The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-12-20
Koaree KaikaIll and his country.

rapid progress, and constitutional
government, existing IN the midst
Of savage tribes; nor is Dahomey,
with its fierce black king, quite un-
known beyond the confines Of his
kingdom but it was reserved TO
the present quarrel between Eng
land and the Ashantees to give
European and American fame to
that dark potentate, Kofee Kal-
kali. Hitherto, but vague rumor
has given out that Ashantee was a
bellcose and rather formidable, but
irretriveably savage nation; what
its boundaries and extent are, is
even yet an enigma; it is only
known that it lies between benight-
ed Dahomey on one side and more
than semi-civilized Liberia on the
other, while south Of it is the "a
nous West-African Gold Coast.
Just where Coomsssie, the Asian
tee capital, stands, is only matter
for conjecture; but that Coomassie
is much more than a mere strag-
Cling collection Of rude huts, as
most African capitals are, is rem
dered we'll nigh certain by a French
traveller, who adventurously pene-
trated thither a few years ago. He
describes Coomsssie as a large and
really good-looking city, with reg
ular streets and squares, and dwell
ings which, though rude compared
with Russell Square, or the Rue de
Rivoli, wear the aspect Of comfort,
and even, occasionally, of luxury.
The royal place Of Koffee is a rather
imposing editice, with window and
door frames lined with quite a thick
lining of solid gold. Gold, indeed,
is one Of the most ordinary orna-
ments of the swarthy monarch and
his courtiers. The axe and um-
brella handles are often solid gold;
and golden nuggets are the fashion,
able triuket worn around the necks
of the Ashantee lords and ladies.
The suspicion entertained by the
English and the Dutch, both of
whom have had settlements on the
coast, that there are extensive gold
mines in the interior, is seemingly
confirmed by the tale of the rash
sojourner in Coomassie; he tells OF
thousands OF slaves employed in the
river ON which the capital stands,
collecting the gold ; and his stories
OF the nuggets he saw are most tan
talizing.
Ashanteo is further described as
a hilly and well-watered country,
with vast forests and wild sugar
cane fields, and a wealth of produc-
tionin tobacco, corn, rice, gums,
dyes, and aromatic plants; but it
also contains an awe-inspiring vari-
ETY. ofwild beasts, among them ele-
plants and tigers and lions and
leopards, not to speak of the hip.
popotami and the alligators. More
over, the climate of this part of
Africa, especially near the coast, is
most destructive Of European life,
being a strange combination Of un-
healthy moisture and excessive heat.
The.thermometer varies during the
year something like eighty degrees.
The regions about the coast are, be-
sides, very swampy, and full Of
miasmstic Influence. The climate
of Ashantee itself is said to be some- |
what less fatal, though in the rainy |
season, Just now approaching, the
whole region is dangerous to those
accustomed to the temperate eli
mates north of the equator. 1t isa
proof that the Ashsntees
are far from being the the utterly |
sa9sgs creatures which they have
long been supposed to be, that their
general-ill-Chief has adopted . sys-
TEN ot warfare against the invading
English Of great shrewdness. He
haat tsystsmatiCaIIy avoided 3 direct |!