The New York herald., 1873-09-30
THE ASHANTEEs.
The Warrior Africans and Their King-sketch Of
the Fighting Monarch, Koffes Calcalli, and His
Family-Hiutory Of the Dusky Dynasty-ln
Power and Resources Valiant and Ven
srabls Generals Who Lead Against the
Allies Of fEngland-sir Charles M Gear
thy's Skull Used as q Palace
Drinking Cup Manufactures,
Sports and Royal Blood.

Tne following account OF the Ashantee King and
his people will be OF interest at the present mo-
ment on account OF the English position in that
portion OF Africa. The particulars, far as they
respect the Ashantee Kingdom, have been fur
nished on the Gold Coast by Prince Ossoo Ansall,
uncle to the Ashantee King, and at present de-
tanned in a kind OF honorable captivity by the
British at Freetown. Sierra Leone:-
In Ashantee the King never joins his army ex-
Cept on occasions when the full strength oil the
ance OF some solemn VOW, and when he does So
he is always accompanied by some OF mis- greater
chiefs, who never take the field except the King
does SO in person. ana whose cOntlngents largely
KoFFEE cALcALLI,
the present King OF the Ashantees, il now in his
thirty-siXth year, and is the eighth monarch who
has ruled over the Ashantees since the death OF
the great Sai Tootoo, the founder OF the Ashantee
Power and the greatest OF their kings and war.
riOrs Sal TootOo Is the first OF the Ashantee
kings OF whom We have any certain record. Before
his time the Ashantees were an obscure people,
struggling ior power with numerous rival tribes in
the intericr; but at his death, which happened
about the year 100, they had obtained complete
superiority over ali their neighbOrs and enjoyed
wide dominion. Alter a long career OF
the Atkins, neighboring tribe with whom he was
At war ut the battle OF Coromantee, which
fresh in Che memory OF the Ashantees, and the
most awful oath an Ashantee can take Is their
mantee saturday, by which they imply that if
they disregard 1t they may pe deemed to have no
regret regard for the late OF Sal ToOtOO 1t is
sald that the King OF Ashantee has sworn the 'Me-
mlnda OOrOmantee" oath to drive the English out
OF Elmna, Cape Coast or to prolong the war for
three years. Sal Tootoo was succeeded by his
brother Apoo koo, who consolidated the kingdom
he inherited and completely subdued the Akims
During his reign, having attempted to abridge the
feudal power OF the chiefs, they revolted, and he
had to ny from Conmasse. He subsequently raj
lied large body Of adherents and retoOk Commas
sic and totally defeated his rebellious mobiles.
Apoo KOo was succeeded by Acquassie. During
his reign he waged war with varied success against
his neighbor, the King OF DahOmey. He died about
1852 and was succeeded by Sal Cudjoe, who widely
extended the Ashantees' domlnions and is looked
by !ae Asnantees tee as the greatest OF Their
Is during Sal Cudoes reign that the first record OF
the Ashantees appears IN the official journal OF
Cape Coast Castle, where we find an entry In the
year 1906, the Council then passing resolution 10
observe strict neutrality between the Fantees and
the Ashantees in war then raging between them
Sal CudJoe died at very great age and was
ceeded by Sal Quamina the fifth OF the Ashantes
kings. Sal Quamina occupied the throne but a
very short time. He was dethroned by conspi-
racy OF his mobiles and was succeeded by his
younger brother, Sai Tootoo Quamina, who conf
WAR ON THE ENGLIsH-sIR CHARLES M'CARTHY'S
SKULL.
During this reign the first war with the English
occurred. After some iruitless negotiations Sir
Charles Mccarthy the then Governor Ol cape Coast
force to attack the Ashantee troops He was met
at Esmacow by the Ashantee army, which had
crossed the Prah to meet them. Sir Charles Nc
Carthy underrated the strength OF the Ashantee
forces, and, hearing the hum Of the approaching
army, ordered his band to strike up "God save the
Queen thinking the sound OF the national anthem
would terrily the enemy. lie was soon undeceived.
severe battle ensued. The English iroops and
their native allies utterly routed. Sir
Charles Mccarthy and nearly all the European OIL
GERS with him lost their lives, their heads were cut
Oif, and while their headess trunks were lett TO
rot the field OF battle their skulls carried
in triumph to COmmassie, where they are still
kent On high festivals the King OF the Ashantees
drinks from a cup fashioned from the skull OF the
unfortunate Sir Charles Mccarthy, which Is pre-
served in the Bantammah at Commassie with the
s.th hAl IN fha
Sal Tootoo Quamina died about the very day that
his troops gained the great victory OF EsmacOw,
Cape Coast was besieged by the Ashantees, and
although repulsed they ravaged the entire
country OF the Fantees and held held them enin IN COM
again collected the battle OF DoOdowah was
fought on the 26th ofAugust, 1926; The Ashantees
sudden and unaccountabIe panic and ned They
suffered considerable loss and retired from the
Fantees' country The Fantees still remember the
misery they underwent at this period OF Ashantee
rule, and their greatest oatn is "By McCarthy's
h s nhappy s ins te ia and VINE the
them the oath is solemn as the oath "Meminaa
Coromantee" Is with the Ashantees. sal Ockoto was
succeeded by Quawedah, who died In 1867. During
his reign what is called the second Ashantee war
occurred but the English troops and the Ashantees
dld not come into conflict, although the Fantees
and Ashaptees had several encounters. He was
succeeded by the present King kofee Cacalii who
son OF KofIee Tutee one OF the greatest of tho
Ashantee MOBILES, by Eflnah Cobee, the daughter OF
ossOo Ansan, whosis the present Queen Mother.
KING KOFFEE CALCALLI.
kofree Calcalli Is deserved as being man OF
considerable ability but he has not been educated.
lie Is of middle height, slight figure wears his
beard longer than Is usual in his country, Is
man OF remarkably temperate habits and takes an
active part IN the government Of the country, and
is proverbiaI for his hospitality and lDerailty
Like all the royal race OF Ashantee he Is remark
able for the ightness OF his color and his features
are rather OF Moorish than OF q negro type All
his family, although without the least admixture
Of white blood, are remarkable in their country Tor
lev.tV ..ff fhntr Axtnn hA,v.s Ia
darker than a swarthy Italian or Spaniard.
PoLYGAMY AT COURT.
The King Is the husband OF many wives. The
laws Of Ashantee allow to the King an unlimited
number. His fav0rite is the Princess Sappon,
daughter OF a brother of the late King Quacoeduah,
who Is not only very beautiful, but Is a woman OF
great ability and enjoys great influence with her
husband. she has borne him but one child, a son,
who died while stl an infant about TWO years ago,
TO his ather's great grief. In Ashantee the queen
Mother takes precedence OF any OF the Kings
wives and IN person OF lar greater importance
than any OF the queen consorts. Sne is the only
woman who Is allowed to take part in public pro-
ing the policy OF the state. The present Queen
Mother Is Ernah Sawah, or, as she Is more COM
monty called throughout the country, Efnah CObee,
the first being her married name, the latter her
maiden name. She enjoys unusual influence, both
with the King, her son, and with the people, and,
can 20 abont openly and unveiled; but ii an Asian
tee look upon the unveiled lace OF one OF the Kings
ale kept jealousIy secluded in the women's guar
Ter OF the palace. 10 which are attached large and
We'll kept gardens. This quarter Is jealonslv
guarded BY the Kings Ennuch Guard, who number
over $50.
The Kings wives are the only women who are so
secluded
The women as general rule go about freely
A KITCHEN CABINET.
The King OF Ashantee has no one who can prop
crly ne described as Prime Minister: but among
the MOBILES OF his household there are two-Bos-
'sunpui ia anu Appah-who possess great IN
nuence with MIN, and have the man aQemept 0f all
public anairs. They may be regarded his chief
THE ARMY AND NATIVE vptt,S,roxs
The command OF the army which invaded the
Fantee country, and Is now attacking Cape Coast
WAS originally entrusted to AnanQuah TIA one or
the greatest OF the Ashantee nobes and whose
territories are In the immediate neignborbood OF
,Commassie. he also holds the post OF Governor or
Keeper OF the Bantammah. This is fortified
building, in which are the tombs OF the kings OF
Ashantee in which their crown and most valuable
treasures are kept, and which IL one ol the prin-
cipa magazines fer military munitions IN the king
dom. The King or Ashantee visits IL once year.
and remains in seclusion IN II for twenty Gays
bnanquab Tia Is about forty years OF age, and Is