New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-06
THE ASHANTEE WAR.
IT'S ORIGIN,


Ton DAYS residence upon this shore which has the
bad reputation Of being the most unhealthy in
creation At the present moment il is attracting the
attention of the world being the starting place Of
British expedition which, In point of difficulty and
interest fairly rivals that TO Magdala In Abyssinia
In the ten days | have seen very much that is
strange new, and interesting, and have been
present at the first skiTmish with the Asian
fees But before enter upon any OF
these points, and begin my story of the British
Ashantee Expedition. il is better that should give
brief account of the causes which have led to the
present war. The Gold Coast for distance of 70
miles inland is inhabited by the Fantees and other
allied tribes such as the Atkins, Assns. Wassaws'
etc. Beyond these stretches the country Oh 'ne
Ashantees Since the wear 1897 the Ashantees nave
been continually invading and ravagiug the conn-
try of the Fantees and have had many disputes
with the English. The Ashantees claimed hnes
and payments from the Governor and people OF cape
Coast Castle upon the ground that Ashantees has
been iIl-treated there, and that fugitives from
Ashantee had sought refuge there Several missions
were sent from Cape Coast to Coomasse, the capital
pf Ashantee to endeavor 10 arrange these
matters, and to establish regulations for the pro-
lection of the trade between them
and for the peaceable settlement of all
disputes that might larse. These negotiations
invaded the Fantee territory and marched upon
Cape Coast Gov. Mccartney marched out to meet
him with West Indian regiment aud some native
leyes The latter fed and the troops, after defend
ing themselves as lsng as their ammunition lasted
were all killed with their officers, and Sir Charles
Macarthueys head is at present at COomassie. There
were some other fights, with varying results, and
after ravagug the whole territory outside the guns
If Cape Coast Castle the Ashantees retired TO their
own country. Two years later in 1926, the Asian
tees again invaded the country. but were beaten
back by the natives. led by two or three British
officers In 1881 peace was made, the King of Ash
Rntee giving hostages as proof of his good nten-
iions and renouncng solemnly ali claim to sove-
reignty over the coast tribes.
Peace now regned on the coast for many years
In 1874 the Fantees and kindred tribes entered into
solemn treaty with the British, acknowledging their
supremacy aud receiving their jurisdiction. Britain
IN return extending her protection TO them IN case
OF invasion. In 1915 Gov Wingate went 10 Coo
massie and had a friendly interview with the King
Of Ashantee; but four years later the Ashantees
brbed several of the protected tribes 10 revolt
against Great Britain and promised their assistance.
The Ashantees crossed the Prah which is the bound
airy river but fell back upon being met with reSo-
lutte front, There then peace until 1863, when
the Asbantees again invaded, burned villages, and
British Governor advanced with West Indian reg
iment as far as the Pah. but the fever struck them
all down. and the survivors fell back to Cape Coast
There was now a short peace and events took place
which have to some extent conduced TO the present
war. The Dutch had, from old time, held various
forts upon the coast side by side with those Of
the English. One of these was Elmina, eight miles
only from this town, From time immemorial the
tribes lnear Elmina have been hostile to the
Fantees In 1867 an Ashantee chief with consider
able force marched through the Fantee country,
plundering and burning usual, and then, being
pressed by the Fantees took refuge in Elmna, where
the inhabitants had long been allies of the Ashantees
The Fantees accordingly blockaded Elmna. The
Ashantee general in the north enticed two German
and two French missionaries across the Volta, and
dragged them away TO COomassie. This was in 1870.
Skinnishes continued during these three years the
Ashantees sending help to the Elmnas and the Fan
tees. keeping up ftful blockade Of the tribes of
that place.
In1S7O the Dutch proposed to cede Elmna and three
other forts TO Great Britain in exchange for some
places in the East Indies. The British Government
declined to take any forts unless the natives were
willing 10 accept the British as their protectors
instead of the Dutch; nor would they take any
forts on which the Ashantees had any sort OF claim,
for the King of Ashantee had written TO the British
tribute to him. This the Dutch altogether denied,
saving that they had given an annual present to
Ashantee in token of friendship and alliance, but
that il was in no way tribute The British, how
ever refused 10 treat until the matter was placed
beyond dispute and the Dutch accordingly sent an
embassy TO Coomassie. LIhey returned with a
document from the King denying the claim
that Ihad been raised in his name, and declaring
solemnly that he and his ancestors had
ALWAYS regarded the money given by the Dutch as
a present not as tribute. On the strength OF TINS
document the agreement was ratified with the
Dutch and to soothe the King of Ashantee the Brit
ish agreed to give him an even larger annual gift
than that which he had received from the Dutch
The English Governor then informed the Elmina
tribes that although the Dutch about to retire.
vet that the British would not the protector
ate except with the full assent and wish of the ma
tives that no extension of territory was desired
and that the object of the protectorate was only TO
keep the peace between the varlous tribes. The
chiefs and thugs deliberated this, and on April
10 1872 they met the Governor in solemn assem-
bly, aud accepted the transfer from the Dutch
10 the English In the mean time the British
had been endeavoring TO make peace with the
Ashantees and offered various trading advantages
free rights of passage, etc. but said that the terms
could only be discussed when the French and Ger
man missionaries had been given up. The King
wrote that the prisoners were in the hands Of his
general but that he had written to ask him TO give
them up on payment of 800 ounces of gold. This
was previous to the transfer Of Elmina The Dutch
Government now joined the British in sending pres
ents 10 the King and in begging him to give up the
prisoners and the British Governor asked for their
restoration as personal favor TO himself, stating
that money could not be paid for peaceful men
who had been wrongfully seized, and that to
show his good will he at released
Alder BOfab an Ashantee general and relative