The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-02-28 00:00:00

IN CAPTIVITY AT COOMASSIE.

The following extracts are from a very interesting
sketch by the Special Correspondent of The Times,
under date Prahsu, Jan. 18:
in this letter! shall offer tJ your readers a connected nar-
rative ol Mr. Klihne's capture and cantiviiy as ?Witted ta roe
Is/ himself, hw story with a few remarks en the
Miamian to which he belungs and the country in which it
carries on lie work. . . .

The stations of the Basle Mission arc partiy to the forest
region, partly In the open land . . Toe I• rest Is for the
moat part inhabited by the OJI nation, of • hien the Ashan-
ti. Vanteee, Mime, Aquapirns, and A (incurious, with • then
that might he mentioned, hmn distinct hut related tribes.
The open country is for the most part occupied by tribes
allied to the people of Accra, whose language, the Oa, is
wholly different from Op, rue tribes of the forest are Ml-
circumcised, the people of the pl-du are circuna ci,ed, with-
out, however, being Moslems Toe Basle missionaries, titer, -
fore, labour among two nations of negroce and have bad to
master two families of language.

It was my fortune a few year. ego to pees much time among
these missionaries, and 1 have had many a conversation
with them In relation to the captives at Ilmunakele. The
C lurch Missionery Society did greet th legs in the early
nays at Sierra Leone, wh.n shiploads if naked savages
taken on boa," sieve ships wore dimemoare ted every month
In that aettlemel.t. But a. regards when nary labours
among Independent savage tribe in Western Africa It
Certain thiat the Beale Mission should receive the
palm. The principles upon which it I. conduc el make
it resemble those incuetrions coneenunitlea of m nil
which hewed clearings In the great German forest and re-
garded labour as a kind if prayer. With eespect to mission-
aries trading w tie tile natives (for the benefit of the Society),
a difference of opinion may prevail ; but no rational man vent
deny that tile g ,od for missionaries to teach their converts
useful handicraft, and the diiso.pline of Industry. The
Besse mlssionariel preach and pray and read the
Bible to their parishioners quite as much as otter
missionaries ; they have sine seminaries iii which
candidates for lily Orders learn dogmatic or mot.-
. theology, Greek, and Hebrew which language
*he Africans had much easier than Greek, ea It is difficult fur
them to grapple with long and involved periods. lu addition
to tide religious education, English is taught with the usual
elements, arithmetic. geography, ko., and, furthermore, the
lay brethren of the Mission train up carpeuters,
bootmakers, masons, mei so forth. The missionaries receive
no salary, but only an allowance suffider tic feed them and
clothe them. 11 they do not spend it all they return the
surplus to the Mission Mutt. the Society elves them a
pension when they grow old and also educates their children.

It was just a year before, In June, 1,60, that the Ashantees
approached Mum. Domprey ens encamped about 11 miles
from the town ; the women and children were sent away.
Domprey advised the missionaries to go. but they did not
take his advice for two reasons. In the lint place
they believed that the Ashatitees were a line people and
would not do them any harm ; and, secondly, Dm,prey
had already shown a disposition to plunder, and
had forced them to pay a sear contribm lon. In the
factory connected with the Mission they had £2,100
worth of goods, and they believe.,' and the belief
was not unnatural, that he only wanted to frighten them
away that he weight take these anode, which they could
not possibly recover. Presently the Ashantees were reported
t, be near Mum. Everyone left the town ; the missionaries
sent their clerk and catechist and servants may, and re-
mained quite wane in the house. They were tore, In num-
ber—Mr KlVine, Mr. ilemseyer, and Mn. Itamseyer, who
had an Intent ten months old.
•• •

The mission-h,dase was Ritual, a at a Iltt!e diatance from
the town, on a blah hill which co.nmanded a beautiful clew
Whence could be mew the blue Volta flowing forth from a
mount.in g r•ge far away to the north a veal Plain called
the Wildernesa attended , and to the north, est might
dind) be descried the misty outline of the forest- •overed
Q low Mountain', belonging to the same range at tile Ada, el
tolls end marking the irontler of Ashantee. On the hill
there was no water ; It had to be fetched every day from the
town ; and now the mlesioneries had to go for it themselvea.
Atom was quite empty ; it reeerobled a city of the dead ;
and all the coy long they could hear no found but the
buzzing and humming of insects, and the boo ! boo ! boo I of
the roil-fathered touraco.
•

Taus they waited for the Athantem, and en the morning
of the third nay they Ileac, voice. in the town. It was the
12th of June, iBe9, Mrs. Ramseyer was In the gallery greed-
log out clothes to dry when she Law the barrels or mmkets
above the high grass A omit 20 armed men appe arad and
pointe• their guns at the house. She wl.hed them good
morning arid went inside. The two missionaries well out and
asked the men if they were Ashaoteei, and on receiving their
reply said they were frlends to the Ashantees es well as to
all other neople, and had nothing to do with the war.
1 hey then shook hands, Sal the leader of the men
said they must all go down to AOlllll and saute the
(i'llatel. The missionaries replied that they could not all go
as they had no ..... nts, and there would be no one to take
care of the house. lbs Ashantres replied that they would
put sentinels over the house The missionaries then went
t ,their rooms arid put on their crate, and went eh wu the
hill, Mrs. itanucler carrying the child In her arena (In
their way they met about 600 Ashantees woo were rushing
op the hill a Ith savage yell.. Alum conedate of three towns.
When the missionarie I were bronaht to the Ilmt town they
were told that the General was in the second town ; when
brought to the second town they were told that he was in
the third; then they were told that he wee Ins villsg a a
little way at They were m 4,1.5 to anti all day long. Coo oil
the any they were palmed r,y Ashautees claming bootie bud
furnitore belonging to the mire ton.
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In the evening they arrived at a village where they found
the King or Aquilino.. Th-y maid to Yin know that
we are mission. re.,, and have nothing to do with lie ha?;
why are ire treated In this manner, r He rep le . that they
must go to the Salient.. General, and he would ‘..ertainly send
them home. The next day they were made to march MI again;
Mee Rtmseyer lost one,.! her elne.• lea swamp, brit wan not
allowed to wait for • moment ble, K (Rene lagged, and
was threatened with the chip. Title umhredas were taken
from them. iresently they heard heavy firing. A battle
wee being fought. between D mprey and the Ashantees.
seaer„i men p.,,,ed them with blood streaming irim their
wound,; these threatened them, and tali, .• Ah, it is you
who teach people to fight: but we Ashantees can eat white
men up." They passed tie flier of the Ashautee army :
poliaernen ran to and he, armed with whips of hippo.
potentlu ike, and fl ,gged atregglere into action.
Theuaands of load-carriers were there in each
of them hail • small pillow, and each heat Gal it, I%
curious manner with his hands, no that It made
• noise Jest like the whistling ol bullets, Rind the mission-
erten could not help ducking their heads. They paned a
village In whlon were many dead bedlam, sod women, bowl-

_
log wth grief, packing them up In baskets. It was dark
tweee they reached the Ashantee camp. They were tat, n
before what they at first ripposed to be • tent, but It wale
huge umbrella Beneath it sat a man covered wito a white
cloth. They were told that tide was Moo Buffo° The toddlers
of the escort kite', ,1 tv. and ',mended the captives. S.IIO
men rit*h, ti up to Mrs Ramseyer and tore cif the skirt
01 her gow.2. A in,o, With a log knife c Late at. k-nd
separated toe captive.. Si? Kuhn. was taken to a hut itt
Which eat a cider 'deeding f..orn five Wollit,ll,, which were
Icing wastrel with oot water. He ordered Minna to sit
dove, and trade aigns that he w, uld out off his arm.. The
chief then it coked if he hod hern lighting. lititoe replied
that he was a priest. The chief made a man, and he Was put
Into trot,, lie felt sure that he would he killed. A little
Way off ware Mr. mid Mre. Ramaerer. who were al.) It, iron..
Ile could hear them playing and bidding farewell to each
other In heart-thrilling words.
- - - -• •

11ever, though kept In lions and robbed, they were not
co beret. 111-treatee, and Adou Bono Informed them with
much politeness that he intended to tend them back to their
brethren. Bit Prat they must go to a quiet town wher.
they could eat sod rest before they proceeded on their
Journey. He put them under the charge 0f.,, old chief and
a for soldiers and scot them nit. They walked for tome
distance until they came to a high hilt, whence they could
see the Volta. Then they knew that the Tollat look to which
they were going was Coomassle.
They were taken through a part of Creepee which was
reter.dly to mhantee, an t then, crossing Over the Volta,
entered the Wilderness, an unhihshted, prairie watered by
scanty streams, after eve day. they came to the Qdow
country, where the forest begins, and thence to C cow ate
travelled always in the bush.

Ramseyer had some desiccated milk In a bottle, ant
wit this she kept rile child alive for a time. When the milk
was nul,hed she °MAO It food with eggs and blued emu, se d
when they enl erect a village the missioharlea rued to go beg
ging from house to house fir an egg. They were not ale a's
succeseful ; but the natives were tem.:times very kind and
brought them food of their own accord. The child became
thinner and peter every day, and died bet- ve the end of
July. It had just been buried, when they received • pre-
mut from the King and a message tellhg them not to
be afraid. Thee were much cheers! Ly this, and the
old chief and his shidtcrs treated them ..etrer ; but they
were still put in I,ons every night. On the 9th of August
they arrived at a village about 12 miles front Coomassle.
They there net • Frenchman named Bonnet, wh,. had been
captured ad ilo, on the east side of the Volta. When the
Ashantte army atproacbed he rermithed in Ms factory for
Cite purpose of smiths them powder and suns ; hut they
took the powder and guns for nothing, and shunt( Into the
bargain.
After a tong detention In a little village near Coomaide
they were allowed to enter the capital and t take up their
anode In the Weeleyan Mi.sion.hourre. They made the
m.ydain.ance and friendship of Prime Ausah, who was given
se a Imsta4e to the English in 1831, had rectived an English
education, and was reg ,riled as no alien by the Ashautdrs.
Ile had been employed by the English Government as an
envoy and was deiatried by he King. Mr. Watts. the
Wesleyan scene, was *Tao at Ceoreassle ; he had beeh kept
their sore° years. Those gentlemen, with some Fantete,
were afterward, exchanged for Ashautte prisoners.
The King told the missionaries that he would release them
trill ',tearoom, and intenued to Co. no; bet as Ado, Buffo°
had taken them they must wait till he rammed from the
war. When Adoo Button did return he drove In before him
several thousand cat t vex, bet these e ere from the put of
Creeper, which was allied with .sohantee. The war had not
been succesqul, and the General did not like to go home
*mots -handed. When he now hia espdvea again he mold
notning about letting them go, but said he wanted some
money. _

Ii e captives were now treated well enough according to
A•hantee ideas The Kit g g.ve them a monthly allowance
of money. that they night buy food ; be also made them
000asion,1 previa', The A Iministrator, Mr. Unbar, and
their brethren of the ensign n, sent them up bees of
clothes and provisions, which were not Interfered with.
Several measeugera were sent up by the Government to
negotiate for their release. Oa the 17th of I,bruary,
WI, the King summoned his chlAs and the mit.
sionaries. Just Cu they were &HUN; down the alarm
horn was blown, announcing a lire In the town. It is a law
in A hantee that the King mast go to any fire th••t occurs,
possibly that moo may tv,.rk hatter to put I; out. When the
Ore was extinguished the King ritturmd and said to the
"My trleude, I have Joel received a letter horn the
O vernor asklog me to give up the white men. I have no
01 j..ction to it myself ; what do you say?'
Theo AllOO Blefoo-rose and said that the white men had
taken In m them Denkers and Again «nd Wassaw anti Akira,
and how they hod better keep the white men. The King took
the votes of the Chlefe ; the majority agreed with Ad.
Buff.. If svever, at lad he said he 'multi let them go for a
ransom. In .tv,h a cos. the King would ask a thotiohnd
perigun u; he being a Cold would only ask 800 penguins—
i.e., £6,840.

The Boole Mission offered • thonsand pounds. In the
meautiene Limns. was transferred to Great Britain, All
Elwin& man gamed Flange was sent to Commies% to HO-
nouns° this fact, and to off.s a thousand pound. for the cap-
tives. At a great C ,nuell the Kn.g said to Planate, 'Well,
and if I don't give at, the white men, whet will the
Governor do !" !lenge replied he thought there would
be war. Upon this there eas • tumult like that des-
cribed by Bowuich on a similar occasion. All stood
up. The Queen Mother spoke first, and sad that she, with
her left nand, os uld beat the Pantiles The Chief of
Pommes said he was the emalmst of ail the chief., hie.. be
weld do the same ir y himself. Every Chief In turn msee
speech to the seine effect. Mr Pangs toll them that they
must let their it arts ; whet lie had said was only ins
private opinion; it was not in the letter. The tumult
then ceased, and a pacific answer was returned. 10
N wetuber, 1,72, the c .ptives were told that the
1,1140(11 would be accepted and that they were free
men. They were sent to romans, which is ch es to
the frontier of Athantee Proper, a few miles from . or out-
posts at the present time. Toe Ashautee Envoys went down
to Cane Coast Castle. In he mean time prep,rations were
made at Caomassie for the invasion of the Protectorate. It
was the intention of the King to get the thousand pounds by
promising to give up the captivee, and as soon as
his Envoys were safe across the Prah to send an
army int t,al of the white men. II en ever, the AO-
niluistrat,r would not pay the raus.on to advance,
and as soon am this information readnd F. mans

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from the returning Envoys the mast was takien off. In
their fury of disappoi tment they stripped Flange naked and
beat him severely ! the Missionaries were taken to another
use, and their b sea were taken from them. These were
afterwards restored to them at Coomawde, hut their money
was taken out. 00 their way hack they met the Ashantee
army in full march towards the Pratt.

lain needless to say that the capttves ell not hear mnch
about the war. But in May the King met them In the
street. He danced before them and brandithed his sword in
their faces, and laid he was at Dunquab, and that If the
white Olen mixed the nativen tip lee the patent he won't
kid them all. This was the turnieg petit ; afterward, Came
smallpox, dysentery, the repulse at 'Galina, and the aff• r
of emelt.. pa. In the skirmishee that occurred, the
Aahanteea, as we know, were sometimes victorious but for
them every fight in which they obtain no plunder le a latest.
The King did not dance any more.
Amanquatia brought back Only a few captives. Now, It is
a law that the General and his Captains, according to their
rank, shall puy to the King so many °apt yes when they
return from wee As there were no pas men, the King
called the Chiefs and fined them to money the value • f
the men they ought to have delivered. Ile gave them 15
days to collect tteeir gold Oust ; but during this In-
terval came the news that the white men had crossed
the Prah. The Ashatetres now begun to understand what
was coming. The King said in Council that from time
Immemorial no 'mettle army bad ever been to Coomeasle
hut the Colette replied that ardent times were not now.
Pee Q teen Mother said Gat God had always given the
Ashamees success when they fought in a righteous cause,
hue this war was not right; they had promised to give up
the white men and ought to leave done so. Toe }Unit
Raked Mr. K Wm. to act as lets Intercessor. lie sent Lim out
oleOnillaellie leytithe. f.r he we. aehamed to colt by day
le,t the people shoutd say," Us ! the King is afraid" Al
ni.eht no Ashantee la allowed to leave the town, and polio,-
Men patrol the ernes, their leads halt shaved, their hate
ha; ging over their foreheads, and lances in their bands.

Mr. K inn° thinks it certain that the other capti•es will
come to o harm The King will keep them, so that In rose
of detest they may htercede on ids bbnlf. Besides, It is a
Municipal larr of Cootnasale that no one may kill a white
man or a yellow cow.
I omitted to state that since the arrival of the Missionaries
at Coomassie two other Europeans have been pieced wthin
tha p over of toe King. Ey a strange colocidemo they ooth
bear the name of Baruseyer, and the youngest captive is only
two months Old.