The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-23 00:00:00

DUPUIS' JOURNAL OF A RESIDENCE IN
ASIIANTEE.

(Continued from our Lauer of Saturday.)
Moving put our readers in possession of the substance of
the introductory chapter, we now proceed to the body of the
yak. The first chapter contains a very interesting and well
written account of the Author's Journey from Cape Coast
Castle through the Fantce country, interspersed with the
history of the late wars of the Ashantee Monarch with
that people. Whoever has endeavoured to read, and re-
tain in memory, the wars of Alexander's successors, as
laboriously detailed by the learned Dr. Gullies, in his His-
tory of Greece, may be enabled to form some conception
of the confusion which tl.e recital of the various conflicts
of natians equally powerful, but with much less classical
rums, will fonn in any ordinary bead—in fact, the whole
pastes before us like a feverish dream of havoc and blood-
shed, obstinate contests, and indiscriminate slaughter.—
The whole route is tracked by the ruins of villages, and
Beery day's march is through a field strewed with human
bones, whitening in the sun, and each with ita appropriate
ligerd of desolation and human misery. Yet, why should
we blame the barbarians of Africa fcr this? Tike away
tie great and imposing name of the conqueror, and what
is left of every conquest since the flood, but pain and die-
tcsa to the human • ice?

The country thr....gh which Mr. Dupuis travels is one con-
fnuell forest of noble trees woven together, and rendered
surly impervious by a reticulation of parasitical plants of
ererydiameter,from that of a pack-thread to that of s cable.
This, as may be expected, causes a twilight gloom under
ilmsiavelian sun even of the tropics, which, however, mutt
he rather to the advantage of travellers than otherwise, since
the thennotneter in the forest stands at bu lower than when
exposed to the sun in passing through a glade or crossing
a wide stream.

The soil appears principally composed of sand, mixed
with light marl, and is highly produr tire even where the
rays of the sun cannot penetrate. Many varieties of tropi_
sat fruits, which elsewhere require the hand of the culti-
vator to bring them to perfection, grow in these wilds in
spontaneous luxuriance. But we cannot -tgree with our
slither, in attributing this to the soil and climate alone. In
llindostan, where the soil is equally productive, the pre-
sence of the bamboo, the mango, or other cultivated plants,
is always regarded as indisputable evidence of the jungle
In which they are found having been in former times the
she of human habitations, and in most cases, where di-
lent search has been made, ruins have been found in their
tc:.nity. In a country like Africa, which has, ever since it
red known by the civilized world, been agitated by intes-
tine divisions and exterminating wars, there is every likeli-
d that large tracts, now forming an uninhabited forest
• cice under cultivation, and as the habitations of' the
, .e are constructed of the most perishable materials, only
re,:etalile monuments remain to tell where man has been.
ti the animals Mr. Dupuis meets in his route, the principal
varieties of the parrot and monkey tribes. lie hears
messionally of lima, and his people often call upon him to
••• the :meid of the hyena. This disagreeable odour
across his path so often, that we suspect, had minute
• been made, he would have found many of
effluvia to have proceeded from the decay
ante species of wocd fungus, or other feetid plant,
u our own peasantry frequently mistake fur the
of the badger. Of the entomological production, of
is re.gion, the most wonderful is the black ant, the
tolkinng description of whose extraordinary powers we can
believe, from having seen similar fears, but en a
'a scale, performed by the small red ant of Asia:—
hillocks formed by red ants were now rarely discovered but
linek an.a were numerous and troublesome, the bite they
occasioned a sharp burning heat. Nor are they leas
is the cultivated parts and even in the towns. The von.
vb'eh they surprise their prey and assail him at all vul-
~io rocs exceeds that of locusts, when they alight in a field of
kg when once the attack is commenced, no bodily etliwt of
rein sill avail him. Flt is generally impotent, Imams it
itiv:;_c_.tesil firm to spool, when a natural instinct, occasioned by
tte induces him to plunge into the water. Ties
at' . becalmy the Ashantees, it not ar.ly the plague of all other
m of (very die: of their own species, and of the red
',Pr-I:elan If I inny be Indulged In a whimsical compact-
.° "Was resembhuice between these diminutire free.
sand the Arabs, who, alike migratory, rove over the surface
tizutl, and establish s ten ray residence where it meet/
.31• often to the terror and in defiance of neighba.uring
Thos the Mark antis in myriads will trace a particular
,•,_•Mid pursue that track in exact and thick embodied file, over
,;t7i,Ferliaps, of miles, until they fix upon a spot to their
ie2.7Te they trees little conical habitations, which may be
7.lllrely to bear a similitude to the Arabian tent, both in
.I,s" rtnn• Th.! red ants, on the intrary, raise solid
/ char, which are cemented with a mucilaginous sub.
C__tttpt hinds the parts together in an indissoluble incrusta-
_'tkids defiance to any violence Idiom of the pick-axe.
coins
of the black ants is thus effectually prevented
re their entrenched prey venture abroad, or are ob.
siZjita tr ag and augnientsnr their habitathma, which they
a tame ensues. and thousands become the victims of
7471t5, sow sotacinses force an entrance even into the
:it once when hillock was perforated, in
seliiit is commonly termea rithe (peen, or mother ant,
unwieldy insect, two inches in length and one in
tri,!r_e:.forrioxl is heial and shoulders like the common
sast,„7,:l"! holy like that of • maggot. This insect readies
ae,,,a-2; et% , at the eery fbundation ot the hillock. and La said
cad with such inexhaustible fecundity as to bring forth its
Ihkeyy tistdatly and unceming repetition. The act of cutting
rasowit..l24, siutrfna,cemisalyas labmieitS; bat that effected, the earth
&ea. The cells resembled those of the
y. ,t,e7v ;entrant, in diagonal rows, but without order or
dat.4.2 LIII.IIII. WS% siltinsast attended with success, in
Ilea 4,7.'4 ~he queen mother. During the process the
gets, 4,7, al directions, and vainly endearcarred to recover
they were assaulted by a troop of black ants, who
Itarsafrj it' resistance devuured their prey on the ayot,
it„4:labetween their nippers. The black ant, it is said,
'fad, Wick any animal. net exempting mankind ; but
• ti..:l4ri.antai whom they frequently destroy and devour.
+tote._ not ten strong for them to cope with, the rat is not
st4rthe areal too active; vigilance and force are
410014.71W"1nfi. They sill even is thr Asbantees report, neat
"'Mb, and en:cringl44 bc.,es, allow the reptile

no chases of escaping. The hangirg nests of small blot* ants
were also very tumorous is dm tress, where, it wools' appear, they
choose their abode as • security against attacks of the universal
' enemy.
At one halting place he is sorely annoyed by numerous
rats who consider his Iv.nl as a roper stage whereon to
peribrin their nightly gambols, en.: sorely " murder sleep."
We quote the following account of en African village, as
a specimen of our author's mode narrative with
description :
The town of Kiklivhary is conaid:rtthly larger than that if Pras-
soa, and its inhabitants proportionately numerous. The papules
tion of the place is said to exczed futte-.n thousand. The dynes.
ogy of the ward Kikiwhary is, lake he Irg. or resolution. a name
wined is not uncommon to other towns 0: the kingdom.. It Ii said,
that the present town stands on the site: of a vcry extensive city,
which was destroyed unite ages back by :to irruption of the tribes
of Dagaviba. Like Previa°, it is characterised by one main
streci. 3.cpssatin; the hotrees into two sections, and intersecting at
right Angles a number of avenues. Tile hawses. which ressmbk in
etemitruction those stt. Premium, consist of various chile's, front the
quadratiular building down to the cotimmo bamboo hut. Tie
white cliy washed walls generally distinguish the habitations of the
wealthy ; but they arc not numerous. As the apartments are all
either upon the ground tidor, or elevatet; ouly two or three feet
above the natural surface, the roofs are r..te,:s.arily the moat con-
spietscris f.atuves i s the emit d'aii of an Afriean town. Th., in.
tern, compartments of the hest houses are leniished in a style cor-
responding with the aimplichy of African wants ; two or three
•itexlen Atools,sonve earth: tot pots for culin-ry purposca ; cane mats,
a waterier. ad • lamp, constructed of brass or clay, comprise ail
'tic utensils of the far greater portion of the inhabiuults;
many of the bousea of tams high in tar.::, are adorned with large
wo:xlet drums, and horns decorated with sculls and jaw bones.
The following account of his reception at Ansa!' will give
our readers sonic idea of the ethrtette of African ceremo-;
nial

Desolate as the land is on both sides of the Pratt, with the excep-
tion only of Prassoo, Kikiwhary, and Amish, I had, nevertheless,
deemed it expedient, in support of my public character, w an.
nouncc the approach of the mission with all bet:noting solemnity.
A desrr!ye ion of the ceremonies practised at Arsah, as they bear a
relation to the_migest aobserved, trey tent be displeasing to
the reader. road flag with which I travelled through the
wood: , and welsh was simply a small union-jack„ was, on our
appowth to she' tows, dismissed to the rear, its place being sup-
plied by a more brilliant snit of colours. Such of the re .ort
were in attendance joined in embodied ranks equal to the lintiat or
the path, while one of my soldiers who hal practise./ the bugle,
blew a blast or two on that instrument, whi-h, cattpled with the
shoats and songs of my attendants, never failed to collect from the
hues a numerous ensnare of spectators, who, it may be said,
strove in emulation to par that respect to the British dog, and I.
white men, and Englishmen, which it was my pride to witness.
At Anesh, every countenance wag siamped with thaw genuine
feelings of respectful admiration which it sass my object to excite.
Crowds followed us to our quarters, bestowing occasionally some
Nattering commendations upon the objects that interested their at-
tention.

As the day declined, drums were heat and horns sounded through-
out the town, to give notice to the chief and elders to ensemble with
their retaincrs. in the ntarket.place, to receive the public visit they
anticipated. On nor aide, I gave instructions to the officers to
equip themselves in uniform, and the people to dress in clean ap.
&c. Thus arrayed, we sallied forth, at a sort of funeral
pace, preceded by the colours. On turning an angle leading to the
market-place we were suddenly saluted by the beating of drums,
but trio? a while the discord ceased. The Caboceer, whore name
was Coinin Atkin (Deputy Viceroy of Amiss under Anton Koitea)
was encompassed by all the principal male inhabitants of the town,
' headed by t..eir respective chieftains. An avenue between this mass
' of human being's was left sufficiently wide to permit us to approach
I in the order of single tile ; and through this space I advanced,
touching hands with the Ceboceer and the other chief., while a
ritimber of boys waved short wimetars, chopping bills, and 1110,(11,
over my head, its they yelled out the " strong earn."'" of their
patron, descriptive of his rank, heroic achievements, 8
At the conclusion of this ceremony our party retired to the
shade of a tree, where, when we had taken our seats, the Assin chief
and his party advanced In turn, nreceded by the bond of performers,
whore overture was of • character still more inhammnines. ledeed
the flutes and acme of the smaller horns only, when they could be
dietinguished in the medley of sounds, softened to a degree of tole-
rance the harsh barbaric clamour. (inc instrument, resembling
the horn of an ceormons buffalo, which was decorated with a pro-
fusion of human jaw-hones, uttered abrupt and incessant Mote o
the most dismal howling that can he imagined. Others of similn
dimensions ornamented with the like brutal trophies, produced a
lengthened distressing tone, something resembling Cie moderate
cry of hyenas. :Sonic email elephants' teeth, hollowed into form,
were rather more melodious, excepting when they chimed with the
concert. The large drums were carried on the heads of men, end
beaten in that posture; but the small ones were slung as kettle
drums, These aided to calabashes and gourds tilled with shot or
mall stones, concave bits of iron, and s:niking sticks, will give an
idea of the national taste in harmonic matters. As the chieftain ad-
vanced to take my hand, a number of parasites rushed before him,
holding their nose., as the custom is, and recapitulating his„ strong
names," with vociferous, and, as it would appear to a stranger,
offeneive intrusion ; for these flatterers, notwithstanding they were
gently pushed aside, returned to the charge as boisterously as
before. On a sudden he burst from the crowd, and as he took me
by the hand, perfect order and silence ensued,
The Cabeeeee was folliswd sweameiwely by the earaink. tidos,
and ordinary thereof inhabitants ; but. tile latter aid not presume
to offer them hands for aceopinnee, a compliment which was ea.
peeled by the Ciihoceer and chief officers only; all others were
happy in being permitted to pain in tire pompous line, to wave
their hands, and pay the compliment of a welcome.
I had scarcely returned to the quarters when a file of men en-
tered profusely laden with provisions. The present consisted of a
sheep, a goat, a quantity of yarns, ego, fowls, plantains, and palm
wire, besides tire-wood, cankcy bread, sugar cane, and some
honey in the comb. Indeed I never before witnessed hospitality,
even among filiesselmen, who are religiously scrupulous of that
virtue, equal to this, which in fact was a private present. My ac-
knowledgments were accompanied by a trilling return of rum, and
a piece of British manufactured cotton.
The following notice of African infant manners Is into-'
resting:—
On the twenty-third, my second messenger retuned from the
capital, for ceremonious courtesy being the sine qua sou of African
diplomacy, I endeavoured toneglect none of those outward forms
which are to well understood in 'private life. I was assured by the
Caboceer that the streets in Cooinaesy were by a royal edict ordered
to be cleansed in anticipation of my approach.
While the presents were houstag, I received a visit from the
king's son, a child about six years at age, who was brought to one
by his nurse, and sem .1 guardians, besides a courtly little troop of
slaves rtai playmate s. Tile custom of Africa was not omitted even
Co this occrien, for the visit was attended with a present of fowls,
vegetables and wine. A suitable return In sugar highly gratified
the threat prince, who, however, generously distributed a portion
of the sweets anatwq his juvenile compan'ons. I was next honoured
with it visit by a female member of the royal family, a daughter of
the king, whose age was probably about ten years. The retinue of
this young lady was as bunierous as the former. A sugar offering
to the princess, with the addition of a little rum to the attendants,
introduced us to a familiar acquaintance at sight. The matrons
endeavoured to ai h my lab tee to their ward, by intimating
that she was very fund of white men's carcases ; but her timi-
dity gave a flat contradiction to the assertion. I eedeteoured
to soothe therefore, in language somewhat adapted to a female
ear, but the compliments 1 paid were unaceintutasl7 appro-
priated by my.auditresees to their own youth and bcauty, or to
other inclinations; fur they assured me by way of reply, that
although the princess was young, vet in avery few moons she
would be ready to take to wife; and if I admired her, they had no
doubt the king would give her to me. At the same time the old
some', taking several of their youthful companions by the
shooldees, introduced them in a circle, desiring me to select a
favorite without scruple, and keep her as lung as I thought fit.
The journey to Coomassy, the capital of the Ashantee
dominions, is highly interesting in all its details, but is not
capable of being reduced to a space sufficiently small for our
purpose, and at the same time to retain the interelt which in
the original it cannot fail to excite. It is suflicient to say,
that at every town and village Mr. Dupuis was received
with c dcgree of consideration, accompauted with a kind-
ness, eiviLty, and hospitality, the recital of which must
convince every one not besotted by prejodice, that the
whole people of Ashantee, from the King downwards,
were anxious to cultivate friendly relations with the Eng-
lish, notwithstanding the very equivocal conduct -C the
local authorities of Cape Coast Castle. I'his we would
strongly impress on our readers, as we foresee that the
friends of our African authorities will, in their pleadings
in favour of an Asbantee war, rake up all the hackneyed
cant about the treachery of savages.
His rxeption at court corresponded with this treatment,
and the studied barbaric pomp with which he was greeted,
and the attentions paid to him, 'hewed, beyond all manlier
of doubt, that the King wished to evince every respect to
the representative of the British Government. We for-
bear going Into this ceremony in detail,.o we have not
room for it, but we recomtnend it to our wailers, as a'
striking and well described specimen of savage Manners.
In our next we shall give some account of that part gr,
the work, which is of the greatest poiitical interest.-the
negociations between Mr. Dupuis and the Ashanum Go-
verment.

I Imo live mart,
, rays of the sun Cl
ad fruits, which
tame to bring tin
spontaneous luxu
audio!, 1:1 attribu•
, llindostan, when
scum of the baml
is always regarth
In which they are
site of human It
Lgeut search has 1
veinity. In aco
'known by tht
( nee divisions and
bad that large tr
$ were c.)ce under c
B people are constru
a cetable roomier:,
, Of the animals M
I. rft varieties of tl
!•• ateasionally of lic
n aotiee the :melt (
a wan across his I
y equity been rat
L. theft effluvia ti
1., 4 some species c
Web as our own
ft wed: of the batlg
in ibis region, the
e. Minna; dcscript
to Weil believe, fro'
antler scale peel
1. Ile hillocks tom
black ar.a wen
• try +l atomism!
Rt btaitti is the cultic
th'elt they
Ltd "ALhroints exact
'"r1; rat when once
t!va-ltrt win avail
*mu le.a him t
tin liona•.t., • o
7,
kuLd Puo, the
sot
ad t.io
patitutor.
%owl tan
11
hyS
tit and the Aril
1
burr:a. 44447. and
often ta
•.•41. The, the I
and
-Nat, Ferha" t
lint 'her hi"'
:1, (Swan veely etY.
sett illll.
,r
kr.v tbat
;•,::;!4,1 bids dens
k 4 'mtlisa of th
*lsm? ,s,„•
ia •
hile retlr
_y
• d
er-Pranits
ti 44,.. kid.
ft obtatnirichi
Irl unO'e
i
t
forn
La a white be,
o
in utente et"
anal
timis
tre.. 11:1 ssvfats
14",t.asi wn
i:tee the 1:,1
1-4.74;_,'17 of Os
‘,„4rvoi
0,46,41. While till
lak tigoo
t off bet,
set
Al a 41;7;11411
ae
pt k
low nOt
r *My: 4eit tb
af
•