | | |Rain. + | | | | + | | |2 79 |Much rain, thunder. + | | | | + | | |8 75 | + | | | | + 7 |6 72 | |2 79 | + | | | | + | | |6 74 | + | | | | + 8 |6 71 |12 79 |2 73 | + | | | | + | | |6 71 | + | | | | + 9 |6 71 | |2 79 |Sultry and cloudy. + | | | | + | | |6 78 | + | | | | + 10 |6 73 | | | + | | | | + | |12 78 | |Fair. + | | | | + | | |2 71½ | + | | | | + | | |6 73½ |Much rain, thunder. + | | | | + 11 |6 73 | | |Heavy fog. + | | | | + | | |2 76½ |Fair, cloudy. + | | | | + 12 |6 71½ | | |Sultry, foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 80½ |Fair. + | | | | + | | |6 78 | + | | | | + 13 |6 73 | | |Foggy. + | | | | + | |12 78 | |Sultry. + | | | | + | | |2 79 | + | | | | + | | |6 77 |Rain, thunder. + | | | | + 14 |6 74½ | | |Rain, foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 78½ |Fair. + | | | | + | | |6 74 | + | | | | + 15 |6 72½ | | |Rain, foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 74 |Hazy. + | | | | + | | |6 73 | + | | | | + 16 |6 72½ | | |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 80½ |Fair. + | | | | + | | |6 75 | + | | | | + 17 |6 73½ | | |Rain, foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 78 | + | | | | + | | |6 74½ | + | | | | + 18 |6 73 | | |Fair. + | | | | + | | |2 80 | + | | | | + | | |6 75 |Rain and thunder. + | | | | + 19 |73½ | | | + | | | | + |71½ | | |Much rain. + | | | | + 20 |6 70½ | | |Dense fogs. + | | | | + | | |2 73 |Foggy, with showers. + | | | | + | | |6 74 | + | | | | + 21 |6 72½ | | |Fair. + | | | | + | | |2 79 | + | | | | + | | |8 78½ | + | | | | + 22 |6 73 |12 77 | |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 82½ |Fair. + | | | | + | | |8 75 | + | | | | + 23 |6 72½ | | |Foggy, with thr. showers. + | | | | + | |12 80 |2 83 | + | | | | + | | |8 77 | + | | | | + 24 |6 73 | | |Foggy. + | | | | + | |12 80 | |Fair. + | | | | + | | |3 78½ |Rain. + | | | | + | | |8 75 | + | | | | + 25 |6 74½ |12 82 | |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 82 |Fair. + | | | | + | | |6 74 | + | | | | + 26 |6 72½ | | |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 80 | + | | | | + | | |78 |Rain, thunder. + | | | | + 27 |6 72 | | |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 80 | + | | | | + | | |6 76 |Thunder shrs. + | | | | + 29 |6 7 | | |Rain. + | | | | + | | |2 82 |Fair. + | | | | + | | |6 75 | + | | | | + 30 |6 73 | | |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 83 |Fair. + | | | | + | | |8 78 | + | | | | + 31 |6 72½ | | |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 82 |Fair. + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + Nov. 1 |6 72½ | | |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 81 | + | | | | + | | |6 80 |Sultry. + | | | | + 2 |6 73 | | |Fair. + | | | | + | | |2 81½ | + | | | | + | | |8 75 |Rain. + | | | | + 3 |6 73 | | |Rain. + | | | | + | | |2 82½ |Fair. + | | | | + | | |6 78 | + | | | | + 4 |6 72 | |2 78 |Rain, foggy. + | | | | + | | |6 74½ |Sultry. + | | | | + 5 |6 72½ | |2 79½ | + | | | | + | | |6 78 | + | | | | + 6 |6 74 | |2 80½ |Fair. + | | | | + | | |8 79 |Rain, sultry. + | | | | + 7 |6 72½ | |2 82½ |Fair, thunder + | | | | + | | |3 79 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |8 77 | + | | | | + 8 |6 72 | |2 78½ |Thunder. + | | | | + | | |8 75 |Hazy. + | | | | + 10 |6 71 | | |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 82 |Fair. + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 11 |6 72½ | | |Foggy. + | | | | + |2 81½ | | |Fair. + | | | | + | | |8 78 | + | | | | + 12 |6 74½ | |2 79 |Cloudy. + | | | | + | | |6 78 |Sultry. + | | | | + 13 |6 73 | |2 83½ |Fair. + | | | | + | | |8 75 | + | | | | + 14 |6 69 | |2 78½ | + | | | | + | | |8 75 | + | | | | + 15 |6 70½ | |2 82½ | + | | | | + | | |8 79 | + | | | | + 16 |6 69 | |2 82 | + | | | | + | | |8 80 | + | | | | + 17 |6 70½ | |2 82½ | + | | | | + | | |6 79 | + | | | | + 18 |6 72 | |2 82½ | + | | | | + | | |8 80 | + | | | | + 19 |6 72½ | |2 80½ | + | | | | + | | |8 78 | + | | | | + 20 |6 70½ | |2 81 | + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 21 |6 72½ | |2 83½ | + | | | | + | | |8 79 | + | | | | + 22 |6 72 | |2 83 | + | | | | + | | |8 78 | + | | | | + 23 |6 75 | |2 82 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |8 78 |Foggy. + | | | | + 24 | | |6 72 | + | | | | + | | |2 81 | + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 26 |6 71 | |2 83 | + | | | | + | | |8 75 | + | | | | + 27 |6 73 | | |Slight showers. + | | | | + | | |2 80 |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 28 |6 70 | |2 80½ | + | | | | + | | |8 74 | + | | | | + 29 |6 78 | |2 82 | + | | | | + | | |8 75½ | + | | | | + 30 |6 78½ | |2 81 | + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + Dec. 1 | | |6 78 | + | | | | + | | |2 80½ | + | | | | + | | |8 74 | + | | | | + 2 |6 77½ | |2 80 | + | | | | + | | |8 74 | + | | | | + 3 |6 68½ | |2 79 |Rain. + | | | | + | | |8 74 |Fair. + | | | | + 4 |6 67 | |2 81 |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |8 77 | + | | | | + 5 |6 68 | |2 80½ | + | | | | + | | |8 77 | + | | | | + 6 |6 65 | |2 78 | + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 7 |6 63 | |2 80 | + | | | | + | | |8 77 | + | | | | + 8 |6 70 | |2 78½ | + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 9 |6 63 | |2 79 | + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 10 |6 71 | |2 79 | + | | | | + | | |8 75 | + | | | | + 11 |6 73 | |2 80½ | + | | | | + | | |6 74 | + | | | | + 12 |6 74 | |2 81 | + | | | | + | | |8 75 | + | | | | + 13 |6 74½ | |2 79½ | + | | | | + | | |8 77 | + | | | | + 14 |6 72 | |2 79 | + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 15 |6 73¼ | |2 79 | + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 16 |6 74 | |2 80½ | + | | | | + | | |8 74 | + | | | | + 17 |6 73½ | |2 80 | + | | | | + | | |8 75 | + | | | | + 18 | | |6 71½ | + | | | | + | | |2 79 |Tornado. + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 19 |6 68 | |2 79½ |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |8 74 | + | | | | + 20 |6 64½ | |2 79 |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 21 |6 75 | |2 80 |Tornado. + | | | | + | | |8 78 |Rain. + | | | | + 22 |6 76 | |2 81 |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |6 78 | + | | | | + 23 |6 76½ | |2 83½ | + | | | | + | | |8 80 | + | | | | + 24 |6 79 | |2 84 | + | | | | + | | |4 82 |Thunder. + | | | | + | | |7 80 |Tornado. + | | | | + 25 |6 78 | | |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |2 81 | + | | | | + | | |8 78 |Tornado. + | | | | + 26 |6 69 | |2 81 |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |6 80 |Tornado. + | | | | + 27 |6 70 | |2 82 |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 28 |6 74 | |2 82 | + | | | | + | | |8 78 | + | | | | + 29 |6 73 | |2 80½ | + | | | | + | | |8 76½ | + | | | | + 30 |6 74 | |2 79 | + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 31 |6 72 | |2 81 | + | | | | + | | |8 78 | + | | | | + Jan. 1 1818. |6 70½ | |2 81 | + | | | | + | | |8 78 | + | | | | + 2 |6 72 | | | + | | | | + 3 |6 72 | |2 85 |Thunder. + | | | | + | | |8 76 |Rain. + | | | | + From sickness, the Thermometer was not attended to till the 10th, + during the interval the weather was excessive cold, and the fogs + very dense. + | | | | + 10 | | |2 74 |Foggy. + | | | | + | | |8 68 | + | | | | + 11 |6 62½ | |2 76 | + | | | | + | | |8 70½ | + | | | | + 12 |6 60 | |2 77 | + | | | | + | | |8 70 | + | | | | + 13 |6 61½ | |2 74½ | + | | | | + | | |8 68 | + | | | | + 14 |6 58 | |2 74 | + | | | | + | | |8 66 | + | | | | + 15 |6 60 | |2 75½ | + | | | | + | | |8 70 | + | | | | + 16 |6 61½ | |2 76 | + | | | | + | | |8 72½ | + | | | | + 17 |6 62 | |2 76½ | + | | | | + | | |8 71 | + | | | | + 18 |6 60 | |2 74 | + | | | | + | | |8 73 | + | | | | + 19 |6 62½ | |2 79 | + | | | | + | | |8 75 | + | | | | + 20 |6 64 | |2 78½ | + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 21 |6 64½ | |2 79 | + | | | | + | | |8 74 | + | | | | + 22 |6 66 | |2 80 | + | | | | + | | |8 78 | + | | | | + 23 |6 64 | |2 82 | + | | | | + | | |8 76 | + | | | | + 24 |6 62 | |2 82½ | + | | | | + | | |8 74 | + | | | | + 25 |6 64 | |2 84 | + | | | | + | | |8 80 | + | | | | + 26 |6 68 | |2 83½ | + | | | | + | | |8 67½ | + | | | | + 27 |6 68½ | |2 84 | + | | | | + | | |8 80½ | + | | | | + 28 |6 72 | |2 84¼ | + | | | | + | | |8 78 | + | | | | + 29 |6 72 | |2 85 | + | | | | + | | |8 80 | + | | | | + 30 |6 74 | |2 85 | + | | | | + | | |8 80 | + | | | | + 31 |6 76 | |2 86 | + | | | | + | | |8 80 | + | | | | + Feb. 1 |6 74 | |2 84½ | + | | | | + | | |8 79 | + | | | | + 2 |6 73½ | |2 86½ | + + + + + APPENDIX. No. VI. + + * * * * * + + +I will now submit the numerals of 31 nations, which, with the exception +of three, the Fantee, the Accra, and the Bornoo, (and those but +imperfectly,) have never been reported before. I will arrange them +according to their geographical approximation, remarking any apparent +affinity which occurs to me, in notes. I shall place the Inta first, +because it is the most remote, inland, which can be assimilated to the +Fantee, Ahanta, Aöwin, and Amanaheä; and may, probably, from that +circumstance, be the root of these languages; as it has been shewn, in +the history, that the nations of the water side have been gradually +pressed down, or have emigrated from the interior, and it is +consequently to be expected that the etymology of the names of these +countries are not to be found in the languages of the people who _now_ +inhabit them, but more probably in the languages of their southern +neighbours. Thus, + +_Inta_ is likely to be derived from the _Booroom_ word _inta_, _water_, +as it has been noticed as an alluvial country. + +_Yngwa_, a northern province of Dagwumba, from the Ashantee _anggwa_, +_fat, rich_, or the Booroom, _yngia_, _a wood_. + +_Soko_ from _Soko_, _one_, in the Badaggry (below Dahomy) as _Yahndi_ +the capital of Dagwumba was so called from _yahndo_ the numeral _one_, +to indicate its pre-eminence. + +_Assin_ from the Ashantee _Assoon_, an elephant. But this expectation is +not further supported in the two or three other probable etymologies +which occur to me, as _Takima_ from the Ashantee _takramma_, tongue. +_Akim_ (formerly the greatest trading country,) from the Booroom +_Akimmie_, cloth; _Booroom_ from _boora_, full, in that language. + +It is curious how nearly the _word_ for _God_ in the Malemba, +_M’Poungoo_, approaches the native name, _Empoongwa_, of the country +Europeans call _Gaboon_. _Wonga_ is fear in the Malemba, and _Woonga- +woonga_ is the name of an uninhabited savannah of three days extent, +between Empoöngwa and Adjoomba. + + 1. _Inta._ 2. 3. 4. _Aöwin._ 5. + _Booroom._ _Ashantee._ _Amanaheä._ + + One Koko Ekoo Akoon Aconë Aconë + (_a_) + + Two Anyoe Enoo Anoo Enyow Enyow + (_b._) + + Three Assa Essa Mensa Inza Insa + (_c_) + + Four Anna Enna Ennung Inna Enna + (_d_) + + Five Annoo Annoo Ennoom Noo Enoo + (_e_) + + Six Assee Esseä Inseëä Inzeah Inseah + (_f_) + + Seven Assoonno Assoono Inshong Inzoo Insoon + (_g_) + + Eight Adoobrooa Aquiay Woquee Motteä Mottuay + (_h_) + + Nine Digrakoono Akonno Oonkonnong Ongoona Ongona + + Ten Koodoo Edoo Edoo Boloo Booloo + (_i_) + + 6. _Ahanta_ 7. _Fantee_ 8. 9. 10. + _Affootoo_ _Inkran_ _Adampë_ + [159] + + One Akoon Akoor Achoomee Ekkoo Kakee + + Two Ayue Abeeën Ennuë Ennuë + + Three Assan Abiasseh Assah Ettayh + + Four Arra Anan Annah Edjuë + + Five Aoonoo Ennoom Ennoo Ennoomó + + Six Ayshing Asseeä Isshin Eghpah + + Seven Assooa Ashong Isshennooh Paghwooh + + Eight Awotchay Awotwee Ettchee Paghnue + + Nine Awonna Akoon Assan Nahoon + + Ten Boonoo Edoo Eddoo Nongmah + + 11. 12. 13. _Yngwa_ 14. _Hio_ 15. _Mosee_ + _Kerrapay_ _Dagwumba_ + + One Eddee Yahndo Lakoo Innee Yimbo + + Two Effee Ayee Ayee Eygee Ayeeboo + + Three Eltong Attah Attah Etta Ataboo + + Four Ennay Nasee Anāhee Ernee Annasee + + Five Altong Ennoon Leerennoo Aroon Annoo + + Six Adday Yohbee Ayoboo Effa Ayobee + + Seven Adrinnee Poice Ayapaï Eggay Owhi + + Eight Ennee Nehenoo Annee Eggo Ennee + + Nine Indee Wyhee Awai Essun Aïhopoi + + Ten Owoo Edoo Peä Eywaw Peega + + 16. 17. _Gaman_ 18. _Kong_ 19. _Fobee_ 20. + _Kumsallahoo_ _Callana_ + + One Yumbo Tah Kiddee Koroom Kodoom + + Two Yeebo Noo Filla Nalay Naboolla + + Three Tabo Sah Sowa Poompevarra Nawedazoo + + Four Nasee Nah Nanoo Leetaynalee Nabonaza + + Five Annoo Taw Looroa Kakwassee Nabonoa + + Six Yobo Torata Wora Mannassa Lodoo + + Seven Poihee Toorifeenoo Ooranfilla Noottoosoo Logwa + + Eight Nehee Toorifeessa Leeaygee Borafay Littaïzoo + + Nine Wahee Toorifeena Konunto Pirrifay Nako + + Ten Pega Noonoo Tah Nanooa Yewoo + + 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. + _Bambarra_ _Garangi_ _Mallowa_ _Kallaghee_ _Bornoo_ + + One Killi Kerriminna Daia Gadee Leskar + + Two Foolla Ferriminna Beeyoo Silill Ahndee + + Three Sabba Sowaninna Okoo Quan Yaskar + + Four Nani Firrima Odoo Foolloo Deegah + + Five Looroo Fahtima Beä Vydee Ooögoo + + Six Wora Tata Seddah Zoodoo Araskoo + + Seven Worroola Mannima Becquay Etkassa Tooloor + + Eight Sagi Pirima Tacquass Shiddowka Woskoo + + Nine Konunto Missirima Tarra Woollaä Likkar + + Ten Ta Gwahee Gwoma Woma Meeägoo + + 26. _Maïha_ _Quolla- _Badaggry_ 27. 28. + liffa_ by Mr. _Sheekan_ _Kaylee_ + by Mr. Hutchison. + Hutchison. + + One Lagen Da Soko Ilwawtoe Woto + + Two Indë Bue Auwee Ibba Ibba + + Three Eäska Okoo Atong Bittach Battach + + Four Daäger Hodoo Inna Binnay Binnay + + Five Ohoo Bakwee Ato Bitta Bittan + + Six Araska Shida Trukoo + + Seven Tooloor Bockwa Chauto + + Eight Weska Sidda Quouie + + Nine Lekar Tarra Kennee + + Ten Inagoon Goman Owoo Duëoom Duëoom + + Twenty Emboomebba + + Hundred Kama + + 29. 30. 31. + _Oongoomo_ _Oongobaï_ _Empoöngwa._ + See p. + 439 for + character. + + One Wootta Rappeek Hemoödee + + Two Beeba Ramboise Mban + + Three Bittach Mittasee Ntcharoo + + Four Binnay Binnay Nahee + + Five Bitten Bittan Nehanee + + Six Sambal Oroöba + + Seven Bittooba Ragginnoömoo + + Eight Bissamen Ennanahee + + Nine Bwoi Eno go öm + + Ten Deëoom Hegoöm + +(_a_) The words for the numeral one assimilate in the specimens 1, 2, 3, +4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9: again, but distinctly, in 14, 12, 15, 16: also in 26, +25, 13: in 21, 18, 20, 19: in 27, 28, 29, (making apparently five +roots), but they remain solitary in 11, 17, 22, 23, 24 30 and 31. The +numeral one in 14 is not unlike the two in 8, 9, 2, 3, and the one in +12, would, with the prefix of y, be precisely the same as the two of 25. +Excepting _Kakee_, _one_, the Inkran numerals seem to have been adopted +as those of Adampë, for the convenience of trade and intercourse, but I +will add a few words, to show that the languages are radically +different: + + _Adampë._ _Inkran._ + + House Aoosoo Wheay. + + Fire [160]Odja Lla. + + Man Ossa Noon. + + Woman Ossĕ Yeo. + + Victuals Odë Neeaynee. + + Father Attay Tchay. + + Mother Awoo Nneay. + +(_b_) The numeral _two_ is the most general word, and may be assimilated +in 2, 3, 8, 9, 4, 5, 1, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. There is little +difference between the numerals _two_ and _five_ in most of these, and +_five_ in 15 and 16, precisely answers to _two_ in 1 and 2. + +(_c_) _Three_ may be assimilated in 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, +16, 17. In 12, 13, 14, 16, it approaches to the Congo and Mozambique +_tatoo_ and _atatoo_. + +(_d_) I have observed that in most African languages there is less +distinction in the words for four and five, than between any other of +the numerals and that frequently the word for _five_ in one language, is +identical with that for _four_ in another, geographically remote. _Four_ +may be assimilated in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 6, 14, for the two latter +deviate only in the substitution of one liquid for another, which is as +common in the languages of Africa as in those of America. The words for +four in the above suite do not seem of a different root from those in +12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 21, from which it only varies in 20 by the +prefix of _nabo_. With the difference of a single letter, the same word +for _four_ is found in the Yngwa (13) and the Empoöngwa (31) which are +1000 miles distant. Four in Congo is _m’na_, in Empoöngwa, _nahee_. +_Sanu_, the Kaffer _four_, is approached in 18. + +(_e_) Five may be assimilated from 1 to 17, (11 excepted) one liquid +being substituted for another in 14, an _leer_ being prefixed in 13. It +is remarkable too that we again identify this numeral in the Malemba, +Embomma, and Empoöngwa languages, by removing the prefixes _t_, _to_, +and _neh_, from the words _tanoo_, _toanoo_, and _nehanee_. Below five, +the numerals in the Inkran lose all identity with those of the languages +with which it has been hitherto assimilated. + +(_f_) _Six_ assimilates from 1 to 9, in 12 to 17 (14 excepted) in 20, +23, 24, in 17 and 22; but remains distinct in all the others. The Sanbal +of Oöngobai (30) approaches the Sambanoo of the Embomma. + +(_g_) _Seven_ assimilates in 1 to 9; in 12, 13, 16, but in no others. + +(_h_) _Eight_ assimilates in 2, 3, 6, 7; in 11 to 17, (14 excepted) all +of which, with 31, approximate to E’nana, the word for eight in the +Malemba. + +(_i_) _Ten_ assimilates in 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, in 4, 5, 6, in 17, 19, 25, +26, 29, in 13, 15, and in 14, 20, 22, 23, 24. + + * * * * * + +The following is the skeleton of a _Vocabulary_, of which the enlarged +or perfect copy was blown out of the cabin-window, in a sudden squall, +(with some specimens of music), during my voyage home. + + |_English._| _Ashantee._ |_Fantee_[161].| _Booroom._ | _Various._ + | | | | | + |Above |wattefee | | | + | | | | | + |Advice |matoorh | | | + | | | | | + |Afraid |osooroh | |efweedammee | + | | | | | + |Afternoon |inumirree |ingubirh |ennie | + | | | | | + |Again |impray | |meära | + | | | | | + |Alike |oninnisie | |minnamata | + | | | | | + |Alive |nannuwomie |uannekan |issaboobwaw |n’chema + | | | | |Malemba + | | | | |Inchema a + | | | | |fruit in + | | | | |Empoöngwa. + | | | | | + |All |nenarra | |inkaken | + | | | | | + |Alone |waunkoo | |ohwoorie | + | | | | | + |Angry |mōbwaf |moboäf |moobiaf | + | | | | | + |Another |ebissoo | |ekoo | + | | | | | + |Arm |wabow | |serrekoonkoo | + | | | | | + |Ashamed |wennatoo | |woifarrie | + | | | | | + |Asleep |werda |wadda |awdirrie | + | | | | | + |Awake |waihen | |otinnie | + | | | | | + |Back |wakee | |atterra | + | | | | | + |Bad |omoo | |ohmara | + | | | | | + |Bead |aoonee | |aboroo[162] | + | | | | | + |Beard |aboidwee | |annoque |the same + | | | | |as _chin_, + | | | | |a frequent + | | | | |surname. + | | | | | + |Beat |whaoonoo |wabomë |babeëm | + | | | | | + |Bed |empa | |kerray | + | | | | | + |Before |wawquoorasoo |waw_quan_ |oïyo |ovetide + | | | | |_quande_. + | | | | |Malemba. + | | | | | + |Beg |ekkaydie |_empoikeöw_ |dibbim |_mpanou_. + | | | | |Malemba. + | | | | | + |Behind |owakee | |odioterra |the noun + | | | | |_back_ with + | | | | |_o_ & _odia_ + | | | | |prefixed + | | | | | + |Below |asnadie | | | + | | | | | + |Big |kookrookoo | |otchwaw | + | | | | | + |Bird |anima | |abooree |for names of + | | | | |animals, see + | | | | |p. 328. + | | | | | + |Bite |whakum | |inkadooa | + | | | | | + |Black |tintoom | |oboobie | + | | | | | + |Blind |frafoo | |atenna | + | | | | | + |Blood |mugga | |moogga |menga. Mal. + | | | | |Emb. + | | | | | + |Boil |woaroo |wooworh |ohfoo | + | | | | | + |Bone |ebiou | |ebou | + | | | | | + |Boy |afra | |ayebee | + | | | | | + |Burn |whahim | |ohwho | + | | | | | + |Buy |mekoto | |meashoor | + | | | | | + |Call |aferen |afren |ateëm | + | | | | | + |Carry |atooron | |dumta | + | | | | | + |Catch |makin | |mekeeram | + | | | | | + |Change |wahseesun | | | + | | | | | + |Cheeks |wafoon | |afeehe | + | | | | | + |Child |ebbah | |obee | + | | | | | + |Clean |wafie | |aulay | + | | | | | + |Cloth |ettum |entama |_akim_mie | + | | | | | + |Cold |oiwoo | |afoo |differs + | | | | |little from + | | | | |_boil_ + | | | | | + |Come |rraba | | | + | | | | | + |Cry |oroosoor | |orissoo | + | | | | | + |Cut |witwa | |wawtung | + | | | | | + |Dance |saw | |attcha | + | | | | | + |Dark |oiheesoom | |mayoo | + | | | | | + |Daughter |mebăbā | |mebee |_coomba_. Em. + | | | | |which is a + | | | | |common female + | | | | |name in Fantee + | | | | | + |Day[163] | | | | + | | | | | + |Dead |wow | |ohoo | + | | | | | + |Deaf |nasheeasie |teetĭfoo |sinteelaboo | + | | | | | + |Deep |eboonie | | | + | | | | | + |Devil |ayen[164] | | |Amoonie a + | | | | |proper name + | | | | | + |Dig |amoonna | | | + | | | | | + |Door |aboo | |ebunabooná | + | | | | | + |Drink |noom | |noo |_noa_. Mal. + | | | | |_noi_. Em. + | | | | | + |Drop |wawto |awtarradi |otore | + | | | | | + |Drown |eboon | | | + | | | | | + |Drunk |wassoo |wawboo |hassoo | + | | | | | + |Ear |assoor | | | + | | | | | + |Eat |edee | | |_dea_. Mal. + | | | | | + |Egg |kessua |kirrifooa |akaddie | + | | | | | + |Empty |eppun | | | + | | | | | + |Enough |ojëay | |obahrìe | + | | | | | + |Eye |wunnie |ennua |ennyass | + | | | | | + |Eyebrow |wunnĕwee |entun | | + | | | | | + |Face |wynim | |anyasirra | + | | | | | + |Far |akirh’ | |aterh’ | + | | | | | + |Fat |anggwa | |oomfoä | + | | | | | + |Father |aggáh | |missee | + | | | | | + |Fear |sooroo | |efweedam | + | | | | | + |Feather |takirrie | |eetta | + | | | | | + |Feel |_soom_whay | |kirrada |_seem_bede. + | | | | |Mal. + | | | | |Kirradee, + | | | | |a river of + | | | | |Booroom. + | | | | | + |Fetch |ekkoon | |becquaw |a town in + | | | | |Booroom + | | | | | + |Fifty |edoonoom | | |10. 5. + | | | | | + |Fight |orrokoo | |obuquooa | + | | | | | + |Fill |eënnama | |boorra | + | | | | | + |Find |maoo |maoon |maioom | + | | | | | + |Finger |insa | |eserrĭbee | + | | | | | + |Fire |ogiäh |egah |ogha |boogoom. Mosee + | | | | | + |Fish |enum | |eyay | + | | | | | + |Flower |nadjua | |ewooda | + | | | | | + |Fly |watoo | |oqueshoo | + | | | | | + |Fool |woigimmie |_abooa_ |woigimmie |booba. Mal. + | | | | | + |Foot |wannunsa | |aīah | + | | | | | + |Forget |moorafie | |sessĕro | + | | | | | + |Forgive |edimămoo | |inkawffinsow | + | | | | | + |Fowl |akoo | |karrabee | + | | | | | + |Friend |ankoo | |oonkoosĭba | + | | | | | + |Fruit |quadiäteä |impooa |quadiateä | + | | | | | + |Girl |bisēä | |otchay | + | | | | | + |Give |fummum | |tāsămi | + | | | | | + |Glad |yam |yamma |amirra | + | | | | | + |Go |kaw | |narry | + | | | | | + |God |yankoompon | |oodoobwarrie | + | | | | | + |Gold |sikkă | | | + | | | | | + |Good |oëyay | |obwārie | + | | | | | + |Green |boioöma | | | + | | | | | + |Grow |owynee |oeen |ohodan | + | | | | | + |Hair |hewhee | |hemoonie |Amoonie, a + | | | | |proper name. + | | | | | + |Half |effeh | |baggah | + | | | | | + |Hand |mensa | |assaddie |Mensa, a + | | | | |proper name. + | | | | | + |Handsome |oia | |obweefay | + | | | | | + |Hang |osesan | | | + | | | | | + |Hard |oiătin | |oöqua | + | | | | | + |Head |tirrie | |egnoon | + | | | | | + |Hear |matr’ | |maynoon | + | | | | | + |Heart |akoomo | |akirrăbie | + | | | | | + |Heavy |oiadoor | |obodoor | + | | | | | + |Here |hah | |oomboh | + | | | | | + |Hide |mōhoo | |manghoo | + | | | | | + |High |essoor | |oskasoor | + | | | | | + |Hill |cooqua | |iffoo | + | | | | | + |Hit |aboor | |odum | + | | | | | + |Hold |soom | |karrara | + | | | | | + |Hole |watchoo | |osarrie | + | | | | | + |Horn |aben | |abay | + | | | | | + |Horse |panquaw | | | + | | | | | + |Hot |oiayue | |owuegua | + | | | | | + |House |efee |odan |eban |paseebah, + | | | | |Kumsallahoo. + | | | | |deeo, + | | | | |Dagwumba. + | | | | |gidda, + | | | | |Mallowa. + | | | | |koopella, + | | | | |Mosee. + | | | | |Kokoopella, + | | | | |capital of + | | | | |ditto. + | | | | | + |Hundred |ehha | | | + | | | | | + |Hungry |oquandummie |comagin |aquandum | + | | | | | + |Husband |mookoon | |mookooddie | + | | | | | + |Idle |nehuff | | | + | | | | | + |Iron |dadee | | | + | | | | | + |Jump |oroo | |fay | + | | | | | + |Keep |intamaseea |ysee |afeeërra | + | | | | | + |Kick |chayche | |orraychum | + | | | | | + |Kill |coom | |bamoem | + | | | | | + |King |ohennie | | | + | | | | | + |Knot |eppo | |ippo | + | | | | | + |Know |innim | |nayoom | + | | | | | + |Lame |opakkie | |ebbeä | + | | | | | + |Land |fum |dadi |sebooroo |tenga. Mosee + | | | | |kaisa Mallo. + | | | | | + |Last |naddou | |afoorinay | + | | | | | + |Laugh |sicroo |sroo |orroomuss | + | | | | | + |Law |widdooffoo | | | + | | | | | + |Lead |soomwie | | | + | | | | | + |Learn |akirren | |ekērow | + | | | | | + |Leg |asirrie | |inwoonnie | + | | | | | + |Lie (down)|daoo | |oyadee | + | | | | | + |Lie |etwapō | |afoorenie | + |(falsity) | | | | + | | | | | + |Little |kakra |kakrabi |bahttee | + | | | | | + |Long |ohwar’ | |ohbissay | + | | | | | + |Look |fway | |kaye | + | | | | | + |Love |poopa | | | + | | | | | + |Mad |same as | | | + | |‘fool’ | | | + | | | | | + |Man |binin | |oninnie |pagga, Kums. + | | | | |boodasa, Dag. + | | | | |noon, Accra. + | | | | |nedda, Mosee. + | | | | |moottanee, + | | | | |M. moontau, + | | | | |Male. muntu, + | | | | |Mozam. + | | | | | + |Many |peenarra | |otuä | + | | | | | + |Market |egwass |egoom |ebiass | + | | | | | + |Mat |keraw |empa |kerray | + | | | | | + |Mend |pam | |bărā | + | | | | | + |Moon |serrānee |boossoom |ofoorie |wattacha, + | | | | |Ku. marraga, + | | | | |Dag. oöota + | | | | |Mallowa. + | | | | |choogoo, Mos. + | | | | | + |More |mambissoo | |samoko | + | | | | | + |Mother |mna |minna |minnee |nneay, Accra. + | | | | | + |Mouth |wannoom |ennoom |annoo | + | | | | | + |Much |dooroo | |otchoo | + | | | | | + |Nails |oomboiray | |ungwarrie |‘_unguis_’ + | | | | | + |Name | |dgin | | + | | | | | + |Neck |ekkone | |ekkoona | + | | | | | + |Nest |anĭmaboo | | |anĭma, + | | | | |a bird. + | | | | |Annămāboo, a + | | | | |Fantee town. + | | | | | + |Net |ebbwau | | | + | | | | | + |Never |dabbiada | |as _no!_ | + | | | | | + |New |fofoor | |ofroofoo | + | | | | | + |No |dabbi | |an | + | | | |inarticulate | + | | | |noise with | + | | | |the lips | + | | | |closed | + | | | | | + |Noise |deddie | |boolāo | + | | | | | + |Nose |ewhin | |ewhoonie | + | | | | | + |Oil |engoo | |oomfwaie | + | | | | | + |Old |quodda | |aquŏdā | + | | | | | + |Open |boi | |booë | + | | | | | + |Owe |mintēka |dinnekow |indāqua | + | | | | | + |Pay |tchamkou | |kamëquow | + | | | | | + |Play |agoor’ | |feearee | + | | | | | + |Poison |otoowādoo | |otoowādoo | + | | | | | + |Poor |haynil | |ohēä | + | | | | | + |Pot |quonsun | |adinna | + | | | | | + |Pregnant |orrŏhoo | | | + | | | | | + |Present |wahoo | |okōë | + |(gift) | | | | + | | | | | + |Pull |twin | |sheeay | + | | | | | + |Quarrel |irriquaw |orriyow |batōë | + | | | | | + |Quick |tetimrĭka | |serrie | + | | | | | + |Quiet |gyaë |yafoo |yaië | + | | | | | + |Rain |osoorăba |yankoom |bwārie | + | | | | | + |Rat |quissie | | | + | | | | | + |Red |memmia |betcheä |okooquaw | + | | | | | + |Ring |inkaä | |apateä | + | | | | | + |River |bāk | |oboom | + | | | | | + |Rob |odomādi | |odoiyā | + | | | | | + |Round |kandinginnŭma| |koorookooddie | + | | | | | + |Run |gwan | |serrie |as ‘_quick_,’ + | | | | |B. sirr, run, + | | | | |Arabic. + | | | | | + |Salt |inkkim | |imfoorie | + | | | | | + |Sand |aghweä | |issay | + | | | | | + |Say |assie |ass |aberrie | + | | | | | + |Sea |eppoo | | | + | | | | | + |See |aweeh | |akayh | + | | | | | + |Sell |tum | |fah | + | | | | | + |Send |wahsmum | |ocheow | + | | | | | + |Shake |wosoo | |ediddie | + | | | | | + |Shell |oorabba | |owoora | + | | | | | + |Short |takoteä |tchaba |akoteä | + | | | | | + |Shut |toom | |toroo | + | | | | | + |Sick |yirrie |yarrie |mimmielal | + | | | | | + |Silver |gwettay | |odume | + | | | | | + |Sing |enyoom | |ennum | + | | | | | + |Sister |akirrawa |akirrăba |moofwa | + | | | | | + |Sit |tinnahoe |kooaugh |tchinna | + | | | | | + |Sleep |waughda | |oädie | + | | | | | + |Smell |gwooa | | | + | | | | | + |Smoke |wishshue | |djessie | + | | | | | + |Soft |mirrou | |omooqua | + | | | | | + |Son |ebba | |ebee | + | | | | | + |Sorry |oimiyow | |boomega | + | | | | | + |Speak |akas | |osasin | + | | | | | + |Stand |ginnaoh |ginnah |yerrie | + | | | | | + |Steal |wawwoo |weyweädie |oëwee |windega, Kum. + | | | | |wintanga, + | | | | |Dag. lana, + | | | | |Mallowa. + | | | | | + |Strong |waginna |ohwidein |oshoneyöo | + | | | | | + |Sun |ayowea | |oöe |As an + | | | | |exclamation + | | | | |of wonder. + | | | | | + |Swear |shua | | | + | | | | | + |Sweet |oiaday |oiadow |obooding | + | | | | | + |Swim |abhoorh | |abboor | + | | | | | + |Soil |afoonna | |affung | + | | | | | + |Tail |dooah | |odoo | + | | | | | + |Take |afwa | |maytah | + | | | | | + |Tell |abim | |aiyow | + | | | | | + |Thief |krumfoe |aiwee |ohwie | + | | | | | + |Throat |komen | |ekoonnie | + | | | | | + |Throw |too | |ohtoo | + | | | | | + |Tie |tittieh |kikhieh |keay | + | | | | | + |To-morrow |otchinna |akinna |otchay | + | | | | | + |Tongue |takramma | |dannoo | + | | | | | + |Tooth |essie | |engyie | + | | | | | + |Touch |kah | |tah | + | | | | | + |Town |croom | |eban | + | | | | | + |Tree |dooa | |assah |dawgo, Kums. + | | | | |dawro, Dagw. + | | | | |rahoo, Mosee. + | | | | |ittachee, + | | | | |Mall. chee, + | | | | |Embom. + | | | | | + |True |umpa | |kerram | + | | | | | + |Turn |dahen | |darie | + | | | | | + |Twenty |eddooän | |edooh | + | | | | | + |Wake |wyen | |otinnie | + | | | | | + |[165]Walk |nanchoo | |narree | + | | | | | + |Warm |oyahue | |obiguh | + | | | | | + |Wash |gwarr | |orrohooroo | + | | | | | + |Water |inshoo |insoo |inta |kome, Kumsal. + | | | | |looa, + | | | | |Mallowa. + | | | | |quom, Mosee. + | | | | | + |Weep |oroosoo |oroosoo |oreesh | + | | | | | + |White |foofoo | |intoofoofoorie|Intiffa, a + | | | | |proper name. + | | | | | + |Wife |ayerh | |mekkah | + | | | | | + |Wild |wadoohem |wadoohem |dooafay | + | | | | | + |Wind |ooframma | |affoo | + | | | | | + |Wing |ataban | |ittay | + | | | | | + |Woman |bisea | |tchee | + | | | | | + |Work |adjooma | |orilaloo |adawwah, Ku. + | | | | |matah, Mallow. + | | | | | + |Year |affrieyay | |otee | + | | | | | + |Yes |yeö | |matee | + | | | | | + |Yesterday |endodra |ennida |indeay | + + + * * * * * + London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. + Cleveland-row, St. James’s. + + +[Footnote 159: _Inkran_, an _ant_, is the native name of the country +Europeans call _Accra_, which name was probably given by the Portuguese +to their settlement there (the earliest they made according to the +traditions of the natives) to commemorate the voyage of Hanno; Accra +being one of the five cities raised by him between the Soloe Promontory, +or Cape Bojador, and the River Lixus or Ouro.] + +[Footnote 160: This word approximates to _ogha_, _ogiah_, and _egah_, +the words for _fire_ in the Booroom, Ashantee, and Fantee: but all the +other Adampë words I have ever heard, cannot be assimilated to those +which denote the same objects in any other African language.] + +[Footnote 161: Where there is no word in the Fantee column, it is the +same as the Ashantee.] + +[Footnote 162: I have before stated (Superstitions, p. 270.) that +_aggry_ is a generic name, probably exotic, of the derivation of which +the Negroes are wholly ignorant. It is remarkable that the Boorooms call +these beads _sikka koonkoorie_, and never use the common word for _bead_ +(aboroo,) when they speak of them: this name imports their value +(_sikka_ being _gold_) and one would fancy something connected with +their locality, _Koonkoorie_ being a range of hills seven days northward +of Kong, (see p. 182.) but I never could obtain the least explanation on +this subject from the natives.] + +[Footnote 163: They distinguish different times of the day, thus + + Morning, or before 12. napa. + + Mid-day, or 12. aweeabillee aweeabil emfass. + + Afternoon, 4. ingubee noobwawss. + + Evening, 6. adiasa adjasa eybeen. + + Night noofa aniaberra. +] + +[Footnote 164: This reminds me that I ought to have noticed, in the +Superstitions of Ashantee, that they believe the devil to be a wandering +evil spirit, occasionally entering into a human being, immediately to be +destroyed for the safety of mankind.] + +[Footnote 165: It is curious that in both these radically distinct +languages, the verb _walk_ should assimilate so closely to the noun +_cow_.] + + + + +Transcriber's note: + + + The changes in the ERRATA regarding the text have been made. + + Inconsistent chapter numbering between Contents and Part I of the text + has been left as is. + + pg 19, Changed: "place 1° 46′ 30′ W. and" to: "30″" + + pg 22, Changed: "The courses N. ½ N. N. W. ¼ N. b W. ⅛." to: "N.½, + N.N.W.¼, N.bW.⅛." + + pg 23, Changed: "the courses N. ⅓ N. b W. ⅕." to: "N.⅓, N.bW.⅕." + + pg 36, Changed: "their long Danish mukets" to: "muskets" + + pg 40, Changed: "minors, or young caboceeers" to: "caboceers" + + pg 45, Changed: "and again,) “that he thanked" to: "and again,) that + he thanked" + + pg 49, Changed: "my captains. “The Dutch" to: "my captains. The Dutch" + + pg 63, Changed: "an ouline of the Fantee war" to: "outline" + + pg 94, Changed: "inauspicious circumstance has been unvoidable" to: + "unavoidable" + + pg 98, Added ” after: "he will do you good:" + + pg 108, Changed: "I sent a cane to Adooçee" to: "Adocee" + + pg 110, Changed: "promised that I shoul hear from him" to: "should" + + pg 132, Changed: "into every trivial occurrrence" to: "occurrence" + + pg 145, Changed: "have more to-morrow ”" to: "have more to-morrow;”" + + pg 151, Changed: "I had exeprienced whilst" to: "experienced" + + pg 196, footnote 37, Added “ before "The Chaymas" + + pg 204, footnote 47, Changed: "of Arabs) “Wadie." to: "of Arabs) + Wadie." + + pg 253, Changed: "exercising his judical authority" to: "judicial" + + pg 256, Changed: "accused against arbitary judgment" to: "arbitrary" + + pg 268 (270), footnote 83, Changed: "inlaid, at it were, in the body" + to: "as it were" + + pg 268 (271), footnote 83, Added ” after "ignorant of their origin." + + pg 279, Changed: "the tribatary chiefs who pay but" to: "tributary" + + pg 288, Changed: "discharge of muketry, proportionate" to: "musketry" + + pg 322, Changed: "with 1000 mukets you could not" to: "muskets" + + pg 333, Changed: "as a corrective to the unplatable" to: "unpalatable" + + pg 345 (346), footnote 112, Changed: "we are asily mistaken" to: + "easily" + + pg 348, footnote 113, Added “ at the start. + + pg 352, Changed: "corsespond exactly in meaning" to: "correspond" + + pg 419, Changed: "wow!” “death! “death" to: "wow!” “death! death" + + pg 433, footnote 132, Changed: "spoke to agreeing tha after" to: + "that" + + pg 451, Changed: "and phrenzy of the perfomer" to: "performer" + + pg 469, Changed: "clompletely blockaded on the land-side" to: + "completely" + + pg 473, Changed: "bring future good conse-sequences" to: + "consequences" + + pg 479, footnote 149, Changed: "or ship, “adding, that" to: "or ship, + adding, that" + + pg 479-480, The footnote 152 referred to in the text is missing. + + pg 484, footnote 157, Changed: "had the advanage of correcting" to: + "advantage" + + pg 487, Changed: "Shagho — شَيْعُ" to: "شَيْغُ" + + pg 487, Changed: "Rakka — رَافَا" to: "رَاقَا" + + pg 491, Changed: "Yajoury (doubtlels Yawoorie)" to: "doubtless" + + pg 492, Changed: "Massir — سصر" to: "مصر" + + Minor changes in punctuation have been done silently. + + Other spelling inconsistencies have been left unchanged. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77375 *** diff --git a/77375-h/77375-h.htm b/77375-h/77375-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f8cb1ca --- /dev/null +++ b/77375-h/77375-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,36443 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> +<title>Mission from Cape Coast Castle to Ashantee | Project +Gutenberg</title> +<meta charset="utf-8"> +<link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> +<style> +body { + margin-left: 10%; 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+ font-size: 65%; +} +figure p.cpr { + text-align: right; + margin-top: 0; + font-size: 70%; +} +figure p.cpm1 { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 0.1em; + font-size: 100%; + border-bottom: thin dashed gray; +} +figure p.cpm2 { + text-align: center; + font-size: 90%; +} +figure p.cpm3 { + margin-bottom: 0.3em; + text-align: center; + font-size: 100%; +} +ul.cplist { + list-style-type: none; + padding: 0.5em; + text-align: left; + margin: auto; +} +ul.cplist > li { + font-size: 85%; + padding-top: 0.1em; + text-indent: -1em; + padding-left: 1em; +} +img { + width: inherit; + max-width: 100%; +} +.iwsym1 { width: 0.75em; } +.iwsym2 { width: 0.5em; } +.iw1 { width: 900px; } +.iw2 { width: 830px; } +.iw3 { width: 575px; } +.iw4 { width: 575px; } +.iw5 { width: 350px; } +.iw6 { width: 500px; } +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77375 ***</div> +<div class="margins"> + +<div class="transnote x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<p class="center">Large-size versions of illustrations are available by +clicking on them.</p> +</div> +<p class="space-above15 x-ebookmaker-drop"></p> +<div class="page"> +<hr class="decordb width15"> + +<p class="center spaced2"><span class= +"letter-spaced02">MISSION</span><br> +<span class="small">TO</span><br> +<span class="large"><span class= +"letter-spaced03">ASHANTE</span>E.</span> +</p> + +<hr class="decordb2 width15"> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<div class="plate"> +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="map1"> +<p class="cpm1">A Map<br class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<em>shewing the</em><br class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<em><span class="med"><span class="sc">Discoveries & +Improvements</span></span></em><br class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<em>in the</em> Geography <em>of</em><br class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<span class="sc xlarge">Western Africa</span><br class= +"x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<em>resulting from the</em><br class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<em><span class="sc">Mission</span> to <span class= +"sc">Ashantee</span></em><br class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<em>by</em><br class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<em>T. E. Bowdich</em><br class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<em>Conductor</em><br class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> +1817</p> + +<p class="cpm2"><em><span class="sc">Reported +Courses</span></em><br class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> +of the<br class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<span class="sc">Niger</span> to the <span class= +"sc">Nile</span>,<br class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<span class="sc">Gambaroo</span> to <span class= +"sc">Caudee</span>,<br class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<span class="sc">Oogooawai</span> to the <span class= +"sc">Congo</span>.</p> +<a href="images/map1_large.jpg"><img src='images/map1.jpg' alt= +''></a> +<table class="width-full"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl ipub"><em>London published as the Act directs by +John Murray Albemarle Street 4<sup>th</sup>. Jan<sup>y</sup>. +1819.</em> +</td> +<td class="tdr ipub"><em>J. Walker Sculpt.</em> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +</figure> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="titlepage"> +<h1><span class="xlarge letter-spaced02">MISSION</span><br> +<span class="large letter-spaced01">FROM CAPE COAST +CASTLE</span><br> +<span class="small">TO</span><br> +<span class="xxlarge bold"><span class= +"letter-spaced02">ASHANTE</span>E,</span> +</h1> + +<p class="center spaced2"><span class="small">WITH A</span><br> +<span class="less">STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THAT KINGDOM,</span><br> +<span class="small">AND</span><br> +<span class="letter-spaced01">GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF OTHER +PARTS</span><br> +<span class="small">OF THE</span><br> +<span class="large letter-spaced01">INTERIOR OF AFRICA.</span> +</p> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="center spaced17"><span class="letter-spaced">BY T. EDWARD +BOWDICH, ESQ.</span><br> +<span class="small">CONDUCTOR.</span> +</p> + +<hr class="decordb2 width8"> + +<p class="center small space-above15">“Quod si præ metu et +formidine pedem referemus, ista omnia nobis adversa futura +sunt.”</p> + +<p class="publisher"><span class="large">LONDON:</span> +</p> + +<hr class="decordb width6"> + +<p class="center spaced17"><span class="letter-spaced">JOHN MURRAY, +ALBEMARLE-STREET.</span><br> +<span class="less">1819.</span> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="page"> +<div class="sign3"> +<hr class="decor width15"> + +<p class="small">London: printed by W. Bulmer and Co.<br> +Cleveland-Row, St. James’s.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2 class="large"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_v">[v]</span><a id="intro"></a><span class= +"letter-spaced01">INTRODUCTIO</span>N.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="dcap space-above15">A <span class="sc">curiosity</span> +throughout Europe, proportionate to the ignorance of the Interior +of Africa, exacts the publication of the proceedings and researches +of every Exploratory Mission, from its Conductor, as a duty to the +Public: “mandat fieri sibi talia.”</p> + +<p>The Public, in acknowledgment of the performance of the duty, +reflecting that it constrains literary efforts which the Author +otherwise might never have presumed to expose, should sympathise in +his diffidence and anxiety, and receive and review them as a task +imposed, and not as a spontaneous essay.</p> + +<p>If this indulgence is due even to gentlemen who have had the +most enviable opportunities of qualifying themselves at the expense +of a liberal Government, it is surely secure to one who never +enjoyed those advantages; but, being suddenly called to the +immediate conduct of a Mission, originated by a public Board of +very contracted means, when estranged from all facilities, had no +resource to aid his realization of the scientific desiderata, +beyond the acquirements common to most private gentlemen.</p> + +<p>The vessel in which I am making my passage to England having +been chartered to trade in the River Gaboon, which is immediately +on the Line, I diverted a tedious delay of seven weeks in +so<span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">[vi]</span> unhealthy a +situation, by visiting Naängo, a town about fifty miles from the +mouth of the River, where I collected Geographical Accounts of the +Interior, from several intelligent traders, and numerous slaves +from different countries. I have added this compilation, (as it may +borrow some interest from the adjacency of the Congo,) with a few +notices of the customs and productions of this ruder part of +Africa.</p> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[vii]</span><a id= +"toc"></a><span class="letter-spaced02">CONTENT</span>S.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<table class="toc"> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="tdc sect2 large">PART I.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> I.—The +Objects and Departure of the Mission.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p1c01">3</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> II—The +Route and Reception of the Mission.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p1c02">14</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +III.—Proceedings and Incidents until the Third Dispatch to Cape +Coast Castle.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p1c03">42</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +IV.—Proceedings and Incidents until the Signing of the +Preliminaries to a General Treaty.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p1c04">101</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +V.—Proceedings and Incidents until the Ratification of a General +Treaty.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p1c05">118</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +VI.—Proceedings and Incidents until the completion of the Mission +and its return to Cape Coast Castle.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p1c06">131</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="tdc sect2 large">PART II.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +I.—Geography.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c01">161</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +II.—History.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c02">228</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +III.—Constitution and Laws.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c03">252</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +IV.—Superstitions.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c04">261</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +V.—Customs.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c05">274</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +VI.—Architecture, Arts, and Manufactures.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c06">304</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +VII.—Climate, Population, Revenue, City, Market, &c.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c07">315</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +VIII.—Trade.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c08">330</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +IX.—Language.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c09">344</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +X.—Music.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c10">361</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> XI.—Materia +Medica and Diseases.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c11">370</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> XII.—Mr. +Hutchison’s Diary.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c12">381</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +XIII.—Sketch of Gaboon, and its Interior.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c13">422</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">Chap.</span> +XIV.—Suggestions for future Missions to the Interior of +Africa.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#p2c14">453</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="tdc sect2 xlarge letter-spaced02"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">[viii]</span>APPENDIX.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">No.</span> I.—Extract +from Meredith’s Account of the Gold Coast.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#app1">463</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">No.</span> +II.—Translations of an Arabic MS. Descriptive of Mr. Park’s +Death.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#app2">478</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">No.</span> III.—Arabic +Routes.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#app3">482</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">No.</span> IV. Dr. +Leach’s Notice of Reptiles, Insects, &c.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#app4">493</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">No.</span> +V.—Thermometer Account.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#app5">497</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="sc">No.</span> +VI.—Vocabularies.</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#app6">504</a> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2 class="less"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_ix">[ix]</span><a id="toi"></a>DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THE +PLATES.</h2> + +<table class="toi bd-collapse"> +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td class="width-brace1"> +</td> +<td>Map</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#map1"><em>to front the +Title.</em></a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">1.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>A Captain in his War-dress</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#i01"><em>to face p.</em> 32</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Arabic Circular</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#i11">128</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Map from Dapper</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#map2">211</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">2.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>The first Day of the Yam Custom</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#i02">275</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">3.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>The oldest House in Coomassie</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#i03">307</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">4.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Quarters of the Chief of the Embassy</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#i04"><em>ib.</em></a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">5.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Odumata’s sleeping room</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#i05">307</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">6.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Inner square of Apokoo’s house</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#i06"><em>ib.</em></a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">7.</td> +<td class="brt"> +</td> +<td rowspan="2">Piazzas of the palace</td> +<td rowspan="2" class="tdr"><a href="#i07">308</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">8.</td> +<td class="brb"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">9.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Part of Adoom Street</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#i09"><em>ib.</em></a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">10.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Exterior of the King’s bed room</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#i10"><em>ib.</em></a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Ichnographical Sketch of Coomassie</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#map3">323</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Ashantee Music</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#music01">365</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Empoöngwa Music</td> +<td class="tdr-bot"><a href="#music21">449</a> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="center less space-above15"><a id="err"></a>ERRATA.</p> + +<ul class="simple1"> +<li class="less"><a href="#map1">Map.</a>—Affix the name Leeasa to +the river flowing from the Niger by Boussa.</li> + +<li class="less"><a href="#Page_9">Page 9.</a>—After Frederick +James, Esq. add, Member of Council, and Governor of Accra.</li> + +<li class="less"><a href="#Page_72">Page 72.</a>—For dated, read +<em>dictated</em>.</li> +</ul> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">[x]</span><a id= +"glos"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">GLOSSAR</span>Y.</h2> + +<ul class="simple2"> +<li>Croom. A town or village.</li> + +<li>Caboceer. A chief or magistrate.</li> + +<li>Pynin. An elder or counsellor.</li> + +<li>Palaver. A dispute, debate, argument, or suit.</li> + +<li>Book or Note. A certificate of a monthly pension of the African +Committee, paid in trade to the Fantee Kings and Chiefs in the +neighbourhood of the British settlements, in consideration of their +attachment, influence, and services; which Books or Notes were +claimed by the King of Ashantee, as his by right of conquest.</li> + +<li>Stool. Throne, seat in council, inheritance.</li> + +<li>Custom. A festival, carnival, public ceremony, funeral +rite.</li> + +<li>Panyar. To seize or kidnap.</li> + +<li>A Benda. Two ounces four ackies, or £9. currency.</li> + +<li>A Periguin. Two ounces eight ackies, or £10. currency.</li> + +<li>An Ackie. Five shillings currency.</li> + +<li>A Tokoo. Ten pence.</li> + +<li>A Dash. A present.</li> + +<li>Fetish. A charm, amulet, deity. Any supernatural power or +influence. Any thing sacred.</li> +</ul> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<div class="page"> +<hr class="decordb width10"> + +<p class="center spaced2 space-above15 space-below1"><span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span><a id="p1"></a><span class= +"large"><span class="letter-spaced01">MISSION TO +ASHANTE</span>E.</span><br> +PART I.</p> + +<hr class="decordb width10"> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<p class="center large spaced2 pb"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_3">[3]</span><span class="letter-spaced01">MISSION TO +ASHANTE</span>E.</p> + +<hr class="decordb width20"> + +<h2 class="nopb"><a id="p1c01"></a><span class= +"letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> I.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>The Objects, and Departure of the Mission.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">Bosman</span> and Barbot mention +the Ashantees as first heard of by Europeans about the year 1700; +the latter calls it Assiantee or Inta, and writes, that it is west +of Mandingo, and joins Akim on the east; he asserts its +pre-eminence in wealth and power. Issert, a physician in the Danish +service, who meditated a visit to Ashantee, writes, “this mighty +king has a piece of gold, as a charm, more than four men can carry; +and innumerable slaves are constantly at work for him in the +mountains, each of whom must collect or produce two ounces of gold +per diem. The Akims formerly dug much gold, but they are now +forbidden by the King of Ashantee, to whom they are tributary, as +well as the Aquamboos, previously a very formidable nation.” Mr. +Dalzel heard of the Ashantees at Dahomey, as very powerful, but +imagined them, the Intas, and the Tapahs, to be one and the same +nation. Mr. Lucas,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span> when +in Mesurata, was informed that Assentai was the capital of the +powerful kingdom of Tonouwah. In Mr. Murray’s enlarged edition of +Dr. Leyden’s discoveries in Africa, we find, “the northern border +of Akim extends to Tonouwah, denominated also Inta, Assientè, or +Assentai, from its capital city of that name, which stands about +eighteen days journey from the Gold Coast.”</p> + +<p>In 1807 an Ashantee army reached the Coast for the first time. I +would refer the reader to the extract in the Appendix, from Mr. +Meredith’s account of the Gold Coast, as the particulars are +introductory as well as interesting; and also serve to correct the +misstatement in the work last quoted, that in 1808 the King of +Ashantee destroyed the English fort of Annamaboe; originating, +probably, from the storm of the Dutch fort at Cormantine, at that +time.</p> + +<p>The Ashantees invaded Fantee again in 1811, and the third time +in 1816. These invasions inflicted the greatest miseries on the +Fantees. Few were slain in battle, for they rarely dared to +encounter the invaders; but the butcheries in cold blood were +incredible, and thousands were dragged into the interior to be +sacrificed to the superstitions of the conquerors. Famines, +unmitigated by labour, succeeded the wide waste of the Fantee +territory, the wretched remnant of the population abandoning itself +to despair; and the prolonged blockade of Cape Coast Castle in the +last invasion, engendered so much distress and hazard, that the +Government having averted imminent danger by advancing a large sum +of gold on account of the Fantees, earnestly desired the Committee +to authorise and enable them to venture an Embassy, to deprecate +these repeated calamities, to conciliate so powerful a monarch, and +to propitiate an extension of commerce. By the store ship which +arrived in 1817, the African Committee forwarded liberal and +suitable presents, and associated scientific with the<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span> political objects of the Mission, +in their instructions, which I submit in explanation.</p> + +<p>“In order to enable you to redeem the promise to the King of +Ashantee (and as we are sanguine in our hopes of the good that may +result from it), we send you sundry articles as presents for him, +to which you may add such others from the public stores as you may +deem desirable, provided they will not materially increase the +expense. The Committee are extremely anxious (and in this respect +the wishes of all classes of people in this country go with them) +that no exertions should be spared to become better acquainted with +the Interior of Africa; and we consider the existing state of +things to be most favourable for undertaking an exploratory Mission +into the dominions of the King of Ashantee. If, therefore, nothing +shall have transpired in the interim of this dispatch being +received by you, to make the measure objectionable, we wish you to +obtain permission from the King to send an Embassy to his capital: +if granted, you will select three Gentlemen (one of them from the +medical department<a id="FNanchor_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1" +class="fnanchor">[1]</a>) for that service; and let them be +accompanied by a respectable escort, you giving them the fullest +instructions for their government. In particular, it will be +necessary for them to observe, and report upon, the nature of the +country; its soil and products; the names, and distances, and the +latitude and longitude of the principal places; and its most +remarkable natural objects: the appearance, distinguishing +characters, and manners of the natives; their religion, laws, +customs, and forms of government, as far as they can be +ascertained; and by whom each place is governed. When at Ashantee, +they should<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span> endeavour +to obtain the fullest information of the countries beyond, in each +direction; particularly whether any high mountains, lakes, or large +rivers are known; and the width, depth, course, and direction of +the latter; and whether the water, as well of the lakes as the +rivers, is salt or fresh: and how far, and under what +circumstances, white men may travel with safety, especially in a +northerly direction. They should collect the most accurate +information possible of the extent, population, and resources of +the Ashantee dominions, and should report fully their opinion of +the inhabitants, and of the progress they may have made in the arts +of civilized life. They should be directed also, to procure and +bring away (with the consent of the chiefs) any specimens of +vegetable and mineral productions they may be able: and to +ascertain where and how the natives collect the gold, and the +extent to which the trade in that article, and in ivory, might be +carried on. It would, we conceive, be a most important advantage, +if the King of Ashantee, and some of his chiefs, could be prevailed +upon to send one or more of their children to the Cape, to be +educated at the expense of the Committee (to be attended by their +own servants, if required), under the guarantee of the Governor and +Council for their personal safety, and that they should be sent +back when required.</p> + +<p>“Another great object would be, to prevail upon the King to +form, and keep open, a path not less than six feet wide, from his +capital, as far as his territories extend towards Cape Coast, you +engaging on the part of the Committee, to continue it from that +point to Cape Coast, which we presume may be done at a very small +expense, by means of monthly allowances to the chiefs of such +villages as be in that line; upon condition that they shall not +allow the path to be overgrown with underwood, or otherwise +obstructed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span>“It may perhaps be +found, that high mountains, or a large river, may be not many days +journey beyond Ashantee; in which case, if the Gentlemen composing +the Embassy feel themselves secure in the attempt, they may +probably be disposed to proceed so far. In such event, we authorize +you to pay their drafts for any moderate sums which they may find +it necessary to expend, as well as for the general objects of the +Mission.</p> + +<p>“Besides the escort of which we have spoken, we think it +necessary, or at least extremely important, that the Embassy should +be accompanied by natives of character and consequence, conversant +with the Ashantee language, in whom you have perfect confidence, +selected, one from each of the towns of Cape Coast, Accra, and +Apollonia, to whom you may make reasonable allowances for their +time and trouble.</p> + +<p>“We have said that you should obtain the permission of the King +of Ashantee to send the Embassy: we have doubts of the expediency +of requiring hostages; but, we presume you will concur with us in +thinking, it will be necessary, before it leaves Cape Coast, that a +man of consequence should be specially sent down by the King, to +serve as a guide and protector; and who, on his journey to Cape +Coast, may arrange with the messenger whom you may send to the +King, respecting the places at which the Embassy may stop to +refresh, and give directions to open the paths that may be +overgrown.</p> + +<p>“The Gentlemen whom you may select, will of course be well +advised by you not to interfere with any customs of the natives, +however absurd; or in any way to give them offence. And they cannot +too strongly impress upon the minds of the King and people of +Ashantee, that the only objects his Britannic Majesty has in view, +are, to extend the trade with that country; to prevent all +interruption to their free communication with the +waterside;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span> and to +instruct their children in reading, writing, &c. from which, as +may be easily pointed out, the greatest advantages must arise to +the Ashantees.</p> + +<p>“From what has been said, you, Gentlemen, will perceive, that in +selecting the Embassy, it is important that one of the persons +composing it should be able to determine the latitude and longitude +of places, and that both shall be seasoned to the climate; of +ability, physical and mental; of cool tempers, and moderate habits; +and possessed of fortitude and perseverance; and that in the +selection of their escort also, regard be had to the qualifications +of the parties in those respects. Among them there should be a +bricklayer, carpenter, blacksmith, gunsmith, and cooper, with +proper tools; if these persons can be spared for the purpose. We +wish also they should take with them a number of <em>certificates +regarding Major Peddie</em>, and his companions, to be circulated +as distinctly as possible in the Interior; for though the period +may be past when they might have been useful to those travellers, +it is yet possible that they may be of use in making generally +known the object of Government in sending white men to explore that +country.”</p> + +<p>The suggestion of hostages was wholly impracticable, for there +was not even time for a communication with the King. A variety of +circumstances conspired to urge the immediate dispatch of the +Mission; our interests, to say the least, imperiously demanded its +early interference; and had we waited for a formal permission from +the King to relieve the difficulties of the enterprise, the rainy +season would have been too far advanced, and the critical moment +have escaped us. The Governor thought it more advisable to dispatch +the Mission without an escort, and two native soldiers only were +added to the bearers of the baggage. The perusal of the Governor’s +instructions will be satisfactory to the reader:</p> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_9">[9]</span><em>Cape Coast Castle, April 19th</em>, 1817</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">Frederick James, +Esq.</span> Member of Council, and Governor of Accra.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">In</span> accepting your voluntary +offer of conducting the Embassy to the King of Ashantee, I have +every reason to believe, that from your long experience in this +country, and your knowledge of the manners and habits of the +natives, it will terminate in a manner highly creditable to +yourself, and eventually prove of the greatest importance to the +commercial interest of Great Britain, which is the more immediate +object of the Mission; however, as many subjects of scientific +research may be associated with it, they are particularly +recommended to your attention. For this purpose Mr. Bowdich will +accompany you; and I have no doubt he will be found perfectly +qualified to make the necessary observations, in which you will +afford him every facility and assistance. He is provided with +instruments for determining the latitude and longitude of places. +Mr. Hutchison, writer, and Mr. Tedlie, assistant surgeon, will also +be attached to the expedition.</p> + +<p>The Ashantees, who are appointed your guides, have been selected +by the Ashantee Captain who is now here. They will, I hope, aid and +assist you in every thing that lays in their power.</p> + +<p>In addition to the Committee’s instructions, a copy of which you +have herewith, you will attend to the following:</p> + +<p>On the subject of your journey, I have nothing to observe +further, than, that I hope you will take every opportunity of +travelling when there will be the least exposure to the sun, as the +officers who accompany you have been but a short time in the +country, and every precaution will be necessary for the +preservation of their health.</p> + +<p>As soon as may be convenient after your arrival at the +Ashantee<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span> capital, you +will of course see the King, and deliver him the various presents +in the name of the African Company, to be received by him as +pledges of the harmony and friendship which is ever to subsist +between them; and also of his good will towards the natives +residing under the protection of their different forts. You will +not fail to impress upon his mind, the great power, wealth, and +consequence of the British nation, and how much it is the interest +of himself and his subjects, to promote and perpetuate their +present free intercourse with the water side. In the course of your +interview many circumstances will doubtless occur, which will +suggest various other matters proper to be mentioned to the King, +all which I shall leave entirely to your own discretion.</p> + +<p>You will acquaint the King, that in order to secure a correct +communication between him and myself, I request his permission to +allow an officer to reside constantly at Commassey, who will defray +all his own expenses, and for whom you will build a house without +loss of time. A carpenter, bricklayer, and cooper are sent with +you, and you will leave them with Mr. Hutchison, who will remain as +Resident. On your departure you will give him full instructions in +writing for his future government, a copy of which you will deliver +me upon your return.</p> + +<p>You will keep an exact diary of every circumstance possessing +the least interest, a copy of which you will transmit me by every +opportunity.</p> + +<p>In the course of your stay in the Ashantee country, you will +embrace every occasion of becoming acquainted with the politics of +that nation, of ascertaining its extent and boundaries, the power +of the King over the lives and property of his subjects, the +probable force he could bring into the field, the number of his +allies, the sources and amount of his revenues. Whether he is +tributary to any other power, and what nations in his neighbourhood +are<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span> tributary to him? +The amount of tribute, and in what articles paid? The rule of +succession to the throne? What are the punishments for crimes of +all descriptions? Who are the persons of most consequence next to +the King? The names of their offices, and the extent of their +power: by whom, or how paid? What are the most prominent features +in the character, manners, and habits of the people, &c. +&c. &c.?</p> + +<p>Are any human sacrifices made? Upon what occasions, and to what +extent? How are prisoners of war now disposed of?</p> + +<p>Of what nation are the Moors that frequent the Ashantee country, +and for what purpose do they go there?</p> + +<p>Ascertain the current medium of exchange, whether gold, or +cowries; also the usual prices at which the Ashantees sell the +goods they purchase from the Europeans on the sea coast; and the +extent of their commercial relations with the Interior.</p> + +<p>You will enquire whether any European travellers have ever been +seen or heard of in any of the countries to the northward; and what +became of them? Whether any thing be known of the river Niger, or +Joliba, as it is called by the natives? This information you will +probably obtain from the Moors.</p> + +<p>Ascertain the position of the Doncoe country, and the city of +Kong; also the mountains of that name. Refer to Park’s Travels, and +acquire as much information as possible of the regions lying +between Ashantee and the last places he visited. In short, leave +nothing undone that may add to our present imperfect geographical +knowledge of the Interior.</p> + +<p>You will receive herewith copies of certificates relative to +Major Pedde’s expedition, which you will distribute amongst any +persons you find travelling into the Interior from Ashantee.</p> + +<p>It would be of the first importance to have a road cut directly +down to Cape Coast; and this you will urge to the King in +the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> strongest manner. +Your observations will, of course, enable you to point out the +proper directions.</p> + +<p>I inclose a sketch of a treaty, and it would be highly desirable +if you could procure its ratification by the King. He might perhaps +make some objection at first, but may be persuaded at length, by +your address, and reasoning. If he wished any trifling alteration +made, you might use your discretion in this respect.</p> + +<p>You will acquaint the King, it is my wish that in future he +receive his company’s pay at this Castle, and not at Accra, as +formerly. Should he say any thing of an increase to his present +allowance, you may give him hopes that it will be granted to a +reasonable extent, provided the objects of this Mission be +fulfilled, and after twelve months experience shall have proved the +sincerity of his friendship to the British Government, and to the +natives resident under its protection at the various forts on the +Coast.</p> + +<p>From the jealous disposition of the natives of Africa, it is +highly probable, that in the prosecution of your enquiries, you +will be subject to many unfavourable suspicions. These you will +take all possible care to remove, by the most candid explanations +on every point that may be required.</p> + +<p>You will particularly explain to the King, the ill treatment the +people of Cape Coast have experienced from those of Elmina, which +has added very much to the distresses they have for some time +suffered from the extreme scarcity of provisions; and there is +reason to believe, that this unjust persecution has been induced, +from their presuming on their connection with the Ashantees. Being +perfectly aware that it has been done without the concurrence of +the King; I have no doubt but he will, by a proper representation +of the affair from you, exert his influence, and prevent what is at +present to be apprehended, and what the<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_13">[13]</span> Elminas are endeavouring to provoke—a war +between the two people.</p> + +<p>In all cases not provided for in these Instructions, you have of +course a discretionary power, which I am convinced you will make +use of with deliberation and prudence, and with becoming zeal for +the service upon which you are employed.</p> + +<p>Wishing you a prosperous journey and a safe return,</p> + +<p class="right pad-right4 space-above1">I am, Sir, your most +obedient Servant,</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">JOHN HOPE SMITH.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp1c01"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1"><span class= +"label">[1]</span></a>We recommend his being well supplied with +dressings, &c. for wounds, and bruises, so that he may be able +to assist any natives whom he may meet with requiring his aid: +services of this sort give Negroes an exalted idea of white men, +and are always gratefully remembered.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span><a id= +"p1c02"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> II.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>The Route, and Reception of the Mission.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> Mission left Cape Coast +Castle on the morning of the 22d of April, with the intention of +quitting the water side at Moree, three miles and a half to the +eastward; but on reaching it, we were told that the path thence to +Payntree’s croom, always bad, was then impassable from the rains; +and that we must proceed to Annamaboe before we struck into the +bush for the Interior.</p> + +<p>The reluctance of the carriers, who had been pressed into the +service by the authorities of the town, became thus early almost +insuperable; the consideration of pay and subsistence, and the +reflection, that the dearth inflicted by the invasions the Mission +was to deprecate, allowed them but a bare existence at home, were +entirely lost in their aversion to the undertaking, which was +equally influenced by jealousy and indolence: eleven deserted the +first day; and the slender authority of the King and caboceers of +Annamaboe, delayed the procuring of others to replace them until +the next evening. One party was then started, attended by a soldier +and a messenger, as they persisted in laying down their loads, even +in the town; and many of the Annamaboes who had been procured, +after lifting their packages, which were of moderate weight, walked +off again, with the most insolent indifference. The devices by +which these people displayed their ill will were +peculiarly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> their own, +and none could be more ingeniously tormenting. At four o’clock on +Thursday morning we started the remainder of the packages, and +followed them at half past six. Proceeding about two miles in a +N.N.W. direction, we descended a steep hill, a quarter of a mile in +length, and entered a beautiful valley, profusely covered with +pines, aloes, and lilies; and richly varied with palm, banana, +plantain, and guava trees: the view was refreshed by gentle risings +crowned with cotton trees of a stupendous size. I never saw soil so +rich, or vegetation so luxuriant.</p> + +<p>The first croom we reached was Quama’s, about three miles and a +half from Annamaboe; it presented but a few hovels; and we passed +through three others, Simquoi, Taphoo, and Nasmam, just as wretched +and insignificant, before we reached Booka, romantically situated +amidst the luxuriant foliage of a high hill, terminating the +valley. Abra is about three miles eastward of this croom: it has +been entirely deserted since the last invasion, the Ashantee army +under Appia Nanu having made it their head quarters. It formerly +exceeded Annamaboe, but the little that now remains is in ruin, the +inhabitants having retired to the small crooms of their caboceer, +or Captain Quaggheree.</p> + +<p>Passing through Tachradi, which scarcely existed but in name, we +ascended a gentle rising, with a small croom, called Acroofroom, on +the left hand. The astonishment of its miserable inhabitants +engaging our attention, the extensive area of the summit burst upon +us with the more effect. It was environed by small groves; and +clumps of cotton trees rose so happily in frequent spots, as to +afford all the scenery of a romantic little park; the broken rays +of the sun stealing through the small trees in the distance, to +make the deep shade of the foreground more imposing. The path then +became more hilly, and the landscape fuller of wood: our descents +and risings frequently through long vistas, so<span class="pagenum" +id="Page_16">[16]</span> richly gilded with the sun on the summits, +that, impressed with the description of Issert, we naturally +yielded to the expectation, in ascending each eminence, that it +would afford us the delightful prospect of an open country; but we +were disappointed, and passing through Dunnasee and Assoquah, both +small crooms, the latter situated on a long level, about three +miles and a half from Acroofroom, we shortly after arrived at +Payntree’s.</p> + +<p>On the higher hills the soil was generally gravel, with large +stones; on the lesser, white flint and whinstone abounded: the +levels presented few stones, and the earth was black, strong, and +rich, producing grass from four to ten feet high. The country was +very thinly inhabited, and more sparingly cultivated, the cassada +frequent, but producing little from the want of cultivation.</p> + +<p>I made Payntree’s croom barely fifteen miles from Annamaboe; +judging from time, it was guessed to be eighteen or twenty; but the +impediments which the path almost incessantly presented to a +hammock, the inequalities of the ground, and many delays which +insensibly consumed the time, conspired to make such a calculation +of distance very fallacious. The plan I adopted throughout, though +laborious, entitled me to more confidence; and the observations +confirmed the pretension. Mr. Tedlie, who was always just ahead of +myself, took the angles of the path by his compass, which I +pencilled as he uttered them, with their several lengths, allowing +four yards and a half for every six paces. It is allowed too by the +natives to be an easy four hours walk. Several hours elapsed before +all the carriers came up; most of those who had been started by us +the preceding day, slept in the bush, and one more had +deserted.</p> + +<p>The prevailing courses and their proportions were N.¼; N.bW.⅛; +N.N.W.⅛; N.N.E.⅛; the rest of the distance being made up of small +lengths, in every point of the compass, from S.W. to +S.E.;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span> the variation +17¾° W. The latitude of Payntree, by two altitudes of the sun, was +5° 20′ 30″ N.; the longitude, by the course and distance, as +afterwards corrected, 1° 47′ W.</p> + +<p>We received the compliments of Payntree and several caboceers, +under a large tree, and were then conducted to a neat and +comfortable dwelling, which had been prepared for us: a small +square area afforded a shed for cooking in on one side, and a +sleeping room in each of the others, open in front, but well +thatched, and very clean: from this we passed to our sitting room, +the floor of which was elevated about two feet from the ground.</p> + +<p>The croom was prettily situated on a level, encircled by very +fine trees, and consisted of a very broad and well cleaned street +of small huts, framed of bamboo, and neatly thatched. Just beyond +the north end of the croom, there was a stream running to the N.N.E +and more than a mile of marshy ground was distinguished by the +deeper shade and luxuriance of the foliage. We observed a great +number of small birds, which were even more beautiful from their +delicate symmetry, than their brilliant plumage; they were +generally green, with black wings, and their nests hanging from the +trees.</p> + +<p>The Ashantee captain, who expected to continue there some +months, on the king’s business, sent us a sheep, pleading the +scarcity, and his being a stranger, as apologies for so small a +present. Old Payntree was attentive and obliging; he dashed us some +fowls, yams, and palm wine. We remained there the next day, to +allow our people to procure four days subsistence, as they would +not be able to meet with provision on the path during that +period.</p> + +<p>I walked with Mr. Tedlie along a very neat path well fenced, and +divided by <em>stiles</em>, to a corn plantation of at least twenty +acres, and well cultivated. Payntree’s farm house was situated +here, and afforded superior conveniences; a fowl house, a pigeon +house, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span> a large +granary raised on a strong stage. As we returned we paid him a +visit, and were refreshed with some excellent palm wine: his +dwelling was a square of four apartments, which were entered from +an outer one, where a number of drums were kept; the angles were +occupied by the slaves, and his own room, which had a small inner +chamber, was decked with muskets, blunderbusses, cartouch belts +fantastically ornamented, and various insignia. The order, +cleanliness, and comfort, surprised us; the sun had just set, and a +cheerful fire on a clean hearth supported the evening meal. The old +man was seated in his state chair, diverting himself with his +children and younger wives, the elder one was looking on from the +opposite apartment with happy indifference; it was the first scene +of domestic comfort I had witnessed among the natives. There was a +small plantation or garden neatly fenced in, near the house, for +the supply of the family.</p> + +<p>On Saturday the 26th we left Payntree’s croom, and proceeded +through two romantic little valleys, with a few huts in each: the +variety of trees increased with the number, and ornamented the +hills with almost every tint and character of foliage: the path was +frequently covered with water. Just before we reached +Cottacoomacasa, a most beautiful landscape opened, the fore-ground +darkly shaded with large cotton trees, and the distance composed of +several picturesque little hills; their fanciful outlines, and the +beautiful variety of fresh and sombre tint of the small groves +which encircled them, forcibly reminded me of the celebrated ride +by Grongar hill, from Carmarthen to Llandilo.</p> + +<p>Cottacoomacasa is about six miles and a quarter from Payntree’s +croom, and consisted but of a few miserable huts and sheds, which +scarcely afforded shelter, and were close and filthy. I took the +angles of a cotton tree near us, and the height proved to be 139 +feet; generally speaking, those we had passed were, to +appearance,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span> much +higher. The bearers had all settled themselves here, and not +contented with a long rest, refused for some time to proceed until +the next day; several were intoxicated with the rum from some +ankers they had designedly broken. We started again however about +half past three, and almost immediately entered a large forest +impervious to the sun; the risings were frequent but gentle; the +path, crooked and overgrown, presented such constant obstacles to a +hammock, that Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Tedlie, and myself, were glad to +dismount, and found it was much more comfortable as well as more +expeditious to walk; the only inconvenience was the troops of large +black ants, which were too thick to be avoided, and stung us sadly. +We passed two little streams running E.N.E. About six miles from +Cottacoomacasa we found all the baggage, the people making their +fires, and settling themselves for the night; it was almost dark; +Quamina, our Ashantee guide, had gone on without us, and Mr. James +we knew must be far behind; we therefore determined to halt for the +night, and our hammocks were slung to the trees. The distance +marched this day was twelve miles. The longitude of Cottacoomacasa +was one mile E. of that of Payntree by account, that of our resting +place 1° 46′ 30″ W. and the lat. 5° 28′ N.</p> + +<p>The next morning we continued our march through the same dark +solitude, and passing three small streams running E. we reached +Mansue soon after ten o’clock. We had scarcely seated ourselves +under a tattered shed, which could not defend us from the burning +sun, when we were encircled by the cooking fires of the party, and +nothing but violence could remove them to a proper distance.</p> + +<p>Mansue had been the great Fantee market for slaves from the +Interior, and its former consequence was evident from the extent of +its site, over which a few sheds only were now scattered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span>We proceeded again +at one o’clock, and passing through a small river, Assooneara, +running eastward, we came to a second, called Okee, running in the +same direction to the Amissa, which falls into the sea between +Annamaboe and Tantum. We passed five or six swamps, one nearly half +a mile long; in these the soil was a dark clay, but otherwise +gravelly. We halted in the woods at a spot where our guide Quamina +was busied in cutting down the underwood to accommodate himself and +his women; the bearers, resolute in their perverseness, had gone on +with our provisions and clothes. The ground of our resting place +was very damp, and swarmed with reptiles and insects; we had great +difficulty in keeping up our fires, which we were the more anxious +to do after a visit from a panther: an animal which, the natives +say, resembles a small pig, and inhabits the trees, continued a +shrill screeching through the night; and occasionally a wild hog +bounced by, snorting through the forest, as if closely pursued. +This day’s distance was eight miles, and the course N.¼N. b. E.⅙. +Lat. and long. by account 5° 34′ N. and 1° 48′ W. Thermometer in +shade 6 A.M. 74.</p> + +<p>We started the next morning at seven o’clock, and after three +miles and a half crossed a small river called Gaia, and sometimes +Aniabirrim, from a croom of that name being formerly in its +neighbourhood; it was ten yards wide and two feet deep, and ran to +the E. just across the path, but afterwards N.N.E. to the Amissa. +Here Mr. Hutchison waited for Mr. James to come up, whilst Mr. +Tedlie and myself walked on to overtake the people. The doom and +iron-wood trees were frequent; the path was a labyrinth of the most +capricious windings, the roots of the cotton trees obstructing it +continually, and our progress was generally by stepping and jumping +up and down, rather than walking; the stems or caudices of these +trees projected from the trunks like flying buttresses, their +height frequently 20 feet. Immense trunks<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_21">[21]</span> of fallen trees presented constant barriers +to our progress, and increased our fatigues from the labour of +scaling them: we were also frequently obliged to wait the cutting +away of the underwood before we could proceed, even on foot. The +large trees were covered with parasites and convolvuli, and the +climbing plants, like small cables, ascending the trunks to some +height, abruptly shot downwards, crossed to the opposite trees, and +threaded each other in such a perplexity of twists and turnings, +that it soon became impossible to trace them in the general +entanglement. We passed through two small streams running S. and +several swamps, richly covered with palm trees. Parrots and crown +birds were numerous. At the end of ten miles we came to a small +river called Quatoa, four yards wide, also running eastward to the +Amissa; and immediately after to a few sheds bearing the same name, +where we found the last party of the bearers all lying down, and a +soldier ineffectually endeavouring to rouse them: we started them +with difficulty. A mile and a half thence we met with the Okee +again, running over its rocky bed in a transparent stream, which +reflected the richest foliage; its course S.W.½W., the breadth nine +yards, and we stepped across it from rock to rock. We soon +afterwards walked through the Antoonso, a smaller river running +W.S.W., which probably crossed the path to the eastward in one of +the small streams near Cottacoomacasa, as every report confirmed +its also running to the Amissa; it was very near Fousou, where we +had scarcely arrived, before the Fantees, such was their +perverseness, insisted upon going on, the Cape Coast messengers +either had no influence or would not exert it; we soon stopped them +with the assistance of Quamina, our Ashantee guide, Mr. James not +coming up until late in the evening. Fousou was formerly a large +town, but had been destroyed by the Ashantee invasion of 1807; it +presented but a few sheds, in one of which we observed<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span> the Ashantee traders to deposit +yams and plantains to subsist them on their return; so severe was +the scarcity in the Fantee country: we could purchase nothing, and +were admitted to the best hovel with reluctance. This day’s +distance was 14 miles. The courses N.½, N.N.W.¼, N.bW.⅛. The +latitude of Fousou by observation, was 5° 43′ 20″ N. and the +longitude by account 1° 52′ W.</p> + +<p>The next morning, the 29th of April, we marched seven miles to +Ancomassa, a name given to half a dozen sheds; the path was still +of the same rugged nature, and the gloom unvaried. A strong +fragrance was emitted from the decaying plants and trees of the +mimosa kind, whilst others in the same incipient state of +putrefaction were very offensive. We passed through two small +rivers, Bettensin and Soubin, six yards wide, and shallow; they +both ran eastward to the Owa, of which I could not learn more than +that it emptied itself into the Boosempra.</p> + +<p>We proceeded at four o’clock, and had not gone two miles on our +gloomy route before it became dark. The path was level, but very +swampy, and generally covered with water. The fire-flies spangled +the herbage in every direction, and from the strength of their +light, alternately excited the apprehension of wild beasts, and the +hope that we approached the resting place our guide, whom we never +saw after starting, had told us of in the morning. The greatest +fear of the people was of the spirits of the woods, (whom Mr. +Park’s interpreter, Johnson, propitiated by a sacrifice between +Jing and Gangaddi) and the discordant yells in which they rivalled +each other to keep up their courage, mingled with the howls and +screeches from the forest, imposed a degree of horror on this +dismal scene, which associated it with the imaginations of Dante. +Three or four times we suddenly emerged from the most awful gloom +into extensive areas, on which the stars shed a brilliancy of light +gradually softened into the deep shade which<span class="pagenum" +id="Page_23">[23]</span> encompassed them; they were the sites of +large and populous crooms destroyed in the Ashantee invasions. +About nine o’clock we discovered a few miserable sheds, which the +noise of the bearers, who had long arrived, convinced us to be +Accomfodey. We had passed two small rivers, the Aprinisee and +Annuia, both running to the Boosempra. This day’s distance was 11 +miles, and the courses N.⅓, N.bW.⅕. The lat. and long. by account +5° 49′ N. and 1° 55′ W. Thermometer 11 a.m. 80.</p> + +<p>We marched early the next morning. The scenery of the forest, +excepting on the banks of the small rivers, was very naked of +foliage, and only presented a harsh and ragged confusion of stems +and branches intricately blended. We passed a small river soon +after leaving Accomfodey, bearing the same name and running +eastward; and shortly after another, six yards wide and two feet +deep (the Berrakoo), running N.E. to the Boosempra. The path was +sometimes trackless, and appeared to have been little used since +the invasion of 1807; several human skulls were scattered through +this dark solitude, the relics of the butchery. We halted about two +o’clock by Mr. James’s direction, and passed the night in the +forest. This day’s distance was eight miles, the prevailing courses +N.¼, N.bW.⅛, N.N.W.⅛, N.bE.⅛. The latitude and longitude by account +5° 53′ N. 1° 55′ W. Thermometer 2 p.m. 88½, 7 p.m. 82½.</p> + +<p>The next morning we passed some sheds, on the sites of the +crooms Dansamsou and Meakirring. At the end of five miles and a +quarter, the herbage to the right disclosed the cheerful +reflections of the sun from the water; and we descended through a +small vista of the forest, to the banks of the Boosempra or Chamah +river. Nothing could be more beautiful than its scenery: the bank +on the south side was steep, and admitted but a narrow path; that +on the north sloping; on which a small Fetish house, under the +shade of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> a cachou +tree, fixed the eye; whence it wandered over a rich variety of tint +and foliage, in which light and shade were most happily blended: +the small rocks stole through the herbage of the banks, and now and +then ruffled the water: the doom trees towering in the shrubbery, +waved to the most gentle air a rich foliage of dark green, mocking +the finest touch of the pencil; the tamarind and smaller mimosas +heightening its effect by their livelier tint, and the more piquant +delicacy of their leaf: the cotton trees overtopped the whole, +enwreathed in convolvuli, and several elegant little trees, unknown +to me, rose in the background, intermixed with palms, and made the +coup d’oeil enchanting. The bright rays of the sun were sobered by +the rich reflections of the water; and there was a mild beauty in +the landscape, uncongenial to barbarism, which imposed the +expectation of elegance and refinement. I attempted a sketch, but +it was far beyond my rude pencil; the expression of the scene could +only have been traced in the profile of every tree; and it seemed +to defy any touches, but those of a Claude or a Wilson, to depict +the life of its beauty. I took two angles from a base on the south +side, which gave the width of the river, forty three yards; the +depth was 7 feet, and the course N.W.½W. with a very strong +current. A small river called Nimeä, ran into it, close to our +right as we landed: we crossed in the hollow trunk of a tree, +thirty feet long, the ends plastered up with sticks and swish.</p> + +<p>Mansue was said to have been the last town of the Fantee +territory; but we had no opportunity for comparison until we passed +the river, the country thitherto presenting all the gloom of +depopulation, and the forest fast recovering the sites of the large +towns destroyed in the Ashantee invasions. The inhabitants of the +few wretched hovels, remotely scattered, seemed as if they had fled +to them as outcasts from society; they were lost even to curiosity, +and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span> manners were +brutal and sullen.<a id="FNanchor_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2" +class="fnanchor">[2]</a> We could purchase nothing for our +subsistence.</p> + +<p>The scene brightened from our crossing the Boosempra; the path +improved, and Prasoo, the first town, only three quarters of a mile +from the river, presented a wide and clean street of tolerably +regular houses; the inhabitants clean and cheerful, left their +various occupations to gratify their curiosity, and saluted us in a +friendly and respectful manner: indeed the Assins may be +considered, collectively, a more mannerly and orderly people than +the Ashantees. Kickiwherree, one mile and a half distant, was a +larger town, not so regular, but presenting the same neat +appearance, improved by the white-washing of many of the houses. We +halted here under the ganian<a id="FNanchor_3"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> tree, used, generally +speaking, for recreation only, palavers being talked in the open +fronts of the houses. We were conducted to a comfortable dwelling, +affording us four very clean rooms, about 12 feet by 7, in which +there were shelves containing many articles of superior domestic +comfort; a curtain or skreen of bamboo let down in the open front, +and the floors raised about a foot and half from the ground, were +washed daily with an earth of the neighbourhood, which coloured +them Etruscan red. The iron stone abounded. Kickiwherree was 7 +miles from the previous resting place, and the prevailing courses +N.¼ N.b.W.⅐. The latitude by observation was 5° 56′ 40″ N; the +longitude by account 1° 57′ W. Thermometer 8 a.m. 77; 1 p.m. +91.</p> + +<p>My observations had not been so frequent as I wished; the nature +of the country, and the season of the year were both +very<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> unfavourable to +them. I worked the double altitudes, invariably by Dr. Pemberton’s +rule in Keith’s trigonometry, which requires no assumed latitude, +and is in all cases accurate.</p> + +<p>Mr. James having determined to rest the next day at +Kickiwherree, we did not proceed until Saturday the 3rd of May. We +passed through a small river close to the town, called the Ading, +six yards wide and two feet deep; and soon after a second, the +Animiasoo, nine yards wide, and three feet deep, both running to +the Boosempra; close to the latter was a large croom of the same +name, the seat of Cheboo’s government. Pagga and Atobiasee were +also large crooms near each other, and within four miles of +Kickiwherree. At Atobiasee was a small river called Prensa, five +yards wide, and two feet deep, which ran E.S.E. to the Boosempra: +two miles thence we came to Becquama, a very old croom, with a +river nine yards wide, called Prapong, running E. by S. to the +Boosempra; and at the end of nine miles we halted at Asharaman, a +small croom on an eminence, where the Assins under Apootey and +Cheboo, first engaged the Ashantees in 1807. There was a small plot +of corn near this croom, the first we had seen since we left +Payntree, though every croom was surrounded by a tract of +cultivated land, or plantation of plantains. The path continued +through forest. Distance 8 miles. Courses N.¼. Latitude by +observation, 5° 59′ 20″. Longitude by course and distance 1° 57′ +40″ W. Thermometer 6 a.m. 76, p.m. 89.</p> + +<p>The next day we passed through Ansa, a large croom, where Amoo +had governed; north-west of which, at a little distance, was +Aboiboo, the residence of his enemy Apootey. A small river near +Ansa, called Parakoomee, eleven yards wide, and three feet deep, +ran south to a larger, called Ofim or Foom, which rises six days +northward of Coomassie, and falls into the Boosempra some miles +westward of our crossing. The path was very swampy, and +we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> did not reach +Akrofroom until three o’clock: this was by far the largest croom we +had seen. The heavy rains during the night floated us in our +lodgings, and, as Quamina reported, rendered the path to Moisee +impassable for the next day; consequently we did not proceed until +Tuesday the 6th. Distance 12 miles. Courses N.⅕, N.N.W.¼. Latitude +by observation, 6° 5′ 40″. Long: C and D 2° 2′. W. The path still +through forest, presented frequent acclivities, and the iron stone, +and a soft grey rock abounded; the soil was sometimes gravelly, but +generally of a red coloured clay used in the native pottery. We +passed the Parakoomee again twice, and at the end of 11 miles +halted at Moisee,</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">“Cingebant silvæ; quem collibus undique +curvis,”</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">the last Assin town, at the foot of three high +hills covered with wood, bearing W.N.W., N., and N.N.E.; the +barriers of the Ashantee kingdom. Course N.⅕, N.W.b.N.⅐, N.b.E.⅛. +Latitude by observation 6° 8′ 50″ N. Longitude C and D 2° 4′ 20″ W. +The thermometer was broken on the 4th.</p> + +<p>We passed the northern boundary the next morning; the ascent was +a mile and a half in length, and very rocky; a small river called +the Bohmen ran S.W. to the Jim, which falls into the Ofim: the +water of the Bohmen is said to instil eloquence, and numerous +Ashantees repair annually to drink of it: it flowed in a very clear +stream, over a bed of gravel, and was three feet deep, and eight +yards broad. The expectation of an open country was again +disappointed; I bore several eminent points, in the hope of being +able to do so again at some distance, and of thus, with the +intermediate course, checking the distance computed by paces; but +the forest soon shut them out entirely. The first Ashantee croom +was Quesha; and we soon after passed through Fohmannee, which had +been a very considerable town. We stopped there awhile at the +request of a venerable old man, who regaled us with<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span> some palm wine and fruit: his +manners were very pleasing, and made it more painful to us to hear +that his life was forfeited to some superstitious observances, and +that he only waited the result of a petition to the king to +commiserate his infirmities so far as to allow him to be executed +at his own croom, and to be spared the fatigue of a journey to the +capital: he conversed cheerfully with us, congratulated himself on +seeing white men before he died, and spread his cloth over the log +with an emotion of dignity rather than shame: his head arrived at +Coomassie the day after we had. On ascending the hill, the soil +became a dark brown clay, and very productive. We passed the first +large plantation of corn we had seen since we left Payntree, and +halted at Doompassee. Distance 6 miles. Courses N.⅓, N.N.W.⅕, +N.W.⅙. Latitude by observation, 6° 11′ 30″.</p> + +<p>Doompassee had been a very large croom, but the caboceer having +intrigued with one of Sai Cudjoe’s wives, who had permission to +visit her family in this place, the greater part of it was +destroyed in consequence, and the caboceer decapitated: the woman +possessing irresistible art in practising upon the numerous +admirers of her beauty, the king spared her life, and employed her +thenceforth to inveigle those distant caboceers, whose lives or +properties were desirable to him. It was the most industrious town +on the path; cloths, beads, and pottery were manufacturing in all +directions, and the blacksmiths’ forges were always at work. The +intelligence of the beginning of the King’s fetish week, and Mr. +James’s attack of fever, delayed us at Doompassee, and a messenger +was dispatched in the interim to announce our approach. During our +stay, I observed an eclipse of Jupiter’s first satellite, which +gave the longitude 2° 6′ W.</p> + +<p>We did not leave Doompassee until the 14th of May; after two +miles, passing a small stream running N.W. we ascended a +high<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span> hill, on which a +large croom, called Tiabosoo, was situated. I looked into a pit +here six feet deep; the first stratum was vegetable mould, the +second gravel, the third, a kind of potter’s clay, and the +remaining of brittle stone of a reddish brown, resembling that they +call cabouc in the East Indies. The next croom was Sanquanta, where +the path took an easterly direction, and about seven miles from +Doompassee we passed Datiasoo, where large quantities of pottery +were manufacturing, exclusively: it was not more than a mile +distant from Dadawasee, where we found a messenger from the king, +expressing his regret that we had come up in the rainy season, as +he had heard it was a very unhealthy one for white men, and +appointing us to enter the capital on the Monday following; he sent +us a present of a sheep, forty yams, and two ounces of gold for our +table; he had also given six ackies to our messenger, who returned +at the same time. The path had been cleared by the king’s order, +the plantations became more frequent and extensive, and numerous +paths branching off from that we travelled, shewed that the country +was thickly inhabited, and the intercourse of the various parts +direct and necessary for an interchange of manufacture and produce: +the crooms hitherto had appeared insulated. The Acassey or blue dye +plant grew profusely. Distance seven miles. Courses N.¼, N.bW.⅐, +N.N.W.⅐, N.N.E.⅙. Latitude by observation 6° 16′ 20″ N. long: C and +D 2° 7′ 30″ W.</p> + +<p>The next day, leaving Dadawasee, close to which was another +large croom called Modjawee, we descended a very steep hill, and +passed the Dankaran or Mankaran, a small river, in the rainy season +eleven yards wide and four feet deep, running to the Birrim: not +far from this river was Sahnfoo, and a short distance from that +croom, a smaller river called Yansee, running N.N.W. We then passed +through Korraman, near which was the small river Dansabow, running +westward, and three other large crooms,<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_30">[30]</span> Aquinasee (having a neatly fenced burial +ground,) Amafou, and Agabimah; crossing another small river called +Soubirree, near the latter, we reached Assiminia, distant eight +miles from Dadawasee. The path was frequently eight feet wide, and +kept as neatly as that of a garden in the environs of the crooms, +which now disclosed themselves very prettily at some distance. +Courses N.⅕, N.bE.⅙, N.N.E.⅙. Latitude by observation 6° 22′, +longitude C and D 2° 7′ 50″ W.</p> + +<p>There was a violent tornado in the night, during almost the +whole of which the rain continued in torrents, increasing the small +streams near the town from ancle to three feet deep. Almost all the +inhabitants were employed in weaving the staple manufacture of +Assiminia, which was formerly of much greater extent. Mr. James +rested here the whole of the next day, and on Saturday we proceeded +through Boposoo (on a very high hill), Agemum, Yoko, and Abountum; +near which we crossed the Biaqua, running west to the Jim, and +about seven yards wide and two feet deep; between this and +Sarrasou, where we halted, were two large crooms, Pootooaga and +Fiasou.</p> + +<p>The path was continually well cleared: each croom presented one +wide central street, with the ganian or cachou trees at the +extremities. The soil ceased to be sandy, and became a reddish +earth: we observed some quartz, but silex prevailed. Distance 11 +miles. Courses N.¼, N.N.E.⅕. Lat. by observation, 6° 30′ 20″. Long. +C. and D. 2° 6′ 30″.</p> + +<p>The river Dah runs close to Sarrasou, rising at Sekooree near +Dwabin, and falling into the Ofim at Measee in the Warsaw path; it +is generally about sixteen yards wide, and four feet deep. There +was an ingenious fishing weir in this river; two rows of very +strong wicker work were fixed across it, supported against the +rapidity of the stream by large stakes, driven into the +ground<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span> obliquely on +each side of them, and connected above and below by the trunks of +two large trees. The funnel-shaped baskets, thickly inserted at the +bottom, were of split cane, and about twelve feet long. There are +large plantations of corn around Sarrasou, which is a great nursery +for pigs. We left it on Monday morning, the 19th, and passing +through a small croom, Oyoko, stopped at another, Agogoo, about +four miles distant, to dress ourselves in full uniform. The soil +from Sarrasou was a rich black mould, and there were continued +plantations of corn, yams, ground nuts, terraboys, and encruma: the +yams and ground nuts were planted with much regularity in +triangular beds, with small drains around each, and carefully +cleared from weeds.</p> + +<p>Two miles from Agogoo, we crossed the marsh which insulates +Coomassie; the breadth at that part forty yards, and the depth +three feet. Being within a mile of the capital, our approach was +announced to the king, who desired us by his messengers to rest at +a little croom, called Patiasoo, until he had finished washing, +when captains would be deputed to conduct us to his presence. +Distance 6½ miles. Courses N.⅙, N.N.W.⅙.</p> + +<p>We entered Coomassie at two o’clock, passing under a fetish, or +sacrifice of a dead sheep, wrapped up in red silk, and suspended +between two lofty poles. Upwards of 5000 people, the greater part +warriors, met us with awful bursts of martial music, discordant +only in its mixture; for horns, drums, rattles, and gong-gongs were +all exerted with a zeal bordering on phrenzy, to subdue us by the +first impression. The smoke which encircled us from the incessant +discharges of musquetry, confined our glimpses to the foreground; +and we were halted whilst the captains performed their Pyrrhic +dance, in the centre of a circle formed by their warriors; where a +confusion of flags, English, Dutch, and Danish, were waved and +flourished in all directions; the bearers plunging and +springing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> from side +to side, with a passion of enthusiasm only equalled by the +captains, who followed them, discharging their shining +blunderbusses so close, that the flags now and then were in a +blaze; and emerging from the smoke with all the gesture and +distortion of maniacs. Their followers kept up the firing around us +in the rear. The dress of the captains (see drawing, <a href= +"#i01">No. I.</a>) was a war cap, with gilded rams horns projecting +in front, the sides extended beyond all proportion by immense +plumes of eagles feathers, and fastened under the chin with bands +of cowries. Their vest was of red cloth, covered with fetishes and +saphies<a id="FNanchor_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4" class= +"fnanchor">[4]</a> in gold and silver; and embroidered cases of +almost every colour, which flapped against their bodies as they +moved, intermixed with small brass bells, the horns and tails of +animals, shells, and knives; long leopards tails hung down their +backs, over a small bow covered with fetishes. They wore loose +cotton trowsers, with immense boots of a dull red leather, coming +half way up the thigh, and fastened by small chains to their +cartouch or waist belt; these were also ornamented with bells, +horses tails, strings of amulets, and innumerable shreds of +leather; a small quiver of poisoned arrows hung from their right +wrist, and they held a long iron chain between their teeth, with a +scrap of Moorish writing affixed to the end of it. A small spear +was in their left hands, covered with red cloth and silk tassels; +their black countenances heightened the effect of this attire, and +completed a figure scarcely human.</p> + +<div class="plate"> +<div class="figcenter iw3"> +<figure id="i01"><a href="images/i01_large.jpg"><img src= +'images/i01.jpg' alt=''></a> +<table class="width-full"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl ipub"><em>Drawn by T. E. Bowdich +Esq<sup>r</sup>.</em> +</td> +<td class="tdr ipub"><em>N<sup>o</sup>. 1.</em> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="cp1"><span class="sc">Captain</span> in his <span class= +"sc">War Dress</span>.</p> +</figure> +</div> +</div> + +<p>This exhibition continued about half an hour, when we were +allowed to proceed, encircled by the warriors, whose numbers, with +the crowds of people, made our movement as gradual as if it had +taken place in Cheapside; the several streets branching off to the +right, presented long vistas crammed with people, and those on the +left hand being on an acclivity, innumerable rows of +heads<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> rose one above +another: the large open porches of the houses, like the fronts of +stages in small theatres, were filled with the better sort of +females and children, all impatient to behold white men for the +first time; their exclamations were drowned in the firing and +music, but their gestures were in character with the scene. When we +reached the palace, about half a mile from the place where we +entered, we were again halted, and an open file was made, through +which the bearers were passed, to deposit the presents and baggage +in the house assigned to us. Here we were gratified by observing +several of the caboceers pass by with their trains, the novel +splendour of which astonished us. The bands, principally composed +of horns and flutes, trained to play in concert, seemed to soothe +our hearing into its natural tone again by their wild melodies; +whilst the immense umbrellas, made to sink and rise from the +jerkings of the bearers, and the large fans waving around, +refreshed us with small currents of air, under a burning sun, +clouds of dust, and a density of atmosphere almost suffocating. We +were then squeezed, at the same funeral pace, up a long street, to +an open-fronted house, where we were desired by a royal messenger +to wait a further invitation from the king. Here our attention was +forced from the astonishment of the crowd to a most inhuman +spectacle, which was paraded before us for some minutes; it was a +man whom they were tormenting previous to sacrifice; his hands were +pinioned behind him, a knife was passed through his cheeks, to +which his lips were noosed like the figure of 8; one ear was cut +off and carried before him, the other hung to his head by a small +bit of skin; there were several gashes in his back, and a knife was +thrust under each shoulder blade; he was led with a cord passed +through his nose, by men disfigured with immense caps of shaggy +black skins, and drums beat before him; the feeling this horrid +barbarity excited must be imagined. We were soon released +by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span> permission to +proceed to the king, and passed through a very broad street, about +a quarter of a mile long, to the market place.</p> + +<p>Our observations en passant had taught us to conceive a +spectacle far exceeding our original expectations; but they had not +prepared us for the extent and display of the scene which here +burst upon us: an area of nearly a mile in circumference was +crowded with magnificence and novelty. The king, his tributaries, +and captains, were resplendent in the distance, surrounded by +attendants of every description, fronted by a mass of warriors +which seemed to make our approach impervious. The sun was +reflected, with a glare scarcely more supportable than the heat, +from the massy gold ornaments, which glistened in every direction. +More than a hundred bands burst at once on our arrival, with the +peculiar airs of their several chiefs; the horns flourished their +defiances, with the beating of innumerable drums and metal +instruments, and then yielded for a while to the soft breathings of +their long flutes, which were truly harmonious; and a pleasing +instrument, like a bagpipe without the drone, was happily blended. +At least a hundred large umbrellas, or canopies, which could +shelter thirty persons, were sprung up and down by the bearers with +brilliant effect, being made of scarlet, yellow, and the most shewy +cloths and silks, and crowned on the top with crescents, pelicans, +elephants, barrels, and arms and swords of gold; they were of +various shapes, but mostly dome; and the valances (in some of which +small looking glasses were inserted) fantastically scalloped and +fringed; from the fronts of some, the proboscis and small teeth of +elephants projected, and a few were roofed with leopard skins, and +crowned with various animals naturally stuffed. The state hammocks, +like long cradles, were raised in the rear, the poles on the heads +of the bearers; the cushions and pillows were covered with crimson +taffeta, and the richest cloths hung over the sides.<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span> Innumerable small umbrellas, of +various coloured stripes, were crowded in the intervals, whilst +several large trees heightened the glare, by contrasting the sober +colouring of nature.</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">“Discolor unde auri per ramos aura +refulsit.”</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The king’s messengers, with gold breast plates, made way for us, +and we commenced our round, preceded by the canes and the English +flag. We stopped to take the hand of every caboceer, which, as +their houshold suites occupied several spaces in advance, delayed +us long enough to distinguish some of the ornaments in the general +blaze of splendour and ostentation.</p> + +<p>The caboceers, as did their superior captains and attendants, +wore Ashantee cloths, of extravagant price from the costly foreign +silks which had been unravelled to weave them in all the varieties +of colour, as well as pattern; they were of an incredible size and +weight, and thrown over the shoulder exactly like the Roman toga; a +small silk fillet generally encircled their temples, and massy gold +necklaces, intricately wrought; suspended Moorish charms, dearly +purchased, and enclosed in small square cases of gold, silver, and +curious embroidery. Some wore necklaces reaching to the navel +entirely of aggry beads; a band of gold and beads encircled the +knee, from which several strings of the same depended; small +circles of gold like guineas, rings, and casts of animals, were +strung round their ancles; their sandals were of green, red, and +delicate white leather; manillas, and rude lumps of rock gold, hung +from their left wrists, which were so heavily laden as to be +supported on the head of one of their handsomest boys. Gold and +silver pipes, and canes dazzled the eye in every direction. Wolves +and rams heads as large as life, cast in gold, were suspended from +their gold handled swords, which were held around them in great +numbers; the blades were shaped like round bills, and rusted in +blood; the sheaths were of leopard skin, or the shell of a fish +like shagreen.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> The +large drums supported on the head of one man, and beaten by two +others, were braced around with the thigh bones of their enemies, +and ornamented with their skulls. The kettle drums resting on the +ground, were scraped with wet fingers, and covered with leopard +skin. The wrists of the drummers were hung with bells and curiously +shaped pieces of iron, which gingled loudly as they were beating. +The smaller drums were suspended from the neck by scarves of red +cloth; the horns (the teeth of young elephants) were ornamented at +the mouth-piece with gold, and the jaw bones of human victims. The +war caps of eagles feathers nodded in the rear, and large fans, of +the wing feathers of the ostrich, played around the dignitaries; +immediately behind their chairs (which were of a black wood, almost +covered by inlays of ivory and gold embossment) stood their +handsomest youths, with corslets of leopard’s skin covered with +gold cockle shells, and stuck full of small knives, sheathed in +gold and silver, and the handles of blue agate; cartouch boxes of +elephant’s hide hung below, ornamented in the same manner; a large +gold handled sword was fixed behind the left shoulder, and silk +scarves and horses tails (generally white) streamed from the arms +and waist cloth: their long Danish muskets had broad rims of gold +at small distances, and the stocks were ornamented with shells. +Finely grown girls stood behind the chairs of some, with silver +basins. Their stools (of the most laborious carved work, and +generally with two large bells attached to them) were conspicuously +placed on the heads of favourites; and crowds of small boys were +seated around, flourishing elephants tails curiously mounted. The +warriors sat on the ground close to these, and so thickly as not to +admit of our passing without treading on their feet, to which they +were perfectly indifferent; their caps were of the skin of the +pangolin and leopard, the tails hanging down behind; their cartouch +belts (composed of small gourds<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_37">[37]</span> which hold the charges, and covered with +leopard or pig’s skin) were embossed with red shells, and small +brass bells thickly hung to them; on their hips and shoulders was a +cluster of knives; iron chains and collars dignified the most +daring, who were prouder of them than of gold; their muskets had +rests affixed of leopard’s skin, and the locks a covering of the +same; the sides of their faces were curiously painted in long white +streaks, and their arms also striped, having the appearance of +armour.</p> + +<p>We were suddenly surprised by the sight of Moors, who afforded +the first general diversity of dress; there were seventeen +superiors, arrayed in large cloaks of white satin, richly trimmed +with spangled embroidery, their shirts and trowsers were of silk, +and a very large turban of white muslin was studded with a border +of different coloured stones: their attendants wore red caps and +turbans, and long white shirts, which hung over their trowsers; +those of the inferiors were of dark blue cloth: they slowly raised +their eyes from the ground as we passed, and with a most malignant +scowl.</p> + +<p>The prolonged flourishes of the horns, a deafening tumult of +drums, and the fuller concert of the intervals, announced that we +were approaching the king: we were already passing the principal +officers of his houshold; the chamberlain, the gold horn blower, +the captain of the messengers, the captain for royal executions, +the captain of the market, the keeper of the royal burial ground, +and the master of the bands, sat surrounded by a retinue and +splendor which bespoke the dignity and importance of their offices. +The cook had a number of small services covered with leopard’s skin +held behind him, and a large quantity of massy silver plate was +displayed before him, punch bowls, waiters, coffee pots, tankards, +and a very large vessel with heavy handles and clawed feet, which +seemed to have been made to hold incense; I<span class="pagenum" +id="Page_38">[38]</span> observed a Portuguese inscription on one +piece, and they seemed generally of that manufacture. The +executioner, a man of an immense size, wore a massy gold hatchet on +his breast; and the execution stool was held before him, clotted in +blood, and partly covered with a cawl of fat. The king’s four +linguists were encircled by a splendor inferior to none, and their +peculiar insignia, gold canes, were elevated in all directions, +tied in bundles like fasces. The keeper of the treasury, added to +his own magnificence by the ostentatious display of his service; +the blow pan, boxes, scales and weights, were of solid gold.</p> + +<p>A delay of some minutes whilst we severally approached to +receive the king’s hand, afforded us a thorough view of him; his +deportment first excited my attention; native dignity in princes we +are pleased to call barbarous was a curious spectacle: his manners +were majestic, yet courteous; and he did not allow his surprise to +beguile him for a moment of the composure of the monarch; he +appeared to be about thirty-eight years of age, inclined to +corpulence, and of a benevolent countenance; he wore a fillet of +aggry beads round his temples, a necklace of gold cockspur shells +strung by their largest ends, and over his right shoulder a red +silk cord, suspending three saphies cased in gold; his bracelets +were the richest mixtures of beads and gold, and his fingers +covered with rings; his cloth was of a dark green silk; a pointed +diadem was elegantly painted in white on his forehead; also a +pattern resembling an epaulette on each shoulder, and an ornament +like a full blown rose, one leaf rising above another until it +covered his whole breast; his knee-bands were of aggry beads, and +his ancle strings of gold ornaments of the most delicate +workmanship, small drums, sankos, stools, swords, guns, and birds, +clustered together; his sandals, of a soft white leather, were +embossed across the instep band with small gold and silver cases +of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> saphies; he was +seated in a low chair, richly ornamented with gold; he wore a pair +of gold castanets on his finger and thumb, which he clapped to +enforce silence. The belts of the guards behind his chair, were +cased in gold, and covered with small jaw bones of the same metal; +the elephants tails, waving like a small cloud before him, were +spangled with gold, and large plumes of feathers were flourished +amid them. His eunuch presided over these attendants, wearing only +one massy piece of gold about his neck: the royal stool, entirely +cased in gold, was displayed under a splendid umbrella, with drums, +sankos, horns, and various musical instruments, cased in gold, +about the thickness of cartridge paper: large circles of gold hung +by scarlet cloth from the swords of state, the sheaths as well as +the handles of which were also cased; hatchets of the same were +intermixed with them: the breasts of the Ocrahs, and various +attendants, were adorned with large stars, stools, crescents, and +gossamer wings of solid gold.</p> + +<p>We pursued our course through this blazing circle, which +afforded to the last a variety exceeding description and memory; so +many splendid novelties diverting the fatigue, heat, and pressure +we were labouring under; we were almost exhausted, however, by the +time we reached the end; when, instead of being conducted to our +residence, we were desired to seat ourselves under a tree at some +distance, to receive the compliments of the whole in our turn.</p> + +<p>The swell of their bands gradually strengthened on our ears, the +peals of the warlike instruments bursting upon the short, but sweet +responses of the flutes; the gaudy canopies seemed to dance in the +distant view, and floated broadly as they were springing up and +down in the foreground; flags and banners waved in the interval, +and the chiefs were eminent in their crimson hammocks, amidst +crowds of musquetry. They dismounted as they arrived within thirty +yards of us; their principal captains preceded them with +the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> gold handled +swords, a body of soldiers followed with their arms reversed, then +their bands and gold canes, pipes, and elephants tails. The chief, +with a small body guard under his umbrella, was generally supported +around the waist by the hands of his favourite slave, whilst +captains holla’d, close in his ear, his warlike deeds and (strong) +names, which were reiterated with the voices of Stentors by those +before and behind; the larger party of warriors brought up the +rear. Old captains of secondary rank were carried on the shoulders +of a strong slave; but a more interesting sight was presented in +the minors, or young caboceers, many not more than five or six +years of age, who overweighed by ornaments, were carried in the +same manner, (under their canopies), encircled by all the pomp and +parade of their predecessors. Amongst others, the grandson of +Cheboo was pointed out, whom the king had generously placed on the +stool of his perfidious enemy. A band of Fetish men, or priests, +wheeled round and round as they passed with surprising velocity. +Manner was as various as ornament; some danced by with irresistible +buffoonery, some with a gesture and carriage of defiance; one +distinguished caboceer performed the war dance before us for some +minutes, with a large spear, which grazed us at every bound he +made; but the greater number passed us with order and dignity, some +slipping one sandal, some both, some turning round after having +taken each of us by the hand; the attendants of others knelt before +them, throwing dust upon their heads; and the Moors, apparently, +vouchsafed us a blessing. The king’s messengers who were posted +near us, with their long hair hanging in twists like a thrum mop, +used little ceremony in hurrying by this transient procession; yet +it was nearly 8 o’clock before the king approached.</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful star light night, and the torches which +preceded him displayed the splendor of his regalia with a +chastened<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span> lustre, and +made the human trophies of the soldiers more awfully imposing. The +skulls of three Banda caboceers, who had been his most obstinate +enemies, adorned the largest drum: the vessels in which the boys +dipped their torches were of gold. He stopped to enquire our names +a second time, and to wish us good night; his address was mild and +deliberate: he was followed by his aunts, sisters, and others of +his family, with rows of fine gold chains around their necks. +Numerous chiefs succeeded; and it was long before we were at +liberty to retire. We agreed in estimating the number of warriors +at 30,000.</p> + +<p>We were conducted to a range of spacious, but ruinous buildings, +which had belonged to the son of one of the former kings, and who +had recently destroyed himself at a very advanced age, unable to +endure the severity of disgrace: their forlorn and dreary aspect +bespoke the fortune of their master, and they required much repair +to defend us from the wind and rain, which frequently ushered in +the nights.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp1c02"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2"><span class= +"label">[2]</span></a>Every account I received afterwards, +confirmed the boundary of the Fantee and Assin territories to be +between Mansue and Fousou; also that Ancomassa, Accomfodey, +Dansamsou, Meakirring, &c. &c. had all been large Assin +crooms, destroyed with many others in their neighbourhood, in the +Ashantee invasion of 1807.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3"><span class= +"label">[3]</span></a>This is the same tree as the banian or India +fig.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4"><span class= +"label">[4]</span></a>Scraps of Moorish writing, as charms against +evil.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span><a id= +"p1c03"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> III.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Proceedings and Incidents until the Third +Dispatch to Cape Coast Castle.</em> +</p> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><em>Coomassie, May 22nd</em>, +1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">To the Governor and +Council, Cape Coast Castle.</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Gentlemen,</span> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> important objects of +the Mission, and the safety and prosperity of the Settlements, have +this day demanded our public dissent from our superior officer, Mr. +James; to prove the act tutelary to these objects, can be our only +justification.</p> + +<p>The Mission has engrossed our thoughts and exertions from the +moment we were honoured by the appointments; we have felt that the +credit of the Committee, the character of the service, and the good +of our country were associated in the enterprise; and that we were +personally responsible for these important objects, to the extent +of our industry, fortitude, and ability. Our reflections naturally +associated obstacles commensurate with the importance of the +objects affected; and to overcome the former in a manner auspicious +to the latter, we conceived to be the duty expected from us, as +composing a Mission originated to remove a portion of the +formidable barriers to the interior of Africa. We anticipated +prejudice, intrigue, and difficulty, as inevitable; as obstacles to +invigorate and not to sicken our exertions.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span>At Dadasey, on +Wednesday the 14th instant, we received a present from the King, of +two ounces of gold, a sheep, and thirty yams, with a second +appointment to enter his capital the succeeding Monday. When within +a short distance, the messenger who announced us, returned, to +desire us to wait at a croom until the King had washed. We were +permitted to enter soon after two o’clock, and the King received us +with the most encouraging courtesy, and the most flattering +distinction. We paid our respects in turn, (passing along a +surprising extent of line) to the principal caboceers, many of +remote, and several of Moorish territories; and all of these +encircled by retinues astonishing to us from their numbers, order, +and decorations. We were then requested to remove to a distant tree +to receive their salutes; which procession, though simply +transient, continued until past eight o’clock. It was indescribably +imposing from the variety, magnificence, and etiquette: its faint +outline in Mr. Bowdich’s report, will impart our impression of the +power and influence of the monarch we are sent to conciliate. The +King as he passed, repeated his former condescensions.</p> + +<p>The next morning (Tuesday) the King sent to us to come and speak +our palaver in the market place, that all the people might hear it: +we found him encircled by the most splendid insignia, and +surrounded by his caboceers: we were received graciously. Mr. +James, through his linguist, declared to the King’s, (who are alone +allowed to speak to him in public) that the objects of the Mission +were friendship and commerce; impressed the consequence of our +nation, and the good feelings of the Committee and Governor towards +the King, as would be testified by our presents; he submitted the +wish of a Residency, and of a direct path. The King enquired if we +were to settle the Commenda palaver; the reply was, no! He +rejoined, “that he wished the Governor of Cape Coast<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> to settle all palavers for him +with the people of the forts, and that he had thought we came to +make all things right, and so to make friends with the Ashantees.” +The King had previously observed, as literally rendered, that “the +forts belonged to him,” meaning (as the context, and the whole of +his sentiments and conduct have confirmed) nothing humiliating to +our dignity and independence; but simply, that the advantages +derived by the Fantee nations from the forts, should now be his. He +desired the officer to be pointed out to him who was to be the +Resident; and then enquired if that was all our palaver, he was +told yes: he said he would give us his answer the next day.</p> + +<p>Soon after we returned to our house, the King’s linguist +delivered this message. “The King knows very well the King of +England has sent him presents; if you wish to be friends with him +you must bring these presents to his own house, and shew them to +him and his friends, and not give them before all the people.” +This, in our judgment was a policy, to prevent any favourable bias +of the body of caboceers and people anticipating the King’s and his +councils satisfaction of our motives and professions.</p> + +<p>We attended: all the curiosity the packages excited could not +incline the King to regard them, until he had desired distinctly to +understand who had sent them, the King of England, or the Governor. +He was told, the Company to whom the forts belonged under the King; +the interpreter seemed to render it the King individually; it was +more intelligible, and the agreeable impression it made was +striking. The presents were displayed. Nothing could surpass the +King’s surprise and pleasure, but his warm yet dignified avowal of +his obligations. “Englishmen,” said he, admiring the workmanship of +the different articles, “know how to do every thing proper,” +turning to his favourites with a smile as auspicious to our +interests, as mortal to the intrigues of our rival. Much +of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> the glass was +broken; Mr. James expressed his regret, and offered to procure +more; the King replied, “the path we had come was bad and +overgrown, that we had many people to look after;” and waved our +excuses with superior courtesy. He desired the linguists to say, +“this shewed him that the English were a great people, that they +wished to be friends with him, to be as one with the Ashantees; +that this made him much pleasure to see, (and to repeat again and +again,) that he thanked the King of England, the Governor at Cape +Coast, and the officers who brought the presents much, very much.” +He made very liberal presents of liquor to our people, and +delivered the distinct presents to his four principal caboceers in +our sight.</p> + +<p>We learned from Quashie, the Accra linguist, the favourable +reports he had collected through his intimacy with some of the +principal men. All the caboceers, he said, had thought we had come +for bad, to spy the country; the King thought so too a little, but +much fetish was made, and all shewed that we meant well, and now +the King thought so; the mulatto sent by General Daendels, directly +after Mr. Hydecoper, and who arrived just before us, had sent to +the King for a pass to go back, and the King told him, that he +would give him this message, “that the King had thought to do good +to the Dutch, but now he sees their white mens faces, he should do +good to the English.” This mulatto man (who is not in the service, +but a free man of Elmina town) visited us afterwards, and his +complaints and sentiments confirmed these reports in our +favour.</p> + +<p>On Wednesday morning the King’s sisters (one the caboceer of the +largest Ashantee town near the frontier) paid us a visit of +ceremony, and retired to receive our’s in return; their manners +were courteous and dignified, and they were handed with a +surprising politeness by the captains in attendance.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span>Mr. James being +indisposed, we went by invitation to see the chief captain’s horse, +when the King sent to us to say, he was walking that way, and +requested us to get our chairs and wait, that he might bid us good +morning. Directly he saw us he ordered the procession to alter its +course, and stopped to take us by the hand. The procession +consisted of about 2000 men, and was marked by all the suit and +parade of royalty. The caboceers that day in attendance appeared as +warriors, being divested of the rich silks of the preceding day; +the executioner, the master of the bands, and the cook, were in the +train, with suits which shewed the importance of their offices; the +latter was preceded by a massy service of plate. Mr. Bowdich’s +report will be more particular.</p> + +<p>The king sent his messenger this morning to repeat, that he +thanked the King of England and the Governor very much for +yesterday.</p> + +<p>The King was much pleased when Quashie, the Accra linguist (who +is our only intelligible medium,) attempted to describe the use of +the sextant; consequently, when Mr. Bowdich saw the King’s chief +captain this morning, he offered to shew it to the King, with the +camera obscura and telescope; the captain said it would please the +King, and reported, that the King was much pleased with us, that he +liked to be friends with the English, that he wished to make +pleasure with us, and would send for us by and by to do so. We have +been particular in these lesser circumstances, as they are the +evidence of the King’s good feelings, and of the fair prospect of +the consummation of the Mission, superior to all the prejudice and +intrigue opposed to it.</p> + +<p>We were sent for to the King’s house; he was only attended by +his privy counsellors; he expressed much delight at the camera +obscura and instruments. He said, “the Englishmen knew more than +Dutchmen or Danes—that black men knew nothing.” He<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span> then ordered our people to be +dismissed, said he would look at the telescope in a larger place, +that now he wished to talk with us. He again acknowledged the +gratification of Tuesday, and desired Mr. James to explain to him +two notes which he produced, written by the Governor in Chief at +the request of Amooney, King of Annamaboe, and Adokoo, Chief of the +Braffoes, making over to Saï, King of Ashantee, four ackies per +month of their company’s pay, as a pledge of their allegiance and +the termination of hostilities. The impression seemed instantly to +have rooted itself in the King’s mind, that this was the Governor’s +individual act, or that he had instanced it; his countenance +changed, his counsellors became enraged, they were all impatience, +we all anxiety. “Tell the white men,” said the King, “what they did +yesterday made me much pleasure; I was glad we were to be friends; +but to day I see they come to put shame upon my face; this breaks +my heart too much. The English know, with my own powder, with my +own shot, I drove the Fantees under their forts, I spread my sword +over them, they were all killed, and their books from the fort are +mine. I can do as much for the English as the Fantees, they know +this well, they know I have only to send a captain to get all the +heads of the Fantees. These white men cheat me, they think to make +’Shantee fool; they pretend to make friends with me, and they join +with the Fantees to cheat me, to put shame upon my face; this makes +the blood come from my heart.” This was reported by his linguist +with a passion of gesture and utterance scarcely inferior to the +King’s; the irritation spread throughout the circle, and swelled +even to uproar.</p> + +<p>Thus much was inevitable; it was one of our anticipated +difficulties; it was not a defeat, but a check; and here originates +our charge against Mr. James, whom we declare to have been +deficient in presence of mind, and not to have exerted those +assurances and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span> +arguments which, with a considerate zeal, might at least have +tended to ameliorate the unjust impression of the King, if not to +have eradicated it. Mr. James said, “the Governor of Cape Coast had +done it, that he knew nothing about it, that he was sent only to +make the compliments to the King, that if the King liked to send a +messenger with him, <em>he was going back and would tell the +Governor all that the King said</em>.” This was all that was +advanced. Was this enough for such a Mission to effect? the King +repeated, “that he had expected we had <em>come</em> to settle all +palavers, and to <em>stay</em> and make friends with him; but we +came to make a fool of him.” The King asked him to tell him how +much had been paid on these notes since his demand—that he knew +white men had large books which told this. Mr. James said he had +seen, but he could not recollect. Nothing could exceed the King’s +indignation. “White men,” he exclaimed, “know how many months pass, +how many years they live, and they know this, but they wont tell +me; could not the other white men tell me.” Mr. James said, “we +never looked in the books.”</p> + +<p>We were not so indiscreet as to expect or wish Mr. James to +commit himself by <em>promising the satisfaction</em> of the King’s +wishes; but dwelling on the expense and importance of the Mission, +on the expectations it had excited, and feeling the reason of the +King’s argument, that its object should be to settle all palavers +if we wished to be good friends, we conceived we but anticipated +the feeling of the Council and of the Committee, in our anxiety for +Mr. James to offer to communicate with the Governor by letter, and +to wait his reply, with a confidence that his good feeling towards +the King, his instructions from England, and his own disposition, +would lead him to do every thing that was right to please him.</p> + +<p>Mr. James’s embarrassment had not only hurried him to extricate +himself as an individual at the expense of his own +dignity<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span> and +intellect, but, which was worse, he had thrown the whole onus of +this invidious transaction on the shoulders of the Governor in +chief, against whom the King’s prejudice would be fatal to all, and +whose interest in his honour was most flattering to the King, most +auspicious to us, and the hopes of the Mission; not only the future +prosperity, but the present security of the Settlements hung upon +this, and the dagger was at this moment suspended from a cobweb. +Mr. Bowdich urged this in the ear of Mr. James, urged the danger of +leaving the King thus provoked, the fatal sacrifice of every object +of the Mission, the discredit of the service, the disgrace of +ourselves; Mr. James replied, “he knew the Governor’s private +sentiments best.” The Moors of authority seized the moment, and +zealously fanned the flame which encircled us; for the King looking +in vain for those testimonies of British feeling which presence of +mind would have imposed, exclaimed, as he turned his ear from the +Moors, “I know the English come to spy the country; they come to +cheat me; they want war, they want war.” Mr. James said “No! we +want trade.” The King impatiently continued, “They join the Fantees +to put shame upon my face; I will send a captain to-morrow to take +these books, and bring me the heads of all the Fantees under the +forts; the white men know I can do this, I have only to speak to my +captains. The Dutch Governor does not cheat me; he does not shame +me before the Fantees; he sends me the whole 4 oz. a month. The +Danes do not shame me, and the English 4 ackies a month is nothing +to me; I can send a captain for all; they wish war.” He drew his +beard into his mouth, bit it, and rushing abruptly from his seat +exclaimed, “Shantee foo! Shantee foo! ah! ah!” then shaking his +finger at us with the most angry aspect, would have burst from us +with the exclamation, “If a black man had brought me this message, +I would have had his head cut off before me.” Mr. James was +silent.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span>Gentlemen! imagine +this awful moment, think what a fatal wound menaced the British +interests; the most memorable exertion of the Committee, the pledge +to the Government of their energies, of the zeal and capabilities +of their officers, this important and expensive Mission falling to +the ground, the sacrifice to supineness; the Settlements endangered +instead of benefited, ourselves disgraced as officers and men, our +key to the Interior shivered in the lock, and the territories of a +great and comparatively tractable prince shut against us for ever. +Could we be expected to look with indifference on these sacrifices, +to risk nothing to avert them; to be auxiliary to the triumph of +the intrigues and duplicity of our rival, which you know to have +been exerted even to our destruction? Not a moment was to be lost; +Mr. Bowdich stood before the King, and begged to be heard; his +attention was arrested, the clamours of the council gradually +abated: there was no interpreter but the one Mr. James brought from +his own fort, and no alternative but to charge him promptly in the +Governor’s name, before reflection could associate the wishes of +his master, to speak truly. Mr. Bowdich continued standing before +the King, and declared, “that the Governor wished to gain his +friendship more than he could think that we were sent, not only to +compliment him, but to write what he had to say to the Governor, +and to wait to tell his answer to the King, and to do all he +ordered; to settle all palavers, and to make Ashantees and English +as one before we went back. That the Governor of Accra was sick, +and in pain, and naturally wished to go back soon, but that +himself, and the other two officers would stay with the King, until +they made him sure that the Governor was a good friend to him. That +we would rather get anger, and lose every thing ourselves, than let +the King think the Governor sent us to put shame on him; that we +would trust our lives to the King, until we had received the +Governor’s letter, to make him<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_51">[51]</span> think so; and to tell us to do all that was +right, to make the Ashantees and English as one; and this would +shew the King we did not come to spy the country, but to do good.” +Mr. Bowdich then assured Mr. James that no outrage on his dignity +was meditated; that we should continue to treat him as our superior +officer, but that we felt the present act imperative, as our duty +to the Service and our Country.</p> + +<p>Conviction flashed across the countenance of the interpreter, +and he must have done Mr. Bowdich’s speech justice, for the +cheerful aspect of the morning was resumed in every countenance. +The applause was general; the King (who had again seated himself) +held out his hand to Mr. Bowdich, and said, “he spoke well; what he +spoke was good; he liked his palaver much.” The King’s chief +linguist came forward and repeated his commendations with the most +profound bows; every look was favourable; every where there was a +hand extended. The King then instructed his linguist to report to +Mr. Bowdich, personally, his arguments respecting the books. “That +he had subdued the Fantees at the expense of much powder and shot; +and that, in consequence, all their notes were his: that he had +only to send a Captain to bring all their heads, that he did not +want to do no good, and keep the books; he would do more for the +forts than the Fantees could; that the Dutch Governor did not cheat +him, but gave the four oz. a month. That he wished to be friends +with the English; but that the 4 ackies a month put shame upon his +face.” To this Mr. Bowdich replied, that he could only say he knew +the Governor would do what was right; that he could not say more +until he heard from him; but that he would write every word the +King said; and he was sure the King would see that the Governor +would do what was right. We shook hands and retired.</p> + +<p>All the Fantees being detained by the King, Mr. Bowdich +and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span> Mr. Hutchison +went in the evening to the chief captain to request a messenger +from the King to Cape Coast; about two hours afterwards he reported +the King’s reply almost literally as follows: “The King wishes you +good night; this is his palaver and yours, you must not speak it to +any one else, the white men come to cheat him. The King recollects +the face of the white man who spoke to him to day, he likes him +much, he wishes he would talk the palaver; the King likes the other +white men who stood up with him very much; he thinks the Governor +of Accra wishes to put all the wrong on the Governor at Cape Coast, +and not to tell any thing. The King thinks that not right, and he +sees you do not like that. You must not speak this palaver again; +’tis the King’s palaver, and yours; the King’s captain will speak +right to the King what you say, and you shall have a +messenger.”</p> + +<p>We again affirm positively, that Mr. James made no offer to +communicate with the Governor, but spoke only of his return, which +we know he was meditating at the expense of the treaty, and every +object of the Mission.</p> + +<p>Referring to our detail previous to the serious business of to +day, you will find every circumstance to have been encouraging, and +in our opinion, auspicious to the consummation of the Mission. Yet +at that moment, unclouded as it was, we know Mr. James, by his own +confession, to have written to head quarters with a gloom which +existed only in his own imagination; this letter did not go from +the detention of the Fantee bearers. We believe firmly, that had +there been no interference on our part at the critical moment, Mr. +James would have returned forthwith to Cape Coast, without +effecting one object of the Mission, and that the future good of +the Settlements would not only have been sacrificed, but their +present security endangered.<a id="FNanchor_5"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span>Mr. James may +write that Mr. Bowdich rose with great warmth: this we deny, and +affirm that he displayed no more than a temperate zeal, considerate +in its declarations, and respectful even in its dissent from Mr. +James. The attention of the King was arrested by the novelty of a +white man addressing him in the oratorical manner of his own +country, but it was not until the linguist had conveyed the +arguments, that the King held out his hand and the applause was +general. Mere observations whispered in the ear of the linguists +had lost all effect, and would not have answered the crisis.</p> + +<p>Mr. James has talked, and perhaps written much of the King’s +suspicion, but we must contend that much of this is misnamed, and +is no more than that deliberate policy which is a pledge of the +durability of the confidence it precedes. Certainly there has been +suspicion, but not more than must have been expected, not more than +was commensurate with the important novelty which challenged it. It +has been confessed here, that our political rival has exerted all +his address to vitiate our objects in the eyes of the King, to +convince him our ostensible views were pretences; our real ones +dangerous and unjust; that we sought sovereignty, not commerce. The +Moorish chiefs and dignitaries by whom the King is surrounded, +whose influence is powerful, not only from their rank but their +repute, naturally urged these arguments against unbelievers and +competitors in trade, and their extensive intercourse has +unfortunately possessed them of facts to the point of our ambition. +Let these considerations be weighed, let our account of the King’s +general deportment be again referred to; let us impress, that he +has never once adverted to our destruction of his<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span> troops before Annamaboe, or of +the critical situation of the fort; that he has evinced a +disposition to a sound understanding, by veiling every irritating +retrospect, by acknowledging every conciliatory circumstance.</p> + +<p>We do not presume to enter our opinions into the important +question of the King’s demand of the whole of these two notes; we +have advanced nothing but our assurance that the Governor will do +what is right, and we have pledged our lives to convince the King +of this; the importance of the Mission would have claimed a more +valuable pledge.</p> + +<p>Whilst we impress the surprising power and influence of the +King, we must do him the justice to acknowledge the convincing +manner in which he urged the injuries and forbearance which +preceded the Fantee war; his willingness to do every thing for the +forts, and the conduct of the Dutch Governor in giving him the +whole of the four ounces, were impressively and ingeniously +associated.</p> + +<p>To wear away suspicion, Mr. Bowdich has ceased his enquiries and +observations for a time. The resources for intelligence of the +Interior are infinite. Timbuctoo has been visited by most of the +sojourners, and a mass of valuable information may be gathered with +caution.<a id="FNanchor_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6" class= +"fnanchor">[6]</a> The eclipses of Jupiter’s satellites will be +regularly observed by Mr. Bowdich, and the mean longitude reported; +the want of a good watch imposes considerable trouble.</p> + +<p>We have reflected on what we have done, and if we are so +unfortunate as to be visited by your and the Committee’s +displeasure,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> we shall +console ourselves in our reluctant change of pursuit, by the +satisfaction of our own minds of the honourable zeal of our +motives.</p> + +<p>We most respectfully solicit our recall, as we cannot implicate +our character and our responsibility with Mr. James’s judgment and +perseverance in prosecuting the Mission, of the consummation of +which we cannot agree to despond. We could not reconcile ourselves +to the sacrifice of one of its important objects to our personal +apprehensions (supported as we are by authority and circumstances) +whilst the recollection of the illustrious energies of an +enterprising traveller, forlorn and destitute, appeals to our +spirit, and impresses the expectations of our country. We are, +&c.</p> + +<p class="center pad20pc space-above1">(Signed)</p> + +<div class="sign1"> +<p>T. EDWARD BOWDICH.</p> + +<p>W. HUTCHISON.</p> + +<p>HENRY TEDLIE.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><em>Coomassie, May 24</em>, +1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">To the Governor and +Council, Cape Coast Castle.</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Gentlemen,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">The</span> act our former letter +has avowed, and we would presume (after the most deliberate +reflection) to add justified, has made it our duty to communicate +(independently of Mr. James) the circumstances of the interval we +may await your pleasure.</p> + +<p>If this duty had not been imposed on us by the act in question, +the imminent fatality engendered in the debate of to day, and +quickened by the ardor of the captains, would have demanded from +our private as well as our public feelings, the most energetic +representations (as auxiliary to those of Mr. James,) in +impressing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> the +calamities and the sacrifices which menace the Settlements and the +Mission, to secure your serious deliberation, as the only +preventive we can look to with confidence.</p> + +<p>Yesterday we were conducted some way without the town to an +assembly of the Moorish caboceers and dignitaries, who exert every +device against us. A chapter was read from the Koran, and we were +ordered to swear by that book that we had no rogues palaver, and +that we had put no poison in the King’s liquor. We severally +refused to swear on the Koran, but offered to do so on our own +prayer books. The King’s linguist mediated, and asked us if we +would only strike that book three times, and then declare as much, +because the Moors said, that book would kill us if we lied. We did +this, and were about two hours afterwards ordered to sit without +our house and receive the following present from the King:</p> + +<p>One bullock, 2 pigs, 8 oz. of gold, for Mr. James.</p> + +<p>One sheep, 2 oz. 4 ackies of gold, for each of us.</p> + +<p>To each of the numerous Fantee messengers, 10 ackies of +gold.</p> + +<p>To our cooks, a large assortment of pots and country vessels, +100 large billets of wood, 100 yams, 100 bunches of plantains, four +of sugar cane, four (24 gallon) pots of palm oil, three jars of +palm wine.</p> + +<p>To the soldiers, 10 ackies of gold.</p> + +<p>To the Accra linguist, 10 ackies of gold.</p> + +<p>On Saturday we were summoned to the King, and waited as usual a +considerable time in one of the outer courts of the palace, which +is an immense building of a variety of oblong courts and regular +squares, the former with arcades along the one side, some of round +arches symmetrically turned, having a skeleton of bamboo; the +entablatures exuberantly adorned with bold fan and trellis work of +Egyptian character. They have a suit of rooms<span class="pagenum" +id="Page_57">[57]</span> over them, with small windows of wooden +lattice, of intricate but regular carved work, and some have frames +cased with thin gold. The squares have a large apartment on each +side, open in front, with two supporting pillars, which break the +view and give it all the appearance of the proscenium or front of +the stage of the older Italian theatres. They are lofty and +regular, and the cornices of a very bold cane work in alto relievo. +A drop curtain of curiously plaited cane is suspended in front, and +in each we observed chairs and stools embossed with gold, and beds +of silk, with scattered regalia. The most ornamented part of the +palace is the residence of the women. We have passed through it +once; the fronts of the apartments were closed (except two open +door ways) by pannels of curious open carving, conveying a striking +resemblance at first sight to an early Gothic screen; one was +entirely closed and had two curious doors of a low arch, and +strengthened or battened with wood-work, carved in high relief and +painted red. Doors chancing to open as we passed, surprised us with +a glimpse of large apartments in corners we could not have thought +of, the most secret appeared the most adorned. In our daily course +through the palace there is always a delay of some minutes, before +the door of each of the several distinct squares is unlocked; +within the inmost square is the council chamber.</p> + +<p>To day, after the delay of nearly an hour (which seems an +indispensible ceremony) in the outer court, (where different +dignitaries were passing to and fro with their insignia and +retinues,) we were conducted to a large yard, where the King, +encircled by a varied profusion of insignia, even more sumptuous +than that we had seen before, sat at the end of two long files of +counsellors, caboceers, and captains; they were seated under their +umbrellas, composed of scarlet and yellow cloth, silks, shawls, +cottons, and every glaring variety, with carved and golden +pelicans, panthers, baboons,<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_58">[58]</span> barrels, crescents, &c. on the top; the +shape generally a dome. Distinct and pompous retinues were placed +around, with gold canes, spangled elephants tails to brush off the +flies, gold headed swords, and embossed muskets, and many splendid +novelties too numerous but for a particular report, which will not +be neglected. Each had the dignitaries of his own province or +establishment to his right and left; and it was truly “Concilium in +Concilio.” When we recollected the insignificant, though neat +appearance of the few Ashantee towns we had passed through on the +southern frontier, and even the extent and superior character of +the capital, this magnificence seemed the effect of +enchantment.</p> + +<p>We have intruded this sketch to impress the power and resources +of the monarch we are to conciliate, and to anticipate in some +degree the delay of Mr. Bowdich’s report, the transcription of +which must yield to the present momentous communication.</p> + +<p>The King having decided a cause then in course, by which one of +his captains was condemned to death for cowardice, ordered the +question of the Annamaboe and Braffoe notes to be resumed. The +several Fantee messengers were heard, the King of Annamaboe’s, +Amooney’s, and Payntree’s (the interior caboceer) having joined us +in the path. They appeared all equivocation and embarrassment, as +Quashie’s interpretations confirmed; they were incompetent to +answer the King’s linguists, and unable to use the few +uninterrupted intervals which were allowed them to any purpose: it +seems they would not acknowledge what the full amount of these +notes was. Mr. James was asked, he said “white men’s heads were not +like black men’s, and he could not recollect; but he thought 4 oz. +and 2 oz.” He did not offer to learn from the Governor. Several +impassioned harangues were made by the King’s linguists and +counsellors: the King said, “he had 4 oz. from Elmina, and 2 oz. +from English Accra; was it not putting shame upon him to +send<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span> him 4 ackies +from Cape Coast?” The Cape Coast messenger (Quashie Tom had +absented himself) spoke again with great trepidation; the King +could not conceal his emotions; his counsellors became clamorous; +in an instant there was a flourish of all the horns; all the +captains rose and seized their gold headed swords from their +attendants; the head general snatched Mr. Tedlie’s from his +scabbard; numerous canopies crowded one upon the other in the +background, as if some considerable personages had arrived; there +was nothing but commotion, wrath, and impatience. The captains, old +and young, rushed before the King, and exclaimed, as Quashie +reported, (who seems to have been afraid to tell us all, and was +restrained by Quamina) “King, this shames you too much; you must +let us go to night and kill all the Fantees, and burn all the towns +under the forts.” They then presented themselves successively with +their bands of music and retinues, and bowing before the King, +received his foot upon their heads; each then directed his sword to +the King (who held up the two first fingers of his right hand) and +swore by the King’s head, that they would go with the army that +night, and bring him the books, and the heads of all the Fantees. +Each captain made the oath impressive in his own peculiar manner; +some seriously, some by ridicule, at our expense, and that of the +Fantees, pointing at our heads and ears, and endeavouring to +intimidate us by the most insolent action and gesture as they held +out their swords. The old general (Apokoo) who swore the last, +after he had done so in the most expressive manner, threw Mr. +Tedlie’s sword to him, over the heads of the people with +contemptuous defiance. The number was so great, that we thought +this awful ceremony would never finish.</p> + +<p>The King left the council a short time. In the interval, Quamina +Bwa (our guide) told Accra Quashie to beg Mr. James to +speak<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> to the King +when he came back, and try and appease him. Mr. James did so, but +without the zeal, presence of mind, or argument the crisis +demanded; it was not adequate even to ameliorate the King’s +impression of the Governor and the English; it was no more than he +said at first. The King took not the least notice of it, but +declared angrily, that “if he did not see white men’s faces he +would cut off the heads of every Fantee messenger on the spot.” +Some sheep and gold were then brought forward and presented to the +Captains, and the King rose abruptly from his chair. In this +anxious moment we reflected that the mulatto of General Daendels +had a long audience of the King just before we were received; no +resource was to be left untried, that was manly and appropriate. +Mr. Bowdich stepped before the King, and declared through the +linguist, “that he wished to speak what he knew would make the King +think that the Governor would do him right, and was his good +friend.” The King said he would hear him speak in the house; we +retired amidst the insults and menaces of the assembly.</p> + +<p>About two hours after, we were summoned, and, as is the +etiquette, kept some time in waiting; in this interval, Mr. James +said that our situation being very critical, it was a pity any +difference should be observed, and that he thought it much better +to be reconciled. Mr. Bowdich replied, that he could not think it +possible our sentiments to be delivered to the King could differ at +such a moment; that if they did we should assimilate ours to his as +much as possible; but feeling the necessity for the greatest +energy, for every address and argument for the conviction of the +King, we must, for the public good, continue our assumption of the +privilege of strengthening his declarations by our own until our +recall, that we should be tender of his dignity, but that it being +a difference on a point of public duty, we could not compound it, +but would take the consequences. We were received; the King’s +aspect was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> stern; he +prefaced that “he did not wish to make war with the English; but +that the 4 ackies a month shamed him too much; that the captains +said to him, King! they cheat you, they put shame on you; we will +go to night and bring you the heads of all the Fantees; that he was +forced to say to them, I beg your pardon, but as I see the white +men’s faces, I beg you to stay till to-morrow, when they can write +to the Governor, and they will tell me themselves what he says; +then if he does not send me Amooney’s and the Braffoes books, you +shall go and kill all; that he had been obliged afterwards to dash +them sheep and gold to make them stay until the white men got the +Governor’s letter.” Mr. James assured the King “that the King of +England and the Governor wished to be friends with him, to do all +that was right; and he thought in his own mind that the Governor +would give up the books.” The King took no notice, and continued +serious: the moment called for the most energetic appeal to his +reason, for every imposing argument and circumstance. There was a +long pause; Mr. Bowdich rose, and charged Mr. James’s linguist to +interpret truly. We took the precaution of making notes of this +speech, feeling we should be particular where we pledge our honour, +and volunteer our affidavit; it was as follows.</p> + +<p>“We swore yesterday as the King wished, to day we wish to swear +as we should before our own King.” The King held up the two first +fingers of his right hand as he did to the captains. “We swear” +(presenting our swords and kissing the hilt, as the most imposing +form that occurred to us) “by our God, and by our King, and we know +the Governor of Accra will do the same, that we mean no bad to the +King, that the King of England and the Company ordered the Governor +to send us to make the Ashantees and English as one, that we are +sure the Governor will do the King right, and that when we write +him all the King says, we will<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_62">[62]</span> write also that we think the King’s palaver +good. We were sent to make the English and Ashantees as one, +because our’s is the greatest white, your’s the greatest black +nation, and when two great nations are friends, it makes good. I +came out in the ship that was sent to tell the Governor this, and +when he heard it, he said it gave him very much pleasure. The King +of England and the Company thought the Governor should send to the +King, to send some of his great men to Cape Coast, that we might be +safe; but the Governor said, no! there was no occasion, and wrote +to the King and the Company that he could trust all his officers in +Ashantee, because the King’s honour made them safe, so we came +without sending, because we knew the King was our true friend.</p> + +<p>“The Governor wished always to do the King right, but the +Fantees never would tell him what was right, so he wrote to the +King of England to send him some presents, that he might send his +own officers to the King, and hear properly from the King’s own +mouth what was right, because the Fantees never would tell him what +was true, or what the King said. When the Governor reads what we +shall write him, then he will know the truth for the first time. We +shall stay to make the Ashantees and English one, and we pledge our +lives to the King, that we speak a proper palaver, and when we +speak true before God and the King we cannot fear.”</p> + +<p>There were repeated and general applauses as each sentence was +interpreted; the King smiled, and desired his linguist to say to +Mr. Bowdich as Quashie interpreted, “The King likes you, you speak +a proper good palaver, you speak like a man, the King wishes to be +a friend to white men; he thinks white men next to God.” Here the +King raised his hands to heaven, and then covering his face, +Quashie continued to interpret. “The King thanks God and his own +fetish, that they have sent him white men to talk proper like this +to him, and when you three white men go<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_63">[63]</span> back to Cape Coast, and the Governor has bad +put into his head, and think you did wrong, then if you want any +thing to eat, send a messenger to him and he will send you plenty, +for the King thinks you do right to God and him, and to your King, +and to the Governor, and that you will get much honour when you go +back; so the King thanks you, and says you speak well.” The King +then asked Mr. James if he would swear on his sword like us, as we +said; Mr. James did so. The King made an observation which it seems +we cannot convey to you in its full force, or nearer than, that he +liked the three white men because they always stood up to speak, +and pushed forward to get what they wanted. Many auxiliary +observations were afterwards offered casually by each of us, to +confirm his change of sentiment. The Fantee linguists attempted to +intimidate the linguist Quashie of Accra, but ineffectually; this +man is invaluable from his influence and intelligence, he is our +only safe medium, and interprets to the King anxiously and +impressively.</p> + +<p>The King appeared much pleased, and made us a long speech. “The +King says the Fantees are all rogues, the Governor knows that very +well; the King thinks they always put bad palaver in the Governor’s +head, he always tells his captains so; he is sure you come to do +him right. The King wishes all good for the English; he swears by +God and by the fetish, that if the English could know how the +Fantees serve him, and all the bad they do, they would say his +palaver was good. The King speaks true.” He then gave us an outline +of the Fantee war, which must have convinced even the most +prejudiced, of his injuries and forbearance, and their injustice +and cruelty.</p> + +<p>The King says, “if the English trust to him, he will take more +care of the forts than the Fantees can, he will do them great good, +he does not want to do nothing. He will send the English +his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span> trade; he will +send them good gold like what he wears himself, (shewing his +armlets,) not bad gold like he knows the Fantees make, his people +don’t know how to do that, the Fantees do it in their own houses +before they give it to white men. If at any time the English in the +forts are in want of any thing to eat, and send to him, he will +send them every thing. To morrow is Sunday, but the next day is +Monday, then he will give you a proper messenger.”</p> + +<p>We cannot do justice to the King’s sentiments either in detail +or in expression; they were incredibly liberal, and would have +ennobled the most civilized monarch; they seemed to break the spell +which has shut the Interior. He begged us to drink with him, and +Mr. James agreed in the toast of “May the Ashantees and English +always be one;” it pleased him, and he begged us to touch his glass +with ours. He then turned suddenly to the Fantee messengers (who +were trembling in the rear) and said, “you made me very angry with +you, and I am very angry with you, but never mind, come and drink +some of my liquor.”</p> + +<p>Our critical situation demands the delivery of our sentiments on +the subject of these notes; we do so with diffidence and respect. +The services of the Braffoes, who hold the one, are merely nominal, +their enmity nugatory from their political situation; the issuing +of a fresh note to Amooney will be but a small addition to the +expenditure, and even the expense of renewing them both cannot be +weighed with the prevention of another Fantee war, of the +destruction of a whole people, and the ruin of our Settlements in +their defence, with the defeat of the intrigue and devices of our +rival, and the acquisition of the confidence of a powerful and +liberal monarch, whose influence may perfect the views of the +British Government on the Interior. We hail the circumstances as +auspicious, even in the present serious moment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span>Mr. James +confesses that he desponds of consummating the objects of the +Mission; we do not; we would be responsible for all of them, but we +diffidently await your decision. We must claim this momentary calm +of the King to ourselves, because it only affords us the credit, or +rather the justification of having done our duty, which we are +resolute in repeating Mr. James has not. What has been said through +Mr. Bowdich is here reported faithfully; we have not committed the +Governor or ourselves.</p> + +<p>Gentlemen, our situation is critical; if your answer determines +the King on war, we are his prisoners; if, as we cannot doubt, the +valour of our countrymen again retards his progress by defences as +memorable as that of Annamaboe, we may be the victims of an +irritated soldiery, though we feel it would be with the reluctance +of a generous prince, who is not independent, but, unfortunately, +controlled by a military despotism, which deposed his brother and +invested him.</p> + +<p>But, Gentlemen, if in your better knowledge and reflection, you +cannot consistently with your honour and your trust, meet the +King’s demand, the history of our country has fortified our minds +with the illustrious example of a Vansittart, and his colleagues, +who were situated as we are, when the dawn of British intercourse +in India was scarcely more advanced than its dawn in Africa now; +and their last request to their Council is our present conclusion +to you—“Do not put our lives in competition with the honour and +interests of our country.”</p> + +<p class="center pad20pc space-above1">We are, &c. &c.</p> + +<table class="sign2"> +<tr> +<td>(Signed)</td> +<td>T. EDWARD BOWDICH.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>W. HUTCHISON.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>HENRY TEDLIE.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_66">[66]</span><em>Coomassie, May 28th</em>, 1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">To the Governor and +Council.</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Gentlemen,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">On</span> Sunday the King visited +us at our quarters, and expressed much gratification with the +trifles we presented him individually, and our solicitude in +explaining some plates of botanical and natural history, which he +sends for frequently.</p> + +<p>On Monday we had a public audience before the Captains, (whose +ill-will has been acknowledged,) when two messengers were ordered +to accompany one of ours to Cape Coast, with the letters to the +Governor, and were impressively sworn; they received their +instructions in a speech from the linguist of nearly two hours; it +seemed to be intended to conciliate the Captains at the same +time.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon the King sent for us again, and said he wished +to dictate a letter to the Governor. Mr. James wrote the sense of +the King’s expressions, but was obliged to leave off from +indisposition. The King would not trust it out of his hands. +Yesterday evening it was concluded, when the King proposed to make +his mark, and insisted on repeating it in the direction. We have +taken the pains to preserve this curious letter verbatim, which +from its length, and our constant interruption, we are compelled to +reserve with many curious particulars for the General Report.</p> + +<p>We are anxiously waiting a summons to hand our dispatches to the +messenger. Nine days are allowed for the journey to Cape Coast, and +nine for the return. The whole time has been gradually extended, by +intreaty of the Fantee messengers, from eighteen to thirty +days.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutchison is ill with a bilious attack, and several of the +people with a fever and dysentery. The heat is very +powerful<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span> here, but +Mr. Bowdich and Mr. Tedlie continue in excellent health.</p> + +<p>We would recommend the sending up a common green silk umbrella, +and a Company’s dirk, as presents to the King’s favourite +nephew.</p> + +<p>Our confinement to the house is rather irksome; we are not +allowed to walk in the town without Captains accompanying us.</p> + +<p>12 o’clock. The King sent to say Mr. Bowdich must come to the +palace, and mount the chief captain’s horse, and shew him how +Englishmen ride. Mr. Bowdich went, and by the King’s desire +gallopped up and down the opposite hill. The King expressed great +anxiety when the horse was made to play his tricks; and when Mr. +Bowdich persevered, and made him gallop back and alighted, the King +sent him word that “he rode like a proper man, that he stayed on +the horse well, and made him do proper.”</p> + +<p>4 o’clock. The King sent for us at two, to make some additions +to the letter, and to seal it in his presence. A long prayer was +uttered by a Moor after the sealing of the letter, and we were +called back to be again impressed with the example and justice of +the Dutch as regards the books. Mr. Hutchison’s illness prevented +his attendance to day. The messengers are to go to night.</p> + +<p>May 29th, 3 p.m. The messengers and the Fantee bearers, have +been delayed in consequence of the death of a person of rank, and +their assistance in the custom. I am now assured that they will +leave Coomassie at 4 o’clock.</p> + +<p>In reply to the request we urged to Mr. James, that he would +dismiss our hammock men, as they had been of so little service to +us in coming up, and were a considerable expense; he impressed that +it would be contrary to your instructions.</p> + +<p>Only one message from the King to day, and that a private one to +Mr. Bowdich, with permission for him to ride: he went +all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span> round the town, +which he considers to be about three miles in circumference: the +King afterwards sent him word, that to-morrow he must ride on a +cloth only, as he had heard the English did.</p> + +<p class="center pad20pc space-above1">We are, &c. &c.</p> + +<table class="sign2"> +<tr> +<td>(Signed)</td> +<td>T. E. BOWDICH.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>H. TEDLIE.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>P.S. Mr. James had a severe relapse of fever last night, and was +very ill this morning; at 10 o’clock a.m. he had the cold bath, and +some febrifuge medicine. Mr. Hutchison is rather better, the +soldiers also, but the hammock men continue much the same.</p> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="hang1 space-above15"><span class="sc">Saï Tootoo +Quamina</span>, <em>King of Ashantee and its Dependencies, to</em> +<span class="sc">John Hope Smith</span>, <em>Esquire, Governor in +Chief of the British Settlements on the Gold Coast of +Africa.</em></p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">The</span> King sends his +compliments to the Governor, he thanks the King of England and him +very much for the presents sent to him, he thinks them very +handsome. The King’s sisters and all his friends have seen them, +and think them very handsome, and thank him. The King thanks his +God and his fetish that he made the Governor send the white men’s +faces for him to see, like he does now; he likes the English very +much, and the Governor all the same as his brother.</p> + +<p>The King of England has made war against all the other white +people a long time, and killed all the people all about, and taken +all the towns, French, Dutch, and Danish, all the towns, all about. +The King of Ashantee has made war against all the people of the +water side, and all the black men all about, and taken all their +towns.</p> + +<p>When the King of England takes a French town, he +says,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span> “come, all this +is mine, bring all your books, and give me all your pay,” and if +they don’t do it, does the Governor think the King of England likes +it?<a id="FNanchor_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7" class= +"fnanchor">[7]</a> So the King has beat the Fantees now two times, +and taken all their towns, and they send and say to him, you are a +great King, we want to serve you; but he says, Hah! you want to +serve me, then bring all your books, what you get from the forts, +and then they send him four ackies, this vexes him too much.</p> + +<p>The first time he made war against the Fantees, two great men in +Assin quarrelled, so half the people came to Ashantee, half went to +Fantee. The King said, what is the reason of this, so he sent his +gold swords and canes to know why they did so, and the Fantees +killed his messengers and took all their gold.<a id= +"FNanchor_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> +After they fought with the Elminas and Accras, the Fantees sent +word to the King they would serve him; the King sent word to the +Assins, if it is true that the Fantees want to serve me, let me +hear; after that they sent to say yes! they tired of fighting, and +wanted to serve him, he said, well, give me some gold, what you get +from the books, and then you shall hear what palaver I have got in +my head, and we can be friends; then he sent some messengers, and +after they waited more than two years, the Fantees sent word back, +no! we don’t want to serve the King, but only to make the path open +and get good trade: this vexed the King too much.</p> + +<p>Then the Fantees sent to a strong man, Cudjoe Coomah, +and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> said, “come, let +us put our heads together against the King;” after that, when the +King heard this, he sent one, not a great man, but his own slave, +and said, well you will do, go kill all the people, all the +Aquapims, and Akims, and all; and so he killed all, and after he +killed all he came and told him.</p> + +<p>When he sent against Akim, the people in Akim sent word, that +they told their head men not to vex the King, but they would not +mind them, so he killed the head people, and the others begged his +pardon.</p> + +<p>When the King went to fight with the Fantees they sent this +saucy word—we will kill you and your people, and stand on you; then +they did not kill one Ashantee captain, but the King killed all the +Fantee captains and people. They do not stand on him.</p> + +<p>That time, after the King fought, all the Fantees sent word, +well we will serve you, but you must not send more harm to hurt us, +we don’t want to fight more, but to make good friends with you. +Then the King said, what caboceer lives at Cape Coast and +Annamaboe, what books they get from the forts, let them send all, +and then we can be friends. And the King sent word too, if my +messengers go to Cape Coast fort, and if they bring pots of gold, +and casks of goods, then I can’t take that, <em>but I must have the +books</em>.</p> + +<p>After that the King sent word to the Governor of Cape Coast and +the Governor of Annamaboe, well! you know I have killed all the +Fantees, and I must have Adocoo’s and Amooney’s books, and I can +make friends with you, good brother and good heart; but now they +send four ackies, that is what makes the King’s heart break out +when he looks on the book and thinks of four ackies, and his +captains swear that the Fantees are rogues and want to cheat him. +When the white men see the Fantees do this, and the<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> English officers bring him this +four ackies, it makes him get up very angry, but he has no palaver +with white men.</p> + +<p>All Fantee is his, all the black mans country is his; he hears +that white men bring all the things that come here; he wonders they +do not fight with the Fantees, for he knows they cheat them. Now he +sees white men, and he thanks God and his fetish for it.</p> + +<p>When the English made Apollonia fort he fought with the Aowins, +the masters of that country, and killed them; then he said to the +caboceer, I have killed all your people, your book is mine; the +caboceer said, true! so long as you take my town, the book belongs +to you.</p> + +<p>He went to Dankara and fought, and killed the people, then he +said; give me the book you get from Elmina, so they did, and now +Elmina belongs to him.<a id="FNanchor_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9" +class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> + +<p>The English fort at Accra gave a book to an Akim caboceer, +called Aboigin Adjumawcon. The King killed him and took the book. +The Dutch fort gave a book to another Akim caboceer, Curry Curry +Apam. The Danish fort gave a book to another Akim caboceer, Arrawa +Akim; the King killed all and took their books.</p> + +<p>This King, Saï, is young on the stool, but he keeps always in +his head what old men say, for it is good, and his great men and +linguists tell it him every morning. The King of England makes +three great men, and sends one to Cape Coast, one to Annamaboe, and +one to Accra; Cape Coast is the same as England. The King gets two +ounces from Accra every moon, and the English wish to give him only +four ackies for the big fort at Cape Coast, and the same for +Annamboe; do white men think this proper?</p> + +<p>When the King killed the Dankara caboceer and got two ounces +from Elmina, the Dutch Governor said, this is a proper King, +we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> shall not play +with him, and made the book four ounces. The King has killed all +the people, and all the forts are his; he sent his captains to see +white men, now he sees them, and thanks God and his fetish. If the +path was good when the captains went, the King would have gone +under the forts and seen all the white men. The Ashantees take good +gold to Cape Coast, but the Fantees mix it; he sent some of his +captains like slaves to see, and they saw it; ten handkerchiefs are +cut to eight, water is put to rum, and charcoal to powder, even for +the King; they cheat him, but he thinks the white men give all +those things proper to the Fantees.</p> + +<p>The King knows the King of England is his good friend, for he +has sent him handsome dashes; he knows his officers are his good +friends, for they come to see him. The King wishes the Governor to +send to Elmina to see what is paid him there, and to write the King +of England how much, as the English say their nation passes the +Dutch; he will see by the books given him by both forts. If the +King of England does not like that, he may send him himself what he +pleases, and then Saï can take it.</p> + +<p>He thanks the King and Governor for sending four white men to +see him. The old King wished to see some of them, but the Fantees +stop it. He is but a young man and sees them, and so again he +thanks God and his fetish.</p> + +<p>Dictated in the presence of,</p> + +<p class="nind pad4"><span class="sc">T. Edward Bowdich,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind pad4"><span class="sc">William Hutchison,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind pad4"><span class="sc">Henry Tedlie.</span> +</p> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_73">[73]</span>May 30. Apokoo sent us a present of 30 ackies +of gold and some fruits.</p> + +<p>June 1. The King sent to desire Mr. Tedlie to bring his +instruments and medicines, and explain their uses to him; he was +shrewdly inquisitive, and presented Mr. Tedlie with 6 ackies of +gold in approbation of his intelligence.</p> + +<p>June 4. The King paid us a visit at our quarters, and expressed +himself highly gratified with some botanical engravings: he said +white men tried to know so much they would spoil their heads by and +by. We were allowed to take a walk in the town to day, in charge of +two captains. We had scarcely passed the palace when two men were +decapitated for cowardice: three others had been executed during +the night.</p> + +<p>June 5. Bakkee, to whom our house formerly belonged, had been +sent the second in command of the army with which Appia Danqua +invaded Fantee the second time, in pursuit of the Akim and Aquapim +revolters. Wearied of the procrastination and labours of the +campaign, he inconsiderately observed to a public messenger, that, +as the King had declared when he invaded Fantee in person, that he +would have the head of every Fantee caboceer, and yet returned with +a part only; so he could not be expected to forego the enjoyment of +the riches and luxuries of his home, until every revolter was +killed. On his return to the capital without leave, he was charged +with this, and not denying it, was stripped of all his property, +and hung himself. Aboidwee our present house master was raised to +Bakkee’s stool, or seat in council, to which 1700 retainers are +attached.</p> + +<p>June 9. The King sent us two sheep and a large quantity of +fruit; his nephew also sent us a sheep.</p> + +<p>June 11. We were invited to attend the King’s levee, on the Adaï +custom, and were presented with a flask of rum and a +fat<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span> sheep. This walk +was a great relief, for the longest court in our quarters was not +more than 14 feet.</p> + +<p>June 12. The King sent us a large Hio sheep to look at; it +measured 4½ feet from the head to the insertion of the tail, which +was two feet long, its height was three feet, and it was covered +with coarse shaggy hair.</p> + +<p>June 13. The King sent for us late at night; he assured us he +wished to think well of the English; and that if Cape Coast was not +so far off, he should send messengers daily to wish the Governor +good morning, but the Crambos (Moors) and his great men thought we +came to do bad, and spy the country; so he sent for us when it was +dark, that they might not know it. He had only two persons with +him. Mr. James was too ill to attend.</p> + +<p>17. The King sent a present to our quarters of</p> + +<p class="nind pad4"><span class="word-spaced03"> </span>2 +ounces of gold to the officers.</p> + +<p class="nind pad4">20 ackies to our people.</p> + +<p class="nind pad4">10 ackies to our linguists.</p> + +<p class="nind pad4"><span class="word-spaced03"> </span>1 +hog, 1 sheep, and a profusion of plantains and oranges.</p> + +<p class="nind">This was his reproof of a disgraceful attempt to +borrow money of him for our subsistence; of which Mr. Hutchison, +Mr. Tedlie, and myself, had publicly disclaimed our knowledge and +sanction. Nothing could be more injurious to our dignity.</p> + +<p>18th. Mr. Tedlie having ventured to walk a few yards without the +town, was arrested by a captain, with about 100 followers, who +detained him in his house whilst a message was sent to the King, +who desiring Mr. Tedlie to be brought before him, enquired if he +had his small box (compass) in his pocket, and finding he had not, +affected to reprove the captain severely, for supposing either of +us could wish to run away, whilst the King was our friend. After +this we seldom went out.</p> + +<p>21st. Bundahenna, one of the King’s uncles, begged him +for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span> permission to go +and make custom for some relatives whom he had lost in the last +Fantee war, as he feared their spirits were beginning to trouble +him. The King subscribed four ounces of gold, two ankers of rum, +one barrel of powder, and four human victims for sacrifice, towards +this custom. We received a present of 11 ackies of gold from +Quatchie Quofies household.</p> + +<p>26th. We received a present from a captain called Oöossa Cudjo, +of 10 ackies of gold, and another from Jessinting, of the same +quantity, a sheep and some plantains.</p> + +<p>28th. The King sent us a large quantity of plantains and +oranges. Apokoo, one of the four greatest men in the kingdom, +hearing his mother’s sister was dead, killed a slave before his +house, and proceeded to her croom to sacrifice many more, and +celebrate her funeral custom; but, when he found, on opening her +boxes, that the old woman from her dislike of him, had thrown +almost all her rock gold into the river, and that he should only +inherit a number of hungry slaves, he sacrificed but one more +victim, and made but a very mean custom.</p> + +<p>29th. Attended the King’s levee, and were presented with a flask +of rum, and a fat sheep. The King sent us word that he would be +glad to let us walk out, but there were many bad people who would +kill us if they could. We were gratified by an invitation to visit +Odumata, one of the four aristocrats; he begged us to drink palm +wine with him, and ordered a large jar of it to be sent to our +servants. He told us he was the first captain who fought with the +English at Annamaboe; and that if the books were not sent, he would +be the first to do so again; he asked us if we would take him to +England to see our King, and engage to bring him back again; for, +having sold an immense number of captives as slaves, he expected +some of them might recognise him, and call out to the King of +England to stop him, because he had sent them out of their own +country.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span>July 2. A girl was +beheaded for insolence to one of the King’s sons, and a man for +transgressing the law by picking up gold which he had dropped in +the public market place, where all that falls is allowed to +accumulate until the soil is washed on state emergencies.</p> + +<p>3rd. This morning one of the King’s sons (about 10 years of age) +shot himself: his funeral custom was celebrated in the afternoon, +and a smart fire of musquetry was kept up until sun-set, amidst +dancing, singing, and revelry; two men and one girl were +sacrificed, and their trunks and heads were left in the market +place till dark. The mother of this child, a favourite wife of the +King’s, having added crime to a continued perversity of conduct, +had been put to death; the boy was banished the King’s presence +from that time. This morning he had stolen into the palace for the +first time, and the King desiring him to be removed, observing that +he had, doubtless, as bad a head towards him as his mother had +shewn; he replied, that if he could not be allowed to come and look +at his father, he had better die; half an hour afterwards he +destroyed himself privately, by directing a blunderbuss into his +mouth, and discharging it with his foot. The keeper of the royal +cemetry was this day imprisoned. His wife was soon after charged by +the council with making fetish to turn the King’s head; she replied +that it meant no more than to make the King think better of her +husband; but they insisted that she invoked the Fetish to make the +King mad, and she was executed.</p> + +<p>5th. A loud shout from our people announced the return of the +messengers from Cape Coast Castle, after an absence of thirty-eight +days.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp1c03"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5"><span class= +"label">[5]</span></a>“The government of the country is a military +despotism, and I have this day received private information, that +it is already settled, that if the refusal of the notes occasions a +war, and any one is hurt or killed by the forts, our lives will be +the forfeit.” Mr. James’s Dispatch.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6"><span class= +"label">[6]</span></a>“In the present suspicious state of the +King’s mind respecting us, I fear it would be impolitic to make the +enquiries you ordered in your instructions. I think it will be more +prudent to leave them to time. Mr. H. if he remains, will be able, +from time to time, to obtain such information as they can give, +without creating that suspicion which would certainly arise from +any questions put at the present moment. I have kept Mr. H’s +hammock men, as it is yet uncertain whether he will remain.” Mr. +James’s Dispatch.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7"><span class= +"label">[7]</span></a>This is an extraordinary impression, that all +the towns in Europe are supported like those under the forts, +holding notes from their governments for annual stipends.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8"><span class= +"label">[8]</span></a>Here the King’s linguist ceased, and by his +desire requested us to repeat all the King had said, he was much +pleased with our accuracy, and begged us to take some refreshment, +(spirits and palm wine were introduced in silver bowls) fearing he +had kept us too long without eating, and, would continue the letter +to-morrow. He locked up what had been written, and heard it read +again the next day, before his linguists continued.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9"><span class= +"label">[9]</span></a>The King always spoke of the acts of all his +ancestors as his own.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span><a id= +"p1c03b"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> III.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Proceedings and Incidents until the Third +Dispatch to Cape Coast Castle.</em> +</p> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><em>Cape Coast Castle, June +21</em>, 1817.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">Mr. James</span> being ordered to +return here as soon as possible, will deliver you his instructions, +and you will immediately on receipt of this letter, take upon +yourself the management of the Mission. I have every reliance on +your prudence and discretion, and still firmly hope that the +termination of the Embassy will be attended with success, and that +the sanguine expectations which we have entertained as to the +result of it, will not be disappointed.</p> + +<p>The King has received a very erroneous impression of the affair +of the Fantee notes, which I regret to hear was the cause of a +serious disturbance: I am glad however to find that by your prompt +mode of conduct, you were in some measure able to repress the +unfavourable bias it seems to have occasioned, and I have no doubt +that an explanation of the circumstance will effectually remove any +remaining prejudice. This transaction was entirely between the +Ashantee messengers and Fantees, negociated, and determined on by +them at Abrah, and afterwards ratified here by their mutual +consent. Hearing that messengers from the King were at Abrah, I +invited them down, wishing through their medium to communicate with +him concerning the conveyance of the presents<span class="pagenum" +id="Page_78">[78]</span> I had received from the Committee. After +some delay they arrived, and on their first interview made known +their errand to the Fantees, and the manner it had been arranged, +applying at the same time for two notes to be made out in favour of +Zey, at four ackies each, which were to be deducted from the notes +of Amooney and Aduecoe; not being perfectly satisfied from the +representation of these people as to the justness of the claim, I +delayed complying until it was stated to be a pledge of good faith +and allegiance on the part of the Fantees, and a confirmation of +the final adjustment of all differences between the two parties, +and as such they were given them. The nature of the claim having +been fully and satisfactorily explained, I have no hesitation in +complying with the wishes of the King; and this I do the more +readily, knowing that by the extension of his authority, good order +and subjection will be better preserved.</p> + +<p>This will, I hope, evince to the King my friendly intention +towards him; and you will impress upon his mind, that it is my +earnest desire to cultivate his friendship, the establishment of +which will be mutually beneficial; and in order that the union +between us may be more closely cemented, I am particularly desirous +that Mr. Hutchison be permitted to reside at Ashantee, which will +be the means of preventing any interruption to the good +understanding which, before you leave, will, I hope, be firmly +settled.</p> + +<p>I have no objection to you returning by way of Warsaw, but your +undertaking the journey on foot, I am apprehensive, you will find +too fatiguing. The hammock-men are engaged for the trip, therefore +the only additional expense will be their subsistence; I however +leave it to you to dismiss them or not.</p> + +<p>The Accra linguist being so very useful, and the only man who +will interpret faithfully, you will retain him until you +return.</p> + +<p>I have sent you, by the King’s messenger, 40 oz. of gold to +defray<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> your expenses; +should any loan have been granted by the King, you will of course +repay him.</p> + +<p>I send you a piece of muslin and 10 danes for presents to the +Moors, whose friendship it will be highly necessary to conciliate. +I have also at your request, sent a dirk and umbrella, intended for +the King’s chief captain and his favourite nephew.</p> + +<p>Quamina, the Ashantee captain at Abrah, has refused to allow any +letters to pass that place which may be given in charge to Ashantee +traders, on the plea that by so doing he would incur the +displeasure of the King; who, he says, expects that especial +messengers will be engaged here to proceed with all letters to the +capital. Not long ago a trader who had received a letter, was +detained by him at Abrah, and the letter returned. The expense of +employing messengers here on every occasion would be material, +which is quite unnecessary, as opportunities almost daily occur for +forwarding letters by the different traders going from hence. I +therefore hope your representation of this affair to the King, will +induce him to countermand his orders to Quamina, if any such have +been given him.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, Sir,</p> + +<p class="right pad-right6 space-above1">your most obedient +Servant,</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">JOHN HOPE SMITH.</p> + +<p class="nind space-above15"><em>To Thomas Edward Bowdich, +Esq.</em> +</p> + +<p class="hang1 space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_80">[80]</span><span class="sc">John Hope Smith</span>, +<em>Esquire, Governor in Chief of the British Forts and Settlements +on the Gold Coast of Africa, to</em> <span class="sc">Saï Tootoo +Quamina</span>, <em>King of Ashantee.</em></p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">I have</span> received your letter +of the 26th ult. and am happy to find that you are sincerely +desirous of cultivating the friendship of the British nation. Both +inclination and duty urge me to reciprocate the sentiments +expressed by you, and I shall be anxious at all times to promote +the harmony and good understanding which, I hope, will now be +established between us respectively, and which cannot fail to be +mutually advantageous.</p> + +<p>I regret to find there has been so much trouble about the Fantee +notes, and I am sorry you did not apply to me in the first +instance, as the affair should have been settled immediately to +your satisfaction; but I knew not of it, except from the Fantees +having begged me to take four ackies per month from each note, +which they said they had agreed for with your messengers at +Abrah.</p> + +<p>I observe by the many instances quoted in your letter, that the +notes of conquered countries have been transferred to your +ancestors, therefore it shall be the same on the present occasion. +Herewith I send you two notes, one for two oz. per month, formerly +held by Amooney, also one from the caboceer at Abrah for two oz, +the latter was only 12 ackies per month, and I have added 1 oz. 4 +to it. These, and the notes you hold from Accra, will make your +Company’s pay six oz. per month, which shall be regularly paid at +the Castle.</p> + +<p>I hope my ready compliance with your wishes will convince you of +the good will of the British nation, but I have every reason to +believe that attempts have been made to prejudice you against +it,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span> however your own +good understanding will readily suggest to you that the only motive +is jealousy in trade.</p> + +<p>The conduct of the English you will always find very different; +they enter into fair competition with the other European residents +here, but they never, by clandestine means or false assertions, +endeavour to injure their character with the natives of this +country.</p> + +<p>I have learned with regret that the people of Elmina are using +their influence to induce you to make a palaver with the Commendas. +They are a mere handful of people, extremely poor and not worth +your notice; besides they are under my protection, therefore I hope +you will not think further of the affair, and I shall consider your +compliance in this instance, as the greatest possible proof of the +sincerity of your intentions towards the English.</p> + +<p>I wish you health and happiness, and I hope you will reign many +years, enjoying the love of your subjects, and the respect of all +the Europeans resident in this country.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, Sir,</p> + +<p class="right pad-right6 space-above1">your faithful friend,</p> + +<table class="sign2"> +<tr> +<td>(Signed)</td> +<td>J. H. SMITH.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind less space-above15"><em>Cape Coast Castle, 20th +June</em>, 1817.</p> + +<p class="space-above15">P.S. The abolition of the slave trade was +an act of the King and the Parliament in England, in which the +government in this country had no concern.</p> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_82">[82]</span><em>Coomassie, July 9</em>, 1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">To John Hope Smith, +Esq. Governor in Chief</span>, &c. &c. &c.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">The</span> messengers returned on +Saturday the 5th instant.</p> + +<p>To be confirmed by your approbation, in the opinion that my zeal +for the public good had not exceeded my duty, is a most flattering +satisfaction. The appointment you have conferred on me, is an +acknowledgment so far transcending my conduct, that it must +stimulate every ability to exert itself for the success of the +Mission, to justify such an honourable distinction.</p> + +<p>The box containing the letters was opened in the King’s +presence, but being engaged in a custom on the death of a son, he +deferred the reading of your letter, retaining it with the notes. +His acknowledgments of your justice were associated with the +declaration, that, although you had sent him the notes, still, if I +could not fortify him with the prices of the various articles to be +received in payment, you would have it in your power (though he did +not suspect you) to reduce the intrinsic of the whole, to that of +the moiety rejected. The proposition of the same prices as those +attached to the Accra note, was annihilated by the argument, that +Accra was a small fort, and not like Cape Coast or <em>Elmina</em>. +So much stress was laid on the instance of the latter, that I felt +called upon to declare, as the only striking conviction, that you +did not wish, in the payment of these notes, to treat the King like +a trader, and therefore would not allow the Elmina Governor to act +more liberally in prices than yourself: the conviction was entire +and instantaneous.</p> + +<p>The next audience did not take place until Monday, Mr. James +being present. I did justice to the utmost of my ability to your +impressive letter; the effect was honourable to you, and +encouraging<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span> to +myself; the King ordered me to take his hand, in his sensibility to +the strong appeal of the several paragraphs, and again at the +conclusion, as a pledge of his cordial satisfaction of the whole; +his linguist followed his example, (as did the whole council) when +he laid his fore-finger on his head and breast, as the invocation +to Heaven for the vouchsafement of your several good wishes, as I +concluded with them. I was reluctantly compelled to yield a minor +object to a custom consecrated by their constitution. The laws of +the three first Kings (who were brothers, and cotemporary leaders +of the colony, whose conquests established the Empire) are sacred; +and it was a law of Saï Cudjo, the younger brother, and the +grandfather of the present King, which granted to particular +captains the honourable patent of receiving the pay of small forts, +distinctly, each being responsible for his separate duties to his +settlement. If this law were not inviolable, the King pleads, that +it would be an invidious act, and unjust to the merits of the +Captain of English Accra, (Asquah Amanquah) to remove the payment +of the Accra note to Cape Coast; but as the other appointments +originate in him, he will respect your wish, by constituting one +captain to receive both the Abra and Annamaboe notes at Cape Coast. +He enquired if it was your wish that no Ashantee trader should go +to Accra? I replied no! you were only desirous to induce as many as +possible to come to Cape Coast.</p> + +<p>The Cape Coast linguists, and our guide, Quamina Bwa, confirmed +your report of the conduct of Quamina Bootaqua, the captain now at +Payntree, in the negociation of the notes; it excited the greatest +surprise and indignation; his interception of letters was +disclaimed, and will be done away with. I submitted to the King, on +retiring, that in my next audience, I should be desirous of +declaring the purport of the official instructions transferred to +me (which had not been yet avowed) with other +credentials,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span> +explanatory and impressive of the good wishes and intentions of the +Government, the Committee, and yourself. I was favoured with my +first separate audience at 8 o’clock this morning. I first +impressed from the dispatches of the Committee, every motive and +sentiment that was convicting or imposing; urging your waving the +hostages and escort, as the demonstration of your confidence in the +King’s honour and friendship; and insinuating that the +establishment of a school at Cape Coast, was solely in anticipation +of the King’s committing some of his children to your care for +education, as the foundation of the pre-eminence of Europeans. I +then passed to your instructions, rendering them in a manner as +persuasive and auspicious as possible; associating in favour of the +Residency, the commanding motive of facilitating political +interests, with the imposing one of securing justice to the +Ashantee traders. Lastly, I introduced the Treaty, as a pledge from +the King to give force to your application to the Government at +home, for the increase of his pay; for, as he continued to dwell on +the grant of 4 ounces from Elmina, I availed myself of this liberty +of my instructions, to divert the impression, and to propitiate his +ratification of the Treaty. I considered the pretence of your being +obliged to address the British Government on the subject, as +preservative of the opportunity of judging of the sincerity of his +professions, and of the duration of the union.</p> + +<p>I think I may pledge myself for three great pillars of our +commercial intercourse, by the accomplishment of the Residency, the +Education, and the Treaty.</p> + +<p>I reconcile myself to fresh difficulties by the reflection that +they are inseparable from all great political views; and that +without them, I should be deprived of the satisfaction of proving +myself, in a small degree, worthy this confidence and distinction, +by patience and perseverance. A letter accompanies this, written +in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> the King’s +presence, on the subject of the Commenda palaver, which wears so +decided an aspect, that whilst I pledge all my energy and address, +and look with hope to the aid of your suggestions, I must candidly +confess, I do not think it can be compounded in any thing like a +reasonable way. I appealed to the King’s magnanimity, and depicted +the poverty of the Commendas, but every appeal and every argument +was ineffectual; their aggravated offences admit of no amelioration +of the King’s feelings. I depreciated the plea of General Daendels’ +repeated messages, by submitting that they were addressed to the +Town, and not to the Fort, and I succeeded in retiring him from the +negociation, as an interference inconsistent with your dignity, and +the present good understanding.</p> + +<p>I did not discourage the King’s great anxiety for clothes of the +English costume, considering that his example would be more +auspicious than any thing else, to the introduction of these +manufactures. I have distributed the muslins, &c. as +politically as possible, including with the Moors of repute, the +aristocracy, or four captains controuling the King, his four +linguists, his brother and successor, our housemaster, and some +other captains of superior influence. I made a point of +conciliating a Moor of influence, about to return through Sallagha +or Sarem (the capital of the Inta country, and the grand emporium +of the merchandize of the interior) to Houssa, feeling the policy +of communicating every favourable impression to the neighbouring +kingdoms. In my second interview I obtained permission from the +King to dismiss the remaining Fantees. It was one of the first +considerations, for the sake of our dignity, to avoid the +humiliating circumstances and impressions, which have ensued from +the want of foresight, and the consequent inability to meet the +demands of our people. Their conduct since has been so mutinous and +insulting, with the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> +exception of six, that to preserve the impression of the firmness +of an English officer, I secured one who encouraged the others, by +persisting in some insulting indecencies, in contempt of my +remonstrances, and ordered him to be punished.</p> + +<p>The others (with the above exception) having refused in a body, +aggravating their disobedience with the grossest insolence, to go +with a cane to Payntree, and bring the biscuit which had been +deserted there; I have disclaimed them, and left them to act for +themselves, only securing them the King’s permission to depart.</p> + +<p>I shall request the King to furnish me with his own people, on +the conclusion of the business of the Embassy. Such an arrangement +favours œconomy, and impresses the confidence I affect.</p> + +<p>The frequent presents had enabled me to present the Fantees with +large supplies of plantains and hogs; and on paying them their +arrears, which I did the same evening I received your gold, I gave +them a bullock which fell to my share in a division with Mr. +James.</p> + +<p>You will see by the balance of the annexed account, that +(preserving our dignity) every expense should be avoided that can +be; and I assure you, that in making the present arrangement for +bearers for our baggage only, I do not disregard your solicitude +for our health. I shall order one Cape Coast messenger to attend +Mr. James, and also the bearers left behind, being sufficiently +recovered.</p> + +<p>The statistical and scientific desiderata so impressively +recommended to my attention, are daily realising beyond my +expectations. Mr. Tedlie has had a severe attack of fever and +dysentery, but is convalescent: Mr. Hutchison and myself are in +perfect health.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, with respect, +Sir,</p> + +<p class="right pad-right6 space-above1">Your most obedient +Servant,</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">T. E. BOWDICH.</p> + +<p class="hang1 space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_87">[87]</span><span class="sc">Saï Tootoo Quamina</span>, +<em>King of Ashantee and its Dependencies, to</em> <span class= +"sc">John Hope Smith</span>, <em>Esquire, Governor in Chief of the +British Settlements on the Gold Coast of Africa.</em></p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">The</span> Commenda palaver now +rests with you and the King of Ashantee only, the Dutch Governor +has no more to do with it, so the King recals the captain sent to +him, and sends a proper messenger to treat with you +individually.</p> + +<p>The conduct and messages of the Commendas have been so +irritating and insolent to the King, that nothing but believing you +to be his good friend, could induce him to treat at all with them, +or do any thing but kill them; but for your sake, he will settle +the palaver, and you must help him properly.</p> + +<p>The King wants to begin the union without any palaver remaining, +and as this Commenda palaver is the only one, it must be settled, +and if you do this, he will take care the Elminas shall not do +wrong to the Fantees, but he will help you in all your +palavers.</p> + +<p>The Elminas are always sending him messages about the insulting +conduct and expressions of the Commendas towards him, and this is +very vexatious to him, so he wishes to put an end to it with your +help.</p> + +<p>Adoo Bradie, his favorite nephew, the son of the former King Saï +Quamina, is sent with a proper captain, Quantree, to help you +settle the palaver.</p> + +<p>Two thousand ounces is the demand.</p> + +<p>The origin of the palaver is, that after the King returned from +his own campaign against the Fantees, the Commendas went to the +Elminas and said, “well, you help’d the King, and now he is gone +back we will fight for it.”</p> + +<p>Again, when a war was about to take place between the Cape Coast +people and the Elminas, the Commendas went to the latter and said, +well, we will help you if you will give us plenty of<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span> powder to fight for you: they +did so, and immediately the Commendas used it to seize 98 Elminas, +and sold them as slaves—this the King thinks you will say is very +bad.</p> + +<p>The Cape Coast people and the Fantees having joined against the +Elminas, they sent to tell the King, stating, when he demanded the +reason, that it was because they had not resisted him when he came +down against the Fantees; adding, that the Commendas, who were +their natural allies before, had now joined their enemies, and +begging the King to revenge this act of perfidy. The King much +angered, immediately sent a captain for the purpose of their +destruction (Yaquokroko,) but the Dutch governor sent to him, and +then sent to the King to beg him to stop, because the English and +Dutch being one, it would put shame on his face.</p> + +<p>Col. Torrane by giving up Cheeboo, induced the King to consider +the Cape Coast people as his friends, and they took fetish +accordingly, but their joining the Fantees afterwards to fight +against Elmina for assisting the King, has made him distrust them +always since.</p> + +<p>He considers his favourite nephew as the adopted son of Col. +Torrane, to whom he gave him, and the Colonel gave him English +clothes, so he is all the same as a Cape Coast Boy.</p> + +<p>Col. Torrane being dead, he considers his nephew to stand in the +same relation to you, and that he is therefore the proper messenger +to send to you about this palaver.</p> + +<p>You must write in your great book, that the King is your good +friend, that he likes you too much, that he thanks God very much, +so that every future Governor may read that in the Cape Coast +Books.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right6 space-above1">The mark <img src= +'images/sym1.png' class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'> of Saï Tootoo, King of +Ashantee,</p> + +<p class="right">Per T. E. <span class="sc">Bowdich</span>.</p> + +<p>Present.</p> + +<p class="nind pad4"><span class="sc">Wm. Hutchison.</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind pad4"><span class="sc">Henry Tedlie.</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind less space-above1"><em>Coomassie, July 9th</em>, +1817.</p> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_89">[89]</span><em>Coomassie, July 12th</em>, 1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">John Hope Smith, +Esquire, Governor in Chief</span>, &c. &c.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind">I <span class="sc">am</span> just returned from +reading your letter to the King, and extracts from that to myself, +before the assembly of the captains: the effect was satisfactory; +and Quamina Bootaqua is ordered up to answer for his conduct. The +King enquired if the pay now due on the two notes would be +liquidated on application; I replied, immediately; he is anxious +for it, on account of the approaching yam custom.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, &c.</p> + +<table class="sign2"> +<tr> +<td>(Signed)</td> +<td>T. EDWARD BOWDICH.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="space-above15">I will not continue to copy the rude diary +before submitted, it is only a register of dull or disgusting +circumstances, illnesses, human sacrifices, and ceremonious visits. +I would not anticipate the better arrangement of my reports, or +break the thread of the correspondence on the political +difficulties opposed to the Mission. I will abridge some passages +of my diary, merely to give an idea of the nature of our +conversations, and the biography of the leading men. Mr. Hutchison +has sent me copious extracts from his diary, as Resident, his +leisure and tranquillity having afforded him better opportunities +of social intercourse and domestic observation, than I had, or +could afford time to cultivate, without neglecting my reports. I +shall adjoin these extracts, expecting they will contribute to the +rational entertainment of the public, and to the credit of an +active and intelligent officer.</p> + +<p>A captain called Asofoo, sent us a present of seven ackies +of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> gold, and we also +received twelve from Amanquateä, and three from our house master. +On the 9th of July the King sent us ten ackies of gold, and +repeated his satisfaction of the result of the late correspondence, +and daily presents of meat and fruits from various quarters, +evinced the better opinion of his chiefs.</p> + +<p>I paid my first private visit to Baba the chief Moor, and took +some pens, paper, ink, and pencils with me as a present; the paper +and pencils were much esteemed, but he preferred his reed and +vegetable ink. He received me courteously, and was contemplating a +curiously intricate figure like a horoscope; the ms. was filled +with them; he laid his finger on it, and said, if you have any hard +palaver, this can make me settle it for you when no other person +can; or if you have any dear friend in England you wish to see, +tell me the name, and this shall bring him to you. I thanked him, +observing, that when Englishmen knew their palaver was right, they +always left it to God, and that England was too good a place for me +to wish any one I regarded to leave it. His disciples and pupils +were writing on wooden boards, like those Mr. Park describes. When +a charm was applied for, one of the oldest wrote the body of it, +and gave it to Baba, who added a sort of cabalistical mark, and +gave it a mysterious fold; the credulous native snatched it eagerly +as it was held out to him, paid the gold, and hurried away to +enclose it in the richest case he could afford. I had a long +conversation with Baba, and he begged me to visit him frequently; +he was much gratified with the specimens of African Arabic at the +end of Mr. Jackson’s work, and read them fluently. I visited him +the next day, when he sent hastily for a Moor, who he told me was +very learned, and just come from Timbuctoo. This man expressing no +surprise when he first saw me, Baba explained it, by telling me, +spontaneously, that this Moor had seen three white men before, at +Boussa. I eagerly enquired the particulars<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_91">[91]</span> of the novelty, and they were again repeated +to Baba, and were thus interpreted: “that some years ago, a vessel +with masts, suddenly appeared on the Quolla or Niger near Boussa, +with three white men, and some black. The natives encouraged by +these strange men, took off provisions for sale, were well paid and +received presents besides: it seems the vessel had anchored. The +next day, perceiving the vessel going on, the natives hurried after +her, (the Moor protested from their anxiety to save her from some +sunken rocks, with which the Quolla abounds) but the white men +mistaking, and thinking they pursued for a bad purpose, deterred +them. The vessel soon after struck, the men jumped into the water +and tried to swim, but could not, for the current, and were +drowned. He thought some of their clothes were now at Wauwaw, but +he did not believe there were any books or papers.” This +spontaneous narrative, so artlessly told, made a powerful +impression on my mind. I saw the man frequently afterwards, his +manners were very mild, and he never asked me for the most trifling +present. He drew me a chart before he went away, and I dispatched +some certificates for Major Peddie by him, endorsed with Baba’s +recommendations. I heard exactly the same thing afterwards from +another Moor, but he had not been an eye witness. I begged Mr. +Hutchison, when I left Coomassie, to note any other report on the +subject of Mr. Park’s death, and he afterwards sent me the ms. a +translation of which is in the <a href="#app2">appendix.</a> I +continued to call on Baba three or four times a week; these visits +afforded much information, for at each I found strange Moors just +arrived from different parts of the interior, sojourning with him. +They always affected to deplore the ignorance of the Ashantees, and +presumed it must be as irksome to me as to them. Baba telling one +that I could speak different languages, he said that he would try +me, and addressed me in several, all very uncouth to my +ear,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span> and their names +even unintelligible, except one, which he called Hindee or Hindoo; +neither had I heard of any of the great cities he enumerated, until +at last he pronounced Room (Rome) and said, if I did not know that +I was not a Christian. I never saw the Shereef Brahima (to whom I +was introduced about this time by a Jennë Moor) at Baba’s, they did +not appear to be on terms; I think the latter was envious of the +greater learning and intelligence of the former, who had been to +Mecca and Medina. One day I requested Baba to draw me a map of the +world, he did so, encircling one large continent with a sea, +bounded by a girdle of rocks. Old Odumata’s notion of geography was +as strange; for he mentioned one day, that when on the coast above +Apollonia, he had an idea of walking to England, for he was told he +should reach Santonee (Portugal) in 30 days, and that after that, +the path was very good. He greatly enjoyed our singeing the hair of +a foppish attendant of his, with a burning glass; the man’s +amazement was inconceivable, Mr. Hutchison was at some distance, +and not suspected.</p> + +<p>We were now permitted to walk four or five miles beyond the +city, and felt quite at home. We seldom went out in the morning, +lest an occasion for an audience should occur. Apokoo and several +other daily visitors diverted us with their anecdotes, and in the +afternoon we made our round of calls. Apokoo was always facetious, +and looked with much anxiety for our entry, as his greatest +recreation; he was very desirous of learning tennis and sparring, +and daily made some essays, so comical, that neither we nor his +attendants could contain ourselves. Apokoo became very +communicative of Ashantee politics, and asked innumerable questions +about England; particularly, why the King of England did not send +one of his own sons to the King of Ashantee, with the presents, and +why so great a King sent such a small force to Africa.<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> The Spanish campaign was gone +through, again and again, and never tired him. He gave us an +excellent dinner, as did Odumata repeatedly. Both were +extravagantly enraptured with the miniature of an English female, +and called all their wives to look at it.</p> + +<p>Having been advised by a note from the Governor, of the arrival +of an Ashantee boy and girl at Cape Coast Castle, sent by the King +without any explanation, I desired an audience on the subject, and +forwarded the following letter, which also communicates the +baseness of one of the King’s messengers, just returned from the +Coast, and other inauspicious circumstances.</p> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><em>Coomassie, 10th Aug.</em> +1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">John Hope Smith, +Esq. Governor in Chief</span>, &c. &c. &c.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">The</span> King has explained to +me that he sent the boy and girl you mention to have arrived at +Cape Coast, to become the property of the Committee or Government, +conceiving it to be obligatory on him, in justification of his +possession of the notes, to allow an Ashantee family to rear itself +under the Governor’s protection, for the service of the Settlement, +and as an acknowledgment of the duties he owes it. He begs me to +observe that he put the same plates of gold around their necks +which distinguish the royal attendants.</p> + +<p>I had reason to believe, from a coolness and some invidious +comparisons on the part of the King, that the messenger lately +arrived, Ocranameah, who was so particularly recommended to your +favour, had been unjust in his report of the treatment he had +experienced. I did not hesitate to avow my impression to the King, +having solicited an audience for the purpose. The King<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span> confessed he had felt his +private feelings hurt ever since the return of that messenger, +having received his assurance, that you would scarcely admit him to +your presence; that he received no present or compliment from you, +and was wholly neglected during his stay at head quarters. I +instantly pledged my honour to the King that Ocranameah (who was +present) was guilty of falsehood and ingratitude, adding, that I +was not prepared to confront him with the particulars of the +presents he received from you and the officers; though I was +positive, from private letters, as well as my own conviction, that +you had not slighted the opportunity of evincing your private +friendship for the King; and as I might possibly identify some +trifle, I wished the King to allow a search to be made. On the +messenger’s box being sent for and opened, two engravings appeared, +to the surprise of the King, and which I recognised; but as the +messenger still persists in <em>your</em> entire neglect of him, +and of his not having received any present or compliment worth +mentioning, I must trouble you for the particulars of his treatment +at Cape Coast Castle, for the entire conviction of the King. The +King expressed his suspicion (founded on reports) that many +Ashantees imposed on your generosity, by introducing themselves as +attached to him in various capacities; and hoped that you would +only listen in future to such as he recommended to your notice by +letter, which his three messengers above had been; the second +(Ocranameah) the more particularly, and that recollection had made +him so sensible of the neglect. You will regret, with myself, that +this inauspicious circumstance has been unavoidable.</p> + +<p>The recent intelligence respecting the Buntooko war, has imposed +serious anxiety, in the place of the King’s former confidence. The +revolt of that people, as may be expected in all revolts from +arbitrary controul, has gradually induced the secessions of some +other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> tributaries; +and the King feels called upon by these unexpected difficulties, to +conduct the war in person; not with his former expectation of +witnessing their rapid subjugation, but from his present conviction +of the necessity for every stimulus and energy. His precaution has +dictated some popular acts, ameliorating the condition of the lower +order of his subjects. The confidential ministers have been +instructed to hint to me, that it would be indiscreet in the King +to expose even his temporary reverses in an arduous war, by the +residence of a British officer; and that he would most probably +defer that part of the mutual wish, until the contest was +terminated. I used the same medium to impress upon the King, that +such a feeling towards the delegate of a friendly power was +misplaced; that you had expedited his ex-parte views in the +confidence of his consummation of the reciprocal objects of the +Mission, without which (as they had been instituted for his benefit +and aggrandisement) I could not think of returning; since a +protraction would be construed into a slight of the friendly +overtures of the British Government, which (from its dignity and +pre-eminence in Europe) could not be vouchsafed whenever they might +be solicited.</p> + +<p>I anxiously await your communications on the Commenda palaver, +to further my exertions for the full accomplishment of the Mission. +The King and his Council labour under so much anxiety and business +at the present moment, that though we pay and receive visits of +ceremony, it is almost impossible to effect an audience, but on the +receipt of dispatches.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, &c. &c.</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">T. EDWARD BOWDICH.</p> + +<p class="space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_96">[96]</span>The most entertaining <em>delassement</em> of +our conversations with the chiefs, was, to introduce the liberty of +English females; whom we represented, not only to possess the +advantage of enjoying the sole affection of a husband, but the more +enviable privilege of choosing that husband for herself. The effect +was truly comic, the women sidled up to wipe the dust from our +shoes with their cloths, and at the end of every sentence brushed +off an insect, or picked a burr from our trowsers; the husbands +suppressing their dislike in a laugh, would put their hands before +our mouths, declaring they did not want to hear that palaver any +more, abruptly change the subject to war, and order the women to +the harem.</p> + +<p>One of the King’s linguists was a very old man, called Quancum; +he spoke but seldom, yet the greatest deference was paid to his +opinion; the King appeared to consult him more than any other. I +was so much interested by this man’s deportment, that I enquired +his history. He had been the linguist of two former Kings, who paid +frequent, and large sums of gold, as damages for his intrigues; +neither had age corrected his fault, until very lately, though the +present King used the most friendly remonstrances; and urged, that +from his paying large sums so frequently for him on this account, +his subjects thought, that he countenanced the depravity. Quancum +confessed to the King, that his ardour for women was perpetuated by +the sensual devices of one of his wives. Soon afterwards, he was +detected in an intrigue with the wife of a captain of great +consequence, and the King refused to interfere. The captain +declaring that the punishment of Quancum, and not gold, was his +object, the King permitted him to be despoiled of all his property, +even to his bed. The favourite wife was amongst the spoil, and the +injured captain being much smitten with her, assured her of an +indulgence and preference, even greater than that she had enjoyed +with Quancum; she replied, she must always hate<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span> him, and intreated to be sold. +After much importunity the captain agreed to do so, provided she +would put him in possession of all the presents Quancum had +lavished on her; she produced them, stipulating, that her son might +retain a small sum of gold, which Quancum had lately presented to +him; this was agreed to, and she was immediately sold to a distant +caboceer; but her son followed her, and buying her with his little +property, presented her again to his father. On this, the King gave +Quancum a house, and some furniture, and takes care to continue +small supplies of gold daily, adequate to his and this woman’s +comfort; having exacted a solemn oath from him, that he would +devote himself to this one wife, and never try to recover any of +the others.</p> + +<p>Mr. Tedlie’s interesting interview with the King, when he +desired his attendance to exhibit and explain his surgical +instruments, and medicines, is best described in his own words.</p> + +<p>“The King sent for me this morning, saying he wished to see the +medicines, books, and instruments. I went immediately, and +explained through Quashie, the Accra linguist, the proper use and +advantage of each instrument: he was very particular in his +enquiries, and asked if I had performed the operations I described; +I assured him that I had, and as a proof, exhibited a piece of bone +that I had taken out of an Indian black man’s head in Ceylon, who +had been wounded, and who lived. The King held up his hand as a +mark of approbation, and all his attendants were astonished. I +applied the instruments first on myself, then on the linguists, +afterwards on the King’s two captains, and lastly on the King: +nothing could exceed the King’s approbation. He then desired me to +shew him the medicines; he enquired the virtues and doses of each, +what time in the day they should be taken, and whether it was +proper to eat or drink after taking them? I told him: he asked if I +would sell them? I said no. I brought these medicines<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span> for the officers; I could not +sell them, but I would give him as much as I could, keeping in view +that some of the four officers might be sick; he said that I was +right, but he could not help coveting the greater part of the +medicines; he viewed them all over five or six times, and asked me +to give him some of them. I did give him as much innocent medicine +as I could with propriety afford; he thanked me “very much.” I then +shewed him the botanical books; he was astonished, held up his hand +and exclaimed hah! at every brilliant or high coloured plant which +he saw. All his attendants were closely arranged around: the two +captains laid hold of a volume each, and were admiring the flowers; +when either of them ejaculated an admiration, the King would seize +it, and ask me what that tree was? After I had told him the use of +them, I said all these trees grow in England; and the reason the +English write all these in a book is, that they may know which is a +good tree, and which is bad. He expressed the greatest astonishment +at the flax (linum), oak “that we build our ships with,” poppy +“that makes a man sleep,” and the sensitive plant (mimosa), which +he pointed out and described himself. During this time he whispered +to one of his attendants, who went out, and returned in a short +time with a bit of cloth containing 9 ackies of gold; the King +presented it to me; I accepted it, and returned thanks. He then +asked me if I would come and see him at any time he sent for me; I +assured him I would do every thing to please him, consistent with +my duty. He shook hands with me and went into his house. He +returned in a short time, leading his sister by the hand, in a +manner that would shame many beaux in Europe, saying, “this is the +white doctor I told you of; go, and take his hand; you are sick, +tell him your complaint, and he will do you good:” the lady +complied with his request. He then said “give me that gold I gave +you, the cloth is not clean; I want to<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_99">[99]</span> put it in a clean cloth for you.” He then put +it in a piece of rich silk, and after he returned the gold he said +“I like you; I like all the English very much; they are a proper +people, and I wish to drink health with you.” He retired to his own +apartment, and returned with a flask of gin, and two servants with +a silver vase and water and glasses; he helped himself and me, made +a bow and said “Saï wishes you good health.” I returned the bow, +saying, I wish good health to the King, and hope he never will +require any of my medicine: when this was explained to him he held +out his glass to me, we touched and drank. He then took my hand, +saying, “If I send my sister to you will you talk with her?” I +assured him I would talk with and advise all the King’s friends +whenever he wished. After I gave all the medicine I could +conveniently part with, he sent for a small Dutch liqueur case; he +desired 10 or 12 of his attendants, and his eunuch, to keep in +their heads what I said; and requested me to repeat again the use +and dose of each medicine I gave him, with the proper time and +method of using it. I did so. He placed his hand on his head saying +“Saï recollects what the white doctor says;” then placing the +medicines in the case himself said “that good for my head, that +good for my belly, that good for my stomach,” &c. One of the +King’s sisters sent a message that she wanted to come and see the +white gentlemen; and shortly afterwards arrived with her stool and +retinue, being head caboceer of a large town. After exchanging +compliments, she complained that her left hand pained her very +much. I examined it, but must confess I could not see any thing the +matter with it; however I rubbed a little liniment on her hand, +which seemed to gratify her; she asked if I would come and see her +in the evening? I answered yes. Quamina, our Ashantee guide, came +to conduct me: he said I must dress, put on my sword and hat, as +this woman was a caboceer, and the King’s<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_100">[100]</span> sister; he would carry my umbrella. When I +arrived I found the princess lying on a mat in one of the inner +apartments of the house she occupied; she ordered a stool for me; I +rubbed some more liniment on her hand; she wished me to stop and +drink palm wine; this I declined, alledging the English did not +like palm wine in the evening, because it is sour.”</p> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span><a id= +"p1c04"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> V.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch4"><em>Proceedings and Incidents until the Signing of +the Preliminaries to a General Treaty.</em> +</p> + +<p class="center less space-above1">[The Governor’s reply to my +communication on the subject of the Commenda palaver, reached me on +the 27th of August.]</p> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><em>Cape Coast Castle, August +11</em>, 1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">T. E. Bowdich, +Esq.</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="dcap">I <span class="sc">entertained</span> a confident +hope that no further mention would have been made by the King +concerning the Commendas, after the receipt of my letter, and I am +sorry that he should allow so insignificant a set of people to +protract in the least the settlement of our union. As it is my +particular wish to remove this impediment, I have used every +endeavour to bring the affair to a conclusion, and trust the King +will not suffer it to be invincible. The Commendas are also +naturally anxious for its termination, but their poverty is so +great, that they have it not in their power to comply with his +demand. They have acknowledged their fealty to the King, and have +agreed to pay the sum of 120 oz. of gold, of which, messengers are +sent by his nephew to enquire whether he will accept. This, with +the sum they have been unavoidably obliged to promise the principal +persons deputed to negociate this business, will increase the sum +to at least 150 oz. The many proofs the King has had of<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span> my friendly intentions towards +him, and the consideration of the benefits that will accrue to him +from his alliance with the English, will, I hope, induce him to +concede to the terms offered by the Commendas. A refusal must be +considered as an avowal of his determined resolution not to +conciliate the affair, and as the indigent circumstances of these +people, make it utterly impossible for them to pay a larger sum, +you will, should he persist in exacting more, procure his +permission to leave the country, and return with the other officers +as soon as you can. To sacrifice the Mission, after the heavy +expences which have been incurred, and when we are induced to +believe that every other object is propitiated to our utmost +expectations, should be avoided if possible; but if he insists on a +larger sum being levied from the Commendas than has been offered, +there remains no other alternative. The dignity of the flag must be +the superior consideration to all others.</p> + +<p>The King has no need to doubt in the least the sincerity of the +Cape Coast people, they are his friends, and have every inclination +to continue so; and I am convinced his nephew will, on his return, +confirm this report to him.</p> + +<p>I will make known to the Committee his request for a crown and +clothes, and I have no doubt but it will be complied with.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, Sir,</p> + +<p class="right pad-right6 space-above1">your most obedient +Servant,</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">JOHN HOPE SMITH.</p> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_103">[103]</span><em>Coomassie, Aug. 29</em>, 1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">John Hope Smith, +Esq. Governor in Chief</span>, &c. &c. &c.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind">I <span class="sc">have</span> the satisfaction to +enclose a copy of the Preliminaries to the general Treaty, as +signed this day by the King in Council, adjusting the Commenda +palaver, agreeably to your letter of the 11th, which did not reach +me till the 27th instant.</p> + +<p>I proceed to acquaint you with the transactions of the +interval.</p> + +<p>The charge of a political Embassy, in a part of the world where +respect and security are founded upon the opinion imposed by our +conduct, exacted a spirit and dignity, which might have been abated +in insinuating a Mission through the country for scientific +purposes, but the inviolability of which was inseparable from the +improvement and safety of neighbouring settlements. Since my last +dispatch, I have been obligated to resist various encroachments, of +which I shall mention two or three to justify my treatment of +them.</p> + +<p>The death of Quamina Bwa, our Ashantee guide, in the early part +of the last week, creating an idle, but popular superstition that +he had been killed by the fetish for bringing white men to take the +country; I was applied to in the King’s name, to ameliorate this +impression, by contributing an ounce of gold towards the custom to +be made by the King for his repose. I refused on two grounds; +first, that Quamina Bwa had himself unjustly incensed the people +against us, by panyaring<a id="FNanchor_10"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> their provisions in the +King’s name, for our subsistence, and defrauding them of the gold +we gave him for the payment: secondly, that the rites of customs +were unnatural to our religion, which bound us, at least, not to +encourage them. Fifteen persons had been sacrificed the<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span> week before (in a custom for +the mother of a captain) with aggravated barbarity.</p> + +<p>Several of the principal men having applied to me to send to +Cape Coast for silks, to be paid for on receipt at Coomassie (a +very dangerous and impolitic indulgence), I impressed, indignantly, +that I was not sent as a trader to make bargains with them, but as +an officer to talk the palavers with the King.</p> + +<p>These circumstances, and a personal chastisement of some insults +from inferior captains, which was provoked after much patience, +influenced ex parte representations, which, though they may not +have sickened the King’s regard, induced hauteur and neglect. In +proceeding to the King’s house on public occasions, which I never +did without the flag, canes, and soldiers, we had been expected to +make way for the greater retinues of superior captains, who would +rudely have enforced it; and after soliciting audiences for two +days, I was kept in waiting above an hour in the outer courts of +the palace. On the last occasion of the latter treatment, knowing +that it was affected, I returned to our quarters until I received +the King’s invitation; representing to him, that as an officer +dignified by an authority to make a treaty with him in the name of +the British Government, I could not submit to disrespectful +treatment at the Palace, nor allow the English flag to give place +to any but himself; that, if it merely affected myself as an +individual, my esteem for the King would induce me to compromise +these points of etiquette with his captains; but, according to the +custom of England, I dared not; for if I did, my sword would be +taken from me on my return to Cape Coast Castle. It produced the +desired effect; the gong gong proclaimed in every street that all +captains must make way for the flag; and at the monthly levee of +the captains (the Adaï custom) the King’s linguists were deputed to +us first, with the customary present of a<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_105">[105]</span> sheep and rum; and presented us the first +to pay our compliments to the King, being followed by Amanquateä, +Quatchie Quophi, Apokoo, and Odumata; the four captains composing +the Privy Council, or Aristocracy, which checks the King. The first +(whose power approximates to that of the Mayor of the Palace under +the early French dynasty) sent his linguist and gold swords to +compliment us on the ground. I determined to take advantage of this +impression, and of the comparative facility of intercourse, and +demanded an audience to discuss the treaty, a copy of which I +enclose, and hope my additions will be satisfactory. I have the +King’s assurance that it shall be formally executed in eight days; +when all his tributaries will be present for the yam custom, and +when I hope to make the King of Dwabin and its dependencies a +party, whose power is equal to the King of Ashantee’s.</p> + +<p>To resume—the audience was granted; and I read the treaty before +the King and his Council, submitting it article by article, to +their consideration. It was debated the whole of that and the +succeeding day. I considered that if I could get the treaty +discussed and executed in this favourable interval, removing the +Commenda palaver from the situation of an obstacle, and reserving +it as the first proof of the King’s disposition to coincide with +you in what was reasonable and just, I might, on the receipt of +dispatches, gain the better terms for that people.</p> + +<p>On Saturday the 22d instant, I was summoned to declare the +articles of the treaty before the assembly of captains, who were +seated with their attendants and warriors in the large yard of the +palace, with all the imposing pomp and military parade, which had +before been collected to subdue us, in the scene of the declaration +of war. The King’s sisters, with the females of his family, were +seated, with their numerous attendants, on an elevated floor +behind. The deputies from the Fantee towns in the interior, +were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span> placed within +hearing, and the crowd was almost impervious: the most ghastly +trophies were mixed with this blaze of ostentation. We were seated +near the King immediately opposite to his linguists.</p> + +<p>In reading the treaty, I paused after every article, leaving it +to be formally repeated to the King through his linguists, and then +sat down whilst it was discussed by the assembly. It is not +necessary to repeat the various debates; and I will only notice +that Amanquateä, through his linguist, proposed the renewal of the +Slave Trade as a sine qua non;<a id="FNanchor_11"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> this, however, as I had +all along declared it to be impossible, was at length over-ruled, +but with considerable difficulty. It was also proposed to attach a +fine to the infraction of the treaty; but this I resisted as +derogatory to the dignity of the contracting parties; and urged, +that as the King and his dignitaries would consider his oath as +sacred, as you and the Government would mine, I considered no +<em>infraction</em> of the treaty could take place; though it might +possibly be <em>offended</em> by the conduct of his subjects, or of +individuals under British protection, which was provided for, and +must be visited accordingly by the authorities pledged to the +treaty.</p> + +<p>I had declared from the first, that it would be expected that +the King should swear in the form of his country to the fulfilment +and preservation of the treaty, and that his oath should be +attested by his principal captains, from my anxiety to fortify to +the utmost, a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span> +measure not only valuable to commerce but to humanity, in averting +the renewal of a war, recorded by indelible marks of carnage and +devastation.</p> + +<p>At the moment I expected the King to execute the treaty, a fresh +design was disclosed, in a long speech from the chief linguist, +setting forth the wrongs the King had just received from the people +of Amissa, who had scourged his messengers, and couched their +insulting defiance in the foulest language; yet, he said, the King +did not want to invade the Fantee country for the sake of one town, +and therefore I must stay and assist him to settle that palaver; he +would then readily swear to the treaty. I replied at length, +declaring particularly that I could not, and would not recognize +the Amissa palaver; that the King vitiated the compliments he had +been pleased to pay me, in expecting me to be such a fool as to +involve you in the palaver of a people, over whom you neither +possessed nor desired authority; and that if I had not a right to +think better of the King, I should view such a proposal as evasive +of the treaty, and final to the hope of a thorough +understanding.</p> + +<p>The chief linguist rejoined, that I had declared in announcing +the treaty, that it was the wish of the British Government to put +an end to war, and for the King to have no occasion to trouble the +Fantees; whereas, if the people of Amissa were not persuaded to +retract, the King must send a captain to destroy them, which could +be done at a word, and this perhaps would make another war. I urged +that the Fantee towns under the British forts must be considered +distinctly, and that those, and those only, were viewed by the +Government and the treaty; yet, for the cause of humanity, I would +request you, for the King, to advise the people of Amissa better, +through some medium, which I hoped might do good, but if +disregarded, you could not even repeat it: that was all I +could<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span> promise, and +if that was not enough, our negociations were at an end. No! that +was not enough, I must stay and see the palaver settled.</p> + +<p>We immediately rose, and I declared as impressively as I could, +that as the officer of the King of England, your orders only could +be obeyed by me, that I dared not remain or allow myself to be +stopped, even if I should be killed on the path, for my life was +not my palaver, but the King of England’s. As I bowed to retire, +the linguist exclaimed, that the King promised to see me again in +an hour.</p> + +<p>I used the interval for reflection, and resolved to act upon the +conclusion, that nothing but an undaunted resolution could check +these encroachments, which were to be attributed to the Government +rather than to the King.</p> + +<p>The hour having fully expired, I sent a cane to Adoocee, the +chief linguist, to desire the audience; he sent me word that the +King was asleep, and no one dared to awake him. I then went to +Odumata (who resides within the palace) and repeated to him, that I +was determined to go, if the King did not keep his word and see me; +he said I could not; I rejoined, I would, and left him. I then went +to Adoocee’s house, declared the same, and received the same reply. +I left a cane in waiting at the palace, with orders to quit and +return to me at 4 o’clock, (which allowed altogether four hours +instead of one) if he was not dispatched with a message in the +interval. No notice was taken; there was no alternative to my +making good what I had said. The views of the Mission were at risk, +but they would have been too dearly purchased by such concessions, +and I was sanguine, rather than apprehensive of the success of the +measure I adopted; without spirit and fortitude nothing was to be +done.</p> + +<p>I ordered all the baggage out, planted the flag, and giving +the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span> soldiers’ +muskets to the officers, converted them and the artificers into +bearers, as well as our own servants, for I saw the previous +dismissal of my own people was considered a hold on me. I ordered +the linguists to declare to the party publickly, that I would flog +any man who attempted to leave the town in debt; I paid all they +confessed, by advances on their pay to the amount of 10 ackies: +this gave the greatest publicity to our movements.</p> + +<p>The King’s uncle, Bundaenha, and another superior captain came +in form to entreat me to stay, whilst they affected to address the +King. I saw through this, and that I might presume on it; holding +the watch in my hand, I promised to wait half an hour, and no +longer. They returned within the time to conduct me to the King, +but after being kept unusually long in waiting, the answer to my +remonstrance through the linguists, was, that the King was very +busy hearing a great palaver; I saw they lingered still in their +hope of my submission. I sent the two canes to tell the King that +mine was a great palaver, and ought to be heard, not only from its +importance, but because he had passed his word that it should; that +after a King disregarded his promise, it was useless to wait any +longer. Returning to our quarters, I ordered the people to load the +baggage.</p> + +<p>At the moment of starting, a royal messenger ran up, to say the +King was waiting to see me. I dismissed him with the message, that +I could not stop, unless a person of consequence was sent to +promise for the King. The King’s uncle came, and assured me the +King would receive me himself at the entrance of the palace. We +went, and were instantly ushered into the presence of the King and +his captains, who were debating by torch light: the clamour and +deportment of this assembly might have been subduing, had it been +novel. The uproar having abated, the King demanded, through his +linguist, why I had determined to leave so suddenly,<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> and whether he had not behaved +well to me, adding to much declamation, that he knew the King of +England and the Governor wished to please him, and would not +countenance the act. I replied, that “I had not only gone the full +length of my instructions to please the King, but exceeded them; +and all that I had to fear was, that you would not approve my +remaining a moment after he had trifled with me. The King’s +behaviour to me, as an individual, I should always be proud to +speak of, but his respect of the Embassy was a very superior +consideration. Every thing he wished had been done, and now he +tried to impose a palaver on me, with which you had no more to do +than with the Buntooko war. The King had promised me to settle the +point of the treaty, I waited the discussion patiently, he pledged +his word to see me that evening, he had avoided it; I had said I +would wait no longer if he did not keep his word; no English +officer dared to break his word, if he did, he lost his sword.” +Much declamation ensued, but the King’s conviction silenced the +assembly, and realized the triumph I expected. He said, what I told +him was true, that he was very sorry, but he had too much to think +about; he liked the Law (the Treaty) very well, but begged me to +wait a little longer till all his captains came. I received his +promise to see me the following day. The next morning the head +linguist came in form to acquaint me that some palavers had arrived +in the night, which had made it necessary for the King to go to +Berramang (a croom about five miles to the N.E. on the road to +Sallagha, the capital of the Inta country) but he had orders to +furnish us with the King’s hammock-men, if we were inclined to +follow him the next day. We did so, and I enclose an extract from +my diary, with the circumstances of the day, as they do not affect +the point in question: on taking leave in the evening, the King +promised that I should hear from him the next day.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span>Apokoo, who had +been left in charge of the town, visited me in form by the King’s +orders, with the criers and insignia, to assure me there should be +no more impediments to the treaty, and that the King would return +the next day. The evening was productive of another disturbance, +from my resistance of an indignity. The Cape Coast messenger +arriving, informed me that the dispatches and letters were retained +by Adoo Bradie’s messenger, who accompanied him. I sent the canes +to Apokoo’s to demand them, but ineffectually; I then went myself, +and insisted on the delivery; he said it could not be allowed until +the King returned to the capital. I protested so strongly against +the act, that he sent for the chief linguist (Adoocee) and after a +palaver, they promised to send me the letters on my return to the +house: I left the canes in waiting. The time allowed having expired +without the receipt, I went again to Apokoo’s, who referred me to +Adoocee. I went to him, and he said he dared not interfere in the +business. The Cape Coast messengers refusing to do so, we proceeded +instantly to Adoo Bradie’s house, and finding the messenger, +demanded the letters, and obtained them. I had scarcely read them, +before Adoocee came with some captains, and about 100 persons, +(being then 9 o’clock) to demand my delivery of your letter to his +charge, until the King’s return. I indignantly refused, asserting +my authority, and criminating such a request as injurious to the +rights of the meanest subject of the King of England, and an +insuperable affront to you. He tried threats and entreaties +alternately; the former I treated with contempt, the latter I +regretted I dared not yield to. The palaver was prolonged till 10 +o’clock at night. I determined not to lose ground. The King did not +arrive until the evening of the next day, I sent three canes with +my compliments on his return, and received his with an appointment +of an audience the next (this) morning.</p> + +<p>We were sent for early, the affair of the letters was opposed +to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> me. I repeated +my declarations to Adoocee, and added, that I should not think of +leaving a Resident, if such were the forms of the Ashantee Court. +The Ashantee messengers declared that you had ordered your letters +to be delivered to the King. I said that was impossible. The King +was very gentle, but such was the suspicion of the assembly, that +they requested me to swear on my sword, that I had not altered any +part of your letter; I did so, prefacing the act as such a +suspicion merited. I then read your letter, abating nothing of its +spirit and firmness, and laying stress upon your disposition to +benefit the King, and the proofs you had given. I concluded my +illustrations with the declaration, that you did not settle the +King’s palaver from fear, but from friendship, as it remained with +him to prove. I submitted the preliminaries in form, for rejection +or acceptance. After an ardent debate among the captains, they were +executed and attested, and I lose no time in forwarding the copy. I +left a duplicate with the King, as I shall of the treaty.</p> + +<p>The King intends to dispatch a messenger directly to empower +Adoo Bradie to receive the gold, and hopes you will recommend the +people of Commenda to restore any of the slaves in their possession +belonging to Elmina, although that is not his palaver.</p> + +<p>The King desired me to communicate his best thanks for your +handsome treatment of his nephew, whose reports have been very +flattering.</p> + +<p>I urged my intercessions for Quamina Bootaqua, until the King +vouchsafed me his assurance that he would pardon him.</p> + +<p>I have the satisfaction to inform you, that I have been able, +privately, so far to conciliate the Moors, as to have witnessed +their forwardance of the certificates<a id= +"FNanchor_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> +to the Interior, with their own letters of recommendation +indorsed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span>I advocated the +merits of the Castle linguist, De Graff, as you desired, and +successfully. I flatter myself this will anticipate the arrival of +the King’s, and the Cape Coast messengers.</p> + +<p class="center pad20pc space-above1">I am, &c. &c.</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">T. E. BOWDICH.</p> + +<p class="hang1 space-above15"><em>Preliminaries of a General +Treaty, to be made and entered into by</em> <span class="sc">Thomas +Edward Bowdich</span>, <em>Esquire, for the Governor and Council of +Cape Coast Castle, and on the part of the British Government, +with</em> <span class="sc">Saï Tootoo Quamina</span>, <em>King of +Ashantee and its Dependencies.</em></p> + +<p>1st. The King accepts the offer of the people of Commenda, +through the Governor in Chief; namely, one hundred and twenty +ounces of gold for himself, and the customary fees to his +embassadors, as a settlement in full of all demands.</p> + +<p>2nd. The people of Commenda shall acknowledge their fealty to +the King, and be entitled to all the benefits of his +protection.</p> + +<p>3d. The King shall authorize some responsible captain to receive +the gold, from the hands of the deputies of the people of Commenda, +at Cape Coast Castle.</p> + +<p>4th. It is hereby agreed, that every palaver is now settled +preparatory to the General Treaty, which shall be executed +forthwith.</p> + +<p class="hang2">Signed and sealed this twenty-ninth day of August, +in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and +seventeen.</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">The mark of SAÏ TOOTOO QUAMINA. +<img src='images/sym1.png' class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'> (L. S.)</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">T. E. BOWDICH. (L. S.)</p> + +<p>In the presence of</p> + +<table class="ptab2 bd-collapse"> +<tr> +<td><span class="sc">William Hutchison.</span> +</td> +<td class="width-brace1"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="sc">Henry Tedlie.</span> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="3"><span class="sc">Adoocee</span>, Chief +Linguist.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="3"><span class="sc">Apokoo</span>, Keeper of the +Treasury.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="sc">Quamina Quatchie,</span> +</td> +<td class="brt"> +</td> +<td rowspan="2">Linguists to the Mission.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="sc">Quashee Apaintree,</span> +</td> +<td class="brb"> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_114">[114]</span><em>Extract from Diary.</em>—Monday, 25th +August, we started soon after seven o’clock, and proceeding in a +N.E. direction, crossed the marsh close to the town, where it was +about two feet deep and one hundred and fifty yards broad. We +travelled the path to Sallagha, through a beautiful country, +abounding in neat crooms (of which we passed through seven), the +sites spacious, and environed by extensive plantations. The path +was wide and so nearly direct, that the eye was always in advance +through beautiful vistas varied by gentle risings. The iron stone +still prevailed.</p> + +<p>The King received us in the market place, and enquiring +anxiously if we had breakfasted, ordered refreshment. After some +conversation we were conducted to a house prepared for our +reception, where a relish was served (sufficient for an army) of +soups, stews, plantains, yams, rice, &c. (all excellently +cooked) wine, spirits, oranges, and every fruit. The messengers, +soldiers, and servants were distinctly provided for. Declining the +offer of beds, we walked out in the town, and conversed and played +drafts with the Moors, who were reclining under trees; the King +joined us with cheerful affability, and seemed to have forgotten +his cares. About two o’clock dinner was announced. We had been +taught to prepare for a surprise, but it was exceeded. We were +conducted to the eastern side of the croom, to a door of green +reeds, which excluded the crowd, and admitted us through a short +avenue to the King’s garden, an area equal to one of the large +squares in London. The breezes were strong and constant. In the +centre, four large umbrellas of new scarlet cloth were fixed, under +which was the King’s dining table (heigthened for the occasion) and +covered in the most imposing manner; his massy plate was well +disposed, and silver forks, knives, and spoons (Colonel Torrane’s) +were plentifully laid. The large silver waiter supported a roasting +pig in the centre; the other dishes on the table were roasted +ducks,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span> fowls, +stews, pease pudding, &c. &c. On the ground on one side of +the table were various soups, and every sort of vegetable; and +elevated parallel with the other side, were oranges, pines, and +other fruits; sugar-candy, Port and Madeira wine, spirits and Dutch +cordials, with glasses. Before we sat down the King met us, and +said, that as we had come out to see him, we must receive the +following present from his hands, 2 oz. 4 ackies of gold, one sheep +and one large hog to the officers, 10 ackies to the linguists, and +5 ackies to our servants.</p> + +<p>We never saw a dinner more handsomely served, and never ate a +better. On our expressing our relish, the King sent for his cooks, +and gave them ten ackies. The King and a few of his captains sat at +a distance, but he visited us constantly, and seemed quite proud of +the scene; he conversed freely, and expressed much satisfaction at +our toasts, “The King of Ashantee, the King of England, the +Governor, the King’s Captains, a perpetual union (with a speech, +which is the sine qua non) and the handsome women of England and +Ashantee.” After dinner the King made many enquiries about England, +and retired, as we did, that our servants might clear the table, +which he insisted on. When he returned, some of the wine and Dutch +cordials remaining, he gave them to our servants to take with them, +and ordered the table cloth to be thrown to them and all the +napkins. A cold pig, cold fowls (with six that had not been +dressed) were dispatched to Coomassie for our supper. We took leave +about five o’clock, the King accompanying us to the end of the +croom, where he took our hands, and wished us good night. We +reached the capital again at six, much gratified by our excursion +and treatment.</p> + +<p>Mr. Tedlie had brought Quamina Bwa (our guide) into a very +advanced state of convalescence; but he so eagerly betook himself +from low diet to palm oil soups, and stews of blood, that +he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> soon relapsed, +and a gathering formed on his liver, aggravated not a little by the +various fetish draughts he swallowed. Seeing there was no other +chance, Mr. Tedlie, who is a very skilful operator, would have +scarified the liver; but although I had great reason to rely +confidently on his judgment and ability, I thought our situation +too critical to run such a risk. A Fantee boy having fractured his +leg, and his dissolution appearing inevitable, the parents, in +great distress, applied to the surgeon of an English outfort, who +amputated the limb, and after much wearying attendance, to the +surprise of every one, restored the boy to health. The family then +brought him into the fort, and laying him down in the hall, +addressed the surgeon (who was in charge of the fort) thus; “As +Master cut off poor boy’s leg, and so spoil poor boy for work, we +come to ask Master how much he think to give poor boy to keep +him.”</p> + +<p>Quamina Bwa was fetished until the last moment, and died amidst +the howls of a legion of old hags, plastering the walls, door +posts, and every thing about him, with chopped egg and different +messes. I forget how many sheep he had sacrificed to the fetish by +the advice of these harpies. The King sent him a sheep and a +periguin of gold, when he heard he was ill. This man had settled +the palaver with Mr. White, after the blockade of Cape Coast, in +1815, the third invasion of the Ashantees, and was universally +odious, for his cruel extortions; these being reported to the King, +he was disgraced; and being very extravagant, became much involved. +Being at Payntree, he prevailed on Quamina Bushmaquaw to allow him +to conduct us, to retrieve his finances a little. Excepting +Adoocee, the King’s chief linguist, he was the most plausible +villain I ever met with.</p> + +<p>The head of an Akim caboceer arrived in Coomassie about this +time. The King and the Ashantee government had proposed +that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span> every croom of +Akim should pay 20 periguins of gold as an atonement for their late +revolt. Ten periguins were advanced immediately by each, and the +other moiety was excused until after the harvest; but Aboidedroo +caboceer of Manasoo resolutely refused to pay a tokoo. The King’s +messengers, however, appealed to his people with so much address, +that they rose upon their caboceer, killed him, and sent his head +to the King, with the 20 periguins required.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp1c04"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10"><span class= +"label">[10]</span></a>Seizing.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11"><span class= +"label">[11]</span></a>Presents from two Spanish slave ships were +received through the Mulatto Brue on the 16th instant; they were +general, but I can only particularise the following:</p> + +<table class="ptab"> +<tr> +<td colspan="2">To the King, 3 pieces of cloth, 1 umbrella, and a +hat.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>To the chief linguist, 1 piece, do.</td> +<td>2 flashes liquor.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>To the 4th do. (Otee) 1 do.</td> +<td>2 ditto, do.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>To Odumata, 2 do.</td> +<td>2 ditto, do.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2">To Quamina Bwa, agent for the purchase of the +slaves, 2 pieces of cloth, 1 umbrella, and 1 Dane gun.</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12"><span class= +"label">[12]</span></a>For a copy of these certificates vide the +opposite <a href="#i11">engraving.</a></p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span><a id= +"p1c05"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> VI.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Proceedings and Incidents until the +Ratification of a General Treaty.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> report of an Ashantee +having been flogged to death in Cape Coast Castle, which was +aggravated every hour to our prejudice, was explained by the +following letter:</p> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><em>Cape Coast Castle, August +17</em>, 1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">T. E. Bowdich, +Esq.</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">The</span> day before yesterday an +Ashantee man was guilty of a most daring insult to the fort. On +passing the gate, he was desired by the sentinel to take his cloth +off his shoulders, but instead of complying, he turned round and +struck him. The offender was instantly secured, and I ordered him +to be put in irons. Last night about nine o’clock, the captain of +the guard came to me to say, that the sentry on duty had reported +the Ashantee to have hung himself. The place in which he was with +others confined, was immediately opened, and he was found in a room +adjoining to that in which the prisoners sleep, with his under +cloth attached to a beam not more than three feet high, and very +tightly drawn round his throat, part of his body was lying on the +ground, and it must have been by the most determined resolution +that he succeeded in strangling himself. The surgeon was present, +but his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span> efforts to +recover him were ineffectual. This is the second offence of a +similar nature that has occurred; the first person, I most +assuredly should have punished, had he not ran past the sentry and +made his escape.</p> + +<p>The King’s displeasure will no doubt be excited when he hears of +such acts of insolence, and I hope he will issue such orders to his +people, as will make them more circumspect in future.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, Sir,</p> + +<p class="right pad-right6 space-above1">your most obedient +Servant,</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">J. H. SMITH.</p> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><em>Coomassie, 31st +August</em>, 1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">John Hope Smith, +Esq. Governor in Chief</span>, &c. &c. &c.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind">I <span class="sc">received</span> your letter last +evening respecting the suicide of the Ashantee. I procured an +audience this morning, and have just returned from the palace, +where I had the honour to address you a letter, in the name of the +King, on this, and other subjects.</p> + +<p>The messenger sent up by Adoo Bradie, was the brother of the +deceased, and declared before the King upon oath, that he had been +killed by the officers. The master (our landlord) proposed a fine +to the captains assembled, but after the audience was gone through, +the King retired to council, which is the form, and returning, +dictated the sentiments I had the honour to communicate to you, and +rebuked our house-master severely for his proposition. Of course I +impressed the insult to the fort, as the superior consideration of +your letter.</p> + +<p>The insolence of the lower orders here became insufferable, they +proceeded even to pelting us with stones; after every effort on +our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span> part to +conciliate them by the exhibition of the telescope and other +novelties. As may be expected in a military government, they are +beyond the King’s control, out of the field. He declared however, +that he would behead any man I would point out to him, and begged +me to punish them as I thought proper: a summary chastisement of +two inferior captains repressed this spirit.</p> + +<p>All the captains of consequence have become friendly and +respectful; Apokoo was deputed in form yesterday, in the name of +the whole, to thank me for my conduct in negociating with the +King.</p> + +<p>The Treaty will be brought forward to be executed in six days, +before the annual assembly of Kings, caboceers, and captains. All +the Kings tributaries and allies being compelled to attend him at +the yam custom.</p> + +<p>The King intends your linguist De Graff, to take fetish with his +five linguists, to be just to both the powers to be pledged to the +treaty, and is convinced of his probity.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, with respect, +Sir,</p> + +<p class="right pad-right6 space-above1">your most obedient +Servant,</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">T. EDWARD BOWDICH.</p> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><em>Coomassie, 31st Aug.</em> +1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">Saï Tootoo +Quamina</span>, <em>King of Ashantee, &c. to</em> <span class= +"sc">John Hope Smith</span>, <em>Esquire, Governor in Chief, +&c. &c. &c.</em></p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">The</span> King assures you, that, +anticipating the permanent union of the English and Ashantees, so +far from allowing the death of one man to retard it, he should take +no notice if a thousand were flogged to death by you, as reported +here, well knowing the insolent<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_121">[121]</span> disposition of the lower order of +Ashantees, which is as vexatious to him as to you. He is satisfied +however, that this man came to his death by his own hands.</p> + +<p>The King wishes you to adjust the palaver between the Commendas +and Elminas, as soon as convenient to you; that all the people who +serve him may be united, relying entirely on your justice.</p> + +<p>The King will thank you very much if you will make the people of +Cape Coast, Elmina, and Commenda “<em>all one together</em>.”</p> + +<p>The little palaver between these people, is the only one +remaining; and therefore, though it is not his, he wishes you to +settle it.</p> + +<p>The King hereby, and by his messenger, empowers his nephew Adoo +Bradie, and the Captain Quantree, to receive the gold from the +deputies of Commenda in your presence.</p> + +<p>You must settle the compliments and fees, which the Commendas +send to the King’s linguists and captains.</p> + +<p>The King hopes you will advise the people of Amissa, through +some medium, to retract their insolent message to the King, that +the whole of the Fantee territory may be quiet.</p> + +<p>The King has condescended personally to solicit Mr. Bowdich to +protract his stay fifteen days, and obliged all his captains to the +same condescension, so that you will consider it the King’s act +from the wish to send him down with an honourable escort, and other +marks of his favour.</p> + +<p>The King wishes you health and happiness.</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">The mark <img src='images/sym1.png' +class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'> of Saï Tootoo Quamina, &c.</p> + +<p class="nind pad4">In the presence of</p> + +<p class="nind pad6"><span class="sc">Wm. Hutchison.</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind pad6"><span class="sc">Henry Tedlie.</span> +</p> + +<p class="space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_122">[122]</span>A few only of the many curious observations +of our Ashantee friends recur to me. One captain told us he had +heard that the English were so constantly in palavers, one with +another, that their houses, which he understood to be made of wood, +the same as their ships, were always fixed on wheels; so that when +a man had quarrelled with his neighbour, he moved to another part +of the bush. Another insisted that monkies (whom the Moors said +sprung from the Israelites, who disobeyed Moses) could talk as well +as men; but they were not such fools; for if they did, they knew +men would make them work.—This is better than Pliny’s account of +monkies playing chess.</p> + +<p>The King walked abroad in great state one day, an irresistible +caricature; he had on an old fashioned court suit of General +Daendels’ of brown velveteen, richly embroidered with silver +thistles, with an English epaulette sewn on each shoulder, the coat +coming close round the knees, from which the flaps of the waistcoat +were not very distant, a cocked hat bound with gold lace, in shape +just like that of a coachman’s, white shoes, the long silver headed +cane we presented to him, mounted with a crown, as a walking staff, +and a small dirk round his waist.</p> + +<p>The King presented one of our servants with six ackies of gold, +for making trowsers for his child, and mending him a pair of +drawers, which he thought it extravagant to put on under trowsers +or small clothes, and therefore wore them alone.</p> + +<p>I fixed a rude leaping bar in the outer yard of our house, and +trained the horse to it, preparatory to getting him over the trunks +of trees on the path: this brought even greater levees than the +camera obscura, or the telescope. Sometimes a gazer would start +from the eye piece of the latter, to lay hold of the figure at the +end, as he expected; and they all insisted on both being taken to +pieces in their presence, that they might see what was inside. At +length,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span> being +inexplicable, it was pronounced fetish. A captain had told the +King, that with the telescope we saw, when at Doompassie, all that +he was doing at Coomassie: and happening, in a sudden and heavy +rain, to gallop from Asafoo to our house, with Mr. Tedlie on the +horse behind me, holding the umbrella, it was immediately reported +to the King as our plan of travelling to Cape Coast.</p> + +<p>Our Accra linguist pointed out a man to me named Tando, whom he +recollected to have visited the Coast some years, in great pomp, +never going the shortest distance, but in his taffeta hammock, +covered with a gorgeous umbrella, and surrounded by flatterers, who +even wiped the ground before he trod on it. This man had now +scarcely a cloth to cover him. He had been retired from his embassy +to Akim, in consequence of a dispute with Attah, then the king of +that country; for though Attah was adjudged to be in fault, after +the palaver was talked at Coomassie, the Ashantee government +thought it politic to displace Tando, though he had become +disagreeable to the other, only for his vigilance and fidelity. +After a long interval of the most luxurious life the capital could +afford, he was instructed to proceed to Elmina, to talk a palaver +for the King; but thinking it would be a coup d’éclat much more +important and agreeable, if he could settle the Warsaw palaver as +well, he visited the country on his return, and persuaded them to +conciliate the King, and avert their ruin, by carrying a +considerable sum of gold to Coomassie, and agreeing to pay +twenty-four slaves for every Ashantee subject killed or injured by +one of Warsaw. Deputies returned with this man for this purpose; +but the King dismissed them contemptuously; and to the +disappointment and surprise of Tando, declared that no man must +dare to do good out of his own head, or perhaps he would find he +did bad, as Tando had done, in spoiling a palaver which he and his +great men meant to sleep a long time. Tando was immediately +stripped of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span> all his +property for his presumption, and from a noble became a beggar.</p> + +<p>The Moors now became friendly, and sent us some very good +coffee, and choice pieces of meat.</p> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><em>Coomassie, Sept. 8th</em>, +1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">John Hope Smith, +Esquire, Governor in Chief</span>, &c. &c.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind">I <span class="sc">have</span> the satisfaction to +inform you, that the treaty was signed and sworn to yesterday, by +the King of Ashantee, and this day, by the King of Dwabin. The +whole of the caboceers, captains, and tributaries having arrived, +the treaty was finally discussed on Saturday, and two of the four +members of the Aristocracy, with the two oldest captains (Ashantee +and Nabbra) were deputed to swear for that assembly, with the King, +whose oaths (being very rare) are solemnized by the presence of his +wives.</p> + +<p>The King sent a handsome procession of flags, guns, and music, +to conduct us to the palace on the occasion; and meeting us in the +outer square, preceded us to the inmost, where about 300 females +were seated, in all the magnificence which a profusion of gold and +silk could furnish. The splendour of this coup d’oeil made our +surprise almost equal to theirs. We were seated with the King and +the deputies, under the large umbrellas in the centre, and I was +desired to declare the objects of the Embassy and the Treaty, to an +old linguist, peculiar to the women. The King displayed the +presents to them; the flags were all sewn together, and wrapped +around him as a cloth.</p> + +<p>I was afterwards desired to stand before the King, and swear on +my sword that I had declared the truth: I did so, with the +other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span> officers. The +next form dictated was, that I should seat myself, and receive the +oaths of the deputies, and lastly, of the King himself, for his +brother the King of England. They advanced in turn, extending their +gold swords close to my face, as they declared their oaths. I rose +to receive the King’s, all the women holding up two fingers, as +their mark of approbation when he received the sword, and one of +his counsellors kneeling beside him with a large stone on his head. +The King swore very deliberately, that his words might be fully +impressed on me, invoking God and the fetish to kill him; first, if +he did not keep the law, if we had sworn true; and secondly, if he +did not revenge the Ashantees to the full, if we had bad in our +heads, and did not come for the purpose I avowed. The assurances, +and the menaces of the oaths of the captains were equally forcible. +The King sent an anker of rum to our people to drink on the +occasion, and paid each captain the customary fee, of a periguin of +gold on his oath.</p> + +<p>The King having communicated my wish, by a formal message, to +Boïtinnee Quama, the King of Dwabin, who holds his temporary court +on the north side of the town, I seconded it, by sending the canes +to request an audience; at which I had again formally to declare +the objects of the Embassy and the Treaty, which, after a great +deal of form and enquiry, received his signature, with the +attestations of his chief linguists, Quama Saphoo, and Kobara +Saphoo, who are his principal counsellors. His court was equally +crowded with the King of Ashantees, who sits on his right hand when +he visits Dwabin; a reciprocal etiquette.</p> + +<p>By an addition to the 4th article of the treaty, I reconciled +the point of the Amissa palaver; and the securing you the +opportunity of mediation, (without attaching any thing like +responsibility) I considered to be not only a precaution due to +humanity, but a prudent and legitimate measure for the extension of +our influence.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span>The value of +this treaty is enhanced by the reflection, that the justice, +dignity, and spirit, of the British Government have been preserved +inviolate; and that it has been the result of the impression, and +not of the abatement of these characteristics.</p> + +<p>We are flattered by your acknowledgment of our offer to +accompany the King to the Buntooko war, and feel the force of your +reason in the present view of the invasion of that country. The +lake proving to be southward instead of northward, and close to the +Accra path, I did not think it prudent to aggravate suspicion, for +so secondary and well defined an object, whilst every day exacted +some exertion (beyond vigilance) to wear away the difficulties +opposed to the more important views of the Mission.</p> + +<p>I expect the King will permit me to take leave on Saturday next. +To-morrow Apokoo gives us a dinner in public.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, with respect, +Sir,</p> + +<p class="right pad-right6 space-above1">your most obedient +Servant,</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">T. E. BOWDICH.</p> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="hang1 space-above15"><em>Treaty made and entered into +by</em> <span class="sc">Thomas Edward Bowdich</span>, <em>Esquire, +in the name of the Governor and Council at Cape Coast Castle on the +Gold Coast of Africa, and on behalf of the British Government, +with</em> <span class="sc">Saï Tootoo Quamina</span>, <em>King of +Ashantee and its Dependencies, and</em> <span class="sc">Boïtinnee +Quama</span>, <em>King of Dwabin and its Dependencies.</em></p> + +<p>1st. There shall be perpetual peace and harmony between the +British subjects in this country, and the subjects of the Kings of +Ashantee and Dwabin.</p> + +<p>2nd. The same shall exist between the subjects of the Kings of +Ashantee and Dwabin, and all nations of Africa residing under +the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span> protection of +the Company’s Forts and Settlements on the Gold Coast, and, it is +hereby agreed, that there are no palavers now existing, and that +neither party has any claim upon the other.</p> + +<p>3rd. The King of Ashantee guarantees the security of the people +of Cape Coast, from the hostilities threatened by the people of +Elmina.</p> + +<p>4th. In order to avert the horrors of war, it is agreed, that in +any case of aggression on the part of the natives under British +protection, the Kings shall complain thereof to the Governor in +Chief to obtain redress, and that they will in no instance resort +to hostilities, even against the other towns of the Fantee +territory, without endeavouring as much as possible to effect an +amicable arrangement, affording the Governor the opportunity of +propitiating it, as far as he may with discretion.</p> + +<p>5th. The King of Ashantee agrees to permit a British officer to +reside constantly at his capital, for the purpose of instituting +and preserving a regular communication with the Governor in Chief +at Cape Coast Castle.</p> + +<p>6th. The Kings of Ashantee and Dwabin pledge themselves to +countenance, promote, and encourage the trade of their subjects +with Cape Coast Castle and its dependencies to the extent of their +power.</p> + +<p>7th. The Governors of the respective Forts shall at all times +afford every protection in their power to the persons and property +of the people of Ashantee and Dwabin, who may resort to the water +side.</p> + +<p>8th. The Governor in Chief reserves to himself the right of +punishing any subject of Ashantee or Dwabin guilty of secondary +offences, but in case of any crime of magnitude, he will send the +offender to the Kings, to be dealt with according to the laws of +his country.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span>9th. The Kings +agree to commit their children to the care of the Governor in +Chief, for education, at Cape Coast Castle, in the full confidence +of the good intentions of the British government, and of the +benefits to be derived therefrom.</p> + +<p>10th. The Kings promise to direct diligent inquiries to be made +respecting the officers attached to the Mission of Major John +Peddie, and Captain Thomas Campbell; and to influence and oblige +the neighbouring kingdoms and their tributaries, to befriend them +as the subjects of the British government.</p> + +<p class="hang2">Signed and sealed at Coomassie, this seventh day +of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred +and seventeen.</p> + +<table class="sign2"> +<tr> +<td>The mark of SAÏ TOOTOO QUAMINA <img src='images/sym1.png' +class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'></td> +<td>(L. S.)</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>The mark of BOÏTINNEE QUAMA <img src='images/sym1.png' class= +"iwsym1" alt='[X]'></td> +<td>(L. S.)</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>THOMAS EDWARD BOWDICH.</td> +<td>(L. S.)</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1">In the presence +of</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">William Hutchison</span>, +Resident.</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">Henry Tedlie</span>, Assistant +Surgeon.</p> + +<table class="ptab bd-collapse"> +<tr> +<td>The mark of</td> +<td><span class="sc">Apokoo</span> <img src='images/sym1.png' +class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'></td> +<td class="brt width-brace1"> +</td> +<td rowspan="4">Deputed from the General Assembly of caboceers and +captains to swear with the King.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td><span class="sc">Odumata</span> <img src='images/sym1.png' +class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'></td> +<td class="liner"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td><span class="sc">Nabbra</span> <img src='images/sym1.png' +class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'></td> +<td class="liner"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td><span class="sc">Ashantee</span> <img src='images/sym1.png' +class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'></td> +<td class="brb"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td><span class="sc">Kabra Saphoo</span> <img src='images/sym1.png' +class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'></td> +<td class="brt"> +</td> +<td rowspan="2">Linguists to the King of Dwabin.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td><span class="sc">Quamina Saphoo</span> <img src= +'images/sym1.png' class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'></td> +<td class="brb"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td><span class="sc">Quashee Apaintree</span> <img src= +'images/sym1.png' class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'></td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Accra Linguist.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td><span class="sc">Quashee Tom</span> <img src='images/sym1.png' +class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'></td> +<td class="brt"> +</td> +<td rowspan="2">Cape Coast Linguists.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td><span class="sc">Quamina Quatchee</span> <img src= +'images/sym1.png' class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'></td> +<td class="brb"> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<div class="plate"> +<div class="figcenter"> +<figure id="i11"><a href="images/i11_large.jpg"><img src= +'images/i11.jpg' alt='' class="iw5"></a> +<div class="tabw40"> +<p>This <em>is to make known that Major John Peddie, Capt. +Tho<sup>s</sup>. Campbell, and Surgeon Will<sup>m</sup>. Cowdry, +have been employed by the British Government to proceed from +Senegal into the interior of Africa, to trace the course of the +River Niger; and to obtain such information respecting the +Countries through which they pass, as may be useful in the +extension and improvement of Commerce which is the object of the +British Government in sending those persons to Africa; and that any +Person who may happen to meet with those Gentlemen, and shall be +the Bearer of a Letter to the Governor of <span class="sc">Cape +Coast Castle</span> on the Gold Coast, from either of them, shall +receive five Ounces of Gold, and be liberally rewarded for any +Service or Act of kindness which it may appear by such Letter may +have been rendered to either of them.</em></p> + +<p><em>Witness my hand at Coomasie the Capital of the Kingdom of +Ashantee the 30<sup>th</sup>. day of July 1817</em> +</p> + +<p><em>W<sup>m</sup>. Hutchinson Resident</em> +</p> + +<p><em>T. E. Bowdich Conductor of the Mission from Cape Coast +Castle</em> +</p> +</div> +</figure> +</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span>We were present +at the trial of Appia Nanu, who had accompanied his brother Appia +Danqua in the last invasion of Fantee, and was ordered by the King, +on his death, to take the command of the army, and prosecute the +campaign. In the irritation of the moment, he exclaimed, before the +royal messengers, that though the King did not prevent him from +succeeding to the stool, and the honours of his brother, he kept +back all the rock gold which belonged to the inheritance, and +desired to wear him out in the pursuit of the revolters, to prevent +his claim and enjoyment of the property of his family. From this +time he was very inactive, and became suspected of cowardice; +however, having succeeded in getting the head of one of the +revolters, he returned to Coomassie; where he was coolly received, +but not accused until the 8th of July. The witnesses were the +messengers the King had sent to him, who had been concealed in a +distant part of the frontier ever since, that Appia Nanu, believing +the general report of their death, might be the more confounded +when they burst upon him at the moment of his denial of the charge. +He was deprived of his stool and the whole of his property, but +permitted to retire with three wives and ten slaves; the King +hearing the next day that he still loitered in the capital, +exclaimed, that no proper man would bear so much shame before all +the people, rather than leave his home, and ordered only one wife +to be left to him, whereupon Appia Nanu hung himself. The King +considers, that none but the basest spirits can endure life after +severe disgrace.</p> + +<p>The Moors celebrated the feast of Ramadan in this month: there +was nothing curious in this ceremony. Men and women were dressed in +their richest suits, and seated on large skins before their houses, +for they occupy one street exclusively. They rose occasionally in +small troops, made short circuits in different directions, saluted +each other, and then sat down again. In the evening,<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span> the superiors exchanged visits +at their houses; the one visited always accompanied the other some +distance along the street on his way, where they exchanged +blessings, and parted. The slaves who carried their small +umbrella’s over their heads, seemed thoroughly jaded by this +incessant parading.</p> + +<p>The King regretted in one of his visits about this time, that +they were not more frequent; he said, our conversation entertained +him more than any thing else, because it told him of so many things +black men never heard of, but when he wished to see us on that +account, his great men checked him, and said, it did not become him +as a great King to want us, but that he should only send his +compliments, see us, and make us wait a long time when he sent for +us to the palace.</p> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span><a id= +"p1c06"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> VII.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Proceedings and Incidents until the completion +of the Mission and its return to Cape Coast Castle.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">On</span> the 11th of September I +received the Governor’s reply to my letter of the 10th of +August.</p> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><em>Cape Coast Castle, August +25</em>, 1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">T. E. Bowdich, +Esq.</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind">I <span class="sc">have</span> received your letter +of the 10th instant. The boy and girl shall be disposed of under +the protection of the Government here, agreeable to the King’s +wishes.</p> + +<p>The messenger (Ocranameah) has grossly misrepresented to the +King, the reception he met with at Cape Coast; he was treated with +the greatest civility during his stay, and on leaving, expressed +himself gratified by the attention which had been shewn him.</p> + +<p>For the King’s satisfaction, I have subjoined a list of the +articles I made him a present of;<a id="FNanchor_13"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> the three first which I +gave him, on taking leave, will, when produced, convince him how +much he has been deceived, and prove to him, that his +recommendation of the messenger was not unattended to.</p> + +<p>The Buntooko war, I consider a mere pretext for getting rid +of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span> the Resident; it +cannot be the true motive: to oppose however, any disinclination to +the measure, either on the part of the King or his principal men, +would be entirely useless; the aversion to it has no doubt +originated in the latter, with whom, under the present order of +things, the Resident would be very unpopular; consequently unsafe. +The eager desire which the King has manifested for enquiring into +every trivial occurrence, is another cause of its being +objectionable. The residence of a British officer would afford him +the opportunity, not only of doing this, but of making demands +which he might otherwise not have thought of. These and other +circumstances, which were entirely unforeseen, have materially +altered my opinion in regard to the Residency, which is certainly +not so desirable as I before considered it. You will therefore, on +your return, bring Mr. Hutchison with you.</p> + +<p>I am not aware of any Ashantees having introduced themselves +here, but such as were duly authorised by the King; you will +however inform him, that none will be attended to unless they bear +his cane.</p> + +<p>As Mr. Hutchison is to return, it will be a most important point +that you bring down two of the King’s sons for education, and I am +very solicitous that you should accomplish this object if +possible.</p> + +<p>The Commenda palaver being terminated, there will be nothing to +detain you longer at Ashantee. Your returning by way of Warsaw will +be desirable, and I hope the King will not object to your so +doing.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, Sir,</p> + +<p class="right pad-right6 space-above1">your most obedient +Servant,</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">JOHN HOPE SMITH.</p> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_133">[133]</span><em>Coomassie, Sept. 16</em>, 1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">John Hope Smith, +Esq. Governor in Chief</span>, &c. &c. &c.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind">I <span class="sc">did</span> not receive your +letter of the 25th of August, until the 11th instant, four days +after I had advised you of the execution of the treaty. I +considered it my duty to acquaint you of every variation in the +prospects of the Embassy, although, even when communicating the +discouraging circumstances of my letter of the 10th ult. I could +not abate my hopes, or allow doubt to sicken my exertions. I valued +on the reflection, that I had not been heard before the King in +vindication of the Residency; the motives of which I knew to have +been grossly misrepresented by our natural enemies the Moors, to +whose arts the suspicion of the natives have been suitably +auxiliary. My confidence was justified by the favourable impression +the King and the Government manifested, when the subject was +publicly advocated; since which I have never heard of an objection +to it: it has indeed, become a favourite measure with the superior +captains, who, as far as may be judged from the respect and +deference with which they have treated us from that time, seem not +only to have been conciliated, but won by the recent circumstances +of the negotiation. The terms of the treaty, by exceeding your +expectations, will compensate for the accumulation of difficulties +which have been opposed to us. We are taught to believe that no law +has ever been enacted in this kingdom with equal solemnity, or an +oath, so serious, been before submitted to by the King, or imposed +on the captains. Had the treaty disappointed, instead of exceeded +our expectations, I must have viewed it as inviolable, and +submitted myself to your candour; which I would now, and justify +myself by answering the reasonable apprehensions<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span> which have recently affected +your opinion of the Residency, rather than by the plea that the +treaty was executed before I received them.</p> + +<p>If I had been convinced that it was dislike, and not suspicion, +which actuated the opposition to the Residency, I should not only +have considered it imprudent, but derogatory, to have persevered in +the view; but, sensible that it was the latter, (from the evidence +of the King’s deportment, and the knowledge of the intrigue and +calumny excited against us,) I felt the greater anxiety for its +accomplishment; since, to have yielded to suspicion, without every +labour to eradicate it, would have been to have excluded ourselves +from the kingdom hereafter.</p> + +<p>If the King had been actuated, individually, by the desire of +detecting the frauds of his messengers, I should have viewed the +measure as pernicious; but the Government itself having anxiously +recommended it, for the sake of their own interest, (Fort pay, and +purchases from the treasury being always divided amongst the +superior captains) I considered it harmless; and not solely from +the power of its advocates, but also from the impotence of the +royal messengers in state affairs, being generally attendants on +the King, and therefore jealously watched by the other parts of the +Government. This desire has only been addressed to me in two +instances, both of which I think justified it: first, respecting +the fort pay; it having been since proved, and confessed, that, out +of 62 oz. paid at Christiansburg Castle in 1816 and 17, the +Ashantee Government has been defrauded of 23 oz. by the messenger: +and secondly, respecting the goods purchased by Ocranameah, where +the fraud could not escape notice. Such peculations have probably, +in the first case, given rise to doubts of our honour; and in the +latter, have certainly proved a prejudice to the trade. On the +occasion of Ocranameah’s baseness, I myself requested the King +to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span> allow me to +address you for the particulars of his treatment; and if you +consider the mischievous influence of the report, the fatality of +the impression that the King’s Embassy had been subjected to +contempt, whilst we had been treated with generosity and respect, +you will admit that the disproof was imperious on me: he has been +disgraced, and owes his safety to my intercession. Nothing but the +most decisive conduct can arrest villainy here. The reports of Adoo +Bradie have been highly flattering. The King will certainly have a +better opportunity of making demands from the residence of a +British officer; neither can I lessen the probability further than +by my opinion, which though only indulgent of the people in +general, is certainly favourable of the honour of the King, and the +superior captains. The advantages and prospects of our preserving +our footing by a Residency, have been too fully suggested by your +experience, to require my dwelling on them.</p> + +<p>I will proceed to acquaint you of the circumstances subsequent +to my receipt of your letter, one of which had nearly been serious. +After the settlement of the Commenda palaver, the King requested me +to wait 10 days, which were afterwards extended to 15, as you were +advised in his letter of the 31st ult. This time expired on +Saturday last, but the King said then that we must not go until +Monday. Accordingly, on that day, I delivered Mr. Hutchison written +instructions (a copy of which I enclose) and sent several messages +to the King to remind him of his promise. We were not sent for +until six o’clock in the evening, when the King said he could not +let me go then, nor before he had time to send me away properly. +This I considered to be the mere affectation of state; I pleaded +that your orders were binding, and that it was insulting to you, as +well as dangerous to me, to prevent my respect of them, now every +thing like business was settled. The King said he would only ask me +to stop until Wednesday. I replied, that if he<span class="pagenum" +id="Page_136">[136]</span> would give me his hand, and promise that +I should go then, I would wait. No! he could not, but he would +promise me for the Monday following. I saw that yielding to this +would subject me to an indefinite delay. I told the King that I +should be obliged to go, though unwillingly, without his +approbation, and that not only my duty but his promise justified +me. I had only to ask him if he still wished me to leave Mr. +Hutchison? All the reply I could get was, that I might break the +Law if I thought proper. I told them the Law would never be broken +by an English officer, but still, if they were sorry that they had +sworn to the Law, I would send for it and tear it in pieces before +them; we did not make laws from fear. No! they liked the Law, and +could not break it, but I might if I chose. I repeated my +willingness to stay till Wednesday; the promise could only be given +for the Monday: the King and the council retired abruptly. I +followed them, told them I was obliged to be determined, and begged +the King to shew his respect for you, and the friendship he had +condescended to profess for myself, by considering your orders; +this was construed as indecision; and Monday, or when the King has +time, was the reply. I thanked him formally for all his kindnesses, +told him I must go, and retired. It was necessary, at least, to +make the attempt, although it was then eight o’clock. I left all +the luggage in the charge of Mr. Hutchison, except two +portmanteaus, the sextant, and the box containing my papers. We had +scarcely proceeded fifty yards before the gong-gongs and drums were +beat all around us, and we were attacked by a crowd of swords and +muskets, headed by our house master Aboïdwee, who in the first rush +seized the luggage and the flag. I felt myself compelled to attempt +to regain the flag; and the value of my papers, and the impolicy of +being intimidated by the outrage, were also considerations. I +begged the officers not to draw their swords till the last moment, +and taking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span> the +muskets, the butt ends of which cleared our way to the luggage, we +fastened on it, with the soldiers, artisans, and our servants, who +supported us vigorously. The Ashantees did not attempt to fire, but +attacked us only with their heavy swords and large stones. We kept +our ground nearly a quarter of an hour, though our belts and caps +were torn away, and we frequently fell. At this time, Mr. Tedlie +(who had regained his sword, which had been torn from his side) was +stunned by a blow on the head, and as all were much bruised, and +some of the people cut, I contented myself with the recovery of the +flag, the sextant, and the papers, and we retired slowly to the +house, not expecting they would follow us; but they did so, with a +fury which led me to believe they intended our destruction. We +posted ourselves in the door-way, and I immediately dispatched the +canes by a back way to the King, to tell him we had not yet drawn +our swords, but we must do so unless he rescued us immediately. The +tumult did not allow expostulation, we had no alternative but to +defend ourselves, which the narrow passage favoured. The captain, +Aboïdwee, who was quite mad with fury and liquor, made a cut at me +as I held him from me, which would have been fatal but for the +presence of mind of one of the soldiers, through which it only +grazed my face. We were soon rescued by the presence of Adoocee, +the chief linguist, and Yokokroko, the King’s chamberlain, with +their retinues. Nothing could exceed their servility, they offered +to swear the King was not privy to the outrage, ordered Aboïdwee +before them, and threatened him with the loss of his head. I told +them I knew the King’s controul, and was not to be treated as a +fool; he had forcibly detained us as prisoners, and must take the +consequences; I should say no more. They continued their +professions and entreaties upwards of an hour, and did all they +could by their menaces to Aboïdwee, and their deference to the +evidence of our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span> +people, to convince me of their discountenance of the outrage. I +divided the people into watches for the night.</p> + +<p>By day light the next morning all our luggage was returned, I +refused to receive it. Yokokroko and Adoo Quamina then sent to say +they waited below until we had done breakfast; a long palaver +succeeded, of the same tenour as that of the preceding night. About +11 o’clock, the linguists, Adoocee, Otee, and Quancum; Yokokroko, +and a crowd of captains came from the King with a present of 20 +ackies, two flasks of liquor, and a large hog. I asked them if they +came to put more shame on my face, by bribing me to settle the +great palaver they had made the night before with the King of +England. They flattered and menaced by turns to make me take it, +and urged, that to refuse the King’s present was to declare war. I +persisted in refusing every thing short of an interview with the +King. The Cape Coast messengers, impelled by their apprehensions +and their avarice, had the temerity to declare at this moment, that +you had sent them as a check upon me, and that they knew I was not +doing as you wished in talking so to the King, and that you would +make a palaver with me for not waiting the King’s pleasure. It was +necessary to annihilate the impression of such language +immediately. I deprived them of their canes, and threatened to put +them in irons. The King not long after sent his eunuch and +followers to conduct us to the palace, where he had assembled the +superior captains. We went in plain clothes, alleging that we dared +not wear our uniforms as prisoners. The King said, I must not say +that; he was my good friend, and would do me right; he did not +think I would have tried to go without his leave, and never meant +his people to fight with us, he would give me the heads of all +those who led them on, and beg me himself for the rest, as I begged +him for Quamina Bootaqua; he never begged any body before; he did +not send the gold, as I thought,<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_139">[139]</span> he sent it to pay for any thing the people +had spoiled, and meant to do us right all the same; it would break +his heart if the King of England heard he had used his officers +ill, and if I liked him, I must settle the palaver easy.</p> + +<p>Of course I would not hear of any heads being cut off, though +they all pressed it repeatedly, and doubtless would not have +regarded sacrificing a few inferior captains to varnish their +allegation; yet, I must declare, it is my firm opinion, and it is +supported by the evidence of our private friends, that the King and +his principal men merely intended Aboïdwee to stop us, by placing +his numbers before us and pleading the King’s orders, not dreaming +of any outrage, or that the impetuosity of this man, irritated by +the loss of his retainer at Cape Coast,<a id= +"FNanchor_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> +would hurry him to order his soldiers to assault us: he has not an +atom of influence; but the King selected him as a near relative of +his own, to succeed to Bakkee’s stool, to which 1700 men are +attached: the King repeatedly offered me his head. To resume, the +King requested us to drink with him, and then to shake hands, +begged us to resume our uniforms, and ordered his own people to +attend us at our house. I renewed the subject of our departure. The +King said this was a bad week, and he did not like us to go in it, +he would thank me very much to stay till Monday, and then he could +get a proper present ready. Sunday too was the Adaï custom, and +then I must put Mr. Hutchison’s hand in Adoocee’s, and Adoocee +place it in his, and he would promise to take proper care of him +before all the captains. Odumata and Adoocee came forward to give +me their hands, as a pledge of their responsibility. I said I could +receive no one’s hand but the King’s on such an occasion, but I +ordered Quashie Apaintree to do so, and it was sworn to. The King +then said Adoocee had told him the Cape Coast +messengers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span> had +tried to put shame on my face—he was very angry with them—they +ought to know God made white man’s head better than black man’s, +and they must come before him, and put my foot on their heads. I +told him, I could not let any one do so, but I sent for their +canes, and entrusted them to them again, with a suitable reprimand. +The King then begged me to receive his present, which I did, giving +the people the hog and liquor, they had received another on the +Friday before, which the King sent me, with 39 yams.</p> + +<p>I have observed that the Government’s anxiety for the force of +the Treaty, and for the Residency, has heightened in proportion to +the indifference I have affected. I consider the affair of +yesterday to have perfected the impression of our spirit. I +certainly would not think of leaving any but an officer of the most +considerate conduct as a Resident, and, I believe, Mr. Hutchison, +by tempering his spirit with judgment, may safely realize the +objects of the situation; if, however, on my return, you consider I +have left him in a precarious situation, I volunteer my services to +replace him, and deliberately to retire the Residency.</p> + +<p>It occurs to me, the Amissa palaver may possibly be the design +of this interval, if it should, you may rely on my remaining +resolute on the subject.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, &c.</p> + +<table class="sign2"> +<tr> +<td>(Signed)</td> +<td>T. EDWARD BOWDICH.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_141">[141]</span><em>Coomassie, Sept.</em> 1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><em>To</em> <span class="sc">William +Hutchison</span>, <em>Esquire, British Resident.</em></p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir</span>,</p> + +<p class="nind">I <span class="sc">am</span> directed by the +Governor in Chief to leave you written instructions for your future +government.</p> + +<p>The conviction of the honour and justice of our public +negotiations, having procured us a footing in opposition to the +arts which have been practised upon the suspicion of the natives, +your conduct is looked to, with confidence, to support it, by +originating an opinion of our moral character, equally auspicious +to the benevolent views of the British Government. The simplicity +of our religion, tolerating the calumny of the Moors, that we are +destitute of any, you will have the satisfaction of perfecting the +confutation, by a regular retirement to its duties, and by the +practice of that benevolence and forbearance, equally congenial to +the policy prescribed to us.</p> + +<p>It would be premature, as well as dangerous, to direct any other +than the tacit reproof of your own conduct and sentiments, to the +cruelties consecrated by the superstitions of the Ashantees; you +must be content to avoid the countenance of them by your presence, +by adhering to the plea of the repugnance of your religion. This +conduct, associated with a humanity always inclining you to induce +mercy, whenever the offence, or prudence, may admit of an +interference, will propitiate your own wishes, and the expectations +of the Government.</p> + +<p>The friendship and respect which the King, and the superior +captains have manifested, will not only be preserved, but +strengthened, by a dignified deportment, and a considerate use of +the private intercourse these feelings have established; and you +will cultivate the frequent opportunities of instilling into their +minds,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span> that +education originated the pre-eminence of Europeans; and that peace +is most auspicious to the greatness of a Nation, directing all its +powers to commerce and the arts, and thereby founding its superior +comfort, prosperity, and embellishment. The power and resources of +your own country should be quoted to illustrate this truth; and you +will impress that it is the experience of it, which has imposed the +benevolent anxiety of the British Government, to improve the +condition of the people of Africa, through the legitimate medium of +commerce. This impression you will extend, deliberately, to the +visitors from other kingdoms, particularly to those from the Sarem +and Mallowa countries.</p> + +<p>In encouraging the trade with the Coast, your measures must +disprove any view but that of a fair competition; and your +vigilance of the British interests must be distinct from any thing +like jealousy, suspicion, or intermeddling: you will act as the +advocate of the views of Europe, but not allow any interference to +be imposed on you, without the sanction of the Governor in Chief, +whose letters will be, exclusively, attended to, and to whom you +will candidly communicate any circumstance or reflection, affecting +our new connection.</p> + +<p>You will repress, rather than encourage the disposition of the +King and the Council, to detect imposition through your assistance, +by confining your justifications, as much as possible, to public +transactions; for although the Government is gratified by it, it +may tend to make the Residency unpopular.</p> + +<p>I enclose you a copy of the Treaty, and particularly direct your +attention to the 4th article, which authorizes you to submit to +every thing like a mediation, separable from responsibility, to the +discussion of the Governor in Chief, for the sake of peace and +humanity; but you will do this, invariably, with diffidence; +without betraying any sanguine expectations.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span>You will be more +sensible to insult than injury; and the most politic conduct will +be, to declare that the British Government exacts from all its +officers, on pain of disgrace, a firm repulse of the former; and +that they dare not admit the influence of their private feelings, +as in the latter case.</p> + +<p>I leave you in possession of the esteem of the King, and the +friendship of the superior Captains, and with every thing +favourable to the objects of the Residency; but, should any caprice +in the Government make you invidious to any thing like a party, or +diminish their respect, you will immediately address the Governor +in Chief, who will order your presence at Head Quarters. Another +important consideration will be your health; also the character of +the captain who may be left in charge of the capital, should the +King go himself to the Buntooko war. Your personal safety is out of +the question at present, but should the least doubt arise in your +own mind hereafter, you must consult the Governor’s solicitude, +rather than your own spirit.</p> + +<p>You see the necessity of keeping in with the Moors; the +flattering their intelligence is most conducive to this, and also +elicits valuable information.</p> + +<p>I shall afford you a perusal of the dispatch of the Committee, +and the instructions of the Governor in Chief, to perfect the +present.</p> + +<p>I have directed Mr. Tedlie to leave you a supply of medicines, +and you will take charge of the Resident’s flag.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, Sir,</p> + +<p class="right pad-right6 space-above1">your most obedient +Servant,</p> + +<table class="sign2"> +<tr> +<td>(Signed)</td> +<td>T. EDWARD BOWDICH.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_144">[144]</span>Baba had a great number of Arabic +manuscripts; I have preserved a leaf finely illuminated. Apokoo +astonished us by offering to lend us some books to read; he shewed +us two French volumes on geography, a Dutch bible, a volume of the +Spectator, and a Dissuasion from Popery, 1620. It was gratifying to +recollect that this chief, now become so much attached to us, was +the man mentioned in our early dispatches as snatching Mr. Tedlie’s +sword from him, on the declaration of war, to make his oath against +us the more inveterate. Telling the King one day that Mr. +Hutchison’s and Mr. Tedlie’s countries, Scotland and Ireland, were +formerly distinct from mine, he begged directly to hear specimens +of the different languages, and was reluctantly persuaded that it +was the policy of England to get rid of all national distinctions +between her subjects. Apokoo was very fond of scribbling, and with +a smile frequently begged to know what he had written. They could +not comprehend how any hieroglyphic that was not a picture, could +express an object. My name, said the King, is not like me. He was +rather uneasy at my sketching; the Moors, he hinted, had insinuated +that I could place a spell on the buildings I drew. I told him, +without drawings, the people in England could not be convinced that +I had visited him; he appeared satisfied, and begged to be drawn +handsome.</p> + +<p>There are only four direct descendants now living of the noble +families which accompanied the emigration of Saï Tootoo, the +founder of the Ashantee monarchy; none of them are wealthy, and +Assaphi, who is one, is a beggar, wandering in the bush, having +been disgraced from the highest favour, for the following fraud. An +old linguist of the former King’s (Saï Quamina) having died at a +distant croom, the King, according to custom, sent Assaphi with +four periguins of gold, and a quantity of expensive cloths and mats +to bury him; Assaphi kept the gold, and substituted<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> inferior cloths of his own. +The wife urged the great and zealous services of her husband to Saï +Quamina, and her indignation at such a mean acknowledgment as the +King had sent. Assaphi returned, reported her gratitude, and that +every thing had been handsomely done, to the credit of the King. +The wife privately dug up the cloths buried with the corpse, and +suspecting the fraud, secretly conveyed them to the King, with a +full account. The King sent for Assaphi and again enquiring the +particulars, with seeming indifference, suddenly required him to +swear to the truth, which he advanced to do, when the King said no! +you must not swear, and the woman was immediately discovered to him +with all the cloths. He then confessed the particulars, was +stripped of every thing, and is now the more despised for not +killing himself; and the King could not put him to death, as the +direct descendant of one of Saï Tootoo’s peers. Part of the King’s +reproach to him was curious: “my brother’s linguist did him great +good, so when he and my brother, who now live with God, make God +recollect all, and tell him the shame you put on him for me, in so +burying him, God will kill me.”</p> + +<p>A man and a woman were beheaded on the 17th of this month, for +an intrigue: the woman was very handsome, and the wife of a +captain: on their being suspected, both were ordered to drink doom, +which choking them, they were immediately executed. The King’s +sister sent for Mr. Tedlie to go and see her, he enquired into her +complaint and recommended some medicine, which she very thankfully +agreed to take; he prepared some for her, and went to give her the +proper directions; upon which, she handed the cup to her husband, +who beginning to swallow it very fast, Mr. Tedlie stopped him, and +said he had only prepared sufficient for one person; the lady +replied, “let him drink this to day, and I can have more +to-morrow;” he told her that he had very little<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span> medicine, and could not afford +to give it to people that were in good health: she did not appear +pleased with this reasoning. A man of Assiminia, who had received +medicine and advice from Mr. Tedlie on our march up, sent him a +third present about this time, of fruit, vegetables, and wild deer, +with the account that he was quite well.</p> + +<p>Apokoo enquired very anxiously, why the King of England had not +sent one of his sons with the presents to the King of Ashantee. He +said he had himself conquered five nations, during the present and +the preceding reign, and he named twenty one nations which now paid +tribute to Ashantee; but he added, there were three countries which +would not; two eastward, and one to the north-west; each of those +eastward had defeated the Ashantees; the one north-westward, on the +King sending for tribute, desired that he would come and take it, +and afterwards entirely destroyed an Ashantee army.</p> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><em>Akrofroom, Sept. 26</em>, +1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">John Hope Smith, +Esq. Governor in Chief</span>, &c. &c. &c.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">The</span> King only availed +himself of our detention to introduce us to fresh ceremonies, and +to augment the testimonies of his friendship. The Amissa palaver +was not attempted, and nothing like design has disclosed +itself.</p> + +<p>On the Monday there was a general assembly of the caboceers and +captains, the King of Dwabin being present, with his linguists, +also several Dagwumba caboceers, and the Moorish dignitaries. The +King announced the execution of the Treaty by himself and the +deputies, and impressed, in a long speech through his linguists, +that he would visit the least offence against it with the +greatest<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span> severity. +I was then requested to read it for the last time, and the King’s +duplicate was executed in a similar manner.</p> + +<p>In the evening, the King gave us our last audience before all +his superior captains: a letter was dictated, which I shall present +to you on my arrival; and Adoocee, the chief linguist, was formally +deputed to receive Mr. Hutchison’s hand from me, and to place it in +the King’s, who received it with a solemn avowal of his +responsibility for the charge. The linguist then presented from the +King,</p> + +<p>To the Government, four boys for education.</p> + +<p>To the British Museum, six specimens of the goldsmith’s work. (I +had interested the King, by my account of this national +repository.)</p> + +<p>To the Governor in Chief, one boy, one girl, to be brought up in +his service.</p> + +<p>To Mr. Bowdich, one boy, one girl, and 2 oz. 6 ac. of gold.</p> + +<table> +<tr> +<td>Mr. Tedlie, one boy, and 1 oz.</td> +<td>4 ac. of gold.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Accra linguist, one cloth,</td> +<td>10 ditto.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cape Coast linguists, two cloths,</td> +<td>10 ditto.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>De Graaff’s messenger,</td> +<td>10 ditto.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>The officers servants,</td> +<td>10 ditto.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>The soldiers,</td> +<td>10 ditto.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">I afterwards received a Sarem cloth and some +trifles as a further dash from Apokoo; one sheep, &c. &c. +from Baba the chief of the Moors; and 15 ackies of gold from the +King’s linguists, with their acknowledgments of my firmness during +the negotiation.</p> + +<p>The King having a palaver at present with the Warsaws, objected +so strongly to our returning through their territory, that after +one or two attempts to over-rule his apprehensions, I found it +would be imprudent to persevere in the wish, although the +disappointment was great; the King assured me the Warsaw path was +two days longer, and that he will not spare any labour on that +of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span> Assin directly +after the war. I had permission to go some miles on the Warsaw +path, to convince myself of its neglected condition.</p> + +<p>The King’s favorite son (a child about five years old) whom he +had dressed in our uniform for the occasion, was so alarmed at the +idea of being given over to us, that the King’s feelings obliged +him to promise me that he would send the children after me; he is +too jealous of the advantages to allow those of his great men to +participate, until his own family are first distinguished by +them.</p> + +<p>The King supplied me with bearers, and pressed me to take six +hammock men in case of sickness; he would not hear of pay for any, +and persisted in appointing one of his captains to take care of us. +He yielded the point of an escort reluctantly, which I had combated +from the consideration of the expense of a present to such a +number. The King requested me on taking leave, to wait a short time +until his captains had distributed the powder to salute as on our +departure, and it being then dark, to proceed no further than a +small croom just beyond the marsh, where the people should join us +in the morning. The King and his captains were seated by torch +light with all their insignia, without the palace, and we quitted +the capital, preceded by the King’s banners, discharges of +musketry, and every flattering distinction that could be thought +of.</p> + +<p>The King has provided one of the best houses for Mr. Hutchison, +very superior to any we could have raised at so short a notice, and +has anticipated every thing to make him comfortable, and respected; +nothing could be more considerate or kind, than his speech to him +on my taking leave.</p> + +<p>A messenger of the King of Dwabin’s accompanies me for a suit of +our uniform for the King’s wear, which I could not refuse.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, &c. &c.</p> + +<table class="sign2"> +<tr> +<td>(Signed)</td> +<td>T. EDWARD BOWDICH.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_149">[149]</span><em>Coomassie, September 22</em>, 1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">Saï Tootoo +Quamina</span>, <em>King of Ashantee, &c. to</em> <span class= +"sc">John Hope Smith</span>, <em>Esquire, Governor in Chief, +&c. &c. &c.</em></p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">We</span> are from this time forth +good friends, and I shall send all the trade I can to Cape Coast +Castle, and I hope that you will by and by have confidence in my +word.</p> + +<p>I beg you will send my best compliments to the King of England, +and accept them yourself, in proof of my satisfaction of the +purposes of the Embassy, and its happy termination.</p> + +<p>You will call all the Fantee caboceers before you, and impress +the importance of the Treaty, and exact their respect of it, as I +have from all my great men and caboceers.</p> + +<p>I hope you will always act towards me as a friend, and I shall +always be ready to protect and support the British interests.</p> + +<p>I wish you health and happiness, and all my captains send their +best compliments to you.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, Sir,</p> + +<p class="right pad-right6 space-above1">your sincere friend,</p> + +<p class="right space-above1">The mark <img src='images/sym1.png' +class="iwsym1" alt='[X]'> of Saï Tootoo Quamina.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1">Present,</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">W. Hutchison.</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">Henry Tedlie.</span> +</p> + +<p>I will thank you to impress on the King of England that I have +sworn not to renew the war with the Fantees, out of respect to him, +and I shall consider them as his people. I hope therefore he will, +in turn, consider if he cannot renew the Slave Trade, which will be +good for me.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span>I hope the King +of England will now let all foreign vessels come to the coast to +trade, and you must say that the path is now clear to do as much +English trade as your supplies will allow.</p> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="center space-above15">The following letter was sent after +me, to Doompassie.</p> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><em>Coomassie, 23d +September</em>, 1817.</p> + +<p class="center space-above1"><span class="sc">John Hope Smith, +Esq. Governor in Chief</span>, &c. &c. &c.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">The</span> King of Ashantee +desires me to request you will write to all the Governors of +English forts, on the African coast, to order the caboceers of each +town, to send a proper person to Cape Coast, and that you will add +one messenger yourself; that they may all proceed to Coomassie to +take the King’s fetish in his presence, that none may plead +ignorance of the Treaty concluded between his Majesty and the +British nation.</p> + +<p>The King wishes me to express, that he is fully satisfied with +the objects of the Mission, and that the Treaty may be read by me +to all the Fantee deputies you may send for that purpose.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right12 space-above1">I am, &c. &c.</p> + +<table class="sign2"> +<tr> +<td>(Signed)</td> +<td>W. HUTCHISON.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="space-above15">My last private letters from Cape Coast +Castle had imposed the most painful anxiety; the two lives +naturally beyond all others the dearest to me, were imminently +endangered by the seasoning illness of the country; one yielded to +it before I could arrive, yet, under all the impatience of my +affliction, I must confess, when I took<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_151">[151]</span> the King’s hand for the last time, when I +reflected on the benevolence, the solicitude, and the generosity I +had experienced whilst my life was in his hands, affected by the +most untoward and irritating political circumstances, by the +aggravated suspicions of his chiefs, and by the poisonous jealousy +of the Moors, there was a painful gratification in the retrospect, +which blended the wish to linger another hour in listening to +acknowledgments of esteem and obligation, more affecting than +flattering, and enhanced by the consoling reflection, that they +were the natural emotions of one of those monarchs we are pleased +to call barbarians. Night was coming on, but as I had so positively +declared before the King and his council, on the former occasion, +that nothing should deter me from keeping my word in quitting +Coomassie on this day, it would not do to delay even until the +morning. A strict observance of your word, is every thing in the +eye of a Negro. The King said, he would not beg me to stay, as I +had declared I dared not; he would only ask me to go no further +than Ogogoo, that night, and his people should join me early in the +morning. Our exit was a brilliant scene, from the reflection of the +glittering ornaments of the King and his captains by the torches; +they were seated in a deep and long line, without the palace, +accompanied by their retinues; all their bands burst forth +together, as we saluted the King in passing, and we were enveloped +in the smoke of the musketry. The darkness of the forest was an +instantaneous and awful contrast, and the howlings and screeches of +the wild beasts, startled us as we groped our way, as if we had +never heard them before. The torches provided for our protection +against them were extinguished in crossing the marsh, which had +swollen to between four and five feet deep, and the descent to it +from Coomassie was rocky and abrupt. The linguists and soldiers +lost themselves in the forest, and did not arrive at Ogogoo until +long<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span> after Mr. +Tedlie and myself. The inhabitants were asleep, but they rose +cheerfully, cleared the best house for us, and made fires. The next +morning I received the dash of gold from the King’s linguists, in a +Mallowa bag, with a long compliment; the conclusion of which was, +that I must always be ready to use the same spirit and address, in +talking a palaver for the King of Ashantee, as I had shewn in +talking that of my own King. This testimony of their good feeling +and esteem, which they could not avow whilst we were political +antagonists, was grateful.</p> + +<p>Marching through Sarrasoo, where we were liberally refreshed +with palm wine, we halted in the evening at Assiminia. We were +received with great hospitality by the principal man, who provided +us with excellent lodging, to his own inconvenience, and presented +us with some fowls. The path was almost a continued bog, for the +rainy season had set in violently. The next day we marched through +Dadasey to Doompassie, and occupied our former comfortable +dwelling. One party spent the night in the woods. Thursday morning, +the 6th, we had a short but most fatiguing march over the mountains +dividing the frontiers, to Moisee, the first Assin town. The +difficulty of procuring provisions until the people returned from +the plantations, detained us in Moisee until four o’clock in the +evening. As the stage from Doompassie had been short, (although +fatiguing) I determined to proceed to Akrofroom, as we should gain +a day by it. The Ashantees remonstrated, knowing the swollen state +of the several small rivers, and the aggravated difficulties of the +path from the heavy rain; but I was so apprehensive of being +detained, by their pleading their superstitious observance of good +and bad days for travelling, that I was afraid of seeming to yield +to them, lest it might encourage the disposition. I recommended +them to go back, and started without them, but they were soon at my +heels, declaring, they should lose<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_153">[153]</span> their heads if they quitted us. Mr. Tedlie, +myself, a soldier, and the Ashantee next in authority under the +captain, outwalked the rest of the party, and found ourselves out +of their hearing when it grew dark. We lost some time in trying to +make torches to keep off the beasts, and to direct us in the right +track, for we were walking through a continued bog, and had long +before lost our shoes. A violent tornado ushered in the night, we +could not hear each other holla, and were soon separated; luckily I +found I had one person left with me (the Ashantee) who, after I had +groped him out, tying his cloth tight round his middle, gave me the +other end, and thus plunged along, pulling me after him, through +bogs and rivers, exactly like an owl tied to a duck in a pond. The +thunder, the darkness, and the howlings of the wild beasts were +awful, but the loud and continuing crash of a large tree, which +fell very near us during the storm, was even more so to my ear. The +Ashantee had dragged me along, or rather through, in this manner +until I judged it to be midnight, when, quite exhausted, with the +remnants of my clothes scarcely hanging together, I let go his +cloth, and falling on the ground, was asleep before I could call +out to him. I was awoke by this faithful guide, who had felt me +out, and seated me on the trunk of a tree, with my head resting on +his shoulder; he gave me to understand I must die if I sat there, +and we pursued the duck and owl method once more. In an hour we +forded the last river, which had swollen considerably above my +chin, and spread to a great width. This last labour I considered +final, and my drowsiness became so fascinating, that it seemed to +beguile me of every painful thought and apprehension, and the +yielding to it was an exquisite, though momentary pleasure. I +presume I must have slept above an hour, lifted by this humane man +from the bank of the river to a drier corner of the forest, more +impervious to the torrents of rain; when, being awoke, I +was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span> surprised to +see him with a companion and a torch; he took me on his back, and +in about three quarters of an hour we reached Akrofroom. This man +knew I carried about me several ounces of gold, for the subsistence +of the people, not trusting to our luggage, which we could not +reckon on in such a season and journey. Exhausted and insensible, +my life was in his hands, and infested as the forest was with wild +beasts, he might after such a night, without suspicion, have +reported me as destroyed by them; this had occurred to me, and was +an uneasy feeling as long as my torpor left me any. It was about +two o’clock in the morning, and the inhabitants of Akrofroom were +almost all asleep, for it was too rude a night for Negro revelry; +however, I was directly carried to a dry and clean apartment, +furnished with a brass pan full of water to wash in, some fruits +and palm wine, an excellent bed of mats and cushions, and an +abundance of country cloths to wrap around me, for I was all but +naked. After I had washed, I rolled myself up in the cloths, one +after the other, until I became a gigantic size, and by a profuse +perspiration escaped any other ill than a slight fever. A soldier +came up about mid-day, and gave me some hopes of seeing Mr. Tedlie +again, who arrived soon afterwards, having left his companions in a +bog, waiting until he sent them assistance from the town. Our +gratification was mutual, for the only trace he had had of me was +by no means an encouraging one; my servant meeting an Ashantee in +the forest with fragments of my clothes, which he persisted he had +not taken from any person, but picked up on his way. Mr. Tedlie +(whose feet were cut and bruised much more than mine, and whose +wretched plight made him envy the African toga I had assumed) after +we had separated, and the storm had drowned our mutual hollaings, +the howlings of the wild beasts meeting his ears on all sides, had +just determined to roost in a tree for the night, when an Ashantee +appeared with a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span> +torch, and conducted him out of the track to the remains of a shed, +where four or five of the people had before strayed and settled +themselves. Another party arrived at Akrofroom about four o’clock, +and the last, with the Cape Coast linguist and the corporal, not +until sun set; they had lost the track altogether, and spent the +whole day, as well as the previous night, in the woods. We made an +excellent duck soup, our grace to which was, “what a luxury to poor +Mungo Park;” the name recalled sufferings which made us laugh at +our own as mere adventures.</p> + +<p>On Saturday the 8th we marched to Asharamang. Here we found +great difficulties in getting provisions until the Ashantees came +up, for Quamina Bwa’s knavery had been ascribed to us; and here, +panyaring all we required, he had not given the inhabitants a tokoo +of the gold. At length we were well supplied and comfortably +lodged. The next day we marched through Kickiwherree to Prasoo, +where we occupied a good house, and an Ashantee captain proceeding +on an embassy, dashed us a supply of fowls and yams. We crossed the +Boosempra early the next morning, and thence began to leave the +rains behind us. Persevering in making but one journey of the +distances which occupied us two and three days going up, we pressed +forward, passing by our former bivouacs in the woods, scarcely +distinguishable, until we reached the site of Accomfodey, for only +one hut now remained; the wretched inhabitants having deserted it +in terror of the Ashantees. The solitary Fantee who occupied it, +had the address to assure me, that I should find much better +lodging at Ancomassa, where we recollected to have left some +comfortable huts going up, and we resolved to try another stage, +and were recompensed by finding scarcely a wreck of the place, and +some tattered sheds only instead of the sound roof we had quitted. +We proceeded early the next morning, passed Foosou, which +was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span> entirely +deserted, and marched until we found ourselves at sun set on the +banks of the Aniabirrim. The people were all behind, and the +Ashantees coming up about an hour afterwards, informed us they had +settled themselves for the night about two hours walk distant. +Unfortunately we had no flint, and after fasting all day, we had +the mortification of losing our supper merely for want of a fire; +the wood was all so wet that friction had no effect on it, we could +find no shelter, and a heavy rain set in as it grew dark; fatigue +luckily beguiled us of cold and hunger, and of our apprehensions of +a visit from the beasts, who were howling about the banks of their +watering place. I wrapped myself up in the Inta cloth Apokoo had +given me, and wet as the ground was, I never slept better. Hence +the forest visibly declined in height towards the coast. We pressed +on by day light, found some excellent guavas to allay our hunger, +and reaching Mansue, made a good soup of our fowls, peppers growing +luxuriantly all around us. We waited until we heard of the people +behind us, and then proceeded; about five in the evening I reached +Cottacoomacasa, with the Dwabin messenger only. The place was +deserted, and a body of Ashantee traders had occupied the remaining +shed. I would not disturb them, but waiting until sun set for Mr. +Tedlie, I left him a supply of guavas, and proceeded to Payntree. +There was a charm in the name of that place, being but one journey +from the sea, superior to the recollection of the former night’s +adventure. It was a brilliant night, and the dark gloom and hollow +echos of the long vistas of the forest, formed a fine contrast to +the extensive areas (sites of large Fantee crooms destroyed by the +Ashantees) into which we frequently emerged. The wild music and +cheerful revelry of the inhabitants of Payntree stole upon my ear, +and raised the tone of my spirits in proportion as the sounds +strengthened.</p> + +<p>A loud and continued shout warned me that I was +announced;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> torches +and music instantly encircled me, and I was conducted to old +Payntree’s residence, who had built himself a new house somewhat in +the Ashantee fashion. An excellent bed was prepared for me of an +accumulation of mats and country cloths, and a famous supper of +soups, stews, fruit, and palm wine. Quamina Bootaqua paid his +respects, and old Payntree, Amooney King of Annamaboe, and two or +three other caboceers, unknown to me, made a long adulatory speech, +complimenting my ability, bewailing my hardships, and magnifying +their obligations. I was requested to seat myself on old Payntree’s +state stool, whilst they stood around me, and he begged me to +listen to an air composed by his band on the occasion of the +embassy, and its successful termination; “all would now be well, +and Fantee revive and flourish.” I sat up till midnight, vainly +expecting Mr. Tedlie and the soldiers; they awoke me by their +arrival before sun rise; they had passed the night in a sound hut, +on the path, which from the want of a torch had escaped my +notice.</p> + +<p>Hearing, as I expected, that there was a path from Payntree to +Cape Coast Castle, avoiding Annamaboe (whence the Mission had +departed), I determined to explore it, and Payntree furnished me +with a guide. The country was beautifully diversified with hill and +dale, but the soil was generally lighter and more gravelly than +that between Annamaboe and Payntree. We passed through several +groves of guava trees, and all the other tropical fruits abounded. +Occasionally there were small plantations of Guinea corn, where a +few wretched Fantees still lurked in the ruins of the crooms the +Ashantees had destroyed. We passed through eleven which had been +considerable, and now presented but a few mud houses scattered over +extensive sites. Their names were Assequah, Daöoramong, Amparoo, +Taächoo, Coorikirraboo, Perridjoo, Abikarrampa, Aquoitee, Miensa, +and Amosima. The only water was near<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_158">[158]</span> Amparoo; it was a large pond nearly two +miles in circumference, and sixty yards broad, impregnated with +vegetable matter. After travelling 15 miles, we climbed some very +steep and rocky hills, apparently of iron stone, and descended into +a flat country, continuing until a small rising about two miles +from Cape Coast Castle, (which I judged to be 20 miles from +Payntree by this interior path) opened the sea to our view; as +delightful to our sight, as land would have been after a prolonged +and perilous voyage. The shouts and greetings of the natives were a +grateful introduction to the more congenial congratulations of our +countrymen.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp1c06"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13"><span class= +"label">[13]</span></a>One piece of silk. 10 handkerchiefs of Dane. +1 umbrella. 4 gallons of rum. 20 lbs. of pork. 1 basket of rice. +Biscuit. 1 sheep.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14"><span class= +"label">[14]</span></a>The man who hung himself.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<div class="page"> +<hr class="decordb width10"> + +<p class="center spaced2 space-above15 space-below1"><span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span><a id="p2"></a><span class= +"large"><span class="letter-spaced01">MISSION TO +ASHANTE</span>E.</span><br> +PART II.</p> + +<hr class="decordb width10"> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span><a id= +"p2c01"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> I.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Geography.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> impression of the +Natives that we came “to spy the country” was sedulously +strengthened by the Moors, who were actuated by alarm, jealousy, +and a spirit of intolerance unmitigated by a previous intercourse +with Europeans. I felt compelled, therefore, to suppress all +curiosity for a considerable time, lest the anxiety to detect us in +geographical enquiries, to make their calumny more imposing, might +have been gratified. Latterly, when better feelings had been +induced through patience and candour, as the Moorish charts and +MSS. evidence, the inaptitude rather than the reluctance of the +natives, made the shortness of our stay unaccommodating. I shall +pass over a mass of memoranda recorded on individual report, and +only select such, wherein Moors and natives, unknown to each other, +have agreed; describing their travels in their own way, without my +questions anticipating or directing them. These routes and +observations were further confirmed by the evidence of children, +recently arrived as slaves from the various countries, whose +artless replies decided my credence. It may be remarked, that the +children of the African Negroes, early accustomed to travel with +their parents for their convenience or their assistance, and +unoccupied by the difficulties of incipient education, observe +nature more attentively than European children of the same age +would; for they have nothing else to think of, or<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span> to divert the fatigue of these +reiterated trading journies: their evidence, therefore, was a +genuine and acceptable check on the Moorish and Negro adults.</p> + +<p>The difficulty of adjusting geography by investigation only, is +not diminished by the numerous small states, scarcely less frequent +than those of modern Italy, which we find to compose this part of +Western Africa.</p> + +<p>Any thing like observations of the Sun’s place, during a +journey, seemed to be so uncommon to the Natives, and so secondary +to the Moors, from their confused accounts of the occasional +changes, that, after expending much time to no purpose, I was +obliged to content myself with placing the different kingdoms in +the same direction as their several paths bore from Coomassie, +taking every precaution to be convinced that the paths did not +cross each other; and afterwards adjusting the positions by the +various auxiliary evidence which occurred in the general course of +my enquiries. I allow 15 miles for each days journey (which, from +observation and report, I have reason to think is the average) and +two thirds of the sum to be made good on the horizontal distance, +as we found this to be nearly the case in our journey from +Annamaboe to Coomassie; the distance travelled being 146 miles, +Annamaboe laying in 5° 4′ N., and 1° 43′ W., and the latitude of +Coomassie being 6° 34′ 50″ N.; and the longitude 2° 11′ W. by the +mean of the observations of the eclipses of Jupiter’s 1st and 2nd +satellites.</p> + +<p>I procured the numerals of the various countries whenever I +could, to assist future enquirers.</p> + +<p>There are nine great paths leading from Coomassie, the Dwabin, +Akim, Assin, Warsaw, Sauee, Gaman, Soko, Daboia, and Sallagha.</p> + +<p>Dwabin is not more than three quarters of a day’s +journey<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span> eastward +from Coomassie, by the route No. 1.; in which I have retained only +the larger towns, omitting the villages; as I shall invariably. The +river Dah is crossed close to the westward of Dwabin, and said to +be as wide as we found it at Sarrasoo. Two journies beyond Dwabin +is a small dependent district called Mohoo. Several names, such as +Meäsee, Marmpon, Akrofroom, &c. will be found common to +different states, as Larissa, Argos, and Thebes were in antient +Greece.</p> + +<p>There is an eastern branch of the Akim path, entered immediately +on leaving Coomassie, to a country called Quaöo, northward of Akim, +(of which it seems formerly to have been a district) and adjoining +the Volta. Diabbee is its principal town, and the second Wantomoo, +8 journies from Coomassie by route No. 2. The latter is situated at +the foot of a mountain whence the Boosempra issues, with two +smaller rivers, the Soobirree and Sesee, running to the Kirradee. +This district is entered the 3d day from Coomassie.</p> + +<p>There are two routes to Accra through Akim, the capital of which +is Bannasoo, 5 journies, and the northern frontier town Feëa, 3 +journies from Coomassie. The easternmost route to Accra is 15 +journies; the other is made 17 journies to pass near the lake +Boosmaquee. This lake, 3 journies from Coomassie, was described as +four miles long, and nearly three broad; upwards of thirty small +crooms were reckoned situated around it, supported by fishing: the +water was said to be unpleasant to drink, and to give a reddish hue +to the hair of the people who washed in it. Fish were forwarded +thence daily for the King’s table, by relays of men. It was called +the white mans fetish, there being a popular superstition, +nourished by the Moors, that Europeans were to join it with the +sea, to introduce vessels for the subjugation of the country. Close +to the lake is a mountain called Quashee Boposoo,<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span> sometimes seen clearly from +Coomassie, abounding in large black stones, described as basaltes. +By this route (No. 3.) to Accra, the Akim country is entered the +4th day, the Boosempra is crossed on the 6th, by a tree laid over +it, and the Birrim, by a line and raft on the 12th; it is much +wider than the Boosempra is where we crossed it, and runs to that +river, falling into it just above our crossing. The Aquapim, a +clear and mountainous country, is entered on the 16th day. By the +eastern route, No. 4, the Akim country is entered the 4th day; a +large hill called Abirrawantoo is passed the 9th; thence the Birrim +springs, crossing the path twice before it runs to the Boosempra. +Three days westward from this mountain, is a second, called Papow, +in which the Aïnshue or the Winnebah river rises. A river called +Dinshue rises also in this neighbourhood, running to the Saccomo, +which falls into the sea 8 miles west of Accra. Isert, who visited +Aquapim, called the capital Kommang, but Akropong is so now. The +distance from Coomassie to Accra may be estimated at 230 miles, +which bears about the same proportion to the horizontal distance, +as the path we travelled through Assin from Annamaboe. Dr. Leyden +was much imposed on in the extravagant account he has given of the +extent, power, and commerce of Akim,<a id= +"FNanchor_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> +which is placed in the map accompanying his work, eastward of +Dahomey, instead of westward of the Volta. Dr. Isert was a Danish +gentleman, who had the good fortune to cure the former King of +Ashantee’s sister of a lingering disorder, after she had exhausted +all the skill of the<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_165">[165]</span> fetish women, and came to Christiansburg +Castle in despair. He afterwards expressed his wish to visit the +Ashantee kingdom; and being encouraged, he set out in June 1786, +and staying some days in Aquapim, was just about to enter Akim, +when he was recalled by the Governor. A dangerous illness, +heightened by his disappointment, soon afterwards disgusted him +with the country, and he left it for the West Indies. As Dr. +Isert’s letters are only known in German and Dutch,<a id= +"FNanchor_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> +and he was an industrious and scientific observer, an extract from +his description of the Aquapim country will be acceptable. I am +indebted for a Latin translation of this and other passages, +adduced on different subjects, to Dr. Reynhaut of Elmina +Castle.</p> + +<p>“I began my journey early in the morning of the 17th of June, +and after walking two hours I arrived at a little village, +picturesquely situated, named Aschiama. Two hours behind this lies +a chain of mountains, which are composed of granitous stones; +flints are but rarely found. The whole prospect shews itself here +in a very different manner to that observed in sandy countries; the +rocks are covered with lofty trees, which are encompassed with +small forests almost impervious. The soil, no longer sandy, becomes +argillaceous, and excellent for vegetation. Behind these forests I +arrived at a Negro village called Abodee, eight leagues from +Christiansburg: the inhabitants of this place are very tenacious of +native ceremony and etiquette. Thence I passed by an irregular path +through the following villages, Fiasso, Fientema, Futu, Mampon, +Odaky, Manno, and Manseng. An hour afterwards I reached a village +named Kommong, the residence of H.R.H. the Duke of Aquapim. Here +the country is charming, though forests are still to be found. +Mountains, rocks, and vallies vary each<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_166">[166]</span> other in the most striking order; fresh +water, so rarely obtained in maritime countries, is found here of +an excellent quality. Near this village a stream constantly rushes +from the summit of a rock, and affords a fresh and crystalline +water. Trees of a very large circumference are also found; I +calculated one of the biggest to be 45 feet round and 15 in +diameter. These trees are not the same as those of which Adanson +speaks in his description of Senegal, (Adansonia digitata) but are +of a peculiar species; they much resemble a round tower, as they do +not bear either flowers or fruits. Here I found the Ammonium Grana +Paradisi, the Ammonium Zerumber, and a new genus in a perpendicular +tree ornamented by flowers, which resembled tulips, (Novum Genus +Tetandriæ) and of great elegance: also a new species of aloe, of +which the inhabitants make thread; a new species of citron with +indented leaves, and a multitude of unknown trees and shrubs. In +the thickest forests grows a species of Spanish cane, very straight +and well proportioned, and often attaining six feet in height; it +is to be wished that it could be made use of, treating it as the +Chinese do, for if, when dry, an equal degree of tenacity could be +induced, it would prove superior in quality. I observed, on the +boughs of the trees, the Senna plant (which is parasitic, and +consists entirely of a flower), it was almost the shape of a pine +when open, and the inside is of a very deep red; the Negroes use it +in the syphilitic disorder, when first attacked. I took it for the +Aphuteia Hydrora of Thunberg, but on examination it differs much, +as it belongs to Icosandria. Palm trees are here very rare, except +the oliferous (Elois Guineensis) and the viniferous (an Phœnix) +which are cultivated in great numbers; also the true cocoa nut +trees (Cocas nucifera) and the false (an Borassus.) In a word, +nature entirely changes her form as soon as you reach the summit of +the chain of mountains, and I do not believe one<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span> twentieth part of the plants +found here are the same as those on the Coast. With regard to +natural history, I was less happy in making discoveries. The +elephant, so abundantly inhabiting the environs of Fidah, (Whydah) +and other wild beasts, are here very rare, which may be attributed +to the scarcity of grass, the growth of which is prevented by the +almost impenetrable forests. Several sorts of birds are here seen, +principally paroquets, of which I knew six species, Psittacus, +Erythæus and Pullarius (Linn.) the others seem to be new, and I +also saw a great number of insects of new species. The mineral +kingdom would perhaps be richer if they had mines here. The rocks +are solely composed of rough stones like granite and grens, and +their species; dry quartz and slate stones are often found; on the +other hand I could not discover calcareous earth. The soil is +varied, but consists in general of a rich aluminous earth, traced +in different colours, and of a rich black earth with which sand is +never mixed. The atmosphere seemed more salubrious than on the sea +coast, though physicians generally deny this quality to exist near +the forests which grow in warm climates. I believe the elevated +situation of the country contributes much to it. The Europeans who +inhabit the Coast in forts, would do well to establish an hospital +and a garden here. The Arum Esculentum, the Banana (Musa sapientum) +the Ananas (Bromelia Ananas) the Carica Papaia and Citron all +abound here.”</p> + +<p>The Assin path is that described in the route from Annamaboe to +Coomassie, it branches off at Foosoo to Ensabra, two journies from +Winnebah, through Anissoo, Asoidroo (the head quarters of the King +of Ashantee in the invasion of 1807) and Atoäperrim, which means +“to fire a gun.” The principal town of Assin is Ansa, through which +we passed, Akrofroom, apparently larger, is called the second. A +range of stony hills is the boundary of Assin and Akim.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span>The path to +Elmina, through the Warsaw country, makes so considerable an angle +to the westward, that the Ashantees invariably declared it occupied +more time to travel than the Assin; it is allowed to be ten +journies at Elmina, by route No. 5. The Dah is crossed the first +day at its town Adahsoo, and in the evening Becquoi (one of the +five large towns built by the Ashantees) is reached. The Dankara +country is entered the third day, the Tufel the fourth, the Warsaw +the sixth, the Boosempra is crossed the tenth day, the Ofim, which +skirts this path to the westward (having received the Dah at +Meeäsee) falling into it. The capital of the Dankara country is +four journies westward of Coomassie, and the frontier is entered +the second by route No. 6: it is the most productive of gold, but +has been extravagantly over-rated in Bosman’s report of its +population. The river Seënnee, or, as the Portuguese have called +it, Ancobra, from its serpentine course, has been thought to rise +just beyond the north eastern frontier, but it will presently +appear to be a branch of the Tando of the Ashantees. In the Dutch +copies of the old Portuguese charts, Dankara is placed eastward of +Ashantee. The Warsaw country will be noticed more particularly, in +considering the maritime geography from Cape Coast Castle to the +river Assinee.</p> + +<p>The Warsaw path has two grand branches, one to Apollonia and one +to Aöwin, each thirteen journies; the former is in the small +kingdom of Amanăheä. The Aöwin country extends from Apollonia to +the river Assinee, five journies in length and three in breadth; it +is governed by seven or eight caboceers, like those of Warsaw, +independent of each other: it can furnish about 5000 soldiers. The +numerals of Amanăheä and Aöwin will appear in an essay on the +Fantee language. Both countries are at the mercy of the Ashantees, +who extort gold from them frequently, though they have not yet +fixed the tributes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span>Sauëe lies eight +journies W.N.W. from Coomassie, and Moinsan fifteen. I could not +procure the routes, but Wom and Sannasee are two of the largest +towns which are passed through.</p> + +<p>Buntookoo, the capital of the kingdom of Gaman, is 11 journies +N.N.W. of Coomassie by route No. 7. The river Ofim is crossed the +second day, the Tando the fifth, thence the country becomes open. +Yammee, the frontier town of Gaman, is reached the eighth day. The +name of the King of Gaman is Adinkara; the capital, though not so +large, is allowed to be better built than Coomassie, and the +Moorish influence has been longer established. It is incomparably +the richest country in gold, and small pits were described to me, +like those Mr. Park saw at Shrondo. The numerals are,</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t169"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Tah.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Noo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Sah.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Nah.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Taw.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Torata.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Toorifeenoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Toorifeessa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Toorifeena.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Noonoo.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">The four principal Gaman towns, are Sarem, which +some call the capital, Bandakeeä, Bundoo, and Nasseä, five journies +from Kong, and seven from Buntookoo.</p> + +<p>A powerful kingdom called Bahooree, which has hitherto +successfully resisted the Ashantees, was described to be westward, +and expected to afford refuge to the King of Gaman on the +approaching invasion.</p> + +<p>I had heard it reported that the Tando formed the Assinee +river,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span> about 35 +miles westward of Cape Apollonia, but a very intelligent Ashantee +satisfied me this was a mistake, arising probably from Seënee being +the native name of the Ancobra, which is formed by one branch of +the Tando; a second running westward. The Tando is not near so +large as the Boosempra, and therefore very unlikely to form so +large a river as the Assinee; the western branch may possibly run +into it. Mr. Meredith, writing from report without sufficiently +checking it, has made the Tando and the Chamah or Boosempra the +same; yet, p. 225, he adds, “the Volta is more probably a branch of +the Tando, a large river reported as running to the eastward, and +which the Ashantees are obliged to cross in coming to the Coast;” +he did not reflect that he thus laid down a river running out of +the sea. The Tando, we have seen, is five days northward of +Coomassie, it rises in some rocky hills called Toofeeä, near the +large town Aënkroo, between the Banda and Inta paths.</p> + +<p>Soko (formerly a province of Gaman) is 11 journies from +Coomassie; and Banda, four beyond, and a little to the eastward; +see route No. 8. The first day, Tafoo is reached, a large +aboriginal Inta town, for, as will be seen in the historical +report, the Ashantees emigrated, and subjected several Inta +districts now forming the northern part of their dominions, and +trenched considerably on that declining kingdom, now entirely at +their mercy. If Mr. Dalzel had reflected, it would have occurred to +him, that the Taffoe, Tafoe, or Tafu of Snelgrave (placed so +absurdly in his map, 60 miles west of the mouth of the Volta) and +the In-ta<a id="FNanchor_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17" class= +"fnanchor">[17]</a> he heard of at Dahomey, and confounded with +Ashantee, were the same: for the In in In-ta is scarcely audible, +and only a slight nasal sound barely amounting to n, as N-ta; foo +is merely an adjunct equal to people or men in our language, +affixed in the present<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_171">[171]</span> infancy of African language to all names of +countries, as if we always said the Scotchmen or Irishmen, instead +of the Scotch and Irish. The Ofim is crossed one day beyond Tafoo +at its croom Ofeesoo, the Tando four journies beyond at Tandosoo. +Takima is reached the eighth day, whence the Fantees are reported, +by tradition, to have emigrated, and there is yet but little +difference in the languages.</p> + +<p>Sixteen journies N.N.E. of Coomassie is Boopee (which I have +placed accordingly in 8° 42′ N. and 1° 19′ W.) the frontier town of +Inta, hitherto confounded with Ashantee, than which it is more +populous and more civilized. The Moorish influence has been long +established there, and almost all its caboceers affect to profess +that faith. The river Adirri, which we shall presently identify +with the Volta, is crossed four hours southward of Boopee, and is +described as about 120 yards broad; it rises eight journies N.W. of +Boopee, in a large mountain called Kondoongooree, one of the +mountains of Kong, which were distinctly and invariably reported +not to be a chain, but frequently and individually scattered, from +Kong eastward. Seven journies from Coomassie, on the Inta route, is +the smaller kingdom Coranza (probably the Corisseno of the old +maps) the people of which are of the same origin as the Ashantees +by tradition, but, as the King himself assured me, of much more +genius and aptitude. Three journies from Boopee is Daboia, the +second town of Inta. The first journey is to Minsiroo, where lions +are numerous; the second to Moronko, the inhabitants of which are +so fearful of being carried off as slaves by the Ashantee traders +(who travel in great numbers) that they have no doors to their +houses, but ascending by a ladder, which they immediately draw up, +they enter through the thatch. Close to Moronko is a river, about +as large as the Boosempra, called Adiffofoo. Pahmee, three journies +south eastward of Daboia, and Yabo which I cannot<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span> place so precisely, are the +alternate residences of the King of Inta. There is a constant +commercial intercourse between Inta and Dahomey, the frontiers +being five journies apart. The numerals of Inta are</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t172"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Koko.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Anyoe.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Assa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Anna.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Annoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Assee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Assoonno.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Adoobrooa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Digrakoono.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Koodoo.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>Sallagha, the grand market of the Inta kingdom, is 17 journies +north-eastward from Coomassie, by route No. 10. The first is to +Marmpon, one of the five large towns built by the Ashantees, and +possessing palatine privileges; the second, through five smaller +towns to Aphwaguiassie, the largest market in the Ashantee kingdom; +the 9th day the rivers Kirradee and Oboosoom are crossed, each +about 60 yards wide, and flowing so near together, as to appear one +in the rainy season; a high mountain, Aduarreekennee, is just +beyond them, the boundary of Ashantee and Booroom. The tenth day +the river Sennee is forded, which afterwards enlarges considerably, +and runs into the Volta; it rises five journies from Coomassie (by +route No. 11) between the Boopee and Sallagha paths. The Booroom +country is quite open, and the Ashantees give the river the +figurative name of Birrinsoo, which means that its distance is so +deceiving, that you will cry before you reach it. The capital of +Booroom is Guia, a considerable town, noticed in the route to +Odentee, a fetish sanctuary of great repute, and said<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> to be splendidly furnished. +The Ashantee language is spoken very commonly in Booroom, but the +vernacular numerals are</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t173"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Ekoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Enoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Essa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Enna.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Annoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Esseä.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Assoono.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Aquiay.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Akonno.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Edoo.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">The tenth day the Adirri or Volta is crossed, more +than a mile wide, but much interrupted by rocks, and described to +be full of hippopotami (which they call sea elephants,) and +alligators. This river divides Booroom from Inta, Sallagha being +one day’s long march from it. Calculating the 17 journies to +Sallagha at 15 miles each, the course as N.E. by E. and supposing +two thirds to be made good on the horizontal distance, according to +our own experience, which gives 170 B. equal to 147 G. miles, +Sallagha will lie in latitude 7° 56′ N., and longitude 9″ W. As a +check upon this position, it will be necessary to follow the Adirri +or Volta as far as the natives navigate it from Adda, where it is +called the Flou (as the falls of the Senegal.) Isert’s report may +be interesting as an introduction.</p> + +<p>“The people of Adda think it derogatory to cultivate land, and +live by fishing, and making salt, which they sell to the people of +the Interior. The Volta has no breakers, and therefore may be +presumed to be deep.” This is an extraordinary mistake; Dalzel says +there are high breakers. Colonel Starrenberg (of Engineers) at +Elmina Castle, who went about 60 miles up the Volta, +accompanied<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span> by a +Danish officer and flag, and met with no impediment so far, but +turned back reluctantly in three or four fathoms of water, observed +to me, that he thought the channel between the breakers about a +mile wide. Dalzel mentions an American brig making good her passage +over the bar, on which there is about two fathoms water; and a +Danish schooner has done so since. “An arm goes from the mouth to +Quitta.” This must be the river running from Lagos into the Volta, +near the mouth, as will be shewn in considering the errors in the +maritime geography. “Six English miles from the mouth, it forms a +lake 60 miles long and 48 broad, whence an arm extends to Pottriba, +3 miles eastward of Quitta: in this lake are more than a hundred +islands.” Colonel Starrenberg thought the river widened about 9 +British miles from the mouth, but the number of small islands +prevented even ocular demonstration. So large a lake would +certainly have been spoken of by the natives to Europeans ere this; +those whom I have questioned, have gone up the river to the extreme +navigable point, and crossed it in many parts; and they all declare +that at Ascharee, 2 days from Adda, it is not two miles wide. I +never could find either an Ashantee, or a waterside native, who +knew of the arm running to Pottriba, a name they had not heard of; +neither could Col. Starrenberg learn any thing of it; no branch +appeared as far as he went. Isert probably alluded, from report, to +the river Assuafroo, which runs from eastward into the Volta, 7 +journies from Adda, as will appear in the natives account. “From +May to December the water is good to drink, being then higher than +the sea; in the other months it is not so, but produces more fish. +The river overflows in July, and August, and the neighbourhood of +its banks is excellent for the cultivation of rice.” Rice is +abundantly cultivated in the Inta kingdom. “Three miles from the +sea is an island, called Bird Island, full of pelicans of peculiar +kinds. There<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span> is a +fish in this river called hardrass, which, when smoked, is exactly +like European salmon. There are also hippopotami and crocodiles: +quantities of oysters adhere to the mangroves, but when the river +is fresh they are good for nothing. There are a great number of +singing birds, and a nightingale equal to the Polish, which sings +in May and December.” Col. Starrenberg heard a nightingale, but saw +only one hippopotamus. There is a kind of cedar tree, (Avicenniæ +nov. spec.) which shoots up many branches from the ground, about as +thick as a pipe, and bare of leaves: this tree is so very salt in +its nature, that in the morning a great quantity of liquid salt is +found on the leaves, chrystallizing in the course of the day.<a id= +"FNanchor_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> +Amalfee is on an island, 48 miles from the mouth, the inhabitants +of which, and those on the banks of the river, of Agrafee, Wefee, +Tophirree, and Bettoo, call themselves river inhabitants. The +former are the brokers of slaves for the<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_176">[176]</span> Creppee country, and receive a vast number +from one of its provinces called Acottim, 3 journies eastward.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Meredith could scarcely have enquired about the Creppee or +Aquamboe countries, to have placed them west of the Volta. The +natives who carry salt up the Volta, pull the 1st day, by Agrafee, +Foomee, and Tefferee to Amanfee, on the banks; the 2nd to Dofo on +an island; the 3rd, by Ascharee, on the western bank, to Adomë; the +4th by Assafoo to the Aquamboe country; the 5th to Sowa; the 6th to +Pessee; the 7th by Appasoo, to Deyatoompon, where a large river +flows into the Volta from the eastward; to Doodee the 8th; to Tombo +the 9th; to Akorosoo the 10th; to Odentee the 11th. Here the river +becomes too rocky to proceed conveniently, and hence to Sallagha by +land is 4 journies, through the large towns Oboëkee, Akuntong, +Enkungquakroo, and Apapassee, famous for making cotton cloth. There +is a small state northward, between Aquamboe and Inta, called +Anoöchoo, subject to Ashantee, bordering on which is Guasoo, the +southern district or province of Inta. The Creppee country borders +on Aquamboe eastward, and is independent.</p> + +<p>I am not in possession of Colonel Starrenberg’s bearings, but +the course of the river may be pretty well ascertained from fixing +the points of Odentee, Quaöo, and Ascharee. Odentee is 6 journies +southward of east (by route No. 12) from Pattooda, in the Booroom +country, and mentioned in the route to Sallagha. Quaöo, the country +where the Boosempra rises, has already been mentioned as entered 8 +journies from Coomassie. Ascharee, 2 days and a half pull up the +river, is reached in 1 day’s walk from Ningo. The course of the +Volta is consequently about W.N.W. to Quaöo, N.E. by N. to Odentee, +and N.W. by Sallagha, which course it appears to continue to +Boopee, if not to its source in the Kondoongooree mountain. The 10 +days pull from Adda to Odentee, and<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_177">[177]</span> the 4 journies by land thence to Sallagha, +agree very well with the distance and position of that place, as +before calculated by the 17 days route from Coomassie. The houses +of Sallagha and other towns of Inta were mentioned as peculiar from +being round. Leo Africanus observed houses built in the form of +bells at Timbuctoo.</p> + +<p>Seven days from Sallagha, N.E. according to the Moors, through +the Inta town of Zongoo, is Yahndi, the capital of Dagwumba, which +I have placed, calculating the course at N.E. by E., and allowing +18 miles for each journey, as the country is said to be open, in +55′ E. and 8° 38′ N.: the position is assisted by the common +account of its being 8 journies from Daboia, by route No. 13, and +that two obscure, but direct paths to Daboia and Yahndi, from +Coomassie, occupy the first 19 days, and the latter (described as +laying between Daboia and Sallagha) 23 days. Sir William Young, in +his Report of the Geography and History of Northern Africa, writes, +“the Slatees of Old Calebar are said to carry on their trade to +Degombah <em>northward</em>,” which also supports my placing it +more to the eastward than it appears in Major Rennel’s map. Yngwa, +a district and large town of Dagwumba, is said to lie 8 days +north-westward of Yahndi, through Sakoigoo; its distance from +Daboia, by report 6 journies, places it about N.N.W. Two journies +from Daboia, towards Yngwa, is the river Adiffofoo, about 60 yards +wide, running eastward, 2 journies from which is Kooboro, a large +Dagwumba town.</p> + +<p>North-eastward of Yahndi is Tonomah, of which I do not recollect +more than the name, though I think it is a town and district of +Dagwumba. The kingdom of Tonowah, of which Assentai has been +described as the capital by the Shereef Imhammed,<a id= +"FNanchor_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> +must<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span> have been +derived from this name, being otherwise unknown. Three journies +north-eastward of Yahndi is Sokoquo or Ensoko, also a considerable +town.</p> + +<p>Yahndi is described to be beyond comparison larger than +Coomassie, the houses much better built and ornamented. The +Ashantees who had visited it, told me, they frequently lost +themselves in the streets. The King, Inăna Tanquăree, has been +converted by the Moors, who have settled there in great numbers. +Mr. Lucas called it the Mahomedan kingdom of Degomba, and it was +represented to him as peculiarly wealthy and civilized. The markets +of Yahndi are described as animated scenes of commerce, constantly +crowded with merchants from almost all the countries of the +interior. Horses and cattle abound, and immense flocks are +possessed even by the poorer class. The numerals of Dagwumba and +Yngwa differing, I submit both.</p> + +<table class="padded2" id="t178"> +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th><em>Yngwa.</em> +</th> +<th><em>Dagwumba.</em> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Lakoo</td> +<td>Yahndo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Ayee</td> +<td>Ayee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Attah</td> +<td>Attah</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Anāhee</td> +<td>Nasee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Leerennoo</td> +<td>Ennoon</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Ayoboo</td> +<td>Yohbee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Ayapaï</td> +<td>Poiee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Annee</td> +<td>Nehenoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Awai</td> +<td>Whyee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Peä</td> +<td>Edoo.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">Yahndi is named after the numeral one, from its +pre-eminence. Sarem is the name of a region, including Gaman, Inta, +and Dagwumba, so called from the open nature of those +countries.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span>One day from +Sallagha, towards Yahndi, and scarcely one journey westward from +the latter, is the river Laka, described to be as large and as +rapid as the Adirri or Volta, which it joins below Odentee, and may +therefore be safely concluded to be the Assuafroo; for the names of +rivers are very mutable in Africa, each country through which they +pass naturalising them to its own language, and thus increasing the +perplexities of a geography founded on investigation. I could not +procure any authorized account of the northward course of this +river, the best opportunities had escaped me when I heard of +it.</p> + +<p>Five journies N.E. from Yahndi is the smaller kingdom of Gamba, +the birth place of Baba the chief Moor at Coomassie, and the +boundary of the Ashantee authority, though its influence, through +the much respected medium of Dagwumba, would extend to the Niger. +Seven journies northward of Yngwa is the kingdom of Fobee: the +river Koontoorooa is crossed four days from it, being about half a +mile broad, it has an eastern and western branch, the former +running to the Karhala, one day farther, considerably wider, and +the course south-eastward. One journey from the river is a large +mountain called Sarraka, the same distance from Fobee, the capital +of the kingdom. Lakoo, Lamma, Karhala, and Koomada are the next +largest towns. Five journies northward is an independent kingdom +called Chouoocha. The position of Fobee is checked by Goorooma, +being 15 journies from it, (a kingdom to be noticed presently in +the direct northern route from Yahndi to Houssa,) and Kawerree only +nine, doubtless Cayree, a kingdom in the route of the Moors from +Coomassie to Jinnie. The numerals of Fobee are</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t179"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Koroom.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Nalay.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Poompevarra.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span>Four</td> +<td>Leetaynalee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Kakwassee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Mannassa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Noottoosoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Borafay.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Pirrifay.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Nanooa.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">Five journies from Yngwa is Mosee, a more warlike +but less visited kingdom; it consists of many states, but the +superior monarch is named Billa, and the capital Kookoopella. I +place this N.W., because, although its traders pass through Yngwa, +they do not cross the Karhala, or indeed any river but what they +can walk through. The numerals are</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t180"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Yimbo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Ayeeboo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Ataboo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Annasee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Annoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Ayobee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Owhi.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Ennee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Aïhopoi.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Peega.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>A few days northward of Fobee, through Chamday and Kobafoo, is +Calanna, described as a very large city, rivalling Yahndi as a +market, and situated at the foot of a mountain abounding in iron +stone, which they manufacture for rude purposes in much the same +manner as Mr. Park witnessed at Jeningalla. Calanna is probably the +Calanshee of Imhammed, who told Mr. Lucas that it was a dependency +of Tounouwah or Assentai, situated mid-way between it and the +coast, 18 journies from each. The numerals are</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t181a"> +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span>One</td> +<td>Kodoom.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Naboolla.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Naweedazoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Nabonaza.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Nabonoa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Lodoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Logwa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Littaïzoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Nako.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Yewoo.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>Kumsallahoo I have not attempted to lay down, having no other +guide for placing it than the report that it is one moon’s journey +from Dagwumba, that its traders pass through Mosee, and cross only +one river, the Fachinga, and that not large. The numerals are</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t181b"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Yumbo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Yeeboo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Tabo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Nasee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Annoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Yobo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Poihee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Nehee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Wahee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Pega.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>We will now return to Coomassie and proceed northwards to +Jinnie, or as it was generally pronounced, Jennë. This route to +Tombuctoo (or Timbooctoo) is much less frequented by the Moors than +that from Dagwumba, through Houssa. They alledge that the people +northward, are neither so commercial, so civilized, or so wealthy +as those north-eastward. The first 12 journies are to Buntookoo, +seven journies whence is a river called by the natives<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span> Coombo, and by the Moors, +Zamma; it is described as half a mile broad, and running westward. +I could not find any Ashantee who had travelled beyond this river, +which is the northern limit of their authority. Five journies +eastward of north from the river, is Kong, the King of which is +named Asequoo. A large mountain called Toolileseena is near the +capital, and a small river, Woora, four journies from it. The +kingdom is said to be by no means so wealthy or powerful as that of +Ashantee; the market is supplied from Houssa, the country is +populous, horses numerous, and elephants killed daily. The people +fight with spears, and bows and arrows. Seven journies from Kong +several mountains are passed, called Koonkoori. Mr. Park says, that +“Kong signifies mountain in the Mandingo language, which language +is in use from the frontier of Bambarra to the western sea.” The +language of Kong seems to be a corruption of the Bambarra or +Mandingo: the numerals are</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t182"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Kiddee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Filla.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Sowa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Nanoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Looroa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Wora.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Ooranfilla.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Leeaygee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Konunto.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Tah.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>The Ashantees calling all the slaves whom they brought down to +the water side Dunkos, it had been, for many years, naturally +concluded that there was a large country of that name in their +neighbourhood. Isert writes, “the Dunkoers are a people behind +Ashantee.” On enquiry, however, I found to my surprise, +that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span> there is no +country of that name, but that it is merely an epithet, synonymous +with the barbarian of the Greeks and Romans, which they apply to +all the people of the interior but themselves, and implies an +ignorant fellow. I first suspected this from observing some Dunkos +were cut in the face, and some not, and I presently discovered +their vernacular languages were various, and unintelligible to each +other. Generally speaking, the bush or country people of Dagwumba +have three light cuts on each cheek bone, and three below, with one +horizontal under the eye; those of Yahndi, three deep continued +cuts; the people of Mosee, three very deep and long, and one under +the eye; those of Bornoo are frequently cut in the forehead; of +Marrowa all over the body in fine, small, and intricate patterns. +In Fobee, Kumsallahoo, and Calanna, the lower orders have a hole +bored through the cartilage of the nose. These cuts are made during +infancy, to insinuate fetish liquids to invigorate and preserve the +child.</p> + +<p>Nine journies northward of Kong is Kaybee, the King of which, +named Mamooroo, killed the former monarch Dabbira. The country was +said to be very populous, the capital behind a mountain called +Beseeree, the soil chalky, and asses as numerous as horses. Three +journies from the frontier of Kaybee, over a large mountain called +Seboopoo, and across a large river, is Kayree, through which +country it is very dangerous to pass, the people laying in ambush +in small parties to rob or kidnap travellers, and subsisting by +rapine. Five journies thence is Garoo (probably Gago<a id= +"FNanchor_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a>) +a very powerful kingdom, the King, Batoomo, lives at Netaquolla. +Twenty journies beyond is the kingdom of Doowarra, the people of +which are indifferent warriors, but superior agriculturists, +and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span> plant +extensively; the soil is red earth. A smaller kingdom called +Filladoo or Firrasoo, is in the neighbourhood. Five journies north +of Doowarra is the Niger, and on an island, about a mile from the +southern bank, is Jennë. The route from Kong to Jennë is the only +one which has not been checked by Negro evidence, but I had reason +to think well of the Moor who furnished it, who never contradicted +himself, though repeatedly cross questioned during the four months +I was at Coomassie. The places reported to Mr. Park on this route, +it is true, are none of them mentioned, but, probably, the people +who were insuperably adverse to his proceeding, were the least +likely to satisfy his curiosity but by imposing on him.<a id= +"FNanchor_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> +Mr. Park in his route from Sego to Bædoo, has a town called +Doowassoo, only four journies from Sego; but I was assured +repeatedly that Doowarra is a powerful kingdom. In the first +Mission, Mr. Park reported the kingdom of Gotto to be so close to +the Niger, that its chief, Moösee, embarked on it to attack Jinnie, +and Major Rennell has placed it accordingly: but, in the second, he +writes, “one month’s travel south of Bædoo,” (which he makes 30 +journies southward of Sego) “through the kingdom of Gotto, will +bring the traveller to the country of the Christians, who have +their houses on the banks of the Ba Sea Feena.” He says the Ba +Nimma rises in the Kong mountains south of Marraboo, but does not +mention the kingdom of Kong in his route, which is about one moon’s +travel from the sea, as he has described Bædoo to be.<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span> Now it is very unlikely, if +Bædoo had been but 20 journies from Coomassie, that we should not +have heard of it; and it is next to impossible, that if any kingdom +called Gotto laid still nearer, (which it must have done, to have +been passed through from Bædoo to the sea) that it should have been +unknown. Indeed, if the kingdom of Bambarra extended 28 days south +of Sego, as appears by the route given to Mr. Park, the Ashantees +would not have spoken of it from mere report, but would probably +have become acquainted with it, either through war, commerce, or +negotiation. It is a little extraordinary that the kingdom of +Ashantee, reported as eminently powerful to Mr. Lucas even so far +distant as Mesurata, and which must be well known in the +neighbourhood of Jennë, from the number of Moors who visit it from +that city, should not even have been noticed to Mr. Park in this +southern route from Silla or Sego to the sea. Mr. Park writes of +the Moors not being able to subject Jinbala; I believe they +insinuate themselves as residents every where, but I could not hear +of their having established themselves by force, or of their +composing even the greater part of a population any where.<a id= +"FNanchor_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22" class= +"fnanchor">[22]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span>Having reached +the Niger it is time to observe, that it is only known to the Moors +by the name of Quolla, pronounced rather as Quorra by the Negroes, +who, from whatever countries they came, all spoke of this as the +largest river they knew; and it was the grand feature in all the +routes (whether from Houssa, Bornoo, or the intermediate countries) +to Ashantee. Mr. Horneman wrote that the Niger, in some parts of +Houssa, was called <em>Gaora</em>, which must sound very like +Quorra. The Niger, after leaving the lake<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_187">[187]</span> Dibbir, was invariably described as +dividing in two large streams; the Quolla, the greater, pursuing +its course south-eastward until it joined the Bahr Abiad, and the +other branch running northward of east near Timbuctoo, and dividing +again soon afterwards; the smaller stream running northwards by +Yahoodee, a place of great trade,<a id="FNanchor_23"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> and the larger turning +directly eastward, and increasing considerably, running to the lake +Caudi or Cadi under the name of Gambaroo.<a id= +"FNanchor_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> +The Moors call the branch running by Timbuctoo the Jolliba, I +presume figuratively, as a great water, for I was assured by a +native of Jennë, who had frequently visited Timbuctoo, that this +branch was called Zah-mer by the Negroes.<a id= +"FNanchor_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25" class= +"fnanchor">[25]</a></p> + +<p>The variety of the concurrent evidence respecting the Gambaroo, +certainly made an impression on my mind almost amounting to +conviction. De Lisle, in his map of Africa for the use of Louis XV, +(the accuracy of which in one point where our latest charts are in +error, the Lagos river, will be shewn towards the close of this +Report) makes a branch from the Niger running near Timbuctoo; and +what is even more to the point, writes “Gambarou ou Niger.” It was +not till sometime after my return from Ashantee, that I +unexpectedly discovered this solitary European record of such +a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span> name, and it will +at least be allowed that so respectable a character as De Lisle, +would neither have laid down the branch from the Niger (for it is +as likely to be so in the absence of explanation, as a river +running into it) without some authority, nor have invented the name +Gambarou: and it will also be allowed, that he must have heard of +it as being a very large river, to have confounded it with the +Niger. De Lisle has preserved most of the names reported to me, +more closely than any other geographer.<a id= +"FNanchor_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> +In the judicious compendium of Mr. Murray, I observe the following +note. “It is but justice to D’Anville to say, that in his map of +central Africa, inserted in the 26th volume of the Academie des +Inscriptions, he has represented a river passing close to +Timbuctoo, running S.W., and falling into the Niger. This +delineation has not been copied by others, but it is not the less +probable that that excellent geographer may have had positive +information on which to found it.” Now, I may presume, this is only +recorded in delineation, and not noticed by D’Anville in the text, +or, his authority would have appeared. I shall be indulged in such +a conjecture, when it is<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_189">[189]</span> recollected I am writing where I cannot +satisfy myself, in a place destitute of literary facilities. If it +is only to be found in the delineation, it is of course, as likely +to be a branch running N.E. from the Niger, as a river running S.W. +into it. Mr. Park has described the Niger as dividing into two +large branches after leaving Dibbie, and their re-union has been +admitted by considerate investigators, to be a very improbable +addition to that report.<a id="FNanchor_27"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> Sidi Hamet assigns no +course to the great river which he described as about an hour’s +ride with a camel south of Timbuctoo, and distinguished from the +Niger, or, as he called it, Zolilib, by saying the latter was two +hours ride. Adams placed La-mar-Zarah, about three quarters of a +mile wide, two miles south of the town, without hesitation, but he +only <em>conceived</em> that the course was S.W.<a id= +"FNanchor_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> +Leo, ambiguous as the context may be, certainly writes that there +is a <em>branch</em> of the Niger passing Timbuctoo, “Vicino a un +ramo del Niger.” Mr. Beaufoy’s Moor says that below Ghinea is the +sea into which the river of Tombuctoo disembogues itself; on which +Major Rennell observes, “by the word sea, it is well known the +Arabs mean to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span> +express a lake also:” this river of Timbuctoo is, doubtless, the +branch of the Niger forming the Gambaroo, and the sea below Ghinea, +the lake Caude. In the Description de l’Afrique, traduite du +Flamand, D’O. Dapper, à Amsterdam, 1686, I find “Ce Royaume de +Tombut ou Tongbutu environ à quatre lieuës <em>d’un bras</em> du +Niger.” The account, to be submitted presently, that this branch of +the Niger passing Timbuctoo is not crossed until the third day +going from Timbuctoo to Houssa, is not an argument against its +identity with the Zarah of Adams, or the river of Sidi Hamet, only +two or three miles from the city; because, giving a northerly +course to the branch, and Houssa laying north eastward 20 journies +from Timbuctoo, as will be shewn presently, the direction of the +path would not require the river to be crossed immediately, but, +evidently, not till the second or third day.</p> + +<p>De Barros, who considered the Senegal to be the Niger, wrote, +that it received various names,<a id="FNanchor_29"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> and was called by the +Caragoles (Serawoollies) Collë; on which Mr. Murray reasonably +observes, “this name seems readily convertible into Joli-ba, the +latter syllable being merely an adjunct, meaning a river:” this I +was also given to understand. Now, if the name Joliba had not been +reported on the authority of Mr. Park, I might submit that Collë is +more readily convertible into Quolla, which approximating even more +closely to Kulla, seems to identify the Collë and Kulla under the +common name of Quolla.<a id="FNanchor_30"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> Mr. Park in his memoir to +Lord<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span> Camden, +writes, “the river of Dar Kulla, mentioned by Mr. Browne, is +generally supposed to be the Niger, or at least to have a +communication with that river.” The name and course of the Quolla +suggested this to me before I observed the above remark, which I +did not until my return.<a id="FNanchor_31"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> Other arguments will +presently appear for the identity of the Kulla and the Niger.<a id= +"FNanchor_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32" class= +"fnanchor">[32]</a></p> + +<p>The Gambaroo seems to me to identify the Gir of Ptolemy,<a id= +"FNanchor_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> +carried by him into the centre of Africa, and which would appear as +large as the Niger by the expression, “maximi sunt Gir et Nigir.” +The river of Bornoo, hitherto assumed, is not adequate to the +impression Ptolemy conveys, and the names “Gir et Nigir,” seem to +indicate a connection. The Niger may be considered to terminate +when the smaller stream is lost in the Nile.</p> + +<p>Concerning the source of the Niger, there was a difference of +opinion amongst the Moors, and not the least notion amongst the +Negroes. Some said that it rose in Bambooch, meaning, as I presume, +Bambouk, and others in Jabowa, where they described another large +river to rise also, running westward. Jabowa was said to be 40 +journies from Sego, and Bambooch 43.</p> + +<p>From Jabowa the Niger was described to run to Fouta Gollabi, and +in six days thence to Fouta Towra; the Moors must certainly have +meant Foota Galla, and Footatora, for their +pronunciation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span> was +more imperfect than their knowledge of the native names westward, +whither they rarely travelled. I induced a Moor on each side the +question, and of different countries, to draw in my quarters, +unknown to each other, what they called a chart of the Quolla, for +the sake of preserving the several names in their own writing. They +were only inferior to one Moor, from whom I never had an +opportunity of inducing a chart. Both parties met, apparently, at +Hasoo, as will be seen by submitting the names.<a id= +"FNanchor_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34" class= +"fnanchor">[34]</a></p> + +<table class="tabw40" id="t192"> +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th class="width6"><em>Bambooch.</em> +</th> +<th> +</th> +<th><em>Jabowa.</em> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<th class="small"><em>Journies.</em> +</th> +<th> +</th> +<th> +</th> +<th> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">10</td> +<td colspan="2" class="tdl hang1">to Gadima, probably Gadoo, little +more than 6 journies from the capital of Bambook, according to +Major Rennell.</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">20</td> +<td>to Hasoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Hasoowa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">4</td> +<td>to Jaoora</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Jaoona.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">2</td> +<td>to Jamoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Gamsoö.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">5</td> +<td>to Mallaïa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Mallaïu.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">2</td> +<td>to Shégo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Sego.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>Sego was correctly described according to Mr. Park, and the +death of the monarch he first knew spontaneously mentioned, with +his warlike disposition, and great power. Mr. Park observes that +he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span> found the +language of Bambarra a sort of corrupted Mandingo; this confirms +the numerals repeated to me as the Bambarra:</p> + +<table class="padded2" id="t193"> +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th><em>Bambarra.</em> +</th> +<th><em>Mandingo.</em> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Killi</td> +<td>Killin.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Foolla</td> +<td>Foola.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Sabba</td> +<td>Sabba.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Nani</td> +<td>Nani.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Looroo</td> +<td>Looloo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Wora</td> +<td>Woro.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Worroola</td> +<td>Oronglo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Sagi</td> +<td>Sie.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Konunto</td> +<td>Konunto.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Ta</td> +<td>Tang.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">From Sego to Sansanding was called one journey, +from Sansanding to Jennë three. Jennë was described as on an island +of the Niger, the town considerable, and fortified, and with large +houses to pray in. I did not understand that it was subject to +Timbuctoo; it certainly has a distinct monarch, who was called +Malaï Smaera, and the head Moor, Malaï Bacharoo. From Jennë through +Dibbir, at the entrance of which is Sanina, to Kabarra or Kabra, +the port of Timbuctoo (half a day’s walk from it) is a voyage of 20 +days. By land, it was only 12 journies, through Mashena (Masina) +Farrimabbie, Jimballa (the Jinbala of Mr. Park, which they +persisted was not on an island of the Niger, but on the northern +bank of it) Taäkim, Assoofoo, Zeddaï, Douraï (probably the Downie +in Major Rennell’s map) Matarooch, and Makkasoorfoo, probably the +Soorka’s, whom Mr. Park mentioned as inhabiting the northern bank +of the river between Jinnie and Timbuctoo: he also writes that it +is 12 journies by land from Jinnie to Timbuctoo. The horizontal +distance from Jennë to Jimballa, on Major Rennell’s map is about +100 B. miles, and thence to Timbuctoo 90 more. Now<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span> 12 journies at 18 miles, give +but a horizontal distance of 144 B. miles, wherefore, I should +think the northern bank of the lake Dibbir, is not so high as it +has been hitherto drawn, and the path so distant as not to be +deflected by any curve of the lake. Timbuctoo was described as a +large city, but inferior to Houssa, and not comparable with Bornoo. +The Moorish influence was said to be powerful, but not superior. A +small river goes nearly round the town, overflowing in the rains, +and obliging the people of the suburbs to move to an eminence in +the centre of the town, where the King lives. This is, probably, +the smaller river described by Sidi Hamet as close to the town. Leo +says, when the Niger rises, the waters flow through certain canals +to the city. There were very few muskets to be seen; the King, a +Moorish Negro called Billabahada, had a few double barrelled guns, +which were only fired at customs, and gunpowder was almost as +valuable as gold. The two latter circumstances, besides the name of +the river, were all that I recognised in their reports confirming +the description given by Adams, which I conceive to be as +inadequate as those collected by Mr. Jackson are extravagant.<a id= +"FNanchor_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> +The three last Kings before Billa, were Osamana, Dawoolloo, and +Abass. Mr. Jackson says there was a King Woollo reigning in 1800, +and a Moor who had come from Timbuctoo to Coomassie ten years ago, +did not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span> know King +Woollo (Adams’s King) was dead, as he was reigning at the time he +left Timbuctoo. Abass probably had a short reign like Saï Apokoo +the second. This Moor also said that Woollo’s favourite wife +(called by Adams, Fatima) was named Fatooma Allizato. The editor of +Adams shews that the name of Fatima, affords in itself no proof +that its possessor was Moorish, or even a Mohammedan woman. I think +it is probably derived from a numeral, for it answers to five in +the numerals of Garangi (a country described to be northwards of +Jennë) which are</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t195"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Kerriminna.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Ferriminna.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Sowaninna.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Firrima.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Fahtima.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Tata.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Mannima.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Pirima.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Missirĭma.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Guahee.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">Numerals are frequently added to names in +Ashantee.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the old ms. which I purchased with difficulty from a +Jennë Moor, will recompense the translator by a fuller account, but +I fear religion only is the subject. It contains thirteen pages, +with some marginal notes in a different hand. I should have +observed, that, generally speaking, I found the Moors very cautious +in their accounts, declining to speak unless they were positive, +and frequently referring doubtful points to others whom they knew +to be better acquainted with them. I did not succeed in procuring +the numerals of Timbuctoo, but the language is different from that +of Houssa, as the words opposed to those recollected by Adams will +shew:</p> + +<table class="padded2" id="t196"> +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_196">[196]</span><em>Timbuctoo.</em> +</th> +<th><em>Houssa.</em> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Man</td> +<td>Jungo</td> +<td>Motoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Woman</td> +<td>Jumpsa</td> +<td>Motee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Camel</td> +<td>So</td> +<td>Rakoomee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dog</td> +<td>Killab</td> +<td>Karree.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cow</td> +<td>Fallee</td> +<td>Saneä.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>House</td> +<td>Dah</td> +<td>Garree.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Water</td> +<td>Boca</td> +<td>Looa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tree</td> +<td>Carna</td> +<td>Leeseeä.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Gold</td> +<td>Or</td> +<td>Jennarreä.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A Moor</td> +<td>Seckar</td> +<td>Bibay.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>From Timbuctoo<a id="FNanchor_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36" +class="fnanchor">[36]</a> to Houssa is 20 journies; the three first +through a woody country, and over the branch of the Niger to +Azibbie, the frontier town. Houssa was said to be the largest city +north or south of the Quolla, except Bornoo; the Moorish influence +to have been established there beyond memory, and the King’s name +Serragkee. Cabi is not the name of the kingdom, but of a large +dependent town and district on the Niger. Mallowa, or Marrowa, as +the Negroes pronounce it, (for they seemed invariably to substitute +<em>r</em> for the <em>l</em> of the Moors, as Quorra for +Quolla)<a id="FNanchor_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37" class= +"fnanchor">[37]</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span> +is the next extensive in its limits to Bornoo. It is, no doubt, the +kingdom of Mellè, misplaced by Leo, and reported to Cadamosto in +1455, as 30 journies beyond Timbuctoo. Major Rennell observes, “we +should naturally look for it on the eastward of Timbuctoo,” and it +has only been placed south eastward, and south of the Niger, +because Edrisi has a city called Malel thereabouts, though he calls +the name of the kingdom of which it is the capital Lamlam, which +Hartman would reconcile by supposing it to be a transposition of +Malel, certainly a forced conjecture.<a id= +"FNanchor_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> +A large town called Mahalaba is the nearest I have found to Malel, +to be noticed on the route from Dagwumba to the Niger.<a id= +"FNanchor_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> +In speaking of all fortified cities, the negroes of Mallowa +invariably prefixed Berinnë or Brinnë to the name, as an indication +that they were so; this was always the case in mentioning Houssa, +Cabi, Cassina, Katinna, &c. &c. I shall place the numerals +of Cassina, as written by Mr. Lucas after the Shereef Imhammed, to +the right of those of Houssa or Mallowa, from their close affinity, +perhaps identity; for this language is spoken far eastward, and the +Shereef, as we shall presently see, was rather inaccurate in his +recollection of the numerals of Bornoo.</p> + +<table class="padded2" id="t197"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Daia</td> +<td>Deiyah.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Beeyoo</td> +<td>Beeyou.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Okoo</td> +<td>Okoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Odoo</td> +<td>Foodoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Beä</td> +<td>Beat.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span>Six</td> +<td>Seddah</td> +<td>Sheedah.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Becquay</td> +<td>Bookai.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Tacquass</td> +<td>Takoos.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Tarra</td> +<td>Tarrah.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Gwoma</td> +<td>Goumah.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>Two large lakes were described close to the northward of Houssa, +one called Balahar Soudan, and the other Girrigi Marragasee. +Calculating the 20 journies from Timbuctoo at 18 miles each, +supposing two-thirds to be made good on the horizontal distance +(equal to 212 g. miles) and the course N.E., I have placed Houssa, +18° 59′ N. and 3° 59′ E. This agrees pretty well with the account +of its being 17 journies from the Niger, or Quolla, which give 306 +B. miles, and the horizontal distance 176 g. miles. Houssa has +hitherto been laid down about 2 journies N. of the Niger. I have an +impression that the city of Houssa will be found to lay about +E.N.E. of Timbuctoo, of course nearer the Gambaroo, which runs +through its dominions, and thus account for the reports of its +being situated upon the Niger. Leo certainly meant Mallowa and the +Gambaroo, when he wrote, “Melli regio quæ extendit se ad flumen +quoddam quod ex Nilo (i.e. Nigro) effluit trecenta millia passuum,” +adding, “regnum opulentissimum, maximè artificum et mercatorum +copia, frequentia templa, sacerdotes et populus qui Nigritas omnes +civilitate antecedunt;” which they certainly appear to do: see a +few of their articles for the British Museum. May not the Maurali +of Ptolemy be the Melli of Leo, and the modern Mallowa or Marrowa? +his large adjunct to the Niger to the south indicates the two +rivers. Major Rennell seems to have expected the present discovery, +when he writes (commenting on Mr. Park’s report that Houssa was 30 +journies by land from Tombuctoo, and 45 by water) “Possibly it may +be that Houssa is situated on a different river from that which +passes by Tombuctoo<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span> +(the Joliba,) but which may be an adjunct of it, and may run into +it in the quarter of Tombuctoo.” In Dapper’s translation of the +Description De l’Afrique du Flamand, 1686, I find “Cette contreé +(Melli) s’etend environ cent lieuës <em>le long d’un bras</em> du +Niger.”</p> + +<p>Tarrabaleese, 50 journies westward of north, was much spoken of +from the number of its market places. This must be Tripoli, the +Arabic corruption of which is Trabŏlis. The Moors gave me a route +to Tunis or Toonis, but I cannot recognise any name in Major +Rennell’s map, (which I could not procure until my return,) unless +Sabbai be Sebba, and Mookanassa Mourzouk, in Fezzan. There is also +another route eastward which I cannot trace. See <a href= +"#app3">Appendix.</a></p> + +<p>From Kabarra the Quolla, continuing its course southward of +east, passed by Uzzalin, Googara,<a id="FNanchor_40"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> Koolmanna, Gauw, +Tokogirri, (perhaps the Tokrur of Edrisi and Gatterer) Askeä, +Zabirmë, and Cabi to Yaoora, which I imagine to be the Youri of +Major Rennell’s map.<a id="FNanchor_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41" +class="fnanchor">[41]</a> De Lisle places a kingdom, Yaouree, south +of the Niger. It is a very celebrated ferry, occurring in a variety +of routes from the north of the Quolla to Ashantee, spoken of +always as westward of Cassina, and with little variation as 25 +journies from Timbuctoo. Now as the Moors called it one day’s +journey from Sego to Sansanding, and Mr. Park made it scarcely +more, I will assume this as the rule to calculate the distance from +Timbuctoo to Yaooree, and afterwards consider its place according +to the routes from Dagwumba, through it, to Cassina. Twenty five +journies from Timbuctoo would place Yaoora about 70 miles +above<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span> the Berrisa +in Major Rennell’s map, but this makes the horizontal distance from +Yaoora to Dagwumba about 850 B. miles, and therefore too great for +42 journies, the greatest number allowed in the routes from +Dagwumba to Yaoora.</p> + +<p>I would not presume to investigate after Major Rennell, it would +be absurd in me to expect to throw any new interest into the +discussion, but by making clear the accounts I collected; to do +which I must decline the course of the Niger from Cabi (Mr. +Horneman writes it flows southward from Haoussa) even to a junction +with the Bahr Kulla. For, placing Yaoora in 13° 30′ N. and 8° 30′ +E. in conformity with its distance from Timbuctoo and a declining +course to the Kulla, the horizontal distance to Yahndi, the capital +of Dagwumba, will be 600 B. miles: now 42 journies, the greatest +number allowed by the travellers, at 20 miles each, (rejecting one +third, as heretofore, lost in the windings of the path) give the +horizontal distance at 560 B. miles. This is certainly an +additional argument to the similarity of the names Quolla and +Kulla, for the identity of these rivers; but not so strong a one as +that the routes both of Moors and Negroes, allow but 40 journies +from Dagwumba to the point of crossing the Niger for Houssa. The +course to this point was described by the Moors as a little to the +eastward of north: now 40 journies on a N.N.E. course, by the +former rule, places this ferry 15° 1′ N. and 3° 33′ E. agreeing +very well with our previous position of Houssa, and proving that +the course of the Niger must decline considerably, for more than +two extra journies would otherwise be required for the north +eastward route from Dagwumba to Yaoora. Major Rennell only writes +that the course of the Niger is <em>probably</em> to Wangara. Mr. +Ledyard, in his comparatively minute description of that country, +(which I shall notice in the route to Bornoo) says nothing of its +bordering on the Niger. Major Rennell, in the construction of +the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span> geography of +Mr. Horneman’s report, writes, “M. D’Anville also had an idea, and +so describes it in his map of Africa, 1749 (possibly from actual +information,) that the Niger declined to the south beyond Gana, so +that the termination of it in the lake Semegonda was 3½ degrees of +latitude to the south of Gana.” There is a kingdom called Kulla as +well as a river, and there is also a kingdom Quollaraba: raba being +probably no more than an adjunct equal to the prefix dar, and +signifying a kingdom. Mr. Dupuis, in his notes on Adams, says of an +intelligent Negro, “his account was chiefly curious from his +description of a nation which he called Gallo or <em>Quallo</em>, +which conveyed to me an idea of a people, more advanced in the +arts, and wealthier than any that I had previously heard of: within +three days journey of the capital was a large lake or river which +communicated with the Wed Nile.” The commended arguments of the +Quarterly Review, (which I have never had the advantage of +reading,) must be in a great degree auxiliary, in arguing, to +support the Congo hypothesis, a course of the Niger equally +declined with that which I have followed for the identity of the +Quolla and Kulla. The junction of the Quolla with the Bahr Abiad, +or Nil, as the Moors called it, cannot be more descriptively +expressed, according to every account I received, than in the words +of Mr. Horneman. “Some days past I spoke to a man who had seen Mr. +Brown in Darfoor, he gave me some information respecting the +countries he travelled through, and told me that the communication +of the Niger with the Nile was not to be doubted, but that this +communication before the rainy season was very little.”<a id= +"FNanchor_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42" class= +"fnanchor">[42]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span>We will pursue +the course of the Quolla from Yaoora (where I should judge from +description it must be about 3 miles wide) before we apply the +routes northward of it.<a id="FNanchor_43"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> One journey eastward of +Yaoora, (sometimes called Yawooree by the Negroes,) it passed +Nooffie, doubtless the Nyffe of Mr. Horneman and others, and which +De Lisle has written Nouffy: 3 journies thence it passed Boussa, +which Amadi Fatouma reported, as it was to me also (see <a href= +"#Page_90">Diary</a>) as the place of Mr. Park’s death, but I could +hear nothing of the rock and door. Boussa is not in Major Rennell’s +map, but I observed Bousa in the map of De Lisle before alluded to; +it is probably the Berrisa of Edrisi. Twelve journies thence it +passed Atagara, but, previously, Hoomee, and Rakkah.<a id= +"FNanchor_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> +Southward of the latter, they described an inland country called +Koofee, possibly Kosie, a country I shall presently introduce, as +visited by a mulatto, behind Lagos. Thirty journies from Atagara, +it flowed through the kingdom of Quollaraba,<a id= +"FNanchor_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> +which thus falls precisely where<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_203">[203]</span> Major Rennell has laid down the kingdom of +Kulla. Six journies thence it passed Mafeegoodoo, and 13 journies +beyond, the lake Cadee or Caudee. This I should consider to be the +Cauga of Edrisi, which Major Rennell has identified with the Fittri +of Mr. Brown, for into this the second large branch of the Niger, +or the river Gambaroo, is said to run; but it is considerably too +much to the southward for the Cauga in Major Rennell’s map, being, +according to the accounts of the Moors, only 3 journies northward +of the Quolla: yet Edrisi writes “besides a river of the name of +Nile or Neel <em>passes by</em> Kauga.” What inclines me to think +the Cauga may be more distant from Bornoo the capital, though not +from the frontier of that kingdom, (15 journies being the number +reported to me as well as to Mr. Brown) is, that the Negroes of +that city were not so well acquainted with this lake as the Moors. +My sketch in the <a href="#map1">map,</a> of course, represents the +sketches and descriptions of the natives. They described the Cadee +or Caudee as an immense water, like a small sea, frequently +overflowing the neighbouring country, and sometimes so convulsed as +to throw up large quantities of fish and other contents; meaning, +in short, a volcanic lake. The Moors called it also the Bahr el +Noä, having a tradition that the waters of the deluge retired to, +and were absorbed in it. A very high mountain was spoken of, at an +equal distance between the Caudee and the Quolla.<a id= +"FNanchor_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> +Twelve journies<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span> +from Caudee, the Quolla received the river Sharee from northward, +which, I imagine, if not the Misselad, may be a river deriving its +name from the Abu Shareb of Major Rennell’s map. The Quolla was +said to pass to the southward of Bagarrimee, (the Baghermee of Mr. +Brown.) Kalafarradoo, (I cannot find any name nearer to this than +the Courourfa of De Lisle, and Kororfa, said in Mr. Beaufoy’s MSS. +to be W. of Begarmee). Foör (Darfur, according to Mr. Brown, means +the kingdom of Foör) and lastly to skirt Waddaï, the Waddey of Mr. +Horneman, who wrote that it was east of Begharmee, and west of +Darfoor; but, as it was reported to me east of Darfoor, by every +person, and as Mr. Brown did not hear of it to adjust its position, +I have placed it so.<a id="FNanchor_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47" +class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p> + +<p>The junction with the Nile having taken place, as Mr. Horneman +before reported, south of Darfoor, they continued the course to a +large country called Soonar,<a id="FNanchor_48"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> indisputably the kingdom +of Sennaar. Hence to Massar,<a id="FNanchor_49"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> or Egypt, they did not +always agree themselves in the various names, nor can I recognise +any on the map, unless their Shewa Abenhassa be Bennassa, Minsoor, +Misur, Gammeacha, Gammazie; Sooess, Sohaig; Kaheea, Kahoul; +Zaragoo, Nayazoogoo; and their Lamabalara, in the country +of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span> Egypt, the Bahr +be la ma of Mr. Horneman; of the latter there can be no +doubt.<a id="FNanchor_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50" class= +"fnanchor">[50]</a></p> + +<p>My friend, the Shereef Brahima had, as well as some others, been +to Mecca and Medina. I place great reliance on this man’s +information (invariably confirmed by the Negroes) from his caution +and diffidence, and my experience of his character; for he was +ultimately a valuable friend to the Mission: he was the only Moor +who dared to refuse to be present at human sacrifices. The MS. No. +2. is his writing, and professedly the route from Dagwumba through +Bornoo to Massar,<a id="FNanchor_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51" +class="fnanchor">[51]</a> it consists of six pages well written. +This would have been a valuable man to have engaged to travel +through the interior, for he was capable of making circumstantial +minutes, and I think he might have been engaged to do so by a +moderate Fort pay. The Moors talk much of the King of<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span> Santambool,<a id= +"FNanchor_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> +as a powerful monarch and formidable to the Christians.</p> + +<p>It will excite surprise that I heard nothing of Wangara,<a id= +"FNanchor_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> +as was the case with Mr. Brown, not even after I had, contrary to +my general custom, submitted the name: but I heard very much +spontaneously of Oongooroo. Mr. Horneman called Wangara, Ungura, +and De Lisle, Ouangara, we shall find it in the route from Yaoora +to Bornoo or Barranoo. Bornoo was described to me about north-east +from Yaoora, which agrees very well with Major Rennell’s position, +established beyond all contradiction short of an observation, but, +the horizontal distance, (lowering the place of Yaoora as I have +done) thence to Bornoo would be upwards of 1000 B. miles, whereas +they described it to be but 51 journies, which allowing 20 miles to +each, as the country was said to be much more favourable to +travelling, and the path more direct than that we came, would give +but an horizontal distance of 680 B. miles. Mr. Horneman heard that +Bornu was but 15 journies from Kassina; I was told 33 if walked, 19 +if rode. Major Rennell has made the distance about 30 journies, +considering the 15 journies applicable to the western boundaries of +the empire, and not to the capital.</p> + +<p>We will now return to Yahndi and proceed northwards to Houssa. +Nineteen journies from Yahndi is Matchaquawdie, six beyond is +Goorooma, 10 thence Dolooë, subject to Goorooma, and only five +journies from the Quolla, described as about two miles wide there. +When Amadi Fatouma mentioned that he passed<span class="pagenum" +id="Page_207">[207]</span> Gourouma, I should suppose he meant this +kingdom of Goorooma, Dolooë, as subject to it, being probably +included under that name. I must impress, however, that this +northern route from Dagwumba to the Niger, being, with that from +Kong to Jennë, the only ones unauthenticated, otherwise than by +cross examination, I do not report them with the same confidence, +which I do the others. Two journies from the northern bank of the +Quolla is Gamhadi, to which three large towns belong, Dogondaghi, +Toodonkassalee, and Toompasseä, and numerous dependent crooms. +There were three routes from Gamhadi, the first northward to Houssa +15 journies, passing the large river Gambaroo the ninth, between +which and Houssa is a district called Zessa. The second route is to +Katinnee, a city and state of the Mallowa kingdom, one month from +the Quolla. On this route the Gambaroo is crossed the tenth day, +and Sowhoondë, Souoola, (perhaps Sala) Quattaraquassee, Doorooma, +Soroo, Zabbakou, Dinka, Doochingamza, and Dammisamia were mentioned +as large towns on the route. The third route was through the +Fillanee country, (doubtless the Fullan<a id= +"FNanchor_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> +of Ben Ali) which had been frequently at war with Mallowa, to the +kingdom of Kallaghee, 14 journies from the Quolla, the Gambaroo +being passed the tenth. The numerals of Kallaghee are</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t207"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Gadee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Sillil.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Quan.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Foolloo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Vydee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Zoodoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Etkassa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span>Eight</td> +<td>Shiddowka.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Woollaä.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Woma.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">A country called Barrabadi was described eastward +of Mallowa, between it and Bornoo; its numerals corresponded with +those of Bornoo.</p> + +<p>We will now return again to Dagwumba, and follow the route +thence, over the Quolla, through Yaoora to Bornoo. Gamba we have +already described as five journies north eastward of Yahndi, thence +two journies, over a high mountain called Yerim, and across a river +running southwards (which the Moors called Mory, but which it would +seem is the continuation of the Karhala) is Gooroosie, four +journies thence Zoogoo, probably the Zeggo of Major Rennell’s map; +10 farther the kingdom of Barragoo. De Lisle has placed his kingdom +of Bourgou thereabouts. North-westward of Barragoo is Koomba, the +Kombah of Major Rennell’s map. The position of this kingdom is +pretty well ascertained, because those who came from it, described +Goorooma as its northern neighbour, and Barragoo to be the first +kingdom passed through in their journies to the coast below Whydah. +Eight journies from Barragoo is Toombeä, three beyond is +Goodoobirree. A river running to the Quolla (as it was said, but +more probably from it) called Leeäsa, flows close to the eastward +of this path, and is crossed, going from Goodoobirree southwards, +to a large kingdom called Yariba by the Moors, but Yarba more +generally by the natives. Major Rennell has drawn a river +communicating with the Niger close to Youri, so has De Lisle. This +river Leeäsa is the only one I heard of, answering in the least +degree to that of Sidi Hamet, but Wassana was a name unknown. +Aquallie is the frontier town of Yariba, one journey from +Goodoobirree, and one from Bootee, second only to the capital, +Katanga, four journies<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_209">[209]</span> beyond it. Yariba was described to be about +24 journies, through Hio, (its immediate neighbour) from +Arătakassee or Alătakassee, which we shall hereafter recognise in +Ardra: this determines its position pretty well.<a id= +"FNanchor_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> +Dahomey was said to be tributary to Yariba, as well as to Hio, +which I have an impression is also tributary to Hio. From Hio to +Dahomey is seven journies. The military are despotic in Hio, they +always intercept the new King on his way to the palace, and demand +his naming some neighbouring country for their invasion and +plunder, before they confirm him. The King before the present, had +named Dahomey, but after three years neglect of the fulfilment, he +ordered the army against a northern neighbour. The army went, +wasted and pillaged the country, but when within a day’s march of +the capital on their return, they sent deputies to enjoin his +abdication, as inevitable to a falsehood to them; he was obstinate; +they arrived and cut off his head. The numerals of Hio are</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t209"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Innee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Eygee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Etta.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Ernee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Aroon.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Effa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Eggay.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Eggo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Essun.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Eywaw.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span>The +Hio man, who gave me the above numerals, spoke of the Apaccas as a +more powerful northern neighbour, but I never heard of them from +any other person.</p> + +<p>Yariba must certainly be the Yarba of Imhammed, though he +described it as 18 or 20 journies from Gonjah towards the N.W., for +he is likely to have been incorrect in this, because we have proved +him to be so, in stating, that Ashantee was the capital of +Tonouwah, which appears to be a district or town of Dagwumba, the +people of which kingdom are by no means warlike as he represented +them, nor have they any notion of taming the elephant: he reported +that Calanshee was a dependency of Ashantee, whereas no Ashantee +knows the name; that Gonjah was 46 journies from the coast, when it +is but 30. Major Rennell reasonably conceived the Yarba of Imhammed +to be the Yarra of De Lisle, at the back of Sierra Leone, but as +this country is not preserved in his own map, I presume it cannot +be of much consequence, politically or commercially, whereas +Yariba, indisputably eastward of Kong, is always announced to +enquirers, both by Moors and Negroes, as a very powerful, and much +frequented kingdom. Another argument is, that all the Moors I saw +at Coomassie, were almost ignorant of the countries westward, only +speaking of those their enquiries for the source of the Quolla had +made known to them: indeed, I did not see one who had travelled +westward, or south westward of Bambarra, but our Accra linguist +told me that he had recognised a Moor at the Rio Pongos, whom he +had seen in Coomassie (when sent there on the eve of the second +Ashantee invasion) who told him that he had been two months +travelling from Kong, and crossed a very large river. Imhammed’s +Affow (if not Taffoo, or the Inta country) I conceive to be Afflou, +a town and district of the Krepee or Kerrapay country, and a short +walk from the sea by Quitta, westward of Yarba, as he says, but +more than eight journies.<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_211">[211]</span> The Kerrapay country, which is extensive +and independent, will be described, in proceeding from Cape Coast +Castle, along the coast, eastward.</p> + +<div class="plate"> +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="map2"><a href="images/map2_large.jpg"><img src= +'images/map2.jpg' alt=''></a> +<table class="width-full"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl ipub"><em>London published as the Act directs by +John Murray Albemarle Street 4<sup>th</sup>. Jan<sup>y</sup>. +1819.</em> +</td> +<td class="tdr ipub"><em>J. Walker Sculpt.</em> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +</figure> +</div> +</div> + +<p>To return to the route from Yahndi to Yaoora, three journies +from Goodoobirree towards the Quolla through Gillimakafoo, +Garagaroogee, and Paänghee, is the large city of Kaiama, and four +beyond it, through Mahalaba, (the nearest name to the Malel of +Edrisi,) Marramoo, and across the small river Wooroo, (running to +the Quolla) is the city of Wauwaw,<a id="FNanchor_56"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> three journies from the +Quolla. Ten journies from the northern bank, through Yaoora, and +skirting the eastern limits of Zamfara, is Goobirree, so called by +the Moors, and Goobur by the Negroes.<a id= +"FNanchor_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> +Mr. Beaufoy learned that Gubur was to the south of Wangara, and De +Lisle writes it Goubour. Thence to Kassina, having crossed the +large river Gambaroo, is eight journies. Eighteen journies, +calculated at 18 miles each on a N.E. course, from the altered +position of Yaoora, would place Kassina in 15° 43′ N. and 10° 43′ +E., instead of 16° N. and 11° 45′ E. Mr. Lucas learned that Kassina +was five journies from the Niger, or about 100 miles from that +water, which it is likely to be from the upper branch or the +Gambaroo, which river skirting Kanoo, and Oongooroo, (or Wangara,) +before it descends to the lake Cadee, (though I could not prove +satisfactorily that it did so,) would account for Edrisi’s placing +Kano, and Wangara, on the Niger.<a id="FNanchor_58"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> From Kassina to Dawoorra +is six<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span> journies: +this must be the Daura of Mr. Horneman, though in the drawing of +the Marrabut it is placed north of Kano. From Dawoorra to Kanoo is +four journies. D’Anville placed it 90 miles to the N.E. of Kassina, +and in the drawing just alluded to, it is placed inland northward +of the Niger. The only authority for supporting Edrisi’s position +of it, is what Mr. Matra was told at Marocco. The Moor who informed +Mr. Beaufoy that boats went with the stream to Ghineä, (the Gano or +Kano of Major Rennell) placed Jinnie between it and Houssa, so +gross an inaccuracy as to justify our doubting him on the other +point. The Ginea of Leo more probably meant Jennë, and he seems to +write of that navigation as a distinct one from that to Melli +eastward.<a id="FNanchor_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59" class= +"fnanchor">[59]</a> From Kanoo, through the large towns Madagee and +Adagia, to Oongooroo is nine journies, but seven on a joma or +camel, “Est iter octo dierum versus orientem” (Edrisi.) From +Oongooroo to Barranoo is 15 journies on foot according to the +Moors, nine on horseback according to the Negroes, by route No. 12. +Bornoo or Barranoo was spoken of as the first empire in +Africa,<a id="FNanchor_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60" class= +"fnanchor">[60]</a> the King’s name, according to the Moors, was +Baba Alloo, but the Negroes called him Massinnama.<a id= +"FNanchor_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> +Kassina, and the intermediate countries on<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_213">[213]</span> the route, were subject to him with many +others. One district belonging to Bornoo was named Panaroo, and the +vassal King or governor of it, Yandee Kooma. A small river, called +Gaboöa<a id="FNanchor_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62" class= +"fnanchor">[62]</a> by the Negroes, ran southwards near Bornoo, and +six journies eastward from it, close to Aweeac, a large one +Zerrookoo Keroboobee. Mr. Horneman writes, the Wad el Gazel is not +a river, but a large and fertile valley. The Negroes of Bornoo were +well acquainted with Baghermee. Imhammed’s recollection of the +numerals of Bornoo must have been very imperfect, for I have +written them at least half a dozen times, both from Moorish and +Negro inhabitants, and my spelling agreed with that of another +person present. They are</p> + +<table class="padded2" id="t213"> +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th> +</th> +<th><em>Imhammed’s.</em> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Leskar</td> +<td>Lakkah.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Ahndee</td> +<td>Endee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Yaskar</td> +<td>Nieskoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Deegah</td> +<td>Dekoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Oöogoo</td> +<td>Okoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Araskoo</td> +<td>Araskoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Tooloor</td> +<td>Naskoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Woskoo</td> +<td>Tallóre.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Likkar</td> +<td>L’ilkar.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Meeägoo</td> +<td>Meikoo.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">Ben Ali said the language of the common people of +Bornoo had a strong resemblance to that of the neighbouring +Negroes. Mr. Lucas writes that no less than 30 languages are spoken +in these dominions. The following are the numerals of Maïha, one +month to the north-eastward, subject to Bornoo, and the King’s name +Smaï Doonama.</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t214"> +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span>One</td> +<td>Lagen.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Indë.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Eäska.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Daäger.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Ohoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Araska.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Tooloor.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Weska.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Likar.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Inagoon.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">The Negroes called Kanem, Kandem; were well +acquainted with Doomboo, and spoke much of the kingdom of +Asben.</p> + +<p>We will now return to Cape Coast Castle, and seek the best +descriptive authorities, in aid of the observations which have been +made by the Commissioners and others, for the maritime geography +from the river Assinee to Lagos.</p> + +<p>The latitude and longitude of Cape Coast (called by the natives +Igwa, and in the Affettoo district) according to Messrs. Ludlam and +Dawes, the Government Commissioners who surveyed the coast in 1810, +is 5° 6′ N. and 1° 51′ W. Elmina, the native name of which is +Addĭna, is about seven miles to windward of Cape Coast. Twelve +miles from Elmina is Commenda, an English fort, the town is called +by the natives Akatayki, the Dutch fort was destroyed in the +American war. Nine miles thence is Chama, or Assĕma, at the mouth +of the Boosempra. Six hours pull up the river, is an island, where +Attobra, one of the Warsaw caboceers, who supplies the Dutch with +canoes, is building a large house to retire to; four hours above +which is his croom. Colonel Starrenberg was pulled three days up +the river in a canoe; his progress was much impeded by rocks, and +at length arrested by a large cataract, which, being considered a +powerful fetish by the natives,<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_215">[215]</span> the canoe-men dared not to approach. Nine +miles from Chama, where the Dutch have a fort called Sebastian, is +Succondee, the first town in the Ahanta country. The English fort +was destroyed by the French in the American war, but there is a +settlement house. The Dutch fort is called Orange. Four miles from +Succondee is Taccorary, and a Dutch fort. Nine miles beyond is +Boutrie where the Dutch have a fort, formerly belonging to the +Brandenburgh Company. Three miles from Boutrie is Dix-Cove, or +Nfooma, and in the interval Boossooä, the capital of Ahanta, which +is divided into three districts, Amanfoo, Adoom, and Poho. The +first is about one journey (through Geämma) behind Boossooa, and +one from the river Ancobra, the caboceer is of the next consequence +to the King, whose power and means are extremely limited. The two +latter districts are not more than half a journey behind Taccorary. +The small river running into the sea at Boutrie, rises in the Adoom +district, which is said to abound in gold, but the pits have not +been worked for many years, from their fear of the Warsaws. Amanfee +also abounds in very fine gold, which is generally found in quartz, +and is ground upon stones arranged under large sheds for the +purpose. In a respectable periodical publication of the last year, +I observe, the King of Ashantee called King of Ahanta, Inta, or +Ashantee; this is one of the many proofs of the indiscriminate +ideas of that monarch before the Mission. Eighteen miles from +Dix-Cove passing Achooma and Accoda, (where the Dutch have a fort, +and which is close to Cape Three Points) are the ruins of +Hollandia, formerly belonging to the Brandenburgh Company, and +called Fort Royal Fredericksburg. Sixteen miles farther is Axim, +where the Dutch fort Anthony, their Vice Presidency, is situated. +The people of Axim speak a dialect of the Ahanta. About two miles +westward is the mouth of the Ancobra, so called by the Portuguese +from its windings, the<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_216">[216]</span> native name is Seënna. Col. Starrenberg, +who went up the river as far as the ruins of Elisa Carthago, the +extreme navigable point, for any but a very small canoe, says, he +cannot form any accurate idea of the distance, but supposes it was +about 20 Dutch miles and the course N.E. Meredith says 50 English: +he was very careless and incorrect in writing, “the French built a +fort on the right bank of this river, and at about 50 miles from +its mouth; where they had a great gold trade, that soon excited the +jealousy of the Dutch, who expelled them. The Dutch however did not +long enjoy this acquisition, for the chief got embroiled with the +natives, and betook himself to the desperate remedy of blowing up +the fort.” Elisa Carthago was built by the Dutch governor +Ruighaven, who died, as appears by his tomb stone at Elmina, before +1700. The French never had any but a small factory, almost at the +mouth of the river, and the Dutch officer in charge of Elisa +Carthago had enjoyed a good trade many years before the cupidity of +the natives reduced him to the act of despair, related by Bosman, +and still recorded by the natives, who narrated it to Col. +Starrenberg. The following is from the Latin translation of Dr. +Reynhaut: “The chief of Elisa Carthago being at variance with the +natives, who invested the fort, and finding he could not resist +them any longer” (for as the story goes, he had been reduced to +fire pieces of rock gold from the want of bullets) “feigned to +treat with them, and invited them for that purpose into the hall of +the fort, under which he had placed several barrels of gunpowder, +and a small boy with a match, ordering him to apply it directly he +stamped his foot on the floor of the hall above. This he did, after +reproaching the natives with their cupidity, and they were all +blown up together. One of the servants of the fort had just before +contrived to effect his escape with most of the papers.” In +navigating from the mouth of the Ancobra or Seënna to +Elisa<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span> Carthago, the +following towns, on the banks, are passed, Boasso, Tarbo, +Marmeresse, Ejujan, Tetchbrouw, Gura, Barnesoe, Uromanio, Afamkan, +and Aduwa. Gura is a small state, the people of which speak the +same language as those of Axim. From Aduwa there are three grand +roads, one to the Aowin country, one to the Dankara, and one to +Asankarie, a considerable town in Warsaw. From Aduwa to Dankara +numerous small crooms are passed through, and the first large one +of the latter country is Kenkoomabaraso, only three journies from +Coomassie. The people of Dankara come to Axim to trade. From Aduwa +to Aowin the first considerable town is Taqua. The Warsaw country +is governed by four caboceers, independent of each other, of whose +relation and power, the best idea I can give, is by comparing it +with that of the tyrants Geron and Theron, who ruled at the same +time in Sicily. Intiffa, the richest caboceer, and whose power +extends the farthest, resides at Abbradie, one short journey from +Elmina. Cudjo Miensa (Miensa is the numeral three) is his principal +counsellor, and will succeed him. Nerbehin was formerly the +residence of Quashee Jacon, another independent caboceer, but of +Intiffa’s family; he was driven from thence by Esson Cudjo, who now +rules there: he fled to Samcow (situated about one day’s journey on +the frontier of Warsaw, behind Succondee) of which Musoe, a slave +of his, has raised himself to be the caboceer, and now protects his +master until Esson Cudjoe’s death. Attobra, another independent +caboceer, lives at Dabroādie, on the Boosempra. The greatest +breadth of the Warsaw country is supposed to be 60 B. miles, and +the greatest length 100 or 120. About 28 miles from the Ancobra, +begins the kingdom of Amanaheä, in which the English fort Apollonia +is situated: it extends about 100 miles along the coast, but not +more than 20 in-land. The various numerals of the coast will be +submitted in an essay on the Fantee language.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span>Barely four +miles eastward of Cape Coast is Moree, and the Dutch fort Nassau. +Six miles from Moree is Annamaboe, the most complete fortification +in the country; five miles thence Cormantine, the first fort +possessed by the English, and built by them about the middle of the +seventeenth century. It was taken afterwards by the Dutch, and +being stormed, was almost destroyed by the Ashantee army, before it +attacked Annamaboe: the position is very commanding. Tantumquerry, +a small English fort, is about 18 miles from Cormantine, (crossing +the small river Amissa, an hour’s walk in-land from which is +Mankasim, the capital of the Braffoe district of Fantee) the +natives call the town Tuam. Eight miles from Tantum is the town of +Apam, where is a Dutch fort and a small river. Eight miles from +Apam is Simpah or Winnebah. The people of Simpah are Fantees, but +their language is called Affoottoo. They are in the district of +Agoona. About nine miles from Simpah is the Dutch fort Berracoe, +the natives call the town Seniah. Attah of Akim laid a contribution +on this fort in March 1811. About 27 miles from Berracoe is Accra, +or Inkran, once subject to Aquamboo, which people, according to +Isert, formerly drove them to Popo. Meredith fully describes Accra +and the environs, but he does not mention that according to the +natives the Portuguese settled here first, (Isert writes in 1452) +and exercising the greatest cruelties and enormities, were +extirpated by the Accras (their town was then situated a little +behind the present), who executed the governor and his countrymen, +on a spot whence they still take the earth to rub a new born child, +in commemoration of the event. Accra, according to the observations +of the Commissioners, is in 5° 20′ N. and 10′ W. Mr. Meredith, +after quoting this observation, placed it in his outline of the +coast in 58′ E. Between two and three miles from the English fort, +is Christiansburg Castle, the Danish head-quarters.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span>We will +follow<a id="FNanchor_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63" class= +"fnanchor">[63]</a> Isert in his route from Accra to the Volta, as +he travelled it several times. “Two miles from Christiansburg is +Labbodee, where there was formerly a fort: this is the residence of +the grand fetish, and the Bishop. Two miles to Pessin, two to +Temmen, where the Dutch had a small fort, abandoned in 1781, two +(leaving Nimboe a little in the bush) to Ponee, a deserted Dutch +fort, now a Dutch factory; two miles thence (crossing a brakke +streek or low land, up to the shoulders in the rains, and 300 +fathoms broad, sometimes called Ponee river) are great and small +Pram Pram, where the English have a small fort or fortified +factory. Two long miles thence is Friedensbourg fort at Ningo, the +people of which speak a different language called Adampee, (the +name given to their country,) a mixture of Ashantee, Kerrapee, and +Accra; it is a republic.” Behind Adampee is the Crobo mountain, the +people of which, though but a few hundreds, have hitherto baffled +the Ashantees, by leaving their croom at the bottom of the +mountain, which is of great height, rugged, accessible but by one +narrow path, and with springs of water on the top, whence they roll +down upon their enemies, the large stones and fragments of rock +which abound. “From Adampee I went in one day to<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span> Addah, 12 miles. Two and a +half from Ningo is a croom called Laï, the inhabitants of which +have removed, some to Addah, some to Ningo: the English had a +factory here, long gone to ruin. One mile west of the Volta, there +was formerly a croom called Foutchi.” Reckoning four English miles +to one Danish or Dutch, Addah would be 96 miles from +Christiansburg, but Meredith makes it but 67, therefore we will +take the medium and call it 87. From the Volta to Cape St. Paul’s +is five leagues by sea, according to Dalzel, and 15 miles by land, +according to Norris’s map of Dahomey and its environs. Quitta, +about 12 miles from it (according to Norris) by the observation +made in H.M.S. Argo in 1802, is in 5° 45′ N. and 1° 29′ 30″ E. by +chronometer. Accra lies, according to the Commissioners, in 10′ W. +Taking the medium between Isert and Meredith, Christiansburg +Castle, about three miles eastward of the English fort, is 87 from +Addah, but as that place is six miles from the mouth of the Volta, +we will call it 81: allowing one mile for the breadth of the river +and 18 miles for the difference of longitude between it and Quitta, +(according to Norris,) the distance from English Accra to Quitta +will be 103 B. miles, which being equal to 89 geographical miles, +place Quitta in 1° 19′ E. instead of 1° 29′ 30″ as by the +observation of the Argo, and that supposing the whole distance to +be made good horizontally, which is impossible. Wherefore I should +think Isert, who had travelled it, was more likely to be correct in +making the distance from Christiansburg to Addah 96 miles, than +Meredith in calling it 67.</p> + +<p>Norris’s observation, placing Cape St. Paul’s in 5° 52′ N., I +conceive to be incorrect, as that of the Argo must be preferred, +which places Quitta in 5° 42′ N., instead of 6° 2′ N., as in +Norris’s map. This should not have escaped Mr. Dalzel’s notice in +the “New Sailing Directions,” where both observations are cited in +the same page, without any remark on the inconsistency, for +Quitta<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[221]</span> and not St. +Paul’s, is thus made the Cape or western limit of the Bight, the +eastern side of which is called the Bight of Benin, I regret, +amongst other disadvantages, that of not having the opportunity to +consult the chart of Mr. Demayne (the master of H.M.S. Amelia) +which is said to be more accurate than any other.<a id= +"FNanchor_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64" class= +"fnanchor">[64]</a></p> + +<p>Quitta is included in an independent state of Kerrapay, called +Agwoona, which extends thence along the coast to the Volta; the +towns from that river to Quitta are Attoko, Terrobee, Footee, +Agwoona, Whiëe, and Tegbay. Agwoona lays half a mile from the +shore, and about 15 miles from the Volta. The inhabitants of all +the other towns are obliged by the law to bury their dead in +Agwoona, the capital; the caboceer of which is supreme over the +others, but not absolute. Between Quitta and Popo, lay the Kerrapay +towns Egbiffeemee, to which several of the Quittas have retired, +Edjenowah, Oöogloobooë, and Afflou or Afflahoo, a little way from +the beach. These towns are governed by caboceers, independent of +each other, as well as of Agwoona; and in the last a mixture of +Adampë and Kerrapay is spoken, accounted for by the emigration of a +large body of the former people. Another independent state of +Kerrapay is Tettaytokoo, 2 journies behind Popo; the King is said +to be despotic, and the capital composed of circular houses. There +is also another smaller interior state, governed by a<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_222">[222]</span> caboceer called Quaminagah. +Tadoo, however, is allowed to be the largest kingdom of Kerrapay, 6 +journies behind Popo, (which the Fantees call Inshan, but the +natives Taun or Taum) described as a large town; and the Accra +language is spoken there as well as the Kerrapay, in consequence of +the temporary emigration of the former people in 1680. The Kerrapay +numerals are</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t222"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Eddee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Effee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Eltong.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Ennay.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Altong.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Adday.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Adrinnee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Ennee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Indee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Owoo.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>The Negroes of this country are of a much more daring and +desperate character than their neighbours, and were always the most +severely treated in the slave ships. Mr. Meredith, who writes it +Crepee, placed it west of the Volta.</p> + +<p>Whydah, according to an observation of the Argo, is 6° 14′ N. 2° +31′ E. I do not recollect Dalzel to have mentioned that Anotto is +produced in the neighbourhood of Whydah. I am not certain whether +it is by the Bixa orellana; but the shrub at Whydah may be classed +under Polyandria Monogynia. Lambe made it 200 miles from Whydah +beach to Abomey; Norris 112, Dalzel 96. By Mr. Norris’s own account +of his journey, not more than 20 hours were occupied in travelling, +which at 4 miles an hour, the greatest pace which I think the +hammock men can average, would make the distance 80 miles. An +officer in this service went to Dahomey, without hurrying, in 3 +days; and considers a dispatch<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_223">[223]</span> would reach it in 2: he thinks it can +scarcely be 70 miles; but calling it 80 as above, and supposing 54, +two thirds, to be the horizontal distance made good, equal to +almost 47 G. miles, Abomey would lay in 7° 12′ N. Yet Mr. Dalzel +writes it lays in about 7° 59′ N.: Whydah being in about 6° 25′ in +the map affixed to his history; this requires 108 B. miles to be +made good on the horizontal distance, whereas he calls that of the +whole journey but 96, and Mr. Norris, who drew the map, 112. The +public were certainly indebted to Mr. Dalzel for the History of +Dahomey, but it was his duty, as an intelligent and considerate +man, to correct such an error as this; and if the author of the +preface had reflected, he would not have written, “The map, is that +of Mr. Norris, with a few additions, which for the places on the +coast, and the position of Abomey, is near enough to the truth.” +Mr. Dalzel should have corrected a greater error in this map, the +course of the Lagos river, for altering which I shall presently +quote his own authority in addition to others.</p> + +<p>An officer in this service, who resided at Lagos three years, +and is the only European resident who has survived of those who +have made the attempt, enables me to correct the following errors. +The Pelican bank is much smaller than it appears on the charts; the +Doo island (which lays N.W. and not N. of Lagos town) where the +natives go to make fetish, is not more than one mile in +circumference; and there is no river of that name. The beach over +which the Portuguese and French (who never cross the bar, where +there are 3 fathoms water) transport their goods to the canoes, is +not more than 100 yards wide, instead of one mile. In Norris’s map +prefixed to Dalzel’s History, the Lagos river is made to cross the +path to Dahomey near Torë. In the Sailing Directions for the Coast +of Africa, to which Mr. Dalzel was the chief contributor, and who +revised the work, we find, “River Lagos is the mouth<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_224">[224]</span> not only of the river of that +name, which runs to the <em>eastward from Ardrah</em>,” &c. and +the river Mr. Norris crossed near Torë, which he calls pretty deep +and rapid, but with a bridge over it, is by the account of other +gentlemen, officers in this service, who have been to Dahomey, no +more than a marsh. The gentleman before mentioned to have resided +three years in Lagos, informs me the grand branch of that river +flows from the northward of the island, where the pretended river +Doo is placed, he found it so wide on entering it, that being in +the middle, where there are 10 fathoms water, he could scarcely see +the land on either side. The current is impetuous, and floating +islands, and large masses of alluvial matter come down with such +force, in the rainy season, as to trip vessels from their anchors +in the English road. De Lisle makes the Lagos river flowing from +the N., and the French are allowed to be much better acquainted +with this part of the coast. That called the West river in Norris’s +map, is only a creek; and what he calls the Lagos river, and draws +running close to Bădaggry, Ardrah, and passing Torë, is the Western +river. Bădaggry is not more than 5 or 7 miles from the beach, +instead of 15, and the tide only ebbs and flows so far. Ardrah is +from 25 to 30 miles from the beach, instead of 18; and the river is +crossed at about one-third of the distance from the sea: this is +what we call Porto Novo, for there is not more than beachmen’s huts +on the shore opposite the anchorage. The natives call Ardrah +Aratakassee, or Allatakassee, and the country Essaäm, or the great. +The river continues its course not more than 100 yards from the +sea, at Whydah, and proceeds equally close (indeed frequently the +ridge between them is covered with water) until passing Quitta, it +falls into the Volta near the mouth.</p> + +<p>The above mentioned gentleman proves the informant of Adams’s +editor incorrect, in stating that the Houssa traders were +constantly to be met with at Lagos, previous to the abolition of +the slave trade,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[225]</span> +for it has always been the policy of Kosie, a kingdom on the +eastern bank of the river, and about 60 miles inland from the +mouth, to prevent all intercourse between the traders of the +interior, and those of Lagos, to secure to themselves the +exorbitant profits they made as the brokers or medium. The +Europeans who traded at Lagos, once meditated forcing a passage up +the river in armed boats, and a vessel of 18 guns was got over the +bar, and anchored close to Lagos town; but the project was +abandoned as too perilous. Sometime afterwards the King of Kosie +desired a European might visit him, to gratify his curiosity, and +that of his people; but no one being willing, a mulatto, named +Peter Brown, was dressed up and sent. This man, being now at Cape +Coast, I have questioned. Several armed men were sent to conduct +him, and relays of canoe men sufficient to continue brisk pulling; +which they did from the evening till the next day, before he left +the river to proceed by land; it was still very wide, and more than +4 fathoms deep; considerably, for aught he knew, for the bamboo +poles of that length, with which the natives push the canoe +forward, when they get close enough to the banks to do so, would +not touch the bottom in the middle. Relays of hammock men then +carried him at a brisk pace until evening, when he reached Kosie, +which he described as a town of great extent, and the buildings to +resemble those in the drawings of Coomassie. The King gave orders +that the crowd should not intrude themselves into his house, +treated him very handsomely, and dismissed him after three days. He +only heard the people of Kosie speak of two great nations, the +Hios, and the Awissees.</p> + +<p>The gentleman before mentioned has an impression, from all the +enquiries he recollects to have made, of the slaves of the +interior, that the merchants convey them by water the greater part +of the way; and their reports were strengthened by his having +an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[226]</span> opportunity of +seeing canoes brought from Kosie to Lagos, and purchased from the +slave merchants of the interior. They were very superior in size +and convenience to those of the coast, were covered in, with a +distinct apartment for the trader and his wives, and would hold a +hundred slaves. I never heard any slaves speak of being brought any +part of the way by water, but I have not seen any who were brought +to Kosie or Lagos.</p> + +<p>The Karhala is the only large river likely to communicate with, +or to form that of Lagos; possibly the Karhala might run to the +large lake in Hio, which Snelgrave says (from the information of +the Portuguese mulatto he found at Abomey) “is the fountain of +several large rivers which empty themselves into the Bay of +Guinea.” The Lagos river may flow from this lake, but this is mere +conjecture. The gentleman to whom I am indebted, places the Mahees +north of Dahomey, instead of north-west as in Norris’s map, which +is allowed to be far from discriminate in the interior parts, in +the preface to Dalzel’s History, and this is also more probable, +because about nine years ago, the King of Hio entirely conquered +the Mahees, and upwards of 20,000 of them were brought for sale to +Lagos.</p> + +<p>The Joös, inconsiderately reported to Adams’s editor as being, +with the Anagoos and Mahees, the principal nations on the journey +to the Niger, and nearer to the coast, avoiding Dahomey, are +probably the Jaboos, who are about 40 miles westward of Kosie, and +not behind Cradoo, as in Norris’s map. They are celebrated for the +cloths of their name, of which the Portuguese have shipped such +large quantities. The Anagoos, or Nagoos, are the north westward +neighbours of Dahomey.</p> + +<p>The extent of Fantee is corrected from the conjectural +enlargement of it by Mr. Meredith, and, with that of Ashantee, +Akim, Assin, Warsaw, Ahanta, &c. &c. is sufficiently +distinct in the present<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_227">[227]</span> map. A more enlarged, and particular map of +Fantee, &c. would not be interesting to the public, but as it +might be desirable to geographers, I shall keep it in view as a +duty, and, at some future time, endeavor to add to the observations +of latitude and longitude which have been already made on the +coast.</p> + +<p>I may not conclude without acknowledging the guidance, and +assistance, which Major Rennell’s previous investigations have +afforded me; without impressing, that had not some sketches of the +interior been collected by the industry of the emissaries of the +African Association, and afterwards connected and formed into a +general outline, blended with the feeble lights of the ancients, my +enquiries would neither have been excited or directed; and this +present small contribution to our slender knowledge would have +perished an embryo. When I reflect on the creative researches of +the genius of D’Anville, and the acumen and erudition of Major +Rennell, it is my greatest anxiety to make my deference in +investigation, as manifest as the public duty which exacted the +involuntary presumption; and I cannot conclude more appropriately, +than by addressing the latter in the expressive lines of +Virgil:</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">“Nec calamis solum æquiparas sed voce +magistrum</div> + +<div class="line indent0"><span class= +"word-spaced03"> </span>Fortunate—tu nunc eris alter ab +illo.</div> + +<div class="line indent0"><span class= +"word-spaced03"> </span>Nos tamen hæc quocunque modo tibi +nostra vicissim</div> + +<div class="line indent0"><span class= +"word-spaced03"> </span>Dicemus.”</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c01"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15"><span class= +"label">[15]</span></a>“On the west of Aquamboe lies the powerful +state of Akim, sometimes denominated Akam, Achem, and Accany, which +occupies almost all the interior of the Gold Coast, and is supposed +by the natives to extend to Barbary. The Accanese are represented +as carrying on an extensive commerce with the interior kingdoms of +Africa, particularly Tonouwah, Gago, and Meczara, by which Mourzouk +the capital of Fezzan seems to be intended.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16"><span class= +"label">[16]</span></a>“Reize van Koppenhagen naar Guinea, &c. +Door den Heer Isert. Amsteldam, 1797. Naar het Hoog Duitsch.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17"><span class= +"label">[17]</span></a>This induced me to think that In-ta and +Ta-pah, as well as Assiantee might mean the same place, as we find +of Mahee, Yahon, &c.—Dalzel.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18"><span class= +"label">[18]</span></a>“In the province of St. Jago, in Chili, +there is a plant of this class and order (Didynamiæ gymnosperma) +supposed to be a species of wild basil (Ocimum salinum), resembling +the common basil so much as to be hardly distinguished from it, +except that the flower stem is round and jointed, and its scent and +taste not like the basil, but rather like the sea flag, or some +marine plant. It is an annual, shooting forth in the spring, and +continuing till the commencement of winter: every morning it is +covered with hard and shining saline globules, resembling dew, +which the countrymen shake off the leaves to serve them as common +salt, and in some respects is thought to be of a superior quality. +Every plant produces daily about half an ounce of this salt; but +Molina, a scientific naturalist, to whom we are indebted for this +information, says, that it is extremely difficult to account for +this phenomenon, as the situation where he found these plants was +in the most fertile part of the kingdom, and at a distance from the +sea of more than seventy miles. When we see some plants secrete +flint, separate and distinct from their fibres, as well as combined +with their organic structure; and when we also know that plants +secrete alkali, in every situation, I cannot perceive why Molina +should consider the contiguity of the sea to be essential to the +production of a neutral salt in the Ocimum salinum.” Linnæan +System, London, 1816, vol. ii. p. 303.</p> + +<p>Riley, whose narrative has recently appeared, saw in the desert, +“A dwarf thorn bush from two to five feet high with succulent +leaves strongly impregnated with salt.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19"><span class= +"label">[19]</span></a>In the Dutch copies of the old Portuguese +charts, Xabunda (perhaps Banda) is placed as the capital of +Ashantee, and two or three large Portuguese towns, one St. +Lawrence, with several convents and crosses between it and the +Coast.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20"><span class= +"label">[20]</span></a>Gago oppidum amplissimum nullis quoque +cingitur muris, distat a Tumbuto meridiem versus quadringentes fere +passuum millibus, inclinatusque fere ad Euroaustrum. Leo Af.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21"><span class= +"label">[21]</span></a>“To what degree the natives of Silla would +have contradicted each other in their accounts of Tombuctoo, Park’s +short stay there could not have allowed him time to ascertain, even +if his knowledge of their language had enabled him to understand +their accounts as well as he did those of the slatees on the +Gambia.</p> + +<p>“Several instances of the contradictory testimony of the Negroes +occur in Park’s travels, Jennië, for instance, is stated in his +first Mission to be situated on the Niger, but on his second +journey he renounces that opinion, on the apparently good authority +of an old Somonie (canoe man) who had been seven times at +Tombuctoo.” Adams’s Editor.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22"><span class= +"label">[22]</span></a>Mr. Hutchison writes, that from Inta to +Jennë is said to be 41 journies. This Gentleman, the Resident at +Coomassie, merely accompanied the Mission to act in that capacity +in case the object could be accomplished, and was not instructed to +report: the officer conducting the Mission being responsible to the +extent of his industry, and the opportunities, for the various +desiderata, excepting the Botanical and Medical, which were +expected from the Surgeon, Mr. Tedlie. Mr. Hutchison’s time was +much employed in making duplicates and copies of the frequent and +voluminous dispatches to head quarters. The Moors disliking even a +second European to be present at their geographical communications, +Mr. Hutchison, through his obliging disposition, which accommodated +itself to every thing auxiliary to the pursuits of the Mission, +rendered me a great service, and quieted the uneasiness of the +Moors by keeping watch, and diverting the various Ashantee visitors +who would have intruded, with great patience and address. There was +no time even for a communication of the data I had collected before +the Mission left Coomassie, for we may be said to have lived in +public the latter part of the four months, and Mr. Hutchison’s +genius inclining more to the cultivation of the Ashantee and Arabic +languages, which I had no doubt would yield to his great industry, +I did not intrude less congenial pursuits on his attention, (the +desiderata having been amply realized,) but merely requested he +would let me know what any intelligent Moor, arriving after my +departure, might say of the Interior, and, if possible, procure a +chart from him, especially if he was not a native of Houssa or +Bornoo, which two of the Moors who had drawn for me were. After I +had finished my Geographical Report, Mr. Hutchison sent, with some +other interesting particulars, added as notes with his initials, a +chart drawn by a Jennë Moor just arrived, confirming all I had +collected in the most satisfactory manner. The names of the +countries from the source of the Niger to Egypt were written in +Arabic, with Mr. Hutchison’s expression of the pronunciation in +English opposite. I particularly recollect that his ear differed +somewhat from mine, which accounts for the trifling differences in +our spelling. I shewed Mr. Hutchison my charts as curiosities, but +he took no minutes of the names, uninteresting from his never +having had an opportunity of reading Major Rennell’s Dissertations, +which would alone make them so to any one. He gives a better proof +of this, than my own impression, by the following extract from his +letter to me, accompanying the chart: “The Bornoo you used to talk +about, you will find the same as the lake Chaudi, or Al Bahare +Noohoo, or else you know a country I I do not recollect hearing +of;” but, in the postscript, he writes, “On looking over my +memoranda, I find Bornoo is the principal monarchy the Arabs alone +stand in awe of, and one of the four kingdoms best known on the +Quolla.” Mr. Hutchison <em>unconsciously</em> confirming what I had +learned, is even more satisfactory than if I had left him any basis +for his enquiries; indeed, his own object, the acquirement of the +language, was too important to be interrupted unnecessarily. Before +I attach any quotation from this Gentleman’s letters, I must +acknowledge the assistance I had previously derived from his +spirited zeal as an officer, as well as that which has since +resulted from his interest in intellectual pursuits.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23"><span class= +"label">[23]</span></a>The Moors particularly mentioned buying +their writing paper there. One told me that the Joliba ran to a +river called Hotaiba after it passed Yahoodee, which river ran +towards Toonis. Several talked of vessels coming to Yahoodee, +navigated by white men, but whence I could not learn, and Brahima +had never visited it, though such reports were familiar to him.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24"><span class= +"label">[24]</span></a>The rivers Arauca and Capanaparo in Cumana +form bifurcations similar to those of the Niger. The Arauca divides +itself into two rivers, the northern one, the Arauquito, runs +through the lake Cabullarito into the Orinoco, and the southern +retaining the name of Arauca, also flows to the Orinoco. The +Capanaparo falls into the Orinoco in two streams, the northern +retaining the original name, and the southern acquiring that of +Mina. See Humboldt’s map of the eastern part of the province of +Verina.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25"><span class= +"label">[25]</span></a>See note, <a href="#Footnote_28">p. +189.</a></p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26"><span class= +"label">[26]</span></a>“No one who compares the maps of De Lisle +and D’Anville with the materials then published, can doubt the +excellent means of information with which they must have been +supplied both by government, and by private individuals.” +Murray.</p> + +<p>We find a remarkable instance of De Lisle’s accuracy in Major +Rennell’s construction of the geography of Mr. Horneman’s +expedition. “Mr. Horneman was informed that there are 101 inhabited +places in Fezzan.” It is remarkable that this is precisely the +number stated in M. Delisle’s map of Africa, drawn in 1707; and, +according to Mr. Beaufoy’s informant, there are nearly 100.</p> + +<p>I have since found an older authority for the name +<em>Gambaroo</em>, and which also shews that the name +<em>Quolla</em> and its connection with the Gambaroo, have not been +wholly unknown hitherto. It is in the L’Afrique de Marmol, livre +viii. chap. 3. “C’est une chose estrange que ce fleuve venant de si +loin, car Ptolomée le fait venir du lac <em>Quélonide</em>, et de +celui de Nuba, il n’entraine pas tant d’eaux par ce costé-là, et la +marée ne monte pas si avant, <em>que par l’autre bras que l’on +appelle Gamber</em>.” One may almost fancy Quolla and Quellonide to +have been derived from the Chalonides of Ptolemy.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27"><span class= +"label">[27]</span></a>“The fact of a large lake like the Dibbie, +discharging its waters by two streams flowing from distant parts of +the lake, and re-uniting after a separate course of a hundred miles +in length, has always appeared to us extremely apocryphal, at least +we believe that the geography of the world does not afford a +parallel case.” Adams’s Editor.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28"><span class= +"label">[28]</span></a>“According to these statements of the +Moorish traders, Adams would seem to have mistaken the course of +the stream at Tombuctoo. In fact, I do not recollect that he told +me at Mogadore that it flowed in a westerly direction: but, I +think, I am correct in saying, that he discovered some uncertainty +in speaking upon this subject, (and almost upon this subject alone) +observing, in answer to my inquiries, that he had not taken very +particular notice, and that the river was steady, without any +appearance of a strong current.” Dupuis on Adams.</p> + +<p>Adams’s name, La-mar-Zarah (for of course he did not attach +<em>La</em> mar to indicate water, but pronounced La-mar-Zarah, as +an integral name) seems accounted for by his confounding or +connecting the Arabic name of the river, <em>Lahamar</em>, with the +Negro name <em>Yça</em> (for we find these names in Marmol, tom. 3. +liv. 8.) making <em>Lahamar-yça</em>, La-mar-Zarah.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29"><span class= +"label">[29]</span></a>Les Sénégurs le nomment Sénédec, les Jalofes +Dengueh, les Turcorons qui sont plus au-dedans du pays Maye, les +Saragoles qui sont plus haut Colle, et en un contrée plus vers +l’orient Zimbale: au royaume de Tombut on le nomme Yça. Marmol, +tom. 3, livre 8. The name Zimbale must be derived from Jimballa, by +which country the river passes; it occurs in the route from Shégo +to Timbuctoo. P. 194.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30"><span class= +"label">[30]</span></a>Kulla, in the Mallowa, if not in the Kassina +language, means <em>child</em>; perhaps, allegory being the +character of African language, the southern river may be called +Quolla or Kulla, from being a <em>branch</em> only of the great +river which forms it and the Gambaroo.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31"><span class= +"label">[31]</span></a>See the <a href="#p2c13">account</a> of the +large interior river known at Gaboon, under the name of +<em>Wole</em> or <em>Wolela</em>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32"><span class= +"label">[32]</span></a>“There is one thing that disagrees with Mr. +Park’s account, they call the Niger Quolla at Jennë, Sansanding, +&c. &c. and describe the Jolliba as falling into the Quolla +east of Timbuctoo.” W. H.</p> + +<p>The Moors invariably reported to me that it ran from it. Mr. H. +might perhaps have misunderstood the Jennë Moor, whose single +authority cannot be opposed to the concurrence of several.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33"><span class= +"label">[33]</span></a>Illorum verò qui per interiorem Æthiopiam +fluant, quique fontes et ostia in continente habent maximi sunt Gir +et Nigir. (Lib. 2. E. 1. De maximis <em>fluminibus</em>.)</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34"><span class= +"label">[34]</span></a>The Jennë Moor does not appear to have been +so particularly acquainted with the source of the Niger. He has +drawn two hills, from one of which springs a large river he could +not name, running westward, the other is the source of the Quolla, +and Mr. Hutchison has written its name Bieteerilmiloo. Between this +source and Mala, the King of which he describes as a great monarch, +he mentions no towns or kingdoms. This Mala is the Malay of the +Moorish charts I procured, between the source and which five places +or countries were written. Mr. Hutchison writes the course thus, +without time or distance, Mala, Bambarra, Shego, Sansanding, Jena, +Mashina, Dahleä (a small croom on the lake Dibber,) Kabarra: he +adds, cannibals are close to the Joliba, and 30 journies from +Timbuctoo, they eat their prisoners: the dead of their own people +are put in the Joliba, in wooden coffins.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35"><span class= +"label">[35]</span></a>The following sentence in the description of +Leo, conveys an idea of the decline or decay of the city. “Cujus +domus omnes in tuguriola cretacea stramineis tectis <em>sunt +mutatæ</em>.” Yet immediately after we receive the contrary +impression on reading “Visitur tamen elegantissimum quoddam templum +cujus murus ex lapidibus atque calce vivo est fabricatus: deinde et +palacium quoddam regium quodam Granato viro artificissimo conditum. +Frequentissimæ hic sunt artificum mercatorum præcipuè autem telæ +atque gossypii textorum officinæ; huc mercatores Barbari pannum ex +Europa adferunt.” In the Description de l’Afrique en Flamand, +published about a century and a half afterwards, the author seems +to be aware of the advanced decline or decay of Timbuctoo. “Les +maisons étoient autrefois fort sumptueuses, mais elles ne sont +maintenant que de bois enduites de terre grasse et couvertes de +paille.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36"><span class= +"label">[36]</span></a>“All the country from where the Joliba +discharges itself into the Quolla is subject to the Sultan +Malisimiel. What makes the Sultan of Timbuctoo so much talked of, +is his being near the water side; but his master, the Sultan of +Malisimiel considers him merely as a deputy or governor. The four +greatest monarchs known on the banks of the Quolla, are Baharnoo, +Santambool, Malisimiel, and Malla.” W. H. Malla is Mallowa.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37"><span class= +"label">[37]</span></a>“The Chaymas substitute <em>r</em> for +<em>l</em>, a substitution that arises from a defect of +pronunciation, common in every zone. The substitution of <em>r</em> +for <em>l</em> characterizes, for example, the Bashmouric dialect +of the Coptic language. It is thus that the Caribbees of the +Oroonoko have been transformed into Galibi, in French Guiana, by +confounding <em>r</em> with <em>l</em>, and softening the +<em>c</em>. The Tamanach has made choraro (solalo) of the Spanish +word soldado.” Humboldt’s personal narrative, book iii. chap. +9.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38"><span class= +"label">[38]</span></a>The position of Mellè is further confirmed +in Dapper “Le Roi de <em>Tombut</em> prend le nom d’Empereur de +<em>Melli</em>.” This title seems to have been transferred to the +King of Houssa from the decline of Timbuctoo, to which the +aggrandisement of the former city is to be attributed.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39"><span class= +"label">[39]</span></a>The King residing in Houssa is the King of +Malla; he has seven tributary Kings. W. H.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40"><span class= +"label">[40]</span></a>I did not hear of the Gotoijegee, Carmasse, +or Gourmon of Amadi Fatouma; it is clear that he was not very +correct in names. I never once heard Silla called Sellee, Dibbie, +Sibbie, or Kabra, Rakbarra.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41"><span class= +"label">[41]</span></a>The Jennë Moor notices between Kabarra and +Cabi, Gauw (a great kingdom) Quoülla, Askeä, Zabirma. Ptolemy has a +city called Geua on the Gir.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42"><span class= +"label">[42]</span></a>The Jennë Moor told Mr. Hutchison, “the +Quolla was the largest river in the world, and about 5 miles wide, +having a very rocky channel, the banks on both sides very high, and +rugged: in many parts canoes often take a day to cross, from the +dangerous whirlpools, and sudden squalls; at other places the +stream runs with great rapidity. The houses in its environs are +either terraced or shingled, as thatch cannot resist the frequent +high winds.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43"><span class= +"label">[43]</span></a>The Jennë Moor has placed Gangë as an island +in the Quolla just below Bousa. This must be the Gongoo of +Imhammed, and Ben Ali, south of Cassina. Mr. Lucas writes “the +width of the Niger is such, that even at the island of Gongoo, +where the ferrymen reside, the sound of the loudest voice from the +northern shore is scarcely heard.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44"><span class= +"label">[44]</span></a>The Jennë Moor traces the course from +Yaoora, thus: Boussa, Gangë, Wawa, Noofa, Quollaliffa, Atagara; the +only difference being the position of the latter place, possibly an +error of mine, as the name Atagara was not noticed in the charts I +made the Moors draw, but only in the more particular enumerations +of the countries the Quolla passed; the names of which I minuted +from their utterance, and afterwards attached their remarks as +interpreted to me.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45"><span class= +"label">[45]</span></a>The Jennë Moor calls this Quolla liffa. Mr. +Hutchison, who has a servant, a native of it, describes it as a +very powerful kingdom, as the Shereef Brahima described it to me, +and as was the impression of Mr. Dupuis. Mr. H. adds, on Negro and +Moorish authority, “it is to the King of Quallowliffa that the +country in which Canna, Dall, and Yum Yum, where cannibals are, is +subject.” Mr. Horneman mentions Yem Yems cannibals south of Kano 10 +days; and the account is further confirmed in my subsequent +geographical sketch of the interior of Gaboon. Mr. Horneman’s +information that the Niger flowed towards the Egyptian Nile through +the land of the Heathens, which Mr. Park quoted as an argument for +the Congo hypothesis, doubtless referred to these cannibals.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46"><span class= +"label">[46]</span></a>“At times the water of this lake is hot, and +it boils and bubbles with a great noise, often overflowing the +surrounding country. The bones of fish thrown up by the volcano are +so numerous, that the Arabs mix them in the swish of their houses. +There are a great many islets in the lake, which is so extensive, +that they cannot see the end. Between it and the Quolla rises a +very high hill, from the top of which is an extensive view; it is a +day’s journey from the water on either side. The Arabs eat black +rice, corn, and sweet beans, called Tummer.” W. H.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47"><span class= +"label">[47]</span></a>The Jennë Moor has also placed it E. of +Foor. Mr. Hutchison writes the course, after him, from Atagara, +thus: “Maffagoodoo, Sharee, Lake Chadee, Phorr (beginning of Arabs) +“Wadie.” Mr. Horneman writes “A great part of the people of Wadey, +together with their King, are Arabs.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48"><span class= +"label">[48]</span></a>Mr. Hutchison has written it Sooänar.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49"><span class= +"label">[49]</span></a>“Cairo is still called, in the figurative +language of the East, Misr, without an equal; Misr, the mistress of +the world.” Quarterly Review. Mr. Hutchison writes, that the Moors +told him it was so called after Misraim, who settled there.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50"><span class= +"label">[50]</span></a>The following, in the left hand column, are +the places or countries as written by Mr. Hutchison, after the +Jennë Moor, agreeing with those the Moors reported to me.</p> + +<table class="tabw40 padded1" id="t205"> +<tr> +<td>Shuewa</td> +<td>Shewa Abenassa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Swiss</td> +<td>Sooess.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Zall</td> +<td>Zaloo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Machazoogee</td> +<td>Machawazoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang1">Tabarbass, cultivation, volcano from the +Quolla two days, two days to the top,</td> +<td>Tabarrabass.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Askanderee</td> +<td>Askandaraia or Sakunderree.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">The latter place is Alexandria. The Moors called +the Mediterranean Sea to me by two names, Baharlë Malee, and +Sabbaha Bahoori. Mr. Hutchison writes it Baramela or Bahermale, and +adds, “Seven rivers from Africa turn their course to it, but only +two reach the shores, of which the Nile is one. The rush of the +waters of the Nile when they meet the sea, is so great, that the +waves are driven into the air with great force, and retire like +waves against a rock. The Red Sea, they say, assumes various +colours at different periods from seven streams pouring their +course into it, salt water and fresh, red, blue, yellow, +&c.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51"><span class= +"label">[51]</span></a>“Half of the inhabitants of Massar are +white, and half black; they have a Fort and Governor.” W. H.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52"><span class= +"label">[52]</span></a>Stambool is the Arabic pronunciation of the +familiar or vulgar name of Constantinople, the etymology of which +is ιϛαμαι πολιν.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53"><span class= +"label">[53]</span></a>Mr. Hutchison writes, “Wangara is the name +of a region comprehending Mosee Kong, and other neighbouring +countries south of the Niger (if not some to the north of it) but +Oongooroo is the name of the country laying between Cassina and +Bornoo.)” Mr. Park has <em>Wangeera</em> in the route from Sego to +the coast of Guinea.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54"><span class= +"label">[54]</span></a>“The dress of the people of Fullan (a +country to the west of Kassina) resembles the cloth of which the +plaids of the Scotch Highlanders are made.” Ben Ali.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55"><span class= +"label">[55]</span></a>Mr. Hutchison sends me this route, as given +him by the Jennë Moor, thus, (supposing me not to have heard of +Yariba) “from Goodaberry, over Lasa small water to Quolla, at +Boussa; few hours walk to Yaraba; 28 days from Dahomey:” he adds, +“recollect that the King of Dahomey is tributary to the King of +Yaraba, who is the same in that quarter, as the King of Ashantee is +here.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56"><span class= +"label">[56]</span></a>The Jennë Moor gave this route thus: Wawa to +Kiama, a great kingdom, 3 days; close to the eastward a desert; 1 +day Garagroogee; 1 day Wala; 1 day Goodaberry.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57"><span class= +"label">[57]</span></a>“Guber est à cent lieuës de Gago vers +l’Orient, et en est separé par un desert inhabitable à quatorze ou +quinze lieuës du Niger. Cette contrée est entre de hautes +montagnes, et toute pleine de villages; celui où le Prince tient sa +Cour a quelque mille maisons.” Dapper.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58"><span class= +"label">[58]</span></a>I shall adjoin an outline of the great river +in one of the maps of Dapper’s Description de l’Afrique, traduit du +Flamand, because the book is very scarce, and I do not remember to +have seen the Niger, the Gir, or the Congo so laid down in any +other.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59"><span class= +"label">[59]</span></a>The removal of Cano from the banks of the +Niger agreeable with every report I received, is supported by +Dapper. “A cent soixante et dix lieuës d’Agadez et à deux cent du +Niger on trouve ce royaume (Guber), au milieu du quel est la ville +de Cano fermée de murailles de bois et de pierre, et qui a des +maisons bâties de même.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60"><span class= +"label">[60]</span></a>“The Mahometans of Senaar number Bornoo +amongst the four most powerful monarchies of the world; the other +three are Turkey, Persia, and Abyssinia: the sovereign of Bornoo is +more powerful than the Emperor of Morocco.” Lucas.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61"><span class= +"label">[61]</span></a>Ce royame, qu’on croit avoir été la demeure +des Garamantes, est une vaste Province au levant de Gangara, qui +s’étend vers l’Orient l’espace de cent soixante dix lieuës et est +éloignée du Niger de cinquante.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62"><span class= +"label">[62]</span></a>Mr. Hutchison heard of another river near +Bornoo called Koomoodoo gaiguina: he could not hear of the Wad el +Gazel.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63"><span class= +"label">[63]</span></a>I observe, in a modern publication, Dr. +Isert’s described as a second visit to Africa, under the auspices +of the Danish government, encouraged by his reports to attempt +colonization in Aquapim, and that he died from anxiety and +exertion. This was not the case, it was his first and only visit, +the Danes never attempted colonization, and he embarked for the +West Indies as I have before stated. Having read the above, +however, I wrote to Dr. Reynhaut, who translated some passages from +the Dutch into Latin for me, and the following is an extract from +his letter in reply. “Quod attinet Iserti in Africam reditum, +ibique ejus obitum, ficta hæc est fama. Verum est juxta Quitam post +victoriam in Augnaeos populos reportatam, Danos arcem condidisse, +cui nomen insigniverunt Prinzenstein; sed nullæ culturæ +incubuerunt, nec colonias struxerunt, nec minus falsum est umquam +Isertum in Africæ littoræ inferiora regis jussu rediisse, colonias +extruendi gratia, nam præter opus Botanicum quod Floræ Guinensis +titulo occurrit, nullum aliud de illo scriptum existit.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64"><span class= +"label">[64]</span></a>Since I have been at sea I have drawn the +maritime part of my map again, and laid down the Forts and other +points according to the observations quoted in Norrie, (4th +edition, 1816,) which agree so very nearly with those of the +Commissioners in the two instances cited, that I conclude he has +been allowed to copy the whole series from their papers, which I +believe have never been published. Even in Dr. Mackay’s valuable +publication, Cape Coast Castle is laid 1° 23′ too much to the +eastward. I presume too that the observations made by H.M.S. +Amelia, are part of those quoted by Norrie, although the Argo’s +observations of the longitude of Quitta and Whydah are not +confirmed. I observe a small error which makes 1′ 28″ N. and 7′ 24″ +E. the difference between Kormantine and Annamaboe, the former is +only 5 miles eastward of the latter.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[228]</span><a id= +"p2c02"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> II.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>History.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">To</span> speak of the death of a +former king, the Ashantees imagine to affect the life of the +present equally with enquiring who would be his successor; and +superstition and policy strengthening this impression, it is made +capital by the law, to converse either of the one or the other. The +inability of the natives to compute time, and the comparatively +recent establishment of the Moors, may be pleaded as additional +apologies for the imperfect history I have collected.</p> + +<p>According to a common tradition, which I never heard +contradicted but once, the Ashantees emigrated from a country +nearer the water side, and subjecting the western Intas, and two +lesser powers, founded the present kingdom. These people being +comparatively advanced in several arts, the Ashantees necessarily +adopted a portion of their language with the various novelties; +which probably created the limited radical difference between their +language and that of the Fantees; for I could not find, after +taking the greatest pains, more than 200 words unknown to the +latter. The weights of the Inta country, in particular, were +adopted with their names, by the conquerors, without the least +alteration.</p> + +<p>The tradition, scanty in itself, is very cautiously adverted to, +the government politically undermining every monument which +perpetuates their intrusion, or records the distinct origins of +their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[229]</span> subjects: +but, from the little I could collect, it appeared to have been an +emigration of numerous enterprising or discontented families, to +whom the parent state afterwards became subject. I am inclined to +think, (the account of their coming from a country nearer the sea +being too general for conjecture to revolt from,) that they +emigrated from the eastward of south, where the territory admitted +to be Ashantee proper is remote, compared with its extent +southward, or westward of south, and the former consequence of +Doompassie, and the towns eastward of it, support this: yet, the +very few natives who pretended to any opinion on the subject, had +an impression, that their ancestors emigrated from the +neighbourhood of a small river, Ainshue, behind Winnebah: a croom +called Coomadie is to be found there, but there is nothing else to +countenance the report.</p> + +<p>The Ashantee, Fantee, Warsaw, Akim, Assin, and Aquapim languages +are indisputably dialects of the same root; their identity is even +more striking than that of the dialects of the ancient Greek: now +the Fantees and Warsaws both cherish a tradition, which exists also +in many Ahanta families, that they were pressed from the interior +to the water side by the successful ambition of a remote power; +whence it may be concluded, that the Ashantee emigration we are now +considering, was posterior to a more important movement of the +whole people, corresponding with that of their neighbours. I will +not dilate upon this secondary subject by referring to internal +evidence, there is nothing to recompense either the investigation +or the perusal.</p> + +<p>One curious evidence however may be added of the former identity +of the Ashantee, Warsaw, Fantee, Akim, Assin, Aquamboe, and part of +the Ahanta nations; which is a tradition that the whole of these +people were originally comprehended in twelve tribes or families; +the Aquonna, Abrootoo, Abbradi, Essonna,<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_230">[230]</span> Annŏna, Yoko, Intchwa, Abadie, Appiadie, +Tchweedam, Agoona, and Doomina; in which they class themselves +still, without any regard to national distinction. For instance, +Ashantees, Warsaws, Akims, Ahantas, or men of any of the nations +before mentioned will severally declare, that they belong to the +Annŏna family; other individuals of the different countries, that +they are of the Tchweedam family; and when this is announced on +meeting, they salute each other as brothers. The King of Ashantee +is of the Annŏna family, so was our Accra and one of the Fantee +linguists; Amanquateä is of the Essonna family. The Aquonna, +Essonna, Intchwa, and Tchweedam, are the four patriarchal families, +and preside over the intermediate ones, which are considered as the +younger branches. I have taken some pains to acquire the etymology +of these words, but with imperfect success; it requires much labour +and patience, both to make a native comprehend, and to be +comprehended by him. Quonna is a buffalo, an animal forbade to be +eaten by that family. Abrootoo signifies a corn stalk, and Abbradi +a plantain. Annŏna is a parrot, but it is also said to be a +characteristic of forbearance and patience. Esso is a bush cat, +forbidden food to that family. Yoko is the red earth used to paint +the lower parts of the houses in the interior. Intchwa is a dog, +much relished by native epicures, and therefore a serious +privation. Appiadie signifies a servant race. Etchwee is a panther, +frequently eaten in the interior, and therefore not unnecessarily +forbidden. Agoona signifies a place where palm oil is collected. +These are all the etymologies in which the natives agree. Regarding +these families as primæval institutions, I leave the subject to the +conjectures of others, merely submitting, that the four patriarchal +families, the Buffalo, the Bush Cat, the Panther, and the Dog, +appear to record the first race of men living on hunting; the Dog +family, probably, first training that animal to<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_231">[231]</span> assist in the chase. The +introduction of planting and agriculture, seems marked in the age +of their immediate descendents, the Corn stalk and Plantain +branches. The origin and improvement of architecture in the Red +earth; and of commerce, probably, in the Palm oil: indeed, the +natives have included the Portuguese, the first foreign traders +they knew, in that family, alleging, that their long and more +intimate intercourse with the blacks, has made the present race a +mixture of the African and Portuguese. The Servant race reminds us +of the curse of Canaan. This resembles a Jewish institution, but +the people of Accra alone practise circumcision, and they speak a +language, as will be shewn, radically distinct, yet not to be +assimilated to the Intā, to which nation they are referred by the +Fantees, merely because it is the nearest which practises +circumcision. Accra is a European corruption of the word Inkran, +which means an ant, and they say the name was either given or +assumed on account of their numbers; this must have been before +their wars with the Aquamboes.</p> + +<p>When Adokoo, chief of the Braffoes, a Fantee nation, consulted +the venerable fetish men of the sanctuary, near Sooprooroo, on the +Ashantee war, they answered, that nothing could be more offensive +to the fetish, than the Fantees preventing the peaceable +intercourse of their inland neighbours with the water side, because +they were formerly all one family.</p> + +<p>The conduct of the later emigration of the Ashantees is ascribed +to Saï Tootoo, who, assisted by other leading men of the party, and +encouraged by superstitious omens, founded Coomassie, and was +presented with the stool, or made King, from his superior +qualifications. This account is supported by the mixed nature of +the government, founded on equality and obligation, and the +existence of a law, exempting the direct descendants of any of Saï +Tootoo’s peers and assistants, (in whom the Aristocracy originated) +from capital punishment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[232]</span>The Dwabin +monarchy is said to have been founded at the same time by Boitinnë, +who was of the same family as Saï Tootoo, being the sons of +sisters. Boitinnë and his party, took possession of Dwabin, the +largest of the aboriginal towns, (leaving Saï Tootoo to build +Coomassie) whence it seems his followers were the more powerful; +indeed I have heard it confessed by a few Ashantees, that Dwabin +had formerly the pre-eminence, though they have always been firm +allies in war, and equal sharers in spoil and conquest. This common +interest, preserved uninterrupted more than a century, by two +rising powers, close to each other, with the view of a more rapid +aggrandisement, and their firm discretion in making many serious +disagreements subservient to the policy, is one of the few +circumstances worth considering in a history composed of wars and +successions. I do not think there is such an instance in our +heptarchy, nor do I recollect any other in history, but that of +Chalcis and Eretria.</p> + +<p>Bakkee, who died, as I have related,<a id= +"FNanchor_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> +about a year ago, was the son of Saï Apokoo, the second king, and +an infant at the breast at the time of his father’s death; he was a +very old man when he incurred the present King’s displeasure, which +supports the report of the Moors, that the kingdom has been founded +about 110 years. Bosman and Barbot mention the Ashantees, as just +heard of by Europeans, about the year 1700, which confirms this +account. The anxiety of the Ashantee government for daily records, +immediately on the establishment of the Moors, who were only +visitors until the present reign, acknowledges the perplexities and +deficiencies of their early history too candidly, to leave any +encouragement to the researches of strangers. Records beyond half a +century are not to be found in the archives either of Cape Coast, +or Christiansburg Castles, so that the chronology can only be +founded on that of the Moors, and circumstances.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[233]</span>The Ashantee +government concentred the mass of its original force, and making +the chiefs resident in Coomassie and the few large towns they built +in its neighbourhood, with titular dignities, conciliated those +whom they subdued by continuing them in their governments, and +checked them by exacting their frequent attendance at festivals, +politically instituted. Military command seems to have been the +sole prerogative of Saï Tootoo; his judicial and legislative power +being controlled by the chiefs or aristocracy much more than at +present, who, as in the Teutonic governments, directed the common +business of the state, only consulting a general assembly on +extraordinary occasions.</p> + +<p>Saï Tootoo defeated the Akims and Assins, subjected the Tufel +country, and subdued many small states in the neighbourhood. He +also conquered Dankara, the King of which, Intim Dakarey, was so +considerable a trader in slaves, that the Dutch Governor General +paid him a monthly note from his own purse, and assisted him with +two or three small cannons, and a few Europeans, on the eve of the +Ashantee invasion: the former are now placed as trophies in +Coomassie, at the top of the street in which the Mission was +quartered. Booroom was subjugated soon after.</p> + +<p>Saï Tootoo did not live to see all the streets of Coomassie +completed, for war being declared against Atoä, a district between +Akim and Assin, he invaded that country. The chief of the Atoas, +unable to face such a power, dexterously insinuated his small force +through the forest, until he reached the rear of the Ashantee army, +which the King was following leisurely with a guard of a few +hundred men, all of whom were destroyed by the Atoäs, who shot the +King in his hammock. This happening near a place called Cormantee, +(razed to the ground in vengeance,) and on a Saturday, the most +solemn oath of the Ashantees, is “by Saturday and Cormantee;” +(“Mĭminda Cormantee;”) and no enterprise has since been undertaken +on that day of the week.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[234]</span>1720. Saï +Apokoo, brother of Saï Tootoo, was next placed on the stool. Had +there been no brother, the sister’s son would have been the heir; +this extraordinary rule of succession, excluding all children but +those of a sister, is founded on the argument, that if the wives of +the sons are faithless, the blood of the family is entirely lost in +the offspring, but should the daughters deceive their husbands, it +is still preserved.</p> + +<p>Saï Apokoo finished the building of Coomassie, and exchanged +compliments with the King of Dahomey, since which there has been no +intercourse; the latter, probably, as a despotic monarch, did not +wish to give his people any opportunity of contemplating the +greater freedom of the Ashantee government.</p> + +<p>Saï is the family name of the present race of Kings, some of +their relatives bearing it as well. Innăna is also the cognomen of +the Kings of Dagwumba.</p> + +<p>Apokoo invading the kingdom of Gaman, Abo, the King, fled to +Kong, whither the Ashantee army pursued him. The King of Kong +politically compelled Abo to meet his enemies on the frontier, +least they might disturb a neutral kingdom. Abo being defeated, +purchased a peace by presenting large sums of gold to the various +chiefs, and consenting to an annual tribute. Apokoo next subjected +Takima, whence the Fantees are said to have emigrated, and forced a +second emigration of the people to Gomawa, at the back of Winnebah. +He dispossessed the Akims of the English, Dutch, and Danish Accra +notes.<a id="FNanchor_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66" class= +"fnanchor">[66]</a> The mortifying destruction of European records, +confines me to the report of the more intelligent natives on the +subject of these notes, who declare, that the people of Accra being +deprived of them by the fraud of the Akims, when they were assisted +by them against the Aquamboes, the Akims were in their turn obliged +to yield them to their conquerors the Ashantees.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[235]</span>Tribute being +demanded from the neighbouring kingdom of Dagwumba, a war ensued, +and its troops were defeated. The King of Dagwumba, convinced that +his former reliance on a superior population was vain, from the +military genius of the Ashantees, and the commercial disposition of +his own people, dispirited from their want of fire arms,<a id= +"FNanchor_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a> +prudently invited a peace, before a more decisive defeat left him +no dignity, and his enemies no moderation for treating. As it was, +they still respected his resources, and were content to secure him +as a tributary, rather than exhaust their forces in his +subjugation, in the infancy of their kingdom. A triumph in policy +was in the view of the King of Dagwumba, equivalent to the small +diminution of personal dignity; and at the expense of an +inconsiderable tribute, he established a commercial intercourse, +which, his markets being regularly supplied from the interior, was +both an advantage and a security to him, from the great convenience +to his warlike neighbours, whose superstition assenting to his +great reputation for making saphies, and for augury, would not only +augment his revenue, but insure him superior respect as a +tributary. Intā had previously become tributary.</p> + +<p>I should have mentioned, that every subject state was placed +under the immediate care of some Ashantee chief, generally resident +in the capital, who seldom visited it but to receive the tribute +from the native ruler, for whose conduct he was in a reasonable +degree responsible. Thus Quatchi Quofie has now the care +of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[236]</span> Dankara, Odumata +of Soota, Apokoo of Aquamboe, Oöosa Quantabisa of Daboia, &c. +&c. Their policy, in short, not only in this particular, but in +many others, seems to have been closely similar to that of the +Persians, as described by Herodotus.</p> + +<p>Boitinnë, the founder of Dwabin, died in this reign.</p> + +<p>1741. Saï Apokoo was succeeded by his brother Saï Aquissi. I +could not learn any particular exploits of his, excepting that he +preserved the subjection of the states previously reduced. The King +of Akim, in his time, (the last who had the power of governing +without consulting the pynins or elders) desiring to go to war with +his neighbours, was obliged to obtain permission from the Ashantee +government, which he did by the promise of sending them half the +spoil; but, gaining little or nothing, he did not do so. He soon +afterwards heard of Aquissi’s intention, to demand his head; and +knowing that King’s word was irrevocable, he summoned his +ministers, and desired to sacrifice his life for the quiet of his +people: his ministers insisted on sharing his fate; and a barrel of +powder being brought for each to sit on, they drank a large +quantity of rum, and blew themselves up with the fire from their +pipes. Dr. Isert also heard of this in Akim.</p> + +<p>1753. Aquissi was succeeded by Saï Cudjo. The Aristocracy was +retrenched and conciliated by this monarch, who raised his +favourite captains to the vacant stools,<a id= +"FNanchor_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> +uniting three or four in one, and swearing that their lives should +be equally sacred, (see p. 4,) to anticipate any doubts of his +fidelity to the constitution.</p> + +<p>Saï Cudjo defeating the Warsaws and Assins more decisively than +his predecessors, first compelled them to acknowledge their fealty +to Ashantee. He also subjected Aquamboe, and Aquapim,<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_237">[237]</span> quelled several revolts of +other countries, and was esteemed a very great captain. The +grandfather of Amanquateä Atooa, conquered Sawee, killing the king +Boomancumma; and Bakkee, soon afterwards, subjugated Moinseä. In +this reign Quama, king of Dwabin, died.</p> + +<p>1785. Saï Quamina succeeded his grandfather Saï Cudjo, at a very +early age. The Akims revolted soon after his accession, under +Ofoosoo, their most active ruler for many years: he engaged several +smaller states in alliance, and defeated the Ashantees repeatedly; +at length the treachery of his followers procured Quatchi Quofie, +the Ashantee general, his head; with which he returned to +Coomassie, the country having again submitted. The fame of Ofoosoo +made Quatchi Quofie so vain of this achievement, that he had a +figure of him made, with which his umbrella is still crowned, and +before which he dances with every insulting gesture and vaunt, when +he arrives on the ground at the various ceremonies. The present +king has frequently been heard to say, that it was a great pity +this old man did not know better, for the Akim caboceers generally +attended his summons with alacrity and good will; but the sight of +the insulted effigy of their favourite leader, disgusted them, and +excited their revolt. These brave people have risen from their +dependence at least eight times.</p> + +<p>The government finding a pretext to invade Banda, the King +Odrasee vigorously opposed the Ashantee army; but at length, seeing +he must inevitably fall into their hands, to prevent his head being +found, which circumstance he knew would sorely disquiet the +enemy,<a id="FNanchor_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69" class= +"fnanchor">[69]</a> and solace his own people, ordered, just before +he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[238]</span> killed himself, +a woman to be sacrificed, and the abdomen being ripped, his head to +be sewn up within it, and her body afterwards to be buried in the +heap of the slain. It was discovered by bribes, and is now on one +of the King’s great drums. Soota was also subjugated in this reign, +occupying the army under Odumata ten years, during which period he +was not allowed to see Coomassie. Odumata afterwards subdued +Coranza, the larger part of his army being Gaman auxiliaries.</p> + +<p>Saï Quamina raised Apokoo to the stool of Assimadoo, to whom he +had been a servant, in exclusion of the family.</p> + +<p>The Danish Governor-General, meditating the punishment of the +Popos, applied to Saï Quamina for 5000 Ashantee auxiliaries; the +request was granted, but while the troops were on their march down, +the Governor died, and his successor prudently paid 250 ounces of +gold, (alleged to have been advanced by the King for their +subsistence on their march to Christiansburg Castle) rather than +involve himself in the expenses and troubles of such an +alliance.</p> + +<p>1798. Saï Quamina had remained twelve months on a visit at +Dwabin, deaf to the remonstrances of various deputations +urging<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[239]</span> his return, +and infatuated beyond recovery by the arts of his mistress, Gyawa, +the daughter of the King; when it was formally announced to him, +that if he was not present at the approaching Yam custom, he would +be deprived of the stool. It is said, that this woman refused to +accompany him to Coomassie, either dreading the resentment of his +mother, a woman of violent passions, and great ambition, or, which +is more probable, influenced by her father to mingle this +repugnance with her blandishments, to accelerate the ruin of Saï +Quamina, which he was not without hopes might lead to his own +aggrandisement. The form of the dethronement is interesting. Appia +Danqua, whose power seems to have been equal to that of mayor of +the palace, repaired to the King’s mother with the chief captains, +and deliberately recounting the offences of her son, commanded her +to remonstrate with him, as the daughter of their old king, and the +parent to whom he owed his elevation. The mother, who no doubt had +assisted in the private council, affecting to bewail her own +misfortune and her son’s disgrace, confessed, with seeming +reluctance, that her remonstrances had already been despised, that +the king had even attempted her life, and begged them to raise her +second son, Saï Apokoo, to the stool the elder had forfeited. This +was complied with, and they sent Saï Quamina a few of his women and +slaves, desiring him to retire into the bush and build himself a +croom, and on his death, which happened soon after, as it was said, +from the poignancy of his feelings, they made the greatest custom +for him which had ever been known. The sable Cleopatra died soon +after him. It was whispered, that those he had formerly injured +incessantly insulting him in his retirement, even to abusing his +wives before his face, he had a private interview with the present +King, communicated several schemes of conquests, invoked him to +distrust, and, if possible, to punish those who had forsaken him, +and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[240]</span> implored death; +which was inflicted (as the blood of the royal family could not be +shed, and as he could not be privately drowned in the sacred river) +by fixing his feet on the ground, bending his body backwards with a +prop in the small of his back, and suspending several large teeth +of ivory from a noose around his neck, which, hanging from the +prop, strangled him.</p> + +<p>1799. Saï Apokoo did not live more than a few weeks after being +elevated to the stool, and was succeeded by his brother Saï Tootoo +Quamina, the present King, who must then have been about seventeen +years of age. On this occasion, the general assembly of the +captains, jealous of the aristocracy, and desirous of making a +favourable impression on the young King, insisted that the +remaining members of it, should propitiate the reign, by publicly +disclaiming their exemption from capital punishment.</p> + +<p>The invasion of the Fantee kingdom in 1807 was the first +important military act of the present reign, the circumstances and +origin of which, being pretty accurately described by Mr. Meredith, +in the extract in the <a href="#app1">Appendix,</a> I need not +repeat. Whilst the invasion was meditating, Baba, now the chief of +the Moors, presented himself to solicit an asylum in Coomassie, +having been driven from Gamba by the rapacity of the King, his near +relative; and professing solely to desire the recovery of a large +property with held from him, to make the King of Ashantee the heir +to it. The King promised he would oblige the King of Gamba to do +him justice, on his return from the Fantee war, if Baba and his +companions were fortunate in their prayers and charms for his +success. The King of Gamba did not think proper to resist the +demand afterwards made through the Ashantee government.</p> + +<p>1807. Coonadua, the King’s mother, was left regent during his +absence; this woman was a second Messalina, and many +young<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[241]</span> captains who +refused to intrigue with her, from fear or disgust, have been +ultimately the victims of her artifice and vengeance.</p> + +<p>Yaboquorra, the King of Dwabin, died in this interval, and was +succeeded by his grandson, Boitinnë Quama, now about twenty years +of age.</p> + +<p>1811. Attah, caboceer or King of Akim, had followed the King to +the first Fantee war, and behaved well. Apokoo being sent on an +expedition against the Fantees of Winnebah and Berracoo, Attah +received orders to join him with his contingency; instead of which, +he sent a message to Apokoo, before he passed the Boosempra river, +refusing to join him, and advising him not to attempt to pass +through his country. Apokoo reported this immediately to the King, +who, as is usual, sent to Attah to enquire if he had said so. He +confessed that he had, without hesitation, adding, that the King +treated him like a slave, in incessantly summoning him to attend +his wars, and besides, that he never could forget that Saï Cudjo +had cut off his grandfather’s head, and that he would fight with +Apokoo whenever he came. Soon afterwards, Quamina Guma, (the father +of Becqua, captain of Danish Accra,) and one of the King’s sons, +returning to Coomassie with a large quantity of gold collected to +make custom for the King’s mother, Attah intercepted, robbed, and +murdered them and their party, with the exception of one, whom he +desired to tell the King that this act would convince him he was in +earnest, and determined to go to war with him. Apokoo was +immediately ordered to proceed against Attah, who had engaged Quaw +Saffătchee as a party in the revolt, who was weary of the same +laborious vassalage. When Apokoo entered the Akim country, Attah +was for attacking him immediately, and at sun rise, but Quaw +impressing his doubts of their succeeding against the superior +warfare of the Ashantees, begged him to stop until three o’clock, +when the Ashantees<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[242]</span> +generally ate and slept, and when they might be better able to +retreat if worsted, as the enemy never pursued in the dusk. The +attack was a surprise, but the fight continued obstinate and +undecided until night, when Apokoo found he had lost so many men, +that he immediately dispatched a messenger to summon the Accras to +his aid, as vassals to the King. His messenger reached Accra the +next day, and that people joined him on the following, on which the +enemy retreated precipitately; Attah to windward, and Quaw to Adda. +Apokoo followed the latter, who having escaped him after a tedious +watchfulness, Apokoo, believing the Danish governor, Mr. Flindt, to +have connived, made him his prisoner, and kept him with the army, +which soon afterwards encamped in Aquapim, five months, during +which time he was treated with kindness and respect, but his ransom +amounted to nearly £400. Apokoo was soon after ordered back to +Coomassie. He told me he brought the bell of Adda fort as a +trophy.</p> + +<p>Appia Danqua had been sent, at the same time with Apokoo, with +6000 men against the Fantee states which were disposed to the +revolters. He defeated them at Apam, and took Baffoo the Annamaboe +caboceer prisoner, but whilst his army was before Tantum, +intelligence of the approach of Attah, who had retreated from +Apokoo, but whose name was as redoubtable as his disposition was +rapacious, subdued his firmness, and under the plea of prudence, +hurried him back to the interior.</p> + +<p>The path was afterwards shut for two years, through the +vigilance, and from the terror of Cudjo Cooma, who had been elected +to the stool of Akim, six months after the death of Attah, whose +immediate successor (Quawko Ashantee) tyrannized so cruelly during +that period, that he was commanded by the people to kill himself, +and could only obtain the indulgence of a week’s respite, which he +spent in singing and dancing, in fact in making his own +custom<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[243]</span> Quaw +Saffătchee had also leagued with the Fantees who attacked the Accra +town, but were repulsed. The King suddenly determined to open the +path to receive the arrears of pay due from <span class= +"sidenote">1814.</span>the Forts, and sent Amanqua Abiniowa with an +army of 20,000 men, charging him to offer no violence nor commit +hostility, unless provoked by attack, but to receive the submission +of the Akims and Aquapims, and merely to exact a fine to seal it. +Appia Danqua was sent at the same time with a smaller army to the +back of Winnebah and Tantum, to intercept the revolters if they +fled to windward. Abiniowa proceeded to Aguiasso, one day’s march +from Aquapim, unmolested, when one of his foraging parties was +attacked by Cudjo Cooma and seven men killed. A general engagement +took place the next morning, and after six hours fighting the +Ashantees were victorious, and sent a jaw-bone and a slave to each +of the Accra towns. Amanqua then marched to Accra to receive the +King’s pay, and remained nearly twelve months in its neighbourhood. +He then returned to Aquapim, where, after some time, he received a +message from the King, with a large quantity of gold, advising him +that he must not see his face again unless he brought the heads of +Cudjo and Quaw. Amanqua did not immediately communicate this +message to his captains, but ordered them to deposit their equipage +and property in Accra, and then, making a large custom for three +days, to propitiate the enterprise, he took fetish with all his +captains that they would never return to Coomassie without the +heads.</p> + +<p>1816. Appia Danqua had died in Assin in the interim, and was +succeeded by his brother Appia Nanu, under whom Bakkee was the +second in command. The King hearing nothing of his progress, and +his indolence being reported to him, sent orders to Amanqua to join +him, which he did at Essecooma, reproaching him for his cowardice. +Soon after this, the skirmish at the salt<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_244">[244]</span> pond near Cape Coast took place, the +detachment was principally of Assins, and commanded by +Quasheemanqua. Yokokroko soon afterwards joined the combined army, +(which had marched to Abra,) with a few hundred men destined to +attack Commenda.</p> + +<p>Not long after the palaver was settled at Cape Coast, and the +army again divided, Cudjo Cooma was killed by a party of Appia +Nanu’s at Insoom or Incoom near Essecooma; upon which, Appia, +instead of marching to join Amanqua as had been concerted, returned +to Coomassie, where he was coldly received, but not accused until +the 12th of July last (see <a href="#Page_129">Diary</a>). Adoo +Danqua, the brother of Quaw Saffătchee, came to the Accras and +concerted the delivering of him up, as he had tired him out with +his wanderings. The Ashantees agreed to prevail on the King to give +him the stool if he did. A few Accras and a few Ashantees +accompanied him, and when he came near where his brother was hid, +one day’s journey from Accra, he placed an ambush, and sitting +down, expostulated with him, and recommended him to kill himself; +but Quaw would not, alleging that he should eventually wear out the +King’s patience in pursuing him; on this Adoo rose, and a shot was +immediately fired at Quaw, who was brought down and rose again four +times, exclaiming that his brother was his murderer, who reflected +the reproach on his own obstinacy. The body was brought to Accra, +and his head sent to Coomassie, and it is now a trophy at Bantama +or the back town. Amanqua then returned to Coomassie, and arrived +about six months before the Mission.</p> + +<p>The Aowins, to anticipate the ambitious views of the Ashantee +government, lately sent an embassy with offers of service and +tribute, but the amount of the latter has not yet been decided.</p> + +<p>The King had sent to demand the royal stool of Buntooko or Gaman +which was thickly plated and embossed with gold; it was<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_245">[245]</span> given up by Adinkara, the +King, from fear; his sister, a woman of masculine spirit and +talent, and the soul of the government, being absent. On her +return, she reproached her brother severely, and ordered a solid +gold stool to be made to replace it. That being also demanded, as +the right of the superior, with a large gold ornament in the shape +of an elephant, dug out from some ruins, the sister, receiving the +ambassadors, replied, that the King should not have either, and +added, impressing it with more force than delicacy, that her +brother and she must change sexes, for she was most proper for a +King, and would fight to the last rather than be so constantly +despoiled. The King of Ashantee sent word that she was fit to be a +king’s sister, and a strong woman, and he would give her twelve +months to prepare for war. Several embassies have been sent however +to negotiate; two during our stay, the latter, it was said, with an +offer of 400 Bendas, (£3200.) but the aristocracy were obstinate, +and urged to the King, that his other tributaries would laugh at +him, if he did not get the King of Gaman’s head. The small pox was +raging in Buntooko.</p> + +<p>It is clear, that the King of Ashantee contemplates the +reduction of the King of Dwabin from an independent ally to a +tributary. We witnessed one circumstance to the point. A messenger +being sent to require gold of Dwabin, the King of which is a very +weak young man, a captain of the royal family replied, that there +was no war on foot to require gold, and as it could only be for the +individual benefit of Ashantee, the government must be reminded +that Dwabin had formerly exacted gold, and was not now to be +subjected to imposition, because the right had been yielded from +respect to the sister kingdom. This being reported to the King, he +suppressed his anger, and sent a gold headed sword, with other +marks of dignity and favour to this man, who, to his surprise, +refused them, alleging, that the honours he already possessed +at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[246]</span> home became him +better. The King still temporised. Some months after, at the full +assembly convened for the proclamation of the treaty with the +British Government, the mother of the King of Dwabin, who acts as +regent, and over whom Saï is known to have much influence, +suddenly, and no doubt at his instance, accused this captain of +plotting to deprive her son of the stool. The accusation was +supported by others, who prayed the King to judge the palaver. The +King of Dwabin sat with the greatest indifference. The accused made +an animated appeal to the assembly, and Saï affected to support him +vehemently, and ordered the linguists to give him chalk, or acquit +him. The man thanking him very earnestly, Adoosee was desired to +tell him, that his ill-will to the King of Ashantee had been +reported in a very aggravated manner; but as it was no longer +believed, he was only required to take fetish, that he liked the +King, and would do him all the good he could; this done, the man +received several marks of favour and bounty.</p> + +<p>Saï Tootoo is considered to take better care of the treasury +than any of his predecessors: he cautiously extends his +prerogative, and takes every opportunity of increasing the number +of secondary captains, by dignifying the young men brought up about +his person, and still retaining them in his immediate service.</p> + +<p>Saï Acotoo, the King’s brother, and the heir to the stool, +appeared to me very inferior in ability; but the Ashantees say +otherwise.</p> + +<p>The King’s private character is amiable; the children of his +brothers share the fondness and indulgence which endear him to his +own, and his few moments of recreation are the liveliest of theirs. +The circumstances connected with the various instances which we +witnessed of his generosity to others, justify me in ascribing it +to the benevolence of his disposition. His admiration<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_247">[247]</span> of ingenious rather than +splendid novelty, has frequently imposed the appearance of a +covetousness, scarcely culpable from his reverence for invention, +and the amazement its extent excited. To present him with the +trifles which attracted his notice when he visited us, offended +him, he told us we must only answer his questions, and let him +examine them; to make dashes on the occasion of a private visit, +was to vitiate the motive of the condescension, which could not be +repeated unless we paid more respect to his dignity and friendship. +The King is certainly capricious, and his liberality of mind is +stained by prejudices against individuals which he confesses to be +unaccountable; and to several of the principal actors in his +brother’s deposition, (which, desirous to extend his prerogative, +he would tacitly censure,) he has been unjustly severe. His +humanity is frequently superior to his superstition and policy, he +offended Quatchi Quofie, one of the four, by limiting the human +sacrifices at his mother’s funeral, and resisted all the +importunities, founded on precedent, for the allowance of a greater +number. He dismissed us twice with apologies for not proceeding to +business, confessing, the first time, that he had been unusually +irritated just after he sent for us, and had not recovered his +calmness; the latter, that some agreeable news had induced him to +drink more than fitted him to hear great palavers like ours. In his +judicial administration, a lie always aggravated the punishment, +and truth generally extenuated, and sometimes atoned of itself for +the offence: he invariably anticipated the temerity of perjury, +where convicting evidence was to be opposed to the accused. The +King’s manners are a happy mixture of dignity and affability, they +engage rather than encourage, and his general deportment is +conciliating though repressive. He speaks well, and more logically +than most of his council, who are diffuse, but his superior talent +is marked in the shrewd questions by which he fathoms a design +or<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[248]</span> a narrative. He +excels in courtesy, is wisely inquisitive, and candid in his +comparisons: war, legislature, and mechanism, were his favourite +topics in our private conversations. The great, but natural fault +of the King is his ambition; I do not think it has ever proved +superior to the pledge of his honour, but it certainly has, and +that frequently, to his sense of justice, which is repressed rather +than impaired by it. This sketch of his character being narrowed to +my own knowledge, will be assisted by the following history of +Agay, the second linguist.</p> + +<p>Agay, when a boy, carried salt from Aquoomo to Coomassie for +sale; he was afterwards taken into the service of Aquootoo, +caboceer of that place, against whom the government had instituted +a palaver, but wrongfully. Agay accompanied the caboceer when he +was sent for to Coomassie for judgment. After the King’s messengers +had spoken, misrepresenting the case in preference to confessing +the King to be in the wrong, and the caboceer was confused, this +boy suddenly rose, and said, to use the words of the narrators, +“King, you have people to wash you, to feed you, to serve you, but +you have no people to speak the truth to you, and tell you when God +does not like your palaver.” The assembly cried out unanimously, +that the boy might be hurried away and his head taken off; but the +King said, “No! let him finish;” and Agay is said to have spoken +three hours, and to have disclosed and argued the palaver to the +King’s conviction, and his master’s acquittal. He was retained to +attend the King, but treated with no particular distinction. A +serious palaver occurring between two principal men, it was debated +before the council, who were at a loss to decide, but inclined to +the man whom the King doubted; judgment was suspended. In the +interim the King sent Agay, privately, to the house of each, to +hear their palavers in turn, tête-à-tête; he did so, and when the +King asked him who he thought<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_249">[249]</span> was right, he confirmed his impression. +“Now,” said the King, “I know you have a good head.” Agay was then +made a Linguist, and presented with a house, wives, slaves, and +gold. Sometime afterwards, the King confessing a prejudice against +a wealthy captain, his linguists, always inclined to support him, +said, “If you wish to take his stool from him, we will make the +palaver;” but Agay sprung up, exclaiming, “No, King! that is not +good; that man never did you any wrong, you know all the gold of +your subjects is your’s at their death, but if you get all now, +strangers will go away and say, only the King has gold, and that +will not be good, but let them say the King has gold, all his +captains have gold, and all his people have gold, then your country +will look handsome, and the bush people fear you.” For this the +King made him second linguist, and much increased his property. +When Amanqua had the command of the army against Cudjo Cooma, the +King asked him which linguist he would take, he replied, Adoosee or +Otee; the King said, no! I will give you this boy, he has the best +head for hard palavers. Amanqua urged that he was too young, the +King told him he was a fool to say so. He then made Amanqua take +fetish with him to report the merits of Agay faithfully, who +distinguished himself so much, that he is always employed in +difficult foreign palavers.</p> + +<p>The manners of the higher orders of captains, always dignified, +are courteous and hospitable in private, though haughty and abrupt +in public. I believe them to be jealous rather than tenacious of +their honour, and their sophistry is as ingenious as their maxims +are prepossessing. They consider that war alone affords an exertion +or display of ability, and they esteem the ambition of their King +as his greatest virtue. They have no idea of the aggrandisement of +a state by civil policy alone. They are candid in acknowledging +their defeats, and just to the prowess of their<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_250">[250]</span> enemies, but they possess +little humanity, and are very avaricious and oppressive. They +listen to superstition with the most childish credulity, but they +only cultivate it for the preservation of life and the indulgence +of passion; beyond this, the Moors could never advance their +enquiries; they are neither curious nor anxious about a future +state, pretending to it from rank and achievement rather than +domestic virtue; and believing, if the latter were outraged, the +solemnities and sacrifices of their funeral customs would purchase +their repose. Indeed, licensed as they are by the zealous conflicts +of rival superstitions, (Moorish and Pagan,) their lives are +moderate and benevolent to what might be expected, and merit more +than our excuses.</p> + +<p>The lower order of people are ungrateful, insolent, and +licentious. The King repeatedly said, he believed them to be the +worst people existing, except the Fantees, and not comparable with +many of their inland neighbours. Perhaps we should agree with +Voltaire, “Je crois qu’il faut plutôt juger d’une puissante nation +par ceux qui sont à la tête, que par la populace.”<a id= +"FNanchor_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70" class= +"fnanchor">[70]</a></p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c02"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65"><span class= +"label">[65]</span></a>See <a href="#Page_73">Diary.</a></p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66"><span class= +"label">[66]</span></a>See the explanatory <a href="#glos">list</a> +of words and the early dispatches in the First Part.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67"><span class= +"label">[67]</span></a>Fire arms are unknown to such of the nations +on the south of the Niger as the Shereef has visited; and the +reason which he assigns for it is, that the Kings in the +neighbourhood of the coast, persuaded that if these powerful +instruments of war should reach the possession of the populous +inland states, their own independence would be lost, have strictly +prohibited, and by the wisdom of their measures, have effectually +prevented this dangerous merchandise from passing beyond the limits +of their dominions. Lucas.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68"><span class= +"label">[68]</span></a>“To succeed to the stool,” does not mean to +the seat in the council, but is the common expression for +succeeding to a property even in private life. The same stool, or +seat descends through many generations.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69"><span class= +"label">[69]</span></a>On the death of the late King of Amanaheä, +two competitors for the stool appeared, one called Suikee or +Suiquah; the other’s name I am ignorant of. Both collected their +slaves and adherents, and fought. Suikee was obliged to fly, and +hide himself in the bush; but the people being dissatisfied with +the conqueror, Suikee re-appeared against the town. When his rival +was reduced beyond all hope, he threw all his gold, which filled +several jars, into the lake; and then collecting his wives and the +different branches of his family, went with them into a remote part +of the bush, and cut all their throats, with the exception of one +son, whom he reserved to assist him in burying the bodies. He then +made this son swear on his fetish, to kill and bury him, and never +to discover where the bodies were laid: the son fulfilled the oath, +and returned to Apollonia, but I am not certain what became of him. +After Suikee had seated himself firmly on the stool, he by some +means discovered where the bodies were concealed; he caused them to +be dug up, and taken to Apollonia town; he then ranged them in a +sitting posture, in a row along the beach, with stakes to extend +their arms, and support their heads: this horrid spectacle was +exhibited until even their bones had perished. One of Suikee’s +first acts after his accession, was to consecrate his hiding place +in the bush, making it death, or a heavy fine, for any one to swear +by Suikee’s bush, and not to keep the oath.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70"><span class= +"label">[70]</span></a>The principal districts of Fantee, are, the +Affettoo, the Braffoo, and the Essecoomah; Cape Coast is in the +former. The Dey of Affettoo (a title probably introduced by the +Portuguese) was formerly supreme in Fantee, so far as summoning the +other kings and caboceers at pleasure, prescribing their political +conduct, and being appealed to and sentencing in all cases of life +and death, wherever or by whomsoever the crime may have been +committed; witchcraft excepted. Upwards of a century ago the small +pox almost depopulated Affettoo, then the largest town and capital +of all Fantee, (it is about 10 miles inland from Cape Coast,) and +all the immediate heirs to the stool being cut off, the supremacy +was transferred to Mankasim. The present Dey, however, preserves a +spiritual authority over the other kings and caboceers, and is +esteemed as the superior fetish man; when they desire rain, for +instance, they apply to him to procure it, and they look to him +solely for their chronology, which he preserves by knotting +strings. Mankasim then became the capital and largest town of +Fantee, but it was almost destroyed by the Ashantees in their first +invasion of 1807. Any Fantee caboceer who did not attend the +summons of the King of Mankasim, was suspended by him, and +afterwards displaced by the diet. Adoo, the last King of the +Braffoos, despoiling all his subjects of their most valuable +property, and countenancing the individuals of his family in the +same assumption and violation, without any regard to persons; they +were all seized, on his death, by a simultaneous rising of the +people, and sold off the coast as slaves, to get rid of the race. +Adookoo, one of the leading men, was then called to the care of the +stool, with the title of caboceer only, it being still considered +as an interregnum, but he exercised the same supremacy and +privileges which the King had done, and was acknowledged by the +whole country. During his retreat and wanderings in the bush, after +several defeats by the Ashantees, the Fantee towns have assumed +many political and judicial rights before centered in Mankasim; but +Adookoo is now expected to summon them all, and re-establish the +ancient order of things, which they deem too sacred to think of +resisting. It was not the Braffoos, or the whole people of that +district, who had the privilege of living abroad at the public +expense, and who took whatever they pleased of the property of +others, as Mr. Meredith has stated; but the state officers of that +district called Brofoos, who acquired that name from the hide in +which the tobacco is rolled, being formed into a seat peculiar to +them, never using a wooden stool. They were the executors, and not +the organs of the law, and always sat to the right and left of +Adookoo, but had no voice. The number was twelve, and the dignity +immemorially hereditary in as many families. These men were allowed +to take whatever they pleased at home and abroad, but since +Adookoo’s misfortunes, and inability to support them, they have +been content to beg for their tithes in the large towns, and only +exercise their rapacity in the small crooms of their own +district.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[252]</span><a id= +"p2c03"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> III.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Constitution and Laws.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> King, the Aristocracy, +now reduced to four, and the Assembly of Captains,<a id= +"FNanchor_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> +are the three estates of the Ashantee government.</p> + +<p>The constitution requires or admits an interference of the +Aristocracy in all <em>foreign</em> politics, extending even to a +veto on the King’s decision; but they watch rather than share the +<em>domestic</em> administration, generally influencing it by their +opinion, but never appearing to control it from authority; and +their opinions on civil questions, are submitted with a deference, +directly in contrast to their bold declarations on subjects of war +or tribute, which amount to injunction.</p> + +<p>The Ashantees advocated this constitution by the argument, that +the interference of the Aristocracy in all foreign politics, makes +the nation more formidable to its enemies, who feel they cannot +provoke with impunity, where there are so many guardians of the +military glory; who, by insisting on a war, become responsible in a +great degree for the issue, and pledge an energy and exertion, +in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[253]</span> comparison with +which, such as could be excited by a despotic monarch, must be +deemed disinterested. They added, that an almost independent +administration of the King, was better calculated for the domestic +government, because the decrees of a monarch have naturally more +force with the people, (over whom his power is unlimited) and, +further, that a civil power in the Aristocracy could not be +reconciled to the Assembly of Captains, to whom the former estate +was already sufficiently invidious for the health of the +constitution.</p> + +<p>In exercising his judicial authority, the King always retired in +private with the Aristocracy to hear their opinions, to encourage +their candor without diminishing his majesty in the eye of the +people; and in using his legislative prerogative, he was said +always to give them a private opportunity of defending the old law, +rather than of objecting to the new; though, from the same state +policy, the latter was announced to the Aristocracy as well as to +the Assembly of Captains, before the people, as the sudden and +arbitrary pleasure of the King.</p> + +<p>The general Assembly of the Caboceers and Captains, is summoned +merely to give publicity to the will of the King and Aristocracy, +and to provide for its observance; unless on state emergencies, or +unprecedented occasions, such as the Treaty with the British +Government. The following anecdote, related to me by many +Ashantees, will illustrate the freedom of their constitution.</p> + +<p>A son of the King’s quarrelling with a son of Amanquateä’s, (one +of the four) told him, that in comparison with himself, he was the +son of a slave; this being reported to Amanquateä, he sent a party +of his soldiers, who pulled down the house of the King’s son and +seized his person. The King hearing of it sent to Amanquateä, and +learning the particulars, interceded for his son, and redeemed his +head for 20 periguins of gold.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[254]</span>The most +original feature of their law, that of succession, has been +mentioned in the <a href="#Page_234">History,</a> with the argument +on which it is founded: it is universally binding; the course is, +the brother, the sister’s son, the son, the chief vassal or slave +to the stool. In the Fantee country, the principal slave succeeds +to the exclusion of the son, who only inherits his mother’s +property, frequently considerable, and inherited from her family +independently of her husband: the daughters share a small part of +the fetish or ornamental gold, which is much alloyed with +silver.</p> + +<p>The sisters of the King may marry or intrigue with whom they +please, provided he be an eminently strong or personable man; that +the heirs of the stool may be, at least, personably superior to the +generality of their countrymen.</p> + +<p>The King is heir to the gold of every subject, from the highest +to the lowest; the fetish gold and the cloths are generally +presented by him to the successor to the stool, from which the +slaves and other property of the deceased are inseparable. The King +contributes to the funeral custom to validate his claim, and +usually bestows ten periguins of the dust gold on the successor, +(if of a rich man,) who is in all cases liable for the debts of the +deceased, though the amount is generally made good to him sooner or +later, if he has influence with those about the King, or recommends +himself to his notice personally. This law is sometimes +anticipated, by a father presenting his children with large sums of +gold just before his death. Boiteëm, the father of Otee, one of the +King’s linguists, is known to have done so, but the son discovers +his wealth very deliberately.</p> + +<p>The gold buried with members of the royal family, and afterwards +deposited with their bones in the fetish house at Bantama, is +sacred; and cannot be used, but to redeem the capital from the +hands of an enemy, or in extreme national distress; and even +then,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[255]</span> the King must +avoid the sight of it, if he would avoid the fatal vengeance of the +fetish or deity.</p> + +<p>If a slave seeks refuge from an ally or tributary, he is +restored; if from an unconnected power, he is received as a free +subject.</p> + +<p>The tributary state which distinguishes itself in suppressing +the revolt of another, is rewarded by privileges at the expense of +the offending power: thus if a subject of the former kills a +subject of the latter, the price of a slave only can be recovered, +instead of the fine otherwise attached to the death of a freeman; +and the damages for other injuries are reduced in proportion.</p> + +<p>If the subjects of any tributary do not like the decision of +their ruler, according to the laws of their own country, they may +appeal to the King, and claim decision by the law of Ashantee. The +commission allowed to the collectors of tribute or fine, is two +periguins out of ten.</p> + +<p>The direct descendants of the noble families who assisted the +enterprise of Saï Tootoo, the founder of the kingdom, are not +subject to capital punishment, but can only be despoiled. There are +now but four remaining, Ananqui, Assafee, (see <a href= +"#Page_144">Diary,</a>) and two others, all beggars.</p> + +<p>We were present at the promulgation of the following law: “All +persons sent on the King’s business shall no longer seize +provisions in any country, whether tributary or otherwise, in his +name; but requiring food, shall offer a fair price for the first +they meet with, if this is refused, they shall then demand one +meal, and one meal only, in the King’s name, and proceed. This +extends to all messengers sent by the head captains, whose +servants, as well as the King’s, have been long in the habit of +extorting goods from traders, and tobacco and provisions in the +market place, in the names of their masters, which they shall do no +longer without incurring the same penalty which is attached to the +former part of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[256]</span> this +law, 110 penguins.” The form of making this law, was, the linguists +with their insignia advanced and announced it to each of the four +members of the Aristocracy, then to the whole assembly; afterwards +Cudjo Appăni, the chief crier, proclaimed it to the people, who +shouted their thanks; his fee from the King was ten ackies, from +the people twenty. This attachment of the penalty to the law (the +chief merit of Zaleucus) manifests some advancement in polity, in +securing the accused against arbitrary judgment.<a id= +"FNanchor_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72" class= +"fnanchor">[72]</a></p> + +<p>The caboceers of Soota, Marmpon, Becqua, and Kokofoo, the four +large towns built by the Ashantees at the same time with Coomassie, +have several palatine privileges; they have an independent +treasury, though subject to the demands of the government and a +judicial power, with the reserve of an appeal to the King. They +celebrate their own yam custom after they have attended that at +Coomassie, at which all dependents and tributaries must be present, +and which seems to have been instituted like the Panathenæa of +Theseus, to unite such various nations by a common festival. These +four caboceers, only, are allowed, with the King, to stud their +sandals with gold.</p> + +<p>The blood of the son of a King, or of any of the royal family +cannot be shed; but when guilty of a crime of magnitude, they are +drowned in the river Dah, by a particular captain, named Cudjo +Samfani.</p> + +<p>If a man swears on the King’s head, that another must kill him, +which is understood to be invoking the King’s death if he does not, +the other man must do so, or forfeit the whole of his property, and +generally his life. This very frequently occurs, for the +blacks<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[257]</span> in their +ardor for revenge, do not regard sacrificing their own lives to +bring a palaver on their murderer, which their families are sure to +do.</p> + +<p>To be convicted of cowardice is death.</p> + +<p>A subject may clear any part of the bush for building a croom, +or making a plantation, without paying any thing to the King as +lord of the soil; but he must pay a small sum to the possessor of +the nearest croom or plantation, through which his path runs.</p> + +<p>The government has no power to direct the traders to any +particular market, though it interdicts the commerce with any power +which may have offended it.</p> + +<p>All the King’s linguists take fetish to be true to each other, +and to report faithfully.</p> + +<p>If any subject picks up gold dropped in the market place, it is +death, being collected only by order of the government on +emergencies; see <a href="#Page_319">Revenue.</a></p> + +<p>Theft of the King’s property, or intrigue with the female +attendants of the royal family, or habitual incontinence, is +punished by emasculation; but crim. con. with the wife of a man who +has been so punished, is death: being considered an aggravated +contempt of law.</p> + +<p>Interest of money is 33⅓ per cent. for every forty days, which +is accompanied after the first period by a dash of liquor. When the +patience of the creditor is exhausted, he seizes the debtor, or +even any of his family, as slaves, and they can only be redeemed by +the payment. This barbarous law was nearly the same in +Athens.<a id="FNanchor_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73" class= +"fnanchor">[73]</a></p> + +<p>In almost all charges of treason, the life of the accuser is at +risk as well as that of the accused, and is forfeited on the +acquittal of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[258]</span> the +latter. I understood this, from the best authorities, to be +indispensible as a check on the palavers; envy, spleen, or +covetousness would otherwise accumulate.</p> + +<p>The accuser is never discovered or confronted to the accused, +nor the evidence revealed, until the latter has fully replied to +the charge, as outlined by the King’s linguists.</p> + +<p>Palavers are frequently allowed to sleep even for years, as in +the Fantee country, to make the damages sued for, the heavier: for +instance, if a man stole a hen twelve months before, the value of +the broods and eggs it would have produced, on a fair average, in +the interval, would be shrewdly calculated, and sued for.<a id= +"FNanchor_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> +State palavers are also allowed to sleep for years, but that is to +impose the confidence on the accused that the principal witnesses +are dead, and the impression is artfully assisted by the policy of +the council. The witnesses against Appia Nanu, who had reported his +haughty message to the King, had not been seen for nearly twelve +months before they burst before him on the day of his trial, having +been sent into the bush on the most distant frontier.</p> + +<p>No man is punished for killing his own slave, but he is for the +murder of his wife or child.<a id="FNanchor_75"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a> If he kills the slave of +another, he must pay the value. If a great man kills his equal in +rank, he is generally allowed to die by his own hands: the death of +an inferior is generally compensated by a fine to the family, equal +to seven slaves.<a id="FNanchor_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76" +class="fnanchor">[76]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[259]</span>If a person +brings a frivolous palaver against another, he must give an +entertainment to the family and friends of the acquitted.</p> + +<p>If an aggry bead is broken in a scuffle, seven slaves are to be +paid to the owner.</p> + +<p>Trifling thefts are generally punished by the exposure of the +party in various parts of the town, whilst the act is published; +but more serious thefts cannot be visited on the guilty by any but +his family, who are bound to compensate the accuser, and punish +their relative or not as they think fit; they may even put him or +her to death, if the injury is serious, or the crime repeated or +habitual.</p> + +<p>If a man cohabits with a woman without the house, or in the +bush, they are both the slaves of the first person who discovers +them; but redeemable by their families.</p> + +<p>It is forbidden, as it was by Lycurgus, to praise the beauty of +another man’s wife, being intrigue by implication.</p> + +<p>A captain generally gives a periguin to the family on taking a +wife, a poor man two ackies: the damages for intrigue in the former +case are ten periguins; in the latter, one ackie and a half, and a +pot of palm wine.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[260]</span>If a woman +involves herself in a palaver, she involves her family, but not her +husband.</p> + +<p>None but a captain can sell his wife, and he, only, if her +family are unable to redeem her by the repayment of the marriage +fee.</p> + +<p>The property of the wife is distinct, and independent of the +husband, though the King is the heir to it.</p> + +<p>None but a captain can put his wife to death for infidelity, and +even then he is expected to accept a liberal offer of gold from the +family, for her redemption. To intrigue with a wife of the King’s +is death.</p> + +<p>If the family of a woman are able and willing, on her report of +her dislike to her husband, or his ill-treatment of her, to tender +him the marriage fee, he must accept it, and the woman returns to +her family, but may not marry again.</p> + +<p>If a husband is not heard of by his wife for three years, she +may marry again, and if the first husband returns, the claim of the +second is the better; but all the children of the after marriage +are considered the property of the first husband, and may be pawned +by him.</p> + +<p>Those accused of witchcraft, or having a devil, are tortured to +death.</p> + +<p>The good treatment of slaves is in some degree provided for, by +the liberty they have of dashing or transferring themselves to any +freeman; whom they enjoin to make them his property by invoking his +death if he does not; an imperative appeal.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c03"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71"><span class= +"label">[71]</span></a>It has been shewn in the history, that the +Aristocracy was originally formed of the peers and associates of +Saï Tootoo the founder of the monarchy, who owed his elevation not +to his superior rank, but to his superior endowments and address. +The Aristocracy has been gradually retrenched since Saï Cudjo +pointed out the way.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72"><span class= +"label">[72]</span></a>By the laws of Ahanta, which are peculiar, +if any subject or sojourner is in urgent want of provisions, he may +seize the first he meets with, paying the owner the prices which +have been fixed by the caboceers: this is similar to the law of +Lycurgus. At the Contoom or annual Harvest Custom, the Ahantas +revise their laws, as Solon enjoined the Athenians to do, annulling +some and adding others.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73"><span class= +"label">[73]</span></a>In Ahanta, all old debts must be paid within +six weeks from the commencement of the Contoom or Harvest Custom. +The creditor can panyar or seize not only the family, but the +townsmen of the debtor.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74"><span class= +"label">[74]</span></a>The Ahanta laws do not allow of these +protracted palavers, and only award the intrinsic value of the +articles stolen or destroyed. If a man robs a plantation of a yam, +he must pay the owner a tokoo of gold, and take two more. In Fantee +the pettiest theft frequently entails slavery.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75"><span class= +"label">[75]</span></a>In the kingdom of Amanaheä or Apollonia, the +tenth child is always buried alive.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76"><span class= +"label">[76]</span></a>A person accidentally killing another in +Ahanta, pays 5 oz. of gold to the family, and defrays the burial +customs. In the case of murder, it is 20 oz. of gold and a slave; +or, he and his family become the slaves of the family of the +deceased. If a man dashes himself to the fetish on the head of +another, the other must redeem him. If a man kills himself on the +head of another, the other must kill himself also, or pay 20 oz. to +the family: in Fantee the sum is indefinitely great: this is +frequently resorted to, when there is no other prospect of +revenge.</p> + +<p>Adumissa, an extraordinarily beautiful red skinned woman of Cape +Coast, possessed numerous admirers, but rejected them all. One of +them, in despair, shot himself on her head close to her house. The +family demanding satisfaction; to save her relations from a ruinous +palaver, she resolved to shoot herself in expiation. She +accordingly assembled her friends and relatives from various parts +of the country, and sitting, richly dressed, killed herself in +their presence with golden bullets. After the body had been exposed +in state, it was buried with a profusion of cloths and gold. The +beautiful Adumissa is still eulogised, and her favourite patterned +cloth bears her name amongst the natives.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[261]</span><a id= +"p2c04"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> IV.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Superstitions.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> Negro tradition of the +book and the calabash, cited by St. Pierre, is familiar to every +native of these parts, and seems the source of their religious +opinions. Impressed that the blind avarice of their forefathers +inclined all the favour of the supreme God to white men, they +believe themselves to have been committed to the mediating care of +subordinate deities, necessarily as inferior to the primary, as +they are to Europeans.</p> + +<p>As the Ashantee manner of relating this tradition differs a +little from that of the Fantee, I will repeat it, on the authority +of Odumata and other principal men. In the beginning of the world, +God created three white and three black men, with the same number +of women; he resolved, that they might not afterwards complain, to +give them their choice of good and evil. A large box or calabash +was set on the ground, with a piece of paper, sealed up, on one +side of it. God gave the black men the first choice, who took the +box, expecting it contained every thing, but, on opening it, there +appeared only a piece of gold, a piece of iron, and several other +metals, of which they did not know the use. The white men opening +the paper, it told them every thing. God left the blacks in the +bush, but conducted the whites to the water side, (for this +happened in Africa) communicated with them every night, and taught +them to build a small ship which carried them to<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_262">[262]</span> another country, whence they +returned after a long period, with various merchandise to barter +with the blacks, who might have been the superior people.</p> + +<p>With this imaginary alienation from the God of the universe, not +a shade of despondency is associated; they consider that it +diminishes their comforts and their endowments on earth, but that +futurity is a dull and torpid state to the majority of mankind.</p> + +<p>Their fetishes or subordinate deities, are supposed to inhabit +particular rivers, woods, and mountains, as the imaginary deities +of the Celts. They are venerated in proportion as their predictions +(always equivocal) chance to be realized. The present favourite +fetish of Ashantee is that of the river Tando. Cobee, a river in +Dankara, and Odentee on the Adirree, are two of the others.</p> + +<p>The kings, caboceers, and the higher class, are believed to +dwell with the superior Deity after death, enjoying an eternal +renewal of the state and luxury they possessed on earth. It is with +this impression, that they kill a certain number of both sexes at +the funeral customs, to accompany the deceased, to announce his +distinction, and to administer to his pleasures.</p> + +<p>The spirits of the inferior classes are believed to inhabit the +houses of the fetish, in a state of torpid indolence, which +recompenses them for the drudgery of their lives, and which is +truly congenial to the feelings of the Negro. Those of superior +wisdom and experience, are said to be endued with foresight after +death, and to be appointed to observe the lives, and advise the +good of those mortals who acknowledge the fetish; their state +corresponding, in short, with that of the first race of men after +death, as described by Hesiod. Those whose enormities nullify the +mediation of the funeral custom, or, whom neglect or circumstances +might have deprived of it, are doomed, in the imagination of +others,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[263]</span> to haunt +the gloom of the forest, stealing occasionally to their former +abodes in rare but lingering visits. Those who have neglected the +custom, or funeral rites of their family, are thought to be +accursed and troubled by their spirits.</p> + +<p>There are two orders of fetishmen. The first class dwell with +the fetish,<a id="FNanchor_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77" class= +"fnanchor">[77]</a> who has a small round house, built generally at +a distance from the town. They question the oracle respecting the +future fortune of a state or an individual, convey its advice, and +enjoin the attention of the <em>audible</em> spirits of those, any +member of their family would question respecting property or +domestic circumstances:</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">“Auditur tumulo et vox reddita fertur ad +aures.”<span class="word-spaced10"> </span>Æn. vi.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The inferior class pursue their various occupations in society, +assist in customs and superstitious ceremonies, and are applied to +as fortune tellers or conjurors are in Europe; especially in cases +of theft; when, from a secret system of espionage, and a +reluctance, frequently amounting to a refusal to discover the +culprit, or to do<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[264]</span> +more than replace the property whence it was taken, they are +generally successful. The magical ceremony consists in knotting, +confusing, and dividing behind the back, several strings and shreds +of leather. They are also frequently applied to by slippery wives, +to work charms to keep their husbands in ignorance of a projected +intrigue, which they affect to do.</p> + +<p>The primary dignity is hereditary in families, as the priesthood +was in Egypt, celibacy not being enjoined; their property is also +hereditary, and they possess other immunities. The latter order is +frequently augmented by those, who declare that the fetish has +suddenly seized, or come upon them, and who, after inflicting great +severities on themselves, in the manner of the convulsionists, are +ultimately acknowledged. The fetish women, generally preferred for +medical aid, as they possess a thorough knowledge of barks and +herbs, deleterious and sanative, closely resemble the second class +of Druidesses as described, I think by Mela: they seem licensed +prostitutes, before and after marriage.</p> + +<p>The present state of these people referring them to a comparison +with the nations of ancient Europe,<a id="FNanchor_78"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> the close resemblance of +many points of their superstition to relative particulars recorded +of Greece and Gaul, recalls the following reflection of an eminent +writer. “The truth is, there is hardly any thing more surprising in +the history of mankind, than the similitude, or rather identity, of +the opinions, institutions, and manners of all these orders of +ancient priests, though they lived under such different climates, +and at so great a distance from one another, without intercourse or +communication. This amounts to a demonstration, that<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_265">[265]</span> all these opinions and +institutions flowed originally from one fountain.”</p> + +<p>Half the offerings to the fetish, are pretended to be thrown +into the river, the other half belongs to the priests. The King’s +offering is generally ten ounces, and three or four slaves: that of +a poor subject about four ackies. Children are frequently vowed to +the service of the fetish before their birth. A slave flying to the +temple, may dash or devote himself to the fetish; but, by paying a +fee of two ounces of gold and four sheep, any person shuts the door +of the fetish house against all his run away slaves.<a id= +"FNanchor_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79" class= +"fnanchor">[79]</a></p> + +<p>Every family has a variety of domestic fetishes, furnished by +the priests, and answering to the Penates of the Romans; some are +wooden figures, others of arbitrary shapes and materials; they +receive offerings and libations at the yam custom, but are not +brought out of the house.<a id="FNanchor_80"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[266]</span>In Ashantee +there is not a common fetish day, as on the coast.<a id= +"FNanchor_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> +Different families solemnize different days of the week, by wearing +white cloths, abstaining from palm wine and labour, as they do the +day of the week on which they were born, which is in fact their +second fetish day. The King’s family keep Tuesday as their fetish +day. Odumata’s, Friday. Saturday was the King’s birth day, when, as +well as on his fetish day, he always sat on a stool placed before +his chair as a foot stool would be. Some families never eat beef, +others abstain from pork. Fowls and beef are the fetish of the +King’s family, and consequently never eaten by it.</p> + +<p>The Ashantees have their Fasti and Nefasti, or lucky and unlucky +days, as the Romans had.<a id="FNanchor_82"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> The former consecrated by +some good fortune, the latter condemned from some national +calamity, as Saturday, for instance, from the defeat and death of +Saï Tootoo. They are also otherwise marked than by the week; for I +was told, that our month of September contained fewer bad days than +any other, and was besides deemed auspicious to travelling:</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">Ipsa dies alios alio dedit ordine +Luna</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Felices operum <span class="omis">· · · +·</span></div> + +<div class="line indent0"><span class="omis">· · · ·</span> nona +fugæ melior.<span class="word-spaced10"> </span>Geor. +<span class="sc2">I</span>.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">I have known Ashantees thirty days coming with +dispatches from Cape Coast Castle to Coomassie, in August; and in +September, to have arrived in twelve.</p> + +<p>If the successor to a stool, or any rich inheritance is a child, +they grind aggry beads into a powder, and rub him with it +daily,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[267]</span> after +washing, believing that it hastens his growth and maturity. When +any one denies a theft, an aggry bead is placed in a small vessel, +with some water, the person holding it puts his right foot against +the right foot of the accused, who invokes the power of the bead to +kill him if he is guilty, and then takes it into his mouth with a +little of the water, the rest being thrown on the ground, and +crossed as he repeats the invocation: their superstition is +generally superior to their resolution. I shall be expected to +notice these aggry beads.</p> + +<p>The natives invariably declare that the aggry beads are found in +the Dankara, Akim, Warsaw, Ahanta, and Fantee countries, the +greater number in the former, being the richer in gold; they say +they are directed to dig for them by a spiral vapour issuing from +the ground, and that they rarely lay near the surface; the finder +is said to be sure of a series of good fortune. The plain aggry +beads are blue, yellow, green, or a dull red, the variegated +consist of every colour and shade. The Fantees prefer the plain +yellow bead, the Amanaheäns the blue and yellow, for which they +will give double the weight in gold; those of inferior beauty +frequently fetch a large price, from having been worn by some royal +or eminent character. Dr. Leyden, who writes, “the aigris is a +stone of a greenish blue colour, supposed to be a species of +jasper, small perforated pieces of which, valued at their weight in +gold, are used for money,” (which I never heard of,) rather +describes the popo bead; though that is semi-transparent, (of a +bright blue,) resembling carnelian, (which is frequently found in +these countries) and said to be obtained in the same manner as the +aggry bead. Isert writes, “they are a sort of coral, with inlaid +work: the art of making beads is entirely lost, or was never known +in these parts: it is not improbable, that in the golden age of +Egypt, she had communication with the Gold Coast; indeed, it has +been thought, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[268]</span> +perhaps not without some reason, that the Gold Coast is the Ophir +of Solomon.”</p> + +<p>The variegated strata of the aggry beads are so firmly united, +and so imperceptibly blended, that the perfection seems superior to +art: some resemble mosaic work, the surfaces of others are covered +with flowers and regular patterns, so very minute, and the shades +so delicately softened one into the other, and into the ground of +the bead, that nothing but the finest touch of the pencil could +equal them. The agatized parts disclose flowers and patterns, deep +in the body of the bead, and thin shafts, of opaque colours, +running from the centre to the surface. The natives pretend that +imitations are made in the country, which they call boiled beads, +alleging that they are broken aggry beads ground into powder, and +boiled together, and that they know them because they are heavier; +but this I find to be mere conjecture among themselves, unsupported +by any thing like observation or discovery. The natives believe +that by burying the aggry beads in sand they not only grow but +breed.<a id="FNanchor_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83" class= +"fnanchor">[83]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[269]</span>To return to the +superstitions of the Ashantees: when they drink, they spill a +little of the liquor on the ground as an offering<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_270">[270]</span> to the fetish; and on rising +from their chairs or stools, their attendants instantly lay them on +their sides, to prevent the devil (whom they represent to be white) +from slipping into their master’s places.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[271]</span>But the most +surprising superstition of the Ashantees, is their confidence in +the fetishes or saphies they purchase so extravagantly from the +Moors, believing firmly that they make them invulnerable and +invincible in war, paralyse the hand of the enemy, shiver their +weapons, divert the course of balls, render both sexes prolific, +and avert all evils but sickness, (which they can only assuage,) +and natural death. The King gave to the King of Dagwumba, for the +fetish or war coat of Apokoo, the value of thirty slaves; for +Odumata’s, twenty; for Adoo Quamina’s, thirteen; for Akimpon’s, +twelve; for Akimponteä’s, nine; and for those of greater captains +in proportion. The generals being always in the rear of the +army<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[272]</span> are pretty +sure to escape, a circumstance much in favour of the Moors. The +drawing of Adoo Quamina will convey the best idea of this dress, +which has been described <a href="#Page_31">before,</a> in our +entrée; it is so weighty that old Odumata could scarcely move in +his. Jannequin, who visited Mandingo in 1637, describes exactly the +same sort of dress as worn by the chiefs of that country, and adds, +“their bodies are so encumbered with these defences, that they are +often unable to mount on horseback without assistance.” For a small +fetish of about six lines, sewn in a case of red cloth, which the +King presented to our Accra linguist, Baba charged and received six +ackies. The man valued the gift highly; he had expended two pieces +of cloth and a quantity of rum in fetish, at Accra, before he +joined the Mission; but for which, he told me, he was convinced the +Ashantees would have managed to poison him: yet, he was one of the +most sensible natives I ever conversed with. A sheet of paper would +support an inferior Moor in Coomassie for a month. Several of the +Ashantee captains offered seriously to let us fire at them; in +short, their confidence in these fetishes is almost as incredible, +as the despondency and panic imposed on their southern and western +enemies by the recollection of them: they impel the Ashantees, +fearless and headlong, to the most daring enterprises, they +dispirit their adversaries, almost to the neglect of an +interposition of fortune in their favour. The Ashantees believe +that the constant prayers of the Moors, who have persuaded them +that they converse with the Deity, invigorate themselves, and +gradually waste the spirit and strength of their enemies. This +faith is not less impulsive than that which achieved the Arabian +conquests.</p> + +<p>Neither the Ashantees or their neighbours have any tradition of +a deluge, nor does Catcott, the only writer I recollect to have +read on its universality, report any Negro tradition, though he +submits<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[273]</span> that of the +American tribes, with those of the other nations of the world. The +Moors told me, that the waters of the deluge retired to, and were +absorbed in the lake Caudi or Caughi, which they also called Bahar +Noohoo, or the sea of Noah.</p> + +<p>Amongst other observations, I recollect the Moors to have said, +that Moses spoke like God, that Abraham was the friend of God, that +Jesus was a spirit of God, but that Mahomet was the best beloved of +God. They added, that there were four books written by the +inspiration of God, at different times. Moses wrote Tauratoo; +David, Zaboura; Jesus, Lingheel; and Mahomet, Al Koran. Lightning, +they said, was occasioned by God waving his hand to direct the +courses of his angels. One Moor was a great etymologist; he told +me, that Mahomet rushing between two armies, who were fighting, +exclaimed to one party, “Toorek! Toorek!” (leave off! leave off!) +and that those people were thenceforward called Turks. I questioned +them concerning the origin of nations; they told me, that Japhet +was the most active in covering the nakedness of his father, which +Ham discovered, and thence the subjection of black men the +descendants of Ham, to Europeans the descendants of Japhet. Shem, +from whom they were themselves descended, they said, was neither so +good or so bad as his brothers, and therefore his children enjoyed +a medium of endowment and favour. They augured from the sacrifice +of sheep, with which the King supplied them abundantly, and, +excepting those who had made a pilgrimage to Mecca, (of which they +told us wonderful tales) did not hesitate mingling the +superstitions of the natives with their own, either for their +profit or safety. They were tolerably expert in slight of hand +tricks.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c04"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77"><span class= +"label">[77]</span></a>At Nanampong (Nanan means a grand-father) +near Mankasim, in the Braffoo country, there is a deep dell, +inhabited by a number of aged fetish men, whom the Fantees believe +to be immortal, and to have lived there beyond all memory, in close +converse with the fetish, and ignorant of the world but by +intuition. The spirits of the aged and wise are believed to dwell +amongst them, and their prophecies and advice are revered as +emanations from the fetish. Adookoo, the chief of the Braffoos, +used sometimes to consult them in person, but generally through his +head fetishman, and the Fantees now attribute the successes of the +Ashantees, and their own defeats and misfortunes, to the disregard +of what the oracle enjoined; for, whilst it was obeyed, they say +the country always prospered; and, indeed, from the instances which +have been reported to me, the responses appear to have directed a +just and prudent policy, highly conducive to the welfare of Fantee. +This dell is so impervious, and yet so capacious, that many hundred +Fantees were secreted there, during the Ashantee invasions, which +these priests had predicted. The house or temple of the principal +fetish of the Ahanta country, called Checquoo, is at Apremmadoo, +about four miles up the Takaradee river: upwards of fifty superior +priests are resident there.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78"><span class= +"label">[78]</span></a>“And here I cannot but remark, that those +accounts, when compared, shew how little manners and minds improve +in Africa, and how long, and how much society has been there at a +stand:—Jobson saw, in 1620, exactly what Park saw in 1798.” Sir W. +Young.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79"><span class= +"label">[79]</span></a>A slave dashing or devoting himself to +Checquoo, the great fetish of Ahanta, is never redeemed; the +impression of the superior power of that fetish being so awful, +that the proprietor of the slave, would believe the death of all +his family inevitable, were he to redeem him from the +sanctuary.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80"><span class= +"label">[80]</span></a>The different states of the water side +revere different animals as fetish: the hyæna is esteemed so at +Accra, the alligator at Dix Cove and Annamaboe, and vultures +universally; and with more apparent reason, as they consume all the +offal of the neighbourhood, and thus contribute to its health and +cleanliness. A black man killing a hyæna at Accra, would incur a +serious penalty. A European is obliged to pay a case of neat rum +and one piece of white baft, in which the head of the animal is +wrapped, and afterwards buried by the natives. Almost every +resident on the coast, can speak to the imitative powers of the +hyæna, which Pliny has been ridiculed for reporting. In a fresh +water pond at Dix Cove, there is an alligator, about twelve feet +long, which always appears on the bank, at the call of the fetish +men, who then throw it a white fowl. In a modern natural history, I +read, “in this part of the world (Africa) also, as well as at Siam, +the crocodile makes an object of savage pomp, near the palaces of +their monarchs. Philips informs us, that at Sabi, on the slave +coast, there are two pools of water near the royal palace, where +crocodiles are bred as we breed carp in our ponds in Europe.” I +never heard of any royal palaces, or of Sabi (probably Assaboo) on +the Slave Coast; the alligator of Dix Cove may possibly be alluded +to.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81"><span class= +"label">[81]</span></a>Tuesday is the common fetish day on the +coast, when they neither fish or work in their plantations.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82"><span class= +"label">[82]</span></a> +</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">Ille et nefasto te posuit +die.<span class="word-spaced10"> </span>Hor. 12, 13.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">Romani pariter quosdam atros et nefastos habuere, +eo quod in iis clades acceperant; <span class="omis">· · +·</span></p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83"><span class= +"label">[83]</span></a>The coloring matter of the blue beads has +been proved, by experiment, to be iron; that of the yellow, without +doubt, is lead and antimony, with a trifling quantity of copper, +though not essential to the production of the color. The generality +of these beads appear to be produced from clays colored in thin +layers, afterwards twisted together into a spiral form, and then +cut across: also from different colored clays raked together +without blending. How the flowers and delicate patterns, in the +body and on the surface of the rarer beads, have been produced, +cannot be so well explained. Besides the suite deposited in the +British Museum, I had the pleasure of presenting one of the most +interesting kind to Baron Humboldt; and I have also sent one to Sir +Richard Hoare, as it seemed to correspond so closely with the bead +which he found in one of the barrows, and describes, as follows, in +his History of Wiltshire. The notion of the rare virtues of the +Glain Neidyr, as well as of the continued good fortune of the +finder, accords exactly with the African superstitions. “A large +glass bead, of the same imperfect petrefaction as the pully beads, +and resembling also, in matter, the little figures that are found +with the mummies in Egypt, and are to be seen in the British +Museum. This very curious bead has two circular lines of opaque sky +blue and white, which seem to represent a serpent entwined round a +centre, which is perforated. This was certainly one of the Glain +Neidyr of the Britons, derived from glain, which is pure and holy, +and neidyr a snake. Under the word glain, Mr. Owen, in his Welsh +Dictionary, has given the following article: “The Glain neidyr, +transparent stones, or adder stones, were worn by the different +orders of the bards, each having its appropriate color. There is no +certainty that they were worn from superstition originally; perhaps +that was the circumstance which gave rise to it. Whatever might +have been the cause, the <em>notion of their rare virtues was +universal</em> in all places where the Bardic religion was taught. +It may still be questioned whether they are the production of +nature or art.” The beads which are the present object of my +attention, are thus noticed by Bishop Gibson in his improved +edition of Camden’s Britannia. “In most parts of Wales, and +throughout all Scotland, and in Cornwall, we find it a common +opinion of the vulgar, that about Midsummer eve (although in the +time they do not all agree,) it is usual for snakes to meet in +companies; and that by joining heads together, and hissing, a kind +of bubble is formed like a ring, about the head of one of them, +which the rest, by continual hissing blow on till it comes off at +the tail; and then it immediately hardens, and resembles a glass +ring, <em>which whoever finds (as some old women and children are +persuaded) shall prosper in all their undertakings</em>. The rings +which they suppose to be thus generated are called Gleinu Nadroedh, +i.e. Gemmæ Anguinum, whereof I have seen at several places about +twenty or thirty. They are small glass annulets, commonly about +half as wide as our finger rings, but much thicker; of a green +color, usually, though some of them are blue, and others curiously +waved with blue, red, and white. I have also seen two or three +earthen rings of this kind, but glazed with blue, and adorned with +transverse streaks in furrows on the outside. There seems to be +some connection between the Glein Neidyr of the Britons, and the +Ovum Anguinum mentioned by Pliny,<a id="FNanchor_a-83"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_a-83" class="fnanchor">[a]</a> as being held in +veneration by the Druids of Gaul, and to the formation of which he +gives nearly the same origin. They were probably worn as an +insigne, or mark of distinction, and suspended around the neck, as +the perforation is not sufficiently large to admit the finger.”</p> + +<p>The bead engraved in Tumulus No. 9, resembles closely a coarse +sort of bead, still manufactured in Syria, brought over by Dr. +Meryon. The glass globes dug up in Lincolnshire, and presented by +Sir Joseph Banks to the British Museum, are very like a distinct +sort of aggry bead, dug by the natives even more rarely than the +others, but not larger than a moderate sized apple: they are more +opaque than the other beads, and the ground or body is generally +black, speckled confusedly with red, white, and yellow.</p> + +<p><em>Aggry</em> is the generic, not the abstract name; +‘<em>awynnee</em>’ is <em>bead</em>, but aggry is an exotic word no +native can explain. When first I heard of similar beads having been +lately dug in India, I associated for an instant the expectation +that it might have been in the neighbourhood of Agra, and thus have +thrown some light on the name; but it appears they were found in +Malabar. I am indebted for the following account of this +interesting discovery to a gentleman lately returned from India. +“The bead you sent me is more like those I saw in India, than any I +have seen before; but it is thicker and shorter; neither does the +material of which it is formed exactly agree with those in India, +which appear to be of a red glass, very like red carnelian (such, +however, are frequent among the Aggry beads) with white lines of +enamel, inlaid, as it were, in the body of the bead. I gave these +to a friend in India, who promised to send them to the Asiatic +Society in Calcutta. The circles of stone in which these beads have +been found, abound most in Malabar, in the neighbourhood of +Calicut; but I have seen them in other parts of India, and I am of +opinion that they might be traced throughout the whole of the +southern peninsula. They are formed of large masses of rough +stones, placed round in irregular circles, some of very large +extent, some of smaller: they appear so much like natural rocks, +that most persons would pass them unobserved. Several of these +circles about three years since were excavated, in the vicinity of +Calicut, and in the centre of each of them we found, at the depth +of about five feet, a large earthen jar of the same shape as those +found in Wiltshire, as near as we could judge, for it was broken to +pieces: it was about four or five feet deep, its mouth in general +closed with a square piece of granite: the beads were found at the +bottom of these jars with some pieces of iron, apparently parts of +swords and spears. There was an iron javelin found in one of these +places, tolerably perfect: it was about five feet long, with a +large iron knob at one end of it. In the centre of one of the +circles we came to a flight of seven steps, which led to a cave +excavated in the rock; it measured 11 feet in diameter, and 7 feet +in its highest part; the entrance to it was a square opening of +about 18 inches, which was closed up by an immense block of +granite. We found in this place a great number of earthen pots of +very curious shape; in one of these there were the remains of +bones, which appeared to have been but imperfectly calcined; in +several of the larger jars there were the husks of rice, which +dropped into dust immediately they were opened. We found here also +an iron tripod, and a very curious stone, somewhat similar to what +the Indians now use for grinding their curry powder on. The large +stones forming the circles were set upright and capped with still +larger ones. They are not of granite, but of the stone of the +country in which they are situated; they are of different sizes; I +have seen some of them 10 or 12 feet high, and the large stone on +the top from 10 to 12 feet in diameter, or perhaps more. Coimbatore +is a district situated between the Coromandel and Malabar coasts; +it is bounded on the east by the river Cavery, on the banks of +which the tumuli are in general situated. In some, a few silver +coins have been found, of a square figure, with characters on them, +which none of the most learned Bramins have been as yet able to +make out; it is in these also that remains of very large swords, +&c. have been found. The Roman coins to the number of upwards +of 90 were all of gold, and Nero’s; each of them had a cut or slit +in it. They were not found in one of these barrows, but were +discovered in a garden by one of the natives when digging: they +were in a small copper pot. Pandu Kuri literally means Pandu’s +caves or holes. Pandu is a very celebrated personage in the Hindoo +Mythology, and a great warrior; it is common in India to ascribe to +him all great works of antiquity; this term therefore only shews +that those places are very ancient, and that the present +inhabitants are quite ignorant of their origin.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="subft"> +<p><a id="Footnote_a-83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_a-83"><span class= +"label">[a]</span></a>Præterea est ovorum genus in magna Galliarum +fama, omissum Græcis. Angues innumeri æstate convoluti, salivis +faucium, corporumque spumis artifici complexu glomerantur, anguinum +appellantur. Druidæ sibilis id dicunt in sublime jactari, sagoque +oportere intercipi ne tellurem attingat. Profugere raptorem equo. +Serpentes enim insequi donec arceant amnis alicujus interventu. +Experimentum ejus esse si contra aquas fluitet vel auro cinctum +Insigne Druidis. Ad victorias litium ac regum aditus maxime laudat. +Plinii Hist. Natural. L. 29. c. 3.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[274]</span><a id= +"p2c05"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> V.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Customs.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> Yam Custom is annual, +just at the maturity of that vegetable, which is planted in +December, and not eaten until the conclusion of the custom, the +early part of September. All the caboceers and captains, and the +majority of the tributaries, are enjoined to attend, none being +excused, but such as the Kings of Inta, and Dagwumba, (who send +deputations of their principal caboceers,) and those who have been +dispatched elsewhere on public business. If a chief or caboceer has +offended, or if his fidelity be suspected, he is seldom accused or +punished until the Yam Custom, which they attend frequently +unconscious, and always uncertain of what may be laid to their +charge. The Yam Custom is like the Saturnalia; neither theft, +intrigue, or assault are punishable during the continuance, but the +grossest liberty prevails, and each sex abandons itself to its +passions.</p> + +<p>On Friday the 5th of September, the number, splendor, and +variety of arrivals, thronging from the different paths, was as +astonishing as entertaining; but there was an alloy in the +gratification, for the principal caboceers sacrificed a slave at +each quarter of the town, on their entré.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon of Saturday, the King received all the +caboceers and captains in the large area, where the Dankara canons +are<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[275]</span> placed. The +scene was marked with all the splendor of our own entré, and many +additional novelties. The crush in the distance was awful and +distressing. All the heads of the kings and caboceers whose +kingdoms had been conquered, from Saï Tootoo to the present reign, +with those of the chiefs who had been executed for subsequent +revolts, were displayed by two parties of executioners, each +upwards of a hundred, who passed in an impassioned dance, some with +the most irresistible grimace, some with the most frightful +gesture: they clashed their knives on the skulls, in which sprigs +of thyme were inserted, to keep the spirits from troubling the +King. I never felt so grateful for being born in a civilized +country. Firing and drinking palm wine were the only divertissemens +to the ceremony of the caboceers presenting themselves to the King; +they were announced, and passed all round the circle saluting every +umbrella: their bands preceded; we reckoned above forty drums in +that of the King of Dwabin. The effect of the splendor, the tumult, +and the musquetry, was afterwards heightened by torch light. We +left the ground at 10 o’clock; the umbrellas were crowded even in +the distant streets, the town was covered like a large fair, the +broken sounds of distant horns and drums filled up the momentary +pauses of the firing which encircled us: the uproar continued until +four in the morning, just before which the King retired. I have +attempted a drawing, (<a href="#i02">No. 2.</a>) it is by no means +adequate, yet more so than description could be.</p> + +<div class="plate"> +<div class="figcenter iw1"> +<figure id="i02"><a href="images/i02_large.jpg"><img src= +'images/i02.jpg' alt=''></a> +<table class="width-full"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl ipub"><em>Drawn by T. E. Bowdich +Esq<sup>r</sup>.</em> +</td> +<td class="tdr ipub"><em>Engraved by R. Havell & Son.</em> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="cp1"><span class="sc">The First Day of the Yam +Custom.</span> +</p> + +<p class="ipubb"><em>Published Dec<sup>r</sup>. 2, 1818, by John +Murray, Albemarle Street.</em> +</p> +</figure> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On the left side of the drawing is a group of captains dancing +and firing, as described in our entré. Immediately above the +encircling soldiery, is a young caboceer under his umbrella, borne +on the shoulders of his chief slave; he salutes as he passes along, +and is preceded and surrounded by boys (with elephants tails, +feathers, &c.) and his captains, who, lifting their swords in +the air, halloo out the deeds of his fore-fathers; his stool is +borne close to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[276]</span> him, +ornamented with a large brass bell. Above is the fanciful standard +of a chief, who is preceded and followed by numerous attendants; he +is supported round the waist by a confidential slave, and one wrist +is so heavily laden with gold, that it is supported on the head of +a small boy; with the other hand he is saluting a seated caboceer, +sawing the air by a motion from the wrist. His umbrella is sprung +up and down to increase the breeze, and large grass fans are also +playing; his handsomest slave girl follows, bearing on her head a +small red leather trunk, full of gold ornaments, and rich cloths; +behind are soldiers and drummers, who throw their white-washed +drums in the air, and catch them again, with much agility and +grimace, as they walk along. Boys are in the front, bearing +elephants tails, fly flappers, &c. and his captains with +uplifted swords, are hastening forward the musicians and soldiers. +Amongst the latter is the stool, so stained with blood that it is +thought decent to cover it with red silk. Behind the musicians is +Odumata, coming round to join the procession in his state hammock +lined with red taffeta, and smoking under his umbrella, at the top +of which is a stuffed leopard. In the area below is an unfortunate +victim, tortured in the manner described in the entré, and two of +the King’s messengers clearing the way for him. The King’s four +linguists are seen next; two, Otee and Quancum, are seated in +conversation under an umbrella; the chief, Adoosey, is swearing a +royal messenger, (to fetch an absent caboceer,) by putting a gold +handled sword between his teeth, whilst Agay delivers the charge, +and exhorts him to be resolute. The criers, all deformed and with +monkey skin caps, are seated in the front. Under the next umbrella +is the royal stool, thickly cased in gold. Gold pipes, fans of +ostrich wing feathers, captains seated with gold swords, wolves +heads and snakes as large as life of the same metal, depending from +the handles, girls bearing silver bowls, body<span class="pagenum" +id="Page_277">[277]</span> guards, &c. &c. are mingled +together till we come to the King, seated in a chair of ebony and +gold, and dressed much in the same way as described at the first +interview. He is holding up his two fingers to receive the oath of +the captain to the right, who, pointing to a distant country, vows +to conquer it. On the right and left of the state umbrella are the +flags of Great Britain, Holland, and Denmark. A group of painted +figures are dancing up to the King, in the most extravagant +attitudes, beating time with their long knives on the skulls stuck +full of thyme. On the right of the King is the eunuch, who +superintends the group of small boys, the children of the nobility, +waving elephants tails, (spangled with gold,) feathers, &c.: +behind him is the above mentioned captain and other chiefs dressed +as in the left end of the drawing. Musicians, seated and standing, +are playing on instruments cased or plated with gold. The officers +of the Mission are next seen, their linguists in front, their +soldiers, servants, and flag behind, at the back of whom is placed +the King’s state hammock, under its own umbrella. Adjoining the +officers is old Quatchie Quofie and his followers; at the top of +his umbrella is stuck a small black wooden image, with a bunch of +rusty hair on the head, intending to represent the famous Akim +caboceer who was killed by him; vain of the action, he is seen +according to his usual custom, dancing before and deriding his +fallen enemy, whilst his captains bawl out the deed, and halloo +their acclamations. The manner of drinking palm wine is exhibited +in the next group, a boy kneels beneath with a second bowl to catch +the droppings, (it being a great luxury to suffer the liquor to run +over the beard,) whilst the horns flourish, and the captains halloo +the strong names. The Moors are easily distinguished by their caps, +and preposterous turbans. One is blessing a Dagwumba caboceer, who +is passing on horseback, (the animal covered with fetishes and +bells,) escorted by his men<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_278">[278]</span> in tunics, bearing lances, and his +musicians with rude violins, distinct from the sanko. The back of +the whole assembly is lined with royal soldiers, and the commoner +ones are ranged in front, with here and there a captain and a group +of musicians, who, some with an old cocked hat, some with a +soldier’s jacket, &c. &c. afford a ludicrous appearance. +This description will be rendered more illustrative of the drawing, +by referring to that of our entré.</p> + +<p>The next morning the King ordered a large quantity of rum to be +poured into brass pans, in various parts of the town; the crowd +pressing around, and drinking like hogs; freemen and slaves, women +and children, striking, kicking, and trampling each other under +foot, pushed head foremost into the pans, and spilling much more +than they drank. In less than an hour, excepting the principal men, +not a sober person was to be seen, parties of four reeling and +rolling under the weight of another, whom they affected to be +carrying home; strings of women covered with red paint, hand in +hand, falling down like rows of cards; the commonest mechanics and +slaves furiously declaiming on state palavers; the most discordant +music, the most obscene songs, children of both sexes prostrate in +insensibility. All wore their handsomest cloths, which they trailed +after them to a great length, in a drunken emulation of +extravagance and dirtiness.<a id="FNanchor_84"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a></p> + +<p>Towards evening the populace grew sober again, the strange +caboceers displayed their equipages in every direction, and at +five<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[279]</span> o’clock there +was a procession from the palace to the south end of the town and +back; the King and the dignitaries were carried in their hammocks, +and passed through a continued blaze of musketry: the crush was +dreadful. The next day (Monday) was occupied in state palavers, and +on Tuesday the diet broke up, and most of the caboceers took +leave.</p> + +<p>About a hundred persons, mostly culprits reserved, are generally +sacrificed, in different quarters of the town, at this custom. +Several slaves were also sacrificed at Bantama, over the large +brass pan, their blood mingling with the various vegetable and +animal matter within, (fresh and putrefied,) to complete the charm, +and produce invincible fetish. All the chiefs kill several slaves, +that their blood may flow into the hole from whence the new yam is +taken. Those who cannot afford to kill slaves, take the head of one +already sacrificed and place it on the hole.<a id= +"FNanchor_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85" class= +"fnanchor">[85]</a></p> + +<p>The royal gold ornaments are melted down every Yam Custom, and +fashioned into new patterns, as novel as possible. This is a piece +of state policy very imposing on the populace, and the tributary +chiefs who pay but an annual visit.</p> + +<p>About ten days after the custom, the whole of the royal houshold +eat new yam for the first time, in the market place, the King +attending. The next day he and the captains set off for Sarrasoo +before sun rise, to perform their annual ablutions in the river +Dah. Almost all the inhabitants follow him, and the capital +appears<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[280]</span> deserted; +the succeeding day the King washes in the marsh at the south-east +end of the town, the captains lining the streets leading to it on +both sides. He is attended by his suite, but he laves the water +with his own hands over himself, his chairs, stools, gold and +silver plate, and the various articles of furniture used especially +by him. Several brass pans are covered with white cloth, with +various fetish under them. About twenty sheep are dipped, (one +sheep and one goat only are sacrificed at the time,) to be killed +in the palace in the afternoon, that their blood may be poured on +the stools and door posts. All the doors, windows, and arcades of +the palace, are plentifully besmeared with a mixture of eggs, and +palm oil; as also the stools of the different tribes and families. +After the ceremony of washing is over, the principal captains +precede the King to the palace, where, contrary to usual custom, +none but those of the first rank are allowed to enter, to see the +procession pass. The King’s fetish men walk first, with attendants +holding basins of sacred water, which they sprinkle plentifully +over the chiefs with branches,<a id="FNanchor_86"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> the more superstitious +running to have a little poured on their heads, and even on their +tongues. The King and his attendants all wear white cloths on this +occasion. Three white lambs are led before him, intended for +sacrifice at his bed chamber. All his wives follow, with a guard of +archers.</p> + +<p>Another national custom is the Adaï, by the number of which the +Ashantees appear to reckon their year, which began, I could not +understand why, on the first of October. The common people pretend, +or believe, that the time for repeating the Adaï, is marked by the +falling of a fruit like a gourd, from a tree called Brebretim, and +which generally takes place in about twenty days from its first +appearance, all the birds and beasts in the neighbourhood +crying<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[281]</span> out +simultaneously. They further pretend, that from the fruit of this +tree spring various kinds of vegetables. This account of the tree, +known in Warsaw as well, is peculiar to Ashantee. The customs are +alternately called the great and little Adaï, the former taking +place always on a Sunday, the latter on a Wednesday; and it +appeared to me, from calculation, that there were six weeks between +each great Adaï, and six between each little one, so that the +custom was generally held every twenty-one days.</p> + +<p>The large drum which stands at the entrance of the palace, +adorned with skulls and thigh bones, is struck with great force at +sun set the preceding day, as a signal; the whole of the +establishment of the palace shout, and their shout is echoed by the +people throughout the town. Music and firing generally beguile the +night. The next morning the King goes to the fetish house, (Himma,) +opposite the palace, and offers several sheep; the blood of this +sacrifice is poured on the gold stool, to which extraordinary +virtues are ascribed, being considered the palladium of the +kingdom: the deposition of Saï Quamina was protracted from his +having it in his possession at Dwabin. The caboceers and captains, +many coming from towns two or three days distant, begin to march to +the large yard of the palace about sun rise, to secure their +places. We generally attended between nine and ten, when the King +had just seated himself. The first ceremony was penetrating to the +King, through the various state officers and attendants, to wish +him good morning, at which he slightly inclined his head. The +chiefs as they advanced to do so, were supported and followed by a +few favourite attendants, who flourished their swords in the air, +the gold handles upwards, and the band of each began to play as he +left his seat. Young caboceers of five and six years of age, +stalked by with interesting vanity. After this the King left his +chair, which was turned upside down, and retired a few minutes into +the palace.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[282]</span> All the +horns flourished as he made his exit and entrée; swords, feathers, +elephants tails, were waved rapidly, and the drums beaten with +deafening effect. After he was seated, the linguists, preceded by +their gold canes and insignia, presented a sheep, a flask of rum, +(drank on the ground,) and ten ackies of gold to each superior +captain, and somewhat less to the others. Another flourish +proclaimed the dispensation of the King’s bounty. Five or six men +then rose; and chaunted his deeds and titles for about ten minutes. +I regret exceedingly that this chaunt was not noted, it was so +harmonious. I observed them put something between their teeth +before they began. The same tedious form of saluting the King was +now repeated to return thanks. Any new law was afterwards +promulgated, which occurred but twice during our stay, and the +levee broke up on the King’s leaving his chair. Not unfrequently +the whole took place during heavy rain. It was computed that the +King dashed or presented forty pereguins of gold (£400.) every Adaï +custom.<a id="FNanchor_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87" class= +"fnanchor">[87]</a></p> + +<p>The decease of a person is announced by a discharge of musketry, +proportionate to his rank, or the wealth of his family. In an +instant you see a crowd of slaves burst from the house, and run +towards the bush, flattering themselves that the hindmost, or those +surprised in the house, will furnish the human victims for +sacrifice, if they can but secrete themselves until the custom is +over. The body is then handsomely drest in silk and gold, and laid +out on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[283]</span> the bed, the +richest cloths beside it.<a id="FNanchor_88"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> One or two slaves are then +sacrificed at the door of the house. I shall describe the custom +for Quatchie Quofie’s mother, which we witnessed August the 2d.; it +was by no means a great one, but it will give the most correct idea +of these splendid, but barbarous ceremonies. The King, Quatchie +Quofie, and Odumata each sacrificed a young girl directly the +deceased had breathed her last, that she might not want for +attendants until the greater sacrifice was made. The retainers, +adherents, and friends of the family then sent contributions of +gold, powder, rum, and cloth, to be expended at the custom; the +King, as heir, exceeding every quota but that of the nearest +relative, who succeeded to the stool and slaves. The King also sent +a sum of gold, and some rich cloths to be buried with the deceased, +in the basket or coffin. I could not learn the various sums of gold +dust with sufficient accuracy to note them, but the following were +the quantities of powder presented on the occasion:</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t283"> +<tr> +<td>Quatchie Quofie</td> +<td class="tdr">20</td> +<td>oz. (of gold) kegs.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>King</td> +<td class="tdr">4</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>King’s brother</td> +<td class="tdr">2</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Amanquateä</td> +<td class="tdr">2</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Odumata</td> +<td class="tdr">2</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Apokoo</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Otee</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Yapensoo</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Amanqua Abiniowa (the nephew)</td> +<td class="tdr">2</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>(Name illegible)</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Adoosey</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jessinting</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Saphoo</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ooshoo</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Inferior retainers</td> +<td class="tdr">4</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdr bt">44</td> +<td>nearly 12 barrels.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[284]</span>The +inferior retainers of Quatchie Quofie gave four ackies of gold, and +eight fathoms of cloth each. I was told these contributions were +unusually small, from the command of the King that the greatest +economy should be observed in every expenditure of powder, on +account of the approaching war.</p> + +<p>We walked to Assafoo about twelve o’clock; the vultures were +hovering around two headless trunks, scarcely cold. Several troops +of women, from fifty to a hundred in each, were dancing by in +movements resembling skaiting, lauding and bewailing the deceased +in the most dismal, yet not discordant strains; audible, from the +vast number, at a considerable distance. Other troops carried the +rich cloths and silks of the deceased on their heads, in shining +brass pans, twisted and stuffed into crosses, cones, globes, and a +fanciful variety of shapes only to be imagined, and imposing at a +small distance the appearance of rude deities. The faces, arms, and +breasts of these women were profusely daubed with red earth, in +horrid emulation of those who had succeeded in besmearing +themselves with the blood of the victims. The crowd was +overbearing; horns, drums, and muskets, yells, groans, and +screeches invaded our hearing with as many horrors as were crowded +on our sight. Now and then a victim was hurried by, generally +dragged or run along at full speed; the uncouth dress, and the +exulting countenances of those who surrounded him, likening them to +as many fiends. I observed apathy, more frequently than despair or +emotion, in the looks of the victims. The chiefs and captains were +arriving in all directions, announced by the firing of muskets, and +the peculiar flourishes of their horns, many of which were by this +time familiar to us; they were then habited plainly as +warriors,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[285]</span> and were +soon lost to our sight in the crowd. As old Odumata passed in his +hammock, he bade us observe him well when he passed again: this +prepared us in a small degree. Presently the King’s arrival in the +market place was announced, the crowd rolled towards it +impetuously, but the soldiery hacked on all sides indiscriminately, +and formed a passage for the procession. Quatchie Quofie hurried +by, plunging from side to side like a Bacchanal, drunk with the +adulation of his bellowing supporters; his attitudes were +responsive to the horror and barbarism of the exultations which +inspired them. The victims, with large knives driven through their +cheeks, eyed him with indifference; he them with a savage joy, +bordering on phrenzy: insults were aggravated on the one, flattery +lavished on the other. Our disgust was beguiled for an instant by +surprise. The chiefs who had just before passed us in their swarthy +cloths, and the dark gloomy habits of war, now followed Quatchie +Quofie, glistening in all the splendor of their fetish dresses; +(see drawing, <a href="#i01">No. I.</a>) the sprightly variety of +their movements ill accorded with the ceremony. Old Odumata’s vest +was covered with fetish, cased invariably in gold or silver. A +variety of extraordinary ornament and novel insignia, courted and +reflected the sun in every direction. It was like a splendid +pantomime after a Gothic tragedy.</p> + +<p>We followed to the market place. The King, and the chiefs not +immediately connected with Quatchie Quofie, were seated under their +canopies, with the usual insignia and retinue, and lined about the +half of a circle, apparently half a mile in circumference; the +soldiery completed it, their respective chiefs situated amongst +them. Thirteen victims, surrounded by their executioners, whose +black shaggy caps and vests gave them the appearance of bears +rather than men, were pressed together by the crowd to the left of +the King. The troops of women, before described, paraded +without<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[286]</span> the circle, +vociferating the dirge. Rum and palm wine were flowing copiously, +horns and drums were exerted even to frenzy. In an instant there +was a burst of musketry near the King, and it spread and continued +incessantly, around the circle, for upwards of an hour. The +soldiers kept their stations, but the chiefs, after firing, bounded +once round the area with the gesture and extravagance of madmen; +their panting followers enveloping them in flags, occasionally +firing in all the attitudes of a scaramouch, and incessantly +bellowing the strong names of their exulting chief, whose musket +they snatched from his hands directly he had fired. An old hag, +described as the head fetish woman of the family, screamed and +plunged about in the midst of the fire as if in the greatest +agonies. The greater the chief the heavier the charge of powder he +is allowed to fire; the heaviest charge recollected, was that fired +by the King on the death of his sister, 18 ackies, or an ounce +avoirdupoise. Their blunderbusses and long guns were almost all +braced closely with the cordage of the country; they were generally +supported by their attendants whilst they fired, several did not +appear to recover it for nearly a minute; Odumata’s old frame +seemed shaken almost to dissolution. Many made a point of +collecting near us, just within the circle, and firing as close as +possible to startle us; the frequent bursting of their muskets made +this rather alarming as well as disagreeable. The firing abated, +they drank freely from the bowls of palm wine, religiously pouring +a small quantity on the ground before they raised them to their +lips.<a id="FNanchor_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89" class= +"fnanchor">[89]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[287]</span>The principal +females of the family, many of them very handsome, and of elegant +figures, came forward to dance; dressed, generally, in yellow silk, +with a silver knife hung by a chain round their necks; one with a +gold, another with a silver horn; a few were dressed as fetish +women; an umbrella was held over the grand daughter as she danced. +The Ashantees dance incomparably better than the people of the +water side, indeed elegantly; the sexes do not dance separately, as +in Fantee, but the man encircles the woman with a piece of silk +which he generally flirts in his right hand, supports her round the +waist, receives her elbows in the palms of his hands, and a variety +of figures approximating, with the time and movement, very closely +to the waltz.</p> + +<p>A dash of sheep and rum was exchanged between the King and +Quatchie Quofie, and the drums announced the sacrifice of the +victims. All the chiefs first visited them in turn; I was not near +enough to distinguish wherefore. The executioners wrangled and +struggled for the office, and the indifference with which the first +poor creature looked on, in the torture he was from the knife +passed through his cheeks, was remarkable: the nearest executioner +snatched the sword from the others, the right hand of the victim +was then lopped off, he was thrown down, and his head was sawed +rather than cut off; it was cruelly prolonged, I will not say +wilfully. Twelve more were dragged forward, but we forced our way +through the crowd, and retired to our quarters. Other sacrifices, +principally female, were made in the bush where the body was +buried. It is usual to “wet the grave” with the blood of a freeman +of respectability. All the retainers of the family being present, +and the heads of all the victims deposited in the bottom of the +grave,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[288]</span> several are +unsuspectingly called on in a hurry to assist in placing the coffin +or basket, and just as it rests on the heads or skulls, a slave +from behind stuns one of these freemen by a violent blow, followed +by a deep gash in the back part of the neck, and he is rolled in on +the top of the body, and the grave instantly filled up. A sort of +carnival, varied by firing, drinking, singing, and dancing, was +kept up in Assafoo for several days; the chiefs generally visiting +it every evening, or sending their linguists with a dash of palm +wine or rum to Quatchie Quofie; and I was given to understand, +that, but for the approaching war and the necessary economy of +powder, there would have been eight great customs instead of one, +for this woman, one weekly, the King himself firing at the last. +The last day, all the females in any way connected with the family +(who are not allowed to eat for three days after the death, though +they may drink as much palm wine as they please,) paraded round the +town, singing a compliment and thanks to all those who had assisted +in making the custom.</p> + +<p>On the death of a King, all the Customs which have been made for +the subjects who have died during his reign, must be simultaneously +repeated by the families, (the human sacrifices as well as the +carousals and pageantry) to amplify that for the monarch, which is +also solemnised, independently, but at the same time, in every +excess of extravagance and barbarity. The brothers, sons, and +nephews of the King, affecting temporary insanity, burst forth with +their muskets, and fire promiscously amongst the crowd; even a man +of rank, if they meet him, is their victim, nor is their murder of +him or any other, on such an occasion, visited or prevented; the +scene can scarcely be imagined. Few persons of rank dare to stir +from their houses for the first two or three days, but religiously +drive forth all their vassals and slaves, as the most acceptable +composition of their own absence. The King’s Ocras, who will +be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[289]</span> mentioned +presently, are all murdered on his tomb, to the number of a hundred +or more, and women in abundance. I was assured by several, that the +custom for Saï Quamina, was repeated weekly for three months, and +that two hundred slaves were sacrificed, and 25 barrels of powder +fired, each time. But the custom for the King’s mother, the regent +of the kingdom during the invasion of Fantee, is most celebrated. +The King of himself devoted 3000 victims, (upwards of 2000 of whom +were Fantee prisoners) and 25 barrels of powder.<a id= +"FNanchor_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> +Dwabin, Kokoofoo, Becqua, Soota, and Marmpong, furnished 100 +victims, and 20 barrels of powder, each, and most of the smaller +towns 10 victims, and two barrels of powder, each. The Kings, and +Kings only, are buried in the cemetery at Bantama, and the sacred +gold buried with them; (see <a href="#Page_254">Laws;</a>) their +bones are afterwards deposited in a building there, opposite to +which is the largest brass pan I ever saw, (for sacrifices,) being +about five feet in diameter, with four small lions on the edge. +Here human sacrifices are frequent and ordinary, to water the +graves of the Kings. The bodies of chiefs are frequently carried +about with the army, to keep them for interment at home, and +eminent revolters or enemies also, to be exposed in the capital. +Boiteäm, (the father of Otee the fourth linguist,) who accompanied +the army of Abiniowa in his political capacity, dying at Akrofroom +in Aquapim, during the campaign, his body was kept with the army +two months before it arrived at Coomassie. I could not get any +information on their treatment of the corpse, beyond their +invariable reply that they smoked it well over a slow fire.</p> + +<p>The laws of Ashantee allow the King 3333 wives, which number is +carefully kept up, to enable him to present women to those +who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[290]</span> distinguish +themselves, but never exceeded, being in their eyes a mystical one. +Many of these reside in a secluded part of the King’s croom, or +country residence, at Barramang; a greater number in a croom, at +the back of the palace, immediately in the marsh; and the remainder +in two streets of the capital. Many, probably, the King has never +seen. The streets as well as the croom, are inhabited by them +exclusively, and never approached but by the King’s messengers, or +their female relatives, who only communicate with them at the +entrances, which are closed at each end with bamboo doors, where +there is always a guard. If the King <em>consaws</em> or marries an +infant at the breast, which is not unfrequent, she is thenceforth +confined to the house, and rigorously secluded from the sight of +any but the female part of her family. The King has seldom more +than six wives resident with him in the palace. On the occasion of +signing the treaty, as explained in the public letter, about 300 +were assembled, and none but the King’s Chamberlain, and the +deputies of the parts of the government, were allowed to be +present: they were addressed through their own linguist, a very +decrepid old man; many of them were very handsome, and their +figures exquisite. When they go out, which is seldom, they are +encircled and preceded by troops of small boys with thongs or whips +of elephants hide, who lash every one severely who does not quit +their path for another, or jump into the bush with his hands before +his eyes; and sometimes the offenders are heavily fined besides. +The scrambling their approach occasioned, in the more public parts +of the city, was very diverting; captains, caboceers, slaves, and +children tumbling one over another. I was told what it cost the +King daily to support them, but it has escaped me; they are said to +live as daintily as himself. None but the chief eunuch, an immense +creature, is allowed to bear a message to the King when in the +seraglio of the palace.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[291]</span>It has been +mentioned before, that the King’s sisters are not only countenanced +in intrigue, with any handsome subject, but they are allowed to +choose any eminently so, (however inferior otherwise,) as a +husband; who is presently advised by the King of his good fortune; +thus they consider they provide for a personal superiority in their +monarchs. But if the royal bride dies before the husband, unless +his rank be originally elevated, he is expected to kill himself on +the occasion, and also if the only male child dies: if he +hesitates, he is peremptorily reminded that as either are his +superiors, to whom he is to be considered as a slave, so he must +attend them wherever they go; and when a male child is born, the +father does it homage and acknowledges his vassalage in the most +abject manner.</p> + +<p>The Ocra’s are distinguished by a large circle of gold suspended +from the neck; many of them are favourite slaves, many, commoners +who have distinguished themselves, and who are glad to stake their +lives on the King’s, to be kept free from palavers and supported by +his bounty, which they are entirely; some few are relatives and men +of rank. All of the two former classes, excepting only the two or +three individuals known to have been entrusted with the King’s +state secrets, are sacrificed on his tomb. The royal messengers, +and others of the suite have been described in the processions; +they are sometimes fed in the palace, but they have a free seat at +the table of every subject.</p> + +<p>The King has a troop of small boys, who carry the fetish bows +and arrows, and are licensed plunderers; they are so sly and +nimble, that it is very diverting to watch them in the market +place, which they infest every morning. Whatever they can carry off +is fair game, and cannot be required or recovered; but the loser, +if he can catch them before they arrive at the palace, may beat +them as severely as he pleases, short of mortal injury; however, +they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[292]</span> bear it as +obdurately as young Spartans. Sometimes one party trips up a person +with a load of provisions, whilst another scrambles them up: the +anxious alarm of the market people, sitting with sticks in their +hands, and the comic archness of these boys threading the crowd in +all directions, is indescribable. Some of the earliest European +travellers in Abyssinia met with a similar troop of royal +plunderers, and I believe suffered from them; our property was +always respected by them, but they used to entertain themselves +with mimicking our common expressions and our actions, which they +did inimitably: whilst sketching, they buzzed about me like +musquitoes. The Ashantees are without exception the most surprising +mimics I have ever heard. I have known a captain, called Adoo +Quamina, repeat a sentence after I had finished it, of at least a +dozen words, which he knew nothing about, and had not heard before. +The King has a sort of buffoon, whose movements were as +irresistibly comic as those of Grimaldi.</p> + +<p>The King appeared to have nearly a hundred negroes of different +colors, through the shades of red and pink to white; they were +collected for state, but were generally disgusting objects, +diseased and emaciated; they always seemed as if going to shed +their skins, and their eyes blinked in the light, as if it was not +their element.</p> + +<p>About twenty pots of white soup, and twenty pots of black (made +with palm nuts) are cooked daily at the palace, (besides those for +the consumption of the household,) for visitors of consequence, and +a periguin of gold is given daily to Yokokroko, the chamberlain, +for palm wine. This would have appeared too large a sum, had I not +witnessed the vast consumption and waste of it; for the vigour of +an Ashantee being estimated by the measure of the draught he can +drink off; nearly half is generally spilt over his beard, which it +is his greatest pride and luxury to draw through his fingers when +wet. The King was very proud of the superior<span class="pagenum" +id="Page_293">[293]</span> length of his beard. A large quantity of +palm wine is dashed to the retinues of all the captains attending +in the course of the day; much is expended in the almost daily +ceremony of drinking it in state in the market place; and our party +was always well provided for in the course of the evening. The palm +wine at the palace was seldom good, but a zest was excited by the +exquisite polish of the plate in which it was served. Apokoo, +Odumata, and others, sent us some daily that was excellent.</p> + +<p>It is to be observed that the King’s weights are one third +heavier than the current weights of the country; and all the gold +expended in provision being weighed out in the former, and laid out +in the latter, the difference enriches the chamberlain, cook, and +chief domestic officers of the palace, as it is thought derogatory +to a King avowedly to pay his subjects for their services. In the +same manner the linguists derive the greater part of their incomes, +(their influence being occasionally purchased,) for all the dashes +or presents of gold the King makes in the year, are weighed out by +the royal weights, and re-weighed by them in the current ones. The +law allows a debtor to recover of a reluctant or tardy creditor, in +the King’s weights, besides the interest, (noticed in the laws,) if +he is esteemed enough by Apokoo the treasurer, to be trusted with +them; or rather, if he can afford to bribe him, or engages to share +the profit with him.</p> + +<p>After a subject is executed for crime, the body and head are +carried out of town by some of the King’s slaves, appointed for +that purpose, and thrown where the wild beasts may devour them; but +if the deceased be of any consequence, some of his friends conceal +themselves near where they know the body will be carried, and +purchase it, and the right of burial, of these domestics, generally +for eight ackies. There are a number of fine large sheep, decorated +with bells and other ornaments, about the palace. If<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_294">[294]</span> any person gets into an +ordinary palaver, and wishes the King’s interference in his favor, +he goes to the captain who has the charge of these sheep, pays him +20 ackies for one, and sends or takes it to the King, as a dash, +who commits it again to the care of the captain.</p> + +<p>When the King sends an ambassador, he enriches the splendor of +his suite and attire as much as possible; sometimes provides it +entirely; but it is all surrendered on the return, (except the +additional wives) and forms a sort of public state wardrobe. The +King’s system of espionage is much spoken of (for its address and +infallibility) by Apokoo and others, who abet it. A shrewd but mean +boy is attached to, or follows the embassy, (sometimes with a +trader,) in the commonest capacity and meanest attire; and he is +instructed to collect every report as he passes, and to watch the +motions of the embassy as closely as possible. As the extortions of +these deputies are always loudly and publicly complained of by the +injured inhabitants of the dependent or tributary crooms they pass +through, (perhaps being aware they will reach the King’s ears,) the +particulars are easily acquired. The messengers who were sent with +our first dispatches to Cape Coast, excusing the length of the +time, (forty days) by alleging that it was found necessary to +collect a session of the Fantee caboceers at Paintree; the King +replied, “You tell me a lie; you fined a captain there four ounces +for breaking an Ashantee law, and you waited to procure and expend +the gold, not intending it should be known.” The men instantly +confessed, and were put in irons; one was the brother of Yokokroko, +who paid six ounces for his release, after several days.</p> + +<p>When the King spits, the boys with the elephants tails +sedulously wipe it up, or cover it with sand; when he sneezes, +every person present touches, or lays the two first fingers across +the forehead<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[295]</span> and +breast, as the Moors did when they pronounced a blessing, and the +Ashantees, invariably, to propitiate one. These troops of boys who +carry the elephants tails, are the sons of men of rank and +confidence; for whenever the King dignifies a deserving subject, +with what may be termed nobility, he exchanges some of his own sons +or nephews, (from eight to fourteen years of age,) for those of the +individual, who maintains them, and for whom they perform the same +offices, as his own and others do for the King. Thus the present +King (the short reign of his brother Saï Apokoo being +unanticipated) carried an elephants tail before Apokoo, whose +kindness and indulgence to the child secured the preference of the +monarch.</p> + +<p>It is a frequent practice of the King’s, to consign sums of gold +to the care of rising captains, without requiring them from them +for two or three years, at the end of which time he expects the +captain not only to restore the principal, but to prove that he has +acquired sufficient of his own, from the use of it, to support the +greater dignity the King would confer on him. If he has not, his +talent is thought too mean for further elevation. Should he have no +good traders amongst his dependents, (for if he has there is no +difficulty) usury and worse resources are countenanced, and thought +more creditable than a failure, ascribed to want of talent rather +than to a regard of principle.</p> + +<p>The fees to the King’s household on a captain being raised to a +stool, are generally eight ounces. I saw two instances of the King +paying them himself; the individuals, very suddenly elevated for +extraordinary courage, being too poor to do so. They were +immediately dispatched to collect tributes, the per centage on +which, (see <a href="#p2c03">Laws,</a>) and the douceurs, which may +be judged of by the amount provided for them in the settlement of +the Commenda palaver, would possess them of a good sum to begin +with.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[296]</span>The interference +of Amanquateä, Quatchie Quofie, Odumata, and Apokoo, is purchased +at a most extravagant rate by offenders, whether foreigners or +subjects; it is irresistible with the King; Apokoo is generally +preferred; minor influence is purchased in proportion. No subject +can sit in public with a cushion on his stool, unless it has been +presented to him by the King, or one of the four, who, as well as +all the other superior captains, receive a periguin of gold for +every oath the King exacts of them.</p> + +<p>During the minority, or the earlier part of the reign of a +monarch, the linguists and oldest counsellors visit him betimes +every morning, and repeat, in turn, all the great deeds of his +ancestors. The greatest deference seemed to be paid to aged +experience or wisdom.</p> + +<p>Apokoo is the keeper of the royal treasury, and has the care of +all the tributes, which are deposited, separately, in a large +apartment of the palace, of which he only has the key. Numerous and +various as the sums are, he disposes of them by a local association +which is said to be infallible with him, for the Moorish secretary, +(who resided some time at Hio,) only records the greater political +events. Apokoo holds a sort of exchequer court at his own house +daily, (when he is attended by two of the King’s linguists, and +various state insignia,) to decide all cases affecting tribute or +revenue, and the appeal to the King is seldom resorted to. He +generally reclined on his lofty bed, (of accumulated cushions, and +covered with a large rich cloth or piece of silk,) with two or +three of his handsomest wives near him, whilst the pleadings were +going forward. He was always much gratified when I attended, and +rose to seat me beside him. I observed that all calculations were +made, explained, and recorded, by cowries. In one instance, after +being convinced by a variety of evidence that a public debtor was +unable to pay gold, he commuted sixteen ounces of gold, for twenty +men slaves. Several captains, who were his followers, +attended<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[297]</span> this court +daily with large suites, and it was not only a crowded, but +frequently a splendid scene. Before the footoorh or treasury bag is +unlocked by the weigher, though it be by the King’s order, Apokoo +must strike it with his hand in sanction.</p> + +<p>In all public trials, the charges are preferred, in outline, +against the criminal by the King’s linguists, and he is always +heard fully, and obliged to commit or exculpate himself on every +point, and to take the various primary oaths, before the witnesses +are confronted with him; of whom he is kept as ignorant as possible +until the moment of their appearance. The oaths, sometimes four or +five, are progressive, generally beginning by the King’s foot, or +some arbitrary form, and are, apparently, not considered awful or +decisive; such perjuries being commutable by fine. But when the +oath, “by the King’s father,” is administered, every one looks +serious, and if, “by Cormantee and Saturday” (see <a href= +"#Page_233">History</a>) is resorted to, there is a gloomy silence; +but this is seldom ventured, if the witnesses, (hurried in with a +sort of stage effect between that and the former oaths,) confound +or perplex the accused.</p> + +<p>There are various ways of taking fetish; the two I observed, +were, licking a white fowl twice or thrice, and drinking a nauseous +vegetable juice without coughing: it was administered by the +linguists out of a brass pan in a folded leaf of the plant. If the +accused is cleared, he comes forward, and is marked with white +chalk by the linguists, after which he bows to, and thanks all the +great men in the council. Taking doom is the infallible test, when +they consider the case to be too doubtful for human decision. The +bark of that tree is put into a large calabash with water, so as to +make a strong infusion; it is stirred up whilst the suspected +parties sip in turn. It operates, instantaneously and convulsively, +as a most violent emetic and purge; those who sip first +may<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[298]</span> recover, and +the dregs are frequently left designedly for the obnoxious.<a id= +"FNanchor_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91" class= +"fnanchor">[91]</a></p> + +<p>The criers, upwards of a hundred, who always attend the +linguists, are all deformed or maimed, to make them more +conspicuous; they wear a monkey skin cap, with a gold plate in +front, and the tail hanging down behind. Their common exclamations +are, Tehoo! Tehing! Odiddee! Be silent! Be quiet! Pray hear! and +these are so incessantly uttered, that they are themselves the only +interruption. Several less interesting peculiarities are +represented in the drawings of the Yam Custom, and associated with +other subjects.</p> + +<p>A general is appointed to the command of an army by receiving a +gold handled sword of the King’s from his hand, (who strikes him +gently with it three times on the head,) swearing to return it +encrusted with the blood of his conquered enemies. One of the +King’s linguists always accompanies an army of any consequence, to +whom all the politics of the war are entrusted, and whose talent +and intelligence in negotiating, are expected to mature the fruits +of the military genius of the general, and to reimburse the expense +of the war by heavy fines and contributions. The Ashantees are as +superior in discipline as in courage to the people of the water +side, though their discipline is limited to the following +precautions. They never pursue when it is near sun set; the general +is always in the rear; the secondary captains lead the soldiers on, +whilst those in command, with a few chosen individuals, urge them +forward from the rear with their heavy swords, and cut any man down +who retreats until the case is desperate. The first object +of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[299]</span> the Ashantee in +close fight, is, to fire and spring upon the throat of his enemy; +to advance every time he fires he feels to be imperative, if his +commander thinks it possible, who would, otherwise, if he escaped +death in the action, inflict it on him directly it was over. It is +one of the sentences of the most popular song in Coomassie, “if I +fight I die, if I run away I die, better I go on and die.” They are +as the antient Spaniards have been described, “prodiga gens animæ +et properare facillima mortem.” The general has his umbrella spread +in the rear, and, besides his guard, has several extra muskets +ready loaded for those soldiers who may be driven to him in case of +reverse. His band plays all the time, and in his assumed contempt +for the enemy, it is the etiquette for him to divert himself at +some game, whilst the heads of the slain of any rank in the hostile +army are sent to him to put his foot on. When the result of an +important action is expected, even with an anxiety by no means +sanguine, and the messengers are known to be near the capital, the +King is always seated in public, with his golden worra board before +him, playing with some dignitary; and thus receives the news, to +impress the people with confidence by his affected indifference to +victory or defeat, when superstition had revealed and fated +inevitable success ultimately.</p> + +<p>All the superior captains have peculiar flourishes or strains +for their horns, adapted to short sentences, which are always +recognised, and will be repeated on enquiry by any Ashantee you may +meet walking in the streets, though the horns are not only out of +sight, but at a distance to be scarcely audible. These flourishes +are of a strong and distinct character. The King’s horns uttered, +“I pass all Kings in the world.” Apokoo’s, “Ashantees, do you do +right now?” Gimma’s, “Whilst I live no harm can come.” +Bundahenna’s, “I am a great King’s son.” Amanqua’s, “No one dares +trouble me.” This will be further noticed in the chapter +on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[300]</span> <a href= +"#Page_362">Music.</a> These peculiar flourishes are more +particularly for their government in action, for all the soldiery, +indeed I might say all the women and children, being familiar with +every flourish, the positions of the various chiefs are judged of +when they cannot be seen; whether they are advancing, falling back, +or attempting to flank the enemy by penetrating the woods, is +known, and the movements of all the others become co-operative, as +much as possible. The King’s horns go to the market place every +night, as near to midnight as they can judge, and flourish a very +peculiar strain, which was rendered to me, “King Saï thanks all his +captains and all his people for to-day.”</p> + +<p>Several of the hearts of the enemy are cut out by the fetish men +who follow the army, and the blood and small pieces being mixed, +(with much ceremony and incantation,) with various consecrated +herbs, all those who have never killed an enemy before eat a +portion, for it is believed that if they did not, their vigor and +courage would be secretly wasted by the haunting spirit of the +deceased. It was said that the King and all the dignitaries partook +of the heart of any celebrated enemy; this was only whispered; that +they wore the smaller joints, bones, and the teeth of the slain +monarchs was evident as well as boasted. One man was pointed out to +me, as always eating the heart of the enemy he killed with his own +hand. The number of an army is ascertained or preserved in cowries +or coin by Apokoo. When a successful general returns, he waits +about two days at a short distance from the capital, to receive the +King’s compliments, and to collect all the splendor possible for +his entrée, to encourage the army and infatuate the people. The +most famous generals are distinguished by the addition of warlike +names, more terrific than glorious, as they designate their manner +of destroying their prisoners. Apokoo was called Aboäwassa, because +he was in the habit of cutting off their arms.<span class="pagenum" +id="Page_301">[301]</span> Appia, Sheäboo, as he beats their heads +in pieces with a stone. Amanqua, Abiniowa, as he cuts off their +legs.</p> + +<p>The army is prohibited during the active parts of a campaign, +from all food but meal, which each man carries in a small bag at +his side, and mixes in his hands with the first water he comes to; +this, they allege, is to prevent cooking fires from betraying their +position, or anticipating a surprise. In the intervals, (for this +meal is seldom eaten more than once a day,) they chew the boossee +or gooroo nut. This meal is very nourishing and soon satisfies; we +tried it on our march down. Ashantee spies have been stationed +three and four days in the high trees overlooking Cape Coast +Castle, with no other supply than this meal and a little water, +before the army has shewn itself. There is always a distinct body +of recruits with the army, to dispatch those with their knives whom +the musket has only wounded, and they are all expected to return +well armed from despoiling the enemy, or they are not esteemed of +promise, and dismissed to some servile occupation. I could not find +that they had any idea of fortifications, though undoubtedly common +to the large cities on the Niger.</p> + +<p>It is the invariable policy of Ashantee to make the contingency +of the power last subdued, the revolters recently quelled, or the +allies last accepted, the van of their army throughout the +campaign, and very frequently there are no Ashantees but captains +with the army; but it is composed entirely of tributaries and +allies. Thus Odumata subdued Banda with an army of Gamans. In the +Ashantee body of the army, which is always that of reserve, the +youngest or last made captain marches and engages first, and the +others follow seriatim, until Odumata precedes Quatchie Quofie, +Amanqua follows him, and Apokoo precedes the King. Were the country +generally open, I have no doubt, necessity and their military +genius would have suggested greater arrangement and +compactness<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[302]</span> in +their movement, which is nevertheless very orderly. Two divisions +of an army are rarely allowed to go the same path, lest, being in +want of supplies, the neighbourhood should prove inadequate. +Aboidwee, our house master, (see <a href= +"#Page_118">correspondence</a> on the Ashantee suicide) who has +1700 retainers, always precedes the King’s or Apokoo’s division, +(which will exclusively occupy the Banda path in the invasion of +Gaman) to raise a bamboo house for the King’s reception when he +comes up.</p> + +<p>Infants are frequently married to infants, for the connection of +families; and infants are as frequently wedded by adults and +elderly men. The ceremony is to send the smaller piece of cloth, +worn around the middle, to the infant, and a handsome dash of gold +to the mother, as her care then ceases to be a duty, but becomes a +service performed to the husband, who also sends frequent presents +for the support of the child. Apokoo told me it was a good plan for +a man to adopt who wished to get gold, for as the circumstance was +seldom generally known, the most innocent freedom when the girl +became ten or eleven years old, grounded a palaver against the +individual, though he might consider he was but fondling a child, +and be wholly ignorant of her marriage. I afterwards understood +from several others, that this view was the leading motive.<a id= +"FNanchor_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92" class= +"fnanchor">[92]</a></p> + +<p>It frequently happens, when the family of the wife is too +powerful for the husband to venture to put her to death for +intrigue, that he takes off her nose as a stigma and punishment, +and makes her the wife of one of his slaves. A wife who betrays a +secret is sure to lose her upper lip, and, if discovered listening +to a private conversation of her husband’s, an ear. Women so maimed +are to be met<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[303]</span> with +in all parts of the town. Prostitutes are numerous and +countenanced. No Ashantee forces his daughter to become the wife of +the man he wishes, but he instantly disclaims her support and +protection on her refusal, and would persecute the mother if she +afforded it; thus abandoned, they have no resource but +prostitution. During the menses, the women of the capital retire to +the plantations or crooms in the bush.<a id= +"FNanchor_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93" class= +"fnanchor">[93]</a></p> + +<p>In visiting, the chief always gives his principal slaves a few +sips of the liquor offered to him, not for security, for it is more +frequently after than before he has drank, but as a mark of his +favour. He will frequently give his daughter in marriage to a +confidential slave, but where there are a few thus distinguished +and indulged, (apparently as a political check upon a heterogeneous +populace,) there are thousands barely existing.</p> + +<p>Their principal games are Worra<a id="FNanchor_94"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a> (see drawing, <a href= +"#i10">No. 10.</a>) which I could not understand, and Drafts, which +both Moors and Negroes play well and constantly. Their method +resembles the Polish, they take and move backwards and forwards, +and a king has the bishop’s move in chess. They have another game, +for which a board is perforated like a cribbage board, but in +numerous oblique lines, traversing each other in all directions, +and each composed of three holes for pegs; the players begin at the +same instant, with an equal number of pegs, and he who inserts or +completes a line first, in spite of the baulks of his adversary, +takes a peg from him, until the stock of either is exhausted.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c05"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84"><span class= +"label">[84]</span></a>The description of the siege of Pondicherry +in Voltaire occurred to me; it will assist the imagination of the +reader: “De grands magasins de liqueurs fortes y entretenaient +l’ivrognerie et tous les maux dont elle est le germe. C’est une +situation qu’il faut avoir vue. Les travaux, les gardes de la +tranchée étaient faits par des hommes ivres <span class="omis">· · +· · · · · ·</span> De-là les scènes les plus honteuses et les plus +destructives de la subordination et de la discipline. On a vu des +officiers se colleter avec des soldats et mille autres actions +infâmes, dont le détail, renfermé dans les bornes de la vérité la +plus exacte, paraîtrait une exagération monstreuse.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85"><span class= +"label">[85]</span></a>In Ahanta, at the Contoom or Harvest custom, +each family erects its rude altar, composed of four sticks driven +in the ground, and twigs laid across the top; the whole is then +covered with fresh pulled leaves. A hog, a sheep, a goat, or a fowl +is killed, according to the means of the family, and the most +delicate parts laid on the altar, a mixture is made of eggs, palm +oil, palm wine, the blood of the animal slain, and other +ingredients, and also dedicated to the fetish, in small pots placed +on the altar. In a few days these altars become so offensive as to +render it disagreeable to pass them, but they are never +removed.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86"><span class= +"label">[86]</span></a> +</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">“Idem ter socios purâ circumtulit +undâ,</div> + +<div class="line indent0"><span class= +"word-spaced03"> </span>Spargens rore levi et ramo felicis +olivæ.”<span class="word-spaced10"> </span>Æn. <span class= +"sc2">VI.</span></div> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87"><span class= +"label">[87]</span></a>The Ahanta’s divide time into periods of +three weeks. The first week is called Adaï, and is termed the good +week, in which much work is done; and traders visit the markets +more frequently in this week than at any other time, supposing all +they do in it must prosper. The second week is Ajamfoe, or the bad +week, in which no work or trade is done, the natives believing +every thing undertaken in it must fail. The third week is Adim, or +the little good week, in which they both work and trade, but not as +much as in the Adaï.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88"><span class= +"label">[88]</span></a> +</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0"><span class="omis">· · ·</span> Tum +membra toro defleta reponunt,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Purpureasque super vestes, velamina +nota,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Conjiciunt;</div> + +<div class="line indent0 right">Æn. <span class= +"sc2">VI.</span></div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">In Fantee they dress the body richly, and usually +prop it erect in a chair, exposing it until it is dangerous to do +so any longer: they bury it in their house, with as many gold +ornaments as they can afford to dedicate. The men called the town +drummers are only allowed to die standing, and when expiring are +snatched up, and supported in that posture. In Ahanta they +frequently exhibit the body chalked all over.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89"><span class= +"label">[89]</span></a> +</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">“Hic duo rite mero libans carchesia +Baccho</div> + +<div class="line indent0">“Fundit humi.</div> + +<div class="line indent0 right">Æn. <span class= +"sc2">V.</span></div> + +<div class="line indent0">“Οἶνον δ’ἐκ δεπάων χαμάδις χέον, οὐδέ τις +ἔτλη</div> + +<div class="line indent0">“Πρὶν πιέειν, πρὶν λεῖψαι ὑπερμενέϊ +Κρονίωνι.”</div> + +<div class="line indent0 right">Ομηρ. η.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">The Ashantees do so not only on solemn occasions, +but invariably; and it would seem that the Greeks did, from the +following words of Hecuba to Hector,</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">“Ἀλλὰ μέν’, ὄφρα κέ τοι μελιηδέα οἶνον +ἐνείκω,</div> + +<div class="line indent0"><span class= +"word-spaced03"> </span>Ὡς σπείσῃς Διῒ πατρὶ καὶ ἄλλοις +ἀθανάτοισι</div> + +<div class="line indent0"><span class= +"word-spaced03"> </span>Πρῶτον· ἔπειτα δέ κ’αὐτὸς ὀνήσεαι, αἴ +κε πίῃσθα·”</div> + +<div class="line indent0 right">Ομηρ, ζ.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90"><span class= +"label">[90]</span></a>Suetonius tells us that Augustus sacrificed +300 of the principal citizens of Perusia, to the manes of his uncle +Julius. We read in Prevost, that 64080 persons were sacrificed, +with aggravated barbarity, in the dedication of a temple in +Mexico.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91"><span class= +"label">[91]</span></a>In the Warsaw country there is said to be a +more dreadful poison called Sabë: if it is thrown upon the skin, it +is absorbed by the pores, and has nearly the same instantaneous +mortal effect as when given internally.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92"><span class= +"label">[92]</span></a>On the Coast, the bride’s character is very +notoriously published, for part of the husband’s present to her +family being a flask of rum, and that not sent until the next day; +whether it is brimful, or somewhat wanting, indicates her +virginity, or early frailty.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93"><span class= +"label">[93]</span></a>The women of Ahanta, on the same occasion, +are prohibited from entering any inhabited place; and if they +attempt to go into a house, are heavily fined or punished. If the +family is respectable, they generally erect a temporary shed to +shelter her; the poorer class are forced to endure the inclemencies +of the weather without any retreat.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94"><span class= +"label">[94]</span></a>This game is said to be played in Syria +also.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[304]</span><a id= +"p2c06"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> VI.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Architecture, Arts, and Manufactures.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> construction of the +ornamental architecture of Coomassie reminded me forcibly of the +ingenious essay of Sir James Hall, (in the Edinburgh Philosophical +Transactions,) tracing the Gothic order to an architectural +imitation of wicker work. The drawings will serve to shew the +various and uncommon character of their architectural ornaments, +adopted from those of interior countries, and, confessedly, in no +degree originating with themselves.</p> + +<p>In building a house, a mould was made for receiving the swish or +clay, by two rows of stakes and wattle work, placed at a distance +equal to the intended thickness of the wall; as two mud walls were +raised at convenient distances, to receive the plum pudding stone +which formed the walls of the vitrified fortresses in Scotland. The +interval was then filled up with a gravelly clay, mixed with water, +with which the outward surface of the frame or stake work was also +thickly plastered, so as to impose the appearance of an entire +thick mud wall. The houses had all gable ends, and three thick +poles were joined to each; one from the highest point, forming the +ridge of the roof, and one on each side, from the base of the +triangular part of the gable; these supported a frame work of +bamboo, over which an interwoven thatch of palm leaves was laid, +and tied with the runners of trees, first to the large poles +running<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[305]</span> from gable +to gable, and afterwards, (within,) to the interlacing of the +bamboo frame work, which was painted black and polished, so as to +look much better than any rude cieling would, of which they have no +idea; a small part appears in the houses in the drawing of +Adoom-street (<a href="#i09">No. 9.</a>) The pillars, which assist +to support the roof, and form the proscenium or open front, (which +none but captains are allowed to have to their houses) were thick +poles, afterwards squared with a plastering of swish. The steps and +raised floor of these rooms were clay and stone, with a thick layer +of red earth, which abounds in the neighbourhood, and these were +washed and painted daily, with an infusion of the same earth in +water; it has all the appearance of red ochre, and from the +abundance of iron ore in the neighbourhood, I do not doubt it +is.</p> + +<p>The walls still soft, they formed moulds or frame works of the +patterns in delicate slips of cane, connected by grass. The two +first slips (one end of each being inserted in the soft wall) +projected the relief, commonly mezzo: the interstices were then +filled up with the plaster, and assumed the appearance depicted. +The poles or pillars were sometimes encircled by twists of cane, +intersecting each other, which, being filled up with thin plaster, +resembled the lozenge and cable ornaments of the Anglo-Norman +order; the quatre-foil was very common, and by no means rude, from +the symmetrical bend of the cane which formed it. I saw a few +pillars, (after they had been squared with the plaster) with +numerous slips of cane pressed perpendicularly on to the wet +surface, which being covered again with a very thin coat of +plaster, closely resembled fluting. When they formed a large arch, +they inserted one end of a thick piece of cane in the wet clay of +the floor or base, and bending the other over, inserted it in the +same manner; the entablature was filled up with wattle work +plastered over. Arcades and piazzas were common. A white wash, very +frequently renewed,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[306]</span> +was made from a clay in the neighbourhood. Of course the plastering +is very frail, and in the relief frequently discloses the edges of +the cane, giving however a piquant effect, auxiliary to the +ornament. The doors were an entire piece of cotton wood, cut with +great labour out of the stems or buttresses of that tree; battens +variously cut and painted were afterwards nailed across. (See +drawing, <a href="#i05">No. 5.</a>) So disproportionate was the +price of labour to that of provision, that I gave but two tokoos +for a slab of cotton wood, five feet by three. The locks they use +are from Houssa, and quite original; one will be sent to the +British Museum. Where they raised a first floor, the under room was +divided into two by an intersecting wall, to support the rafters +for the upper room, which were generally covered with a frame work +thickly plastered over with red ochre. I saw but one attempt at +flooring with plank, it was cotton wood shaped entirely with an +adze, and looked like a ship’s deck. The windows were open wood +work, carved in fanciful figures and intricate patterns, and +painted red; the frames were frequently cased in gold, about as +thick as cartridge paper.</p> + +<p>What surprised me most, and is not the least of the many +circumstances deciding their great superiority over the generality +of Negroes, was the discovery that every house had its cloacæ, +besides the common ones for the lower orders without the town. They +were generally situated under a small arch way in the most retired +angle of the building, but not unfrequently up stairs, within a +separate room like a small closet, (see drawing <a href="#i03">No. +3.</a>) where the large hollow pillar also assists to support the +upper story: the holes are of a small circumference, but dug to a +surprising depth, and boiling water is daily poured down, which +effectually prevents the least offence. The rubbish and offal of +each house was burnt every morning at the back of the street, and +they were as nice and cleanly in their dwellings as in their +persons.</p> + +<div class="plate"> +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="i05"> +<p class="cp1"><span class="sc">Odumata’s Sleeping Room.</span> +</p> + +<p class="ipubr"><em>N<sup>o</sup>. 5.</em> +</p> +<a href="images/i05_large.jpg"><img src='images/i05.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="i06"><a href="images/i06_large.jpg"><img src= +'images/i06.jpg' alt=''></a> +<table class="width-full"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl ipub"><em>Drawn by T. E. Bowdich +Esq<sup>r</sup>.</em> +</td> +<td class="tdr ipub"><em>N<sup>o</sup>. 6.</em> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="cp1"><span class="sc">Inner Square</span> of <span class= +"sc">Apookoos House</span>.</p> + +<p class="ipubb"><em>Published Dec<sup>r</sup>. 2, 1818, by John +Murray, Albemarle Street.</em> +</p> +</figure> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="plate"> +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="i03"> +<p class="cp1"><span class="sc">The Oldest House</span> in +<span class="sc">Coomassee</span>.</p> + +<p class="ipubr"><em>N<sup>o</sup>. 3.</em> +</p> +<a href="images/i03_large.jpg"><img src='images/i03.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="i04"><a href="images/i04_large.jpg"><img src= +'images/i04.jpg' alt=''></a> +<table class="width-full"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl ipub"><em>Drawn by T. E. Bowdich +Esq<sup>r</sup>.</em> +</td> +<td class="tdr ipub"><em>N<sup>o</sup>. 4.</em> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="cp1"><span class="sc">Part</span> of the <span class= +"sc">Quarters</span> of the <span class="sc">Mission</span>.</p> + +<p class="ipubb"><em>Published Dec<sup>r</sup>. 2, 1818, by John +Murray, Albemarle Street.</em> +</p> +</figure> +</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[307]</span>Drawing <a href= +"#i03">No. 3,</a> is one of the oldest houses in Coomassie, +inherited by the unfortunate Bakkee, and part of the quarters of +the Mission. Its comparative rudeness is evident.</p> + +<p><a href="#i04">No. 4,</a> is a more modern part of the same +house, being one side of a small area about 15 feet square, +allotted to the chief officer of the Embassy. These areas are all +distinct, and a house consists of an indefinite number of them, +some 36 feet square, with several long courts. In paying a visit to +a principal man, the state was to detain us some minutes at the +door of each area, as he generally received us in the innermost. +The figure is one of the King’s body guards, which have been +described before. The figures are introduced to shew the proportion +of the buildings, and to give some idea of the costume.</p> + +<p><a href="#i05">No. 5,</a> is the exterior of a bed room of +Odumata’s, which is one side of an oblong area in a very retired +angle of his house, about 25 feet by 8. The cloth suspended to the +left of the door on the top of the steps, hides the bloody stools +which are in the recess. The small gallery in front of the upper +room is only wide enough for one person to walk in. The recess and +small room below accommodate confidential slaves. The bed room was +very small, about 8 feet square, but being hung round with a +variety of gold and silver ornaments, had a very rich appearance. +The bed is generally about 5 feet high, and composed entirely of +large silk-cotton pillows piled one above another. The King of +Gaman, we were assured, had steps of solid gold to ascend to his +bed. A man wearing a crier’s cap, is playing the sanko.</p> + +<p><a href="#i06">No. 6,</a> is a perspective view of the entrance +area to Apokoo’s house; the fourth side is an open fronted building +like those on the right and left for attendants to wait in, and for +the hearing of palavers. The opposite closed side is a bed room. +The figure is playing the bentwa (see <a href= +"#Page_362">Music.</a>)</p> + +<div class="plate"> +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="i07"> +<p class="cp1"><span class="sc">Part</span> of a <span class= +"sc">Piazza</span> in the <span class="sc">Palace</span>.</p> + +<p class="ipubr"><em>N<sup>o</sup>. 7.</em> +</p> +<a href="images/i07_large.jpg"><img src='images/i07.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="i08"><a href="images/i08_large.jpg"><img src= +'images/i08.jpg' alt=''></a> +<table class="width-full"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl ipub"><em>Drawn by T. E. Bowdich +Esq<sup>r</sup>.</em> +</td> +<td class="tdr ipub"><em>N<sup>o</sup>. 8.</em> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="cp1"><span class="sc">Part</span> of a <span class= +"sc">Piazza</span> in the <span class="sc">Palace</span>.</p> + +<p class="ipubb"><em>Published Dec<sup>r</sup>. 2, 1818, by John +Murray, Albemarle Street.</em> +</p> +</figure> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="plate"> +<div class="figcenter iw1"> +<figure id="i09"><a href="images/i09_large.jpg"><img src= +'images/i09.jpg' alt=''></a> +<table class="width-full"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl ipub"><em>Drawn by T. E. Bowdich +Esq<sup>r</sup>.</em> +</td> +<td class="tdr ipub"><em>N<sup>o</sup>. 9.</em> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="cp1"><span class="sc">Part</span> of <span class= +"sc">Adoom Street</span>.</p> + +<p class="ipubb"><em>Published Dec<sup>r</sup>. 2, 1818, by John +Murray, Albemarle Street.</em> +</p> +</figure> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="plate"> +<div class="figcenter iw2"> +<figure id="i10"><a href="images/i10_large.jpg"><img src= +'images/i10.jpg' alt=''></a> +<table class="width-full"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl ipub"><em>Drawn by T. E. Bowdich +Esq<sup>r</sup>.</em> +</td> +<td class="tdr ipub"><em>N<sup>o</sup>. 10.</em> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="cp1"><span class="sc">The Kings Sleeping Room.</span> +</p> + +<p class="ipubb"><em>Published Dec<sup>r</sup>. 2, 1818, by John +Murray, Albemarle Street.</em> +</p> +</figure> +</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[308]</span><a href= +"#i07">No. 7,</a> is a part of a piazza, which lines the interior +of the wall secluding the palace from the street. The piazza is 200 +yards long, and inhabited by captains and other attendants on the +King; above is a small gallery. Piles of skulls, and drums +ornamented with them, are frequent in this piazza. The figure is a +common soldier of Ashantee, his belt ornamented with red shells, +and stuck full of knives.</p> + +<p><a href="#i08">No. 8,</a> is the upper end of the piazza, which +is more ornamented, and appropriated to the superior captains, who +have each a suite of rooms, marked by the small doors under the +piazza. A woman is dancing whilst a man plays the flute and +rattle.</p> + +<p><a href="#i09">No. 9,</a> is a view of part of Adoom-street: +each open front denotes the residence of a captain, being used for +talking palavers, receiving strangers, observing or superintending +customs, and evening recreation. The dwelling is entered by the +small door at the side, which generally leads through a narrow +passage or court to a large area like <a href="#i06">No. 6,</a> and +thence by various intricate ways to smaller and more retired areas +like <a href="#i04">No. 4</a> and <a href="#i05">No. 5.</a> A +fetish woman has just quitted the centre house; she has on a white +cloth, and various pieces of rich silk are hanging round her +girdle, her breasts are confined with a scarf, a fillet encircles +her head, in each hand she waves a horse’s tail, and she continues +yelling and swinging round and round until she is quite stupified. +A weaver and loom are on her right, and a market woman under her +shed on the left.</p> + +<p><a href="#i10">No. 10,</a> is the exterior of the King’s bed +room, being one side of an inner area, about 30 feet square. The +stunted silk-cotton and the manchineal tree are fetish or sacred, +as are the white and red rags at the top of the pole, and the small +brass cups supported by the forked sticks. The colored bags hanging +over the round doors (the chequering of which is in relief,) +contain Moorish charms. The<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_309">[309]</span> carving of the left hand window is cased in +silver, of the right hand, in gold. The two men are playing at +Worra. The King made frequent enquiries about the architecture of +England, of which we gave him some idea by drawings. He was very +fond of referring to a project ascribed to Saï Cudjo, and which he +declared he would carry into effect directly the Gaman war was +over. This was to build a house for his own immediate residence, +roofed with brass pans, beaten into flat surfaces, and laid over an +ivory frame work appearing within. The windows and the doors to be +cased in gold, and the door posts and pillars of ivory. Whether the +Moors originated or encouraged this extravagance by the +descriptions in their tales, for some of the stories of the Arabian +Nights were commonly in their mouths, or whether it was the scheme +of his own disposition, prone to magnificence and novelty, the King +dwelt ardently on the intention, and by their frequent +conversations on the subject, his chiefs appeared scarcely less +anxious for the execution than himself. He meditated great +improvements and embellishments in his capital, on his return from +the war, when it was intended that every captain should be +presented with an extraordinary sum out of the public treasury, for +adorning or enlarging his house. The ruined streets between Asafoo +and Bantama were to be rebuilt, and the six or seven small crooms +between Coomassie and Baramang, (the King’s country residence,) +were to be pulled down, and the inhabitants to occupy a wide street +to extend from the city to that croom. This was the darling design +of the King; he had already made a sound, broad, and almost direct +road, and numerous labourers were continuing to bring it as near as +possible to a straight line.</p> + +<p>The Ashantee loom is precisely on the same principle as the +English; it is worked by strings held between the toes; the web is +never more than four inches broad. A weaver is represented +in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[310]</span> the drawing, +<a href="#i03">No. 3,</a> and a small loom complete is amongst the +articles for the British Museum. They use a spindle, and not a +distaff, for spinning, holding it in one hand, and twisting the +thread, (which has a weight at the end,) with the finger and thumb +of the other. The fineness, variety, brilliance, and size of their +cloths would astonish, could a more costly one be exhibited; in the +absence of which, that for the Museum will doubtless be admired for +the two first qualities, and for having precisely the same +appearance on both sides. I shall notice in the Chapter on <a href= +"#Page_331">Trade,</a> that the richest silks are unravelled to +weave into them. The white cloths, which are principally +manufactured in Inta and Dagwumba, they paint for mourning with a +mixture of blood and a red dye wood. The patterns are various, and +not inelegant, and painted with so much regularity, with a fowl’s +feather, that they have all the appearance of a coarse print at a +distance. I have seen a man paint as fast as I could write. There +will be a very fair specimen in the British Museum, the price of +painting which was one ackie.</p> + +<p>They have two dye woods, a red and a yellow, specimens of which +I brought down; they make a green by mixing the latter with their +blue dye, in which they excel; it is made from a plant called +acassie, certainly not the indigo, which grows plentifully on the +Coast. The acassie rises to the height of about two feet, and +according to the natives, bears a red flower, but the leaf is not +small, fleshy, or soft, nor is it pale or silvery coloured +underneath; it is a thin acuminate leaf about five inches long, and +three broad, of a dark green.<a id="FNanchor_95"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a> I regret to add, our best +specimens of this plant perished in the disasters of our march, and +no drawing was made<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[311]</span> +of it, as it bore no flower in that season; it grows abundantly in +the woods, and produces a fast and beautiful colour without +requiring a mordant. They gather a quantity of the leaves, bruise +them in a wooden mortar, and spread them out on a mat to dry, this +mass is kept for use, a proportion of it is put into a pot of water +and remains six days previous to immersing the thread, which is +left in six days, drying it once every day in the sun, it is then a +deep lasting blue colour. When a light blue is wished for, the +thread is only allowed to remain in the dye pot three days.</p> + +<p>They excel in pottery, as the pipes for the Museum will shew; +they are rested on the ground when smoked; the clay is very fine, +polished (after baking) by friction, and the grooves of the +patterns filled up with chalk. They have also a black pottery which +admits of a high polish.</p> + +<p>The people of Dagwumba surpass the Ashantees in goldsmith’s +work, though the latter may be esteemed proficients in the art. The +small articles for the Museum, a gold stool, sanko, bell, jaw bone, +and drum, are not such neat specimens as I could wish; the man who +made them having too much costly work on hand for the King, to pay +our trifles his wonted attention; unfortunately too, he was +committed to prison before they were quite finished; however, they +will give an idea. I weighed out nineteen ackies and a half of gold +dust for making these articles, one third of an ackie was lost in +melting, and five was the charge of the goldsmith. We lost a +beautiful silver pipe in the bustle. Bees wax for making the model +of the article wanted, is spun out on a smooth block of wood, by +the side of a fire, on which stands a pot of water; a flat stick is +dipped into this, with which the wax is made of a proper softness; +it takes about a quarter of an hour to make enough for a ring. When +the model is finished, it is enclosed in a composition of wet clay +and charcoal, (which being closely pressed around it<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_312">[312]</span> forms a mould,) dried in the +sun, and having a small cup of the same materials attached to it, +(to contain the gold for fusion,) communicating with the model by a +small perforation. When the whole model is finished, and the gold +carefully enclosed in the cup, it is put in a charcoal fire with +the cup undermost. When the gold is supposed to be fused, the cup +is turned uppermost, that it may run into the place of the melted +wax; when cool the clay is broken, and if the article is not +perfect it goes through the whole process again. To give the gold +its proper colour, they put a layer of finely ground red ochre, +(which they call Inchuma,) all over it, and immerge it in boiling +water mixed with the same substance and a little salt; after it has +boiled half an hour, it is taken out and thoroughly cleansed from +any clay that may adhere to it. Their bellows are imitations of +ours, but the sheep skin they use being tied to the wood with +leather thongs, the wind escapes through the crevices, therefore +when much gold is on the fire they are obliged to use two or three +pair at the same time. Their anvils are generally a large stone, or +a piece of iron placed on the ground. Their stoves are built of +swish (about three or four feet high) in a circular form, and are +open about one fifth of the circumference; a hole is made through +the closed part level with the ground, for the nozzle of the +bellows. Their weights are very neat brass casts of almost every +animal, fruit, or vegetable known in the country. The King’s +scales, blow pan, boxes, and weights, and even the tongs which hold +the cinder to light his pipe, were neatly made of the purest gold +that could be manufactured.</p> + +<p>Their blacksmith’s work is performed with the same sort of forge +as the above, but they have no idea of making iron from ore, as +their interior neighbours do. Their swords are generally perforated +in patterns like fish trowels; frequently they make two blades +springing parallel from one handle, which evince very fine +workmanship.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[313]</span> The +needles and castanets will only give some idea of their progress. +The iron stone is of a dark red colour, spotted with gray, and +intermixed with what had all the appearance of lava, they cut +bullets out of it for the army, when lead is scarce. I have brought +some arrows of native iron. They have no idea of making a lock like +the people of Houssa and Marrowa.</p> + +<p>They tan or dress leather in Ashantee, but they do this, and dye +it, in a very superior manner in Houssa and Dagwumba; see the +sandals and cushion in the British Museum, the former varied and +apparently stitched; doubting that there could be such stitching, I +undid a part, and discovered that they perforated the surface, and +then stuck in the fine shreds of leather. The curious will observe, +that the patterns of the stool cushion are all produced by paring +the surface. They make their soldiers belts and pouches out of +elephant or pig skin, ornamented with red shells. (See drawing, +<a href="#i07">No. 7.</a>)</p> + +<p>Of their carpenter’s work the stool is a fair specimen, being +carved out of a solid piece of a wood called zesso, white, soft, +and bearing a high polish; it is first soaked in water. They sell +such a stool for about three shillings, in Accra or Fantee it would +fetch twenty. The umbrella is even more curious, the bird is cut +almost equal to turning, and the whole is so supple that it may be +turned inside out. This, only a child’s umbrella, is a model of the +large canopies I have described in the procession; I gave a piece +of cloth value twenty shillings for it. The sanko or guitar is also +neatly made, and the chasteness and Etruscan character of the +carving is very surprising. The surface of the wood is first +charred in the fire, and then carved deep enough to disclose the +original white in the stripes or lines of the patterns.</p> + +<p>Numbers of workmen are employed in breaking, rounding, and +boring the snail shells, as big as a turkey’s egg generally, +and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[314]</span> sometimes as +large as a conch. They are first broken into numerous pieces, then +chipped round, the size of a sleeve button, and afterwards bored +with a bow and iron style fixed in a piece of wood. Lastly they are +strung, and extended in rows on a log of wood, and rubbed with a +soft and bluish gray stone and water, until they become perfectly +round.</p> + +<p>Their pine apple thread is very strong, and is made from the +fineness of a hair to the thickness of whip cord, it bleaches to a +beautiful whiteness, and would answer for sewing any strong +material, but, when muslin is stitched with it, it is liable to be +cut from the harshness. The women frequently join their cloths, and +ornament their handkerchiefs with a zigzag pattern, worked with +unravelled silks of different colours. The fetish case is a +specimen of their needle work, in the manner of chain stitch.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c06"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95"><span class= +"label">[95]</span></a>It is a shrub with opposite leaves, no +stipules, and having a certain degree of resemblance to +<i>Marsdenia suave-olens</i> (the indigo of Sumatra) but as the +leaves are toothed in the acassie, it probably does not belong even +to the same natural order.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[315]</span><a id= +"p2c07"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> VII.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Climate, Population, Revenue, City, Market, +&c.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> climate will be best +judged of by the account of the thermometer (from May to February) +in the <a href="#app5">Appendix.</a> During the first two months, +May and June, it rained about one third of the time, throughout +July and August it rained nearly half, and abrupt tornadoes were +frequent in the evening, just after sun set, ushered in by a strong +wind from the south-west. The heaviest rains were from the latter +end of September to the beginning of November, they fell even in +more impetuous torrents than are witnessed on the coast.<a id= +"FNanchor_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a> +The influence of the harmattan was described as very powerful. +Generally speaking, from the elevation of Ashantee, (unfortunately +we had no barometer,) it was much cooler in Coomassie than at Cape +Coast; indeed, from four to six in the morning, there was a +severity of cold unknown on the coast.</p> + +<p>I can only calculate the population of the kingdom of Ashantee, +small in itself, from its military force, of which the following is +the most moderate of the estimates I received.</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t316"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_316">[316]</span>Coomassie district (extending to the +northern frontier)</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">60,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Dwabin ditto</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">35,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Marmpon ditto</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">15,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Soota ditto</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">15,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Kokoofoo ditto</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">15,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Becqua ditto</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">12,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Adiabin ditto (between Coomassie and the +lake)</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">12,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Aphwagwiasee ditto</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">10,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Daniasee ditto (southwards of +Coomassie)</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">8,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Koontarasie ditto (on the lake)</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">8,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Gamasie ditto</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">8,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Amafoo ditto</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">6,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdr bt">204,000</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">This appears an extravagant force, until we +recollect that it is probably one fifth of the whole +population.<a id="FNanchor_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97" class= +"fnanchor">[97]</a> The Romans when they were a nation of warriors, +which these people are, raised a military force equally great in +proportion to their population. Barbot heard of the Ashantees +losing 50,000 men in two actions, an exaggeration which, +nevertheless, serves to argue great military resources. Since the +Ashantee invasions, their disposable force has been estimated by +old residents in public reports, as upwards of 150,000. From the +above particular statement, the population may be estimated at one +million, which I believe is little more than half the population of +Scotland, the area of which must be more than double that of +Ashantee, which certainly does not contain more than 14,000 square +miles. Amanquateä, Quatchie Quofie,<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_317">[317]</span> Odumata, and Apokoo’s forces alone amounted +to 25,000. The contingencies at command from tributaries, (21 in +number) are too indefinite to attempt to detail. Neither Inta or +Dagwumba furnish any, the Ashantees pretending to despise their +troops too much to use them. The following, which are known to be +pretty correct, have generally been the first called into +action:</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t317a"> +<tr> +<td>Coranza</td> +<td class="tdr">10,000</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Assin</td> +<td class="tdr">8,000</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Takima</td> +<td class="tdr">6,000</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dankara</td> +<td class="tdr">5,000</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Warsaw</td> +<td class="tdr">7,000</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Booroom</td> +<td class="tdr">12,000</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sawee</td> +<td class="tdr">4,000</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Akim</td> +<td class="tdr">4,000,</td> +<td>before their later destructive revolts 16,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Aquapim, &c.</td> +<td class="tdr">1,000</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>Though polygamy is tolerated to such an excess amongst the +higher orders, I do not think, from observation, that the +proportion of women to men is two to one. Most of the lower order +of freemen have but one wife, and very few of the slaves (the +greater proportion of the military force) any. The following +calculation is the only one I can think of, and it supports my +impression after five months residence.</p> + +<table class="tabw40" id="t317b"> +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">204,000</td> +<td class="tdl hang1">Men able to bear arms, about one-fifth of the +whole population</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">1,000,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">101,000</td> +<td class="tdl hang1">Or one-fourth, children under ten years of +age as found in Great Britain.</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">50,000</td> +<td class="tdl hang1">Boys above that age not capable of bearing +arms.</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top">7,000</td> +<td class="tdl hang1">Or one in about 28 incapacitated by old age +or accidents, as found in Great Britain.</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr-top bt">362,000</td> +<td class="tdr">Males</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">362,000</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdr">Females</td> +<td class="tdr-bot bt">638,000</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[318]</span>The men are very +well made, but not so muscular as the Fantees; their countenances +are frequently aquiline. The women also are generally handsomer +than those of Fantee, but it is only amongst the higher orders that +beauty is to be found, and amongst them, free from all labour or +hardship, I have not only seen the finest figures, (which the ease +of their costume and habits may account for,) but, in many +instances, regular Grecian features, with brilliant eyes set rather +obliquely in the head. Beauty in a Negress must be genuine, since +complexion prejudices instead of imposes, and the European adjudges +it to the features only, which appeared in this class to be Indian +rather than African; nor is it surprising, when we recollect that +they are selected from, or are the daughters of the handsomest +slaves or captives; or are expressly chosen by their interior +neighbours, to compose part of their tribute to the King of +Ashantee, who retains but a small proportion.</p> + +<p>Both men and women are particularly cleanly in their persons, +the latter washing themselves, and the former being washed by them +daily on rising, from head to foot, with warm water and Portuguese +soap, using afterwards the vegetable grease or butter, which is a +fine cosmetic. Their cloths, which are beetled, are always +scrupulously clean. The lowest orders are generally dirty. +Occasionally, small delicate patterns in green or white paint are +traced on their cheeks and temples. The Moorish negresses darken +the edges of their eye lids with lead reduced to a fine powder. The +ore was brought from Mallowa and is very rich. The powder is +moistened a little, and kept in small boxes, like bodkin cases with +a bulb at the end, and prettily covered with cow’s hair, within +which is a metal stylus to apply the powder, as the women of India +do antimony for this purpose. Top-cloths are generally worn, and +not by the higher order only as in Fantee. They are commonly of a +coarse silk bought at Dagwumba. They wear little or no +antiffoo,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[319]</span> a sort of +cushion projecting from just below the small of the back in the +Fantee women, by the size of which, frequently preposterous, and at +all times unsightly, their rank, or the number of their children is +known. The bosoms of girls of thirteen and fourteen are frequently +models, but the young women sedulously destroy this beauty for what +is considered a greater, wearing a broad band tight across their +breasts, until ceasing to be globular they project conically. Their +heads are shaved in fanciful elaborate patterns, having as +intricate an appearance as a rich carpet.</p> + +<p>The food of the higher orders is principally soup of dried fish, +fowls, beef, or mutton, (according to the fetish,) and ground nuts +stewed in blood. The poorer class make their soups of dried deer, +monkeys flesh, and frequently of the pelts of skins. Yams, +plantains, and foofoos, (see the kouskous of Mr. Park) are commonly +eaten, and they do not make cankey of their corn, (a coarser sort +of kouskous not cleared from the husk) as the Fantees do, but they +roast it on the stalk, and when young the flavour closely resembles +that of green peas. Besides palm wine they drink Pittō, made from +dried corn, which I think must have been the beer Lieutenant Martyn +relished so much, for it is quite as pleasant as a brisk small ale. +They are forbidden eggs by the fetish, and cannot be persuaded to +taste milk, which is only drank by the Moors. Their stews and white +soups are excellent, and my companions reported their black soups +(made with palm oil) to be equally so.</p> + +<p>I cannot pretend to calculate the variable revenue of Ashantee, +nor indeed to report its optional sources; I noted a few +particulars.</p> + +<p>1. The dust gold of all deceased and disgraced subjects. +Boiteäm, the father of Otee, left five jars (said to hold about +four gallons each) and two flasks. On Appia Nanu’s disgrace three +jars were seized.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[320]</span>2. A tax in gold +upon all slaves purchased for the coast.<a id= +"FNanchor_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a> +Customs paid in gold by all traders returning from the coast, +levied near Ansa in Assin.</p> + +<p>3. A tax on the elephant hunters.</p> + +<p>4. The small pits in Soko, which with the washings were reported +to yield, sometimes 2,000 ounces per month, at others not more than +700.</p> + +<p>5. The daily washings throughout Dankara, and the hills dividing +Akim and Assin; very rich in gold.</p> + +<p>6. A tax on every chief increasing the number of his gold +ornaments. Apokoo paid 20 periguins to the King on melting 100.</p> + +<p>7. The soil of the market place (see <a href= +"#Page_257">Laws</a>) has been washed but twice during the present +reign. I was told it produced about 800 ounces of gold each time. +During our stay a heavy rain washed down a large quantity, which +was replaced and carefully covered with the soil, by the Captain in +charge of the market place. It was very easily seen after rain.</p> + +<p>The tributes of the various nations they had subdued, were in +some instances fixed, but more frequently indefinite, being +proportioned to the exigencies of the year; indeed from various +conversations with Apokoo and others, and my own observations +during state palavers, it appeared that the necessities and the +designs of the Ashantee government were the superior +considerations, and the rule in levying tribute every where. I made +the following memoranda.</p> + +<p>Inta and Dagwumba never pay in gold, which though plentiful from +commerce, is not found there, cowries being the circulating medium. +Their capitals and all their large towns send the following tribute +annually, and the smaller in proportion.</p> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li><span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[321]</span>500 +Slaves.</li> + +<li>200 Cows.</li> + +<li>400 Sheep.</li> + +<li>400 Cotton cloths.</li> + +<li>200 Ditto and silk.</li> +</ul> + +<p>Takima a smaller proportion of the same kind.</p> + +<p>Coranza is generally excused, from fidelity, and a long series +of military services.</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t321"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Sawee</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">200</td> +<td class="tdl-bot">periguins annually.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Moinseän</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">50</td> +<td class="tdl-bot">bendas ditto.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdl-top hang1">Gaman had paid, (besides all large pieces +of rock gold,)</td> +<td class="tdr-bot">100</td> +<td class="tdl-bot">periguins ditto.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>Akim, Assin, Warsaw, Aowin, &c. &c. were taxed +indefinitely by crooms.</p> + +<p>Coomassie is built upon the side of a large rocky hill of iron +stone. It is insulated by a marsh close to the town northwards, and +but a narrow stream; half a mile distant from it N.W., and 60 yards +broad; close to it N.E., E., S.E., and S., and about 100, 20, 70, +and 50 yards broad at these points. In many parts depth after heavy +rains was five feet, and commonly two. The marsh contains many +springs, and supplies the town with water, but the exhalation +covers the city with a thick fog morning and evening, and engenders +dysentery, with which the natives of the coast who accompanied us +were almost immediately attacked, as well as the officers. It is a +little extraordinary that we never saw a musquito in Ashantee. I +could find none but birds eye views of the city, which were +uninteresting, presenting nothing but the thatch of the houses; it +was encircled by a beautiful forest, which required more time than +I could spare, and a more expressive pencil to pourtray. Coomassie +is an oblong of nearly four miles in circumference, not including +the suburbs of Assafoo nor<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_322">[322]</span> Bantama, (the back town,) half a mile +distant, and formerly connected by streets with the city, as is +evident from the numerous ruins of houses on the path. The +slaughter of constant warfare, and the extinction or removal of +several ill affected chiefs with their adherents, account for this +even in a rising state. The ruins in the interval to Bantama were +indeed accounted for by Amanquateä (who holds his court there, as +Quatchie Quofie does at Assafoo) informing us, that almost all the +Ashantees killed before Annamaboe (about 2000 by the most moderate +computation) belonged to him, as it was his division which marched +along the beach from Cormantine, exposed to the cannon of the fort. +Four of the principal streets are half a mile long, and from 50 to +100 yards wide. I observed them building one, and a line was +stretched on each side to make it regular. The streets were all +named, and a superior captain in charge of each; ours for instance, +was Aperremsoo, big gun or cannon street, because those taken when +Dankara was conquered, were placed on a mound at the top of it, +near Adoo Quamina’s house. The area in which we had our first +audience was called Daëbrim, the great market, in distinction to a +lower street called Gwaba, or the small market. The street above +where we lived was called Osamarandiduüm, meaning literally, “with +1000 muskets you could not fight those who live there.” One street +was named after Odumata, and there was another near it, whose title +I forget, but it was equal to prison street. The palace was +situated in a long and wide street running through the middle of +the town, from which it was shut out by a high wall, terminating at +each end at the marsh, where it was discontinued, that being a +sufficient boundary. It included Odumata’s and the King’s brothers +residences, and two or three small streets, (besides the several +areas and piazzas,) for the King’s relief and recreation when the +superstitions of the country confine him to the palace. I reckoned +twenty<span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[323]</span> seven +streets in all, which I have laid down in a ground <a href= +"#map3">plan</a> of the town. The small grove at the back of the +large market place was called Sammonpomë or the spirit-house, +because the trunks of all the human victims were thrown into it. +The bloody tracks, daily renewed, shewed the various directions +they had been dragged from, and the number of vultures on the trees +indicated the extent of the recent sacrifice; the stench was +insupportable, and the visits of panthers nightly. Several trees +were individually scattered about the town for the recreation of +the inhabitants of those quarters, and small circular elevations of +two steps, the lower about 20 feet in circumference, like the bases +of the old market crosses in England, were raised in the middle of +several streets, on which the King’s chair was placed when he went +to drink palm wine there, his attendants encircling him.</p> + +<div class="plate"> +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="map3"> +<p class="cpm3"><em>Ichnographical Sketch of</em> <span class= +"sc">Coomassie</span>, <em>with the principal Streets and the +Situations of remarkable Houses.</em></p> +<a href="images/map3_large.jpg"><img src='images/map3.jpg' alt= +''></a> +<ul class="cplist"> +<li>1. Entrance from Fantee and Assin.</li> + +<li>2. Agwabu or the small market.</li> + +<li>3. King’s eldest Sister’s house.</li> + +<li>4. —— Goldsmith’s ditto.</li> + +<li>5. Appia Nanu’s ditto.</li> + +<li>6. Otee’s (3d Linguist) ditto.</li> + +<li>7. Odumata’s (1 of the 4) ditto.</li> + +<li>8. King’s youngest Sister’s ditto.</li> + +<li>9. Adoom Street.</li> + +<li>9.* Baba’s house and the Crambos (Moors) Street.</li> + +<li>10.* Aboogaywa or place of execution.</li> + +<li>10. Palace.</li> + +<li>11. King’s wives Croom.</li> + +<li>12. Marsh.</li> + +<li>13. Entrance from Dwabin.</li> + +<li>14. ——— Barramang.</li> + +<li>15. King of Dwabin’s temporary Court.</li> + +<li>16. King’s Blacksmith’s Croom.</li> + +<li><em>a.</em> Himma or the King’s fetish temple.</li> + +<li><em>b.</em> Apokoo’s (1 of the 4) house.</li> + +<li><em>c.</em> Adoocee’s (chief linguist.)</li> + +<li><em>d.</em> Apirremsoo Street.</li> + +<li><em>e<img src='images/sym2.png' class="iwsym2" alt= +'[Symbol]'>.</em> Aboidwee’s house, the quarters of the +Embassy.</li> + +<li><em>f.</em> Adoo Quamina’s (chief Captain) house.</li> + +<li><em>g.</em> Osarramandiduum Street.</li> + +<li><em>h.</em> King’s Umbrella maker’s Croom.</li> + +<li><em>i.</em> Entrance to the high street of Bantama.</li> + +<li><em>k.</em> Croom.</li> + +<li><em>l.</em> Ditto.</li> + +<li><em>m.</em> Ditto.</li> + +<li><em>n.</em> Long irregular suburb, and road to Dankara.</li> + +<li><em>o.</em> Sammonpome or the Spirit Grove.</li> + +<li><em>p.</em> Adooebrim, the large market place.</li> + +<li><em>p*.</em> Small Market.</li> + +<li><em>q.</em> High Street of Assafoo.<br> +Course of the procession of the Embassy on its entré.</li> + +<li><em>r.</em> Halted to witness the war dance.</li> + +<li><em>s.</em> Halted to pass the baggage and presents.</li> + +<li><em>t.</em> Halted to witness the human sacrifice.</li> + +<li><em>u.</em> Presented to the King and Chiefs.</li> + +<li><em>w.</em> Seated to see them march home.</li> +</ul> + +<p class="cpr"><em>T. E. Bowdich</em>, 1817.</p> +</figure> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The Ashantees persisted that the population of Coomassie, when +collected, was upwards of 100,000. I think it likely to be much +greater than that of Sego, (which Mr. Park reported as 30,000,) +from the extended masses of crowd I observed on festivals, when the +plantations of the environs are almost wholly deserted. I compared +them in my recollection with the crowds I have seen collected in +the secondary cities of England, on similar occasions of public +curiosity; the only criterion, as I had not time to finish +reckoning the number of houses. I say when collected, because the +higher class could not support their numerous followers, or the +lower their large families, in the city, and therefore employed +them in plantations, (in which small crooms were situated,) +generally within two or three miles of the capital, where their +labours not only feed themselves, but supply the wants of the +chief, his family, and more immediate suite. The middling orders +station their slaves for the same purpose, and also to collect +fruits and vegetables for sale, and when their children become +numerous, a part are<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_324">[324]</span> generally sent to be supported by these +slaves in the bush. Perhaps the average resident population of +Coomassie is not more than from 12 to 15,000.</p> + +<p>The markets were held daily from about eight o’clock in the +morning until sun set. The larger contains about sixty stalls or +sheds, (a small square frame covered with cotton cloth with a pole +from the centre, stuck into the ground, see drawing, <a href= +"#i09">No. 9.</a>) besides throngs of inferior venders, seated in +all directions. Amongst the articles for sale, were beef, (to us +about 8<em>d.</em> per lb.) and mutton, cut in small pieces for +soup, wild hog, deer, and monkey’s flesh, fowls, pelts of skins; +yams, plantains, corn, sugar-cane, rice, encruma, (a mucilaginous +vegetable, richer than asparagus, which it resembles,) peppers, +vegetable butter; oranges, papaws, pine apples, (not equal to those +on the coast,) bananas; salt and dried fish from the coast; large +snails smoke dried, and stuck in rows on small sticks in the form +of herring bone; eggs for fetish; pittō, palm wine, rum; pipes, +beads, looking-glasses, sandals, silk, cotton cloth, powder, small +pillows, white and blue cotton thread, calabashes, &c. &c. +See Chapter on <a href="#p2c08">Trade.</a></p> + +<p>The following are the comparative prices of the markets of +Coomassie and Yahndi, the capital of Dagwumba:</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t324"> +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th colspan="3"><em>Coomassie.</em> +</th> +<th> +</th> +<th colspan="3"><em>Yahndi.</em> +</th> +<th> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A fat bullock</td> +<td class="tdr">£.6</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdr">£.1</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A sheep</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td class="tdr">15</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td class="tdr">4</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A fowl</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td class="tdr">5</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A horse</td> +<td class="tdr">24</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Yams</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="pad-right2">for two</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td>for ten.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">The surprising exorbitance of the former is to be +accounted for by the abundance of gold, yet labour and manufacture +was moderately purchased. In Mallowa, provision is dearer than in +Dagwumba, but the articles of trade much cheaper; they +manufacture<span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">[325]</span> very +little cloth, the Moorish traders supplying it so abundantly. The +cattle we saw in Ashantee were as large as the English, unlike +those on the coast, which resemble the Jersey. The sheep are hairy +in Ashantee, but woolly in Dagwumba, an open country, where they +manufacture a coarse blanket. The horses in Dagwumba are generally +small, some were described to be 15 hands high, but these were +never parted with, and the Ashantees did not desire them, for I +never saw but one who rode fearlessly. The horses I saw were like +half bred galloways, their legs lathy, with a wiry hair about the +fetlock, only requiring to be pulled. Their heads were large; dun +and mouse colours were said to be common; they were never shod, and +their hoofs consequently in the eye of the European, though not in +nature, disproportionate; they were fed on guinea grass, +occasionally mixed with salt, and sal-ammoniac was frequently +dissolved in the water. The saddles were Moorish, of red leather, +and cumbersome; the bridles of twisted black leather thongs, and +brass links, with a whip at the end; the bit severe, with a large +ring hanging from the middle, and slipped over the under jaw +instead of a curb chain; the stirrups were like large blow pans, +and hung very short. Some of the Moors rode on bullocks, with a +ring through the nose.</p> + +<p>The extent and order of the Ashantee plantations surprised us, +yet I do not think they were adequate to the population; in a +military government they were not likely to be so. Their neatness +and method have been already noticed in our route up. They use no +implement but the hoe. They have two crops of corn a year, plant +their yams at Christmas, and dig them early in September. The +latter plantations had much the appearance of a hop garden well +fenced in, and regularly planted in lines, with a broad walk +around, and a hut at each wicker gate, where a slave and his family +resided to protect the plantation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">[326]</span>All the fruits +mentioned as sold in the market grew in spontaneous abundance, as +did the sugar cane: the oranges were of a large size and exquisite +flavour. I believe this fruit has hitherto been considered +indigenous to India only. We saw no cocoa nut trees, nor was that +fruit in the market. Mr. Park’s route was through a very different +country.<a id="FNanchor_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99" class= +"fnanchor">[99]</a> In the marshy ground, a large species of fern +is very abundant, there are four varieties of it; in shady places +that have been cultivated, various tribes of urtica; and the +leontodon grows abundantly to the north of Coomassie. The +miraculous berry, which gives acids the flavour of sweets, making +limes taste like honey, is common.<a id="FNanchor_100"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> The castor oil, (ricinus +communis) rises to a large tree, I have only seen it as a bush +about three feet high on the coast; and the wild fig is abundant, +though neither of them are used by the natives. The cotton plant is +very plentiful, but little cultivated. The only use to which they +apply the silk cotton, is to the stuffing of cushions and +pillows.<a id="FNanchor_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101" class= +"fnanchor">[101]</a> Mr.<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_327">[327]</span> Park observed the tobacco-plant, which +grows luxuriantly in Inta and Dagwumba, and is called toah. The +visitors from those countries recognised it in a botanical work. +They first dry the leaves in the sun, then, having rubbed them well +between their hands, mix them with water into oval masses, as will +be seen; it is further noticed in the <a href="#Page_337">Trade</a> +Report.</p> + +<p>Lions are numerous on the northern frontiers of Inta, elephants +(assoon, F. A. soorer, B.<a id="FNanchor_102"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a>) are remarkably numerous +in Kong, but they are also found in Ashantee, with wild hogs +(yambo, F. A.) hyænas (patacoo, F. A. boofooree, B.,) cows +(anantwee, F. A. B.,) sheep (ygwan, F. A. tsan, B.,) goats +(apunkie, F. A. terrie, B.,) deer (wonsan, F. A. B.,) antelopes +(ettwan, F. A. B.,) dogs (boddum, etcha, F. tweä, A. opooree, B.,) +approximating to the Danish, cats (agramwaw, F. A. B.,) extremely +sharp visaged and long necked, Gennet cats (essoor, F. A. B.,) +pangolins (appra, F. A. aypra, B.,) alligators (dankim, F. A. B.,) +&c. &c. &c. The rhinoceros (năree) is found in Boroom, +and the hippopotamus (shonsa, A. tchoosooree, B.) in the Odirree +river.</p> + +<p>The Ashantees say, that an animal called sissah or sissirree, +will attack every other however superior in size. The Fantees who +had never seen it, had imbibed a tremendous idea of it, from the +stories in their own country. I doubt its being so formidable to +all other animals, for the skin I saw was not more than three feet +long, and the legs short, it resembled that of a boar, but the +natives said it was between a pig and a goat. I enquired of the +people of Inta and Dagwumba if they had ever heard of a unicorn; +one replied, yes! in the white man’s country. It is extraordinary +that the gnoo, (antelope gnu,) which is found behind the Cape of +Good<span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">[328]</span> Hope, is known +in Inta by the same name.<a id="FNanchor_103"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> Where the beds were not +an accumulation of cushions, the skin of the gnoo was nailed to a +large wooden frame, raised on legs about a foot from the ground, +and stretched as we would sacking. It was a revered custom that no +virgin of either sex should sleep on this kind of bed. Another +animal, called otrum, was described by the inhabitants of the +eastern frontier as having one very long horn on one side of the +head and a short one on the other; it is much larger than the gnoo. +We met with a spotted animal of the cat kind (gahin, F. A. B.,) +very common, and allied to the leopard or panther, but whether +referable to either of those species, or to be considered as +distinct, we could not determine, owing to the very vague and +unsatisfactory character by which naturalists have attempted to +distinguish them, the kind and number of the rows of spots; which +we have observed in individuals of the same decided species, to +present almost an infinity of variation.</p> + +<p>The vulture (pittay, F. A. epraykee, B.,) which I have before +mentioned to be venerated by the natives, for the same reason which +the Egyptians venerated the Vulturus Percnopterus, is the Vulturus +Monachus, figured by Le Vaillant. Green pigeons (assam) are found, +and crows with a white ring round their necks, probably the corvus +scapularis figured by Le Vaillant. There were several small birds +of beautiful plumage, which sung melodiously; two in particular, +the one like a blackbird, and the other of the same colour as the +English thrush, but larger. Also a variety of parrots beautifully +spangled with different colours. M. Cuvier was misinformed when he +wrote (Regne animal, tom. i. p. 108) “Macaque est le nom générique +des singes à la côte de Guinée.” The name is unknown there as well +as in the interior.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">[329]</span> +Dokoo is the generic name. The Simia Diana (effoor, F. A. B.,) +which has the most beautiful skin of any monkey, is found in +Ashantee as well as in Warsaw. All the natives agree that they do +not know of any monkies which dare to attack men, but the akonëson, +which they describe as small, and always seen in troops.</p> + +<p>Snakes (aboïtinnee, F. A. ewaw, B.,) green, and of all colours; +scorpions, lizards, &c. &c. were found as on the coast, +with a curious variety of beetles, and the most beautiful +butterflies. A few specimens preserved in spirits will be sent to +the British Museum,<a id="FNanchor_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104" +class="fnanchor">[104]</a> as the best apology for my ignorance +rather than neglect of natural history.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c07"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96"><span class= +"label">[96]</span></a>At Cape Coast in 1815 there was scarcely any +rain fell in its season, from May to August. In 1816, the rains +were heavy, but no fogs succeeded. In 1817, there was but little +rain, but a protracted succession of slight fogs. The climate has +been observed, by old residents, to alter as unaccountably within +these few years as that of Europe.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97"><span class= +"label">[97]</span></a>“My friend Mr. Morton Pitt, M.P. has proved, +by the enumeration of the inhabitants of a country parish in +Dorsetshire, that the men of an age capable of bearing arms are one +fourth of the whole community. Mr. Horneman, if I understand him +rightly, states the number of actual warriors to be 1500; so that +we ought, perhaps, to multiply that number by 5, to get nearer to +the total amount of the population.” <em>Major Rennell</em>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98"><span class= +"label">[98]</span></a>Issert mentions this being levied in Akim +and other tributary states.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99"><span class= +"label">[99]</span></a>“It is observable, however, that although +many species of the edible roots which grow in the West India +islands, are found in Africa, yet I never saw, in any part of my +journey, either the sugar cane, the coffee, or the cocoa tree; nor +could I learn, on inquiry, that they were known to the natives. The +pine apple, and the thousand other delicious fruits, which the +industry of civilized man (improving the bounties of nature,) has +brought to such great perfection in the tropical climates of +America, are here equally unknown. I observed, indeed, a few orange +and banana trees, near the mouth of the Gambia; but whether they +were indigenous, or were formerly planted there by some of the +white traders, I could not positively learn. I suspect that they +were originally introduced by the Portuguese.” Park’s First +Mission.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100"><span class= +"label">[100]</span></a>The curious fruit mentioned in the +introduction, and to which I have given the name of oxyglycus, I +find was known to Des Marchais, who describes it as a little red +fruit, which, being chewed, gives a sweet taste to the most sour or +bitter things. Dalzel’s Dahomey.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101"><span class= +"label">[101]</span></a>Cotton of the cotton tree (or <em>silk</em> +cotton) <i>Bombax Pentandrium</i> <em>Lin.</em> This cotton is not +made into thread, but is used for making pillows and beds. It is +also, from its catching fire so easily, commonly put into tinder +boxes, and employed in the preparation of fire works. Ainslie’s +Materia Medica of Hindostan.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102"><span class= +"label">[102]</span></a>F. A. affixed to assoon, denote that to be +the native name in the Fantee and Ashantee languages, as B. +represents Boroom.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103"><span class= +"label">[103]</span></a>C’est probablement lui qui a donné lieu à +leur <em>catoblepas</em>. Voyez Pline, lib. 8, c. 32, et Ælien, +lib. 7, c. 5, Cuvier. The gnoo is almost always <em>looking +down</em>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104"><span class= +"label">[104]</span></a>See Dr. Leach’s notice in the <a href= +"#app4">Appendix.</a></p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">[330]</span><a id= +"p2c08"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> VIII.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Trade.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> currency of Ashantee is +gold dust, that of Inta, Dagwumba, Gaman, and Kong, cowries. Mr. +Lucas writes, “to the merchants of Fezzan who travel to the +southern states of the Negroes, the purchase of gold, which the +dominions of several, and especially those of Degombah, abundantly +afford, is always the first object of commercial acquisition.” I +could not learn that any gold was dug or collected in Dagwumba, +though considerable quantities are imported, from its extensive +commerce. Sixteen ackies make an ounce or newemeën, 36 a benda, 40 +a periguin: eight tokoos (a small berry) are reckoned to the ackie, +but it will not weigh more than seven: there are eight distinct +names for quantities of gold dust from one to eight ackies. Five +strings or 200 cowries are equal to a tokoo, as at Accra. The +clearest manner of shewing the articles, prices, and profits of the +Ashantee, Inta, and Dagwumba markets, will be by a table with +remarks; substituting, for the greater convenience, English monies +calculated at the currency of gold here, which is £4. the oz.</p> + +<table class="borders1" id="t331"> +<tr> +<th colspan="2" class="bdless-right"> +</th> +<th colspan="4"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_331">[331]</span><em>Cape Coast.</em> +</th> +<th colspan="5"><em>Coomassie.</em> +</th> +<th colspan="5"><em>Sallagha and Yahndi.</em> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<th colspan="2">Articles.</th> +<th>£</th> +<th><em>s.</em> +</th> +<th><em>d.</em> +</th> +<th>Quantity.</th> +<th>£.</th> +<th><em>s.</em> +</th> +<th><em>d.</em> +</th> +<th>Quantity.</th> +<th>Profit.<br> +per Cent.</th> +<th>£.</th> +<th><em>s.</em> +</th> +<th><em>d.</em> +</th> +<th>Quantity.</th> +<th>Profit.</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"><a href="#note1a">(<em>a</em>)</a> +</td> +<td>Silk, India</td> +<td class="tdc">4</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">per Piece.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">5</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">1 span.</td> +<td class="tdc">175</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td>—— Fezzan</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">2</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">1 fathom.</td> +<td class="tdc">100</td> +<td class="tdc">1</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">1 fathom.</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"><a href="#note1b">(<em>b</em>)</a> +</td> +<td>Sarstracunda</td> +<td class="tdc">1</td> +<td class="tdc">10</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">2</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +<td class="tdc">1 span.</td> +<td class="tdc">400</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"><a href="#note1c">(<em>c</em>)</a> +</td> +<td>Glasgow Dane</td> +<td class="tdc">1</td> +<td class="tdc">10</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">5</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">1 hdkchf.</td> +<td class="tdc">75</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"><a href="#note1d">(<em>d</em>)</a> +</td> +<td>Romal</td> +<td class="tdc">1</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">1</td> +<td class="tdc">5</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">piece.</td> +<td class="tdc">20</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"><a href="#note1e">(<em>e</em>)</a> +</td> +<td>Guinea Stuff</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">10</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">15</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">33</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"><a href="#note1f">(<em>f</em>)</a> +</td> +<td>Silesia</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">10</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">15</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">33</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td>Dagwumba white Cotton</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">5</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">sq. yard.</td> +<td class="tdc">100</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">2</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +<td class="tdc">sq. yard.</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td>Rum</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">10</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">Gallon.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">7½</td> +<td class="tdc">dram.</td> +<td class="tdc">400</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"><a href="#note1g">(<em>g</em>)</a> +</td> +<td>Tobacco, Portuguese</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">Roll.</td> +<td class="tdc">10</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">roll.</td> +<td class="tdc">75</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">7½</td> +<td class="tdc">span.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td>—— Inta</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">2</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +<td class="tdc">lb.</td> +<td class="tdc">150</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">lb.</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"><a href="#note1h">(<em>h</em>)</a> +</td> +<td>Gunpowder</td> +<td class="tdc">4</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">¼ Barrel.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">7½</td> +<td class="tdc">1 charge.</td> +<td class="tdc">400</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td>Iron</td> +<td class="tdc">1</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">Bar.</td> +<td class="tdc">1</td> +<td class="tdc">15</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">bar.</td> +<td class="tdc">75</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">bar.</td> +<td class="tdc">200</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td>Lead</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">10</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">7½</td> +<td class="tdc">½ inch.</td> +<td class="tdc">75</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td>Flints</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">5</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">100</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">¼</td> +<td class="tdc">each.</td> +<td class="tdc">600</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"><a href="#note1i">(<em>i</em>)</a> +</td> +<td>Spanish Dollar</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">5</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">ea.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">5</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"><a href="#note1k">(<em>k</em>)</a> +</td> +<td>Sandals</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">10</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">pair.</td> +<td class="tdc">100</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">5</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">pair.</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td>Cushions</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">1</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">ea.</td> +<td class="tdc">100</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">10</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">ea.</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td>Marrowa Locks</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">5</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">100</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdc">2</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<p class="note" id="note1a">(<em>a</em>) The red taffetas (11 yards +in each piece) are unravelled by the Ashantees, and wove into the +cloths of their own manufacture: they unravel a few of the fancy +silks, but these are generally bought for wear, though they prefer +those from Fezzan for that purpose, because the colours are more +shewy. Coarse thick scarves are also brought from the interior, +equal in substance to a double wove ribbon. One ackie a span was +the price in the public market, where it was retailed in these +small quantities, for the convenience of the weavers, who did not +require, or could not afford to purchase more: the price of a piece +was uncertain, as the person who could purchase so much, generally +sent a trusty servant to the foreign market, and seldom bought of +the traders but when they were necessitated to sell at little more +than prime cost. The richest silks, I saw, were worn by the Moors, +who had bought them at Yahndi and Houssa.<a id= +"FNanchor_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105" class= +"fnanchor">[105]</a> Reckoning nine inches to a span, there are +eight spans in a fathom, which is the Ashantee measure; but the +fathom of Inta and Dagwumba, contains only six spans. Even if the +Ashantee traders give twenty shillings a fathom, in barter of +boossee, salt, rum, iron, &c.; it is considerably cheaper to +them than ours, considering that they get 100 per cent. on it at +Coomassie. Mr. Lucas mentions “silk wrought and unwrought amongst +the articles exported from Fezzan to Kassina. Apokoo and several +others related to me, that Saï Cudjo bought a piece of silk at +Yahndi, so very fine, that although it could be compressed between +two hands, it was nevertheless larger than any cloth I had seen the +present King wear, and his appeared monstrous. Apokoo added, that +six slaves were paid for it, which would have produced £160. at the +water side.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note1b">(<em>b</em>) This is a highly glazed +British cotton of bright red stripes with a bar of white: it is +bought solely for the red stripe, (as there is no red dye nearer +than Marrowa) which they weave into their own cloths, throwing away +the white. There are 280 inches in a piece. A cloth of Ashantee +manufacture will be sent to the British Museum, and, I expect, the +size, fineness, and variety will surprise.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note1c">(<em>c</em>) This is also a highly +glazed British cotton of more colours, and in handkerchiefs; ten of +which are in a 30<em>s.</em> piece.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note1d">(<em>d</em>) This is an unglazed India +cotton, not much in demand, and yielding the least profit. The +Manchester cotton called Tom Coffee is preferred.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note1e">(<em>e</em>) This is India cotton +unglazed, for all of which there is, in proportion, but a small +demand. The Ashantees invariably prefer cloths of the Dagwumba, or +their own manufacture, and we rarely saw any others worn in +Coomassie.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note1f">(<em>f</em>) These are white cottons, +six yards in a piece, but narrow, they are bought for fetish +cloths; but the next article, the white cotton cloth of Dagwumba, +is preferred, a piece of which, painted, will be sent to the +British Museum.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note1g">(<em>g</em>) These are the wholesale +and retail prices at Coomassie, the average length of a roll is 42 +fathoms.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note1h">(<em>h</em>) Powder is retailed for +customs or festivals: those who purchase it for war, or can afford +a ¼ barrel, send to the water side for it. A ¼ barrel contains 25 +lbs. and the Ashantee charge weighs 16 ackies, equal to ¾ of an +ounce avoirdupoise.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note1i">(<em>i</em>) This was owing to their +brisk intercourse with the Spanish and Portuguese slave ships, a +dollar generally fetches two ackies or 10<em>s.</em> Mr. Park +writes, from £1. 5<em>s.</em> to £2. 10<em>s.</em> at +Sansanding.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note1k">(<em>k</em>) Sandals and a cushion will +be sent to the British Museum. In Marrowa they decoct a good red +dye from a tree called mossarātee.</p> + +<p class="note">The reason green ells are purchased by the Warsaws +only, is, that they must be the wedding garment of the females of +that country: if they are fast colours, and will not change to a +blue with lime-juice, they will not look at them.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">[332]</span>Most of the +slaves in Coomassie, were sent as part of the annual tribute of +Inta, Dagwumba, and their neighbours, to Ashantee;<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_333">[333]</span> very many were kidnapped, and +for the few who were bought, I was assured by several respectable +Ashantees, 2000 cowries, or 1 basket of Boossee was the greatest +price given; so full were the markets of the interior. I have +brought some pods of the Boossee; it is astringent, and the natives +chew it to excite a flow of saliva, and allay the sensation of +hunger. The<a id="FNanchor_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106" class= +"fnanchor">[106]</a> Boossee must be the Gooroo nut, which Mr. +Lucas describes as one of the articles of trade between Fezzan, +Kassina, Bornoo, and the states south of the Niger. He writes, +“Gooroo nuts, which are brought from the Negro states on the south +of the Niger, and which are principally valued for the pleasant +bitter that they communicate to any liquor in which they are +infused,” and again “a species of nut—which is much valued in the +kingdoms to the north of the Niger, and which is called Gooroo. It +grows on a large and broad leafed tree, that bears a pod of about +18 inches in length, in which are inclosed a number of nuts that +varies from 7 to 9. Their colour is a yellowish green; their size +is that of a chesnut, which they also resemble, in being covered by +a husk of a similar thickness, and their taste, which is described +as a pleasant bitter, is so grateful to those who are accustomed to +its use, and so important as a corrective to the unpalatable or +unwholesome waters of Fezzan, and of the other kingdoms that border +on the vast Zahara, as to be deemed of importance to the happiness +of life. They are purchased at the rate of 12<em>s.</em> for 100 +pods.”</p> + +<p>Sal ammonia is found abundantly in Dagwumba: in the Ashantee +market, a lump the size of a duck’s egg, was sold for 2<em>s.</em>: +they grind it to mix with their snuff, (of which they take large +quantities,) as it gives it a pungency agreeable to them. They also +dissolve it in the water they give to their cattle, and sometimes +drink it themselves for pains in the bowels. The Tamool +practitioners<span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">[334]</span> in +the East Indies suppose it to be a useful remedy in certain female +obstructions, and morbid uterine enlargements. Mr. Lucas writes, +“No commercial value appears to be annexed to the fleeces which the +numerous flocks of the Negro kingdoms afford; for the cotton +manufacture, which, the Shereef says, is established among the +tribes to the south of the Niger, seems to be the only species of +weaving that is known among them.” In Dagwumba, however, they +manufacture a coarse kind of blanket from sheep’s wool. There is a +white grease, which has long been called Ashantee grease by the +natives on the coast, who supposed it to be produced in that +country. They use it daily to anoint their skins, which otherwise +become coarse and unhealthy. The Ashantees purchase it from the +interior, and make a great profit by it: it is a vegetable butter, +decocted from a tree, called Timkeëä: it is doubtless the Shea +butter of Mr. Park.<a id="FNanchor_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107" +class="fnanchor">[107]</a> Mr. Lucas mentions, “small Turkey and +plain Mesurata carpets,” among the articles exported from Fezzan to +Kassina: a small carpet fetches 2 oz. of gold at Coomassie. The +Ashantees procure most of their ivory from Kong, where they give 8 +ackies, or 40<em>s.</em> in barter, for a very large tooth.</p> + +<p>“The preference of the Ashantees for the Dagwumba and Inta +markets, for silk and cloth, results not merely from their having +been so long accustomed to them, but because they admit of a barter +trade. The Boossee or Gooroo nut, salt, (which is easily procured, +and affords an extravagant profit,) and small quantities of the +European commodities, rum, and iron,<a id= +"FNanchor_108"></a><a href="#Footnote_108" class= +"fnanchor">[108]</a> yield them those articles of comfort and +luxury, which they can only purchase with gold and ivory from the +settlements on the coast. Gold they are<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_335">[335]</span> all desirous of hoarding; even those less +covetous than is generally their nature, that they may be prepared +for the purchase of guns and powder to a large extent, on any +sudden war, and thus ingratiate themselves with the king and the +government. Were the Ashantees a commercial people, they might be +the brokers between the interior and Europeans, or, purchasing +supplies more adequate to the demands of their neighbours for +European commodities, which would be bought with avidity, realize +large properties. But they have no idea of buying more of the +various articles than will supply themselves; and leave a small +residue to barter for the cloth, silk, and tobacco in the Inta and +Dagwumba markets. They are as little commercial as the Romans were +in their infancy, and their government would repress rather than +countenance the inclination, (believing no state can be aggrandized +but by conquest,) lest their genius for war might be enervated by +it, and lest, either from the merchants increasing to a body too +formidable for their wishes to be resisted, or too artful from +their experience to be detected, they might sacrifice the national +honour and ambition to their avarice, and furnishing Inta, +Dagwumba, or any of their more powerful neighbours (who have +yielded to circumstances rather than force) with guns and powder +(which are never allowed to be exported from Ashantee,<a id= +"FNanchor_109"></a><a href="#Footnote_109" class= +"fnanchor">[109]</a>) break the spell of their conquests, and +undermine their power. The chiefs are fed bountifully by the +labours of their slaves, and sharing large sums of the revenue, +(the fines their oppression has imposed on other<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_336">[336]</span> governments,) with +incalculable fees for corruption or interference, refine upon the +splendor of equipage even to satiety, and still possess a large +surplus of income daily accumulating. Were they to encourage +commerce, pomp, the idol of which they are most jealous, would soon +cease to be their prerogative, because it would be attainable by +others; the traders growing wealthy, would vie with them; and for +their own security, stimulated by reflections they have now too +little at risk to originate, they would unite to repress the +arbitrary power of the Aristocracy; and even if they did not, +inevitably (as the chiefs conceive) divert the people’s genius for +war.</p> + +<p>It will occur that even to furnish the necessities or luxuries +of the Ashantees alone, in cloth, silk, &c. would, considering +the extent of the kingdom, considerably augment the returns of our +commerce in this part of the world; and therefore it would be well +to wean them, gradually, from the markets of the interior, by +inducing their cultivation of cotton, which grows abundantly, is of +a superior quality, and which, offered in quantities, in addition +to the ivory, would lessen the balance of trade now in our favor, +and by enabling them, in some degree to purchase with produce +instead of gold dust, remove the present comparative disadvantage +in trading with Europeans entirely. This occurred to me, and I +explained the view not only to the king, but to the more +enterprising and reflecting natives: but they had no idea of a +quantity, and immediately concluded cotton to be so desirable to +us, that 40 or 50 lbs. would be received in barter for twenty times +its value; and they required one tokoo and a half per lb. for it, +(say one shilling,) even in gold, and on the spot. When I urged +that they must clear the ground, form plantations, and superintend +the labours of their slaves; they replied, that the Boossee or +Gooroo nut grew spontaneously, and required no labour, that salt +was brought to their frontier by poorer nations, and sold for +little without<span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">[337]</span> the +trouble of fetching it; and these articles, with the value, their +prevention of all intercourse but their own with the water side +nations, attached to a little rum and iron in the interior, +furnished them with silks and cotton cloths at a much easier rate, +pattern and quality.</p> + +<p>A serious disadvantage opposed to the English trade, is that the +Ashantees will purchase no tobacco but the Portuguese, and that +eagerly even at 2 oz. of gold the roll. Of this, (the Portuguese +and Spanish slave ships regularly calling at Elmina,) the Dutch +Governor-General is enabled to obtain frequent supplies, in +exchange for canoes, two of which, though they cost him +comparatively nothing, fetch 32 rolls of tobacco; and the General +has sometimes received 80 oz. of gold a day from the Ashantees for +tobacco only. If they cannot have this tobacco, they will content +themselves with that grown in the interior, of which I have brought +a sample. A preference for the Dutch has long been natural to the +Ashantees, from an earlier though limited intercourse with them, +and from the natural impression, that the English settling amongst +their enemies, the Fantees, have encouraged and assisted their +provocations and resistance. With this bias in his favor, though +the Dutch market, destitute of supplies, had not been visited for +many years, the talent of General Daendels, “callidum quicquid +placuit,” would no doubt have again raised it to a level with the +English, cæteris paribus; and his unlimited importation of powder +and guns in the first place, with the still more valuable supplies +of Portuguese tobacco he receives at present, as superior +advantages, have, of course, possessed the Dutch market of superior +inducements.</p> + +<p>It is to be lamented, the indifference of the Dutch and Danes to +their settlements here, being evident from their neglect and +reduction of them, that the British government did not take +advantage of the disregard, and add them to their own. Elmina is +a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">[338]</span> much finer +position for head quarters than Cape Coast; the Dutch fort at +Succondee, the best point for the Warsaw trade, and where we have +but a house, is strong, admirably situated, and might be put in +good condition for £1000. in addition to which, Axim, near the +mouth of the Ancobra, would be the only fort to windward worth +keeping; and the Danish head quarters, Christiansburg Castle at +Accra, with their fort at Adda, (to secure the navigation of the +Volta,) would have answered every purpose and view to leeward. One +system could then have been acted upon towards the natives, the +commerce, confined to the English, would have grown from wholesome +regulations, which no other settlers could counteract by +selfishness, jealousy, or by facilitating the illegitimate trade we +would crush; and the benevolent views of the British government for +the improvement and civilization of the natives, would not be +defeated by those, who, holding their private interest superior to +views in which their own government has evinced no interest, +militate against them by fostering suspicions to bar our progress +in the interior, and by indulging those habits and customs of the +natives, which it must be our first step to correct and divert.</p> + +<p>In addition to the obstacles which the inconsistent and selfish +conduct of the different European powers towards the natives +presents to intercourse and civilization, the continuance of the +slave trade under the Spanish flag, is one more serious: no one can +imagine the stubborn impediment it was to our negotiations at +Ashantee, where the native emissaries from these slave ships +arrived not long after us. It not only injures the British commerce +here, almost to annihilation, but, slaving being the natural trade +of the natives, because it is the most indolent and the most +lucrative, the opposition, which is insinuated and believed to +proceed from the English alone, conveys a disagreeable impression +of us to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">[339]</span> +interior, as inauspicious to our intercourse and progress, as the +even partial continuance of such a trade is to legitimate commerce +and civilization. One thousand slaves left Ashantee for two Spanish +schooners or Americans under that flag, to our knowledge, during +our residence there, doubtless the whole number was much greater; +since our return it must have been very considerable, for the slave +trade was never more brisk than it is at this moment under the +cloak of the Spanish flag, and great risk has been incurred, in +consequence, of offending our new friend and formidable neighbour +the King of Ashantee, from the firm resistance of his strong +intreaties to the Governor in Chief, to allow the return of a +powerful mulatto slave trader to Cape Coast town, whence he had +been expelled under the present government, as the most daring +promoter of that commerce. It is a great pity, in the infancy of +our intercourse with this great interior power, that there should +have been occasion either for the request or refusal; which there +would not have been had the slave trade been abolished, instead of +crippled, at the expense, probably, of our own interests and views +in the interior, and, which is worse, of the happiness and +improvement of the natives. For it is certainly our duty, because +it is the most acceptable and the only efficient acknowledgment we +can make of the superior blessings and endowments by which we are +so indulgently distinguished from these nations, to extend the +influence and the participation, both by enterprise and policy, +even if our commerce may not be benefitted; and if we gain no other +recompense than the satisfaction of our own minds in the +ameliorated condition of others, and the opportunity we have made +to ourselves of exemplifying our own gratitude.<a id= +"FNanchor_110"></a><a href="#Footnote_110" class= +"fnanchor">[110]</a> Whilst one slave<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_340">[340]</span> ship is allowed to visit this coast, the +great convenience and the great profits of the trade will recur, +and be perpetuated amongst the Ashantees; they will linger in the +hope of its entire renewal, and view the English invidiously, as +the enemies to what they conceive to be their only natural +commerce; this is another advantage to the Dutch, added to the +inherent bias in their favour; and, from the reception and +facilities which slave ships meet with at Elmina, our odium is +aggravated instead of being participated. “Delenda est +Carthago.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">[341]</span>Let us suppose +this irreconcilable obstacle to be annihilated, as no doubt it will +be, and resume our reflections on a commercial intercourse with the +interior. The people of Inta and Dagwumba, being commercial rather +than warlike, the object, deliberately to be obtained, is an +intercourse with them, which would in fact be an intercourse with +the interior as far as Timbuctoo and Houssa northwards, and +Cassina, if not to Bornoo, eastwards. The wealth, civilization, and +commerce of Dagwumba, Mr. Lucas has before reported. Now, in +effecting such an intercourse through the Ashantees, who are +indisputably the greatest and the rising power of western Africa, +and who, having acquired their present extent of influence and +command in little more than a century, may be expected to +aggrandize their empire considerably; in seeking this connection +through them, there are these adverse circumstances, their policy, +their jealousy, and their inaptitude to commerce. It has been +suggested to the King, and urged with all the address of General +Daendels, to open a path to the interior through his kingdom, and +to receive a duty or tax on all the merchandize transported, which +would afford him a certain and considerable addition to his +revenue; but even this appeal to the avarice of the Ashantee +government has had no influence. It would be dangerous as well as +impolitic to offend the King of Ashantee at any time, with the +present garrisons of the forts, madness; and though his influence +through that of Dagwumba, which is at his command, would extend to +the Niger, yet, I think our anxiety to explore so far should be +suppressed for two or three years, until he is satisfied that +commerce and not ambition is the impulse. But in the interim, it +would be desirable gradually to approach Inta and Dagwumba, by +establishing a settlement up the Volta, which has been shewn to run +close to Sallagha, the grand emporium of Inta, and is navigable +within four days of it; and possibly might be made so +even<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">[342]</span> nearer. The +Danes would no doubt relinquish their claim to the navigation of +the Volta, for it is a doubtful one. Dalzel writes, “the Danes +claim the exclusive navigation of the Volta, which is disputed by +the English, who have a settlement near it, called Loy.” The great +prices the Ashantees get for rum, iron, &c. from the people of +Inta and Dagwumba, and the avidity with which they purchase their +small supplies, leave no doubt of the eagerness with which they +would resort to our market; and the silks they obtain from Fezzan +being dearer than our own, I should think we could induce a +preference. Our Manchester cloth and cotton manufactures would be +novel and useful to them, as those I saw wore vests and tunics. But +here I must observe, that whenever our commerce with the interior +may be established, the returns of it, in my opinion, will fall +short of the general idea and expectation.</p> + +<p>The King of Ashantee viewing our settlements on the Volta, +would, I have no doubt, be reconciled by our undertaking to sell +neither guns or powder to any but his own people; a measure due to +humanity as well as policy, for the preponderance of one great +nation is auspicious to the civilization as well as the +tranquillity of Africa; but for that, the slaughter of the human +species would be incalculable; there would be a constant warfare +between the numerous states, naturally querulous, and our passage +to the interior would be impossible, not only on that account, but +because there would be no powerful monarch to recommend or protect +us. If the King of Ashantee were not satisfied with our new +settlement confining the trade of guns and powder to himself, he +would certainly be repressed by the alarming reflection, that it +was at our discretion, (depending on his behaviour,) to supply Inta +and Dagwumba with both, and thus to undermine his empire; for it is +well known, and has been confessed, that the greater population of +these countries, could they but procure fire-arms, would give them +a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">[343]</span> superiority over +the Ashantees, to which their greater civilization seems to entitle +them. Our force and establishments should be respectable; not to +arrogate or to intrude, but to protect the legitimate commercial +views, sanctioned and invited by the voice of less arbitrary +powers, and also to make their first impression of the English +imposing and preservative. Residencies should be established at +these courts, and young men of talent, temper, and discrimination +be found to fill them, collecting the geographical and statistical +desiderata, and forwarding them to be investigated and digested +into one report at head quarters, before they were transmitted to +England. One or two intelligent Moors might also be engaged to +trade by different routes, and minute the directions, distances, +and descriptions of the several places; thus paving the way, and +lessening the difficulties of a future Mission to the Niger. If the +working of gold mines were also an object, the vicinity of the +Ancobra affords a rich field; and a small district might either be +purchased of the natives, or they might receive a dividend of the +proceeds, which would produce them much more than their present +inadequate researches, suppressed by their more powerful neighbours +the Warsaws.</p> + +<p>The benevolent and politic views of the British Government, +would thus, by making use of what we have or might easily get, be +more probably, if not more speedily realized, than by the perilous, +desultory, and limited enterprises of two or three individuals.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c08"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105"><span class= +"label">[105]</span></a>Since my return to England I have seen some +silk brought from Aleppo, and manufactured there, precisely +resembling these, which were frequently enriched by gold threads +interwoven.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106"><span class= +"label">[106]</span></a>Sterculia acuminata <em>Palis de Beauvais +Flore d’Oware</em>, 1. <em>p.</em> 41, <em>tab.</em> 24.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107"><span class= +"label">[107]</span></a>See <a href="#p2c13">Sketch of +Gaboon.</a></p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108"><span class= +"label">[108]</span></a>Though iron is manufactured in Dagwumba, +that from Europe is preferred for finer purposes. The former is an +imperfect steel containing a mechanical mixture of unreduced +ore.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109"><span class= +"label">[109]</span></a>“Fire arms are unknown to such of the +nations on the south of the Niger as the Shereef has visited; and +the reason which he assigns for it is, that the kings in the +neighbourhood of the coast, persuaded that if these powerful +instruments of war should reach the possession of the populous +inland states, their own independence would be lost, have strictly +prohibited, and by the wisdom of their measures have effectually +prevented this dangerous merchandize from passing beyond the limits +of their dominions.” Lucas.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_110"></a><a href="#FNanchor_110"><span class= +"label">[110]</span></a>The dissuasion from barbarities of which +millions are now the victims, as the descriptions of the customs of +Ashantee and the interior have shewn, and the interests of science, +render this duty more imperious. It has been well observed, +“apologies for our present ignorance of every thing that regards +geography, &c. might be pleaded by mercantile speculators, but +can have little weight with those who have the interests of science +at heart, or the national honour and fame, which are intimately +connected with those interests. It was not with a view to any +immediate commercial advantages, that this liberal encouragement +for the discovery of the north-west passage was held out, but with +the same expanded objects that sent Cook in search of a southern +continent.”</p> + +<p>Voltaire’s remark on India is now only applicable to Africa, +“Plusieurs y ont fait des fortunes immenses, peu se sont appliqués +à connoître ce pays.” I would even recommend indulging the wish of +the King of Dahomey to renew and perpetuate his connection with the +English, not indeed by resuming the fort, that would be a useless +expense, as there is no trade but in ivory, but by establishing a +Residency at his capital, the most frugal method of collecting the +various accounts of the interior of that neighbourhood for +geographical investigators, besides supplying the naturalist. +Geographical discoveries in Africa have long been ardently emulated +between England and France, and they have stimulated a generous +rivalry of investigation between the men of science of both +countries. An Englishman first penetrating to the Niger, and +determining its course at the moment a learned investigator of the +other kingdom had concluded it to be a contrary one, was one of +those rational and illustrious triumphs which adorn the historical +pages of a nation much more than those of war; for the +gratification and the benefit is shared by both, and such successes +cease to be invidious when the interests of science are thus +mutually at heart. The following immortal tribute from a classic of +a rival nation, should stimulate us to challenge as illustrious a +record of intellectual research,</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0"><span class="omis">· · · ·</span> +“monumentum ære perennius,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Regalique situ pyramidum altius;”</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">by a correspondent pursuit of intelligence in +Africa.</p> + +<p>“Un Anglais, détruit tout ce vain amas d’erreurs dont sont +remplies nos histoires des Indes, et confirme ce que le petit +nombre d’hommes instruits en a pensé.” Voltaire.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">[344]</span><a id= +"p2c09"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> IX.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Language.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> hypothesis I have met +with, I think in Parsons’s Remains of Japhet, that the confusion of +languages at Babel was a visitation on the family of Ham only, +which spread itself over Africa, is certainly supported +(considering the radical affinities which have been traced between +the Arabic the Russ and the Greek, the Persian and the German, the +Qquichua, or language of the Incas, and the Sanscrit, and many +others<a id="FNanchor_111"></a><a href="#Footnote_111" class= +"fnanchor">[111]</a>) by the variety of languages in Africa which +cannot be assimilated in the least degree to each other, and which +would, I think, resist the laborious ingenuity of the +philologist.</p> + +<p>I have heard about half a dozen words in the Fantee, which might +be said to be not unlike the same nouns in the Welsh language; and +this is the only affinity which has been imagined. Two words only +in the Accra language have struck me as assimilating to those of +any other, the conjunction “<em>kay</em>” (<em>and</em>), +which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">[345]</span> with a +broader sound would answer the corresponding Greek conjunction και; +and <em>fai</em> (<em>to do</em>,) pronounced as the perfect +participle of the same verb in French, and which is spelled +<em>fai</em> in the old songs of Richard the first, and the +troubadour Faydit. The Fantee word <em>umpa</em> (<em>true, +indeed</em>,) may be imagined to resemble the Greek εμπας, which +has the same meaning; but it is a solitary instance.</p> + +<p>From Apollonia or Amănăheä to the Volta, about 300 miles, six +languages are spoken: the Amanaheä, Ahanta, Fantee, Affoottoo, +Accra, and the Adampë. The numerals of which will appear, +collaterally with others hitherto unknown, at the end of this +chapter.</p> + +<p>The Ashantee, in comparison with the Fantee, Warsaw, &c. +&c. from its refinement of idiom, oratory being so much more +cultivated, may be considered as the Attic amongst the dialects of +the Greek, but it owes its superior euphony, striking to any ear, +to the characteristics of the Ionic, an abundance of vowel sounds, +and a rejection of aspirates:</p> + +<table class="padded2" id="t345"> +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th><em>Fantee.</em> +</th> +<th><em>Ashantee.</em> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Key</td> +<td>Sāfie</td> +<td>Saphwooa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Lock</td> +<td>Karradacoo</td> +<td>Karradoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Night</td> +<td>Adayfwa</td> +<td>Adagio.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Day</td> +<td>Aweeabil</td> +<td>Aweeabillee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Gun</td> +<td>Etoorh</td> +<td>Oteuh.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>Vocabularies of these languages would not be interesting to the +public, especially as no affinity can be traced; and I know not how +to acquit myself of every thing like indifference to the curiosity +at home, (without the dulness of the subject proving more irksome +than a disappointment,) unless I endeavour to give an idea of the +philosophy of the languages,<a id="FNanchor_112"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a> and submit their +progress, collaterally<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_346">[346]</span> with that of the arts and manners. The +genius of the Accra language differing the most essentially from +that of the Ashantee or Fantee, examples from both will be +instanced for illustration. I have principally consulted two +gentlemen, natives of the country, but educated in Europe: the one +resident between forty and fifty years; the other, who has a +respectable knowledge of the grammar of the English and French +languages, returned from England about ten years back, and both are +as fluent as the Negroes in the Fantee and Accra, the latter being +their vernacular tongue.</p> + +<p>Impressed with the ingenious hypothesis of the learned author of +the Diversions of Purley, my first care has been to investigate the +particles of the Fantee and Accra, considering the languages of +uncivilised people, to be least advanced or removed from +the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">[347]</span> primeval +simplicity, to which Mr. Horne Tooke’s system refers. I found, +however, both the Accra and Fantee languages more complete than I +expected in conjunctions, and seldom using verbs instead of them, +which I presumed they might do. Yet I have no doubt, their half +dozen of conjunctions, if examined etymologically by a person +thoroughly conversant in the languages, might be traced, and shewn +to be the contracted imperatives of the most recurrent verbs, as +Mr. Tooke has proved those of our own language to be. Neither the +Accra or Fantee have conjunctions answering to each of ours; the +distinction between many is neither comprehensible or necessary to +them. I will submit their conjunctions, with those investigated in +the first volume of the Diversions of Purley.</p> + +<table class="bd-collapse" id="t347"> +<tr> +<th><em>Fantee.</em> +</th> +<th> +</th> +<th> +</th> +<th><em>Accra.</em> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Onee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>and</td> +<td>Kay</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td rowspan="2">Sey</td> +<td class="blt width-brace1"> +</td> +<td>if</td> +<td rowspan="2">Kedgee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="blb"> +</td> +<td>unless</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td rowspan="2">Emphee</td> +<td class="blt"> +</td> +<td>still</td> +<td rowspan="2">Shee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="blb"> +</td> +<td>but</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td rowspan="2">Interah</td> +<td class="blt"> +</td> +<td>because</td> +<td>Nooyĕwon</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="blb"> +</td> +<td>since</td> +<td>Nunnë</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td rowspan="2">Namoo</td> +<td class="blt"> +</td> +<td>notwithstanding</td> +<td rowspan="2">Nemoolay</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="blb"> +</td> +<td>though</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +<td class="gap05"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td rowspan="2">Anna</td> +<td class="blt"> +</td> +<td>otherwise</td> +<td rowspan="2">Noollay</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="blb"> +</td> +<td>or</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">[348]</span>There are no +adverbs in either language. There are but two in our own which may +not be expressed by a verb or an adnoun, <em>still</em> and +<em>since</em>; and these they express by the conjunctions +<em>but</em> and <em>because</em>. “I intreated, but (still) he +would not,” “because (since) it is so,” as the Latins frequently +used prepositions for the Greek adverbs. Indeed <em>since</em> is +expressible by a verb, being derived according to Mr. Tooke from +the Saxon <em>sithan</em>, seeing that. They express the adverb +<em>much</em> by the adjective <em>many</em>; <em>ago</em> by a +verb, “<em>it passes</em> ten years;” <em>almost</em> by the verb +<em>it wants</em>, “<em>it wants</em> to rain;” and <em>when</em> +by a noun, “<em>the time</em> I was there,” coincident with Jones’s +derivation of ὁτε.<a id="FNanchor_113"></a><a href="#Footnote_113" +class="fnanchor">[113]</a> <em>Nooyĕwon</em>, (<em>because</em>) in +Accra, is literally, “<em>for the sake of</em>.” <em>Intērah</em>, +the corresponding word in Fantee, “on the head of,” +(<em>tirree</em> is head) thus, they would say, “I do this on your +head,” or because you told me. Lest, which is considered by Mr. +Horne Tooke to be the past participle of the Saxon verb leyan, to +dismiss, is not to be found either in the Accra or Fantee: in the +former they would say, “<em>Menkaw hauh ebbēbărădi</em>,” “do not +go there, you fall down;” and in the latter, “<em>Kaiheah djai nee +oheäbwayshee</em>,” “do not go there, and (or for) you fall down.” +The use of the noun for the adverb is frequent in Demosthenes, +(“εϛι δικαιος εχειν,” “he justly deserves”) and can only be +accounted for in a prose writer, who does not need poetical +licenses, as an archaism, disused generally, through invention or +refinement. The term adverb is not a just indication of the origin +of that part of speech, for, although they are derived from verbs +as well as nouns,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">[349]</span> +yet, in our own language, as well as in the Greek, following Mr. +Horne Tooke, the greater number are derived from nouns: and those +(of which there are some in the Greek) which may be indifferently +derived from a noun, or a verb, may be referred to the former; +because, many of the adnouns from which adverbs are derived in the +Greek, have been pointed out as disused; and therefore the verbs +from which adverbs are exclusively derived, are likely to be +derived themselves from obsolete adnouns, which cannot be recalled; +for it has been philosophically advanced, that originally there +could have been but one sort of words, that is, nouns, or the names +of the objects of our sensations and ideas.<a id= +"FNanchor_114"></a><a href="#Footnote_114" class= +"fnanchor">[114]</a></p> + +<p>I consider the absence of adverbs, participles, and +prepositions, certainly the least indispensible parts of speech, +and favouring copiousness rather than energy, to be a proof of the +almost genuine, or primeval simplicity of the Accra and Fantee +languages, which have not advanced or altered, even in the small +degree of their arts or manners; for these have only been +ameliorated by commercial intercourse with strangers, who not +understanding their language could not have suggested improvements, +and from whose languages, they being equally unintelligible, +amendments could not have been copied. We find Portuguese nouns, +and nouns only, adopted in the Fantee; and that, of necessity, as +Saxon nouns were adopted in the Welsh or Celtic, because they had +no words to designate novelties they had never before seen or heard +of; and, therefore, they called them as those did who introduced +them. These primitive languages being, nevertheless, thoroughly +adequate to oratory<span class="pagenum" id="Page_350">[350]</span> +as well as the commoner purposes of speech, is a strong proof that +language was revealed, as Johnson, Blair, Warburton, and others +have maintained, and that it was not the fruit of human invention +or industry, as Lucretius, Horace, and most of the antients +imagined.</p> + +<p>Neither the Accra or Fantee distinguish genders, the name of the +person, or the context, is the only explication; they have not even +a third person feminine, but one pronoun serves for <em>he, she, +it</em>.</p> + +<p>The Accra has a definite and indefinite article, but both are +affixed to the noun, as “<em>minna nooleh</em>,” I saw the man; +“<em>minna nookoo</em>,” I saw a man. The indefinite article +“<em>koo</em>” is the contraction of numeral one, “<em>ekoo</em>,” +so that I saw a man, is literally “I saw man one.” <em>An</em> is +simply another form of the numeral one, still used in North Britain +under the form ane; and in the French, the numeral and the article +corresponding to one, are the same. The Fantee, like the Greek, has +no indefinite article, or according to Mr. Harris’s expression, on +which Mr. Horne Tooke is so pleasant, “supplies it by a negation of +the definite,” which is “<em>noo</em>,” affixed, as “<em>mehoon +nimpanoo</em>,” I saw the man.<a id="FNanchor_115"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">[351]</span>In the Accra, +the plural is formed by inflection, epenthesis, paragoge, and +apocope: these changes are almost peculiar in every noun; the more +frequent inflections are, ai, ay, and ee.</p> + +<table class="padded2" id="t351"> +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th><em>Singular.</em> +</th> +<th><em>Plural.</em> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A woman</td> +<td>yeo</td> +<td>yeay.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A box</td> +<td>adikka</td> +<td>adikkai.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A stone</td> +<td>teh</td> +<td>tai.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ground</td> +<td>shepong</td> +<td>shepongee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A hyæna</td> +<td>krang</td> +<td>krangee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A father</td> +<td>tchay</td> +<td>tchaymë.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A liar</td> +<td>amallalo</td> +<td>amallaloi.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A gun</td> +<td>toon</td> +<td>tween.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A vessel</td> +<td>lelen</td> +<td>ledgenë.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A man</td> +<td>noon</td> +<td>nhal.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A house</td> +<td>tchoon</td> +<td>tchuë.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>In the Fantee the plural number is distinguished by the prefix +<em>en</em>, though generally, if they can, (in a glance whilst +speaking) discover the number of objects, they use a numeral with +the noun singular; or, if they cannot be so precise in the instant, +they substitute <em>many</em> to mark an indefinite number. The +Chinese also, are said to drop their plural adjunct “<em>min</em>,” +when there is another word of plurality attached to the noun.</p> + +<p>Neither language has prepositions, and of course peraphrasis is +generally resorted to: conjunctions are sometimes substituted, as +<em>and</em> for <em>with</em>; occasionally verbs, as “the King +<em>to give</em> his captain,” for <em>to his captain</em>; and, +sometimes, they are presumed from the tone or the context. Mr. +Horne Tooke, who values prepositions very much, has traced all but +five, of our own language, to nouns and verbs; and of these five, +three have since been traced to nouns and a numeral; so that +<em>out</em> and <em>off</em>, only, are unaccounted for. Jones, in +his Greek Grammar, writes, “the roots of prepositions<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_352">[352]</span> are nouns and verbs,” and, +accordingly, he derives απο from the Hebrew, <em>ab</em>, a stem, +περι from the Arabic <em>pera</em>, eminence, υπερ from the Hebrew +<em>aber</em>, sky, or the Persian <em>ober</em>, a cloud: the +inseparable prepositions had been traced to nouns and verbs long +before.</p> + +<p>Degrees of comparison are not expressed by adjectives or +adverbs, in either language: but, for he is richer than he, the +Accras would say, “<em>eh phay leh ne</em>;” the Fantees, “<em>aw +tchen adee</em>,” he <em>passes him</em> (in) things: neither +language has an adjective answering to rich or wealthy, but +“<em>ne</em>,” and “<em>adee</em>,” in both, correspond exactly in +meaning and use with the <em>res</em> of the Latins: the +superlative would be expressed by “<em>he passes all</em>.” The +antient idiom of comparison, antecedent to the general use of +inflections or adverbs, was probably similar, judging from the +following, and many other sentences in the Greek, “Παῥ ἑαυτὸν +μηδένα ἐπιτὴδειον ἡγεῖτο, he thought no body fitter than himself;” +“πλείονος δοξης παρὰ Μωσῆν ἠξίωται, Heb. xiii. he was counted of +more glory, or more glorious than Moses.” Here παρα, so frequently +expressing comparison, being derived from the verb περαω, <em>to +pass</em>, is identical with the Accra and Fantee expression.</p> + +<p>I observed before that the Accra and Fantee have no adjective +answering to rich, they are also deficient in many others, which +they supply by a second substantive in the same manner. This idiom +is found in the Greek, “Το σωμα της ταπεινωσεως ἠμων, our +humiliated body, the body of our humiliation; Αιρεσεις απωλειας. +destructive heresies, &c. &c.” and it is said to be both a +Hebrew and Celtic idiom; primeval languages, and the latter, I +presume, as rude as those we are investigating.</p> + +<p>In the Accra, the personal pronouns are</p> + +<table class="padded1b" id="t352"> +<tr> +<td>I</td> +<td>me</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>thou</td> +<td>boh</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>he, she, it</td> +<td>lheh</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_353">[353]</span>we</td> +<td>whah</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>you</td> +<td>nnheay</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>they</td> +<td>amăy</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind"><em>Me</em> is generally reduplicate before verbs, +as “<em>me me yay</em>” I eat. <em>Boh</em> before verbs generally +suffers aphæresis as “<em>oh yay</em>,” thou eatest, but sometimes +not, as “<em>boh fai</em>,” thou doest: this is also the case with +<em>lheh</em> as “<em>heh yay, lheh fai</em>.” <em>Me</em> is +added, as <em>met</em> in Latin, to make these pronouns compound. +In Fantee the personal pronouns are</p> + +<table class="padded1b" id="t353"> +<tr> +<td>I</td> +<td>me</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>thou</td> +<td>awaw</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>he, she, it</td> +<td>narra</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>we</td> +<td>yarra</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>you</td> +<td>awoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>they</td> +<td>warra;</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">the latter is used as a possessive pronoun also; +<em>woodde</em> is affixed to make them compound; they are +irregularly contracted before verbs. Considering these barbarous +languages of primitive simplicity, and recollecting the original +and philosophical deduction of pronouns from verbs, by the Greek +professor of Glasgow, as εγω or εγων (which is the more ancient) +from λεγων, ipse from επω, I particularly enquired for verbs +resembling their pronouns; but, after a long and diligent +recollection, neither of my authorities could furnish me with any +to the point. It is curious to observe, that the <em>me</em> +represents the pronoun I, in both these rude languages,<a id= +"FNanchor_116"></a><a href="#Footnote_116" class= +"fnanchor">[116]</a> as it does, though not in the nominative case, +in most other primitive languages, and in the modern ones derived +from them: it would seem to be the natural and involuntary +expression for that pronoun.</p> + +<p>There is only an active voice in the Accra or Fantee; the +passive<span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">[354]</span> is +expressed by a circumlocution, as he loves, or they love me, for I +am loved, &c.<a id="FNanchor_117"></a><a href="#Footnote_117" +class="fnanchor">[117]</a> It appears erroneous to consider the +infinitive mood as the root of the verb, when it has a separable or +distinguishing termination, and <em>mong</em> is as distinctly the +verbalizing adjunct in the Accra language, as <em>ere</em> or +<em>are</em> in the Latin, ειν in Greek, or an in the Anglo-Saxon. +If we consider the imperative as the divested fundamental form of +the verb, it is still difficult in these languages to get at the +root, for the use of the infinitive for the imperative, occasional +in the Greek, is, in the Accra, so general, that for some time I +thought it unexceptionable, and that it had not the two moods.</p> + +<p>The Accra has the neuter verb <em>to be</em> in the present, +perfect, and future tenses, but in the perfect, it is +irregular.</p> + +<table id="t354"> +<tr> +<td class="tdc pad-right1">I am</td> +<td class="tdc pad-right1">I have been</td> +<td class="tdc">I shall be</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc pad-right1">meyeh</td> +<td class="tdc pad-right1">metay</td> +<td class="tdc">mahyeh</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">The Fantee only has it in the present, “<em>oh +yea</em>, he is.” It is remarkable that even the linguists of our +forts, who speak English fluently, never understand or use our +neuter verb <em>to be</em>, but substitute <em>live</em> for it, +and that, whether they speak of animate or inanimate things; a +servant would say, “your keys live in your pocket.”</p> + +<p>The imperative mood has a present tense complete in each +language.</p> + +<p>They express the potential mood by adding auxiliary verbs, such +as our can, may, &c., have been shewn to be derived from.</p> + +<p>The termination of the infinitive in the Accra is generally +<em>mong</em>,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">[355]</span> +which is rejected in conjugating. In the Fantee it is not +distinguished from the first person present, or root. The use of +the infinitive mood, even in Accra, is very circumscribed, for it +is not found even in the most natural case when two verbs come +together, as I want to eat, for which they say, “<em>metōn +meyay</em>,” I want I eat. The infinitive is generally used for the +imperative in the Accra, but, otherwise, it only occurs in an idiom +almost peculiar to that language, for instance, for are you walking +now, they say,</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">“<em>Neo</em>mong oh <em>neo</em> +neh,”</div> + +<div class="line indent0">“To walk are you walking now.”</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">For I am straightening it,</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">“<em>Jadjumong</em> me <em>jadjio</em> +leh.”</div> + +<div class="line indent0">“To straighten I am straightening +it.”</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">Verbs are invariably used thus, interrogatively, +and, generally, in replies. I said almost peculiar, because I think +this pleonasm is identified in the Greek idiom, “Ουχι μενον σοι +εμενε. Remaining, did it not remain to thee.”</p> + +<p>The Accra has the present, imperfect, perfect, and future +tenses: the imperfect and future being distinguished by the +prefixes <em>bleh</em> and <em>ah</em>, the one before, the other +after the pronoun.</p> + +<table id="t355"> +<tr> +<td class="tdc pad-right1">“me yāyne.</td> +<td class="tdc pad-right1">bleh me yayne.</td> +<td class="tdc pad-right1">me yăy.</td> +<td class="tdc">m’ahye.”</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc pad-right1">I eat it.</td> +<td class="tdc pad-right1">I was eating it.</td> +<td class="tdc pad-right1">I eat.</td> +<td class="tdc">I will eat.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">But the imperfect tense is never used, unless a +sentence precedes it, as</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">“Bennay heh bă bleh me yay.”</div> + +<div class="line indent0">“When he came I was eating.”</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">Otherwise, they use the perfect for the imperfect, +never replying to a question even, in the latter. The perfect is +only distinguished from the present by being pronounced short. +These explicative particles, <em>bleh</em> and <em>ah</em>, would, +no doubt, be found to be remnants of verbs of appropriate +signification, as the <em>ai</em> of the French future<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_356">[356]</span> is derived from +<em>avoir</em>, were any philologist sufficiently acquainted with +the languages to investigate them. <em>Ne</em>, signifying it or +thing, is adjoined to many verbs, frequently in the present tense +only, like the explicative particle <em>en</em> conjugated with +“<em>aller</em>.”</p> + +<p>The Fantee has a present, perfect, and pluperfect: as “me +dedee,” I eat, “me adee,” I have eaten, “me waya dedee,” I had eat. +It has no future, yet the time is marked precisely, by adding +<em>soon</em>, <em>to-morrow</em>, &c. to the present.</p> + +<p>Neither language has participles; for, I see him coming, the +Accras would say, according to their idiom,</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">“Minnā eh ba’lheh.”</div> + +<div class="line indent0">“I see his coming.”</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind"><em>Ba</em> being a noun, with the definite article +<em>lheh</em> affixed. The Fantees would say,</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">“Mehoon deh orraba.”</div> + +<div class="line indent0">“I see that he comes.”</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Many verbs in the Accra language are conjugated like +reflectives, though they are not so in their nature, as</p> + +<table id="t356a"> +<tr> +<td class="tdc">“Me</td> +<td class="tdc">nakoo</td> +<td class="tdc">me</td> +<td class="tdc">fai</td> +<td>lheh</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">I</td> +<td class="tdc">not</td> +<td class="tdc">I</td> +<td class="tdc">did</td> +<td>it, for I did not do it.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>In the Accra, <em>ko</em>, the contraction of <em>nakoo</em>, +(not,) is added to verbs as a negative, as “<em>meyayko</em>,” I +did not eat; yet, in some instances, they have distinct verbs to +express the negative of the action, as “<em>mahttay</em>,” I will +go, “<em>meyang</em>,” I will not go.</p> + +<p>The Fantee prefixes <em>neën</em>, not, as “<em>me dedee</em>,” +I eat, “<em>me neën dedee</em>,” I do not eat; and they have also, +apparently, distinct negative verbs, as “<em>me becko</em>,” I go, +“<em>me’nkoko</em>,” I do not go.</p> + +<p>The Accra resembles the Greek in the nice distinctions of some +of its verbs and nouns.</p> + +<table class="padded1 bd-collapse" id="t356b"> +<tr> +<td>Gnăghmong</td> +<td colspan="3">To salute in the morning.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cotaghmong</td> +<td>To roll up.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_357">[357]</span>Balbaghtoomong</td> +<td>To draw towards</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tehtemong</td> +<td>To gather up</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kakow</td> +<td colspan="3">The tooth ache (<em>nanyong</em> a tooth)</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kodjomong</td> +<td>To talk a palaver</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Song</td> +<td>To work as a smith</td> +<td class="brt width-brace1"> +</td> +<td rowspan="2">neechoomong to work</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ghnāmong</td> +<td class="tdr">mechanic</td> +<td class="brb"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ninnamong</td> +<td colspan="3">To separate weeds from earth</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>The Accra and Fantee interjections are generally parts of +sentences, as, Mr. Horne Tooke has shewn most of our own to be: +“<em>minnannako</em>,” what do I see now, “<em>me ä whoo!</em>” I +die, “<em>màdja!</em>” oh my father, equally responsive to grief, +joy, or surprise; and used as involuntarily, and as frequently as +the two syllables <em>boh</em>, <em>hah</em>, which answer to our +<em>oh</em>, and <em>ah</em>, and which, of course, cannot be +called words. An Ashantee striking his foot against a stone, or any +thing in his way, exclaims “the thing is mad.”</p> + +<p>I was surprised to find little, or no inversion in the Accra or +Fantee prose<a id="FNanchor_118"></a><a href="#Footnote_118" class= +"fnanchor">[118]</a>; the substantive precedes the adjective, but +there is scarcely any other trace of it: yet, it is one of their +poetical licenses, as may be instanced in the following line of a +Fantee song;</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0 center">“Abirrikirri croom ogah +odum.”</div> + +<div class="line indent0 center">Foreign town fire put in,</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">for “the foreign town is set on fire.” In addition +to this inversion, so many peculiar additives, (generally vowels,) +and inflexions are allowed, as well as the figures Synæresis, +Diæresis, Metathesis,<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_358">[358]</span> and Anastrophe, in their poetry, and in +their poetry only, (making it unintelligible even to those who can +converse fluently with them) that both languages may be said to +have a Prosody. From the following song, I imagined the Fantees +(for the Accra’s are said to possess none but fetish hymns in their +own language) to have some idea of rhyme, considering the inversion +of the first line as forced, and expressly accommodated to the +metre,</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">Abirrikirri croom ogah odum,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Ocoontinkiï bonoo fum,</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">Cooroompun,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Coom agwun,</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">but I have not met with any other instance.</p> + +<p>The Ashantees generally use much and vehement gesture, and speak +in recitative: their action is exuberant, but graceful; and from +the infancy of the language,<a id="FNanchor_119"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a> nouns and verbs are +constantly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">[359]</span> +repeated, for force, and distinction, as <em>one one</em>, for, +<em>one by one</em>, or, <em>each</em>; <em>one tokoo one +tokoo</em>, for, <em>one tokoo a-piece</em>. They frequently are +obliged to vary the tone, in pronouncing a word which has more than +one meaning, as the Chinese do. They have no expression short of +you are a liar, and the king was surprised, when I told him we made +a great difference between a mistake and a lie; he said the truth +was not spoken in either case, and, therefore, it was the same +thing; they did not consider the motive but only the fact.</p> + +<p>Like the American languages, those of this part of Africa, are +full of figures, hyperbolical and picturesque.<a id= +"FNanchor_120"></a><a href="#Footnote_120" class= +"fnanchor">[120]</a> One of the kings of the interior, whose +territories the Ashantees had long talked of invading, sent forty +pots of palm oil to Coomassie, with the message, that, “he feared +they could not find their way, so he sent the oil to light them.” +The Accras instead of good night, say “<em>wooäu +d’tcherrimong</em>,” sleep till the lighting of the world: one of +their imprecations against their enemies, is, “may their hiding +place be our flute,” that is, “our plaything:” when they speak of a +man imposing on them, they say, “he turned the backs of our heads +into our mouths.” Having occasion, whilst at Coomassie, to protest +against the conduct of an individual, the king replied, through +Adoosee, “The horse comes from the bush, and is a fool, but the man +who rides him knows sense, and by and by makes him do what he +wishes; you, by yourself, made the horse, who was a<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_360">[360]</span> fool, do better the other day, +therefore, three of you ought to teach a man, who is not born a +fool, and does not come from the bush, to do what you know to be +right by and by, though I see he does wrong now.” Other instances +will appear in their songs.</p> + +<p>I shall transfer the imperfect Vocabularies which I formed, and +the incidental observations, to the <a href="#app6">Appendix;</a> +as they may not be indulged with so much attention by the +generality of readers, as the investigation of the structure.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c09"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_111"></a><a href="#FNanchor_111"><span class= +"label">[111]</span></a>The eastern and western branch of this +polar race, the Eskimoes and the Tschougazes, notwithstanding the +enormous distance of 800 leagues which separates them, are united +by the most intimate analogy of languages. This analogy extends, as +has been recently proved in the most evident manner, even to the +inhabitants of the north-east of Asia; for the idiom of the +Tschouktshes at the mouth of the Anadin has the same roots, as the +language of the Eskimoes who inhabit the coast of America opposite +to Europe. The Tschouktsches are the Eskimoes of Asia. Humbolt, P. +N. v. 3, p. 291.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_112"></a><a href="#FNanchor_112"><span class= +"label">[112]</span></a>“I am aware that languages are much more +strongly characterised by their structure and grammatical forms, +than by the analogy of their sounds and of their roots; and that +their analogy of sounds is sometimes so disfigured in the different +dialects of the same tongue, as not to be distinguishable; for the +tribes into which a nation is divided, often designate the same +objects by words altogether heterogeneous. Hence it follows, that +we are easily mistaken, if, neglecting the study of the inflexions, +and consulting only the roots, for instance the words which +designate the moon, sky, water, and earth, we decide on the +absolute difference of two idioms from the simple want of +resemblance in sounds.” Humboldt’s Personal Narrative, vol. iii. p. +251.</p> + +<p>I am gratified to find, since my return to England, and +consequent perusal of the Congo publication, that my investigations +of these languages have happened to be consonant with the +instructions of Mr. Marsden in his letter to Captain Tuckey, as +appears from the following extract. “Where a longer residence +admits of freer intercourse, and a means of acquiring a more +perfect knowledge of the language, it will be desirable, besides +attempting to fill up the larger vocabulary, that pains should be +taken to examine its grammatical structure, and to ascertain, for +instance, how the nominative and subjunctive words in a sentence +are placed with respect to the verb; how the adjective with regard +to the substantive; how plurals and degrees of comparison are +formed; whether there is any kind of inflexion or variation of +syllables of the same word, according to its position in the +sentence and connection with other words; whether the pronouns +personal vary according to the rank or sex of the person addressing +or person addressed; and whether they are incorporated with the +verb; and to observe any other peculiarities of idiom, that the +language may present; noting the degree of softness, harshness, +indistinctness, intonation, guttural sounds, and the prevalence or +deficiency of any particular letters of the alphabet, as we should +term them, such as R and F. The extent of country over which a +language is understood to prevail should also be a subject of +investigation; and, by what others it is bounded on every side. +Also, whether there may not be a correct language of communication +between nations, whose proper languages are distinct.” I think the +very frequent use of <em>q</em> is one distinguishing character of +African languages: the <em>r</em> and <em>f</em> are very frequent, +the latter especially; the former as a liquid is frequently +substituted for <em>l</em>, as I have illustrated in the Chapter on +<a href="#Page_196">Geography.</a> Their pronunciation of +<em>z</em> approximates to that of the <em>aspro z</em> of the +Italians. I hope to have leisure and opportunity hereafter for +paying this subject more attention. I have not yet had time to make +sufficient progress in German to read Vater’s Mithridatis, which +will no doubt assist my observations.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_113"></a><a href="#FNanchor_113"><span class= +"label">[113]</span></a>“From the Hebrew עתה, ote, <em>time</em>, +has flowed ὁτε, <em>when</em>; which τ, π, οπ, being prefixed, +becomes τοτε, ποτε, ὁποτε.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_114"></a><a href="#FNanchor_114"><span class= +"label">[114]</span></a>“Every verb consists of a pronoun, +expressing an agent, and of a noun, or the substitute of a noun, +expressing an object. Thus, οινος and εγω joined and abbreviated is +οινοω; and this term would be sufficient to express <em>I drink +wine</em>, though originally it meant only <em>wine I</em>; +association supplying to the speaker and the person addressed the +intermediate notion <em>of drinking</em>.” Jones.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_115"></a><a href="#FNanchor_115"><span class= +"label">[115]</span></a>The word <em>caboceer</em> +(<em>chief</em>,) which I have used in the correspondence, history, +and other parts of this work, as the only title familiar to +Europeans, (being always substituted, even by native interpreters +for the vernacular,) was of course introduced by the Portuguese, +and consequently unknown in the interior. It is applied to a chief +who has the charge or government of a town, (<em>croom</em>.) Such +however are indiscriminately called <em>ōhen</em> or <em>king</em>, +in Fantee. Throughout Ashantee the monarch only is called +<em>ōhennie</em> or <em>king</em>, and the chiefs who have the care +or government of the towns of his dominions, <em>sāf ĕhen</em>. +<em>Sāfie</em> or <em>saphwooa</em>, means <em>key</em>, and the +last syllable of the compound, <em>hen</em>, is evidently an +abbreviation of <em>ōhennie</em>. <em>Safie</em>, a <em>charm</em>, +is without doubt identical in a figurative sense with +<em>sāfee</em>, <em>key</em>; and should, on consideration, be +spelt as such, and not <em>saphie</em> as I have generally written +it hitherto. A Moor is called <em>Crambo</em> by the Negroes of the +interior, which bears the same interpretation as <em>Pongheme</em>, +a Spaniard, in the Tamanack, i.e. <em>a man clothed</em>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_116"></a><a href="#FNanchor_116"><span class= +"label">[116]</span></a>It is also found in the Empoönga, and other +African languages.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_117"></a><a href="#FNanchor_117"><span class= +"label">[117]</span></a>“The distinction of active and passive is +not essential to verbs. In the infancy of language, it was in all +probability not known; in Hebrew, the difference but imperfectly +exists, and in the early periods of it, possibly did not exist at +all. In Arabic, the only distinction which obtains, arises from the +vowel points, a late invention compared with the antiquity of that +language. And in our own tongue the names of active and passive +would have remained unknown, if they had not been learnt in Latin.” +Jones.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_118"></a><a href="#FNanchor_118"><span class= +"label">[118]</span></a>“He (the savage) would not express himself +according to our English order of construction, Give me fruit, but +according to the Latin order, Fruit give me, Fructum da mihi, for +this plain reason, that his attention was wholly directed towards +fruit, the desired object. This was the exciting idea; the object +which moved him to speak, and of course would be the first named. +Such an arrangement is precisely putting into words the gesture +which nature taught the savage to make, before he was acquainted +with words; and therefore it may be depended upon as certain, that +he would fall most readily into this arrangement. <span class= +"omis">· · · · · ·</span> We might therefore conclude, à priori, +that this would be the order in which things were most commonly +arranged at the beginning of language, and accordingly we find, in +fact, that in this order words are arranged in most of the antient +tongues; as in the Greek and the Latin; and it is also said, in the +Russian, the Sclavonic, the Gaelic, and several of the American +tongues.” Blair.</p> + +<p>The arrangement of words in the Chayma is such as is found in +every language of both continents, which has preserved a certain +air of youth. The object is placed before the verb, the verb before +the personal pronoun. The object on which the attention should be +principally fixed, precedes all the modifications of that +object.</p> + +<p>The American would say; “liberty complete love we;” instead of +we love complete liberty; “Thee with happy am I”—instead of I am +happy with thee. Humboldt’s Personal Narrative, vol. 3, p. 261.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_119"></a><a href="#FNanchor_119"><span class= +"label">[119]</span></a>“In the infancy of language, while words +were yet scanty, the most natural way, whereby a writer or speaker +might give an additional force to his discourse, was to +<em>repeat</em> such terms as he wished to render +<em>emphatic</em>. The more ancient any language is, the more +numerous appear the traces of such repetitions; and next to the +Hebrew, they form a remarkable feature in the Greek tongue. This +μαω μαω, I desire desire, blended into one word, become μιμαω, and +mean, I greatly desire. βαω βαω, I walk walk, βιβαω, I stride, +&c. &c. &c. See Jones.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_120"></a><a href="#FNanchor_120"><span class= +"label">[120]</span></a>“The messenger concluded this insulting +notification by presenting the king with a pair of iron sandals, at +the same time adding, that until such time as Daisy had worn out +these sandals in his flight, he should never be secure from the +arrows of Bambarra.” Park’s 1st Mission.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_361">[361]</span><a id= +"p2c10"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> X.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Music.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> wild music of these +people is scarcely to be brought within the regular rules of +harmony,<a id="FNanchor_121"></a><a href="#Footnote_121" class= +"fnanchor">[121]</a> yet their airs have a sweetness and animation +beyond any barbarous compositions I ever heard. Few of their +instruments possess much power, but the combination of several +frequently produces a surprising effect. The flute is made of a +long hollow reed, and has not more than three holes; the tone is +low at all times, and when they play in concert they graduate them +with such nicety as to produce the common chords. Several instances +of thirds occur, especially in one of the annexed airs, played as a +funeral dirge; nor is this extraordinary considering it is the most +natural interval; the addition of fifths, at the same time, is +rare. The natives declare they can converse by means of their +flutes, and an old resident at Accra has assured me he has heard +these dialogues, and that every sentence was explained to him.</p> + +<p>On the Sanko (see Drawing <a href="#i05">No. 5,</a> and Specimen +in the Museum) they display the variety of their musical talents, +and the Ashantees are allowed to surpass all others. It consists of +a narrow box, the open top of which is covered with alligator, or +antelope skin; a bridge is raised on this, over which +eight<span class="pagenum" id="Page_362">[362]</span> strings are +conducted to the end of a long stick, fastened to the fore part of +the box, and thickly notched, and they raise or depress the strings +into these notches as occasion requires. The upper string +assimilates with the tenor C of the piano, and the lower with the +octave above: sometimes they are tuned in Diatonic succession, but +too frequently the intermediate strings are drawn up at random, +producing flats and sharps in every Chromatic variety, though they +are not skilful enough to take advantage of it. I frequently urged +this by trying to convince them they were not playing the same tune +I had heard the day before, but the answer was invariably, “I pull +the same string, it must be the same tune.” The strings are made +from the runners of a tree called Enta, abounding in the forests. +All airs on this instrument are played very quick, and it is barely +possible to make even an experienced player lessen the time, which +quick as it is, is kept in a surprising manner, especially as every +tune is loaded with ornament. They have a method of stopping the +strings with the finger, so as to produce a very soft and pleasing +effect, like the Meyer touch of the harp.</p> + +<p>The horns form their loudest sounds, and are made of elephant’s +tusks, they are generally very large, and, being graduated like the +flutes, their flourishes have a martial and grand effect. It has +been mentioned in the Military Customs of the Ashantees, that +peculiar sentences are immediately recognised by the soldiers, and +people, in the distinct flourishes of the horns of the various +chiefs: the words of some of these sentences are almost expressible +by the notes of the horns; the following, uttered by the horns of a +captain named Gettoä, occurs to me as an instance</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">“O Saï tĭntĭntoo, ma yūāyĭä pa pa.”</div> + +<div class="line indent0"><span class= +"word-spaced03"> </span>O Saï great king! I laud thee every +where, or exceedingly.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The Bentwa (see Drawing <a href="#i06">No. 6.</a>) is a stick +bent in the form of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_363">[363]</span> +a bow, and across it, is fastened a very thin piece of split cane, +which is held between the lips at one end, and struck with a small +stick; whilst at the other it is occasionally stopped, or rather +buffed, by a thick one; on this they play only lively airs, and it +owes its various sounds to the lips.</p> + +<p>The Mosees, Mallowas, Bournous, and natives from the more remote +parts of the interior, play on a rude violin: the body is a +calabash, the top is covered with deer skin, and two large holes +are cut in it for the sound to escape; the strings, or rather +string, is composed of cow’s hair, and broad like that of the bow +with which they play, which resembles the bow of a violin. Their +grimace equals that of an Italian Buffo: they generally accompany +themselves with the voice, and increase the humour by a strong +nasal sound.</p> + +<p>The Oompoochwa is a box, one end of which is left open; two flat +bridges are fastened across the top, and five pieces of thin curved +stick, scraped very smooth, are attached to them, and (their ends +being raised,) are struck with some force by the thumb. I can +compare it to nothing but the Staccado nearly deprived of its +tone.</p> + +<p>The Ashantees have an instrument like a Bagpipe, but the drone +is scarcely to be heard.</p> + +<p>The rest of the instruments can hardly be called musical, and +consist of drums, castanets, gong-gongs, flat sticks, rattles, and +even old brass pans.</p> + +<p>The Drums (see Drawing <a href="#i07">No. 7.</a>) are hollow’d +trunks of trees, frequently carved with much nicety, mostly open at +one end, and of many sizes: those with heads of common skin (that +is of any other than Leopard skin) are beaten with sticks in the +form of a crotchet rest; the largest are borne on the head of a +man, and struck by one or more followers; the smaller are slung +round the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_364">[364]</span> neck, or +stand on the ground; in the latter case they are mostly played with +the inside of the fingers, at which the natives are very expert: +amongst these drums are some with heads of leopard skin, (looking +like vellum,) only sounded by two fingers, which are scraped along, +as the middle finger is on the tamborine, but producing a much +louder noise. The gong-gongs are made of hollow pieces of iron, and +struck with the same metal. The Castanets are also of iron. The +Rattles are hollow gourds, the stalks being left as handles, and +contain shells or pebbles, and are frequently covered with a net +work of beads; the grimaces with which these are played make them +much more entertaining to sight than hearing.</p> + +<p>I was fortunate enough to find a rare instance of a native able +to play the radical notes of each tune; he is the best player in +the country, and I was enabled to collect the airs now offered: +with some of the oldest date I have also selected a few of the +latest compositions. Their graces are so numerous, some extempore, +some transmitted from father to son, that the constant repetition +only can distinguish the commencement of the air: sometimes between +each beginning they introduce a few chords, sometimes they leave +out a bar, sometimes they only return to the middle, so entirely is +it left to the fancy of the performer. The observation made on the +time of the Sanko may be extended to almost every other instrument, +but it is always perfect, and the children will move their heads +and limbs, whilst on their mother’s backs, in exact unison with the +tune which is playing: the contrasts of piano and forte are very +well managed.</p> + +<p>The singing is almost all recitative, and this is the only part +of music in which the women partake; they join in the chorusses, +and at the funeral of a female sing the dirge itself; but the +frenzy of the moment renders it such a mixture of yells and +screeches, that it bids defiance to all notation. The songs of the +Canoe men<span class="pagenum" id="Page_365">[365]</span> are +peculiar to themselves, and very much resemble the chants used in +cathedrals, but as they are all made for the moment, I have not +been able to retain any of them.</p> + +<p>To have attempted any thing like arrangement, beyond what the +annexed airs naturally possess, would have altered them, and +destroyed the intention of making them known in their original +character. I have not even dared to insert a flat or a sharp.</p> + +<p><a href="#music01">No. 1.</a> is the oldest air in the whole +collection, and common both to Ashantees and Warsaws; I could trace +it through four generations, but the answer made to my enquiries +will give the best idea of its antiquity; “it was made when the +country was made.” The key appears to be E minor.</p> + +<p>The old and simple air <a href="#music02">No. 2,</a> is almost +spoiled from the quick method of playing it, but when slow it has a +melancholy rarely found in African music, and it is one of the very +few in which the words are adapted to the tune. I think it is +decidedly in the key of C major. The noun aganka, an orphan, is +from the verb agan to leave. Oboïbee is a bird that sings only at +night, for which I know no other name than the Ashantee. The Warsaw +air, <a href="#music03">No. 3,</a> also in C major, was composed in +consequence of a contest between the two principal caboceers of +that country, Intiffa and Attobra; one extremely thin and the other +very fat; Attobra ran away, and is derided by Intiffa in the +following satirical words:</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0 center">Asoom cōōcŏŏrŏŏcōō ŏninny +ăgwanny.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">Asoom is a dolphin, which, as a beardless creature, +is an epithet of the strongest contempt. The literal translation +is,</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0 center">The big dolphin runs away from the +small man.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p><a href="#music05">No. 5,</a> which I should conjecture to begin +in E minor, and to end in D minor, was occasioned by an English +vessel bringing the report of a battle, in which the French were +defeated and their town burned. The words are allegorical.</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_366">[366]</span>Abirrikirri croom ogah odum;</div> + +<div class="line indent0">French town fire put in;</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Ocoontinkii bonoo fum;</div> + +<div class="line indent-4">Great fighting man, wolf take you +away;</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Cooroompun coom agwun.</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Cooroompun kills all goats.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">Abirrikirri applies indiscriminately to all nations +beyond the sea, as Dunko does to all nations far in the interior. +Cooroompun is a very large insect of the genus mantis (soothsayer) +frequently met with here, and the natives believe that it kills the +sheep and goats by fascination, standing with its eyes fixed on +those of the object, and swinging its head and body from side to +side without moving its feet, until the animal falls in fits and +dies.<a id="FNanchor_122"></a><a href="#Footnote_122" class= +"fnanchor">[122]</a> Agwun is a noun of multitude, comprehending +all the goat kind.</p> + +<p>A long tale accompanies <a href="#music06">No. 6.</a> An +Ashantee having been surprised in an intrigue with another man’s +wife, becomes the slave of the King, and is obliged to follow the +army in a campaign against the celebrated Attah, the Akim caboceer +mentioned in the history. The Ashantee army having retired, this +man either deserted or could not join his division, and after +concealing himself some time in the forest, was taken by a party of +Attah’s, whom he addresses in the following words:</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">Eqqwee odin ahi,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Panther bush here (belongs to)</div> + +<div class="line indent2"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_367">[367]</span>Minăwoo! Minăwoo!</div> + +<div class="line indent2">I die! I die!</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Me’din adoo croom,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Bush now my croom,</div> + +<div class="line indent2">Minăwoo! Minăwoo!</div> + +<div class="line indent2">I die! I die!</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Babisseäche Minăwoo! Minăwoo!</div> + +<div class="line indent-2">For woman’s sake I die! I die!</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Attah m’incomie! Attah m’incomie!</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Attah don’t kill me! Attah don’t kill +me!</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">The man’s life, it was added, was preserved when he +urged that he understood how to make sandals. The key appears to be +E minor.</p> + +<p><a href="#music07">No. 7,</a> in G major, seems to convey the +moral, that riches prompt mankind to wickedness, the word +“<em>makes</em>” is understood.</p> + +<p><a href="#music09">No. 9,</a> became a common song in March last +in praise of the present Governor in Chief; who, in consequence of +the famine occasioned by the preceding invasion from the Ashantees, +daily distributed corn to the starving multitude: the words are +even more incoherent and figurative than the others, therefore I +have not written them, but the meaning to be gathered is, “Poor +woman and poor child got no gold to buy kanky; good white man gives +you corn.” It will be observed that the air much resembles <a href= +"#music11">No. 11,</a> wherefore I suspect it is an alteration, and +not a composition; although the key seems to be G major, and it is +impossible to attach any key to the latter.</p> + +<p>The dirge, <a href="#music12">No. 12,</a> certainly in the key +of C major, has been mentioned before, but here I must add, that in +venturing the intervening and concluding bass chord, I merely +attempt to describe the castanets, gong-gongs, drums, &c. +bursting in after the soft and mellow tones of the flutes; as if +the ear was not to retain a vibration of the sweeter melody.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_368">[368]</span><a href= +"#music13">No. 13,</a> in D minor, is played by only two flutes, +and is one of the softest airs I have met with.</p> + +<p><a href="#music14">No. 14,</a> is an Accra fetish hymn, sung by +one man and one woman, or more, at Christmas:</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">Afĭnaïē pweë,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">The year’s ends have met,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Gnōr woorra</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Somebody’s child</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Mŏrbee.</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Take blessing.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="nind">“Somebody’s child,” means the child of a person of +consequence, reminding us of Hidalgos, “the son of somebody,” so +applied in Spanish. Its regularity is surprising, and its +transition from G major to C major is very harmonious.</p> + +<p><a href="#music15">No. 15,</a> in G major, is a specimen of the +Kerrapee or Kerrapay music, which I have made a point of +preserving, as it appeared to me superior even to Ashantee. A young +man acknowledges a crime he had attempted to conceal:</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">Kennĕödvay nooblou adomevai,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Oh pity! the palaver is spoiled,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Noodooloo adomevai,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">It is found, it is spoiled;</div> + +<div class="line indent2">Ēnnŏblou;</div> + +<div class="line indent2">Think for me;</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Dootŏh mĕ pŏ mĕ blōh,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Elders, settle it for me,</div> + +<div class="line indent2">Adăn vō,</div> + +<div class="line indent2">I am at a loss,</div> + +<div class="line indent4">Iëe!</div> + +<div class="line indent4">Oh!</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The following is a translation of a long Ashantee song, with +little<span class="pagenum" id="Page_369">[369]</span> or no air. +The men sit together in a line on one side, with their sankos and +other instruments; and the women in a line opposite to them. +Individuals rise and advance, singing in turn.<a id= +"FNanchor_123"></a><a href="#Footnote_123" class= +"fnanchor">[123]</a></p> + +<table id="t369"> +<tr> +<td><em>1st Woman.</em> +</td> +<td>My husband likes me too much,</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>He is good to me,</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>But I cannot like him,</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>So I must listen to my lover.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><em>1st Man.</em> +</td> +<td>My wife does not please me,</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>I tire of her now;</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>So I will please myself with another,</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>Who is very handsome.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><em>2nd Woman.</em> +</td> +<td>My lover tempts me with sweet words,</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>But my husband always does me good,</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>So I must like him well,</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>And I must be true to him.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><em>2nd Man.</em> +</td> +<td>Girl you pass my wife handsome,</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>But I cannot call you wife;</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>A wife pleases her husband only,</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>But when I leave you, you go to others.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music01"> +<p class="cpmu">The oldest <span class="sc">Ashantee</span> and +<span class="sc">Warsaw Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music01.jpg"><img src='images/music01.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music02"> +<p class="cpmu">A very old <span class="sc">Ashantee +Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music02.jpg"><img src='images/music02.jpg' alt= +''></a> +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">Aganka oshoom noofa Oboibee oshoom noofa +Aganka oshoomnoofa</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Orphan cries at night <span class= +"omis">· · ·</span> cries at night Orphan cries at night</div> +</div> + +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">wekirree wekirree oimiyow wekirree +wekirree oimiyow wekirree</div> + +<div class="line indent0">sad thing sad thing I’m sorry sad thing +sad thing I’m sorry sad thing</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music03"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Warsaw Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music03.jpg"><img src='images/music03.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music04"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Ashantee Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music04.jpg"><img src='images/music04.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music05"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Fantee Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music05.jpg"><img src='images/music05.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music06"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">An Ashantee Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music06.jpg"><img src='images/music06.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music07"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">An Ashantee Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music07.jpg"><img src='images/music07.jpg' alt= +''></a> +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0"><span class="word-spaced10"> </span> +Onoompah yahpah onompah yahpah onoompah yahpah</div> + +<div class="line indent0">(Makes) Person do bad <span class= +"omis">· · · · · · · · · ·</span></div> +</div> + +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">sicca sicca onoompah yahpah onoompah +yahpah</div> + +<div class="line indent0">gold gold (makes) person do bad +<span class="omis">· · · · · · · ·</span></div> +</div> + +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">onoompah yahpah Akim sicca onoompah +yahpah.</div> + +<div class="line indent0"><span class="omis">· · · · · ·</span> +Akim gold (makes) person do bad.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music08"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Modern Fantee Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music08.jpg"><img src='images/music08.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music09"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Modern Fantee Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music09.jpg"><img src='images/music09.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music10"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Ashantee Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music10.jpg"><img src='images/music10.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music11"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Ashantee Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music11.jpg"><img src='images/music11.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music12"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">A Fantee Dirge</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music12.jpg"><img src='images/music12.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music13"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">An Ashantee Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music13.jpg"><img src='images/music13.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music14"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">An Accra fetish Hymn</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music14.jpg"><img src='images/music14.jpg' alt= +''></a> +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">Afinaiepwaëe gnorwoorra +afinaiepwaëe</div> + +<div class="line indent0">gnorwoorra gnorwoorra</div> +</div> + +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">gnorwoorra afinaiepwaëe gnorwoorra morbee +gnorwoorra</div> + +<div class="line indent0">gnorwoorra gnorwoorra morbee +gnorwoorra</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music15"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">A Kerrapee Song</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music15.jpg"><img src='images/music15.jpg' alt= +''></a> +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">Kenneovay nooblou adomevai Kenneovay +nooblou adomevai</div> + +<div class="line indent0">noodooloo adomevai ennoblou Dootoh me po +me bloh adanvo Iëe</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music16"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Fantee Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music16.jpg"><img src='images/music16.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music17"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Fantee Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music17.jpg"><img src='images/music17.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music18"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Ashantee Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music18.jpg"><img src='images/music18.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music19"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Mallowa Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music19.jpg"><img src='images/music19.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music20"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Mosee Air</span>.</p> +<a href="images/music20.jpg"><img src='images/music20.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c10"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_121"></a><a href="#FNanchor_121"><span class= +"label">[121]</span></a>“A few melodies in national music have been +found incapable of harmony; such as the two first bars of the +second part of the Irish tune called The Fair Hair’d Child.” Dr. +Crotch.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_122"></a><a href="#FNanchor_122"><span class= +"label">[122]</span></a>The power of fascination by the eyes, is +believed and dreaded in those parts of Africa as mortal, whether +exercised by the fetish priests against men, or by the cooroompun +against animals. The idea prevailed in Pliny’s time, but it was +ascribed to the voice. “In libro quodam Plinii naturalis historiæ +legi esse quasdam in terrâ Africâ familias hominum voce atque +linguâ effascinantium. Qui si impensiùs fortè laudaverint pulchras +arbores, segetes lætiores, infantes amœniores, egregios equos, +pecudes pastu, atque cultu optimas, emoriantur repentè hæc omnia.” +A cooroompun will be found amongst the specimens for the British +Museum.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_123"></a><a href="#FNanchor_123"><span class= +"label">[123]</span></a>I never heard this sung without its +recalling Horace’s beautiful little dialogue ode, (9. lib. 3) +“Donec gratus eram tibi.”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_370">[370]</span><a id= +"p2c11"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> XI.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Materia Medica and Diseases.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> report of the Materia +Medica and Botany of Ashantee, was the only one which I was not +required to furnish. It was afforded by Mr. Henry Tedlie, assistant +surgeon, whose subsequent death has mingled a regret with the +recollection of the Embassy, which the recall of my own sufferings, +and the family affliction it entailed on me, could never have +exacted. The intelligence reached me in England, to correct the +pride of success by associating misfortune with it; for the +recollection of Mr. Tedlie’s social virtues, of his enterprise and +ability, makes it a severe one to myself, and to the world. Mr. +Tedlie suffered severely from intermitting dysentery during the +Mission, but I had hoped it would have been eradicated after his +return. He had previously attended the expedition to Candy, and +expired at Cape Coast Castle in the 27th year of his age. +Throughout the Mission he indulged the feelings of the natives, in +his professional capacity, with a patience few could have exerted; +whether labouring under sickness himself, or disturbed in the +moments of a scanty rest; he awed and conciliated the people by the +importance of his cures, and thus contributed to the success of the +enterprise.</p> + +<p>“During the earlier part of our residence at Coomassie, the +season was tolerably favourable to the gathering of plants, but we +were then allowed to go out but seldom, and never beyond the +town.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_371">[371]</span> Latterly, +when better impressions succeeded, and our walks were unrestrained +by limits or attendants, the rains not only checked, but generally +disappointed my researches, by presenting the subject flowerless, +(or in an unfit state for preservation,) and consequently not +admitting their classification, as is too evident in the following +list of such plants as are used as medicines by the Ashantees.</p> + +<p>1. Cutturasuh. (<a id="FNanchor_124"></a><a href="#Footnote_124" +class="fnanchor">[124]</a><i>Chrysanthellum procumbens</i>. +<em>Persoon. syn.</em> 2. <em>p.</em> 471, <i>Verbesina mutica</i> +<em>Willd.</em>) A small plant, a decoction of which is purgative, +before boiling it should be bruised.</p> + +<p>2. Adumba, (a species of Ficus.) The bark and fruit are pounded +with Mallaguetta pepper and a small plant called awhinteywhinting, +boiled in fish soup: two doses in the third month of gestation are +said to cause abortion.</p> + +<p>3. Koofoobah (<i>Gloriosa superba</i>. <em>Linn.</em>) is +bruised with Mallaguetta pepper (lesser cardamom seeds) and applied +to the ancle or foot when sprained.</p> + +<p>4. Tandoorue (<em>perhaps a</em> <i>Cupania</i> <em>or</em> +<i>Trichilia</i>.) The bark is pounded and boiled with Mallaguetta +pepper; used for pain in the belly, and acts as a purgative.</p> + +<p>5. Bissey. (<i>Sterculia acuminata</i>. <em>Palis. de Beauvois, +Flore d’Oware</em> 1. <em>p.</em> 41. <em>tab.</em> 24.) The fruit +is constantly chewed by the Ashantees, especially on a journey; it +is said to prevent hunger and strengthen the stomach and bowels; +has a slight bitter aromatic astringent taste, and causes an +increase of the saliva while chewed.</p> + +<p>6. Attueh. (<i>Blighia sapida</i>. <em>Hort. Kew. ed.</em> 2. +<em>vol.</em> 3, <em>p.</em> 350. <i>Akeesia africana</i> +<em>Tussac Flor. des Antilles</em> 66.) A decoction of the bark is +said to be anti-venereal. The fruit is eaten.</p> + +<p>7. Ricinus Communis <em>Linn.</em> Castor oil nut tree, 30 feet +high here, and not a bush as on the coast: not used as medicine by +the natives.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_372">[372]</span>8. Apooder. +(<em>Two species of</em> <i>Leucas</i>, <em>of which one is hardly +different from</em> <i>L. Martinicensis</i> <em>Hort. Kew. ed.</em> +2. <em>vol.</em> 3, <em>p.</em> 409, <em>the other is perhaps +new.</em>) A mixture of the bruised leaves with lime juice is +applied to inflammations.</p> + +<p>9. Hooghong. (A species of Urtica) is bruised, mixed with chalk, +and drank by pregnant women to correct acidity in the stomach, +heartburn, &c.</p> + +<p>10. Accocottocotorawah. (<i>Heliotropium indicum</i>. +<em>Linn.</em>) The juice expressed from this plant is snuffed up +the nostrils in cases of severe head-ach. They also inhale the +smoke of it into the nose.</p> + +<p>11. Crowera (<i>Acalypha ciliata</i>. <em>Willd. sp. pl.</em>) +is bruised with lesser cardamom seed, and rubbed on the chest and +side when pained.</p> + +<p>12. Enminim (<em>a species of</em> <i>Vitis</i>.) A climbing +plant. The juice expressed from the leaves is dropped into the eyes +when affected with opthalmia or pain.</p> + +<p>13. Secoco. (<i>Leptanthus</i>?) A small marshy plant. Is +pounded with lime juice and rubbed on the body to cure the +crawcraws; a severe and obstinate species of itch.</p> + +<p>14. Ammo.—The juice is applied to cuts and bruises.</p> + +<p>15. Petey (<em>possibly a</em> <i>Piper</i>.) The leaves are +pounded and applied as a plaister to inflammatory swellings and +boils.</p> + +<p>16. Abromotome.—The bruised leaves are used to discuss +boils.</p> + +<p>17. Yangkompro. (<em>A syngenesious plant related to</em> +<i>Cacalia</i>.) The pounded leaves are applied to cuts and +contusions.</p> + +<p>18. Oeduema. (<i>Musanga cecropioides</i> <em>Br. See Tuckey’s +Congo, p.</em> 453.) The hairy sheath or stipule of a large +palmated leaved tree; it resembles a skin, is boiled in soup, and +used as a powerful emmenagogue.</p> + +<p>19. Semeney, (<em>probably a species of</em> <i>Aneilema</i>.) +The leaves are pounded and applied as a plaister to favour the +discharge of boils and collections of pus.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_373">[373]</span>20. Wowwah +(<em>perhaps a</em> <i>Sterculia</i>.) The inner bark of this tree +is scraped fine and mixed with Mallaguetta pepper, and drank for +colic and other pains in the belly.</p> + +<p>21. Anafranakoo.—The bruised leaves are applied to discuss boils +and other inflammatory swelling.</p> + +<p>22. Kattacaiben (<i>Leea sambucina</i>.) A decoction of the +leaves is drank every morning by pregnant women when they +experience any uneasiness in the abdomen. The bark of the tree +powdered is rubbed on chronic swellings.</p> + +<p>23. Aserumbdrue (<em>a species of</em> <i>Piper</i> <em>related +to</em> <i>umbellatum</i>.) The leaves are used in soup to allay +swellings of the belly.</p> + +<p>24. Ocisseeree.—The bark of this tree is used to stop the +purging in dysentery and diarrhoea.</p> + +<p>25. Gingang. (<i>Paullinia africana</i> <em>Br. See Tuckeys +Congo, p.</em> 427.) The bark of this tree is used internally and +externally, mixed with Mallaguetta pepper for pain in the side.</p> + +<p>26. Cudeyakoo.—A very small plant. The leaves and stalk pounded +are applied to eruptions on the head. A mixture of it with lime +juice is applied to the yaws.</p> + +<p>27. Affeuah (<em>unknown</em>) and Nuinnuerafuh (<i>Hedysari +species</i>.) A mixture of the bruised leaves of these plants with +Mallaguetta pepper, is rubbed on the body and limbs when swelled or +pained: a decoction of them, with an addition of the plant Comfany +(<i>Alternantheræ, sp.</i>) is used internally in the same +cases.</p> + +<p>28. Adummah. (<i>Paullinia africana</i>. <em>The same as +No.</em> 25.) A decoction of the bark of this tree, reduced to +powder with Mallaguetta pepper, drank once a day, stops the +discharge of blood and cures the dysentery.</p> + +<p>29. Tointinney (<em>probably a</em> <i>Menispermum</i>.) Is +chewed with Mallaguetta pepper as a cure for a cough.</p> + +<p>30. Apussey. (<em>A leguminous plant, probably allied to</em> +<i>Robinia</i>.)</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_374">[374]</span>The bark of this +tree pounded with Mallaguetta pepper is applied to the head in +cases of head-ach.</p> + +<p>31. Thuquamah.—The bark is pounded and drank in Palm wine, with +Mallaguetta pepper, for pain in the belly.</p> + +<p>32. Conkknoney, a dark purple coloured Toadstool, the size of a +hazel nut, rubbed with Mallaguetta pepper and lime juice, it purges +briskly. To stop the purging, a mess of boiled Guinea corn meal and +lime juice should be eaten.</p> + +<p>33. Suetinney.—(<i>Brillantaisia owariensis</i>. <em>Palis. de +Beauvois Flor. d’Oware</em>, 2. <em>p.</em> 68 <em>tab.</em> 100, +<em>fig.</em> 2.) A decoction of the leaves is drank for pain in +the belly.</p> + +<p>34. Soominna, (Tetandria Monogynia,) is bruised with lime juice +and used to abate cough.</p> + +<p>35. Thattha (<i>Scoparia dulcis</i>. <em>Linn.</em>)—The +expressed juice of this plant is dropped into the ears when +pained.</p> + +<p>36. Aquey (<i>Melia Azedarach</i>. <em>Linn.</em>) A decoction +of the leaves of this tree is used with Palm wine as a +corroborant.</p> + +<p>37. Dammaram (<i>Mussænda fulgens</i>. <em>nov. spec.</em>)</p> + +<p>The diseases most common in the Ashantee Country are the Lues, +Yaws, Itch, Ulcers, Scald-heads, and griping pains in the bowels. +Other diseases are occasionally met with, I should suppose in the +same proportion that they occur in civilized countries; but I do +not know to what cause to assign the prevalence and frequency of +one of the most unsightly diseases that can occur in any country: +it is an obstinate species of ulcer, or, Noli me tangere, which +destroys the nose and upper lip; it attacks women chiefly, although +men are not exempt from it; there are more than 100 women in +Coomassie who have lost the nose or upper lip from this cause +alone: it commences with a small ulcer in the alæ nasi, or upper +lip, the size of a split pea, excavated, with the edges<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_375">[375]</span> ragged and turned inwards, it +proceeds by ulcerating under the skin; the bottom of the ulcer is +uneven, covered with a foul slough, of a very disagreeable smell, +and the discharge is thin, watery, and very irritating: it seldom +cicatrices before the alæ nasi and lip are completely destroyed; +when it does cease, the skin is puckered and uneven, and has a very +disagreeable appearance; the only remedy which the natives use, is +an external application of bruised leaves; they seem to let it take +its course, without being very anxious about a cure.</p> + +<p>Framboesia, the Yaws, is a very frequent disease with the +children of the poor and slaves: before the eruption takes place +they are severely afflicted with pains in the joints, and along the +course of the muscles of the superior and inferior extremities; in +young persons, hard, round bony excrescences, the size of a walnut, +form on each side of the nose under the eyes. The Natives either +are not acquainted with a remedy for this enlargement of the bones, +or if they are, they do not put it in practice. I administered +alterative doses of calomel and antimonial powder with success, as +it stopped the enlargement of the bones and caused them to be +absorbed, and relieved the pain in the arms and legs particularly; +during the exhibition of the alterative pills, a foul ulcer on the +head got well: the natives apply a mixture of the plant Cudey-akoo, +with lime juice, to the eruption, but apparently with very little +benefit.</p> + +<p>Psora, the itch, a very severe species of which, called craw +craw, is a frequent disease, and is very contagious; it is most +commonly met with in children, few of the Dunko slaves are without +it, from their poor diet and extreme dirtiness; they do not seem to +experience much uneasiness from it, as they seldom apply any +remedy; sometimes they use a rubefaciant, made of a plant called +secoco, bruised and mixed with lime juice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_376">[376]</span>Gonorrhœa is of +rare occurrence, two cases came under my care, the patients had +never used injections, they drank decoctions of leaves and bark, +but could not tell me the plants they used; one of the ingredients, +was a small plant call Cutturasuh, of a purgative nature. The +disease is allowed to take its course by the natives, as they are +unacquainted with any method to stop it.</p> + +<p>Tinea Capitis, the scald head, is a common disease with the +poorer sort of Ashantees and slaves, arising from their neglect of +cleanliness; the applications which they use to cure it have seldom +the desired effect. They apply plaisters of pounded leaves and +charcoal, but do not wash the head. In one case, where a boy was +placed under my care, he got well in eight days, by having his head +very well washed with a brush, soap, and warm water; then a strong +infusion of tobacco, applied with a sponge, and when the head was +dry, a composition of resinous and mercurial ointment was rubbed on +it.</p> + +<p>Hydrocele occasionally occurs; they attempt to cure it by +frictions of the castor oil nut, burnt and bruised with Mallaguetta +pepper, but without any benefit. I drew off the water from one +hydrocele, but, from our want of stimulants, could not perform any +radical cure. Their applications to Inguinal hernia are equally +ineffectual. They never attempt the reduction of umbilical hernia, +although some are very large, and the disease very frequent.</p> + +<p>When a fracture of the leg or arm happens, the part is rubbed +with a soft species of grass and palm oil, and the limb bound up +with splints. “If God does not take the patient he recovers in four +months,” as they say.</p> + +<p>I have not seen a single instance of fracture in the Ashantee +country. Gun-shot wounds of the extremities, when the bone is +fractured, are generally fatal, or, where a large blood vessel +is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_377">[377]</span> wounded, as they +are unacquainted with any method of stopping the hæmorrage; in fact +they pay little attention to their wounded men; if they are not +able to travel, they are abandoned. One of the King’s criers had +his thigh dislocated at the hip joint with an anchylosis of the +knee; the limb was considerably longer than the other, and the +accident must have occurred a long time ago, as he walks very +well.</p> + +<p>During the time we remained in Coomassie, and from our first +entrance into the Ashantee country, I was every day applied to for +advice and medicines by those who were afflicted with diseases, of +which the number was great, and in the capital more especially, +from its very unhealthy situation, being entirely surrounded by an +extensive tract of swampy ground, and the natives consequently very +subject to dysentery and fever. On first entering the country I was +applied to by numbers of patients, many of them miserable objects, +from the effects of the venereal disease: to as many of those as +applied, during our halt in a town, I gave boxes of pills and +strict directions for their use, and told them if they came to +Coomassie during my residence there, I would do every thing in my +power to cure them. Many availed themselves of my offer, and +attended me on my arrival. To those who had ulcers or wounds, I +applied the proper dressings, and left with them lint, adhesive +plaister, and ointment. Most of them as a mark of their gratitude, +sent presents of fowls, fruit, palm oil, wine, &c. to me after +I had arrived in the capital. One man in Assiminia, who was nearly +in the last stage of existence from a complication of disorders, +originating from lues venerea, after I had seen him, sent every +week to Coomassie for medicines, and completely recovered. Another +in Sarrasoo who had the worst looking ulcers of the inferior +extremities, that I have ever seen, did the same, and with the same +success. A great many caboceers<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_378">[378]</span> attended me every morning with their slaves +and children affected with dropsy, crawcraws, yaws, fever, bowel +complaints, &c. and expressed the most unbounded thanks for the +medicine and advice they received.</p> + +<p>At the King’s particular request, I attended his own brother, +the heir apparent, who had oedematous feet: by the use of friction, +a roller, and an alterative course of calomel, and diuretics, he +soon recovered.</p> + +<p>The King’s uncle, heir to the crown after the brother, was +severely tormented with stricture of the urethra; he could only +pass urine, drop by drop; three weeks passing the catheter, enabled +him to make it in a full stream; when he immediately requested some +powerfully stimulating medicine to correct impotency, which it was +not in my power to grant.</p> + +<p>The captain whose office it is to drown any of the King’s family +who have offended, had an ulcer two inches long in the palate bone; +when he drank, part of the fluid passed out of his nose, and his +speech was very unintelligible; the sides of the opening were +scarified, and the granulations touched every third or fourth day +with lunar caustic until they united; he got well in one month.</p> + +<p>The only unfortunate case I attended, was our guide Quamina Bwa; +shortly after we arrived in Coomassie he was attacked with +remittent fever; by the use of febrifuge medicines, the cold bath, +bark, &c. he recovered, and was able to attend his usual duty +of waiting on us, when we visited the king; he went into the +country, and I did not see him for six weeks; at the end of that +time, he sent for me, and I found him labouring under a severe +bilious dysentery, and liver complaint. I was unable to prevent the +formation of matter in his liver; it formed a large swelling with +distinct fluctuation, and as he hesitated to have it<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_379">[379]</span> discharged by puncturing with +a trochar, it burst internally, and he died. I had one case of +cancer of the upper lip, although the disease is said rarely to +occur in that part. This case had all the marks of a true cancer; I +dressed it every day during the whole time I remained in Coomassie, +but the effect flattered and disappointed me by turns.</p> + +<p>The most importunate man for medicine, especially of an +invigorating kind, in the whole Ashantee country, was old Apokoo, +the treasurer and chief favourite. He was afflicted with inguinal +hernia: I wrote to Cape Coast for a truss, which I applied, and it +gave him immediate relief and satisfaction. He would take the most +nauseous drug with pleasure. I generally gave him bark and +peppermint water, which he regularly either sent or came for every +day, during the two last months of our residence, and earnestly +requested me to leave plenty of medicine with Mr. Hutchison, the +British resident there. Most of the chief men were very earnest in +their solicitations for me to give them stimulating medicines. I +always assured them that it was impossible, that the English never +used any, and that nothing astonished me more than that they should +ask for such things. Their answers were, “they knew that the +English had good heads and knew every thing, and must know that +too, but I did not wish to give them any.”</p> + +<p class="center space-above15 space-below1"><em>A List of the +Diseases which I have seen in the Ashantee country.</em> +</p> + +<table id="t379"> +<tr> +<td>Febris remittens</td> +<td>2 cases</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hepatitis</td> +<td>1</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dysenteria mucosa</td> +<td>6</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Colica</td> +<td>1</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Anasarca</td> +<td>3</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ascites</td> +<td>3</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Scrophula</td> +<td>many cases</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Syphilis</td> +<td>many</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Gonorrhœa</td> +<td>2</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Stricture</td> +<td>3</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cataract</td> +<td>2</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Staphyloma</td> +<td>5</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_380">[380]</span>Ectropium</td> +<td>1</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bronchocele</td> +<td>many</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cephalagia</td> +<td>many</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Odontalgia</td> +<td>10</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ulcers</td> +<td>8</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Framboesia</td> +<td>many</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Psora</td> +<td>many</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hernia inguinal</td> +<td>1</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Umbilical (hernia)</td> +<td>many</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dracunculus</td> +<td>7</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tinea capitis</td> +<td>many</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hydrocele</td> +<td>many</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cancer</td> +<td>1</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Elephantiasis</td> +<td>1</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Lepra</td> +<td>7</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c11"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_124"></a><a href="#FNanchor_124"><span class= +"label">[124]</span></a>I am indebted to Mr. Brown’s knowledge for +the names and references in the parentheses.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_381">[381]</span><a id= +"p2c12"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> XII.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Mr. Hutchison’s Diary.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">September</span> 26. After we left +the palace this morning, Apokoo invited me home to take some +refreshment. He entered into a long conversation concerning the +slave trade: he heard, he said, that an English vessel had arrived +at Cape Coast, and had brought out a letter from the King of +England to the Governor-in-Chief, ordering a renewal of the slave +trade, and asked me, if I had received any letter. I said I had +not, but if such a thing had taken place, I thought I should have +early accounts. He enquired what were the objections we had to “buy +men?” I told him what I conceived to be proper; he laughed at our +ideas, and enquired if the king of Dahomey had not sent a “book +four moons ago to Cape Coast, inviting the English to trade again, +in his kingdom.” I replied there was a message sent, but I could +not say exactly in what words, as I was at Dix Cove at the time. +“England,” he said, “was too fond of fighting, her soldiers were +the same as dropping a stone in a pond, they go farther and +farther:” at the same time he described an enlarging circle with +his hand, and shook his finger and head significantly at me. He was +anxious for me to write a “proper book” on the slave trade, many +slaves, he told me, had revolted, and joining the Buntokoo standard +were to fight against them; there were too many slaves in the +country, (an opinion I tacitly acquiesced in), and they wanted to +get rid of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_382">[382]</span> some of +them. There might be a deal of trouble from them; he alone had one +slave, who had 1000 followers at arms, and he might trouble them as +Cudjo Cooma did, who was a slave of his when he revolted, and whose +adherents alone were 10,000, independent of runaways, &c.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon the King sent me a ceremonious message, with +his compliments, saying he would be glad if I attended him in his +customs, &c. when he should sit in public. I replied that I +would be happy to do so, as it was the King’s wish, except when +human sacrifices were offered, but then it would be contrary to my +inclinations, my religion, and my instructions.</p> + +<p>Shortly after I was told the King was in the market-place +drinking palm wine. I went for the first time and took my seat on +his left. The King made me a present of a pot of wine, as did +several of his chiefs. When he drank, the whole of the music +played, while the executioners, holding their swords with their +right hands, covered their noses with their left, whilst they sung +his victories and titles. About half a dozen small boys stood +behind his chair, and finished the whole with a fetish hymn. The +King enquired how many servants I had, and several questions of the +same kind. After sitting about half an hour the assembly broke up, +the King rising first, which is the signal to retire.</p> + +<p>Since the mission departed I have not been annoyed by any boys +calling after me. After seeing Messrs. Bowdich and Tedlie through +the town, on their going away, as I returned home the crowds +thanked me as I passed, for staying. I suppose they hardly +imagined, when it came to the last, that I would do so: indeed when +I returned to my lodgings I found them solitary enough; and, in the +night time, three men found their way into the house; one of my +servants awakening, shouted out; I struck at one of them with my +sword, but missed him: in the morning it<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_383">[383]</span> was discovered that he had succeeded in +stealing nearly half a sheep, a quantity of kankey belonging to the +boys, and a table knife. I am not sanguine enough to imagine I +shall be long allowed to take my walks unmolested; when the novelty +of my remaining alone passes away, they will return to their old +insolencies.</p> + +<p>Monday 29. Paid Apokoo a visit, and dashed him a razor. Several +people were there talking palavers, and wishing him to interest the +King for them; among others, an old captain complained heavily of +Quamina Bwa, our guide, but since dead, who he said had stolen a +slave from him and sold him during the Fantee war; he had +unavailingly applied to the family, he therefore wished it to be +brought before the King.</p> + +<p>Apokoo complained of head-ach, and one of his women brought a +decoction of herbs, which she poured into a hollow piece of wood +with two tubes, these were inserted in the nostrils, and the liquor +poured in, while the head was held back, and afterwards spit out by +the mouth; I have seen the same poured into the ear for a like +complaint. He wished me to try a little of it; I of course declined +it. He called one of his daughter’s, and wished me to consaw, or +espouse her; I told him she was too young; he said that was +nothing, as he would keep her for me: he added, the Ashantee custom +was, if a great man’s wife with child took another man’s fancy, he +consawed the child in the womb, and if born a girl, when she grew +up she became his wife; if a boy, it was his to serve and attend on +him, and he took care of it. Four ounces of gold it generally cost +to consaw a girl. I said he was a rich man; “true,” he replied, +“but it sometimes costs eight or ten ounces, sometimes only two.” +Observing a bow and arrows standing in the room, I began to amuse +myself with shooting them; he told me these were only for play, but +when they went to fight, they tipped them with iron, and put a +deadly poison on it, which caused almost instant<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_384">[384]</span> death; the poison is made from +vegetables boiled in a large pot, and the arrows steeped in it. He +shewed me the marks of two arrow wounds which he received in +battle. He then began to consult his fetish, by a quantity of +strings, with various ornaments on one end to denote their good or +evil qualities; these were mixed promiscuously together, and taking +them in his right hand, he put them behind his back, and drew out +one with his left; this was repeated about 20 times. A wicker +basket was then brought on a small stool covered with a silk cloth, +in it were two lumps like pincushions, made of eggs, palm oil, +&c.: he then turned up the bottom of his stool, and making +three holes in it with something like a cobler’s awl, he drove in +three pegs with a stone, muttering to himself all the time, and +waving each string round his right ear; an egg was then brought in +broken at one end, and placed alternately on the lumps in the +basket, and crushed on the stool where the pegs were put in: this +he did every morning before he went out, to keep him out of bad +palavers through the day.</p> + +<p>Tuesday 30. This morning Apokoo invited me to take a share of +his umbrella, and attend the King, who went to finish his +ablutions. We walked along through an immense crowd; the streets +were lined with the chiefs and their respective suites. We went +down to the place where the King washes; a low platform was erected +where the stools were laid on their sides. The linguists and +officers of the household stood on one side holding gold rods and +canes, the fetishmen formed a crescent to the north side. The King +performed the ceremony of laving the water over himself, sprinkling +the various articles the same as on Saturday, and the procession +concluded as before.</p> + +<p>On walking back Apokoo wished to try on one of my gloves, and as +usual put it on the wrong hand; his gold castanets pinched him when +the glove was on, which made him shout out rather<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_385">[385]</span> lustily, and stop short, I +called out “you stop the King;” “never mind,” said he, and his +attendants pulled to get the glove off. The King sent to know what +occasioned the stoppage, Apokoo held up his hand compressed, +exclaiming, “<em>Gamphnee</em>,” (it hurts me,) and stopped till it +was got off.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon I called on Odumata, who said he was angry that +I had not called before. I told him I came to thank him for +allowing a slave boy he has, to do any thing for me; he said I +might have him so as I fed him, I replied I would do so. He entered +into conversation concerning the power of England over other +nations, and the danger of going to sea; he had lived three years +at Apollonia when a young man, and had seen many Portuguese, but +did not like them, “as they were all wenches!” He seemed pleased +that I did not like them either. He wished me to purchase a horse +from him for eight ounces, I said I would give him four.“ “I must +not want one, or I would not offer him so,” was his reply. I said +that I had no place to ride it in, the country being all bush, and +the King did not like me to go very far; he replied, they were soon +going to fight, and, as I should go with them, it would be better +for me to have a horse to ride than to walk. I answered, I should +lay hold of some wild boar and gallop it; this observation struck +him with astonishment, and stroking down his beard, he asked my +servant if he thought I could do so, who replied, if I took it in +my head I certainly would. Odumata said the people would think the +devil was come among them. This he told me is the last day of the +year, according to their calculation, but from what reason I do not +know. In the Sarem countries, he told me, they work iron from the +stone, and silver, gold, &c. into trinkets, better than in +Ashantee. I enquired why they did not make iron here, as they have +plenty of ore; his reply was truly African; “why should they do so, +when they had plenty of gold to buy it,<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_386">[386]</span> and could get it so near.” I told him of +England’s resources from her own manufactories; he said it was not +good for white men to know so much; if black men knew those things +they would all run to England. When I got home I sent him a present +of a razor, he sent two messengers to thank me, such is their +fashion; and for even the smallest article they return thanks the +next day. Odumata enquired why I did not get drunk sometimes, and +come to see him then, I told him, were I to get drunk in Ashantee, +I ought to have my sword broke over my head, that I had indeed got +tipsey the evening before I came away, with my friends, and might +perhaps do so when I returned, but not till then. He gave me some +palm wine, and looked amazed at my swallowing only half a tumbler +full, “he would drink three pots before he went to bed!” (about 15 +gallons.)</p> + +<p>Wednesday, October 1. The King dictated a letter to the Governor +at Cape Coast, stating, that the King of Cape Coast had broken the +law by insulting an Ashantee man, who swore, by the King of +Ashantee’s head, that if the Cape Coast King did not kill him, he +must pay 110 periguins of gold to the King. This practice, though +it savours of madness, is yet often resorted to for revenge, as it +is almost sure to end in the ruin of the other party. The Cape +Coast King had threatened, that the Governor would put the Ashantee +man in the slave hole till he died, which appeard to irritate the +King very much.</p> + +<p>The King then enquired if I had any yams at home; I told him I +had a few of his last present; he told me he would send more to the +house for me, which he did, and gave me 5½ ackies gold; then +pressed me to take some gin and water; on his being told that it +must be very little, for I was afraid of an attack of spleen and +liver, and eat little and walked much, he said that was proper.</p> + +<p>Thursday 2. Through this and the afternoon of yesterday I +felt<span class="pagenum" id="Page_387">[387]</span> very feverish, +not being able to get any sleep for the rats at night. I kept my +room all day; the King sent a pot of palm wine in the evening. Adoo +Quamina called.</p> + +<p>Friday 3. Whilst writing letters, Apokoo sent his compliments +and would be happy to see me; I went, and he said he was sorry he +had not seen me for some days. I told him I was sick the two former +days, and to-day was writing to my family how I liked Ashantee; he +hoped I would give the King a good name in England. I should tell +truth. He enquired if I would like to see his croom (village.) I +replied yes! He was going there this evening, and if no palaver +came, he would send his people for me in the morning, to carry me. +He asked if I was not for one of his daughters, that he might be +called my father. He then enquired why I did not wear my hair tied, +and let my beard grow; he recollected Colonel Torrane and Mr. White +having tails at the siege of Annamaboe, and they looked very +handsome. He requested me to show him the skin of my arm, he gazed +on it with seeming pleasure, begged I would allow him to touch it; +on receiving permission, he rubbed his hand over it, exclaiming +“<em>Papa Taffia</em>,” (very handsome) and repeated his invitation +to go to the croom. I took my leave.</p> + +<p>As I was going home I met a man white-washed, carrying a vessel +covered over with a white cloth: this I have been often told is +Tando fetish, but can learn nothing more. Music and a great crowd +went with it to Adoo Quamina’s house, at the front of which they +put it down, and sacrificed a child of Cudjoo Cooma’s, the Akim +revolter, over it, as an annual sacrifice of the King’s.</p> + +<p>Saturday 4. Apokoo sent his people for me in the morning, who +took me to his croom, about three miles S.W. of Coomassie. The road +was in good order, and newly cut on account of my going; his slaves +all turned out to see me, many of them never having +seen<span class="pagenum" id="Page_388">[388]</span> a white man +before. Apokoo came to the entrance of the croom, which is small, +to meet me, and took me into the place where he lives himself; it +is like all country houses here, a square lined with palm leaves +and thatched with grass; his own room, raised on the floor, painted +with red inchuma or ochre, and at one end of it, his couch raised +on wood with plaited palm leaves, and covered with large cotton +cushions. Near his head hung three strings of fetish, made of gold, +red earth, horn, and bone, in the shape of thigh bones, horns, jaw +bones, &c. &c. One side of the square was fitted up with a +forge and bellows to work gold; another served as a cooking place, +and the fourth for his sons to sleep in. About 11 o’clock he went +to one of the side places to eat, that he might not trouble me in +his room, as he said. Before he began, small pieces of yam were +laid on his fetish; a small table was then set before him, and +clean water poured into a brass pan, with which he washed his right +hand, and then eat with it:—they are careful not to touch victuals +with their left hand. A large pot of yams and another of fish being +boiled, he satisfied himself first; the remainder was then divided +into as many lots as there were persons to partake; when the door +was opened, and about twenty sons and daughters, with their +calabashes, received each their mess. He had given my servant two +fowls, some fish and yams, and told him to make any thing I could +eat; I told him to make a soup of the fowls. When I was eating, +Apokoo said he thought I was ashamed, and requested I would let him +put down the screen; I told him I dared not eat much through the +day, being afraid of sickness. He enquired if I wished to go to +sleep, for his couch was at my service. I declined the offer, and +he went to sleep himself. Shortly after, four of his wives came +from town with a mess for him; he was awaked to know if they were +to have admittance, as usual: he ordered them to set down the meat +and go away; they pretended to do so, but<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_389">[389]</span> sat down under one of the sheds, and began +to annoy the slaves, but their stifled laughter soon awoke Apokoo, +who stretched out his neck, and seeing them, told them in a +passion, it was because I was there that they wished to stop, and +that they had better be off; they took the hint and made their +retreat. He got up to shew me his gold ornaments, which weighed 146 +bendas (£1168.) and made his people kindle the forge fire to melt +some rock gold to make a fish; but the mould not being perfect, it +was spoiled. He enquired if ever I had been in a yam plantation; on +my replying in the negative, we went to see one; he asked if I +would allow him to ride in my hammock, I gave him leave; it was +better than his basket, he said, except that he did not like his +legs hanging down. He wished me to dig up a yam; the people brought +me a long pointed stick, which is forced into the earth to loosen +the yam, afterwards the fibres are cut with a knife. After I had +dug up ten, he hoped I would accept of them as a present; yams are +set like potatoes in Europe, they are put in the ground about +December, so that they are nine months growing to maturity. He said +he should not go to Coomassie that night, as he had to decorate his +drums with tigers skins, but that he would be in on Tuesday. If I +wished to come out and see him before that time he would send +people for me, and be glad. I said I should come out some other +time, but not so soon. I set off for Coomassie about six o’clock, +having spent a very agreeable day.</p> + +<p>About seven o’clock the King sent for me; on my going, he would +trouble me, he said, to read a book he had that day found in a +man’s possession. It proved to be a Danish note to the King for +three ounces per month, dated August 1, 1811; it seemed as if a +seal had been affixed to it, but the impression had disappeared, +and it was very much worn. The King said he never knew of it; that +an Ashantee captain had received and kept it, but he +would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_390">[390]</span> enquire about +it. His majesty wished me to drink something, I declined it; he +hoped I was not sick, I said no, but drinking made my head ach; he +hoped I would sleep sound, paid me many compliments that I cannot +repeat; enquired of my servant if I was a good master, with other +questions of the like nature.</p> + +<p>Saturday 11. The King sent for me, and on going to the palace I +found them in full council talking palavers. Adoosee was ordering a +messenger to go to Quamina Bootaqua, to make him proceed to Cape +Coast, and inform the Governor that Payntree had sworn by the King +and had broke his oath, Bootaqua having sent word to the King of +it; but they did not mention any thing to me. After this, Adoosee +informed me, that messengers have gone from Amanfoo, sent by Sam +Brue, to complain that the Cape Coast people had come armed against +him to kill him. After hearing a long statement of grievances, they +told me I must write to the Governor about it; I said I would, at +the same time I assured the King that Sam Brue was a slave trader, +and not to be tolerated at Cape Coast, his conduct was so infamous; +they then called on his messenger to know what reason Sam had to +leave Cape Coast; he entered at great length into the grievances +experienced by Brue from the Governor in Chief and officers, +because he owed eight ounces of gold; I was called in to reply, +which I said I could not condescend to do, until I heard from the +Governor in Chief, as they had sent messengers to complain to him. +Adoosee charged four messengers with what they were to tell the +Governor, making them take fetish and other formalities usual only +on great occasions, thereby giving the affair an importance it did +not merit. The King, on the breaking up of the council, said he +would send for me shortly after, to write an account of the affair +to the Governor; when I returned home, I did communicate the whole +to the Governor, as the King’s letters are so hurried.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_391">[391]</span>I heard nothing +from the King all day, but at night a Fantee man called on me, who +had been taken by the Ashantees in last year’s war, and whom I had +been trying to liberate by speaking in his behalf to the King, and +concerning four ounces of gold that had been taken. The captain +concerned in it, to get quit of the palaver, had urged one of his +wives to swear the man had lain with her; she accordingly made a +formal complaint; the man was put in irons in the bush and only +released yesterday morning as they thought to catch the King when +he had some palavers pending, which would make him angry; they +therefore brought it before the King yesterday morning, thinking he +would order the man’s head to be cut off; but he told the King that +this palaver was brought against him because I had spoken for him; +the woman was called, who insisted the man had lain with her, the +man denied it, and on being offered fetish he cheerfully took it, +and swore by the King to the contrary. The woman would not do so, +and the King ordered the irons to be taken from the man, and put on +the woman, telling her, she had not looked at the man properly, as +it must be some other person.</p> + +<p>Tuesday 14. This morning a man was beheaded at the door of the +house where I live, by Aboidwee, the house master: it appears, the +man in question was brother to a caboceer, and presumptive heir to +his property; tired of waiting so long he made fetish incantations, +and other ceremonies peculiar to them, to destroy his brother; this +coming to the brother’s ears, and also, that he had enjoyed one of +his wives five times, he complained to the King and requested he +would put the offender to death to save his own life; the King +complied, and ordered Aboidwee to put the sentence in +execution.</p> + +<p>Wednesday 15. The Adaï custom. I went as usual with flags, and +first received the usual offering of rum, and ten ackies of +gold<span class="pagenum" id="Page_392">[392]</span> instead of a +sheep. I called on Baba, the chief of the Moors, in the afternoon, +who said he would teach me Arabic if I would teach him English; I +said I would; but I am afraid he is too old for progress. I called +on Odumata in my way back, who annoyed me as usual to drink palm +wine, although it gives me a head ache. Akotoo, the King’s brother, +was there, who said he had only seen me four times since the +mission went away, and wished me to call on him. The conversation +turned on the King’s going to war, and his anxiety for me to go and +see how they killed their enemies, and he would give me gold to +feed me. I was told by a Fantee man, that Sam Brue had procured 200 +guns and a quantity of powder for the King, for slaves he had sold +to the Spaniards now on the coast.</p> + +<p>Friday 17. Deputies from the Warsaw states arrived a few days +ago, to settle the differences between them and the Ashantees. It +is thought, a fine to the King and future tribute may compromise +the matter. Odumata informed me, that the slave ship has 600 slaves +on board; and that, through Sam Brue’s exertions; he confirmed the +report of the guns and powder.</p> + +<p>Sunday 19. The heaviest rain, thunder, and lightning I ever saw, +and has continued for several days and nights. About 7 o’clock A.M. +the King’s drums announced his going to the market-place, where all +his chiefs went and were drenched with wet till 2 o’clock P.M. when +the King sent for rum and palm wine and dismissed them drunk and +dirty. On Monday the scene was continued till the slaves had got +the house covered in.</p> + +<p>Tuesday 21. Agay the linguist returned from Assin, where he had +been four months; and brought with him a number of Fantees and +their families, as slaves. During the eruption of the Fantees in +1816, many of them ran to the Assin country to try and elude the +vigilance of the King, but he heard of it, and sent<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_393">[393]</span> Agay to demand them, who, +after a long negociation, succeeded. A council was held at Abrassoo +on the Barramang road, and the slaves were sent to Barramang to +build a new croom for the King.</p> + +<p>Sunday, November 2. The King has been busy for the last twelve +days making fetish, &c. for the success of the war; the Moors +going every morning to the palace for prayer and sacrifice: to day +being Adaï custom, I went as usual, and received ten ackies of gold +and a flask of rum, the foremost in the assembly, which was +numerous.</p> + +<p>Friday 7. A serious palaver has arisen between the King and +Adoosee the chief linguist, he having taken a bribe from some +person to misrepresent a palaver to the King; this coming to the +King’s ear, he sent in a fury to Adoosee, who, on being charged +with it, thought his life would be the forfeit, and sent an express +to Apokoo to come and intercede for him; Apokoo being at his croom, +it has been several times talked before the King, but no +settlement, has taken place.</p> + +<p>Several people have been making application to me to demand them +of the King, as belonging to the forts, having been detained as +slaves during the Fantee war, and when Winnebah fort was destroyed. +They are commonly very old, and of the female sex.</p> + +<p>Saturday 8. Adoosee has got his palaver settled by paying twenty +ounces of gold, and six or eight sheep to the King; Adoosee’s +friends alleged that he ought not to pay any thing, because when +any palaver comes he settles it at once; but if he is not there, +they have to go to council, which in fact is true; but +notwithstanding his abilities, and that he takes his seat as usual, +the King looks at him with a gloomy eye. The King has been busy +making human sacrifices for the success of the war, at Bantama, +Assafoo, and Aduma, in the evenings; and the Moors make +their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_394">[394]</span> offerings of +sheep in the palace in the mornings according to the moslem ritual. +Though the zealous Christian may lament that the Gospel has not +taken place of the fetish, yet the friends of humanity will rejoice +that the King favours the Moors, as many lives have been saved that +would otherwise have been destroyed at the present crisis. To day a +bullock was offered up in the chief market-place, previous to the +entrance of the chiefs, caboceers, &c. into the town, to meet +in council, and determine on the method of conducting the war: in +the afternoon, Boitinnë Quama, King of Dwabin, sent his compliments +to me to announce his arrival. Shortly after, the various bands of +music declared the arrival of the tributaries, &c.; the King of +Ashantee took his seat in the market-place, and received their +compliments as they passed before him. About nine o’clock at night +Boitinnë, King of Dwabin paid me a private visit, and brought me a +present of two curious Gennet cats.</p> + +<p>Sunday 9. At day break the firing of guns, music, &c. +announced a custom for the husband of the King’s sister (the second +woman in the kingdom), he having died in the bush on Friday, about +7 o’clock; the King went to the market-place to make custom, and +sacrificed two men; several others were killed by various +caboceers. In the evening Apokoo and the other captains who are to +exhibit their gold, paraded the streets, firing musketry, &c.; +the crowd was great. At 8 o’clock, his majesty of Dwabin came with +the messengers he sent to Cape Coast to have a suit of clothes, he +said two trunks were at his house and he brought a sword to shew +me, which the Governor had sent.</p> + +<p>Friday 14. Before I got up, I was annoyed with a crowd of +captains who began to annoy me for liquor. I ordered them out and +desired a boy to keep the door fast. I sent a dash of wine, rum, +sugar, soap, butter, and perfumery to the king, who was +highly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_395">[395]</span> pleased. To +all the principal captains, a dash of rum, wine, and sugar, till I +had nearly expended my stock: the whole day was a continual +annoyance from visitors, troubling me for drink, but as I was +resolved to give to those only who were worthy, many of them were +disappointed. This week past Apokoo and several of the captains +have been making an exhibition of their riches; this is generally +done once in life, by those who are in favour with the King, and +think themselves free from palavers. It is done by making their +gold into various articles of dress for show. Apokoo, who sent for +me before his uproar began, shewed me his varieties, weighing +upwards of 800 bendas of the finest gold; among the articles, was a +girdle two inches broad. Gold chains for the neck, arms, legs, +&c. ornaments for the ancles of all descriptions, consisting of +manacles, with keys, bells, chairs, and padlocks. For his numerous +family of wives, children, and captains, were armlets and various +ornaments. A superb war cap of eagle’s feathers, fetishes, Moorish +charms, &c. Moorish caps, silk dresses, purses, bags, &c. +made of monkey skin. Fans, with ivory handles, made of tiger skin, +and decorated with silk. New umbrellas made in fantastical shapes, +gold swords and figures of animals, birds, beasts, and fishes of +the same metal; his drums, and various instruments of music, were +covered with tiger skin, with red belts for hanging them. Ivory +arrows and bows, covered with silk and skins, and many other +weapons of war or fancy, such as the mind in a like situation would +devise. Apokoo was anxious that I should come and see him when out, +but from the noise, I judged that they were too turbulent for me to +venture without a chance of being insulted.</p> + +<p>Saturday 15. Again annoyed by the people wishing for drink. +Apokoo called with his retinue to thank me; for the Governor had +given his people a flask of Jamaica rum. He had got three +days<span class="pagenum" id="Page_396">[396]</span> to play, as he +called it, and was sorry that he had not seen me. I told him I had +very seldom been out, except when there was no noise, as the people +were so unruly in the evening.</p> + +<p>Monday 17. In the afternoon Apokoo sent a message, saying he was +come to the door of the house to play and shew me his gold, hoping +I would come out. I went and found a Moorish carpet spread, at one +end of which I was seated under an umbrella, while Apokoo and his +wives, children, and captains danced by turns before me. Some of +his young wives were dressed with great taste, a rich silk cloth +with a bag made of fine fur, slung over the shoulder, studded with +gold ornaments: on the left shoulder they held a pistol, and in the +right hand a silver bow and arrow. During the dance, if Apokoo was +pleased with them he took the bow and hung it on some of the +ornaments, when she retired from the dance; this was a strong mark +of approbation, if I may judge from the applause that followed: to +some he gave a little gold. Several times he took from their necks +various ornaments which he placed on my knees and over my left +shoulder; this was the greatest mark of honour he could shew me; +and his band played a tune in praise of England, and of our +abilities in settling differences. Many of the captains sent him +presents of gold and rum. I gave him a large flask of wine, which +he said pleased him more than all the others, as it would shew the +people I thought him a good man.</p> + +<p>Thursday 20. The Moorish caboceer of Alphia called to day, +requesting I would allow him to bring his brother and nephew who +had arrived, as they wished to see me: on receiving my permission +he sent for them, and as they immediately made their appearance, +they must have been waiting at the door. I shewed them a compass, +sand-glass, quadrant, some phosphorus, and several other things; at +the sight of each they bent their heads to the ground,<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_397">[397]</span> exclaiming “Allahoo Akabir!” +God is great. I gave the caboceer a wax candle, piece of a perfumed +soap (which he was going to eat!) a flask of Jamaica rum, and some +sugar; things he had never seen before: he begged to be allowed to +touch my hand, and continued calling out Ah! bielane Wasieh! Ah +Nasara! Ah white visier! Ah Christian. He said he had a sister whom +he would make me a present of, if I would have her. The caboceer of +Alphia is brother to the caboceer of Premehinie, east of Ashantee, +in the Sarem region, and subject to Saï Tootoo; it is 14 days +journey to Alphia, one day to Brookoom, where the head fetish of +that country dwells, and one day more to Crumassia and Sodie, a +range of high hills.</p> + +<p>I told him I would buy his horse if he would put a reasonable +price on it, and would give him a note to get powder, rum, &c. +at the Cape: he said the Ashantees brought rum to Sarem, but they +boiled pepper in water and sold it to them; he never tasted such +good adrue (medicine) as mine.</p> + +<p>I have been learning Arabic this last month, principally from +the Shereef Abraham, who comes from Boussa, where Mungo Park was +drowned, and he, as he says, was an eye witness to it; his great +sanctity made the King of Ashantee send for him to pray and make +sacrifice for the success of the war. The other Moors here look on +him with an evil eye, because he will not wear fetishes as they do, +and be present at human sacrifice. This place now presents the +singular spectacle of a Christian and Mahometan agreeing in two +particulars, rejecting fetishes, and absenting themselves from +human sacrifices and other abominations: the rest of the people, of +whatever country they may be, when the King’s horns announce any +thing of the kind, strive who will get there first to enjoy the +agonies of the victims. The Shereef told me to-day, that the reason +he came so seldom to see me, was, that the<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_398">[398]</span> King had heard he was teaching me the +Koran, but he wished him not to do so, he did not wish me to know +how “to call on God;” but, said Abraham, I shall teach you as much +as I can, that when you go to your own country you may give the +Moors a good name, for I told the King you knew Arabic before you +saw me, and we sometimes spake together in that language. He had a +beautiful copy of the Koran which he intended to leave me, but the +King had told him he must have it, that when any trouble came he +might hold it up to God, and beg his mercy and pardon: but he would +try and get a small one for me.</p> + +<p>Saturday 22. This morning a slave belonging to the house master +swore by the King’s head that he must kill him to-day. A great +uproar ensued, while they put him in irons, and they got out the +family stools and sacrificed fowls and sheep, pouring the blood on +them to propitiate the wrath of the King from the family. The King +was then told of it, who said as that was his fetish day he could +not kill a man that day, but to-morrow he would behead him.</p> + +<p>It appears he had connection with one of his brother’s wives, +who, hearing of it, cautioned him from doing so again, or else he +would tell the King and make him kill him: he was again found with +the woman, and his brother went to the King to complain. Hearing +this, and fearing the torture, he swore by the King that he must +shoot him with eight muskets. The King on being told this, said he +would put such small shot into the muskets as only to wound him, +and then he should torture him; hereby fulfilling his own law, +which he considers sacred.</p> + +<p>Sunday 23. About 12 o’clock sent for by the King, whom I found +scolding his sister for disobedience in one of her slaves. After +sitting some time talking on indifferent subjects, the King said he +should go to council, about what he was going to say to me. Shortly +after he sent one of his sons to say his father was<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_399">[399]</span> going to eat and wash, if I +would be kind enough to return home. I heard that messengers from +Elmina had arrived the evening before, and expected to hear of some +complaint of breaking the law, as they style it: although I could +not reconcile it with an observation I had made; a pair of razors I +had presented to the King were invariably sent to me to sharpen, as +the King wished to shave with them, when any favourable affair was +to be talked, and that morning they came as usual.</p> + +<p>I was again sent for, and the King announced in a formal manner +his intention of going in person to make war on Adinkara, the King +of Buntookoo, and wished me to announce it to the Governor. I +therefore wrote a letter of the King’s dictating, stating this to +the Governor, and requesting him to give on trust 300 oz. kegs, +powder, and 300 muskets, and sending to the Governor in Chief six +periguins of gold, and to the Governor of Annamaboe four periguins, +to purchase a cloth for him, the handsomest they could find, and +inviting them to send him a dash and make the town’s people do the +same, for the prosperity of the war. His Majesty was very lavish in +his compliments of the generosity of the English, and their great +riches; he then enquired if I was willing to go to fight, I replied +certainly, if I could obtain the Governor’s permission, I should +like it very much: he thanked me very warmly. I heard, on my return +to the house, that the Dutch General had sent as a present to the +King 60 oz. kegs powder, and the Elmina people 40, which caused +this stir.</p> + +<p>Monday 24. Sent for again to write the Governor word that the +King sent down 30 men to be clothed as soldiers, if the Governor +could spare clothes, one of them to be as captain and one a +serjeant, with a flag. His Majesty also wished to have arrow root, +Port wine, sugar, candles, and a few other things for the campaign. +I was then told to write a letter to the Danish Governor in +Chief<span class="pagenum" id="Page_400">[400]</span> to the same +effect, and to ask him for payment of what was due on his note. I +foresaw this would make an uproar; and on the note being handed to +me to know what was due on it, when I told the King that nothing +was on it, he got into the greatest rage I have yet seen him in, +with the captain who receives the pay. This man had been sent down +to Accra about three months ago, to receive what pay was due, Mr. +Bowdich writing to the Danish Governor in Chief to know, for the +King’s satisfaction, what was sent. On his return, the latter +stated that the King’s note was paid up to the ensuing Christmas. +There being a great deficiency between what was stated in the +letter, and what the captain produced, he charged Mr. Bowdich with +mis-stating what was in the letter; Quashie Apaintree, the +linguist, was sworn on the King’s fetish to interpret proper; the +Ashantee still insisted, and to clear himself, said the book was +<em>not</em> paid to Christmas. The King and linguists remembered +this, and when they heard that the note was actually paid to the +end of the year, every one tried who would be loudest in their +accusations against him. Apokoo, who is his chief, was loudest +against him, he said he had used him disrespectfully, and never +gave him any of the dashes he received; besides he had given the +lie to an English officer, and at the same time he cheated the +King; he therefore left him to the mercy of his Majesty. The King +said he must return him all the gold back he had lent him; and as +for the fort at Accra, he might take the pay when he pleased. A +hat, certainly a bad one, was brought in, and the King asked me if +I thought it worth the price charged for it. I replied I was not a +judge, as such hats were not sent out for us; but if I were, I must +positively decline interfering in the King’s affairs with his +servants. By degrees the King worked himself to such a height of +passion, that throwing his cloth around him, and hastily rising, he +ordered the captain’s arrest. The King’s sons seized on him, and he +stood<span class="pagenum" id="Page_401">[401]</span> appalled, as +the silver cane fell from his hand. I once thought the King would +have committed some extravagance, none of the chiefs daring to +rise; Agay at length arose, and in his energetic manner requested +that his majesty would recollect I was present. The King ordered +his sons to go with the captain to his house, and bring him all the +gold they found; he then withdrew, but I heard him storming in his +apartments. Shortly after, Odumata’s brother came to say, that the +chiefs might thank me, as were it not for my sake, every one of +them would have been turned out of the palace by the slaves. Agay, +who was the only one who followed the King, came to apologise for +the abrupt departure of his Majesty: he hoped I would not be +offended, and requested I would go home and dine, as it was late, +and the King would send for me soon.</p> + +<p>Tuesday 25. The King sent for me to write another letter to the +Governor, saying he had sent down three pieces of rock gold as a +pawn for powder; they were the largest I have yet seen, one of them +weighing about 20 ounces. I gave his Majesty a packet of letters to +be forwarded to Cape Coast: he rallied me on the size of it, and +said he supposed I wrote the Governor and Mr. Bowdich every palaver +in town.</p> + +<p>To-day the stool of Alphia was declared in abeyance; the son of +the caboceer Premehinia having brought a complaint against the +caboceer of Alphia, who is brother to the former; his sable +highness came on a beautiful Arabian, of a very small size; at the +sound of drums and horns he danced and went through various +evolutions.</p> + +<p>Friday 28. To-day the caboceer of Alphia was deposed, and his +brother the caboceer of Premehinia had the stool attached to his +other possessions. In the afternoon whilst I was out, the Moorish +prince, with a large retinue, called to pay me a visit, I found +one<span class="pagenum" id="Page_402">[402]</span> of his +attendants sitting at the door with a gold sword, who, on receiving +permission, went and told him I was come home; shortly after he +came, and expressed great wonder at all he saw. He said I had too +many silver spoons, and modestly requested I would give him one or +two; his attendant who fanned him thought so too, as he attempted +to steal one, but one of the servants happening to pass, he threw +it under the table. I wished him to sell me his horse, but he said +he was too great a man to walk home, and the ground hurt his +feet.</p> + +<p>Sunday 30. The King paid me a long visit, he heard, he said, +that my horse had died, and had come to see me least I should think +he forgot me, but he had so much fetish to make, and so many +palavers to settle, that he had little time. The conversation then +turned on the travels of Englishmen, and the white men drowned in +the Quolla (Niger.) I explained to his Majesty the objects of the +expeditions sent from England to the interior of Africa, and +expressed how anxious I was to get Mr. Park’s books and papers for +the King of England; his Majesty promised to aid me in doing so, +and before he went away, desired me to point out to him what I +conceived the proper method.</p> + +<p>The King then began to talk about my living with him, and if I +liked to do so; he said I was like a king, and wished his people to +treat me with respect, and every one run to see me when I went out, +as they run to see him. I said that some of his people wished to +accuse me of treason for putting buckles in my shoes at the Adaï +custom. The King said that none dared do so, but those whom he +ordered, any other would have their heads cut off: but I was +different, and he knew Englishmen did what was proper. His majesty +took his leave with many expressions of personal attention, which, +whether they were sincere or not, were at least to be received with +politeness.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_403">[403]</span>Monday, December +1. One of the King’s nephews came to see me, but was terribly +afraid to pass the man in irons who swore on the King, least he +should swear that when the King killed him, he must also kill his +nephew, which would cost a deal of gold; for such is the sacredness +of the law, that in that case the King must do it. I had a key of a +door where I could privately let him out, without passing through +the courts of the house, by which he gladly made his escape. This +man has been no small annoyance, as no person of rank will venture +to call on me, least they should be brought into trouble by his +swearing on their heads.</p> + +<p>Tuesday 2. The King to-day made a present of 10 periguins of +gold to the Moors in town for their services, and they were to +divide it themselves. This created no small altercation among them; +those belonging to the town wished to keep it all, and not give the +Shereef Abraham any, who came from the banks of the Niger; as the +King had that morning told him he wished him to accompany him to +the war, he told them it was of no consequence, as he should not +accompany the King unless he was looked on with the same degree of +rank as Baba, as, indeed, he was superior from his knowledge, and +belonging to Mahomet’s family. On this they gave him three +periguins, the same that Baba had: all were then pleased with their +portion except one, called Aboo, who only had 10 ackies; he +consoled himself by making the usual exclamation, “God is great! he +never dies, he never sleeps,” and said he left the palaver in his +hands.</p> + +<p>Thursday 4. Apokoo paid me a visit to thank me for some medicine +I had given him, being sick after his great custom; he enquired if +I heard that Fantee messengers were come to this place, I said no, +but I expected them soon to take the King’s fetish, as he wished +them to do so, previous to his going to war; he then told me that +the King heard there were some on the path,<span class="pagenum" +id="Page_404">[404]</span> and could not think what their message +was; I told him they must either be those the Governor was sending +up, or Fantees with the King’s tribute; on his going away, he +requested I would let him out by the door I had the key of, as he +also was afraid of the man in irons swearing on his life, and was +glad he could avoid passing him.</p> + +<p>Friday 5. This was the coldest morning I have felt since I came +to Africa, being scarcely able to take breakfast, I was so chilly; +the thermometer stood at 65°.</p> + +<p>I was desired to write a letter to General Daendels, telling him +the King had lost his notes for the Dutch forts, and requesting him +to give new ones to Akimpon. The King’s father had conquered the +Akim chief, who held a note for Dutch Accra; he also conquered the +King of Adinkara, who had the Elmina note, both of which were given +up to him; he would not take them both in one note as the General +wished, but he must have one payable at Elmina and one at Accra. +When the King weighed out the gold for his messengers expences, he +weighed 10 ackies for me, which I hoped his Majesty would take +back, as I did not wish for them, and requested he would not think +I wished payment for writing a letter for him. My scruples were +laughed at by them all, and the King said “that white men were very +singular, as they gave gold or a good dash to any one who did any +thing for them, yet they would not take any: he wished to do +something like white men, and when any one did any thing for him he +gave them something, and he wished me to take this to shew his good +will.” Odumata, who is the greediest man in Coomassie for gold, +whispered, if I did not like it, I might send it to him when I got +home. I did not exactly understand him, or I would have offered it +to him then with pleasure, to expose his avarice.</p> + +<p>The captain who was arrested last week for peculation on +Danish<span class="pagenum" id="Page_405">[405]</span> Accra, +appeared in his place to day; he had promised Amanquateä and +Quatchie Quophie, the two chief captains, a large present if they +would settle the affair for him, which they did, and he received +the letters to proceed to the fort as usual.</p> + +<p>Apokoo having told the King of the inconvenience arising to any +chief coming to me, from the culprit in irons being in the way, he +was removed to a private part of Apokoo’s house, where he could +annoy no one, till the Adaï custom, when he is to be beheaded, as +the affair cannot be settled without.</p> + +<p>Sunday 7. Several of the Moorish caboceers came to take leave, +as they were going to-morrow to their own country previous to the +war, and were to meet the King on the road when he went, and +consequently would not see me again for some time; on my enquiring +how long the King was to be absent, they replied, God had told them +seven months would finish the war; they enquired if I should like +to see them at Cape Coast, as they should come and see me, to which +I said I should. After drinking coffee, &c. they took a hurried +leave, as one of the King’s people came to tell me one of his +Majesty’s daughters was dead, and shortly after, constant +discharges of musketry announced the custom. The King in the +afternoon came to the market place close to the house, to make +custom with his chiefs. I understood that human sacrifices were to +be offered, and walked out to avoid the uproar.</p> + +<p>On my way I paid a visit to Baba, who was performing ablution; +he said he was going to prayer, but would soon have done, I told +him I would sit down till he had finished. Cow hides were spread in +rows for the worshippers, in the front was a large hide for Baba. +All having taken off their sandals and prostrated themselves with +their faces to the east (to Mecca,) the service began by one of +them chaunting the usual call to prayer; the chorus of Allahoo +Akaber! (God is great) was well performed by the others.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_406">[406]</span>There was +something solemn and affecting in it, contrasted with the heavy +discharges of musketry and shouts of the populace in the distance, +which proclaimed the bloody sacrifice was begun, while the vultures +and crows wheeled in mazy circles expecting their usual share of +the banquet, and the sun shot his last gleams through the heavy +fogs that encircled the town.</p> + +<p>As I went home I passed the headless trunks of two female +slaves, laying neglected and exposed in the market place, that had +been sacrificed, one by the King and one by the deceased’s family. +The vultures were revelling undisturbed amidst the blood.</p> + +<p>I happened to-day to throw down a tumbler of wine and water with +my foot, having placed it on the ground, while the Moorish Shereef +was with me; he bent his head to Mecca, pronouncing “God is great!” +and told me it was my good angel who had done so, for who might +tell but there was poison in the cup to destroy me? he said man had +always two angels attending him, one on his right hand as his good +angel, and one on his left as his evil one; whatever good he did +was prompted by the former, and whatever ill by the latter one. I +have never found them without a reason for every thing, or a name, +except to the mother of Moses, whom they say nobody knows on earth; +the Shereef gravely enquired if I knew the name of Aboobaker’s +father, I assured him I did not; he told me many of the Moors could +not tell, but as he was of Mahomet’s family he knew more things, +and told me it was <em>Kahābata</em>.</p> + +<p>I heard from the Sarem Moors that they fight with bows and +arrows steeped in deadly poison, the least scratch of which is +instant death. They gather scorpions tails, snakes heads, and the +poisonous parts of any reptile that affects man; this, with several +vegetable substances which they would not name, are put in a pot, +and set over the fire at sun rise; they boil it all day and must +not eat<span class="pagenum" id="Page_407">[407]</span> or drink, +but stir it about repeating incantations, and shaking a pair of +iron castanets, without which, the charm would be incomplete. I saw +an old hag at this work on the Bantama road, who would not answer +my question as to what she was doing, but made many wry faces, and +squint looks, for me to be gone and not spoil her work, and while I +stood, she stirred, and muttered, and clattered the castanets with +greater fury.</p> + +<p>My attention being anxiously turned towards information +concerning the Niger and its course, all enquiries end in making +the Nile its continuation. An old Moor from Jennë told me, unasked, +that while he was at Askanderee (Alexandria) twenty-six years ago +he saw a fight at the mouth of the Nile between ships, and one of +them was blown up in the air with a terrible explosion. This must +have been the battle fought by Lord Nelson, although there is a +mistake in the date of seven years; he surely could not invent such +a story. He states also, that returning to Masser (Grand Cairo) the +European armies advanced to that place; the first army took every +thing they wanted and would not pay: but when the second European +and Turkish army got possession of it, they paid for whatever they +wanted. All the Moors were ordered to retire to one quarter of the +city, and not allowed to mix with the soldiers; this agrees with +Sir Robert Wilson’s account of the Egyptian campaign. I shewed him +a seal I have, of Pompey’s pillar, which he said he knew; he had +travelled from Jennë to Masser on a joma (camel) and drew me a map +of the Quolla and Nile from its source to its emptying itself into +the sea at Alexandria. There is one thing that disagrees with Mr. +Park’s account, they call the Niger Quolla at Jennë, Sansanding, +&c. and describe the Jolliba as falling into the Quolla to the +east of Timbuctoo. When I told them of the conjectures that the +great<span class="pagenum" id="Page_408">[408]</span> river of +Africa emptied itself into a large lake, they laughed at such an +idea, and reasoned so as to put wiser heads to the blush. “God,” +say they, “made all rivers to run to the sea, you say that small +rivers go there: the Quolla is the largest river in the world, and +why should it not go there also? Was it to lose itself in the lake, +where could the waters go to?” They describe the Quolla as about +five miles in breadth, and having a very rocky channel, the banks +on both sides very high and rugged; in many places, canoes often +take a day to pass a short distance, from the dangerous whirlpools, +and sudden squalls: at other places, the stream runs with great +rapidity.</p> + +<p>They think the Mediterranean sea to be circular, without mixing +with the ocean; seven rivers from Africa turn their course to it, +but only two reach the shores, of which the Nile is one. The rush +of the waters of the Nile, when they meet the sea is so great, that +the waves are driven into the air with great force, and retire like +waves against a rock. They call the Mediterranean sea Bahare Mall. +The Red sea, say they, assumes various colours at different +periods, from seven streams pouring their course into it, red, +blue, yellow, &c. Hence they call it Majumaal Bahare, or the +confluence of streams. They are very fond of mystical numbers, and +often quote seven. The lake Caudie they call Bahare Nohoo, or the +water of Noah, from the tradition that the deluge broke out from +thence. They describe it as encompassed with rocks, within which is +a bed of sand, and then the water. This we may allow to be a little +fanciful, as I have seen a map of the earth drawn by Baba, where +the world is supposed to be round, and encompassed with a rocky +girdle, the sea is supposed to flow between this and the earth, +which is placed in the centre. They are not singular in this idea; +as all rude nations form the same notions of the globe:<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_409">[409]</span> but though we reject, with +reason, their foolish notions of many things, it would be no great +sign of wisdom to refuse every information from them.</p> + +<p>Man is a reasoning animal, and enquires into the nature of +things in a rude, as well as in a civilised state; and if he cannot +give a just, will at least give a plausible reason for many +things.</p> + +<p>The Moors say “That the noise people hear, when they stop their +ears with their hands, is the rolling of the waters of libation in +paradise, where Mahomet purifies all those he saves from hell, +before they enter into the state of the blessed. It is for this +reason they perform ablution before they pray; the fire burning +other parts of their bodies, while their face, hands, feet, &c. +remained untouched, hence Mahomet when he looks for them, knows +them from Jews, Christians, &c. They have also a sentence +written on their foreheads, “Hooalie Jahanamoo naataka raboo +baskafaatee Mahomada roosoola lahee sallee allahoo alahe +wasalame.”</p> + +<p>Inoculation for the small pox is practised in the Moorish +countries; they take the matter, and puncture the patient in seven +places, both on the arms and legs. The sickness continues but a few +days, and rarely any person dies of it. It is also done in +Ashantee. Seven is their mystical number.</p> + +<p>Monday, December 8. To day the King killed a man on account of +his daughter who died yesterday, and to be out of the way, I called +on Odumata, whom I found well charged with palm wine: his usual +discourse of the greatness of the King and the manner of the +Ashantees fighting took up his time: he said that when white men +wished to fight, they sent a book to the other party, telling them +they would meet them on such a day, but the Ashantees took their +enemies by surprise, which shortened their wars. I told him he had +repeated the same story about fifty times in two +months,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_410">[410]</span> and wished +to know if the English did so at Annamaboe, where fifteen white men +killed thousands of Ashantees; this put him on the fidget, as I +knew it would, and he said that it was on him the English fired +first, and he fought them without the King’s leave, who was angry +when he heard that they had returned the fire of the fort; I told +him it was a fine excuse to cover their defeat. He enquired if I +thought they could not have taken the fort? I told him if they +could have done it they would. He said, if the King says we must do +any thing, we must do it. I asked him, if the King told them to +pull down the moon, if they could do it? He then got up from his +chair and began to manoeuvre how he and Apokoo were to have made a +breach in Annamaboe fort, to the no small enjoyment of several of +his wives, captains, and slaves, who were present; they were to +have burned the gates, and with axes to have cut through the walls. +He said they had Dutch and Danish flags, which they had taken from +forts; why, I enquired, did they not show the English trophies? +They had none, he said: and the King had told them, that were he to +kill white men from England, he might as well kill all the cocks in +the kingdom; the one told the hour, and when to rise in the +morning; the other brought them good things from England, and +learned them sense; besides, if any of their slaves did ill, they +told them they would sell them to the whites, which made them +better. I told him black men had the eyes of a thief, the paws of a +tiger, and the belly of a hog, for they were never satisfied; he +said I was right, for they were now going to war, and would take +whatever they could find; he thought 30,000 Ashantees would be +killed, but that was nothing. He then locked up his wives because I +put evil in their heads, by saying that Englishmen allowed every +one a husband. I then took my leave.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_411">[411]</span>Monday 15. Baba, +the chief of the Moors, having told me that a Moor was going to +Jennë, I took the opportunity of writing a letter to two Europeans +who reside there, and, I suppose, belonged to Mungo Park’s +expedition, seven soldiers being unaccounted for, who were in good +health when they were separated from Mr. Park. There are also two +white men at Timbuctoo, who have been there several years. The +Moors are confident that the letter will reach them, which is much +to be desired, as some information may be obtained of that +celebrated traveller. Baba came, and the old Moor with him, to whom +I delivered the letter; he received it from Baba with much +ceremony, and to induce him to forward an answer, I promised him a +suitable reward<a id="FNanchor_125"></a><a href="#Footnote_125" +class="fnanchor">[125]</a>. The whole of the Moors came in a body +with drums, muskets, horns, and all the attendant pomp of chiefs; +they had just taken leave of the King, and came to do the same to +me. Having remained about<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_412">[412]</span> half an hour, and drank some wine, they set +out for their journey with noisy clamour.</p> + +<p>Sunday 21. Apokoo called and told me he was going to morrow, +with the King, to the camp, on the Barramang path, to make fetish, +and would return on Wednesday: he seemed to expect that I would say +I would go also; but as the King had not sent to me, I did not +express any wish. A boy brought some milk covered up, and he lifted +the lid to look what it was, some of it touched his fingers, and he +sent for water, herbs, and different things to purify his fingers; +he said he would give me a present if I would give over drinking +milk: I told him if he sent me an ounce of gold daily, I would not +do it; he cursed the milk, and the boy for bringing it. Thus many +of them are so particular, they will not stay where eggs are, +another shuns a fowl, one hates beef, and many mutter a charm if +they meet a pig. The Moorish Shereef discovered a piece of pork one +day in the boy’s room, and made such a noise, that I thought one +had struck him, nor would he cease till I ordered it away.</p> + +<p>Monday 22. The King, and almost all the captains, set out early +this morning, with great bustle for the camp, many sent their +compliments previous to going.</p> + +<p>Wednesday 24. The King and all the people returned in the +evening, and went to the upper market place; where the King seeing +me at the door, ordered them to pass down the street to the palace, +the chiefs all saluting as they passed. The King, who was the only +one that did not walk, made his people halt, and held out his hand +to me, which I took, and bade him welcome to his capital; he +enquired if I was well, and after he passed, he looked round with a +smile and shook his finger at me: I suppose because I did not +follow him to the camp. His Majesty afterwards sent his +compliments, as did several of the chiefs.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_413">[413]</span>Thursday 25. +This being Christmas day, I displayed the flag, and paid every +attention to it that I possibly could; many of the chiefs hearing +of it, sent their compliments, expecting a present, but of course +were disappointed.</p> + +<p>Friday 24. Baba called, and began an oration about Sam Brue, +hinting that he should like if I could get Brue, the slave trader, +back to Cape Coast. He was my good friend, I was his friend, the +Governor was my friend, Brue was his friend, and a long genealogy +fit to puzzle a Scottish or Welch family herald. I told him no +person must interfere in such affairs. He had that morning received +from Brue, powder, guns, and cloth for slaves he had sent down; he +brought me a piece of the cloth to shew me, it was very coarse with +large red figures on it. I told him when he washed it, he would +need to take his staff and put on his sandals to hunt after the +colours; he told me he had found that out; for he had washed a +piece, and he could not tell what colour it was. He then began a +dissertation on the <em>good</em> the slave trade did them, and +what changes he had seen since he came here; he thought God +intended to change the power of white men, and give it to the +blacks and Moors. I told him he was going to make Mahomet a liar, +as the Alkoran told them that the whites were to have sovereign +dominion to the end, because of Noah’s sons’ behaviour to him when +drunk; and if God was inclined to hide his face from white men, +because of any ill they did, I did not think he would transfer it +to Africans for any good they had done; he said I was right, and +when they thought wrong the Christians could put them right. Seeing +a Prayer Book on the table, he enquired if that was “Lingeel,” the +name they give the New Testament; I replied it was the form of +worshipping God in English Churches; he wished me to read a little +of it to him, as he had heard that white men prayed to God so—and +muttered in a form, it must be allowed, too often +resorted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_414">[414]</span> to by lazy +clergymen. They conceive to worship God in any other way than +chaunting or singing is absurd. I have had more than once to sing +(if I may presume to call it so) from the psalms of David, and +chaunt the responses of the service, to convince them that there is +something more than mere muttering in prayer, were it properly +performed, besides describing the organ used in churches to assist +the harmony. They have often asked me about the high priest at +Rome, and whether or not we had any thing shaped out that we called +god. I told them the English abhorred all representations of the +Eternal, and that nothing was adequate to represent him. They are +very tenacious on this point, and as scrupulous as any Protestant +may wish, conceiving it an inexcusable crime to have any thing of +the kind. They have many times enquired if we offer any sacrifice +to God. I told them that our Scriptures do not allow the shedding +of blood of any kind; the last great expiation of the Christians +being performed by Jesus when he died on the cross, in +commemoration of which, the offering of bread and wine formed the +sacrifice. Neither did we pour out libations<a id= +"FNanchor_126"></a><a href="#Footnote_126" class= +"fnanchor">[126]</a> before drinking, because any thing poured +forth before drinking, or victuals set apart before eating, is an +offering to devils.</p> + +<p>The Shereef Abraham coming in with one or two more, I enquired +about Solomon’s Al Genii, and whether or not they knew any thing of +free masonry. I had questioned them several times before, and knew +none of them were free masons; they now told me that there was such +a sect in Arabia, and conceived them to be magicians, as they +controlled the spirits of air. They were much astonished to hear +that I was one, and eagerly enquired if I knew about Solomon’s +seal, the building of the temple, and other matters, which +universal belief endows free masons with,—matters, I +told<span class="pagenum" id="Page_415">[415]</span> them, I might +not speak of. They told me they knew we kept some of our genii on a +floating island in the sea; if any ships came near it, the genii +were instructed to laugh at them, and the island disappeared; with +other such stories. One of the boys told them I had a stuff +(phosphorus) which they supposed gave me such power; they wished to +see it, and laughed at first at the idea of any thing in water +producing fire, or that I could confine that element and dare to +keep it in a trunk; I put it to the proof, by burning a piece of +cloth, paper, and mat, and told them if they were not satisfied +they might have some on their skins, but they did not choose it, +and called out in wonder, “Houa Kahina iakul naroo malekaneran,” +“he is a magician and eats fire, he is the King of fire;” be it +remembered that this last appellation is peculiar to the devil. The +Shereef after thinking some time, enquired if that stuff was not +made from the bones of genii? I told him bones were in the +composition. He wished to know if we killed genii and took their +bones, I told him blood was never shed in England but for great +crimes; true, he said, but none could see <em>us</em> do so. I told +him there was an eye that never sleeps, at which he bent his head, +pronouncing “God is great.” The Moors then held a conversation in +Arabic, by which they settled that I must be in the secrets of +Solomon, and the Shereef Abraham related one of the Arabian tales, +by which Balkes or Bilkis, Queen of Sheba, is made out to be the +child carried away by the dog in one of the stories of that work. +Balkis, according to them, adored the sun, and Solomon made her +turn and worship God; he commanded the genii to transport her +palace from her own country to Jerusalem, and the three palaces he +built for her in Arabia Felix had gold mixed with the mortar with +which they were formed. They wished to know if I could move a +house? I told them, such was the mystery attached to our concerns, +that it was difficult to answer them; any thing<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_416">[416]</span> not concerned with masonry, I +might answer; this, they said, was what the people in their country +said. Abraham said he was sure the Arabian magicians made use of +bones from genii to make fire and control them. It would be a +curious circumstance to know that phosphorus, and inoculation, +existed in Arabia in the days of its splendour, and continue now; +as they are considered as two of the most eminent among modern +European discoveries. After they were gone, I called on Odumata, +whom I found all talk as usual. He said he knew I wished to take +some of the King’s sons to Cape Coast for education, but the +captains had represented to his Majesty, that they did not wish it. +If the King wanted gold, and they had it, they would give it him; +and were always ready when he called them, to receive his foot on +their necks, and swear to do whatever he wished them, or never to +return. The reason he gave, was, that they were afraid of being +discovered when they cheated the King, which they made no secret of +avowing, and having their heads cut off. I told him he did not like +a white man to live here then; yes, he said, they all liked that; +but he was sufficient to settle all palavers between the King and +the English, without any of the King’s people knowing English. He +began to boast of the many wives and children he had, more than +Englishmen. I told him there was a possibility of an Englishman +knowing his father; but no black man could tell his; they were all +slaves, and rendered incapable of inheriting their father’s +property; none of his children need to thank him, he neither could +give them any thing while alive, nor leave them any thing when +dead, and many of them kept wives, while their slaves enjoyed them. +He said I spoke very true, but that I could not show keys with him; +he produced two large bunches, and I offered him an ounce of gold +if he would shew me a lock for each key; he evaded this: I took +them in my hand, and found many of them broken, and<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_417">[417]</span> various articles of lead and +iron to make the bunches large; his people, and some chiefs that +were with him, enjoyed his perplexity, if I might judge from their +chuckling.</p> + +<p>Several of the King’s brother’s slaves appeared in pursuit of +two of their fellows, flogging them with whips; one of the culprits +bounding over every obstacle, threw himself at Odumata’s feet, +which saved him from their flogging; the man who had charge of him +appeared, and in a long and animated harangue, with many gestures, +stated the trouble he had had from the runaway, and concluded by +swearing, the man must be given up to him in the morning to go and +work. It is customary for slaves, when they fall under their +master’s displeasure, to take shelter in some other chief’s house, +who tries to get them excused.</p> + +<p>Saturday 27. The King sent for me, to give me letters which had +arrived; and on my opening them, two small packages of gold tumbled +out. The King asked, if they were for me or him. I enquired if he +expected gold from any one at Cape Coast, he said, no. I told him, +it was unlikely gold would be sent to any one but me. The King, +turning to his captains, said the Governor was a good man, sending +me gold whenever I asked for it, and I eat a great deal of gold. I +told him, I never wished a present of gold from any one; what I got +was my pay, as Englishmen did not give gold to one another. He +intended returning his messengers on Tuesday, as he said, two of +them having come up in English uniforms, as the Governor was to fit +out thirty at the King’s request. His Majesty wished me to taste a +bottle of tincture of rhubarb the Governor had sent him; I did so, +lest he should think there was something bad in it. I had then to +taste some tincture of cinnamon he had received some time ago; I +swallowed them with great distaste, as I had felt very unwell the +preceding day, and that<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_418">[418]</span> morning, and had taken medicine just before +the King sent, and not eaten any breakfast.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon Apokoo called; he had heard Adoo Bradie had +been on board a ship, and that 400 flags were hoisted to receive +him;<a id="FNanchor_127"></a><a href="#Footnote_127" class= +"fnanchor">[127]</a> that was the reason, he said, they did nor +wish any of the King’s people to learn to read and write, they +became white men, and saw so many fine things, they never thought +of returning to Ashantee. I told him if it was disagreeable, it +would be given over. Every one was pleased, he said, to think any +Ashantee great man was well used at Cape Coast; but it turned their +heads, not being accustomed to it. The King would give Adoo Bradie +fetish when he came back, and if he told the King lies, the fetish +would catch him, and where would be the good? The English would +have all their trouble for nothing.</p> + +<p>His Majesty, some years ago, took one of Apokoo’s daughters to +wife; she is now one of the finest women in Coomassie, and must +have been a great beauty. It was discovered by the chief eunuch +that she had intrigued with one of the attendants. It was told the +King that one of his wives had proved false; “let her die +instantly,” said he in a rage; the slave whispered him “it is +Apokoo’s child.” He rose in silence, and went to the harem, and the +culprit being sent for, the King turned his head away, while he +folded his cloth around him, and lifting the curtain to let her +pass, he exclaimed “go, you are free! your father was my +father,<a id="FNanchor_128"></a><a href="#Footnote_128" class= +"fnanchor">[128]</a> he is my friend, and for his sake, I forget +you; when you find any man good enough for you, let me know and I +will give him gold.” Her father has not allowed her to marry +again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_419">[419]</span>When any public +execution, or sacrifice, is to take place, the ivory horns of the +King proclaim at the palace door, “wow! wow! wow!” “death! death, +death, death!” and, as they cut off their heads, the bands play a +peculiar strain, till the operation is finished.</p> + +<p>The greatest human sacrifice that has been made in Coomassie +during my residence, took place on the eve of the Adaï custom early +in January. I had a mysterious intimation of it two days before, +from a quarter not to be named. My servants being ordered out of +the way, I was thus addressed, “Christian, take care and watch over +your family; the angel of death has drawn his sword, and will +strike on the neck of many Ashantees; when the drum is struck, on +Adaï eve, it will be the death signal of many. Shun the King if you +can, but fear not.” When the time came to strike the drum, I was +sitting thinking on the horrors of the approaching night, and was +rather startled at a summons to attend the King. This is the manner +he always takes to cut off any captain or person of rank; they are +sent for to talk a palaver, and the moment they enter, the slaves +lay hold of them, and pinion them, and throw them down; if they are +thought desperate characters, a knife is thrust through their mouth +to keep them from swearing the death of any other, when they are +charged with their crime, real or supposed, and put to death or +torture.</p> + +<p>Whilst I was with the King, the officers, whose duty it is to +attend at sacrifices, and are in the confidence of the King, came +in with their knives, &c. and a message was sent to one chief +to say, that the King was going to his mother’s house to talk a +palaver, and shortly after his Majesty rose, and proceeded thither, +ordering the attendants to conduct me out by another door.</p> + +<p>This sacrifice was in consequence of the King +imagining,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_420">[420]</span> that if +he washed the bones of his mother and sisters, who died while he +was on the throne, it would propitiate the fetish, and make the war +successful. Their bones, were therefore taken from their coffins, +and bathed in rum and water with great ceremony; after being wiped +with silks, they were rolled in gold dust, and wrapped in strings +of rock gold, aggry beads, and other things of the most costly +nature. Those who had done any thing to displease the King, were +then sent for in succession, and immolated as they entered, “that +their blood might water the graves.” The whole of the night, the +King’s executioners traversed the streets, and dragged every one +they found to the palace, where they were put in irons: but (which +is often the case) some one had disclosed the secret, and almost +every one had fled, and the King was disappointed of most of his +distinguished victims. Next morning being Adaï custom, which +generally brought an immense crowd to the city, every place was +silent and forlorn; nothing could be found in the market, and his +Majesty proceeded to the morning sacrifice of sheep, &c. +attended only by his confidents, and the members of his own family. +When I appeared at the usual time, he seemed pleased at my +confidence, and remarked that I observed how few captains were +present. He appeared agitated and fatigued, and sat a very short +time.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was dark, the human sacrifices were renewed, and, +during the night, the bones of the royal deceased were removed to +the sacred tomb at Bantama, to be deposited along with the remains +of those who had sat on the throne. The procession was splendid, +but not numerous, the chiefs and attendants being dressed in the +war costume, with a musket, and preceded by torches; the sacred +stools, and all the ornaments used on great occasions, were carried +with them; the victims, with their hands tied behind them, and in +chains, preceded the bones, whilst at intervals, the songs +of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_421">[421]</span> death and +victory proved their wish to begin the war. The procession returned +about three P.M. on Monday, when the King took his seat in the +market place with his small band, and “death! death! death!” was +echoed by his horns. He sat with a silver goblet of palm wine in +his hand, and when they cut off any head, imitated a dancing motion +in his chair; a little before dark, he finished his terrors for +that day, by retiring to the palace, and soon after, the chiefs +came from their concealment, and paraded the streets, rejoicing +that they had escaped death, although a few days might put them in +the same fear. I had been attacked by a violent fit of ague in the +morning, from having stood so long in the sun the day before while +with the King, it being unusually hot. I dared not send out my +people to procure any thing, least they should be murdered, and in +fact there was nothing in the market to be had: there was not even +a drop of water in the house. The sacrifice was continued till the +next Adaï custom, seventeen days.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c12"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_125"></a><a href="#FNanchor_125"><span class= +"label">[125]</span></a>“Mr. Wm. Hutchison, British Resident at +Coomassie, the capital of Ashantee, hearing there are two Europeans +at Jennë, takes the opportunity of a Moor returning to that place, +to write to them. It is earnestly requested, that some information +will be sent to Cape Coast Castle, whether or not, those, to whom +this is addressed, belonged to the expedition of Captain Mungo +Park, or by what means they reached Jennë. As no certain accounts +have reached England of the fate of that gentleman and his +companions, any particulars will be interesting; also, whether or +not the Niger is the river known here by the name of Quolla, +Joliba, or any other appellation unknown in Europe. Also, its +course, and the opinions among the natives as to its termination, +with the names of any towns or countries it may run through. It is +also reported that there are two white men at Timbuctoo: should it +be possible to render any assistance to either, it will be done +from Cape Coast Castle on accounts being received of the certainty +of their situation; and the means which may be found to make the +Europeans on the Quolla revisit their native country: in the mean +time, any information will be anxiously expected, as to the fate of +their companions; and whether they have heard of an English +expedition, lately arrived at the Niger. Two notices in English and +Arabic accompany this, offering a reward for information.</p> + +<p>December 9th.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_126"></a><a href="#FNanchor_126"><span class= +"label">[126]</span></a>I have observed some of the Moors who have +been a long time in Ashantee pour forth a little of any thing +before drinking. It may be remarked, that all the worshippers of +the fetish do this, and also set apart some of their victuals +before they eat.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_127"></a><a href="#FNanchor_127"><span class= +"label">[127]</span></a>The signals happened to be drying on board +H.M.S. Cherub, Captain Wills, then lying in the roads of Cape +Coast.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_128"></a><a href="#FNanchor_128"><span class= +"label">[128]</span></a>It will be remembered, that the present +King carried an elephant’s tail before Apokoo, until he +unexpectedly succeeded to the stool.—See <a href="#Page_295">page +295.</a></p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_422">[422]</span><a id= +"p2c13"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> XIII.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Sketch of Gaboon, and its Interior.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> River Gabon, or Gaboon, +as the English pronounce it, is placed by some, N. 30’, E. 8° 42’, +by others, on the equator and E. 9° 23’: the former longitude is +certainly the more correct; judging from three reckonings of the +vessel in which I visited it; unfortunately, I had not the +requisites for an observation. The former latitude also, is, +doubtless, the correct one of Cape Clara; for an observation, taken +as we were beating in by Round Corner, gave 23’ N.; and another, +taken about 35 miles up the river, 15’ N. From Cape Clara (which is +not ‘very high land,’) to Sandy point, being an oblique line, may +be about 25 miles, but the direct width of the mouth of the river, +cannot be more than 18. From 22 to 25 miles up the river, lay +Parrot and Konig islands, called by the natives Embenee and Dambee; +the former (on which ships have been hauled to careen) 1¾ miles in +circumference and uninhabited, the latter considerably larger, and +having a village on the hill. The natives mentioned the ruins of a +Portuguese fort there. Konig island is not more than a mile from +Rodney’s or Oweëndo point, where there is a large bight; which, +with the one opposite, within Eghirrighee point, makes the width of +the river nearly thirty miles in this part. From these points it +seems to form an inner basin, the greatest width of which, just +above Goombena creek, is about twelve miles, judging from shots; +for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_423">[423]</span> the work of the +ship being heavy whilst in the river, and the crew suffering from +the climate, (the first mate and carpenter dying,) no assistance +could be spared for a survey. There are several large creeks in the +river, Goöngway is the most so, and Goombena the second.</p> + +<p>These names, being, of themselves, as uninteresting as the list +of bearings would be, I shall reserve both the one and the other, +with the outline of the river adjusted to them, for the Portfolio +of the African Association; and also two or three sketches of the +different parts of the river, not worth publishing, but, possibly, +useful for the introduction of more accurate observers.<a id= +"FNanchor_129"></a><a href="#Footnote_129" class= +"fnanchor">[129]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_424">[424]</span>About forty-five +miles from the mouth, the river forms two arms. The one runs north +eastwards, by a point called Ohlombompole by the natives of Gaboon, +and Gongoloba by the Shekans or interior people; the entrance is +about four miles wide. The other, runs apparently S.S.E. by a point +called Quawkaw, and Quanlie by the two nations, and is about two +miles broad. It was an inconsiderate observation of Mr. Maxwell’s, +“If the Niger has a sensible outlet, I have no doubt of its proving +the Congo, knowing all the rivers between Cape Palmas and Cape +Lopez to be inadequate to the purpose.” The Volta may be thought +so, but the Lagos certainly cannot, nor the Danger, or Gaboon; and, +surely, the rivers del Rey, and Formoso are not; which are thus +noticed, within a few pages of Mr. Maxwell’s observation, by the +judicious Editor of Mr. Park’s last mission, “The Rio del Rey and +the Formoso, are stated to be of considerable size, being each of +them seven or eight miles broad at the mouth; and the supposed +Delta, estimated by the line of coast, is much larger than that of +the Ganges: consequently, the two streams, if united, must form a +river of prodigious magnitude.”</p> + +<p>There being little prospect of the ship completing her cargo +(red wood and ebony) within two months, I determined to divert such +a tædium under an insalubrious climate, by investigating and +compiling the interior geography, as far as I could from the +reports of the slaves, and traders. The most enterprising of the +latter, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_425">[425]</span> the +greatest travellers in the interior, living on board the vessel +during her loading, I conversed with them constantly, as they spoke +good English; and I went on shore twice, passing a night the latter +time, to Naängo or George’s Town, two miles up the romantic creek +of Abaäga, about forty-five miles from the mouth of the river. I +found the Governor (so his title was interpreted) a very hospitable +and intelligent native, and speaking good English. He had travelled +much in the interior, when young, was still very inquisitive for +particulars, and produced me a troop of slaves for questioning, +which furnished a native of almost every country I could hear of. I +saw two young negroes, the sons of native rulers, who spoke and +wrote French fluently. The one had been sent to that country for +education, and the other in his voyage to England for the same +purpose, was taken and carried to France, and generously educated +and maintained by the owner of the privateer.<a id= +"FNanchor_130"></a><a href="#Footnote_130" class= +"fnanchor">[130]</a> Each remained in France upwards of eight years +before they were sent back to Gaboon, and professed to be very +anxious to return to it, depicting the native habits not only as +uncongenial, but disgusting to them. The Congo hypothesis, the +primary stimulus to my enquiries, making geographical particulars +the most desirable, I will defer those on other subjects, and +submit the compilation of seven weeks investigation and inquiry +under the above advantageous circumstances.</p> + +<p>The native name of the country of Gaboon, is Empoöngwa; it dos +not extend above the branching of the river, or more than forty +miles in length; and is about thirty in breadth, including the +river, which they call Aroöngo. We will pursue the north-eastern +arm first. There is a sand-bank in the middle of the +entrance,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_426">[426]</span> and three +small islands, Soombëä, Ningahinga, and Ompoöngee, are just beyond +it, where the water becomes fresh. About two miles further, is a +larger island called Cheēndue, inhabited, and the women of which +are constantly employed in fishing for white mullet, being +abundant. They dress them with a kind of chocolate, which I shall +notice presently. Several large trees grow out of the water, one, +eminently high, is directly in the middle of the river; they are +called Intinga, or the iron tree. The eastern banks of this arm are +inhabited by the Sheekans, who, with all the nations of the +interior, are called Boolas by the Gaboons, a term synonymous with +Dunko in Ashantee. Adjoining Sheekan are the Jomays, who speak a +dialect of the same language. The Sheekans bury their dead within +the house, under their beds. The Gaboons prohibit these people from +visiting the coast, lest they should deprive them of their profits, +as the medium between the interior and shipping, whether for slaves +or manufactures.</p> + +<p>The Sheekans, like their neighbours, only reckon from 1 to 5, +conjoining these numerals afterwards, as Mr. Park has shewn the +Feloops and the Jaloffs to do.</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t426"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Ilwawtoe</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Ibba</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Bittach</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Binnay</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Bittah</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Ducoom</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Twenty</td> +<td>Eboomebba</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hundred</td> +<td>Kama</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>The source of the north-eastern arm is unknown, it probably +flows from the River Danger, called by the natives Moöhnda, which +flows very far from the interior; and, though not so wide, is +considerably deeper than the Aroöngo or Gabon. There is a creek +passing Quaw Ben’s town in the River Gabon, which runs +inland,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_427">[427]</span> within a +short distance of the Moöhnda, so that traders proceeding so far by +it, carry their canoes over the interval to that river. The Nokos, +Apooks, and Komebays, inhabit the lower space between the Rivers +Gaboon and Danger.</p> + +<p>Having pulled up the N.E. arm for two days and nights, they +land, leaving the river about one mile broad; and after two +journies, (skirting Sheekan,) reach Samashialee, the capital of the +country of Kaylee, (sometimes called Kalay,) and the residence of +the King Ohmbay. Samashialee, is described as a considerable town, +and Asāko, as the second to it; their houses are all of bamboo. The +Kaylees manufacture iron from the ore, which abounds every where in +this part of Africa; but they are very careful not to let the coast +people see them do so, as knives, spears, mats, and bamboo cloth, +are their articles of barter with them, for brass rods, cottons, +and other European commodities. I procured some of the knives and +spear heads, of their own iron. The bamboo-cloth has the appearance +of coarse brown Holland. Their mats are very fine, and much varied +in colors and patterns. It is remarkable, that the latter do not +partake at all of their own wild character, but are of that chaste, +simple outline which would be called elegant by civilized nations. +These people are cannibals, not only eating their prisoners but +their dead, whose bodies are bid for directly the breath is out of +them. A father has frequently been seen to eat his own child. Fowls +abound in their country, but they never eat them, nor will they +goats, which are equally numerous, whilst human flesh is to be had. +Salt fetches an enormous price. The people of Gaboon would be +afraid to venture amongst them, even as traders, but for their +musquets, and a strong body of Sheekans, always engaged to +accompany them. Their country is mountainous and woody. There are +people inhabiting a mountain close to the north-eastward of Kalay, +who are said to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_428">[428]</span> see +best in the night time, when they travel and work, sleeping most of +the day, because the light hurts their eyes, which are remarkably +brilliant. Ivory is plentiful. The Kaylee seems to be a dialect of +the Sheekan.</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t428a"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Woto</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Ibba</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Battach</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Binnay</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Bittan</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Duëoom</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>Northward of Kaylee, two journies, is Imbekee, adjoining the +Moöhnda or Danger. One moon distant, in the same direction, passing +through the countries, Beesoo (three journies from Imbeekee) Aösa, +and Hetan, are the larger kingdoms of Badayhee, and Oongoomo; the +King of the latter is Enjukayamoo, and the capital Mattadee, +described as a very large town. The numerals assimilate to those of +Kaylee.</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t428b"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Woötta</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Beeba</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Bittach</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Binnay</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Bitten</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>Travelling (still northward,) through the small states of +Oondamee and Bolaykee, in six journies they reach the extensive +countries of Paämway, and Shaybee, which adjoin each other; and on +their northern frontier is Bayhee, through which kingdom the River +Wola or Wole flows; the largest river they had ever seen or heard +of, and running eastward. My friend the Governor, always impressed +on me, that this was the largest river in the world, and ran, to +use his own words, “farther than any one, except God, knows, +farther than Indee; all the great rivers in this country come from +Wole.” The Moöhnda, he had always understood in the long course of +his enquiries, to flow from it; but he could not speak +so<span class="pagenum" id="Page_429">[429]</span> positively of +that, as of the junction of the Ogooawai and the Wole, as he had +himself been to a considerable distance up the Ogooawai, which, +returning to Gaboon, we shall proceed to. All the nations on this +route were said to be cannibals, the Paämways not so voraciously so +as the others, because they cultivate a breed of large dogs for +their eating; this seems the favourite meat in most parts of +Africa.</p> + +<p>Those who travel eastward, pull for a day and a half up the +right hand or south-eastern arm of the Gaboon or Aroöngo, which arm +is formed by the junction of several small streams, about sixty +miles from its confluence with the north-eastern arm. Landing about +thirty-five miles up it, two and a half journies are occupied in +travelling over an uninhabited country, described as savannah, and +called Woongawoonga; it is entirely open, and buffaloes are +numerous. Here they reach the Ogooäwai, a rapid river, frequently +as wide, and, generally, considerably deeper than the Gaboon; and +which, as we shall presently see, runs to the Congo, of itself +insignificant. One day up the Ogoöawai, is the small kingdom of +Adjoomba, consisting but of four towns. One journey beyond, on the +Ogooäwai, and north-eastward, is Gaelwa, a kingdom of more +importance, its length three journies. The King’s name is Roiela, +and the capital, a considerable town, Inkanjee: Goondemsie is +second to it. Adjoining Gaelwa is Eninga, where the river widens +considerably; this country is larger than Adjoomba, very populous, +and composed of several small governments. The river winds very +much; frequently they save time by carrying their canoes over the +peninsulas; they are also opposed by impetuous currents. Hitherto +the language is the same as the Empoöngwa or Gaboon. Twenty +journies from the frontier of Gaelwa and Eninga, through the small +state of Okota, is the kingdom of Asheera; and ten beyond it, that +of Okandee,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_430">[430]</span> the +greatest they know. The King’s name is Adoomoo, the capital +extensive, and kept particularly clean: their law forbids any +native of Okandee to be sold as a slave. None of the nations on the +Ogooäwai are cannibals. On the eastern confines of Okandee this +river is described to join or flow from the Wōla. The countries +between the Moöhnda and Ogooäwai, are called Sappalah, +Koomakaimalong, and Okaykay, and described as vast extents of +savannah. Deeha was spoken of as a large country in the +neighbourhood of the Wōla. I could not make these interior natives, +or the people of Gaboon, understand what I meant by a Moor; there +are none but pagan negroes throughout. The slaves recently arrived +viewed me with affright; they said none in their country would +believe there were white men.</p> + +<p>I could hear of no great controlling kingdom, like Ashantee, in +these parts of the interior, nor do I think any such exists +eastward of Yarriba, or other than numerous small states, as far +behind Dagwumba and its neighbours in civilization, as they are +behind Europeans. The name,<a id="FNanchor_131"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a> situation, magnitude, +and course of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_431">[431]</span> +Wōla, leave little doubt of its being the Kulla or Quolla; though I +am not clear that they said there was a country of the name of the +river, nor did I recognize the name of any of the countries I had +before heard of, as being in its neighbourhood. With those on the +northern banks of this large river they did not profess to be +acquainted, and those on the southern may be intermediate between +the Moöhnda and Ogooawai routes, which diverge from Empoöngwa, the +former northward, the latter north-eastward. Forty journies from +the Empoöngwa frontier to the Bahr Kulla agree very well with the +distance. A strong argument, in addition to the above, for the Wōla +and the Quolla being the same river, (recollecting my description +of the Paämways, and all the nations on the line of the Moöhnda, as +cannibals,) is suggested by the reperusal of the following remarks +of Mr. Horneman, and Mr. Hutchison, already quoted in <a href= +"#Page_202">page 202</a>: “The Yem Yems, cannibals, are south of +Kano, ten days,” which agrees very well with the lowered course of +the Niger, which I have been obliged to lay down. “It is to the +King of Quallowliffa that the country in which Canna, Dall, and Yum +Yum, where cannibals are, is subject.” It is true, that the +character only, and not the names of the nations visited from +Empoöngwa, can be identified with Mr. Hutchison’s Canna, Dall, and +Yum Yum; but the Moorish pronunciation, or writing of negro names, +especially those only known to them by report, is very incorrect +and capricious. To Mr. Horneman, they were called Yem Yems; to Mr. +Hutchison, Yum Yums, and sometimes Jum Jums. The names Bapoonoo, +Okobella, Banginniga, Oonbamba, and Asango, may possibly be +identified hereafter amongst the countries approximating to the +Wōla.</p> + +<p>We will return to Adjoomba, where the Ogooäwai divides itself; +the smaller arm called Assazee runs to Cape Lopez, which is in the +kingdom of Oroöngoo; the monarch, Ogoöla, from his +power<span class="pagenum" id="Page_432">[432]</span> surpassing +every other in the neighbourhood of the coast, has acquired the +name of Pass-all with the traders who speak English. Between +Oroöngoo and Adjoomba is the kingdom of Oongobai. The King’s name +is Pendanga, and the numerals are,</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t432"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Rappeek.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Ramboise.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Mittasee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Binnay.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Bittan.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Sambal.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Bittooba.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Bissamen.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Bwoi.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Deëoom.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">An intelligent native of this country had fled to +Gaboon to avoid execution.</p> + +<p>The larger arm of the Ogooäwai, flowing south-eastward, as wide +as the Gaboon, through the country of Tanyan, (the western frontier +of which is five journies from that of Adjoomba,) runs into the +Congo, (which is comparatively small before the confluence,) about +ten days pull from the mouth of that river. A very intelligent man +who acts as interpreter or trade man to the vessels which frequent +the river Gaboon, confirming this account of the slaves and +traders, I enquired into the circumstances to which he owed his +knowledge. He is the son of the principal trader in Gaboon, called +Tom Lawson, who speaks English fluently. Eight years ago, this +young man, Wondo, went from Gaboon to the Congo, in the Nimble, +Everett master. After the vessel had traded some time, as high up +in the river as she might safely venture, the captain sent him and +three or four other negroes in a boat with goods, to go up as much +higher as they could. His account was, that they<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_433">[433]</span> passed Evehelee and Cormee, +when they came to a fall of water upwards of twenty feet high. A +native, who preceded them in his canoe, directed them to enter a +small channel to the east, which, by a considerable sweep, avoided +it, but the natives, he persisted, both pulled their canoes up, and +let them down this fall, by long fibrous roots twisted into +cordage, and affixed to the large trees above; frequently, however, +the most expert were victims to their intrepidity, generally in the +descent; their canoes were made purposely in the shape of a bow. I +expressed my doubts, questioned him with seeming indifference, at +many different times, on this subject, and requested others to do +the same; his account never varied. He was naturally very cautious +in what he said, by no means given to the marvellous in recounting +his travels, but a corrector of that disposition in others. To the +last moment he persisted in this report. Just beyond this fall is +the confluence of the Ogooawai and the Congo, which takes place in +Tanyan.<a id="FNanchor_132"></a><a href="#Footnote_132" class= +"fnanchor">[132]</a> From<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_434">[434]</span> this point he described the latter as +gradually dwindling to its source, (not more than six days distant, +by Encombë and Eveheea,) so that the Congo owed its magnitude and +rapidity entirely to the Ogooawai.<a id="FNanchor_133"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a> He mentioned a chief +named Mangoff, to have been a<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_435">[435]</span> principal man in the Congo, and he sung his +boat chorus as a specimen of the language, “Malava napa, malava +mabootay, mabootay.” He said, Mangoff lived at Barrima. He spoke of +a place called Ohlobe, but I omitted to minute the particulars.</p> + +<p>The master of a Liverpool ship, laying in Gaboon river, having +visited the Congo annually for many years, I availed myself of an +opportunity of conversing with him also. He mentioned Bōma as the +principal place of trade, but he did not consider it more than +forty miles up the river; it was so called after a chief, whose son +has now succeeded him. Binda, a secondary place of trade, he +reckoned to be ninety miles from the entrance of the river, on the +north side; but there are so many arms or branches there, that it +is very difficult to distinguish the Congo itself, which he had +always understood to terminate soon afterwards.<a id= +"FNanchor_134"></a><a href="#Footnote_134" class= +"fnanchor">[134]</a> The houses he<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_436">[436]</span> described as wretched, and transportable, +so that a trader buying one for a trifle, could have it moved to +any part of the banks he pleased. Sea horse teeth were to be bought +plentifully, they buried them with their dead, dedicating them as +the Ashantees do gold, and generally sticking one erect on the +grave, as a sort of monument. He spoke very ill of them from his +own experience; they had frequently attempted to poison the water +on board his vessel. A few months back they cut off a Portuguese +vessel, destroyed the crew, and plundered her. I anxiously +anticipate the perusal of Captain Tuckey’s journal.</p> + +<p>Tom Lawson, who has as much, if not more influence than his +brother the King, says he would provide an escort headed by his son +Wondo, and guarantee the safety of any exploratory party to the +river Ogooawai, and five days up it; that is as far as Okota. Two +hundred pounds laid out in goods, I think, would defray +the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_437">[437]</span> expenses, and +presents, en passant, handsomely, and there are many opportunities +by which two officers might be sent from Cape Coast to Gaboon for +the purpose, and by way of the islands, return to it. A man of war +might convey them, and call for them, on her cruise.</p> + +<p>Kings are numerous in Gaboon, and scarcely comparable even with +the petty caboceers of Fantee. The greatest trader, or the richest +man of almost every small village assumes the title, and frequently +suffers gross indignities from his subjects, from not having the +power to punish them. The King of Naängo seems of acknowledged +superiority, and is comparatively respectable, both in means and +power; he is known to trading vessels by the name of King George. +The brother succeeds before the son. The legislative and judicial +power is vested in the Governor, controlled by the King, who may +order the death of a man; but, if he assigns no good reason, the +offensive party is generally allowed to retire elsewhere. All +children share the property of the father in equal portions, except +the eldest son, who has about half as much again as any other. If a +man kills another, he has a public trial; and, if he cannot justify +the act, which it seems he may in many instances, his own death is +inevitable. If he kills one of his wives, (his rank is designated +by the number,) he pays a fine to her family, who, and not the +husband, are involved in all her palavers. The acknowledged heir to +a property may bring a palaver against his father, or whoever may +be possessor of it, for killing a slave unjustly, or otherwise +injuring the property, and oblige him to make good the injury.</p> + +<p>A man may not look at, or converse with his mother-in-law, on +pain of a heavy, perhaps a ruinous fine; this singular law is +founded on the tradition of an incest. It is a common custom to +lend their wives to one another; if a man evades a promise of +this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_438">[438]</span> kind, the +Governor awards heavy damages to the plaintiff. If an applicant is +refused, and is detected in intrigue, the whole of his property is +forfeited to the husband of the woman, who, if it is not speedily +delivered, may kill the man, and burn his house. I heard of no law +so barbarous or disgusting, as this any where in the interior of +the Gold Coast. They assured me they never made human +sacrifices.</p> + +<p>A man of consequence never drinks before his inferiors, without +hiding his face from them, believing that at this moment only, his +enemies have the power of imposing a spell on his faculties, in +spite of the guardiance of his fetish. When a man dies, the door of +his house is kept shut seven days. The whiskers of the men, and the +side locks both of them and the women, hang down in narrow braids, +sometimes below their shoulders, the ends commonly tipped with +small beads, and the front locks are generally braided to project +like horns. The women wear a number of thick brass rings (the trade +brass rod twisted) round their legs. A woman of consequence has a +succession of them from the ancle to the knee, which announce her +approach when walking, and jingle when she dances. The female +slaves support even the heaviest burdens from a broad band or +string around the temples. Like other negroes, different families +have different fetish, some will not eat a cock, nor others a hen. +I could not discover any distinct ideas of the creation, or of a +future life. They believe implicitly in the superior fetish of +individuals from Sappalah and other countries in the interior.</p> + +<p>Tom Lawson’s ‘fetish man,’ a native of Sappalah, has so +thoroughly persuaded his master, by his address and fortuitous +circumstances in war, that no bullet can injure him, strike him +where it will, (either rebounding, or penetrating to be thrown from +the stomach at pleasure) that this old man, who has lived almost +the whole of his life in European vessels, always presses every +stranger<span class="pagenum" id="Page_439">[439]</span> to become +equally convinced by firing at him. His son bribed this man to +endue him with the same fetish, and eagerly making trial of its +virtue, received a musket ball, which fractured the small bone of +his arm. The address of the fetish man accounted for this, to the +entire satisfaction of every body, by declaring (being the most +probable crime he could guess in the emergency) that it was at that +instant revealed to him by the offended fetish, that this young man +once had a stolen intercourse with his wife at an improper season; +it was immediately confessed as a truth, and they are as obstinate +believers as ever.</p> + +<p>Naängo consists of one street, wide, regular, and clean. The +houses are very neatly constructed of bamboo, and afford a ground +floor of spacious and lofty apartments. They sleep on bedsteads +encircled with musquito curtains of bamboo cloth. The manners of +the superiors are very pleasing and hospitable, and a European may +reside amongst them, not only with safety, but with comfort and +dignity. I do not think the old and new town contain 500 +inhabitants between them. From the sickness which prevailed on +board the vessel, the climate must be very insalubrious. The +density of the atmosphere from exhalation was even more oppressive +than the heat, which was intense before the setting in of the +sea-breeze, and at all times sensibly much greater than I had +experienced on the Gold Coast, or in the interior: there was no +thermometer on board. The Empoöngwa is the softest negro language I +have ever heard, being characterized by the duplication of vowels, +separately pronounced. Their numerals are;</p> + +<table class="padded1" id="t439"> +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Hemoödee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Mban</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Ntcharoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Nahee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Nchanee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_440">[440]</span>Six</td> +<td>Oroöba</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Ragginnoömoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Ennanakee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Enogoöm</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Hegoöm</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>They do not possess a single manufacture, depending for all +their comforts and conveniences on the superior ingenuity of their +inland neighbours, and the supplies of shipping. They plant but +handfuls of corn, and rear a few goats and fowls. Cotton grows +spontaneously. They make a good black dye from the mangrove and +ebony shavings. They reduce the red wood to a very soft powder, by +breaking a soft species of stone, and sprinkling the finest +particles of it on a flat piece of red wood, which they rub +violently against another flat piece; the mixed powders are then +thrown into water, and that of the wood floating on the surface is +strained and dried. They rub children with this powder for +cutaneous eruptions.</p> + +<p>The African Ourang-outan (Pithecus Troglodites) is found here, +the one I saw was two feet and a half high, but said to be growing. +I offered a fair price for it, considering they are not rare there, +and would not give more when I heard of one being already in +England. The native name is Inchego: it had the cry, visage, and +action of a very old man, and was obedient to the voice of its +master; its agony on espying the panther on board was +inconceivable.<a id="FNanchor_135"></a><a href="#Footnote_135" +class="fnanchor">[135]</a> There is a curious variety of monkeys. +The favourite and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_441">[441]</span> +most extraordinary subject of our conversations on natural history, +(which I introduce merely to excite enquiry) was the Ingēna, +compared with an Ourang-outan, but much exceeding it in size, being +generally five feet high, and four across the shoulders; its paw +was said to be even more disproportionate than its breadth, and one +blow of it to be fatal; it is seen commonly by those who travel to +Kaylee, lurking in the bush to destroy passengers, and feeding +principally on the wild honey, which abounds. Their death is +frequently accelerated by the silliness which characterizes most of +their actions: observing men carry heavy burthens through the +forest, they tear off the largest branches from the trees, and +accumulating a weight (sometimes of elephants teeth,) +disproportionate even to their superior strength, emulously hurry +with it from one part of the woods to another, with little or no +cessation, until the fatigue, and the want of rest and nourishment, +exhausts them. Amongst other of their actions, reported without +variation by the men, women, and children of Empoöngwa and Sheekan, +is that of building a house in rude imitation of the natives, and +sleeping outside or on the roof of it; and also of carrying about +their infant dead, closely pressed to them, until they drop away in +putrefaction.<a id="FNanchor_136"></a><a href="#Footnote_136" +class="fnanchor">[136]</a> The larger birds in the creeks were +uncommon, if not unknown. Pelicans abounded.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_442">[442]</span>Chamelions were +plentifully caught, but none lived more than a month on board the +vessel, whether fed with flies, or not at all. The changes of those +I watched seemed confined to the shades between a very dark, dusky +green, and a bright yellow; when placed on any black substance they +became the former, and when any thing light approached them, they +changed to a bright green, which hue, if the substance was yellow, +was interspersed with the most brilliant spots of that colour. I +could not discern that they ever acquired a tinge of blue or red; +when at rest in their cage, their color was dark green, mottled +with still darker spots.</p> + +<p>In my rambles about the environs of Naängo, I formed some idea +of the general face of vegetation in Empoöngwa. Being the rainy +season, of course it did not possess its usual beauty. The red wood +trees abounded, with many which were new to me. The Mangroves +clothed the banks of the creeks and river, even growing some yards +from the banks in the water, and their lower branches frequently +covered with oysters. The palm wine tree was plentiful. Like most +parts of Western Africa, the woods were so covered beneath with +shrubs and plants, that they seemed impenetrable.<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_443">[443]</span> Immense runners, twisting +together, dropped from the branches like large cables, generally +covered with parasites; sometimes adhering to the parent stem, they +became themselves a tree, and at others, shooting across to the +branches of neighbouring trees, seemed to connect the forest in a +general link. The climbing plants contributed to this entanglement, +for, interlacing their tendrils amongst the trees, they enwreathed +them in the most beautiful flowers, or dropping in festoons, formed +a splendid drapery to the sober green of the canopy: amongst these +the convolvolus cairicus was conspicuous, from its extreme variety, +the flowers being not only of that beautiful lilac, so much +esteemed in England, but of the brightest blue, dark brown, pale +yellow, white, pink, buff with a purple eye, and all the shades +which an opening flower presents from budding to decay.<a id= +"FNanchor_137"></a><a href="#Footnote_137" class= +"fnanchor">[137]</a> I gathered a few specimens of the plants as I +walked along, which may be acceptable to botanists. I can only +lament that so many circumstances conspired to render my account of +them imperfect; the rainy season, my slight knowledge of botany, +and the absence of all instruments which might have enabled me to +examine the very minute flowers which frequently presented +themselves; but I am convinced many new species might be +discovered. I will submit a few which were remarkable for their +different virtues, and of which drawings or specimens are +preserved.</p> + +<p>The Cosa Cosa grew upon a tree about ten feet high, the flowers +in clusters, but rarely two fully blown at the same moment, the +corolla white, tube shaped, but cleft to the bottom, tinged at the +top with crimson and yellow; a slightly tinged glutinous petal was +fixed within<span class="pagenum" id="Page_444">[444]</span> the +corolla, and adhered firmly to it; when separated, I found the two +anthera fastened to it, without filaments, and between them laid +the style, the stigma having a small hook at the back to fasten it +between the two anthera. The juice is used for curing inflammations +of the eyes.</p> + +<p>The Endaägoo (<i>Cyperas articulatus</i>. <em>Linn.</em>) had +the appearance of a grass, the bulbous root was used as a worm +medicine.</p> + +<p>The Owallifa was not in blossom, the prickly leaf was applied to +swellings when they wished to reduce them by bleeding; flogging the +part affected, as boys frequently do their chilblains with +holly.</p> + +<p>The Edjamba (<em>a species of</em> <i>Urtica</i>) bears a +multitude of minute green flowers, the leaves wear the appearance +of nettles, and when laid on the skin produce blisters.</p> + +<p>The Eninda Aboönee (<i>Leea sambucina</i>) is an umbelliferous +plant, the infusion of which is said to correct nausea.</p> + +<p>The Oonkoolankolee (<i>Aneilema bracteolata</i>. <em>Br.</em>) +bears a very delicate lilac blossom, with only two petals, which +fly back and expose the other parts of the flower; the least breath +of air will disturb them. The natives wash their children with its +infusion, if they are backward in walking.</p> + +<p>The Econda Boomba (<i>Bidens</i>, probably a new species, but +too imperfect to be determined) is anti-venereal, as an infusion; +the flower resembles the chamomile.</p> + +<p>The Shewawono bears a spike with leaves resembling those of +Hedysarum. The decoction is said to cure rheumatism.</p> + +<p>The tobacco grows spontaneously, but I do not consider this so +strong a proof of its being indigenous to Africa, as that it grows +in Inta. The Portuguese have probably introduced it into +Gaboon.</p> + +<p>The natives here as well as elsewhere have a number of +fetish<span class="pagenum" id="Page_445">[445]</span> plants; the +most remarkable seems the Ewelly welly, (the Aserumbdrue of +Ashantee, a species of Piper related to Umbellatum) the broad leaf +of which, when rubbed on a fetish man, is said to render him +invisible.</p> + +<p>The Eroga, a favourite but violent medicine, is no doubt a +fungus, for they describe it as growing on a tree called the +Ocamboo, when decaying; they burn it first, and take as much as +would lay on a shilling.</p> + +<p>The medicine they most prize is the Neoöndoo; a small quantity +was spared to me reluctantly. Four nuts grow in a pod on a very +large tree of the hardest wood; it is purchased greedily, only +growing on the frontier of Empoöngwa, and is used successfully by +those afflicted with gravel.</p> + +<p>In killing elephants they use two poisons, both of which are the +milky juices of the stalks of plants. Inquaw indjoo (a plant +belonging to the natural order <i>Aroidea</i>, and referable to the +Linnean genus <i>Arum</i>) bears a hard white berry in a spiral +cluster. The Ygwan agwan berries are red, and in perfection at the +time that the flowers are budding. These juices are rubbed on the +muskets balls, spears, arrows, and knives, and the effect on the +elephant is described as almost instantaneous.</p> + +<p>They make bird lime from a tree called Epoowa.</p> + +<p>Besides the pine apple, the common thread of Africa, they use +that of two other plants, the Ezoönee (<i>Triumfitta elliptica</i>, +<em>Nov. Sp.</em>) and the Naängoo, an <i>Urtica</i>, or genus +nearly allied to it. The former bears a yellow flower, too minute +for my inspection. The top of the latter is surmounted by five or +six delicate flower stalks; the blossoms were exceedingly minute, +and of a lively green.</p> + +<p>The governor of the town brought me two or three very harsh +rough leaves, which he said were from the plant Egoögoo (a species +of <i>ficus</i>) not then in blossom; they are used in planing +wood,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_446">[446]</span> polishing and +cleaning various articles of household furniture, and feel like +emery paper. At the same time he gave me what they are very fond of +chewing, a delicate little mimosa, (<i>Abrus precatorius</i>. +<em>Linn.</em>) the taste of which resembles liquorice.</p> + +<p>A beautiful red pod, the blossom of which was out of season, +contains small black seeds, in taste exactly resembling the +cardamom. The natives of this place, and also of the interior, are +very fond of them. In Booroom the plant is called Booroomma, and at +Gaboon, Entoöndo.</p> + +<p>The Caoutchouc is to be met with here; the natives describe it +as the product of one tree only,<a id="FNanchor_138"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a> the olamboo; their +method of collecting it is curious. After the incision is made in +the tree, whence it oozes like a glutinous milk, they spread it +over their arms and breasts with a knife, (having first shaved +themselves, that the hair of the skin may not be torn up when it is +taken off,) in the form of a plaister. It is either rolled up in +balls to play with, or stretched over the heads of drums; they do +not seem to apply it to any other use.</p> + +<p>They make their torches from the wood (odjoo) of which they form +their canoes, the resinous parts are broken in small pieces, and +tied closely in very long leaves; the smaller end is fixed to +an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_447">[447]</span> upright stick +placed in the ground of the apartment; they afford a brilliant +light, and the resin, when burning, emits a grateful odour.</p> + +<p>The Odica, from which they make a kind of chocolate, is a very +high and large tree, bearing an acuminate shining leaf. The nuts, +which are white, are contained in a round pod with a bulb at the +end, twice as large as a man’s fist, green without, and yellow +within; the parts surrounding the nuts are squeezed into water, +which they sweeten like honey. The kernels are strung and smoke +dried, and then beat in water into large masses, having the +appearance of coarse chocolate, but the flavour of a rank gross +gravy. It might be more palatable otherwise prepared.</p> + +<p>The vegetable butter (which certainly belongs to the natural +order <i>Sapoteæ</i>) brought to the Ashantee market, is here well +known by the name of Onoöngoo: it is a large tree, and the nuts are +enclosed in a round red pod, containing from four to six: the +flower is also red, from description. My servant, a native of +Booroom, called the tree Kirrimkoon, and the butter Incoom; the +Ashantees call the latter Sarradee; in Mallowa the tree is called +Timkeëä. The nut is first boiled, and the oil or butter afterwards +expressed; in Booroom and Mallowa it is skimmed from the surface. +It tasted quite as good as fresh butter before any salt is added, +and we relished the meat fried in it exceedingly. Being the rainy +season I could neither get a sight of the flower or the pod of this +or the odica, but I procured the nuts and produce of both. The +curious may compare this butter with the specimen of the Ashantee +grease. Before I understood them to be distinct trees, I concluded +the odica and the butter both to be the produce of the cacao-nut, +but the butter answers closely to Mr. Park’s description of the +shea-tolu, though the tree did not resemble the American oak.</p> + +<p>The Kolla nut grows on one of those trees which are +supposed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_448">[448]</span> to sow +their own seed; it is round, and the size of an Orleans plum, +having a very hard shell, the kernel is white, and, after being +exposed to the sun for a few days, becomes even sweeter than a +filbert. The natives frequently soak them in salt water for a few +weeks, and relish the rank flavour they then acquire. They form the +principal food of the lower orders. They have a round orange +coloured fruit, called Incheema, the size varies from that of a +small cocoa nut to a large one; the capsule is very thick, and when +cut yields a milky juice; a number of hard, dark brown seeds, +surrounded by a pulp, are found within, the latter only is eaten, +and when gathered fresh from the tree, is of a very delicious +flavour, not unlike that of a green gage. If the fruit is suffered +to fall from the tree, the bruise renders it unwholesome and +unpalatable.</p> + +<p>Every dark night, Tom Lawson was sure to direct me to look in +the direction of what some foolish Europeans had persuaded him must +be a diamond mountain. It lays about three days eastward of +Empoöngwa in direct distance, but from the fear of the intervening +people, he had been obliged to visit it by a circuitous route, +which occupied seven days; he lost the pieces he procured, in a +skirmish on his return; they illuminated a great circumference. It +is considered a powerful fetish, and described as a very high +mountain. I must admit, that when there was no moon, a pale but +distinct light was invariably reflected from a mountain in that +quarter, and from no other.</p> + +<p>The red and yellow ochres brought to me, were dug in the +neighbourhood of a savannah three journies south-eastward of +Empoöngwa, where they insisted there were large pits of strata, not +only of red and yellow, but of other colours. They believe, that if +a man attempts to carry off different colours at the same time, he +is paralyzed on the spot. Gold has never been found in this part of +Africa.</p> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music21"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Empoöngwa Song.</span> +</p> +<a href="images/music21.jpg"><img src='images/music21.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music22"> +<p class="cpmu"><span class="sc">Empoöngwa Song.</span> +</p> +<a href="images/music22.jpg"><img src='images/music22.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter iw4"> +<figure id="music23"> +<p class="cpmu">Notes sung by the white Negro from Imbeekee.</p> +<a href="images/music23.jpg"><img src='images/music23.jpg' alt= +''></a> +</figure> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_449">[449]</span>The music of +Empoöngwa is, generally, very inferior to that I have before +noticed. The enchambee, their only peculiar instrument, resembles +the mandolino, but has only five strings, made from the root of the +palm tree; the neck consists of five pieces of bamboo, to which the +strings are fastened, and, slipping up and down, are easily, but +not securely tuned; it is played with both hands; the tones are +sweet, but have little power or variety. Long stories are recited +to the enchambee in the moon-light evenings, in a sort of +recitative; a favourite one, is an account of the arts by which the +Sun gained the ascendancy over the Moon, who were first made of +coeval power by their common father.</p> + +<p>No. 1, (which, I imagine, commences in F major, and ends in G +major) is an Empoöngwa air played on the enchambee. I do not know +if the inversion of words is common in their conversation as well +as in their songs. A native envies a neighbour, named Engaëlla, who +has ivory to barter with a vessel.</p> + +<table> +<tr> +<td>Amorill injanja</td> +<td>Engaëlla;</td> +<td class="tdc">impoongee</td> +<td class="tdc">m’adgillinjanja.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A brass pan he has got</td> +<td>Engaëlla;</td> +<td class="tdc">ivory,</td> +<td class="tdc">I have got none.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">Here again we find <em>me</em> answers to the +personal pronoun I.</p> + +<p>No. 2, in G major, is a song in which the men sing the air +alone, and the women join in the chorus. It is an old one, and the +subject the first appearance of a white man. One verse will be +quite enough to satisfy others and exculpate myself. At least half +a dozen followed it.</p> + +<table> +<tr> +<td class="tdc">Ma</td> +<td>bengwoo</td> +<td class="tdc">ma bengwa</td> +<td class="tdc">baïa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>A fine strange</td> +<td>thing,</td> +<td class="tdc">A fine strange thing,</td> +<td class="tdc">my mother.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<table> +<tr> +<td class="tdc">Deboonga sai</td> +<td class="tdc">camberwoona</td> +<td class="tdc">nayennee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">Like the leaf of the fat tree,<a id= +"FNanchor_139"></a><a href="#Footnote_139" class= +"fnanchor">[139]</a></td> +<td class="tdc">true I say,</td> +<td class="tdc">so it is.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<table> +<tr> +<td class="tdc">Sangwa moochoo,</td> +<td class="tdc">baïa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">I make you look to-day,</td> +<td class="tdc">my mother.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<table> +<tr> +<td class="tdc"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_450">[450]</span>Baï +yamgwan boonoo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdc">My mother fears this fetish man.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>My patience during a series of dull Empoöngwa songs, was +recompensed by the introduction of a performer, as loathsome as his +music was astonishing. It was a white negro from the interior +country of Imbeekee; his features betrayed his race, his hair was +woolly, and of a sandy colour, with thick eye brows of the same; +his eyes small, bright, and of a dark grey; the light seemed to +hurt them, and their constant quivering and rolling gave his +countenance an air of insanity, which was confirmed by the actions +of his head, and limbs, and the distortions of his mouth. His +stature was middling, and his limbs very small; his skin was +dreadfully diseased, and where it was free from sores bore the +appearance of being thrown on, it hung about him so loose and so +shrivelled; his voice was hollow, and his laugh loud, interspersed +with African howls. His harp was formed of wood, except that part +emitting the sound, which was covered with goat skin, perforated at +the bottom. The bow to which the eight strings were fixed, was +considerably curved, and there was no upright; the figure head, +which was well carved, was placed at the top of the body, the +strings were twisted round long pegs, which easily turned when they +wanted tuning, and, being made of the fibrous roots of palm wine +tree, were very tough and not apt to slip. The tone was full, +harmonious, and deep. He sat on a low stool, and supporting his +harp on his knee and shoulder, proceeded to tune it with great +nicety; his hands seemed to wander amongst the strings until he +gradually formed a running accompaniment (but with little variety) +to his extraordinary vociferations. At times, one deep and hollow +note burst forth and died away; the sounds of the harp became +broken; presently he looked up, pursuing all the +actions<span class="pagenum" id="Page_451">[451]</span> of a +maniac, taking one hand from the strings, to wave it up and down, +stretching forth one leg and drawing it up again as if convulsed, +lowering the harp on to the other foot, and tossing it up and down. +Whilst the one hand continued playing, he rung forth a peal which +vibrated on the ear long after it had ceased; he was silent; the +running accompaniment served again as a prelude to a loud +recitative, uttered with the greatest volubility, and ending with +one word, with which he ascended and descended, far beyond the +extent of his harp, with the most beautiful precision. Sometimes he +became more collected, and a mournful air succeeded the recitative, +though without the least connection, and he would again burst out +with the whole force of his powerful voice in the notes of the +Hallelujah of Handel. To meet with this chorus in the wilds of +Africa, and from such a being, had an effect I can scarcely +describe, and I was lost in astonishment at the coincidence. There +could not be a stronger proof of the nature of Handel, or the +powers of the negro.</p> + +<p>I naturally enquired if this man was in his senses, and the +reply was, that he was always rational but when he played, when he +invariably used the same gestures, and evinced the same +incoherency. The accompanying notes were caught whilst he was +singing; to do more than set them down in their respective lengths, +was impossible, and every notation must be far inadequate.</p> + +<p>As regards the words, there was such a rhapsody of recitative, +of mournful, impetuous, and exhilarated air, wandering through the +life of man, throughout the animal and vegetable kingdom for its +subjects, without period, without connection, so transient, abrupt, +and allegorical, that the Governor of the town could translate a +line but occasionally, and I was too much possessed by the music, +and the alternate rapture and phrenzy of the performer, to minute +the half which he communicated. I can only submit the +fragments<span class="pagenum" id="Page_452">[452]</span> of a +melancholy and a descriptive part.</p> + +<p>Burst of a man led to execution,</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">Yawa yawa wo wo oh</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Yawa waï yawa</div> + +<div class="line indent0">What have I done? what have I done?</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Bewailing the loss of his mother,</p> + +<div class="linegrp-container"> +<div class="linegrp2"> +<div class="group"> +<div class="line indent0">Yawa gooba shangawelladi yaisa</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Wo na boo, &c.</div> + +<div class="line indent0">My mother dies; who’ll cry for me +now</div> + +<div class="line indent0">When I die? &c.</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Pahmbolee gwoongee yayoo, &c.</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Which path shall I seek my love?</div> + +<div class="line indent0">Hark! I know now,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">I hear her snap the dry sticks,</div> + +<div class="line indent0">To speak, to call to me.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Jiggledy jiggledy, jiggledy, too too tee too, often invaded or +broke off a mournful strain; it was said to be an imitation of the +note of a bird, described as the wood-pecker.</p> + +<p>Three Portuguese, one French, and two large Spanish ships, +visited the river for slaves during our stay, and the master of a +Liverpool vessel assured me that he had fallen in with 22 between +Gaboon and the Congo. Their grand rendezvous is Mayumba. The +Portuguese of St. Thomas’s and Prince’s islands send small schooner +boats to Gaboon for slaves, which are kept after they are +transported this short distance, until the coast is clear for +shipping them to America. A third large Spanish ship, well armed, +entered the river the night before we quitted it, and hurried our +exit, for one of that character was committing piracy in the +neighbouring rivers. Having suffered from falling into their hands +before, I felicitated myself on the escape. We were afterwards +chased and boarded by a Spanish armed schooner, with three hundred +slaves on board; they only desired provisions.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c13"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_129"></a><a href="#FNanchor_129"><span class= +"label">[129]</span></a>I believe no instructions for entering the +River Gabon are in print, the following were compiled from the +log-book of the Lord Mulgrave, which has been laden in the river +the three successive years she has been chartered as a store-ship +by the African Committee, and beat into it this time. When standing +for the river, from the southward, it is best to give Round Corner +a good birth, as a shoal or sand-bank runs off between that and +Sandy point, and also in case of being becalmed, as the ground is +foul and bad for anchoring. A channel goes in by Sandy point, but +it is rarely used but by small vessels. Leave Round Corner about +three leagues, and stand over for Cape Clara until you have the +river well open, then steer for a bluff point about two miles +inside of the Cape, where you will find from eight to ten fathom +water. You may stand in, till you are about two miles from the +above point, and then steer up the river, keeping the north shore +aboard, and steering for the highest land you see, which lies above +Quaw Ben’s town. In mid-channel, you will find nine fathoms, until +you bring Sandy point on a line with Cape Clara bearing S.S.E. You +are then in the narrowest part of the channel, which is not more +than two or three miles wide, and your greatest soundings will be +six fathoms. When you are well inside these bearings you may haul +off from the shore at your leisure, and steer for Parrot Island. +When athwart of Quaw Ben’s town, and about five miles off shore, +you will find twelve and thirteen fathoms. In standing up from Quaw +Ben’s, give Prince Glass’s town a good birth, as a shoal runs off +to some distance, your soundings will be from seven to nine +fathoms; you may anchor on any part of the north side, without +danger. Between Konig and Parrot Islands, is very good anchorage in +seven fathoms, and a soft, muddy, bottom; thence to Abraham’s town, +you will have from seven to four fathoms at low water; and small +vessels may go a considerable way up the river, for there are three +fathoms at Naängoo or George-Town creek, about forty-five miles up +the river. If you are turning into the river, when you are within +the Cape, stand no further off than into five fathoms, for as you +close the middle ground, the soundings are very irregular; you may +have five fathoms; and, before the next cast, the ship may be +ashore. The widest part of the channel, is not more than about 5½ +miles, until you are nearly athwart of Quaw Ben’s town, when you +may stand over to the south side, as you are then inside the bank. +There is a very good watering-place at Rodney’s point. Ships +unacquainted, may anchor off the Cape and wait for the sea breeze, +which generally sets in before noon.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_130"></a><a href="#FNanchor_130"><span class= +"label">[130]</span></a>I am sorry to say those whom their parents +have been persuaded to entrust to English vessels for the same +purpose, have invariably been sold as slaves, in violation of every +assurance; an infamy of which the French have never been guilty in +a single instance.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_131"></a><a href="#FNanchor_131"><span class= +"label">[131]</span></a>Wōla is probably the Empoöngwa corruption +of the original name Quolla or Kulla, for, presuming that name to +be given to it in the Mallowa or Houssa country,<a id= +"FNanchor_a-131"></a><a href="#Footnote_a-131" class= +"fnanchor">[a]</a> to denote its being a branch or arm of the great +river, dividing into it and the Gambaroo after leaving the lake +Dibbir, (Kulla being <em>child</em> in the Mallowa,) it doubtless +retains the same name in the country known at Gaboon; not only +because Mr. Brown first reported the river Kulla (<em>Bahr +Kulla</em>) and the kingdom (<em>Dar Kulla</em>) to be situated +thereabouts, but because from the following observation of Mr. +Hutchison’s, received since I wrote my geographical chapter, it +appears, that the language of the kingdom which bears the name of +the river, is at least a dialect of the Mallowa language. “I send +you the numerals of Quolla liffa, as given me by the servant boy I +have got lately, who comes from that country, which is near the +cannibals:” see <a href="#Page_505">Appendix,</a> Language.</p> +</div> + +<div class="subft"> +<p><a id="Footnote_a-131"></a><a href= +"#FNanchor_a-131"><span class="label">[a]</span></a>The Jennë Moors +however called it Quolla, which inclined me at first to derive its +name from <em>Killi</em>, the numeral <em>one</em> in the Bambarra, +as if to denote it the first or greatest river; as Yahndi, the name +of the capital of Dagwumba, implies its pre-eminence; +<em>Yahndi</em> being <em>one</em> in the language of the +country.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_132"></a><a href="#FNanchor_132"><span class= +"label">[132]</span></a>“The information received here (at +Mavoonda) of the upward course of the river, was more distinct than +any we have yet had; all the persons we spoke to agreeing that +after ten days in a canoe, we should come to a large sandy island, +which makes <em>two channels, one to the north west, and the other +to the north east; that in the latter there is a fall, but that +canoes are easily got above it</em>; that twenty days above the +island, the river issues by many small streams from a great marsh +or lake of mud.” Captain Tuckey’s Narrative. In a map, “Regna Congo +et Angola,” in Dapper’s Description de l’Afrique, 1686, a large arm +is laid down, about two hundred and fifty miles up the Zaire, +running to or coming from the north-east. As this book is scarcely +known, there being but one copy in England, it may be interesting +to the reader to see a description of the Congo and its source, +according to the geographical opinions, a century and a half ago, +for 1686 is the date of the translation from the German. Refer +first to my copy of a part of one of the many maps in Dapper’s +work, <a href="#map2">p. 211.</a> Au midi de cette riviere (Niger) +est le Zaire, ou la grande riviere de Congo qui prend sa source de +trois lacs, au sentiment de Pigaser. Le premier se nomme Zambre +d’où procede le Nil, le second Zaire d’où sortent les rivieres de +Lelunde et de Coanze, et le troisiême est un lac formé par le Nil. +Mais le principal est le Zambre qui est comme le centre d’où les +fleuves de nord le Nil, au levant Cuama et Coavo, au midi Zeila et +Manice ou Manhessen, et au couchant la riviere de Zaire, qui par +divers bras arrose toute la partie occidentale de l’Afrique, situé +au delà de la ligne, les royaumes de Congo, d’Angola, de +Monomatapa, de Matamam, de Bagamadiri et d’Agasymba jusqu’au cap de +bonne-esperance; pendant que le Nil, Cuama, Coavo, Zeila, et Manice +traversent l’Abyssinie et tous les pais qui sont entre la mer-Rouge +et Cuama. L’embouchure de Zaire est à cinq degrez quarante minutes +de latitude Meridionale. Elle a trois milles de large et se +décharge dans l’ocean avec tant d’impetuosité, que l’impression +qu’elle donne à la marée, dont elle rend le cours ouëst-nord-ouëst +et nord-ouëst au nord se ressent en pleine mer, à douze milles de +la côte. Quand on a perdu la terre de vue, on découvre une eau +noire, de la verdure, des cannes et des roseaux qui ressemblent à +de petites îles, et que la violence de la marée entraine après soi +du haut des ecœuils. De sorte qu’à moins d’un vent d’arrière il est +fort difficile de resister au courant et d’aller jetter l’ancre +dans la rade de Cabo Padron. On ne sauroit remonter ce fleuve plus +de vint ou vint cinq lieues au-dessus de son embouchure, à cause +des cascades qui sont au milieu de son lit et qui s’élancent du +haut des rochers avec tant de bruit qu’on l’entend à deux ou trois +lieues de là. Plusieurs ruisseaux se déchargent ou sortent de ce +fleuve et arrosent le pais: ce qui est fort commode pour les +marchands et les habitans qui peuvent aller commodément d’un +village à l’autre sur des canots. Les peuples qui demeurent le long +de ces ruisseaux sont des gens de petite taille.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_133"></a><a href="#FNanchor_133"><span class= +"label">[133]</span></a>The following, which Baron Humboldt +sketched before me, (and which is only laid down in Walker’s Map of +the World on the globular projection) is a more extraordinary +concatenation of rivers; considering the opposite courses of the +Orinoco and Amazon when connected by the Casiquaire, which is more +curiously situated than the south eastern branch of the Ogooawai, +flowing, through Tanyan, into the Zaire.</p> + +<div class="figcenter iw6"> +<figure id="map4"><a href="images/map4.jpg"><img src= +'images/map4.jpg' alt=''></a> +</figure> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_134"></a><a href="#FNanchor_134"><span class= +"label">[134]</span></a>“Captain Tuckey could only learn that the +paramount Sovereign was named Blindy N’Congo, and resided at a +banza named Congo, which was six days journey, in the interior from +the ‘Tall Trees,’ where, by the account of the negroes, the +Portuguese had an establishment, and where there were soldiers and +white women. This place is no doubt the St. Salvador of the +Portuguese. The following is the description in Dapper: La province +de Pembo est la plus considerable de tout le royaume dont elle +contient la ville capitale, et forme comme le centre. Cette ville +porte le nom de banza chez les Ethiopiens, les Portugais la nomment +présentement S. Salvador, et Marmol l’appelloit Ambas Congo. Elle +est presque au milieu de la province, située sur une roche fort +haute, <em>à 76 lieues de France ou 150 milles de la mer</em>, au +sud-est de la riviere de Zaire, et ombragée de Palmiers, de +Tamarins, de Bacoves, de Colas, de Limoniers et d’Orangers. Le +côtau sur lequel elle est bâtie est si haut, que de dessus son +sommet on porte la vue aussi loin qu’elle se peut étendre, sans +qu’aucune montagne l’arrête. Il n’y a point de murailles autour de +cette ville, si ce n’est d’un côté de devers le Midi, que le +premier roi chrétien donna aux Portugais pour les mettre à couvert +des insultes. Il fit aussi fermer de murailles son palais et toutes +les maisons royales qui sont aux environs, laissant une place vuide +où l’on bâtit ensuite un palais et un cimétiere. La cime de la +montagne est occupé par des maisons baties fort près l’une de +l’autre: les personnes de qualité en possedent la plus grande +partie, et sont des enceintes de bâtimens qui ressemblent à une +petite ville. Les habitations des personnes du commun sont rangées +de file, en diverses rues, elles sont assez grandes, mais les +murailles ne sont que de paille; excepté quelques unes que les +Portugais ont faites, dont les murs sont de brique & le toit de +chaume. Le palais du roi est aussi grand qu’une ville ordinaire; il +est fermé de quatre murailles, celle qui regarde sur le quartier +des Portugais est de chaux & de pierre, les autres ne sont que de +paille, mais travaillée fort proprement. Les murailles des sales & +des chambres sont orneés de tapisseries de paille nattées avec +beaucoup d’art. Dans l’enceinte interieure du Palais, il y a des +jardins & des vergers embellis de berceaux & de pavilions fort +beaux pour le pais, quoiqu’au fond ce ne soit pas grande chose. Il +y a dix ou douze Eglises, la Cathedrale, sept chapelles dans la +ville & trois Eglises dans le chateau du Prince. Il y a aussi un +couvent de Jesuites, où trois ou quatre de ces Peres sent tous le +jours le Catechisme au peuple, & des écoles où l’on enseigne le +Latin & le Portugais. Il y a deux fontaines, l’une dans la rue de +St. Jaques & l’autre dans une cour du Palais, qui fournissent +abondance d’eau fraiche, sans qu’on se donne la peine de refaire +les aqueducs ou de les entretenir. Outre cela il y a un bras de la +riviere Lelunde, qu’on nomme Vese, qui sort au pié de la montagne, +au Levant de la ville; son eau est fort bonne, le peuple en va +puiser, & elle sert à arroser & rendre fertiles les campagnes +d’alentour. On y a des pourceaux & des chevres; mais peu de moutons +& boeufs; on les renferme la nuit dans des parcs qui sont dans la +ville près des maisons.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_135"></a><a href="#FNanchor_135"><span class= +"label">[135]</span></a>This panther or leopard, was sent to the +Governor-in-Chief by the King of Ashantee, and was so perfectly +tame as never to be tied up, but strolled at liberty through the +apartments, playing with the servants and children. It was +presented to the Duchess of York, and died at Exeter ’Change, a +short time after it landed, of an inflammation on the lungs. The +extraordinary playfulness and good humour of the animal, and the +preservation of its health and tameness during a four months +voyage, (during the colder part of which he banquetted sumptuously +on dead parrots) made the loss very mortifying.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_136"></a><a href="#FNanchor_136"><span class= +"label">[136]</span></a>The description the natives give of this +animal agrees extraordinarily with that of the Quoja Morrou in +Dapper.</p> + +<p>Les Quojas Morrou, dont on a parlé dans le royaume de Quoja, +naissent dans le royaume d’Angola. Comme cet animal tient beaucoup +de l’homme, bien des gens ont cru qu’il étoit issu d’un homme & +d’un singe, mais les Negres même rejettent cette opinion. Il y a +trente ou quarante ans qu’on apporta en Hollande un de ses animaux, +dont on fit present à son Altesse le Prince Frederic Henri. Il +étoit de la grandeur d’un enfant de trois ans, <em>mais il avoit +bien le double d’épais, étant d’une taille carreé</em>, fort +vigoureux & agile: <em>car il levoit des choses fort pesantes & les +portoit d’un lieu en un autre</em>. Le devant de son corps étoit +nud, mais le dos étoit couvert de poil noir. Sa face avoit quelque +chose d’humain, mais son nez étoit plat & retroussé. Ses oreilles, +son sein, et ses mamelles, ses coudes ses mains, le bas de son +ventre & ses parties naturelles, ses jambes & ses pieds +resembloient parfaitement à ceux d’une femme, parce que c’étoit un +animal femelle. <em>Il se tenoit debout & marchoit souvent tout +droit; il buvoit fort proprement, portant, d’une main le pot à la +bouche et le soutenant de l’autre; il se couchoit de même, mettoit +sa tête sur un chevet, ajustoit la couverture sur son corps, & à le +voir ainsi étendu on l’auroit pris pour un homme</em>. Aussi les +Negres rapportent-ils des choses prodigieuses de cet animal; ils +assurent qu’il force des femmes & des filles, <em>& qu’il ose s’en +prendre à des hommes armez</em>. Et selon toutes les apparences +c’est là ce Satyre si celebre chez les Anciens, dont Pline & les +poëtes ont tant parlé par oui-dire & sur des rapports +incertains.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_137"></a><a href="#FNanchor_137"><span class= +"label">[137]</span></a>“Les Botanistes remarquent même très +fréquemment ces accidens de couleurs dans les plantes venues en +lieux agrestes. Je n’en citerai qu’un exemple entre mille. Sur les +rives sauvages du Volga et du Samara, Pallas a trouvé l’<i>Anemone +patens</i> chargé de périanthes tantôt bleus, tantôt blancs, tantôt +jaunes.”—Mirbel 1ère partie, p. 264.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_138"></a><a href="#FNanchor_138"><span class= +"label">[138]</span></a>“India rubber is obtained from the milky +juice of different plants in hot countries. The chief of these are, +the Jatropha elastica and Urceola elastica. The juice is applied in +successive coatings on a mould of clay, and dried by the fire or in +the sun, and when of a sufficient thickness the mould is crushed +and the pieces shaken out.” Nicholson.</p> + +<p>“It has been discovered that caoutchouc is not exclusively the +produce of the Heven caoutchouc, but that it is furnished by +several other plants. We know it to be obtained in large quantities +from the Jatropha elastica of South America, and Dr. Roxburgh has +given us a description of an Indian plant (Urceola elastica) which +affords a juice that when thickened has all the properties of the +caoutchouc. We moreover know that the milky exudations of the Jack +tree (Artocarpus integrifolia) the Banyan tree (Ficus Indica) and +also that of the Arasum tree (Ficus religiosa) possess nearly +similar qualities.” Ainslie’s Materia Medica of Hindoostan.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_139"></a><a href="#FNanchor_139"><span class= +"label">[139]</span></a>The vegetable butter.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_453">[453]</span><a id= +"p2c14"></a><span class="letter-spaced01">CHAPTER</span> XIV.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8 spaced3"> + +<p class="sch1"><em>Suggestions for future Missions to the Interior +of Africa.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap">A <span class="sc">mission</span> to Dagwumba is of +the first importance. See Geography, <a href="#Page_178">p. +178.</a> The commercial genius and opulence of its people, their +disinclination and inaptitude to war, their superior civilization, +and the numerous caravans which frequent this emporium, from the +most remote parts of the interior, make a treaty of intercourse +most desirable, both for commerce and science. But it is more +imperiously desirable, or rather this enterprise becomes a duty, +from the recollection, that, from this King’s proverbial repute for +sanctity, if he were persuaded by the deliberate remonstrance of a +British Resident, at least to mitigate, if not ultimately to +abolish human sacrifices, his example would naturally be followed +by the several neighbouring monarchs who make him their oracle.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutchison’s courage, his love of enterprise, and his +interest in intellectual pursuit, to say nothing of a feeling +towards myself, which I cannot but be proud of, would, I am sure, +lead him to anticipate my wishes and strengthen my hopes of +success, by having him again as a companion; and his diary must +have proved, though very imperfectly, compared with a personal +acquaintance with him, how well he is qualified for an appointment, +so important<span class="pagenum" id="Page_454">[454]</span> to the +interests of commerce, science, and humanity, by his discretion, +zeal, and benevolence.<a id="FNanchor_140"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a></p> + +<p>A third officer (and a zealous and able successor to Mr. Tedlie +has presented himself) should accompany this mission, to proceed +under the King of Dagwumba’s guarantee and recommendation, which is +omnipotent to the Niger, to Wauwaw (on the banks of that river +where Mr. Park was buried; for no plea could be less suspicious, +than the King of England’s natural anxiety to send an officer to +the Sultan of Wauwaw, to learn the particulars of Mr. Park’s death, +and to enquire for his papers, especially as a Moorish emissary +passing through Yahndi, was instructed to do so, directly we heard +of the circumstance in Ashantee. The officer alluded to (who is a +medical man, well acquainted with natural history, and an accurate +draftsman) should be content with a sight of the Niger, and remain +at Wauwaw collecting and observing, until an exchange of letters +with Cape Coast, through the Resident at Yahndi<a id= +"FNanchor_141"></a><a href="#Footnote_141" class= +"fnanchor">[141]</a>; when it would be seen how far it might be +prudent, (having replaced him at Wauwaw) to allow him to proceed to +Cassina, Houssa, or Timbuctoo; that is, if the Sultan of Wauwaw +would guarantee his safety, under the same promise of reward +previously held out to the King of Dagwumba.</p> + +<p>No moment could be more auspicious than the present for this +enterprise to Dagwumba, since the King of Ashantee’s absence and +perplexity in the Gaman war bars his molestation or hindrance; +though I have no expectation that he would offer either, were he at +liberty, or aware of the occasion: see <a href="#Page_342">page +342.</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_455">[455]</span>If the trade of +Dagwumba be so extensive as was invariably reported to us (and to +Mr. Lucas at Mesurata on the Mediterranean) it might then become +desirable to establish a British market up the Volta; but this is +an after consideration. Geographical circumstances are much more in +favour of a mission to Dagwumba than they were in that to Ashantee, +(besides, that there are no irritating political retrospects to be +debated on arrival,) for the Volta or Adirree is navigable from the +sea to within eight days march of Yahndi; (see <a href= +"#Page_176">page 176;</a>) even if we do not calculate on the +reported junction of the river Laka, which would bring us close to +Yahndi.</p> + +<p>The presents should all be ingenious novelties, rather than +costly apparel, for they are not only more acceptable and more +imposing, but, which is very important, much more portable; and +would require so few carriers, as to diminish the expense of +conveyance as much as the expense of purchase. The negroes have +more than anticipated our <em>portable</em> displays of splendour, +from the pageantry and descriptions of the Moors; and we have had +the advantage of witnessing what kind of presents made the most +auspicious impression on the King of Dagwumba’s powerful neighbour, +which were certainly all of the class of ingenious novelty. I +should recommend, therefore, a few pieces of tissue and rich silk, +with gold thread interwoven, to shew that our manufactures can be +accommodated to their taste; see <a href="#Footnote_105">note page +331.</a></p> + +<p>Pieces of worked muslin.</p> + +<p>One piece of ditto, worked with gold thread.</p> + +<p>Scotch damask.</p> + +<p>Palampours, with gold and silver leaf.</p> + +<p>Manchester cottons, of rich pattern.</p> + +<p>Red, blue, and yellow broad cloth.</p> + +<p>Raw silk, of various colours; see <a href="#Page_331">page +331.</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_456">[456]</span>Of the +foregoing, only small quantities as presents to the King and +principal Moors, by way of samples of our manufactures.</p> + +<p>Two pair of richly cut glass decanters.</p> + +<p>A small silver bowl embossed.</p> + +<p>A handsome lamp.</p> + +<p>A military saddle and bridle, with pistols, &c.</p> + +<p>Two musical snuff boxes.</p> + +<p>A good bird organ.</p> + +<p>Two or three common violins, being the instrument of the +country.</p> + +<p>Pandean pipes.</p> + +<p>Cymbals.</p> + +<p>Two bugles.</p> + +<p>Kaleidescopes.</p> + +<p>An inferior gold repeater for the King.</p> + +<p>Two or three common silver watches.</p> + +<p>A telescope.</p> + +<p>Camera obscura.</p> + +<p>Magic lantern.</p> + +<p>Microscope.</p> + +<p>Pocket compasses.</p> + +<p>Boxes of phosphorous matches.</p> + +<p>Arabic Bibles, and Arabic literature.</p> + +<p>Two or three landscapes, in sympathetic ink.</p> + +<p>A port-folio of engravings of English costume and public +buildings, with a set of the drawings of this work.</p> + +<p>A copying writing apparatus for the chief Moor.</p> + +<p>Wax, seals, pencils, Indian rubber.</p> + +<p>Two boxes of water colours.</p> + +<p>Drawing and writing paper, and vellum.</p> + +<p>Razors, scissors, knives.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_457">[457]</span>A handsome +double barrelled gun.</p> + +<p>Two boxes of carpenters tools.</p> + +<p>A small turning lathe.</p> + +<p>A small plough.</p> + +<p>A made up turban of gold tissue, with a gilt circle for the +head, set with false stones, for the chief Moor.</p> + +<p>A silk union flag.</p> + +<p>An air gun.</p> + +<p>Candles and perfumed soap.</p> + +<p>Bark, and other medicines.</p> + +<p>The officers of the mission should be provided with Troughton’s +pocket sextant, Dollond’s 32 feet telescope, the new barometers, +&c. &c.</p> + +<p>The Danes having deserted their fort (Adda) at the mouth of the +Volta, their government, on being solicited, would surely not only +not obstruct, but favour so important a scientific enterprise, and +not compel us to reach the river over land, as we could do, by +marching through Aquapim and Quaoo. The man of war on the station +might convey the mission to the mouth of the Volta, and one of her +boats accompany the canoes (which should be brought from Cape +Coast) a day or two up the river.</p> + +<p>It would be well to be prepared with several impressions of a +manifesto (in Arabic,) explanatory and impressive of the legitimate +and benevolent views of the British government, as an introduction +to the King of Dagwumba, preparatory to our negociation, and also +to serve the same purpose at Wauwaw, and to circulate through the +interior. Numerous impressions of the certificates circulated in +behalf of Major Peddie, should also be circulated, Mr. Ritchie’s +name being substituted, and the reward for an act of kindness +acknowledged in a letter from that gentleman, being made payable +(after an authority from Cape Coast) at either of the<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_458">[458]</span> British Residencies, +Coomassie, Yahndi, or Dahomey; for as there are many officers to +spare at Cape Coast, the expressed wish of the latter monarch +should be immediately gratified, and our intercourse renewed by a +Residency. See <a href="#Footnote_110">note, p. 340.</a></p> + +<p>I think all the objects of the Dagwumba mission could be +effected in four months; when I should feel impatient to visit the +river Gaboon, for the purpose of penetrating to the Ogooawai, and +going as far up it as I might with prudence. See <a href= +"#Page_436">p. 436.</a> The discovery of so large a river in this +situation is very important.</p> + +<p>Arrangements could probably be made at Eninga or Okota (<a href= +"#Page_429">p. 429.</a>) for the guarantee of an after mission to +Asheera: also for one from Gaboon to Kaylee; and, which is most +important, for the south-eastern navigation (from Adjoomba, +<a href="#Page_431">p. 431</a>) of the branch of the Ogooawai +running through Tanyan into the Congo.</p> + +<p>But there is another enterprise which should not be forgotten, +the navigation of the Lagos river to the highest point, (<a href= +"#Page_224">p. 224</a>) and a visit to Kosie, (<a href= +"#Page_225">p. 225,</a>) a Residency at which court would doubtless +lead to a similar establishment in the powerful and commercial +kingdom of Yarriba. See <a href="#Page_209">p. 209.</a></p> + +<p>The Residents at the various courts, who, as I have impressed +before, should be young men of acquirement, patience, and address, +should receive occasional instructions from head quarters, +directing their enquiries and observations to the geographical and +scientific desiderata, more peculiarly belonging to or expected +from their different neighbourhoods, which would be suggested from +the closer study of these subjects by the individual at the head of +a department of discovery at head quarters, and also by the +scientific Societies in England according to their peculiar +pursuits.</p> + +<p>The Residents should make quarterly reports, accompanied by +specimens of natural history, to be digested into one annual report +at head quarters, (with the various geographical improvements +and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_459">[459]</span> discoveries, +adjusted and embodied in one large chart) for forwardance to +England.</p> + +<p>All Residents and Conductors of Missions, should be provided +with small copying apparatuses, so that they might forward their +original dispatch, and one duplicate, to Cape Coast, by two +different opportunities, always retaining the other copy, in case +of accident, or until the receipt were acknowledged.</p> + +<p>If it could be afforded, a medical officer should afterwards be +added to the more important Residencies, to attach and relieve the +natives.</p> + +<p>Botanical and Mineralogical excursions, (taking sextants, +telescopes, and barometers,) into Ahanta, Aowin, Warsaw, Akim, and +Aquapim, small surveys, &c. &c. should be undertaken, ad +interim, not only from the smallness of the expense and the great +comparative benefit, (as we know nothing of these countries beyond +their position,) but to qualify the younger officers (of congenial +disposition and acquirement,) for future missions and +residencies.</p> + +<p>The young men soliciting appointments in England, should be +required to make themselves acquainted with the grammar of the +Arabic language, and practical astronomy, before they receive their +commissions; and one or two intelligent Moors from the interior, +should be invited, by a pay, to settle at Cape Coast Castle, to +perfect these officers in writing and speaking the language. The +Fantee language should also be cultivated, as it is a dialect of +the Ashantee.</p> + +<p>The soldiers of the settlements should no longer be enlisted +from the mulattoes and Fantees of the neighbourhood, making the +present paltry force the more inefficient, from local and family +attachments, inseparable from human nature, and preventing their +acting cordially, if at all, on emergencies for the rescue of human +victims, or the punishment of their relatives and townsmen, +for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_460">[460]</span> insult, or +contempt of the British legislation for the abolition of the slave +trade, &c. The Negroes captured in the illicit Spanish and +Portuguese slave ships, of whom there must be a number unemployed +at Sierra Leone, would form the most desirable military force, even +preferable to European, which has recently been adopted by the +Dutch. These rescued Negroes would possess no attachment, beyond +that which the considerate kindness and good conduct of their +officers might induce; the climate would be natural to them; and +they would prove valuable companions, if not intelligent guides, in +future missions to the interior. There should at least be two +hundred and fifty of these soldiers at head quarters, (one company +being trained as artillery by European serjeants) and fifty at each +other settlement, if but two.</p> + +<p>The three missions, to Dagwumba, Wauwaw, and Ogooawai, would not +cost above a thousand pounds, judiciously expended in England; +which is not so much as the annual expense of either of the six +paltry out-forts (exclusive of the head quarters, and the vice +presidency, which is but 9 miles from Cape Coast, and, since the +abolition of the slave trade, an useless and absurd position;) the +mere existence of which, although it may excite astonishment, and +reflect credit on the mercantile ingenuity and economy of the +African Committee, is notoriously a disgraceful caricature on the +British name.</p> + +<p>Three respectable establishments, one at Cape Coast Castle, one +at Accra, (a rich and open country,) and one at Succondee, (if we +could not purchase Axim, which commands the navigation of the +Ancobra,) with an allowance of a thousand a year for a progress in +the interior, (beneficial to commerce, science, and humanity,) +would be productive of fame and honour, and probably of wealth, to +our nation.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftp2c14"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_140"></a><a href="#FNanchor_140"><span class= +"label">[140]</span></a>This gentleman being already superseded by +Mr. Dupuis (formerly Vice-consul at Mogadore, and now Consul at +Coomassie) is of course at liberty to indulge his disposition for +enterprise.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_141"></a><a href="#FNanchor_141"><span class= +"label">[141]</span></a>The King of Dagwumba should be promised +additional presents on the receipt at Cape Coast Castle of the +first dispatch from the Niger.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<div class="page"> +<hr class="decordb width6"> + +<p class="center spaced2 large"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_461">[461]</span><span class= +"letter-spaced02">APPENDI</span>X.</p> + +<hr class="decordb2 width6"> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_463">[463]</span><a id= +"app1"></a>APPENDIX. No. I.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="sch2 space-above1"><em>Extract from Meredith’s Account of +the Gold Coast.</em> +</p> + +<p class="sch3"><em>Origin and History of the Ashantee War.</em> +</p> + +<p class="dcap"><span class="sc">The</span> Assin country lies at +the rear of the Fantee, and borders on the Ashantee country. It was +divided into two states: the one governed by King Cheboo and Quacoe +Apoutay; and the other by King Amoo. Apoutay, although not elevated +to the dignity of King, held equal sway with Cheboo; but they were +each subordinate to the King of Ashantee. A man of opulence died in +Amoo’s town; and, as is customary on such occasions, gold and other +valuable articles were deposited with the body in the grave. On +this occasion, one of Cheboo’s people was present, and seeing what +was done, watched an opportunity to rob the grave; which he +effected, and escaped with the treasure. Amoo his neighbour sought +redress of Cheboo and Apoutay, but without success: he then laid +the affair before the King of Ashantee; who summoned all the +parties before him, gave them an impartial hearing, and awarded in +favour of Amoo. Quacoe Apoutay was detained as a hostage until +restitution should be made: but he, in a short time, contrived to +make his escape, and, when at liberty, refused to accede to the +award made by the King of Ashantee. On this Amoo attacked the town +in which Cheboo and Apoutay resided, and routed his opponents: +after this, at the instigation of the King of Ashantee, the parties +met to settle the dispute; but Quacoe Apoutay acting treacherously +on the occasion, sent privately to Cheboo for an armed force to +support him: and a battle was the consequence, which ended in the +death of the man who had committed the theft, and the total defeat +of Apoutay and his forces. At this crisis the King of Ashantee, +willing to bring about a peace, again interfered. He sent two gold +manillas, the one to Amoo, the other to his adversary, directing +them to cease all hostilities; to which both parties agreed, and +took the manillas. Amoo obeyed the King; but Quacoe Apoutay +attacked Amoo, and drove him in his turn from his town. Amoo, +indignant at the repeated deceptions of Apoutay, obtained succours, +and overthrew his treacherous opponent. The King of Ashantee still +anxious to reconcile his neighbours, and unwilling to draw his +sword, presented two gold swords and an axe to Amoo, and +recommended him to conciliate<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_464">[464]</span> Quacoe Apoutay, and terminate their +quarrels. Amoo consented to obey the King, but in the mean time was +again attacked by his implacable foe, and totally defeated, and +lost in the contest the golden sword and hatchet. His opponent +committed ravages wherever he came, killing messengers, and every +man who fell into his hands, not sparing even the King of +Ashantee’s messengers! A war with the King of Ashantee followed +hereupon: Quacoe Apoutay and Cheboo dreading his vengeance, fled to +the Fantee country: in consequence of which the King sent a message +to Acoom, the caboceer or mayor of Assecoomah (a small state +tributary to the King of Ashantee,) accompanied by a present of +twenty ounces of gold; stating the necessity of his pursuing his +enemies to the Fantee country, but giving assurance of the King’s +pacific disposition towards the Fantees, and that his only object +was to get into his possession Cheboo and Apoutay: the Fantees +would not interfere, nor allow the Ashantee forces to come into +their country. Upon this answer, Appey Dougah,<a id= +"FNanchor_142"></a><a href="#Footnote_142" class= +"fnanchor">[142]</a> the King of Ashantee’s general, collected, by +command of his master, a large force, and gave the enemy battle at +Buinka in Fantee; he displayed great gallantry, and defeated the +two Kings, in conjunction with the Fantee forces that had joined +them. Next day Cheboo and Apoutay having rallied their forces, and +formed a junction with a fresh Fantee force, gave Appey Dougah +battle; but were totally defeated, with the loss of many killed and +made prisoners: among the latter was Atia,<a id= +"FNanchor_143"></a><a href="#Footnote_143" class= +"fnanchor">[143]</a> the caboceer of Abrah, the principal town of +Fantee. A large sum was offered for his ransom, but refused; and he +was committed to the care of Acoom, the caboceer of Assecoomah, in +whom the King had great confidence; but this person betrayed his +trust, and liberated the enemy. Quacoe Apoutay, baffled at all +points, sent to the King of Ashantee to accept his conditions, +provided he would discharge his debts on his return home. To this +proposal the King agreed, and, in token of his friendship, sent +various presents to Cheboo and Apoutay; who, instead of receiving +them with gratitude, beheaded the messengers. This wicked and +unprovoked act roused the indignation of the King of Ashantee, and +he vowed eternal war against the aggressors. Acoom (who had been +forgiven by the King for his treachery in suffering Atia to +escape,) being in possession of a large quantity of provisions, was +applied to by the King of Ashantee for a supply, which he with +seeming cheerfulness granted: six times he delivered faithfully +those that were contracted for, but, the seventh time, he betrayed +about one thousand men who had been sent for them, and sold them in +March or April, 1806. In consequence of this conduct Acoom became +involved in the war: very shortly afterwards the King of Ashantee +defeated him, and made rapid progress with his army towards +the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_465">[465]</span> coast in search +of Cheboo and Apoutay. The Fantees opposed his march, but were +defeated in every onset, and the Braffoes were nearly extirpated by +the Ashantees in their march. The Annamaboes, instigated by the +remaining Braffoes, were impudent enough to receive and protect +Cheboo and Apoutay; which proved fatal to them. At this period the +Governor of Cape Coast Castle, being under some apprehension for +the safety of the British settlements, was inclined to send a flag +of truce with a message to the King of Ashantee, who was now (May, +1806) at Abrah, and only fifteen or twenty miles from the coast. +The Annamaboes (who were consulted on the measure) objected to it, +and the design was consequently suspended. The Governor was anxious +to know upon what terms the King would consider the British, and +wished to become a mediator; but the Annamaboes, who placed a vain +dependence on their name and strength, fully expected that the King +and his army would be conquered; and that if not the whole, the +greater part of the army would fall into their hands; and hence +were not disposed to pacific measures, nor would they permit the +Governor’s messenger to proceed inland. Shortly after this, a +division of the Ashantee army made its appearance at Cormantine, +and routing the inhabitants from the town, completely destroyed it. +The captain of this division contrived to get into the Dutch fort, +and having pillaged it of a number of articles, took up his +residence there. It was now time to become acquainted with the +King’s intentions; and for that purpose the Governor of Annamaboe +fort sent a messenger with a flag of truce to the commander of this +division, intimating a wish to be acquainted with the King’s +motives for marching an army to the coast, and proposing himself as +a mediator. This message, we may suppose, was conveyed to the King; +and on the following day three men were observed coming from +Cormantine with a white flag displayed, and (Mr. White) the +Governor, expected they were the bearers of some agreeable and +satisfactory intelligence: in this however he was much +disappointed; for the commander of that division of the Ashantee +army being in possession of fort Amsterdam, was elated with his +success, particularly in getting to the sea side; (a circumstance +which inspired him with such joy, that he went to the beach and +dipped his sword three times in the sea, some of which he had +conveyed to the King as a proof of his success:)—whether those +circumstances stimulated him to try the disposition of the English +chief, we know not; but the message he sent, imported a degree of +haughtiness by no means agreeable to Mr. White, and was to this +effect: that when the Governor would send him twenty barrels of +gunpowder, and one hundred muskets, he would be told what the +King’s designs were. To comply with this demand would be +acknowledging too much submission, and would doubtless give the +King a very indifferent opinion of the British character. Mr. White +behaved politely to the people, gave them some refreshment, and +told them that he regretted that the King, or their master, did not +appear inclined to come to an explanation, or to conciliate +matters: that if the King would point out in what<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_466">[466]</span> manner the Annamaboes had +offended, he would use his authority to have satisfaction given: +that until he was assured of their having transgressed, or having +injured his Majesty, they were entitled to the protection of the +fort, if they sought for it: and that, finally, if the King’s army +should come with any hostile intentions near the fort, it would be +fired upon.</p> + +<p>After this two or three of the heavy guns were fired with shot, +for the purpose of giving them an idea of the destructive power of +artillery; and they were preparing to depart, when private +information was received, that the flag of truce would be violated +in its return, and the men murdered. Whereupon Mr. White and Mr. +Wilson (a gentleman not in the service,) escorted them, and left +them in safety within a short distance from their quarters. The +Governor now anxiously looked for a definitive reply from the King, +and every assiduity was used to place things in a defensive +position; and the towns-people having heretofore placed a firm +reliance on their strength, became alarmed, and were solicitous to +be assured of the Governor’s protection. Mr. White informed them, +that if the King of Ashantee intended to attack the town, he would +give them all the assistance and protection in his power; at the +same time advised them of the most prudent measures to be employed +for their safety and defence. He instructed them, in the first +instance, to have strong parties on the look-out, and to guard +every avenue leading into the town; and, on the first alarm, or +approach of the enemy, to send the old men, women, and children to +the fort, where they would be received; and as many as the fort +would not accommodate, to come close to the walls, where they would +be under the protection of the guns.</p> + +<p>At this crisis Mr. White and the inhabitants of the town were +ignorant as to the strength of the Ashantee forces, and had but an +imperfect idea of the bravery and intrepidity of the men who +composed the King’s army. It was supposed that the Ashantees +partook of the dispositions of the natives on the coast, who in +general cannot stand against a regular and determined fire, and +often creep into some concealed hole, when cannon or musket shot +are heard to whiz among them; or, if the Ashantees were superior, +it was little imagined that their courage, or ardour for conquest, +would carry them to the very muzzles of the guns, and consequently +expose them to inevitable destruction.</p> + +<p>About a week had elapsed, and no news from the King; which was +no favourable indication of pacific measures. The commander of the +division at Cormantine, and who proved to be the King of Dinkara, +sent forward a party to ascertain the strength of the town of +Annamaboe, and succeeded in gaining possession of a village called +Agah, situated upon a point of land about one mile eastward from +Annamaboe; whence every movement of the Annamaboes on that side +could be observed. This was considered an annoyance, and on the +14th of June a strong body (indeed almost the whole of the town’s +people) marched out for the purpose of dislodging the Ashantees. +The action was clearly<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_467">[467]</span> seen from the fort. The Annamaboes were +received in the most gallant and spirited manner by nearly a third +of their force, and for some time the contest was doubtful. The +Ashantees fired with more regularity than could be expected, and +their muskets were well directed; whereas the Fantees kept up a +confused fire without taking aim; they however succeeded, and the +Ashantees retreated in excellent order, keeping possession of part +of the village which lay concealed in a valley, and where the +Annamaboes did not think proper to proceed. The Annamaboes were +either too confident of their strong position, or thought too +insignificantly of their opponents, to attend to the advice given +them by Mr. White; for while they were amused by this small party, +the King, with the main body, was vigilant in securing the +different passes leading to the town, and was at this time only +three miles to the rear of it.</p> + +<p>Early on the 15th those who were on the look-out observed the +Ashantee army in motion: the alarm was given, and every man who was +able to carry a musket, repaired to meet the enemy. As the town was +situated at the rear of the fort, and extended some distance +inland, no prospect of the contending parties could be obtained; +smoke was seen to arise from different parts of the surrounding +country, and heavy discharges of musketry were distinctly heard. +Alarm and confusion now prevailed throughout the town, and the +women, children, and old men, made the best of their way to the +fort, the area of which they soon filled, after which the gates +were closed. The volleys of musketry were advancing very fast, and +the Fantees were retreating in great disorder: one or two great +guns were fired over the town with a view to impel terror on the +assailants, but they were too much elated with hopes of conquest, +and too resolute to be affrighted: about eleven o’clock the musket +balls were heard to whistle in every part of the fort, and the +Ashantees entered the town in every direction, pursuing the +vanquished to the beach, where the slaughter was great.</p> + +<p>The Annamaboes conceived, that with the aid of their canoes and +their knowledge of swimming, they should be able to escape, but +they were pursued too closely by the Ashantees, whose fury appeared +to be insatiable; men, women, and children were followed by +indiscriminate destruction. During this work of carnage, the +Governor was very active with his small garrison to repel the +assailants; a twenty-four pounder, that pointed along the beach to +the westward, several times discharged grape-shot among them, +whereby vast numbers must have fallen: a three-pounder likewise, +which flanked the gate on the east side was frequently fired with +grape, notwithstanding fresh parties came on much quicker than they +could be repelled; and at length they came under the walls for the +purpose of carrying away the women who could not be received into +the fort. About this period the Governor<a id= +"FNanchor_144"></a><a href="#Footnote_144" class= +"fnanchor">[144]</a> was wounded in two places; one ball struck +his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_468">[468]</span> mouth and +carried away four of his teeth, another ball passed through his +left arm; and nearly at the same time an officer and two men were +wounded, and one man killed.</p> + +<p>Things assumed now a more serious and dangerous aspect than was +apprehended, and gave the garrison a strong assurance of the +disposition of the enemy, who, it was evident, intended to bend his +utmost efforts against the fort. The Ashantees were confident that +by gaining possession of it, a large booty would be obtained. +However, the small number which composed the garrison of Annamaboe +at this period, consisting of Governor White, Messieurs Meredith, +Swanzy, Smith, and Baines; also four free mulattoes and twenty men, +including soldiers, artificers, and servants, were confident of the +severity of their situation. The walls being high, and accurately +flanked, and the gates sound and well barricadoed; the Governor, +from the nature of his wounds, from great debility in consequence +of much effusion of blood, being constrained to retire, and the +command of the fort having devolved on the senior officer, who +perceiving that the cannon in one quarter could not be used with +effect, for the enemy fired with such precision as to cut off every +man who was exposed at an embrasure, depended solely on the musket; +and another man having been killed about noon, and two more +wounded:—the garrison was now reduced to the small number of eight, +including officers, who could be depended upon, and the Ashantees +were using every effort to force the western gate; but were twice +repulsed with no small loss. A third time they attempted it, and +endeavoured to apply fire to the gate; but the man who brought the +materials for that purpose, extinguished the fire by falling a +corpse upon it. In all their attempts they were defeated with +musketry alone, and notwithstanding that their efforts to gain an +entrance into the fort proved ineffectual, the contest was +continued till six o’clock. After this cessation, and before total +darkness came on, the garrison used all possible energy in +repairing injuries, and preparing for the defensive, in case of +hostilities being renewed in the night.</p> + +<p>On the following day a scene replete with the horrors of war +exhibited itself:—heaps of dead and wounded around the walls, and +for a mile along the eastern shore, tossed about by a violent +surf:—houses unroofed, and others on fire:—the sorrowful +countenances of the old men, who sought refuge in the fort; the +mournful lamentations of the women, and the pitiable cries of the +children, presented a picture of exquisite feeling and of the +greatest distress! Of the number the town contained, and which we +will calculate to have been at least fifteen thousand souls, we may +suppose that two-thirds of that number perished. The fort afforded +refuge to about two thousand of every description, and about two +hundred escaped to a rock surrounded by the sea, and at pistol-shot +from the beach, where they remained unmolested, and notwitstanding +the vigilance of the Ashantees, we may suppose that two or three +thousand effected their escape. Without going into further enquiry, +we may venture to state that eight thousand Fantees were destroyed; +and although they were attacked by at least three times their +number, yet if<span class="pagenum" id="Page_469">[469]</span> they +were actuated by one-third of the bravery of their opponents, they +would have committed some execution, and doubtless would have +checked that intrepidity and ardour which were so pre-eminently +conspicuous in their enemy. Their resistance was very feeble; +terror seized them at the commencement of the attack, and it +impressed them so forcibly, that the sea formed but an indifferent +barrier to their precipitate flight.</p> + +<p>When the fury of the Ashantees against the Fantees was a little +diminished, they turned part of their force against the fort with +great coolness and resolution, advancing with shouts expressive of +their loyalty and courage, to the very muzzles of the guns. At the +east side of the fort, two three pounders, which were well served, +destroyed numbers of them with every discharge of grape: but at the +west side, the cannon which flanked the gate could not be rendered +useful, in consequence of advantages the enemy possessed, and which +were not to be found on the opposite quarter, where the musket +alone was to be dependended upon: and we have the authority of the +gentleman who commanded (after Mr. White was wounded) of stating, +that he and another officer (Mr. Swanzy) fired nearly three hundred +rounds of ball-cartridge in keeping the gate clear, and protecting +those who were under the walls. Mr. Swanzy was so injured with the +recoil of his musket, that he could not use his right arm for some +days without much pain, and the other officer (Mr. Meredith) was +nearly in the same state.</p> + +<p>What loss the Ashantees sustained cannot be precisely laid down: +the King, prior to his departure from Annamaboe, said, he lost +three thousand men: but in that number he probably included those +who were carried off by disease. His men however suffered very +severely; for their approach was made with such large bodies, that +twenty, thirty, or perhaps more, fell with every discharge of +grape-shot; and the musket not only killed, but very often wounded +at the same time, so close were the enemy.</p> + +<p>At this period (the 16th of June,) the fort was in an awkward +state,—completely blockaded on the land-side, and a very imperfect +communication by sea, and only a few weeks provisions for the +number it contained; add to which, the effluvia from the dead +bodies, which were approaching fast to a putrid state, excited very +uneasy apprehensions. These circumstances demanded some +extraordinary effort, which the garrison, from its weakness, could +not attempt. Every person, from great exertion and constant +exposure to a vertical sun on the 15th, and from solicitude and +want of rest, was much fatigued. Nevertheless things wore a more +promising appearance; whenever plunder was attempted, which now and +then was the case, it met with resistance. There was not, however, +any desire manifested by the Ashantees to renew hostilities, and +every motion indicated a wish for peace. The garrison too was very +desirous of such an event, but did not wish to be the first to +yield, or to offer any terms without orders from the +chief-governor. The King, from his late successes, had a high +opinion of his power and the bravery of his army. On the other hand +the small garrison, notwithstanding its reduced state, had +no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_470">[470]</span> mean opinion of +itself, and wished to confirm in his Majesty an idea of the +superior skill of Europeans.</p> + +<p>The Governor at Cape Coast was apprised of the state of affairs +at Annamaboe, and lost no time in sending assistance. Two ships +were provided for the purpose, which sailed from the Cape on the +morning of the 16th: but, from unavoidable circumstances, the +re-inforcement the ships brought could not be landed before four +o’clock in the afternoon. This re-inforcement consisted of twelve +men and four officers; and their arrival in the fort afforded much +satisfaction. This party was landed under cover of the smoke of +some heavy guns, and was not fired at; but the canoe, on returning, +was fired upon and one man wounded. It was the Governor’s order +that a flag of truce should be sent to the King, to endeavour to +bring about an amicable understanding. A white flag was accordingly +lowered over the wall, accompanied with the national colours; and +when the emblem of peace was observed, it is impossible to express +sufficiently the joy that diffused itself among the people: the +multitude which crowded around the flags was inconceivably great, +and it was with difficulty that the King’s officers, who were known +by golden swords and axes, could clear the way leading to his +quarters: the air resounded with acclamations in praise of their +King, and expressive of their satisfaction at the prospects of +peace.</p> + +<p>And here we cannot forbear remarking, that although the +Ashantees are so remote from polished or civilized nations, they +seem not to be unacquainted with the customs of a civilized people, +as they are connected with the rules of war; for they paid every +respect to the flag of truce: a few indeed of them were making +towards the rock on which were a number of Fantees, but they well +understood the signal of recall, when a musket or two were fired +over their heads. The flag of truce returned about seven o’clock, +with three messengers from the King; and they, in order to justify +the King for his proceedings against the Fantees, entered into a +long detail of the origin of the war, which we have been attempting +to describe. The King was pleased that the flag of truce was sent, +and expressed his satisfaction by giving the two soldiers who were +the bearers of it a fat sheep. After a conference that continued +beyond two hours, the messengers departed.</p> + +<p>A communication was thus established with the King and his army; +but it was considered prudent to keep the gates closed until a +perfect understanding was effected. It appeared, however, that this +could not be done, without a meeting between the chief Governor and +the King. To accomplish this Mr. Meredith tried to persuade the +King to go to Cape Coast, but in this he was disappointed; he +however gained his Majesty’s consent to send some of his +confidential and chief men to wait upon the Governor, and to hear +his sentiments.</p> + +<p>It will, we doubt not, be gratifying to the reader, if we here +subjoin the correspondence between Mr. Meredith and Mr. Torrane, +the Governor in Chief, on this occasion.</p> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_471">[471]</span><em>Annamaboe Fort, June 17</em>, 1807.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">Mr. White</span> directs me to +acknowledge the receipt of your letter to the Governor of Elmina. +The state Mr. White is in, being much weakened with loss of blood +and other causes, prevented him paying that attention to your +letters which they demanded, and my duty was such, that I could not +spare a moment to write you fully. I had a conference with three of +the King’s messengers last night, and at this instant there are two +men with his Majesty; when they return, you shall be acquainted +with the result. I have already mentioned to the King that Cheboo +would be given up, and if it was agreeable for him to send his +cane, and one or two of his gold-headed swords, I would engage +their security by going to Cape Coast with them. The message +received from the King was of a favourable tendency; and I trust he +will perceive the expediency of putting an end to this sanguinary +war. Be assured we are all so employed on various duties, it debars +me more particularly of giving you a further detail of our +proceedings. But I trust, by a messenger this evening, to relate +fully every circumstance attending this very severe contest. The +party were landed in safety, viz. twelve privates, one corporal, +with Messrs. Bold, Galloway, and Woolbert. Both ships will remain +here until to-morrow. I am well pleased with the attention and +assistance afforded us by Captain Coley.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right8 space-above1">I am, &c.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right2 space-above1"><span class="sc">Henry +Meredith.</span> +</p> + +<div class="sign4"> +<p><em>Colonel Torrane, Governor in Chief, &c. &c. +&c.<br> +Cape Coast Castle.</em> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="right less space-above15"><em>Annamaboe Fort, June +17</em>, 1807.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind">I <span class="sc">wrote</span> you this morning, +acknowledging the receipt of your letters, and, agreeably to my +intentions then, I take the liberty of stating more particularly +the occurrences in this garrison on the 15th and subsequent to it. +I beg leave to remind you, that we were prepared for any attack +that might be made upon us, by any body of men unaccustomed to the +shock of artillery; and I believe Mr. White assured you of the +confidence he placed in the officers and men under his command, and +every soul was animated with a desire to do his duty.</p> + +<p>[Here follows a description of the battle as before +related.]</p> + +<p>The re-inforcement you was pleased to send, got on shore without +any opposition about four o’clock P.M.; and I assure you we were +very glad to receive them, as, from the severe duty we had +undergone the preceding day, we were much cut up by fatigue. About +six P.M. the flag of truce, with a corporal and private from the +detachment you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_472">[472]</span> +sent, were conveyed to the King; and as they proceeded, they were +warmly greeted by the Ashantees. The message the King returned was +modest; he said, it was not his intention to commence hostilities +with the fort, nor to distress any of the whites; his enemies were +the Assins and Fantees, and he now conceived his anger against them +pretty well assuaged. This morning (17th) according to agreement, +his messengers came, and said, that the King wished to see the same +person that conveyed the flag of truce, that they might hear from +his own lips what he had to deliver. Accordingly I sent them with +Dutton, a man of quick understanding, to hear more particularly the +sentiments of his Majesty. After remaining some time hearing the +opinion of his counsellors they returned, and after some +preliminary discourse, they informed me that the King had deputed +six of his principal men, with six deputed by the men of power in +his train, to repair to Cape Coast to hear what you have to say, +and to negotiate. In course of their communication the King +deplored the number of lives that were lost in consequence of the +fire from the fort.</p> + +<p>As the messengers mean to repair to Cape Coast, I will forbear +relating every particular. The King seemed to say that he must have +those who sought protection in the fort: this he only hinted at, +and probably the same may be hinted to you; but in giving them up, +we ought to be assured of their being used kindly. I send a canoe +with this, and have agreed with the messengers, that you will send +canoes and a guard for their protection. Mr. White’s travelling +canoe is in good order, therefore be pleased to send eleven +canoe-men for her. This canoe, with three more from the Cape, will, +in my opinion, be fully sufficient to convey the whole twelve +messengers with their guard. The number of persons here are +reducing our provisions very fast, and if not removed soon, some of +them will be most likely starved, or will be the cause of some +serious malady: the sooner we are rid of them the better. But if +you can gain their protection, it will be a humane act. Mr. White, +who I am happy to say is in a fair way, desires his respects.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right8 space-above1">I am, &c.</p> + +<table class="sign2"> +<tr> +<td>(Signed)</td> +<td><span class="sc">Henry Meredith.</span> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<div class="sign4"> +<p><em>Colonel Torrane, Governor in Chief,<br> +&c. &c. &c.</em> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="nind pad3 space-above1 space-below1"><span class= +"sc">Sir,</span> +</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="sc">Both</span> your letters of +yesterday’s date I have received; the latter has given me +particular satisfaction, not only as it affords every prospect that +this war will be terminated, but also as it removes great anxiety +from my mind respecting the state of Mr. White’s wounds. The +assurances you now give me that he is in a fair way of recovery, +are highly gratifying. I dispatch eleven canoe-men for Mr. White’s +canoe; and I also send three other canoes. I trust the King will +appoint persons of sufficient consequence to<span class="pagenum" +id="Page_473">[473]</span> negotiate with me: I have an earnest +wish to see the King: make this desire known to him; tell him I +think it may essentially lead to the arrangement of affairs of much +importance; that I have greatly to deplore with him this war; that +although these events cannot always be guarded against, they may +even ultimately bring future good consequences; and herein I think +much depends on our meeting. Assure the King, that notwithstanding +the steps I have taken to give protection to the Fantees, I have +ever held him in the highest respect, from the many reports I have +heard of him, and that, had I seen any messenger from him +antecedent to his attack on Annamaboe, I am of opinion we should +have avoided the blow in that quarter. The King I understand to be +a man of strong mind: it will naturally suggest itself to him, that +a meeting between us may be of vast importance to the country. +Assure him I have too high a consideration for my own character, as +well as his consequence, to suffer the smallest indignity to be +offered to him; that if he will come to the castle I shall be proud +to shew him every honour, and that I will give every possible +security for his personal safety. I have apartments ready for him, +and officers shall be sent to attend him here. On receipt of this, +send your accustomed messenger to the King, saying, that you have a +letter from me, and that an officer will wait personally on him to +explain the contents. This officer with this letter in his hand, +you will send (say Mr. F. L. Swanzy) as early as you shall receive +the King’s reply. I know not whether you have a good flag for the +occasion; I therefore send one. Mr. F. L. Swanzy will have two +flag-bearers, one with a white flag, the other carrying the union; +and he will be very particular in explaining every part of this +letter, and do his utmost to persuade the King to visit the Cape. +He may also add, that a ship can be procured, if he (the King) +prefers coming that way, and that an officer of distinction shall +be sent to accompany him. In a few words, Mr. F. L. Swanzy will do +his utmost to persuade the King to visit the castle. An officer +should come here, with the guard you send to protect the +messengers. You must let me know of what consequence the messengers +are, that I may treat them accordingly, and this it will be +advisable to acquaint me of before their arrival.</p> + +<p class="right pad-right8 space-above1">I am, &c.</p> + +<table class="sign2"> +<tr> +<td>(Signed)</td> +<td><span class="sc">George Torrane.</span> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind"><em>To Henry Meredith, Esq.</em> +</p> + +<p>Although these men proceeded to the Cape, it was found that +nothing important could be transacted without an interview with the +King, and for this purpose Colonel Torrane was obliged to go to +Annamaboe, and a day was fixed for a conference. To give as +favourable and as respectable an opinion as possible of the +British, a number of articles as presents were sent to the King, +and as many officers and soldiers as the service could afford, were +assembled to attend the Governor on the day appointed; but previous +to those preparations, and a few days after the flag of truce was +received by the King,<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_474">[474]</span> Cheboo (one of the men who was the cause of +the war) was secured by the Governor at Cape Coast and sent to +Annamaboe, to be delivered up to the King, in expectation that any +further effusion of blood would be prevented, and that it would be +the means of saving the Fantees from entire destruction. These +benevolent purposes were not realized: the King had proceeded so +far in the war, that he could not recede without displeasing those +auxiliaries he had with him, and who expected a vast deal of +plunder; and besides, Apoutay and Acoom were again in arms, and +collecting all the Fantees they could to oppose the King’s +progress. On the day appointed for the interview, the Governor and +his party were put in motion, and although the procession was not +very numerous, it was arranged with taste, and made no despicable +appearance. About twenty of the Company’s artificers, habited in a +neat manner, marched in front; a guard of forty men, and a band of +music followed them; next walked the Governor, followed by ten +officers, two and two, and some gentlemen traders (who were enticed +from the Cape by curiosity), brought up the rear. When the +procession had got a short distance it was met by a principal man, +who was sent by the King to conduct the Governor, and to keep off +the multitude, which was assembling in great numbers, some of whom +had never seen a white man. Notwithstanding the authority of this +person, and the exertions of his attendants, the curiosity of the +people was so great that every avenue was crowded; which, by +preventing the circulation of air, augmented the natural heat of +the day, and this inconvenience was farther increased by the putrid +smell from the dead bodies, and the vast swarm of flies. The +Governor was obliged to visit each man of rank, before he could be +received by the King; a ceremony that could not be prudently +denied, and which occupied some time: for those men had their +several courts, and collectively had formed an extensive circle. +Every one of them was seated under a huge umbrella, surrounded by +attendants and guards, with young persons employed in fanning the +air and dispersing the flies, which were numerous and troublesome. +One of those men and his attendants excited some curiosity and +attention: his dress and appearance were so different from those of +the others, that it evidently proved he must have come from +countries situated a considerable distance inland. He was a tall, +athletic, and rather corpulent man, of a complexion resembling an +Arab or an Egyptian. His dress was heavy, and by no means adapted +to the climate. He wore a cap that came down below his ears, and +being made of yellow cloth, it did not contribute to diminish his +tawny complexion. He was a follower of the Mohammedan religion, +possessed much gravity; but was communicative, condescending, and +agreeable. He had about him a great number of sentences from the +Alkoran, which were carefully incased in gold and silver, and upon +which he set a high value. He was a native of Kassina, a country +that appears to be situated to the south of east from Tombuctou. He +said he had been at Tunis and at Mecca; had seen many white men and +ships, and described the method of travelling over the great +desert. This<span class="pagenum" id="Page_475">[475]</span> person +commanded a body of men who fought with arrows, as well as muskets: +four of the arrows were found in the fort; they were short and +pointed with barbed iron. He had many persons in his train who were +of the same colour, but varied a little as to dress: they were all +habited in the Turkish manner, but did not wear turbans. After the +ceremony of visiting those persons was over, the Governor was +conducted towards the King, who was surrounded by a number of +attendants, whose appearance bore evident signs of riches and +authority: chains, stools, axes, swords, flutes, message-canes, +&c. were either of solid gold, or richly adorned with that +metal: those dazzling appearances, added to damask, taffety, and +other rich dresses, gave a splendour to the scene highly +interesting. When the Governor approached the King, and when an +interchange of compliments had passed, the air resounded with the +noise of musical instruments, such as drums, horns, and flutes. +After some conversation, during which much politeness was observed +in the behaviour of the King, the Governor wished this ceremonial +visit to be returned; which was agreed to, and a convenient place +was found to receive the King and his train. The Governor, his +officers, and attendants, were formed in a half-circle, and seated +under the shade of some trees, and a passage of sufficient breadth +was formed by the soldiers for the King and his attendants to pass +through. It was full two hours before his Majesty was announced, so +numerous was his train. Each man of rank, as he advanced, paid the +necessary compliments agreeably to the custom of his country, and +then filed off. It was previously directed, that the King should be +received with arms presented and the grenadiers march when passing +the soldiers. This mark of distinction and respect appeared to give +him much satisfaction: he halted to observe the orderly behaviour +and uniform appearance of the soldiers; and the martial air that +was playing, seemed to produce the most agreeable sensations on his +mind. The writer had an opportunity of seeing this man. He was of +the middle size, well formed, and perfectly black, with regular +features and an open and pleasing countenance. His manner indicated +understanding and was adorned with gracefulness; and in all +respects he exceeded the expectations of every person. His dress +was plain: it consisted of a piece of silk wrapt loosely about him; +a wreath of green silk ornamented his head: his sandals were neatly +made, and curiously studded with gold. He was not distinguished by +any gold ornaments, as his attendants were. One man who was dressed +in a grotesque manner, and who appeared to act the buffoon, was, +literally, loaded with gold.</p> + +<p>As this was a visit of ceremony, no business of consequence was +transacted. The King politely enquired after Mr. White, and +expressed a hope that he would soon be well of his wounds. He said +he would move from Annamaboe soon, as his army felt ill effects +from the water, and from the dead bodies. After this visit, every +confidence was placed in the King and his army, and as the gates +were now opened, a free admittance was allowed: various conferences +of a favourable nature were carried on between both +parties;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_476">[476]</span> but peace +with the Fantees was considered impracticable. Apoutay had escaped +the King’s vigilance; and Acoom was at the head of a strong party, +and marching towards Annamaboe to give the King battle. The King +assured the Governor, that after he had subdued his enemies to +leeward, he would return to Annamaboe for the purpose of making +arrangements relative to the future welfare of the country, and the +regulations of trade.</p> + +<p>It was agreed, that those residing under British forts, provided +they observed a neutrality, should not be molested, and that every +respect should be paid to the British flag. The Governor likewise +procured the release of those who sought refuge in the fort, +although the King contested his right to them; for this reason, +that as he destroyed the town, he had a claim to every person and +to every thing belonging to it. On report of Acoom being in arms +and making preparations to attack the Ashantees, the King ordered +his army to collect and march to meet him. Two days subsequent to +the King’s departure (3d July,) Acoom’s party and the advanced +guard of the Ashantee’s met; a battle was the consequence, which +ended in the defeat of Acoom, who, with his party, would have been +cut off, if a river, that was in their rear, had not favoured their +flight; the fordable parts of which were known to them, but not to +the Ashantees. After this defeat, the King’s enemies dared not shew +themselves in the field in any force; they however supported a kind +of predatory warfare, and were sometimes successful in cutting off +small foraging parties. As the Ashantees proceeded to leeward, +desolation accompanied them; almost every town and village were +laid in ruins; but disease, which got among them at Annamaboe, and +which spread rapidly, carried off vast numbers. This unexpected +calamity altered the King’s intentions: he could not return to +Annamaboe without risking the loss of his whole army; prudence +therefore directed him to face towards his kingdom, leaving at +Accra a sufficient force to dispose of prisoners, and to convey +them in safety to Ashantee.</p> + +<p>Cheboo and Apoutay, who appeared inseparable friends at the +commencement of this war, and throughout it, fled to Cape Coast +with about five hundred followers, as soon as they perceived the +Ashantees approaching towards Annamaboe, on the 15th of June. The +Cape Coast people were willing to afford them protection and +assistance, but when the Governor heard how things were at +Annamaboe, he warned them of the danger, and advised them to be +neutral. When an account arrived at Cape Coast of the desperate +attack made on Annamaboe fort, the Governor came to the resolution +of securing, if possible, both these men, and delivering them up to +the King as the most probable means of not only putting an end to +the war, but of securing the King’s friendship. A party was +accordingly selected for that purpose; but Apoutay, after a warm +contest, wherein some were killed on both sides, effected his +escape. Cheboo was not so fortunate; he was secured and sent to the +King, as we have already mentioned; his followers too made +a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_477">[477]</span> precipitate +flight, leaving behind them some bulky articles, among which were +the whole of Cheboo’s regalia, which were carefully lodged for the +King; and it had the effect on his disposition that was intended; +it gave a favourable opinion of the British, and assured him of the +Governor’s friendship, and at the same time it abated the desire he +encouraged, to be revenged for the loss his army had sustained on +the 15th. For he concerted a design to attempt the fort by storm, +and Wednesday the 17th was the day appointed for this enterprise. +The plan was not badly arranged; and was to be conducted in the +following manner. Six thousand men were to be selected; half of +them destined not only to mount the walls, but to apply a quantity +of gunpowder under them; the explosion from which was expected to +shake the fort very much, and likewise to create such a confusion +within as to cause the garrison to be off its guard; the other half +were to keep up a continued firing. The plan was averted by the +prudent policy of the Chief Governor, not only by his securing +Cheboo, but by his alacrity in demanding a truce, whereby the +King’s resentment was cooled, and his inclinations diverted towards +pacific measures.</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftapp1"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_142"></a><a href="#FNanchor_142"><span class= +"label">[142]</span></a>This should be Appia Dunqua; he was the +elder brother of Appia Nanu, an account of whose disgrace is in the +<a href="#Page_73">Diary.</a></p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_143"></a><a href="#FNanchor_143"><span class= +"label">[143]</span></a>This should be Atta.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_144"></a><a href="#FNanchor_144"><span class= +"label">[144]</span></a>Mr. White, who, after an absence of twenty +seven years from his native country, expired a few hours after he +landed in it.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_478">[478]</span><a id= +"app2"></a>APPENDIX. No. II.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width12"> + +<p class="sch2 space-above1"><em>Translations of a Manuscript +descriptive of Mr. Park’s Death.</em> +</p> + +<div class="cols"> +<div class="divcol1"> +<p class="center"><span class="sc">Mr. Salame’s Translation.</span> +</p> + +<p class="center less">[The words in italics, so distinguished at +that Gentleman’s request, not being in the original.]</p> + +<p class="hang1 space-above15">A literal translation of a +Declaration, written in a corrupted Arabic, from the town of Yaúd +in the interior of Africa.</p> + +<p class="center">In the name of God the Merciful and the +Munificent.</p> + +<p>This Declaration is issued from the town called<a id= +"FNanchor_145"></a><a href="#Footnote_145" class= +"fnanchor">[145]</a> Yaúd in the Country of Kossa<a id= +"FNanchor_146"></a><a href="#Footnote_146" class= +"fnanchor">[146]</a>.—We (the writer,) do witness the +<em>following</em> case; (statement.) We never saw, nor heard of +the sea (River) called<a id="FNanchor_148"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a> Koodd; but we sat to +hear (understood) the voice (report) of some persons +<em>saying</em>, “We saw a ship, equal to her we never saw before; +and the King of Yaúd had sent plenty of every kind<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_479">[479]</span> of food, with cows and sheep; +<em>There</em> were two men, one woman, two male slaves and two +maids in the ship;<a id="FNanchor_149"></a><a href="#Footnote_149" +class="fnanchor">[149]</a> <em>The</em> two white men <em>were</em> +derived from the race (<em>sect</em>) of Nassrí; (Christ or +Christianity.) The King of Yaúd asked them to come out to him; (to +land<a id="FNanchor_150"></a><a href="#Footnote_150" class= +"fnanchor">[150]</a>; and they refused coming out, (landing,) and +they went to the <em>King of the</em> Country of<a id= +"FNanchor_151"></a><a href="#Footnote_151" class= +"fnanchor">[151]</a> Bassa, who is greater than the King of Yaúd; +And <em>while</em> they <em>were</em> sitting in the ship and +gaining a position (rounding) over the Cape of Koodd, and +<em>were</em> in society with the people of the King of Bassa, the +ship reached (struck) a-head of Mountain which took (destroyed) +<em>her</em> away,<a id="FNanchor_152"></a><a href="#Footnote_152" +class="fnanchor">[152]</a> and the men and women of Bassa all +together, with every kind of arms; (goods); And the ship could find +no way to avoid the mountain; And the man who <em>was</em> in the +ship, killed his wife, and threw all his property into the Sea, +(River), and <em>then</em> they threw themselves <em>also</em> from +fear<a id="FNanchor_153"></a><a href="#Footnote_153" class= +"fnanchor">[153]</a>: Afterwards<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_480">[480]</span> they took one <em>out of the</em> water +till the news reached the town of Kanji,<a id= +"FNanchor_154"></a><a href="#Footnote_154" class= +"fnanchor">[154]</a> the country of the King of Wawí, and the King +of Wawí heard of it, he buried him in his earth, (grave), and the +other we have not seen<a id="FNanchor_155"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a>; perhaps he is in the +bottom of the water.”—And God knows best. Authentic from the mouth +of Sherif Abrahim.—Finis.</p> +</div> + +<div class="divcol2"> +<p class="center"><span class="sc">Mr. Jackson’s +Translation.</span> +</p> + +<p class="hang1 less">[Of this Gentleman’s considerate politeness +in anticipating my wishes by a spontaneous offer to translate this +MS., I shall have occasion to repeat my acknowledgments in the +Geographical Appendix.]</p> + +<p class="center">In the name of God the Merciful and Clement.</p> + +<p>This Narrative proceeds from the territory in Housa<a id= +"FNanchor_146b"></a><a href="#Footnote_146" class= +"fnanchor">[146]</a> called<a id="FNanchor_145b"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a> Eeauree. <em>We +observed</em> an extraordinary event or circumstance<a id= +"FNanchor_147"></a><a href="#Footnote_147" class= +"fnanchor">[147]</a>, <em>but we neither saw nor heard of the River +which is called<a id="FNanchor_148b"></a><a href="#Footnote_148" +class="fnanchor">[148]</a> Kude</em>, and as we were sitting, we +heard the voice of children and <em>we saw a vessel</em> the like +to which in size we never saw before; and, <em>we saw</em> the King +of Eeauree send cattle and sheep, and a variety of vegetables in +great abundance: and there were two men and one<span class= +"pagenum" id="Page_479b"></span> woman, and two slaves, and +<em>they tied or fastened them in the vessel</em>.<a id= +"FNanchor_149b"></a><a href="#Footnote_149" class= +"fnanchor">[149]</a></p> + +<p>There were also in the vessel, two white men of the race called +Christians (N’sarrah) and the Sultan of Eeauree called aloud to +them to come out of the vessel,<a id="FNanchor_150b"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a> but they would not.</p> + +<p>They proceeded to the country of Busa, which is greater than +that of the Sultan of Eeauree, and as they were setting in the +vessel, they hung or were stopped, by the Cape or Head Land of +Kude.<a id="FNanchor_151b"></a><a href="#Footnote_151" class= +"fnanchor">[151]</a></p> + +<p>And the people of the Sultan of Busa called to them, and poured +their arms into the vessel, and the vessel reached the head-land or +cliff, and became attached or fixed to the head of the mountain, +and could not pass it. Then the men and women of Busa collected +themselves hostilely together, with arms of all descriptions, when +the vessel being unable to clear or pass the Cape, the man in the +vessel<span class="pagenum" id="Page_480b"></span> killed his +wife<a id="FNanchor_153b"></a><a href="#Footnote_153" class= +"fnanchor">[153]</a> and threw the whole of her property into the +river: they then threw themselves into the river, fear seizing them +(the news of this occurrence was then conveyed to the Sultan Wawee) +until it reached by water the territory of Kanjee,<a id= +"FNanchor_154b"></a><a href="#Footnote_154" class= +"fnanchor">[154]</a> in the country of the Sultan Wawee, and we +buried it (a male body) in its earth, and one of them, we saw not +at all in the water,<a id="FNanchor_155b"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a> and God knows the truth +of this report. From the mouth of the Shereef Ibrahim.—The end.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="decordb width12"> + +<p class="space-above15">I have sent the original MS. to the +African Association, the following is Mr. Jackson’s transcript of +it. I regret that Mr. Salamé did not also furnish a transcript of +this MS.</p> + +<p class="center arabic">بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم</p> + +<p class="nind right arabic">هذه الوثيقه خرج من بلد حوسا يقال يَور +ونحن راينا الامر لم نري ولانسمع في البحر الذي يقال كوض انما نحن +جلسنا نسمع صاخ صبيان لرايت السفينه لم نري مثله قط فارسل سلطان يَور +لرايته مع البقر والكبس مع انواع الطعام كثيرِ هما رجلان وامراة واحدة +والعبدان وعقدان في السفينة رجلان بيضان خرجوا من نسب نصري ويدعوهو +سلطان يور الي ان خرجوا اليه وابوا خروج ومشوا الي بلد بسا وهوا كبر +من سلطان يور وهم يجلسون ويعلكون ملوك<span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_481">[481]</span> علي راس كُوض ويصاخور اهل سلطان بُسا لرايته +وهم ركوب في السفينة بلغ السفينة راس جبل وياخد الجبل السفينة ورجال +بُسا والنساه بسا يجمعون كلهم مع انواع السلاح والسفينة لم يجد طريق +المنع الجبل ورجل الدي في السفينة قتل امراته ورمي ماله كله في البحر +ورموا نفسهما في البحر لخوف ثم ياخدوا بلغ خبر الي سلطان واوي حتي بلغ +ماه به الي بلد كنجي بلد سلطان وَاوَيَ ودفنه في قرابه وواحد منهما لم +نره اقل في قهر الماه والله اعلم صح في فَم شريف اِبراهيم * تمت*</p> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftapp2"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_145"></a><a href="#FNanchor_145"><span class= +"label">[145]</span></a>Sir William Ouseley (who very obligingly +communicated a hurried translation from Crickhowel, although the +original had been but two hours in his possession) read this Yaur +or Yaôur.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_146"></a><a href="#FNanchor_146"><span class= +"label">[146]</span></a>Sir Wm. writes Husa or Haousa: the latter +is occasionally the Moorish pronunciation, but Houssa is invariably +the negro. I certainly never once heard that Houssa included +Yawoorie, which has a distinct Sovereign, who is mentioned in the +MS.: Perhaps it may be accounted for, from Yawoorie being one of +the seven kingdoms tributary to Houssa or Mallowa.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_147"></a><a href="#FNanchor_147"><span class= +"label">[147]</span></a>Mr. Jackson has preserved this apparent +contradiction in his fidelity to the original, according to his +reading. He considers, it may be reconciled by presuming that the +writer only saw the vessel pass Yawoorie, and did not witness the +ultimate catastrophe at Boussa, where he imagines the river may +first receive the name of Kude, as African rivers frequently have a +different name in every country through which they flow. This +interpretation does not make the writer a mere reporter as in the +other translation, but a witness of all that happened at Yawoorie, +although not afterwards. I never understood the river to have any +other name than Quorra or Quolla, from Shego to Foör, yet of this +we ought not to feel positive.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_148"></a><a href="#FNanchor_148"><span class= +"label">[148]</span></a>It is very extraordinary that the name of +the Quolla should always be written Kude, Koad, or Koada, and that +Mr. Hutchison, who was learning Arabic of the Moors, in Ashantee, +should be taught to write and pronounce as Quolla, the same Arabic +word which every European proficient reads as above. I cannot help +thinking that, from bad writing, ignorance, or perhaps some +occidental difference, the <em>d</em> is put for the +<em>l</em>,<a id="FNanchor_a-148"></a><a href="#Footnote_a-148" +class="fnanchor">[a]</a> and that it should be Kule or Koala, +especially as there appears to be a town called Kula on its banks, +(see <a href="#app3">routes</a> in Appendix) which comes very close +to Kulla, Mr. Brown’s river. The identity of the Quolla and Kulla, +seems confirmed by Mr. Dupuis reading the name of the kingdom, as +written by the Moors, Koora, which seems as if they had written it +for once, according to the negro pronunciation, (Quorra,) for as I +have observed (<a href="#Page_196">p. 196</a>) that the negroes +always substitute r for the Moorish <em>l</em> (a defect also +characterising a dialect of the Coptic, the Chayma, the Tamanack, +&c. &c., and common, as Baron Humboldt observes, to every +zone) Koora becomes Koola, for the same reason which the Quorra of +the negroes was always pronounced Quolla by the Moors; and Koola, +it will be allowed, is very near to Mr. Brown’s Kulla.</p> +</div> + +<div class="subft"> +<p><a id="Footnote_a-148"></a><a href= +"#FNanchor_a-148"><span class="label">[a]</span></a>I recollect +one, but only one instance of the negroes substituting <em>d</em> +for the Moorish <em>l</em>, which was in Toppodo for Toppollo, a +town of Bornoo.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_149"></a><a href="#FNanchor_149"><span class= +"label">[149]</span></a>Mr. Jackson writes <span class= +"arabic">وعقدان في السفينة</span> Uakkadan fee sfeena, i.e. and +tied or bound them in the vessel or ship, adding, that he is at a +loss to imagine how it can have been converted into “two maids in +the ship.”<a id="FNanchor_a-149"></a><a href="#Footnote_a-149" +class="fnanchor">[a]</a> Sir Wm., however, in his hurried notice, +rendered it ‘female slaves.’</p> +</div> + +<div class="subft"> +<p><a id="Footnote_a-149"></a><a href= +"#FNanchor_a-149"><span class="label">[a]</span></a><em>Ockdan fi +ássafinat</em>, means either “<em>Two maids</em>, or <em>two female +slaves</em>, in the ship,” and no otherwise.—A. S.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_150"></a><a href="#FNanchor_150"><span class= +"label">[150]</span></a>“Invited (or entertained them) until they +left him,” Sir Wm.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_151"></a><a href="#FNanchor_151"><span class= +"label">[151]</span></a>Sir William, in his hurried perusal, read +this, “and went on to the country of Besa, and (the Sultan of) this +country is greater than the Sultan of Yaour: there they settled or +halted, above Ras (Cape) Koumen. The people belonging to the Sultan +of Besa saw the boat, and they went into the boat, and it reached +the Mountain Cape, (or Headland,) and was there stopped.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_152"></a><a href="#FNanchor_152"><span class= +"label">[152]</span></a><a href="#tnoteref1" class="tnoteref"></a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_153"></a><a href="#FNanchor_153"><span class= +"label">[153]</span></a>“And <em>the man who was</em><a id= +"FNanchor_a-153"></a><a href="#Footnote_a-153" class= +"fnanchor">[a]</a> in the boat slew his woman (<span class= +"arabic">امراة</span>) and threw every article of his property into +the river, and then cast <em>themselves</em> into the river through +fear.</p> +</div> + +<div class="subft"> +<p><a id="Footnote_a-153"></a><a href= +"#FNanchor_a-153"><span class="label">[a]</span></a>I translate +this in the singular, yet afterwards, there seems a confusion with +the plural.” Sir Wm. This act, which appears very improbable, and +which I never heard of in the oral accounts which I received whilst +in Coomassie, (Diary, <a href="#Page_91">p. 91</a>) if it was +committed, must have been by Lieut. Martyn, recollecting the +difference of his and Mr. Park’s dispositions, and Amadi Fatouma’s +anecdote of the former wishing to kill him for preventing him from +firing any more at the people of the King Gotoijege, I should +observe here, that Amadi Fatouma’s <em>Poul</em> nation can be no +other than the Fillani, (<a href="#Page_207">p. 207</a>) the Fullan +of Ben Ali, for though it has been translated Poul, there is no +<em>p</em> in the Arabic, and the Moors in Ashantee always wrote +<em>f</em> for the negro <em>p</em>, as <em>fon</em> for +<em>pon</em>. As Col. Maxwell merely observes in his letter, that +“Isaaco’s Arabic Journal was translated into English, by a person +resident in Senegal, who probably had but an ordinary or colloquial +knowledge of Arabic, it is to be regretted that the original was +not transmitted with it, as a more careful perusal of it by Sir +William Ouseley or some Arabic scholar in England, would probably +reconcile the two accounts, at least in the names of places, if not +in the circumstances, more than they can be from the translation +remitted.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_154"></a><a href="#FNanchor_154"><span class= +"label">[154]</span></a>See note; <a href="#Page_202">p. +202.</a></p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_155"></a><a href="#FNanchor_155"><span class= +"label">[155]</span></a>“And the other did not,——from the violence +of the water.”—Sir Wm.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_482">[482]</span><a id= +"app3"></a>APPENDIX. No. III.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width12"> + +<p class="sch2 space-above15"><span class= +"letter-spaced01">ROUTE</span>S.</p> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li class="center">1.</li> + +<li class="center">To Dwabin.</li> + +<li>Seepa</li> + +<li>Marmpon</li> + +<li>Pakooroo</li> + +<li>Aquooquamong</li> + +<li>Okimdaia</li> + +<li>Weterkroom</li> + +<li>Bunkooroo</li> + +<li>Boomfeea</li> + +<li>Kinnesoo</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li class="center">2.</li> + +<li class="center">To Quaoo.</li> + +<li>1. Assiempong</li> + +<li>2. Thro’ Amoom R. to Oseemadoo</li> + +<li>3. Obogoo, Frontier Quaoo town.</li> + +<li>4. Adumpong, the Government of the C. Coast Captain</li> + +<li>5. Assebanasoo</li> + +<li>6. Minidasoo, Famous for Palm Oil.</li> + +<li>7. Assoona</li> + +<li>8. Wantomo</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li class="center">3.</li> + +<li class="center">To Accra.</li> + +<li>1. Odossoo</li> + +<li>3. Kroofoofroom, Two hours from the lake.</li> + +<li>4. Obirribee, The 1st Akim town</li> + +<li>5. Assinee</li> + +<li>6. Over Boosempra to Gawasee</li> + +<li>7. Meeasee</li> + +<li>8. Monasa</li> + +<li>9. Over the Aninnee, (rising in a hill called Quomshoo, 1 day +to the W.) on a tree</li> + +<li>10. Ashoosoo</li> + +<li>11. Aquapong</li> + +<li>12. Over Birrim to Measa</li> + +<li>13. Asheeaqua</li> + +<li>14. Kookrantoom</li> + +<li>15. Aguiesso</li> + +<li>16. Marmpon and Aboödee, Visited by Issert, who calls it 24 +miles from Christiansburg Castle.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li class="center">4.</li> + +<li class="center">To Accra.</li> + +<li>1. Ashiedumpong</li> + +<li>2. Assaboo</li> + +<li>3. Assuennie</li> + +<li>5. Antarranaï</li> + +<li>6. Ammoonoom</li> + +<li>7. Akropong</li> + +<li>9. Abirriwantoo</li> + +<li>10. Aradntem</li> + +<li>11. Kookrantoom</li> + +<li>13. Aguiesso.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li class="center">5.</li> + +<li class="center">To Elmina.</li> + +<li>1. Thro’ the towns Akasee, Kankawasee, Odasoo, Adiabin, +Asakkraka, Adoonko, Agafrompon, to Adoomasa</li> + +<li>2. Fiasee, Bonechumay, Asanasoo, to Becquoi</li> + +<li>3. Inshuentem, (<em>between waters</em>) Abimpingua, to +Atobiasee</li> + +<li>4. Thro’ Hoomassie, Assekosoo, Edoomassie, Akoorkerry, +Akotokee, Yankeren, to Abateä, the frontier town of Dankara</li> + +<li>5. Thro’ Sewooterasee, (<em>put your head lower</em>) Aboposoo, +the frontier Tufel town, to Ensuaguesoo, (<em>woman’s town</em>) +the capital of Tufel</li> + +<li>6. Morobim</li> + +<li>7. Thro’ Akoontarrem, (the 1st Warsaw town) Amodai, over +Bopoquaw, (a high hill where there was formerly a large croom, now +deserted) & Apachamba, to Kaïrakoo</li> + +<li>8. Over Pra to Demamba</li> + +<li>9. Dadiasoo</li> + +<li>10. Asseecooma, Abannasoo, Abrādi, Elmina, or, as the natives +call it, Addĭna.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li class="center">6.</li> + +<li class="center">To Dankara.</li> + +<li>1. Dakoon</li> + +<li>2. Terraboöom, the frontier town of Dankara</li> + +<li>3. Thro’ Mosiasoo to Enquanta</li> + +<li>4. Thro’ Ofoo, Amasoo, to Dankara.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li class="center">7.</li> + +<li class="center">To Buntookoo.</li> + +<li>1. Barree <a id="FNanchor_156"></a><a href="#Footnote_156" +class="fnanchor">[156]</a>or to Passaroo</li> + +<li>2. Beamasoo, or to Dooniantiffee</li> + +<li>3. Ensoota</li> + +<li>4. Quanta</li> + +<li>5. Across Tando, to Odomassee</li> + +<li>6. Suaterree</li> + +<li>7. Birrakoomee</li> + +<li>8. Yammee</li> + +<li>9. Kirribeeö</li> + +<li>10. Kickiwerree</li> + +<li>11. Buntookoo</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li class="center"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_483">[483]</span>8.</li> + +<li class="center">To Banda.</li> + +<li>1. Tafoo</li> + +<li>2. Ofeesoo</li> + +<li>3. Abofoo</li> + +<li>4. Kinkawasoo</li> + +<li>5. Akomada</li> + +<li>6. Tandosoo</li> + +<li>7. Koontoosoo</li> + +<li>8. Takima</li> + +<li>9. Weäkee</li> + +<li>10. Aousa</li> + +<li>11. Soko</li> + +<li>12. Namasa</li> + +<li>13. Coransoo</li> + +<li>14. Bimma</li> + +<li>15. Banda</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li class="center">9.</li> + +<li class="center">To Boopee.</li> + +<li>1. Esansoo, or Medima</li> + +<li>2. Through Ofim, which rises close to the E. to Bümsoo or +Akimakasie</li> + +<li>3. Soodroo</li> + +<li>4. Takimenteä, or Quamang</li> + +<li>5. Akommadeä, or Boomang</li> + +<li>6. Boisoo</li> + +<li>7. Coranza</li> + +<li>8. Boibin</li> + +<li>9. Koonquoontee</li> + +<li>10. Dawdaw</li> + +<li>11. Akrofroom</li> + +<li>12. Oboosmosoo</li> + +<li>13. Moboäsoo</li> + +<li>14. On the path</li> + +<li>15. Over Adirri</li> + +<li>16. Boopee</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li class="center">10.</li> + +<li class="center">To Sallagha.</li> + +<li>1. Marmpon</li> + +<li>2. Aphwaguiasee</li> + +<li>3. Gammasee a fetish temple</li> + +<li>4. Akrofroom</li> + +<li>5. Intonnasoo (Cloth Town)</li> + +<li>6. Quanasee or Troabirree</li> + +<li>7. Agwoona</li> + +<li>8. Adoogan</li> + +<li>9. Over rivers and mountains to Aguirra, or Poorra</li> + +<li>10. Through Sennee to Amanting</li> + +<li>11. Pattooda</li> + +<li>12. Atoboboo</li> + +<li>13. Weasee</li> + +<li>14. Pannangha</li> + +<li>15. Yadjee</li> + +<li>16. Over Adirri to Sallagha</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li class="center">11.</li> + +<li class="center">To Source of Sennee.</li> + +<li>1. Agamachasee</li> + +<li>2. Aboiman</li> + +<li>3. Yatirrim</li> + +<li>4. Oweeamasee</li> + +<li>5. Anyanasue</li> + +<li>6. Assekadoomasee</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li class="center">12.</li> + +<li class="center">To Odentee ferry.</li> + +<li>1. Kokoofoo</li> + +<li>2. Guia</li> + +<li>3. Weeäsee</li> + +<li>4. Bassa</li> + +<li>5. Tarrisoo</li> + +<li>6. Over Sennee, to ferry</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li class="center">13.</li> + +<li class="center">From Yahndi to Daboia</li> + +<li>1. Through Patinga to Duetuem</li> + +<li>2. Tampeūn</li> + +<li>3. Through Nantong to Kompoongo</li> + +<li>4. Through Boö to Dindinno</li> + +<li>5. Daboia</li> +</ul> + +<p class="center">Large Towns on the Route from Boornoo to +Oongoora.</p> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li>Deeagarra</li> + +<li>Digza</li> + +<li>Gellaroo</li> + +<li>Rakah</li> + +<li>Zaghgah</li> + +<li>Ariggum</li> + +<li>Madellarie</li> + +<li>Zogogdo</li> + +<li>Doobba</li> + +<li>Toppollo, or Toppodo</li> + +<li>Garaga</li> + +<li>Gaskaia</li> + +<li>Matchella</li> + +<li>Goozirrinkoorra</li> + +<li>Dumgabalo</li> + +<li>Potuskum, or Kuskum</li> + +<li>Dawaso</li> + +<li>Woodbo</li> + +<li>Gummo</li> + +<li>Zega</li> +</ul> + +<p class="center">Adagia, Mallagee, and Katanga, lay between +Oongoora, and Kassina.</p> + +<p class="center space-above15 space-below1">Towns adjoining, or +laying close to the right and left of the above Route.</p> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li>Serrakeelaia</li> + +<li>Dakum</li> + +<li>Lismaroo</li> + +<li>Goobilwa</li> + +<li>Gobookalashee</li> + +<li>Dazakou</li> + +<li>Danga</li> + +<li>Likhalalie</li> + +<li>Looha</li> +</ul> + +<p>The following transcripts of the most intelligible of the MSS. I +brought, according to the different readings, with the Negro +pronunciation as it was familiar to me in Ashantee, will show how +careless or incapable the Moors are of writing the names of Negro +kingdoms accurately<span class="pagenum" id="Page_484">[484]</span> +according to the expression of the natives. The original MSS. will +be sent to the African Association, to whom I had hoped to present +the interesting itinerary of Shereef Brahima from Dagwumba to +Mecca, but this valuable MS. which it had cost me so much pains to +procure, after being kept three months by one gentleman before he +discovered that he had not time to translate it, was lost or +mislaid by another in the course of doing so, and I have the +mortification of being unable to submit any other than the mere +skeleton of it. See Geography, <a href="#Page_205">p. 205.</a></p> + +<h3>CHART No. I.</h3> + +<p class="sch2"><em>Course of the Niger or Quolla (by a Houssa +Moor.)</em> +</p> + +<table class="tabw40 paddedcol4" id="t484"> +<tr> +<th>Negro pronunciation.</th> +<th colspan="2">Mr. Jackson’s reading and transcript.</th> +<th colspan="2" class="pad2">Mr. Dupuis’ reading and +transcript.</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Gebowa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Gebawa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جباو</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Toro Jollabi</td> +<td>Futa Jelua</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فوت جلوا</td> +<td>Foota Joolaba</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فُوتَ جلوب</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fota Tora</td> +<td>Futa Tura</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فوت طورَ</td> +<td>Foota Tooroo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فُوتَ طُورُ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hasoo</td> +<td>Kassua</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">خَصوا</td> +<td>Khassoua</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">خَصُوا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jaoona</td> +<td>Jäun</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جَعونْ</td> +<td>Jafoona</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جفون</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Gammoe</td> +<td>G¯remua</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">غموا</td> +<td>Ghemoua</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">غمُوا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mallaia</td> +<td>Maly Faly</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَلَي فَلي</td> +<td>Malia</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَلي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Shego</td> +<td>Shag¯ru</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شاغُ</td> +<td>Shagho</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شاغُ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sansandin</td> +<td>Sansandia</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سَنسَندي</td> +<td>Sansandia</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سَنسَندي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jennie</td> +<td>Janni</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جَان</td> +<td>Jinnie</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جَان</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mashina</td> +<td>Masheena</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَاشِنَ</td> +<td>Mashena</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَاشينَ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jimballa</td> +<td>G¯rimbala</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">غِمْبَلَ</td> +<td><a id="FNanchor_157"></a><a href="#Footnote_157" class= +"fnanchor">[157]</a>Ghimballa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">غِمْبَلَ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td colspan="2">(G¯r nearest sound to <span class= +"arabic">غ</span>.)</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kabarra</td> +<td>Kabra</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كَبرَ</td> +<td>Kabara</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كَبَرَ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Timbuctoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Timbuctoo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ثمْبَكْتُ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jolliba</td> +<td>Jilab Karihua</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جلاب كريهوا</td> +<td>Jilleb Kareho</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جلاب كريهوا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td colspan="2" class="tdc">(or Garihua.<a id= +"FNanchor_158"></a><a href="#Footnote_158" class= +"fnanchor">[158]</a>)</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Uzzabin</td> +<td>Asabin</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">احبن</td> +<td>Azbene</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ازبن</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Gaw</td> +<td>G¯raheh</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">غاي</td> +<td>Ghou</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">غاو</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_485">[485]</span>Kabi</td> +<td>Keb</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كب</td> +<td>Kabi</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كب</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Yaoora</td> +<td>Eüra</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">يورَ</td> +<td>Yaoury</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">يور</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Hooman (Dhooman)</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">حمن</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Raka</td> +<td>Baka</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بَكا</td> +<td>Raka</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">رَكَا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Quarraraba</td> +<td>Kurauabee</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كرَوبَي</td> +<td>Koorawaba</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كْرَوَبَ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mafeegoodoo</td> +<td>Mafikadoo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَافِقُدَ</td> +<td>Mafhygodo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَافْقِغُدُ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cadie, Caudee, and Chadi</td> +<td>Shad</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شد</td> +<td>Shada</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شَدَ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sharee R.</td> +<td>Shar</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شر</td> +<td>Sharry</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شَرِ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Foor</td> +<td>Fure</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فور</td> +<td>Foor</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فُوُرْ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Weddai</td> +<td>Wadan</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">وادان</td> +<td>Wadana</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">وَادَانَ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td colspan="2" class="tdc">(i.e. two rivers.)</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Soonar</td> +<td>Sanar</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سَنَارْ</td> +<td>Sanar</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سَنَارْ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Shuar Benassa</td> +<td>Sheua benasser</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شوَا بنَسر</td> +<td>Shewa ben Hassan</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شوَا بن حسن</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>Shousuad</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شوسواد</td> +<td>Shousooda</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شوسواد</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Doulamba</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">دُلَنْبَ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>Kalen or Falen</td> +<td class="tdr"><span class="arabic">فالن</span> or <span class= +"arabic">كالن</span></td> +<td>Kalana</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كالن</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jefeesgo</td> +<td>Jafag¯r</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جَفَغْ</td> +<td>Jafegh</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جفغ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Massar</td> +<td>Mass’r</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مصر</td> +<td>Massir</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مصر</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<h3>MS. No. I.</h3> + +<p class="sch2"><em>Route from Boussa to Yarriba.</em> +</p> + +<table class="padded3" id="t485"> +<tr> +<td>Wauwaw</td> +<td>Wou</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">واوْ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kaiama</td> +<td>Kima</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كيما</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Godoobirrie</td> +<td>Khudubar</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">خدوبار</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Gamba</td> +<td>Khamba</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">خَمْبَ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kroomie Yarriba</td> +<td>Kurmi Yarabia</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كُرْم يَرَبي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ageasee</td> +<td>Abashee</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ابَشي</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>A more familiar illustration of the difficulty or carelessness +of the Moors in writing Negro names, is the following route to +Sallagha, to which there are many paths, containing several +Ashantee towns, which I have laid down in the map. I rather think, +however, the corrupt Arabic of the interior is not quite +understood.</p> + +<h3><span class="pagenum" id="Page_486">[486]</span>MS. No. +II.</h3> + +<table class="tabw40 bd-collapse" id="t486a"> +<tr> +<th>Negro pronunciation.</th> +<th colspan="3">Mr. Jackson’s reading and transcript.</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>Jemakashee</td> +<td class="width-brace1"> +</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جماكاشي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Gammasee</td> +<td>Khemashee or Ghemashee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">خماشي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Akrofroom</td> +<td>Kukerume or Kuferume</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdr"><span class="arabic">كوقروم</span> or <span class= +"arabic">كوكروم</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>Ber kaleela (a narrow or close country)</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">برقليلا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Soota</td> +<td>U badha Shta</td> +<td class="brt"> +</td> +<td rowspan="2" class="arabic tdr">وبعده شتا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2">And afterwards Shta or an alluvial country</td> +<td class="brb"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="3">The people of Sudi in the territory of Shta</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">وحيل اسود كان في بلد شتا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Marmpon</td> +<td>U badha Mamefm</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">و بعده مَمفم</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Aduarrie Kennie</td> +<td>D’keen Adjar</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">دكين ادجار</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Aguira</td> +<td>Ajuee or Ajree</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdr"><span class="arabic">اجري</span> or <span class= +"arabic">اجوي</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Antonasoo</td> +<td>Anteenee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">عنتيني</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>Akakuee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">اككوي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Patooda (no P in Arabic)</td> +<td>Ketdee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كتدي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Atoboo</td> +<td>Atab</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">اتاب</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Weasee</td> +<td>Hooashee or Weeashu</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="tdr"><span class="arabic">جومشي</span> or <span class= +"arabic">حوعشي</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>Feneeueekee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فنيويقي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Perhaps meaning frontier of Booroom</td> +<td>Bure</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بور</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sallagha</td> +<td>Salag<sup>~</sup>r</td> +<td> +</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سلغ</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>I shall submit more translations or transcripts of routes and +charts in Arabic, adding the Negro pronunciation, as the situations +of most of the places were not so clearly confirmed as to enable me +to insert them in my map, and consequently it is important to +enable future travellers to refer to them; such outlines being a +great assistance in directing and checking enquiry (which they +frequently originate) and investigation. The original MSS. will be +sent to the African Association, in case a further examination may +be desirable hereafter.</p> + +<h3>MS. No. III.</h3> + +<p class="sch2"><em>Course of the Niger or Quolla (by a Bornoo +Moor.)</em> +</p> + +<table class="tabw40 paddedcol4" id="t486b"> +<tr> +<th>Negro pronunciation.</th> +<th colspan="2">Mr. Jackson’s reading and transcript.</th> +<th colspan="2" class="pad2">Mr. Dupuis’ reading and +transcript.</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bambooch</td> +<td>Banbug<sup>~</sup>r eladi eeakul</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بَنبُغ الدي ياكل</td> +<td>Banboogho</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بَنْبغ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>el Ham Abn Adam</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">الحم ابن ادم</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td colspan="2">Banbug<sup>~</sup>r, who eat the flesh of men.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>Firmag<sup>~</sup>r</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فرمَغَ</td> +<td>Fermagha</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فرمَغَ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hasoo</td> +<td>Hâsu</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">حاسُ</td> +<td>Hasoo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">حَاسُ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jaoona</td> +<td>Jahunu</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جَاحُنُ</td> +<td>Jahoonoo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جَاحُيُ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_487">[487]</span>Gamoo</td> +<td>Jamu</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جَمُ</td> +<td>Jamoo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جَمُ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Malay or Mallaia</td> +<td>Mali</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَلي</td> +<td>Malabi</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَلبي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Shego</td> +<td>Shaegru</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شَيْغُ</td> +<td>Shagho</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شَيْغُ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sansandin</td> +<td>Sansandy</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سَنسَندِ</td> +<td>Sansadia</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سَنسَدَ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jennie</td> +<td>Jany</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جَنِ</td> +<td>Jinnie</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جني</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mashina</td> +<td>Masina</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَاسَنَ</td> +<td>Massina</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَاسنَ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Timbuctoo</td> +<td>Tunbûktu</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تُنبَقْتُ</td> +<td>Timbuctoo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تمبقْتُ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Gauw</td> +<td>G¯rau</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">غَاوْ</td> +<td>Ghaou</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">غاوْ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kolomanni</td> +<td>Kulman</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كُلْمَنِ</td> +<td>Koolmani</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كُلْمَن</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Zinberme</td> +<td>Dtanberma</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ذَنبرْمَ</td> +<td>Danberma</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ذَنْبرْمَ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cabi</td> +<td>Kabi</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كَبِ</td> +<td>Kabi</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كَبِ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Yawoorie or Yaoora</td> +<td>Eauri</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">يَاوُرِ</td> +<td>Yaouri</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">يَاوُرِ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Noofee</td> +<td>Nufy</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">نُفي</td> +<td>Noufee</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">نفي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Boussa</td> +<td>Busâa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بوسَا</td> +<td>Boussa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بوسا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Rakka</td> +<td>Raka</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">رَاقَا</td> +<td>Rakka</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">رَاقَا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bornoo</td> +<td>B’rn Bernu</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">برن</td> +<td>Bornou</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">برن</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Chadee L.</td> +<td colspan="4">(The lake drawn, but the name not written.)</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bagarrimee</td> +<td>Bag¯rarm</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">باغرو</td> +<td>Baghroom</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">باغرم</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kalamfarradoo</td> +<td>Kaferk or Kaferd</td> +<td class="tdr"><span class="arabic">كافرد</span> or <span class= +"arabic">كافرك</span></td> +<td>Kaferda Kalferka</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كافرد</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Weddaï</td> +<td>Wadana (two rivers)</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">وَدَان</td> +<td>Wadai</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">وَدَان</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Soonar</td> +<td>Surnar</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سُرنَرْ</td> +<td>Soonar</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سُونَرْ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>Siua</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سيوا</td> +<td>Sewa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سيوا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Schweess</td> +<td>Suis</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سويس</td> +<td>Souisa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سويس</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Zaloo</td> +<td>Jal</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جال</td> +<td>Jaloo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جال</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kataëba</td> +<td>Katab</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">قَتَب</td> +<td>Kataibi</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فَتَيب</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Makidzue</td> +<td>Mek’duh</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مقدوح</td> +<td>Mokad</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مقدوح</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mertabass</td> +<td>M’rtabas</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مرتباس</td> +<td>Mertabas</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مرتباس</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hoodayba</td> +<td>Mamudeeb</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَموديب</td> +<td>Haoudeba</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">هوديي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Taiboos</td> +<td>Teesuse</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تيسوس</td> +<td>Tesoos</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تيسوس</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jarooba</td> +<td>Jerub</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جروب</td> +<td>Jarouba</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جروب</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tabarrabass</td> +<td>Tidburse or Tidfurse</td> +<td class="tdr"><span class="arabic">تدبرس</span> or <span class= +"arabic">تدفرس</span></td> +<td>Tarbasa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ترباس</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_488">[488]</span>Gedda.</td> +<td>J’da</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جدا</td> +<td>Jidda</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جدا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Geddook</td> +<td>J’duk</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جدوخ</td> +<td>Jidoukh</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جدوخ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Limbarr’</td> +<td>Linbabahr</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">لنبَبَحر</td> +<td>Linbahar</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">لنبحر</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tarrowm</td> +<td>Term</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ترم</td> +<td>Taroom</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ترم</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Massar</td> +<td>M’nser</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">منصر</td> +<td>Minsor</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">منصر</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sakunderree or Askandarie</td> +<td>Skender, a swamp lake</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سكندر مرج</td> +<td>Sakundria, Alexandria</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سْكَنْدَرِ</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="sch2"><em>Route from Timbuctoo to Ferjan (from the same +MS.)</em> +</p> + +<table class="tabw40 paddedcol5 bd-collapse" id="t488a"> +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Tuan</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">توان</td> +<td>Toowano</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">توان</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>M’brûk</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مبروك</td> +<td>Mobaruka</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مبَرْوك</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Jeerban</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">حيربن</td> +<td>Joojebani</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">اجوجبن</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Abugiberk</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ابوجبرخ</td> +<td>Kheerabi</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">خيربي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Tehekeem</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تحكيم</td> +<td>Tahkema</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تحكيم</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bageeacha</td> +<td class="brt width-brace1"> +</td> +<td rowspan="5" colspan="4">not written, but position marked, and +thus pronounced.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hootailee</td> +<td class="liner"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Goosaicha</td> +<td class="liner"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hayloon</td> +<td class="liner"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Barrahese</td> +<td class="brb"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Ferjan</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فرجان</td> +<td>Ferjan</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فَرْجَانْ</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="sch2"><em>From Timbuctoo to Tunis (from the same +Chart.)</em> +</p> + +<table class="tabw40 paddedcol4" id="t488b"> +<tr> +<td>Ziggie</td> +<td>Jak, Jik, or Juk</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جق</td> +<td>Jagha</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جغ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Arowalla</td> +<td>Arun or Arul</td> +<td class="tdr"><span class="arabic">عرول</span> or <span class= +"arabic">عرون</span></td> +<td>Aaroon</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">عرون</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tarrabaleese</td> +<td>Trahesen</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ترهيسن</td> +<td>Trabolas</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ترهبليس</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mooquinassa</td> +<td>M’kenas</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ممكناس</td> +<td>Mookanassa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَكْنَاس</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hass</td> +<td>Has</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">حَاسْ</td> +<td>Hhas</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">حَاسْ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Landoloos</td> +<td>Lindalsu</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">لَندَلْسُ</td> +<td>Lankalsoo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">لَنكَلْسُ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Toonis</td> +<td>Tunis</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تونس</td> +<td>Tunis</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تونس</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td>Near the sea</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كباله بحر</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>Other towns named on this route were</p> + +<ul class="simple3"> +<li>Hassaladee</li> + +<li>Hassazedeed</li> + +<li>Hassat</li> + +<li>Omattaras</li> + +<li>Dizzaela</li> + +<li>Dazeleel</li> + +<li>Katerbaîlie</li> + +<li>Bahadzai</li> + +<li>Maratooph</li> + +<li>Swamach</li> +</ul> + +<h3><span class="pagenum" id="Page_489">[489]</span>MS. No. +IV.</h3> + +<p class="sch2"><em>Course of the Niger or Quolla (by a Jennie Moor +who had been to Egypt.)</em> +</p> + +<table class="tabw40 bd-collapse paddedcol5" id="t489"> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">Negro pronunciation.</th> +<th colspan="2">Mr. Jackson’s reading and transcript.</th> +<th colspan="2" class="pad2">Mr. Dupuis’ reading and +transcript.</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mallaia</td> +<td class="width-brace1"> +</td> +<td>Malh</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ملح</td> +<td>Mahh</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَاحْ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Shego</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Shak</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سك</td> +<td>Shako</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سكُ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sansandin</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Sansandee</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سنسدَي</td> +<td>Sansandia</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سنسنديَ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jennie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Jin</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جن</td> +<td>Jinnie</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جنِ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Massina</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Masheen</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ماشين</td> +<td>Mashina</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ماشين</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tinbuctoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Tinbut</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تنبت</td> +<td>Tinbuctoo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تنبت</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="6" class="hang2">(Here he draws the Jolliba flowing +from or into the Quolla by Timbuctoo.)</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Gauw</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Gru</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">غو</td> +<td>Ghou</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">غو</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Quoälla</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Kula</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كولا</td> +<td>Koualla</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كولا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Askeä</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Assaëe</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">اَساَي</td> +<td>Askea</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">اسكي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Zabirma</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Zabuaä</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">زبوعا</td> +<td>Zaberma</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">زبرما</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cabi</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Keb</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كب</td> +<td>Kaby</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كبا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Yaoora</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Eeurë</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">يور</td> +<td>Yeory</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">يور</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Boussa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>B’sa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بسا</td> +<td>Bussu</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بسا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="6" class="hang2">(Here he branches off a southern +route to Yarriba with precisely the same names as in MS. I, by the +Houssa Moor.)</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Noofee</td> +<td class="brt"> +</td> +<td colspan="4" rowspan="5">not written, but position marked, and +thus pronounced.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Quolla-liffa</td> +<td class="liner"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Atagara</td> +<td class="liner"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sharee R.</td> +<td class="liner"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Chadee L.</td> +<td class="brb"> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Foor</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Foo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فوُ</td> +<td>Sour</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">صُره</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Weddai</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Wadaee</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">وداي</td> +<td>Wadai</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">وداي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Joonar</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Jusenaw</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جوسناو</td> +<td>Joosnou</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جوسناو</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Shewa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Shuee</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شوي</td> +<td>Shouy</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سوي</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sooeess</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Siuse</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سُوسْ</td> +<td>Sweis</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سُوسْ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Zale</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Zal</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">زاَل</td> +<td>Zal</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">زاَل</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Zaedooma</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Zeehwam</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">زيهوم</td> +<td>Zeedouma</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">زيدوم</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Lachtamoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Lahellam</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">لاحلام</td> +<td>Lakhtamo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">لاخطام</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Makagoodoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Mehed’twa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">محذوْع</td> +<td>Mohadzou</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">محذوْع</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_490">[490]</span>Dalooba</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Deeluba</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ديلوبا</td> +<td>Djaoba</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">دجاوبا</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tarbass</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Tubas</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">توباس</td> +<td>Terbasa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ترباس</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jaheesoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Jekeesee</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جخيس</td> +<td>Jakhesa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جخيس</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Latooha</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Lituh or Liauh</td> +<td class="tdr"><span class="arabic">ليعوح</span> or <span class= +"arabic">ليطوح</span></td> +<td>Letouh</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ليطوح</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mabanoos</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>M’benuse</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مبنوس</td> +<td>Mabanouso</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَبَنُوس</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Itkhame</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Atekam</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">اتخام</td> +<td>Etakhamo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">اطخدَمُ</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Massar</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Missu</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مصو</td> +<td>Massir</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مصر</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sooryada</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Sueed</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سويد</td> +<td>Sourida</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سُويد</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nezoogoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Teeawa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تياوع</td> +<td>Nezugh</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">نيزوخح</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kataramoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Kateram</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كترام</td> +<td>Kateramo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كترام</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dahloomoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>D’helume</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">دحلوم</td> +<td>Dhalomo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">دحلوم</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hateboo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Heteeb</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">حتيب</td> +<td>Hhateba</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">حتيب</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Haheenie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Heneen</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">حنين</td> +<td>Hahhene</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ححين</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hajamie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Khejam</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">خجام</td> +<td>Hajame</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">حجام</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tapasooloo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Tefawn</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تفعون</td> +<td>Tafsoona</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تفصون</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Askandarie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Askundria</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">اسكندري</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bahar Mela</td> +<td> +</td> +<td colspan="2" class="tdc">(Bahar Melhah the salt sea)</td> +<td class="pad2">Bahar al Malah</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<h3>MS. No. IV.</h3> + +<p>This was written by an old Moor, a native of the Mallowa +country, but unfortunately just as he had finished (for I made them +all write at the moment in my own apartment, however hurried, +rather than allow them to go home and compose for me) and was +beginning to explain what he had written, a summons from the King +obliged me to quit him, and he left Coomassie before I could +procure another visit from him. In the absence of all explanation, +I can only conclude from some few names that are familiar to me, +that it is a route from Berragoo over the Quolla, and then westward +to Bergoo, known to Mr. Brown. I am only induced thus to preserve a +transcript of this ms. from its fortunate co-incidence in several +names with the valuable lost itinerary of my friend Brahima, as far +as can be collected from a mere sketch of a translation, which was +made in anticipation of the perfect one. I shall submit them +collaterally, as they assist to elucidate each other, and agree +very well in the relative positions of places, although the parties +never saw each other, which is some satisfaction under the +disappointment.</p> + +<table class="tabw50 paddedcols3-5" id="t491"> +<tr> +<th colspan="2"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_491">[491]</span><span class="large"><em>Outline of Brahima’s +Itinerary.</em></span> +</th> +<th colspan="3"><span class="large">MS. No. IV.</span> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<th colspan="2">Mr. Dupuis’ reading and transcript.</th> +<th colspan="2" class="pad2">Mr. Jackson’s reading and +transcript.</th> +<th class="pad2">Other readings.</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bazao (Barao)</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بَزاوُ (بَراوُ)</td> +<td>Burg¯ru</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بُرْغُ</td> +<td>Bouroughoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Babigry</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بَبِغي</td> +<td>Babaghe</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kaikshi</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كَيَقشي</td> +<td>Keekesh</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كيقش</td> +<td>Keekash</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Droo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">دروو</td> +<td>Serkune</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سركون</td> +<td>Serkoon</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mashooko</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مَشوُكوْ</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Banghoo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بَانْغُوا</td> +<td>Banaka</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بانعقا</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Toonooma</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تُونُومُ</td> +<td>Tuee</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">توي</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Yajoury (doubtless Yawoorie)</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">يَجُورِ</td> +<td>Tenbykukmaetunby</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تنب كوك مَيتُنْب</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Kenbua</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كنبوا</td> +<td>Kanboo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Dendawy</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">دنداوي</td> +<td>Danadoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Belg¯rua</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بلغوا</td> +<td>Balaghou</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jabdgho</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جَبْذْغُ</td> +<td>Jebeng¯rua</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جبنغوا</td> +<td>Jabadghoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Keemba or Keerba</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كمْبَا (كصْبَا)</td> +<td>Kamba</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كمبه</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kadarkoo R.</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">اَلجركَدَرْكُ</td> +<td>Kedug¯reh R.</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كَدوغه</td> +<td>Kadarko</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Doodirba R.</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ذُذْرْبَا</td> +<td>Dtedterba R.</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ذذربا</td> +<td>Dodarba</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Uwawfeh</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">وواوفه</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Mhaka Kury (arrival at Kury)</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">محكا كوري</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Saffer</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سفر</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Aäu Khashah</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">اعَوو كحاشه</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Shawanka</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">اشَوَنْكَا</td> +<td>Shawangra</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شاوَنْغَ</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ghoufel</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">غوفل</td> +<td>Jafu</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جافُو</td> +<td>Japhoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Simmer</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سمر</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Yarkoo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">يركو</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Daghm</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">دغم</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bannanao</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بَنَنَوْا</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Doonkee</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">دُنْقيْ</td> +<td>Dunka</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">دُنقَيْ</td> +<td>Doonkot</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ghodau</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">غوضا</td> +<td>G¯ru’w</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">غووَ</td> +<td>Ghouwa</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Salamo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سَلَمْوُا</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Janboodoo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جَانْبُدُوا</td> +<td>Jabendu</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">جابندوا</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_492">[492]</span>Soosoo</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سُسُوْا</td> +<td>Susu</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">سُوسُوْا</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kooreree</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كُرر</td> +<td>Koos</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كوصْ</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Barghoowa</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">برغَوَا</td> +<td>Berg¯rua</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">برغوا</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nak or Naka</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">نك</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Water of Wada</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">وض</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Douga (probably Donga)</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">ضوغا</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mazim</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مزم</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kal</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كل</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Makji</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مقجي</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tafkat</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">تفقت</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Shal L.</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شل</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Koad or Koada</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كوض</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="5" class="hang2">Here the writer signified that he +went back to <em>Kateen</em>, as appeared to the transcriber, but +more probably <em>Kassina</em>, and thence proceeded to</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kano</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">كَن</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bornou</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">برنو</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sher R.</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شر</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Shadda L.</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شاد</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Foor</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">فر</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Wada</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">وداء</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Massir</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مصر</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Makata (Mecca)</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مكة</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Madina</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">مدينه</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Shem (Damascus)</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">شام</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jerusalem, &c. &c.</td> +<td class="arabic tdr">بيت المقدس</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftapp3"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_156"></a><a href="#FNanchor_156"><span class= +"label">[156]</span></a>When <em>or</em> appears between two names, +it means that each town is equally close to the path, and +indifferently visited.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_157"></a><a href="#FNanchor_157"><span class= +"label">[157]</span></a>Mr. Dupuis renders the Arabic <span class= +"arabic">غ</span> g¯h agreeable to Richardson. Mr. Jackson has +insisted on preferring g˘r throughout. Mr. Dupuis, having sailed +for Africa, has not had the advantage of correcting the press for +himself, but every care has been taken.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_158"></a><a href="#FNanchor_158"><span class= +"label">[158]</span></a>Sir W. Ouseley remarks, that the letter +<em>k</em> is frequently softened into <em>g</em>.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_493">[493]</span><a id= +"app4"></a>APPENDIX. No. IV.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width12"> + +<h3><span class="sc">Reptilia. (Reptiles.)</span> +</h3> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Monitor</span>, +<em>Cuvier.</em></p> + +<p class="nind pad2"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Pulcher</i>, +<em>Leach.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">M. Supra niger albo pulcherrime zonatus et +maculatus: zonis dorsalibus e maculis effectis, ventre albido nigro +transversim vage lineato, cauda compressa carinata.</p> + +<p class="hang4">This elegant species was found in Fantee. The +whole upper parts of the body, the legs and tail, are black, most +beautifully banded and spotted with white. The bands on the tail +are alternately wide and narrow; the wider bands are each much and +abruptly dilated above into a kind of spot, whilst the narrow ones +become gradually wider in the inverse direction. The legs are +spotted above with white; the under parts of them, as well as of +the belly and throat, are also of the same colour with the +spots.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Chamæleon</span>, +<em>of authors.</em></p> + +<p class="nind pad2"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Dilepis</i>, +<em>Leach.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">Ch. Capite supra sub plano utrinque bicarinato: +carinis antice conniventibus, occipite utrinque squama magna +instructo, dorso subspinoso-carinato.</p> + +<p class="hang4">This species may readily be distinguished from all +that have been hitherto discovered, by the two large scales, +affixed one on each side to the back part of the head. These +scale-like processes, are covered by the same scaly integuments +which cover the head and body.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Acontias</span>, +<em>Cuvier.</em></p> + +<p class="nind pad2"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Punctatus</i>, +<em>Leach.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">A. Supra brunneo-fuscus obsolete purpurascens, +squamis postice macula ventreque fulvescentibus.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Macrosoma</span>, +<em>Leach.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">1. <em>Elegans, Leach.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">Coluber elegans, <em>Shaw.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Coluber</span>, +<em>Cuvier.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">1. <i>Bicolor</i>, <em>Leach.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_494">[494]</span>C. +Supra badio-niger subtus albidus, squamis dorsalibus elongatis +gradatim angustioribus; apice obtusiusculis.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="hang4">2. <i>Irroratus</i>, <em>Leach.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">C. Badio-fuscus, gula pallida, squamis pulcherrime +albido irroratis; dorsalibus subelongatis apice rotundatis.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="hang4">3. <i>Irregularis</i>, <em>Leach.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">C. Azureo-virescens, ventre albido, squamis +simplicibus irregularibus: dorsalibus ovatis: lateralibus +superioribus superne truncatis; inferis subhexagonis.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="hang4">The above three species of <i>Coluber</i> are +decidedly new, as well as the <i>Acontias</i>; the latter is more +particularly interesting, since it encreases the species of a very +limited genus.</p> + +<h3><span class="sc">Arachnoïda.</span> +</h3> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Scorpio</span>, +<em>of authors.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Afer</i>, <em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Mygale</span>, +<em>Latreille.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">The only specimen was too mutilated to enable me +to make out its specific character.</p> + +<h3><span class="sc">Myriapoda.</span> +</h3> + +<p class="hang4">Of this class you found two species in Fantee; a +<i>Scolopendra</i>, and a gigantic <i>Julus</i>; neither of which +are in a sufficiently good state to enable me to make out whether +they be described or not.</p> + +<h3><span class="sc">Insecta.</span> +</h3> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Tefflus</span>, +<em>Leach</em>, new genus.</p> + +<p class="center">Generic character.</p> + +<p class="hang4"><span class="sc">Caput.</span> <em>Mandibulæ</em> +æquales edentulæ. <em>Palpi labiales</em> et <em>maxillares +externi</em> articulo ultimo elongato-securiformi.</p> + +<p class="hang4"><span class="sc">Thorax</span> hexagonus antice et +postice rectus. <em>Alæ</em> nullæ. <em>Elytra</em> coalita abdomen +tegentia apicem versus utrinque sinuata. <em>Tibiæ</em> anticæ +latere interiore apicem versus emarginatæ calcare elevato +instructæ. <em>Tarsi antici</em> <span class="sc">maris</span> +articulis duobus primis tenuiter dilatatis.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Habitus et Antennæ Carabi.</p> + +<p class="nind pad3"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Meyerlei</i>.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Carabus Meyerlei, <em>Fabr. Syst. Eleut.</em> i. +169.—<em>Voet. col.</em> ii. <em>tab.</em> 39, <em>f.</em> 49.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Odontomerus</span>, +<em>Dahl.</em></p> + +<p class="nind pad3"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Serratus</i>.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Buprestis serratus, <em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="nind"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_495">[495]</span><em>Gen.</em> <span class= +"sc">Cetonia</span>, <em>of authors.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Marginata</i>, +<em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Phyllotoma</span>, +<em>Wm. MacLeay, MSS.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Reflexa</i>.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Melolontha reflexa, <em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Helops</span>, +<em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Marginatus</i>, +<em>Olivier</em>.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Upis?</span> +<em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4"><em>Sp.</em> 1. Cuprea.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Tenebrio Cupreus, <em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Lamia</span>, +<em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4"><em>Sp.</em> 1. Tri-fasciata, <em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee. This species is also found at Sierra +Leone, and in the Back Settlements of the Cape of Good Hope.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Petrognatha</span>, +<em>Leach.</em></p> + +<p class="center">Character</p> + +<p class="hang4"><em>Caput</em> thorace paulo latius. +<em>Antennæ</em> (<em>maris</em> corpore duplo longiores et ultra,) +articulo secundo longiore flexuoso. <em>Labrum</em> lineare +transversum nudum utrinque rotundatum. <em>Mandibulæ</em> petrosæ +(<span class="sc">maris</span> interne apicem versus obtuse +unidentatæ,) infra et externe irregulariter carinatas. <em>Palpi +maxillares</em> et <em>labiales</em> articulo ultimo basi +subattenuato, apice externe oblique truncato-acuminato.</p> + +<p class="hang4"><span class="sc">Thorax</span> transversus +utrinque 1-spinosus. <em>Elytra</em> humeris 1-spinosis, apiceque +ad saturam spinoso-subproducto.</p> + +<p class="hang4"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Gigas</i>.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Lamia Gigas, <em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Callichroma</span>, +<em>Latreille.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Festivum</i>.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Cerambyx festivus, <em>Oliv. Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Mantis</span>.</p> + +<p class="hang4"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Superstitiosa</i>, +<em>Fabr</em>.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee</p> + +<p class="hang4"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_496">[496]</span>This species, as well as its congeners, is +an object of superstitious veneration amongst the natives of +north-western Africa, Syria, and India. It agrees in all points +with the original specimen of <i>Superstitiosa</i>, so named by +Fabricius in the Banksian Cabinet.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Gryllus</span>, +<em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Squarrosus</i>, +<em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Reduvius</span>, +<em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Barbicornis</i>, +<em>Fabr.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">Fantee.</p> + +<p class="hang4">I have received this species from the Cape of Good +Hope.</p> + +<p class="nind"><em>Gen.</em> <span class="sc">Canopus</span>, +<em>Rodhe.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4"><em>Sp.</em> 1. <i>Punctatus</i>, +<em>Leach.</em></p> + +<p class="hang4">Supra olivaceo-ater impresso-punctulatus rubro +punctatus, subtus ruber segmentis marginibus stigmatibus tibiis +tarsisque nigris, capite rubro irrorato.</p> + +<p class="hang4">Gaboon.</p> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_497">[497]</span><a id= +"app5"></a>APPENDIX, No. V.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width12"> + +<p class="sch2"><em>Mr.</em> <span class="sc">Tedlie’s</span> +<em>Account of the Thermometer.</em></p> + +<table class="borders2 tabw30" id="t497"> +<colgroup> +<col class="col6"> +<col class="col7"> +<col class="col5"> +<col class="col5"> +<col class="col5"> +<col class="col1"> +</colgroup> + +<tr> +<th colspan="2">Date.</th> +<th>A.M.</th> +<th>M.</th> +<th>P.M.</th> +<th>Weather.</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right">April</td> +<td class="tdr">28</td> +<td>6 74</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">29</td> +<td>7½ 75</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>11 80</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">30</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 88½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>7 82½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right">May</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td>8 77</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">2</td> +<td>8 76½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>1 91</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">3</td> +<td>6 76</td> +<td>12 89</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right">May</td> +<td class="tdr">4.</td> +<td colspan="4" class="tdc">The Thermometer was broken last night +at Asharaman.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="6" class="ind">At Coomassie, from the 7th June to the +11th, it varied from 80 to 85, between 12 and 2.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right">June</td> +<td class="tdr">15</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>1 82</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td>10 79</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">17</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>12 82</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">18</td> +<td>9 79</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 84</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">19</td> +<td>7½ 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2½ 78</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>5 78</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">20</td> +<td>10 78</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>1 81</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2½ 82</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">21</td> +<td>8 74</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2½ 82</td> +<td> +</td> 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class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>7 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">27</td> +<td>7 69</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Hazy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>1 72</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>3 72</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>7 70½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">28</td> +<td>6 69 ½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 72</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">29</td> +<td>7 70</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>3 78</td> +<td>Fair</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 77</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">30</td> +<td>7 70</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2½ 76</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>7 73</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">31</td> +<td>7 70½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>3 77</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>7 73</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right">Sept.</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td>7 71</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>3 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>7 77</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">2</td> +<td>6 71</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Hazy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>7 74</td> +<td>Slight showers</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">3</td> +<td>6 71</td> +<td>12 74</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>1 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">4</td> +<td>7 71</td> +<td>12 77</td> +<td>7 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">5</td> +<td>5 71</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>3 79</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>7 76</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">6</td> +<td>6 70</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>7 73</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">7</td> +<td>8 71</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>3 76</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 73</td> +<td>Slight showers</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td>7 71</td> +<td>12 76</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 73</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">9</td> +<td>6 71</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">10</td> +<td>7 71</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>3 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>7 76</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr"><span class="pagenum" id= +"Page_499">[499]</span>11</td> +<td>6 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Heavy rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 77</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>10 72</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">12</td> +<td>7 72</td> +<td>12 78</td> +<td>3½ 80½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>10 76</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">13</td> +<td>7 22</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 78</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>3½ 80</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>9 76</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">14</td> +<td>7 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Hazy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2½ 79</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 76</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">15</td> +<td>5 71</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>3 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>7 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td>7 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2½ 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">17</td> +<td>7 72</td> +<td>12 78</td> +<td>2½ 81</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>9 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">18</td> +<td>7 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 77</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 73</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">19</td> +<td>7 71</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>3 81</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>9 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">20</td> +<td>7 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 79</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">21</td> +<td>7 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2½ 81</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 72</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">22</td> +<td>8 71</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Hazy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>12½ 71</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 82½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="sch2"><em>Mr.</em> <span class="sc">Hutchison’s</span> +<em>Account of the Thermometer, after the Departure of Mr. +Tedlie.</em></p> + +<table class="borders2 tabw30" id="t499"> +<colgroup> +<col class="col6"> +<col class="col7"> +<col class="col5"> +<col class="col5"> +<col class="col5"> +<col class="col1"> +</colgroup> + +<tr> +<th colspan="2">Date.</th> +<th>A.M.</th> +<th>M.</th> +<th>P.M.</th> +<th>Weather.</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right">Sept.</td> +<td class="tdr">23</td> +<td>8 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Thunder, with rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">24</td> +<td>6 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>12 78</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 82</td> +<td>Fair, but cloudy</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 75</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">25</td> +<td>6 71½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>10 76</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>12 83</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 75</td> +<td>Violent tornado</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 71½</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">26</td> +<td>6 70</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>12 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Hazy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 80</td> +<td>Cloudy</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>4 77</td> +<td>Wind</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 71</td> +<td>Heavy rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">27</td> +<td>6 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>10 75</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>12 80½</td> +<td>6 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">28</td> +<td>6 71</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 81½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">29</td> +<td>6 71½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 82</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">30</td> +<td>6 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Cloudy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>7 71½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right">Oct.</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td>6 72½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 82</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>10 70</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 76</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">2</td> +<td>6 70</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 79</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 78</td> +<td>Sultry.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">3</td> +<td>6 71</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 82</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">5</td> +<td>6 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 79</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">6</td> +<td>6 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 79</td> +<td>Much rain, thunder.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">7</td> +<td>6 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 79</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td>6 71</td> +<td>12 79</td> +<td>2 73</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 71</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">9</td> +<td>6 71</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 79</td> +<td>Sultry and cloudy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 78</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">10</td> +<td>6 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>12 78</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 71½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 73½</td> +<td>Much rain, thunder.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">11</td> +<td>6 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Heavy fog.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 76½</td> +<td>Fair, cloudy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">12</td> +<td>6 71½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Sultry, foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 80½</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 78</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">13</td> +<td>6 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>12 78</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Sultry.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 79</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 77</td> +<td>Rain, thunder.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">14</td> +<td>6 74½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Rain, foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 78½</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">15</td> +<td>6 72½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Rain, foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 74</td> +<td>Hazy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 73</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td>6 72½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_500">[500]</span>2 80½</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">17</td> +<td>6 73½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Rain, foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 78</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 74½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">18</td> +<td>6 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 75</td> +<td>Rain and thunder.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">19</td> +<td>73½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>71½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Much rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">20</td> +<td>6 70½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Dense fogs.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 73</td> +<td>Foggy, with showers.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">21</td> +<td>6 72½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 79</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 78½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">22</td> +<td>6 73</td> +<td>12 77</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 82½</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">23</td> +<td>6 72½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Foggy, with thr. showers.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>12 80</td> +<td>2 83</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 77</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">24</td> +<td>6 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>12 80</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>3 78½</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">25</td> +<td>6 74½</td> +<td>12 82</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 82</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">26</td> +<td>6 72½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>78</td> +<td>Rain, thunder.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">27</td> +<td>6 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 76</td> +<td>Thunder shrs.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">29</td> +<td>6 7</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 82</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">30</td> +<td>6 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 83</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 78</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">31</td> +<td>6 72½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 82</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 76</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right">Nov.</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td>6 72½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 81</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 80</td> +<td>Sultry.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">2</td> +<td>6 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 81½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 75</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">3</td> +<td>6 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 82½</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 78</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">4</td> +<td>6 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 78</td> +<td>Rain, foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 74½</td> +<td>Sultry.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">5</td> +<td>6 72½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 79½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 78</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">6</td> +<td>6 74</td> +<td> +</td> 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+<td> +</td> +<td>2 82</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 76</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">11</td> +<td>6 72½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 81½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 78</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">12</td> +<td>6 74½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 79</td> +<td>Cloudy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>6 78</td> +<td>Sultry.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">13</td> +<td>6 73</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 83½</td> +<td>Fair.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> 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+</td> +<td class="tdr">3</td> +<td>6 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 85</td> +<td>Thunder.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 76</td> +<td>Rain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="6" class="ind">From sickness, the Thermometer was not +attended to till the 10th, during the interval the weather was +excessive cold, and the fogs very dense.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">10</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 74</td> +<td>Foggy.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 68</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">11</td> +<td>6 62½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 76</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 70½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">12</td> +<td>6 60</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 77</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 70</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">13</td> +<td>6 61½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 74½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 68</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">14</td> +<td>6 58</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 66</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">15</td> +<td>6 60</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 75½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 70</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td>6 61½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 76</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_502">[502]</span>8 72½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">17</td> +<td>6 62</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 76½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 71</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">18</td> +<td>6 60</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 73</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">19</td> +<td>6 62½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 79</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 75</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">20</td> +<td>6 64</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 78½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 76</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">21</td> +<td>6 64½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 79</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">22</td> +<td>6 66</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 78</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">23</td> +<td>6 64</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 82</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 76</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">24</td> +<td>6 62</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 82½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 74</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">25</td> +<td>6 64</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 84</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">26</td> +<td>6 68</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 83½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 67½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">27</td> +<td>6 68½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 84</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 80½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">28</td> +<td>6 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 84¼</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 78</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">29</td> +<td>6 72</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 85</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">30</td> +<td>6 74</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 85</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">31</td> +<td>6 76</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 86</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 80</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right">Feb.</td> +<td class="tdr">1</td> +<td>6 74</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 84½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>8 79</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="bdless-right"> +</td> +<td class="tdr">2</td> +<td>6 73½</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>2 86½</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2><span class="pagenum" id="Page_503">[503]</span><a id= +"app6"></a>APPENDIX. No. VI.</h2> + +<hr class="decordb width12"> + +<p class="dcap">I <span class="sc">will</span> now submit the +numerals of 31 nations, which, with the exception of three, the +Fantee, the Accra, and the Bornoo, (and those but imperfectly,) +have never been reported before. I will arrange them according to +their geographical approximation, remarking any apparent affinity +which occurs to me, in notes. I shall place the Inta first, because +it is the most remote, inland, which can be assimilated to the +Fantee, Ahanta, Aöwin, and Amanaheä; and may, probably, from that +circumstance, be the root of these languages; as it has been shewn, +in the history, that the nations of the water side have been +gradually pressed down, or have emigrated from the interior, and it +is consequently to be expected that the etymology of the names of +these countries are not to be found in the languages of the people +who <em>now</em> inhabit them, but more probably in the languages +of their southern neighbours. Thus,</p> + +<p class="hang0"><em>Inta</em> is likely to be derived from the +<em>Booroom</em> word <em>inta</em>, <em>water</em>, as it has been +noticed as an alluvial country.</p> + +<p class="hang0"><em>Yngwa</em>, a northern province of Dagwumba, +from the Ashantee <em>anggwa</em>, <em>fat, rich</em>, or the +Booroom, <em>yngia</em>, <em>a wood</em>.</p> + +<p class="hang0"><em>Soko</em> from <em>Soko</em>, <em>one</em>, in +the Badaggry (below Dahomy) as <em>Yahndi</em> the capital of +Dagwumba was so called from <em>yahndo</em> the numeral +<em>one</em>, to indicate its pre-eminence.</p> + +<p class="hang0"><em>Assin</em> from the Ashantee <em>Assoon</em>, +an elephant. But this expectation is not further supported in the +two or three other probable etymologies which occur to me, as +<em>Takima</em> from the Ashantee <em>takramma</em>, tongue. +<em>Akim</em> (formerly the greatest trading country,) from the +Booroom <em>Akimmie</em>, cloth; <em>Booroom</em> from +<em>boora</em>, full, in that language.</p> + +<p>It is curious how nearly the <em>word</em> for <em>God</em> in +the Malemba, <em>M’Poungoo</em>, approaches the native name, +<em>Empoongwa</em>, of the country Europeans call <em>Gaboon</em>. +<em>Wonga</em> is fear in the Malemba, and <em>Woonga-woonga</em> +is the name of an uninhabited savannah of three days extent, +between Empoöngwa and Adjoomba.</p> + +<table class="vocab1 xwide" id="t503"> +<colgroup> +<col class="col3"> +<col class="col4"> +<col class="col4"> +<col class="col4"> +<col class="col4"> +<col class="col4"> +</colgroup> + +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">1. <em>Inta.</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">2. <em>Booroom.</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">3. <em>Ashantee.</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">4. <em>Aöwin.</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">5. <em>Amanaheä.</em></th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>One<a href="#note2a">(<em>a</em>)</a></td> +<td>Koko</td> +<td>Ekoo</td> +<td>Akoon</td> +<td>Aconë</td> +<td>Aconë</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two<a href="#note2b">(<em>b.</em>)</a></td> +<td>Anyoe</td> +<td>Enoo</td> +<td>Anoo</td> +<td>Enyow</td> +<td>Enyow</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_504">[504]</span>Three<a href= +"#note2c">(<em>c</em>)</a></td> +<td>Assa</td> +<td>Essa</td> +<td>Mensa</td> +<td>Inza</td> +<td>Insa</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four<a href="#note2d">(<em>d</em>)</a></td> +<td>Anna</td> +<td>Enna</td> +<td>Ennung</td> +<td>Inna</td> +<td>Enna</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five<a href="#note2e">(<em>e</em>)</a></td> +<td>Annoo</td> +<td>Annoo</td> +<td>Ennoom</td> +<td>Noo</td> +<td>Enoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six<a href="#note2f">(<em>f</em>)</a></td> +<td>Assee</td> +<td>Esseä</td> +<td>Inseëä</td> +<td>Inzeah</td> +<td>Inseah</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven<a href="#note2g">(<em>g</em>)</a></td> +<td>Assoonno</td> +<td>Assoono</td> +<td>Inshong</td> +<td>Inzoo</td> +<td>Insoon</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight<a href="#note2h">(<em>h</em>)</a></td> +<td>Adoobrooa</td> +<td>Aquiay</td> +<td>Woquee</td> +<td>Motteä</td> +<td>Mottuay</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Digrakoono</td> +<td>Akonno</td> +<td>Oonkonnong</td> +<td>Ongoona</td> +<td>Ongona</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten<a href="#note2i">(<em>i</em>)</a></td> +<td>Koodoo</td> +<td>Edoo</td> +<td>Edoo</td> +<td>Boloo</td> +<td>Booloo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">6. <em>Ahanta</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">7. <em>Fantee</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">8. <em>Affootoo</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">9. <em>Inkran</em><a id= +"FNanchor_159"></a><a href="#Footnote_159" class= +"fnanchor">[159]</a></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">10. <em>Adampë</em></th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Akoon</td> +<td>Akoor</td> +<td>Achoomee</td> +<td>Ekkoo</td> +<td>Kakee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_505">[505]</span>Two</td> +<td>Ayue</td> +<td>Abeeën</td> +<td>Ennuë</td> +<td>Ennuë</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Assan</td> +<td>Abiasseh</td> +<td>Assah</td> +<td>Ettayh</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Arra</td> +<td>Anan</td> +<td>Annah</td> +<td>Edjuë</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Aoonoo</td> +<td>Ennoom</td> +<td>Ennoo</td> +<td>Ennoomó</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Ayshing</td> +<td>Asseeä</td> +<td>Isshin</td> +<td>Eghpah</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Assooa</td> +<td>Ashong</td> +<td>Isshennooh</td> +<td>Paghwooh</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Awotchay</td> +<td>Awotwee</td> +<td>Ettchee</td> +<td>Paghnue</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Awonna</td> +<td>Akoon</td> +<td>Assan</td> +<td>Nahoon</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Boonoo</td> +<td>Edoo</td> +<td>Eddoo</td> +<td>Nongmah</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">11. <em>Kerrapay</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">12. <em>Dagwumba</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">13. <em>Yngwa</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">14. <em>Hio</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">15. <em>Mosee</em></th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Eddee</td> +<td>Yahndo</td> +<td>Lakoo</td> +<td>Innee</td> +<td>Yimbo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Effee</td> +<td>Ayee</td> +<td>Ayee</td> +<td>Eygee</td> +<td>Ayeeboo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Eltong</td> +<td>Attah</td> +<td>Attah</td> +<td>Etta</td> +<td>Ataboo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Ennay</td> +<td>Nasee</td> +<td>Anāhee</td> +<td>Ernee</td> +<td>Annasee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Altong</td> +<td>Ennoon</td> +<td>Leerennoo</td> +<td>Aroon</td> +<td>Annoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Adday</td> +<td>Yohbee</td> +<td>Ayoboo</td> +<td>Effa</td> +<td>Ayobee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Adrinnee</td> +<td>Poice</td> +<td>Ayapaï</td> +<td>Eggay</td> +<td>Owhi</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Ennee</td> +<td>Nehenoo</td> +<td>Annee</td> +<td>Eggo</td> +<td>Ennee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Indee</td> +<td>Wyhee</td> +<td>Awai</td> +<td>Essun</td> +<td>Aïhopoi</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Owoo</td> +<td>Edoo</td> +<td>Peä</td> +<td>Eywaw</td> +<td>Peega</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">16. <em>Kumsallahoo</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">17. <em>Gaman</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">18. <em>Kong</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">19. <em>Fobee</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">20. <em>Callana</em></th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Yumbo</td> +<td>Tah</td> +<td>Kiddee</td> +<td>Koroom</td> +<td>Kodoom</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Yeebo</td> +<td>Noo</td> +<td>Filla</td> +<td>Nalay</td> +<td>Naboolla</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Tabo</td> +<td>Sah</td> +<td>Sowa</td> +<td>Poompevarra</td> +<td>Nawedazoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Nasee</td> +<td>Nah</td> +<td>Nanoo</td> +<td>Leetaynalee</td> +<td>Nabonaza</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Annoo</td> +<td>Taw</td> +<td>Looroa</td> +<td>Kakwassee</td> +<td>Nabonoa</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Yobo</td> +<td>Torata</td> +<td>Wora</td> +<td>Mannassa</td> +<td>Lodoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Poihee</td> +<td>Toorifeenoo</td> +<td>Ooranfilla</td> +<td>Noottoosoo</td> +<td>Logwa</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Nehee</td> +<td>Toorifeessa</td> +<td>Leeaygee</td> +<td>Borafay</td> +<td>Littaïzoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Wahee</td> +<td>Toorifeena</td> +<td>Konunto</td> +<td>Pirrifay</td> +<td>Nako</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Pega</td> +<td>Noonoo</td> +<td>Tah</td> +<td>Nanooa</td> +<td>Yewoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">21. <em>Bambarra</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">22. <em>Garangi</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">23. <em>Mallowa</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">24. <em>Kallaghee</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">25. <em>Bornoo</em></th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Killi</td> +<td>Kerriminna</td> +<td>Daia</td> +<td>Gadee</td> +<td>Leskar</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Foolla</td> +<td>Ferriminna</td> +<td>Beeyoo</td> +<td>Silill</td> +<td>Ahndee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Sabba</td> +<td>Sowaninna</td> +<td>Okoo</td> +<td>Quan</td> +<td>Yaskar</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Nani</td> +<td>Firrima</td> +<td>Odoo</td> +<td>Foolloo</td> +<td>Deegah</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Looroo</td> +<td>Fahtima</td> +<td>Beä</td> +<td>Vydee</td> +<td>Ooögoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Wora</td> +<td>Tata</td> +<td>Seddah</td> +<td>Zoodoo</td> +<td>Araskoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Worroola</td> +<td>Mannima</td> +<td>Becquay</td> +<td>Etkassa</td> +<td>Tooloor</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Sagi</td> +<td>Pirima</td> +<td>Tacquass</td> +<td>Shiddowka</td> +<td>Woskoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Konunto</td> +<td>Missirima</td> +<td>Tarra</td> +<td>Woollaä</td> +<td>Likkar</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Ta</td> +<td>Gwahee</td> +<td>Gwoma</td> +<td>Woma</td> +<td>Meeägoo</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">26. <em>Maïha</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2"><em>Quolla-liffa</em><br> +<span class="small">by Mr. Hutchison.</span> +</th> +<th class="hang1 sect2"><em>Badaggry</em><br> +<span class="small">by Mr. Hutchison.</span> +</th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">27. <em>Sheekan</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">28. <em>Kaylee</em></th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Lagen</td> +<td>Da</td> +<td>Soko</td> +<td>Ilwawtoe</td> +<td>Woto</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Indë</td> +<td>Bue</td> +<td>Auwee</td> +<td>Ibba</td> +<td>Ibba</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Eäska</td> +<td>Okoo</td> +<td>Atong</td> +<td>Bittach</td> +<td>Battach</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Daäger</td> +<td>Hodoo</td> +<td>Inna</td> +<td>Binnay</td> +<td>Binnay</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_506">[506]</span>Five</td> +<td>Ohoo</td> +<td>Bakwee</td> +<td>Ato</td> +<td>Bitta</td> +<td>Bittan</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td>Araska</td> +<td>Shida</td> +<td>Trukoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td>Tooloor</td> +<td>Bockwa</td> +<td>Chauto</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td>Weska</td> +<td>Sidda</td> +<td>Quouie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td>Lekar</td> +<td>Tarra</td> +<td>Kennee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td>Inagoon</td> +<td>Goman</td> +<td>Owoo</td> +<td>Duëoom</td> +<td>Duëoom</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Twenty</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Emboomebba</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hundred</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Kama</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">29. <em>Oongoomo</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">30. <em>Oongobaï</em></th> +<th class="hang1 sect2">31. <em>Empoöngwa.</em><br> +<span class="small">See <a href="#Page_439">p. 439</a> for +character.</span></th> +<th> +</th> +<th> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>One</td> +<td>Wootta</td> +<td>Rappeek</td> +<td>Hemoödee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Two</td> +<td>Beeba</td> +<td>Ramboise</td> +<td>Mban</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Three</td> +<td>Bittach</td> +<td>Mittasee</td> +<td>Ntcharoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Four</td> +<td>Binnay</td> +<td>Binnay</td> +<td>Nahee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Five</td> +<td>Bitten</td> +<td>Bittan</td> +<td>Nehanee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Six</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Sambal</td> +<td>Oroöba</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Seven</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Bittooba</td> +<td>Ragginnoömoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eight</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Bissamen</td> +<td>Ennanahee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nine</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Bwoi</td> +<td>Eno go öm</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ten</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Deëoom</td> +<td>Hegoöm</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<p class="note" id="note2a">(<em>a</em>) The words for the numeral +one assimilate in the specimens 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9: again, +but distinctly, in 14, 12, 15, 16: also in 26, 25, 13: in 21, 18, +20, 19: in 27, 28, 29, (making apparently five roots), but they +remain solitary in 11, 17, 22, 23, 24 30 and 31. The numeral one in +14 is not unlike the two in 8, 9, 2, 3, and the one in 12, would, +with the prefix of y, be precisely the same as the two of 25. +Excepting <em>Kakee</em>, <em>one</em>, the Inkran numerals seem to +have been adopted as those of Adampë, for the convenience of trade +and intercourse, but I will add a few words, to show that the +languages are radically different:</p> + +<table class="padded2" id="t504"> +<tr> +<th> +</th> +<th><em>Adampë.</em> +</th> +<th><em>Inkran.</em> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>House</td> +<td>Aoosoo</td> +<td>Wheay.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fire</td> +<td><a id="FNanchor_160"></a><a href="#Footnote_160" class= +"fnanchor">[160]</a>Odja</td> +<td>Lla.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Man</td> +<td>Ossa</td> +<td>Noon.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Woman</td> +<td>Ossĕ</td> +<td>Yeo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Victuals</td> +<td>Odë</td> +<td>Neeaynee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Father</td> +<td>Attay</td> +<td>Tchay.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mother</td> +<td>Awoo</td> +<td>Nneay.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="note" id="note2b">(<em>b</em>) The numeral <em>two</em> +is the most general word, and may be assimilated in 2, 3, 8, 9, 4, +5, 1, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. There is little difference between +the numerals <em>two</em> and <em>five</em> in most of these, and +<em>five</em> in 15 and 16, precisely answers to <em>two</em> in 1 +and 2.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note2c">(<em>c</em>) <em>Three</em> may be +assimilated in 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. In 12, +13, 14, 16, it approaches to the Congo and Mozambique +<em>tatoo</em> and <em>atatoo</em>.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note2d">(<em>d</em>) I have observed that in +most African languages there is less distinction in the words for +four and five, than between any other of the numerals and that +frequently the word for <em>five</em> in one language, is identical +with that for <em>four</em> in another, geographically remote. +<em>Four</em> may be assimilated in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 6, 14, +for the two latter deviate only in the substitution of one liquid +for another, which is as common in the languages of Africa as in +those of America. The words for four in the above suite do not seem +of a different root from those in 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 21, from +which it only varies in 20 by the prefix of <em>nabo</em>. With the +difference of a single letter, the same word for <em>four</em> is +found in the Yngwa (13) and the Empoöngwa (31) which are 1000 miles +distant. Four in Congo is <em>m’na</em>, in Empoöngwa, +<em>nahee</em>. <em>Sanu</em>, the Kaffer <em>four</em>, is +approached in 18.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note2e">(<em>e</em>) Five may be assimilated +from 1 to 17, (11 excepted) one liquid being substituted for +another in 14, an <em>leer</em> being prefixed in 13. It is +remarkable too that we again identify this numeral in the Malemba, +Embomma, and Empoöngwa languages, by removing the prefixes +<em>t</em>, <em>to</em>, and <em>neh</em>, from the words +<em>tanoo</em>, <em>toanoo</em>, and <em>nehanee</em>. Below five, +the numerals in the Inkran lose all identity with those of the +languages with which it has been hitherto assimilated.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note2f">(<em>f</em>) <em>Six</em> assimilates +from 1 to 9, in 12 to 17 (14 excepted) in 20, 23, 24, in 17 and 22; +but remains distinct in all the others. The Sanbal of Oöngobai (30) +approaches the Sambanoo of the Embomma.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note2g">(<em>g</em>) <em>Seven</em> assimilates +in 1 to 9; in 12, 13, 16, but in no others.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note2h">(<em>h</em>) <em>Eight</em> assimilates +in 2, 3, 6, 7; in 11 to 17, (14 excepted) all of which, with 31, +approximate to E’nana, the word for eight in the Malemba.</p> + +<p class="note" id="note2i">(<em>i</em>) <em>Ten</em> assimilates +in 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, in 4, 5, 6, in 17, 19, 25, 26, 29, in 13, 15, +and in 14, 20, 22, 23, 24.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="decordb width8"> + +<p class="nind space-above15"><span class="sc">The</span> following +is the skeleton of a <em>Vocabulary</em>, of which the enlarged or +perfect copy was blown out of the cabin-window, in a sudden squall, +(with some specimens of music), during my voyage home.</p> + +<table class="tabw60 borders2 xwide" id="t506"> +<colgroup> +<col class="col2"> +<col class="col2"> +<col class="col2"> +<col class="col2"> +<col class="col2"> +</colgroup> + +<tr> +<th><em>English.</em> +</th> +<th><em>Ashantee.</em> +</th> +<th><em>Fantee</em><a id="FNanchor_161"></a><a href="#Footnote_161" +class="fnanchor">[161]</a>.</th> +<th><em>Booroom.</em> +</th> +<th><em>Various.</em> +</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Above</td> +<td>wattefee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Advice</td> +<td>matoorh</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Afraid</td> +<td>osooroh</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>efweedammee</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Afternoon</td> +<td>inumirree</td> +<td>ingubirh</td> +<td>ennie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Again</td> +<td>impray</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>meära</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Alike</td> +<td>oninnisie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>minnamata</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Alive</td> +<td>nannuwomie</td> +<td>uannekan</td> +<td>issaboobwaw</td> +<td>n’chema Malemba Inchema a fruit in Empoöngwa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>All</td> +<td>nenarra</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>inkaken</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Alone</td> +<td>waunkoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ohwoorie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Angry</td> +<td>mōbwaf</td> +<td>moboäf</td> +<td>moobiaf</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Another</td> +<td>ebissoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ekoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Arm</td> +<td>wabow</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>serrekoonkoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ashamed</td> +<td>wennatoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>woifarrie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Asleep</td> +<td>werda</td> +<td>wadda</td> +<td>awdirrie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Awake</td> +<td>waihen</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>otinnie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Back</td> +<td>wakee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>atterra</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bad</td> +<td>omoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ohmara</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bead</td> +<td>aoonee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>aboroo<a id="FNanchor_162"></a><a href="#Footnote_162" class= +"fnanchor">[162]</a></td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_507">[507]</span>Beard</td> +<td>aboidwee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>annoque</td> +<td>the same as <em>chin</em>, a frequent surname.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Beat</td> +<td>whaoonoo</td> +<td>wabomë</td> +<td>babeëm</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bed</td> +<td>empa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>kerray</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Before</td> +<td>wawquoorasoo</td> +<td>waw<em>quan</em></td> +<td>oïyo</td> +<td>ovetide <em>quande</em>. Malemba.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Beg</td> +<td>ekkaydie</td> +<td><em>empoikeöw</em> +</td> +<td>dibbim</td> +<td><em>mpanou</em>. Malemba.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Behind</td> +<td>owakee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>odioterra</td> +<td>the noun <em>back</em> with <em>o</em> & <em>odia</em> +prefixed</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Below</td> +<td>asnadie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Big</td> +<td>kookrookoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>otchwaw</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bird</td> +<td>anima</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>abooree</td> +<td>for names of animals, see <a href="#Page_328">p. 328.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bite</td> +<td>whakum</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>inkadooa</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Black</td> +<td>tintoom</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oboobie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Blind</td> +<td>frafoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>atenna</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Blood</td> +<td>mugga</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>moogga</td> +<td>menga. Mal. Emb.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Boil</td> +<td>woaroo</td> +<td>wooworh</td> +<td>ohfoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Bone</td> +<td>ebiou</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ebou</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Boy</td> +<td>afra</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ayebee</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Burn</td> +<td>whahim</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ohwho</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Buy</td> +<td>mekoto</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>meashoor</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Call</td> +<td>aferen</td> +<td>afren</td> +<td>ateëm</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Carry</td> +<td>atooron</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>dumta</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Catch</td> +<td>makin</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>mekeeram</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Change</td> +<td>wahseesun</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cheeks</td> +<td>wafoon</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>afeehe</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Child</td> +<td>ebbah</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>obee</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Clean</td> +<td>wafie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>aulay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cloth</td> +<td>ettum</td> +<td>entama</td> +<td><em>akim</em>mie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cold</td> +<td>oiwoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>afoo</td> +<td>differs little from <em>boil</em></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Come</td> +<td>rraba</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cry</td> +<td>oroosoor</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>orissoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Cut</td> +<td>witwa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>wawtung</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dance</td> +<td>saw</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>attcha</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dark</td> +<td>oiheesoom</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>mayoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Daughter</td> +<td>mebăbā</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>mebee</td> +<td><em>coomba</em>. Em. which is a common female name in +Fantee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_508">[508]</span>Day<a id= +"FNanchor_163"></a><a href="#Footnote_163" class= +"fnanchor">[163]</a></td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dead</td> +<td>wow</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ohoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Deaf</td> +<td>nasheeasie</td> +<td>teetĭfoo</td> +<td>sinteelaboo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Deep</td> +<td>eboonie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Devil</td> +<td>ayen<a id="FNanchor_164"></a><a href="#Footnote_164" class= +"fnanchor">[164]</a></td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>Amoonie a proper name</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dig</td> +<td>amoonna</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Door</td> +<td>aboo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ebunabooná</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Drink</td> +<td>noom</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>noo</td> +<td><em>noa</em>. Mal.<br> +<em>noi</em>. Em.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Drop</td> +<td>wawto</td> +<td>awtarradi</td> +<td>otore</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Drown</td> +<td>eboon</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Drunk</td> +<td>wassoo</td> +<td>wawboo</td> +<td>hassoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ear</td> +<td>assoor</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eat</td> +<td>edee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td><em>dea</em>. Mal.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Egg</td> +<td>kessua</td> +<td>kirrifooa</td> +<td>akaddie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Empty</td> +<td>eppun</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Enough</td> +<td>ojëay</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>obahrìe</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eye</td> +<td>wunnie</td> +<td>ennua</td> +<td>ennyass</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Eyebrow</td> +<td>wunnĕwee</td> +<td>entun</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Face</td> +<td>wynim</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>anyasirra</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Far</td> +<td>akirh’</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>aterh’</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fat</td> +<td>anggwa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oomfoä</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Father</td> +<td>aggáh</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>missee</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fear</td> +<td>sooroo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>efweedam</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Feather</td> +<td>takirrie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>eetta</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Feel</td> +<td><em>soom</em>whay</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>kirrada</td> +<td><em>seem</em>bede. Mal.<br> +Kirradee, a river of Booroom.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fetch</td> +<td>ekkoon</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>becquaw</td> +<td>a town in Booroom</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fifty</td> +<td>edoonoom</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>10. 5.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fight</td> +<td>orrokoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>obuquooa</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fill</td> +<td>eënnama</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>boorra</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Find</td> +<td>maoo</td> +<td>maoon</td> +<td>maioom</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Finger</td> +<td>insa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>eserrĭbee</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fire</td> +<td>ogiäh</td> +<td>egah</td> +<td>ogha</td> +<td>boogoom. Mosee</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fish</td> +<td>enum</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>eyay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Flower</td> +<td>nadjua</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ewooda</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fly</td> +<td>watoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oqueshoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fool</td> +<td>woigimmie</td> +<td><em>abooa</em> +</td> +<td>woigimmie</td> +<td>booba. Mal.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Foot</td> +<td>wannunsa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>aīah</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Forget</td> +<td>moorafie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>sessĕro</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_509">[509]</span>Forgive</td> +<td>edimămoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>inkawffinsow</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fowl</td> +<td>akoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>karrabee</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Friend</td> +<td>ankoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oonkoosĭba</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Fruit</td> +<td>quadiäteä</td> +<td>impooa</td> +<td>quadiateä</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Girl</td> +<td>bisēä</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>otchay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Give</td> +<td>fummum</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>tāsămi</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Glad</td> +<td>yam</td> +<td>yamma</td> +<td>amirra</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Go</td> +<td>kaw</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>narry</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>God</td> +<td>yankoompon</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oodoobwarrie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Gold</td> +<td>sikkă</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Good</td> +<td>oëyay</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>obwārie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Green</td> +<td>boioöma</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Grow</td> +<td>owynee</td> +<td>oeen</td> +<td>ohodan</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hair</td> +<td>hewhee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>hemoonie</td> +<td>Amoonie, a proper name.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Half</td> +<td>effeh</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>baggah</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hand</td> +<td>mensa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>assaddie</td> +<td>Mensa, a proper name.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Handsome</td> +<td>oia</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>obweefay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hang</td> +<td>osesan</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hard</td> +<td>oiătin</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oöqua</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Head</td> +<td>tirrie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>egnoon</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hear</td> +<td>matr’</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>maynoon</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Heart</td> +<td>akoomo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>akirrăbie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Heavy</td> +<td>oiadoor</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>obodoor</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Here</td> +<td>hah</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oomboh</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hide</td> +<td>mōhoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>manghoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>High</td> +<td>essoor</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oskasoor</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hill</td> +<td>cooqua</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>iffoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hit</td> +<td>aboor</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>odum</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hold</td> +<td>soom</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>karrara</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hole</td> +<td>watchoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>osarrie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Horn</td> +<td>aben</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>abay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Horse</td> +<td>panquaw</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hot</td> +<td>oiayue</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>owuegua</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>House</td> +<td>efee</td> +<td>odan</td> +<td>eban</td> +<td>paseebah, Kumsallahoo.<br> +deeo, Dagwumba.<br> +gidda, Mallowa.<br> +koopella, Mosee.<br> +Kokoopella, capital of ditto.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hundred</td> +<td>ehha</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Hungry</td> +<td>oquandummie</td> +<td>comagin</td> +<td>aquandum</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Husband</td> +<td>mookoon</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>mookooddie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Idle</td> +<td>nehuff</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Iron</td> +<td>dadee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jump</td> +<td>oroo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>fay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Keep</td> +<td>intamaseea</td> +<td>ysee</td> +<td>afeeërra</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kick</td> +<td>chayche</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>orraychum</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Kill</td> +<td>coom</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>bamoem</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>King</td> +<td>ohennie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Knot</td> +<td>eppo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ippo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Know</td> +<td>innim</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>nayoom</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Lame</td> +<td>opakkie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ebbeä</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_510">[510]</span>Land</td> +<td>fum</td> +<td>dadi</td> +<td>sebooroo</td> +<td>tenga. Mosee<br> +kaisa Mallo.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Last</td> +<td>naddou</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>afoorinay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Laugh</td> +<td>sicroo</td> +<td>sroo</td> +<td>orroomuss</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Law</td> +<td>widdooffoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Lead</td> +<td>soomwie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Learn</td> +<td>akirren</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ekērow</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Leg</td> +<td>asirrie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>inwoonnie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Lie (down)</td> +<td>daoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oyadee</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Lie (falsity)</td> +<td>etwapō</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>afoorenie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Little</td> +<td>kakra</td> +<td>kakrabi</td> +<td>bahttee</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Long</td> +<td>ohwar’</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ohbissay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Look</td> +<td>fway</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>kaye</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Love</td> +<td>poopa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mad</td> +<td>same as ‘fool’</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Man</td> +<td>binin</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oninnie</td> +<td>pagga, Kums.<br> +boodasa, Dag.<br> +noon, Accra.<br> +nedda, Mosee.<br> +moottanee, M.<br> +moontau, Male.<br> +muntu, Mozam.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Many</td> +<td>peenarra</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>otuä</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Market</td> +<td>egwass</td> +<td>egoom</td> +<td>ebiass</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mat</td> +<td>keraw</td> +<td>empa</td> +<td>kerray</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mend</td> +<td>pam</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>bărā</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Moon</td> +<td>serrānee</td> +<td>boossoom</td> +<td>ofoorie</td> +<td>wattacha, Ku.<br> +marraga, Dag.<br> +oöota Mallowa.<br> +choogoo, Mos.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>More</td> +<td>mambissoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>samoko</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mother</td> +<td>mna</td> +<td>minna</td> +<td>minnee</td> +<td>nneay, Accra.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mouth</td> +<td>wannoom</td> +<td>ennoom</td> +<td>annoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Much</td> +<td>dooroo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>otchoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nails</td> +<td>oomboiray</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ungwarrie</td> +<td>‘<em>unguis</em>’</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Name</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>dgin</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Neck</td> +<td>ekkone</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ekkoona</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nest</td> +<td>anĭmaboo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>anĭma, a bird.<br> +Annămāboo, a Fantee town.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Net</td> +<td>ebbwau</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Never</td> +<td>dabbiada</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>as <em>no!</em></td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>New</td> +<td>fofoor</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ofroofoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>No</td> +<td>dabbi</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>an inarticulate noise with the lips closed</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Noise</td> +<td>deddie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>boolāo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nose</td> +<td>ewhin</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ewhoonie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Oil</td> +<td>engoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oomfwaie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Old</td> +<td>quodda</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>aquŏdā</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Open</td> +<td>boi</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>booë</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Owe</td> +<td>mintēka</td> +<td>dinnekow</td> +<td>indāqua</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Pay</td> +<td>tchamkou</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>kamëquow</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Play</td> +<td>agoor’</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>feearee</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Poison</td> +<td>otoowādoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>otoowādoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Poor</td> +<td>haynil</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ohēä</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_511">[511]</span>Pot</td> +<td>quonsun</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>adinna</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Pregnant</td> +<td>orrŏhoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Present (gift)</td> +<td>wahoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>okōë</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Pull</td> +<td>twin</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>sheeay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Quarrel</td> +<td>irriquaw</td> +<td>orriyow</td> +<td>batōë</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Quick</td> +<td>tetimrĭka</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>serrie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Quiet</td> +<td>gyaë</td> +<td>yafoo</td> +<td>yaië</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Rain</td> +<td>osoorăba</td> +<td>yankoom</td> +<td>bwārie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Rat</td> +<td>quissie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Red</td> +<td>memmia</td> +<td>betcheä</td> +<td>okooquaw</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Ring</td> +<td>inkaä</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>apateä</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>River</td> +<td>bāk</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oboom</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Rob</td> +<td>odomādi</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>odoiyā</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Round</td> +<td>kandinginnŭma</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>koorookooddie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Run</td> +<td>gwan</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>serrie</td> +<td>as ‘<em>quick</em>,’ B.<br> +sirr, run, Arabic.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Salt</td> +<td>inkkim</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>imfoorie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sand</td> +<td>aghweä</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>issay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Say</td> +<td>assie</td> +<td>ass</td> +<td>aberrie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sea</td> +<td>eppoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>See</td> +<td>aweeh</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>akayh</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sell</td> +<td>tum</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>fah</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Send</td> +<td>wahsmum</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ocheow</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Shake</td> +<td>wosoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ediddie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Shell</td> +<td>oorabba</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>owoora</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Short</td> +<td>takoteä</td> +<td>tchaba</td> +<td>akoteä</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Shut</td> +<td>toom</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>toroo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sick</td> +<td>yirrie</td> +<td>yarrie</td> +<td>mimmielal</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Silver</td> +<td>gwettay</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>odume</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sing</td> +<td>enyoom</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ennum</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sister</td> +<td>akirrawa</td> +<td>akirrăba</td> +<td>moofwa</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sit</td> +<td>tinnahoe</td> +<td>kooaugh</td> +<td>tchinna</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sleep</td> +<td>waughda</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oädie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Smell</td> +<td>gwooa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Smoke</td> +<td>wishshue</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>djessie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Soft</td> +<td>mirrou</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>omooqua</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Son</td> +<td>ebba</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ebee</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sorry</td> +<td>oimiyow</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>boomega</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Speak</td> +<td>akas</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>osasin</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Stand</td> +<td>ginnaoh</td> +<td>ginnah</td> +<td>yerrie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Steal</td> +<td>wawwoo</td> +<td>weyweädie</td> +<td>oëwee</td> +<td>windega, Kum.<br> +wintanga, Dag.<br> +lana, Mallowa.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Strong</td> +<td>waginna</td> +<td>ohwidein</td> +<td>oshoneyöo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sun</td> +<td>ayowea</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>oöe</td> +<td>As an exclamation of wonder.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Swear</td> +<td>shua</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sweet</td> +<td>oiaday</td> +<td>oiadow</td> +<td>obooding</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Swim</td> +<td>abhoorh</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>abboor</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Soil</td> +<td>afoonna</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>affung</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tail</td> +<td>dooah</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>odoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Take</td> +<td>afwa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>maytah</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tell</td> +<td>abim</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>aiyow</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Thief</td> +<td>krumfoe</td> +<td>aiwee</td> +<td>ohwie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Throat</td> +<td>komen</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ekoonnie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Throw</td> +<td>too</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ohtoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tie</td> +<td>tittieh</td> +<td>kikhieh</td> +<td>keay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_512">[512]</span>To-morrow</td> +<td>otchinna</td> +<td>akinna</td> +<td>otchay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tongue</td> +<td>takramma</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>dannoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tooth</td> +<td>essie</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>engyie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Touch</td> +<td>kah</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>tah</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Town</td> +<td>croom</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>eban</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Tree</td> +<td>dooa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>assah</td> +<td>dawgo, Kums.<br> +dawro, Dagw.<br> +rahoo, Mosee.<br> +ittachee, Mall.<br> +chee, Embom.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>True</td> +<td>umpa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>kerram</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Turn</td> +<td>dahen</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>darie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Twenty</td> +<td>eddooän</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>edooh</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Wake</td> +<td>wyen</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>otinnie</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><a id="FNanchor_165"></a><a href="#Footnote_165" class= +"fnanchor">[165]</a>Walk</td> +<td>nanchoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>narree</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Warm</td> +<td>oyahue</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>obiguh</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Wash</td> +<td>gwarr</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>orrohooroo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Water</td> +<td>inshoo</td> +<td>insoo</td> +<td>inta</td> +<td>kome, Kumsal.<br> +looa, Mallowa.<br> +quom, Mosee.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Weep</td> +<td>oroosoo</td> +<td>oroosoo</td> +<td>oreesh</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>White</td> +<td>foofoo</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>intoofoofoorie</td> +<td>Intiffa, a proper name.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Wife</td> +<td>ayerh</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>mekkah</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Wild</td> +<td>wadoohem</td> +<td>wadoohem</td> +<td>dooafay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Wind</td> +<td>ooframma</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>affoo</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Wing</td> +<td>ataban</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>ittay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Woman</td> +<td>bisea</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>tchee</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Work</td> +<td>adjooma</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>orilaloo</td> +<td>adawwah, Ku.<br> +matah, Mallow.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Year</td> +<td>affrieyay</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>otee</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Yes</td> +<td>yeö</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>matee</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Yesterday</td> +<td>endodra</td> +<td>ennida</td> +<td>indeay</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<div class="sign3"> +<hr class="decor width15"> + +<p class="small">London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co.<br> +Cleveland-row, St. James’s.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnotes" id="ftapp6"> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_159"></a><a href="#FNanchor_159"><span class= +"label">[159]</span></a><em>Inkran</em>, an <em>ant</em>, is the +native name of the country Europeans call <em>Accra</em>, which +name was probably given by the Portuguese to their settlement there +(the earliest they made according to the traditions of the natives) +to commemorate the voyage of Hanno; Accra being one of the five +cities raised by him between the Soloe Promontory, or Cape Bojador, +and the River Lixus or Ouro.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_160"></a><a href="#FNanchor_160"><span class= +"label">[160]</span></a>This word approximates to <em>ogha</em>, +<em>ogiah</em>, and <em>egah</em>, the words for <em>fire</em> in +the Booroom, Ashantee, and Fantee: but all the other Adampë words I +have ever heard, cannot be assimilated to those which denote the +same objects in any other African language.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_161"></a><a href="#FNanchor_161"><span class= +"label">[161]</span></a>Where there is no word in the Fantee +column, it is the same as the Ashantee.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_162"></a><a href="#FNanchor_162"><span class= +"label">[162]</span></a>I have before stated (Superstitions, +<a href="#Page_270">p. 270.</a>) that <em>aggry</em> is a generic +name, probably exotic, of the derivation of which the Negroes are +wholly ignorant. It is remarkable that the Boorooms call these +beads <em>sikka koonkoorie</em>, and never use the common word for +<em>bead</em> (aboroo,) when they speak of them: this name imports +their value (<em>sikka</em> being <em>gold</em>) and one would +fancy something connected with their locality, <em>Koonkoorie</em> +being a range of hills seven days northward of Kong, (see <a href= +"#Page_182">p. 182.</a>) but I never could obtain the least +explanation on this subject from the natives.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_163"></a><a href="#FNanchor_163"><span class= +"label">[163]</span></a>They distinguish different times of the +day, thus</p> + +<table id="t508"> +<tr> +<td>Morning, or before 12.</td> +<td>napa.</td> +<td> +</td> +<td> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Mid-day, or 12.</td> +<td>aweeabillee</td> +<td>aweeabil</td> +<td>emfass.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Afternoon, 4.</td> +<td>ingubee</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>noobwawss.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Evening, 6.</td> +<td>adiasa</td> +<td>adjasa</td> +<td>eybeen.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Night</td> +<td>noofa</td> +<td> +</td> +<td>aniaberra.</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_164"></a><a href="#FNanchor_164"><span class= +"label">[164]</span></a>This reminds me that I ought to have +noticed, in the Superstitions of Ashantee, that they believe the +devil to be a wandering evil spirit, occasionally entering into a +human being, immediately to be destroyed for the safety of +mankind.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a id="Footnote_165"></a><a href="#FNanchor_165"><span class= +"label">[165]</span></a>It is curious that in both these radically +distinct languages, the verb <em>walk</em> should assimilate so +closely to the noun <em>cow</em>.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="space-above15 x-ebookmaker-drop"> +</p> + +<div class="transnote"> +<h2>Transcriber's note:</h2> + +<ul> +<li>The changes in the <a href="#err">ERRATA</a> regarding the text +have been made.</li> + +<li>Inconsistent chapter numbering between Contents and Part I of +the text has been left as is.</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_19">19,</a> Changed: "place 1° 46′ 30′ W. +and" to: "30″"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_22">22,</a> Changed: "The courses N. ½ N. N. +W. ¼ N. b W. ⅛." to: "N.½, N.N.W.¼, N.bW.⅛."</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_23">23,</a> Changed: "the courses N. ⅓ N. b +W. ⅕." to: "N.⅓, N.bW.⅕."</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_36">36,</a> Changed: "their long Danish +mukets" to: "muskets"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_40">40,</a> Changed: "minors, or young +caboceeers" to: "caboceers"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_45">45,</a> Changed: "and again,) “that he +thanked" to: "and again,) that he thanked"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_49">49,</a> Changed: "my captains. “The +Dutch" to: "my captains. The Dutch"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_63">63,</a> Changed: "an ouline of the Fantee +war" to: "outline"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_94">94,</a> Changed: "inauspicious +circumstance has been unvoidable" to: "unavoidable"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_98">98,</a> Added ” after: "he will do you +good:"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_108">108,</a> Changed: "I sent a cane to +Adooçee" to: "Adocee"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_110">110,</a> Changed: "promised that I shoul +hear from him" to: "should"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_132">132,</a> Changed: "into every trivial +occurrrence" to: "occurrence"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_145">145,</a> Changed: "have more to-morrow +”" to: "have more to-morrow;”"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_151">151,</a> Changed: "I had exeprienced +whilst" to: "experienced"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_196">196,</a> footnote <a href= +"#Footnote_37">37,</a> Added “ before "The Chaymas"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_204">204,</a> footnote <a href= +"#Footnote_47">47,</a> Changed: "of Arabs) “Wadie." to: "of Arabs) +Wadie."</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_253">253,</a> Changed: "exercising his +judical authority" to: "judicial"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_256">256,</a> Changed: "accused against +arbitary judgment" to: "arbitrary"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_268">268</a> (270), footnote <a href= +"#Footnote_83">83,</a> Changed: "inlaid, at it were, in the body" +to: "as it were"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_268">268</a> (271), footnote <a href= +"#Footnote_83">83,</a> Added ” after "ignorant of their +origin."</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_279">279,</a> Changed: "the tribatary chiefs +who pay but" to: "tributary"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_288">288,</a> Changed: "discharge of muketry, +proportionate" to: "musketry"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_322">322,</a> Changed: "with 1000 mukets you +could not" to: "muskets"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_333">333,</a> Changed: "as a corrective to +the unplatable" to: "unpalatable"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_345">345</a> (346), footnote <a href= +"#Footnote_112">112,</a> Changed: "we are asily mistaken" to: +"easily"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_348">348,</a> footnote <a href= +"#Footnote_113">113,</a> Added “ at the start.</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_352">352,</a> Changed: "corsespond exactly in +meaning" to: "correspond"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_419">419,</a> Changed: "wow!” “death! “death" +to: "wow!” “death! death"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_433">433,</a> footnote <a href= +"#Footnote_132">132,</a> Changed: "spoke to agreeing tha after" to: +"that"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_451">451,</a> Changed: "and phrenzy of the +perfomer" to: "performer"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_469">469,</a> Changed: "clompletely blockaded +on the land-side" to: "completely"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_473">473,</a> Changed: "bring future good +conse-sequences" to: "consequences"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_479">479,</a> footnote <a href= +"#Footnote_149">149,</a> Changed: "or ship, “adding, that" to: "or +ship, adding, that"</li> + +<li><a id="tnoteref1" class="tnoteref"></a>pg <a href= +"#Page_479">479</a>-480, The footnote <a href= +"#FNanchor_152">152</a> referred to in the text is missing.</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_484">484,</a> footnote <a href= +"#Footnote_157">157,</a> Changed: "had the advanage of correcting" +to: "advantage"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_487">487,</a> Changed: "Shagho — <span class= +"arabic">شَيْعُ</span>" to: "<span class= +"arabic">شَيْغُ</span>"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_487">487,</a> Changed: "Rakka — <span class= +"arabic">رَافَا</span>" to: "<span class= +"arabic">رَاقَا</span>"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_491">491,</a> Changed: "Yajoury (doubtlels +Yawoorie)" to: "doubtless"</li> + +<li>pg <a href="#Page_492">492,</a> Changed: "Massir — <span class= +"arabic">سصر</span>" to: "<span class="arabic">مصر</span>"</li> + +<li>Minor changes in punctuation have been done silently.</li> + +<li>Other spelling inconsistencies have been left unchanged.</li> + +<li>New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to +the public domain.</li> +</ul> +</div> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77375 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/77375-h/images/cover.jpg b/77375-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2908d8e --- /dev/null +++ b/77375-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/77375-h/images/i01.jpg b/77375-h/images/i01.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b20c18a --- /dev/null +++ b/77375-h/images/i01.jpg diff --git a/77375-h/images/i01_large.jpg b/77375-h/images/i01_large.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd4527e --- /dev/null +++ b/77375-h/images/i01_large.jpg diff --git a/77375-h/images/i02.jpg b/77375-h/images/i02.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d499842 --- /dev/null +++ b/77375-h/images/i02.jpg diff --git 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