The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-08
Full Description Of the King, His Army,
People and Customs.
BRITISH FAULTS AND FoLLIES
History Of the Different Colonies
on the Gold Coast.
THE CHANCES OF SUCCESS.
CAPE COAST CASTLE, GOLD COAST,
WEST AFRICA, Nov. "A, 1873.

formation about the allies OF the British in this
Anglo-Ashanteewar-theF antees.
Next to my surprise at the unaccountable apathy
OF the English on the West Coast OF Africa Is my
surprise that the English should have adopted for
allies the Fantees, the miserable and worthless
tribe occupying the country lying between Cape
Coast Castle and the boundary river flowing be-
tween Ashantee and the Fantee Land 1t may be
said-wth justice-by the English, that they could
not help themselves; that they found the Fantees
in possession OF the country and of Cape Coast
Itself, and that they had no right to dsplace the
Fantees the Asnantees or any other people; that
such course on their part would have been the
grossest injustice.
It IL true the English could not have done this
arbitrary act without mourning great guilt But
after the cession Of Elmina to them by the Dutch
good policy would have indicated what course they
should adopt towards furthering the wishes of the
opulent and commerce-loving Ashantees.
ELMINA
Is the only place suitable for the residence Of an
Administrator-in- Chief or Governor on the whole
shore OF the Colo Coast from Assnee River to the
Volta. 1t is centrally located: nature has fur
nished 1t with river which might be made q
capital harbor for small craft; there Is
good anchorage outside for the larger craft. The
Dutch have furnished it with two castles infinitely
superior to the miserable castles or forts at Cape
Coast. Elmina was q large. thriving town. in a
healthy situation, exposed to the pure breezes;
the country around was well cultivated; numer-
GUS plantations studded the emnences behind the
town; plenty regned everywhere; and though
the Emina natives were formerly branch OF the
Fantee nation they were far more industrious, and
were able to supply the necessities of life to the
garrison at onefOurth the cost those around Cape
Coast Castle could afford.
In every way Elmlna was
DESIRABLE LOCALITY
for the principal station OF the Gold Coast; and
had the English at transferred tn cir Offices of
Enthusiastically hither they would not have
been under the deporable necessity OF reducing to
dust heaps the native quarter Is months after the
exchange.
Having acquired this rich territory from the
Dutch, and aware Of the anxiety Of the Ashantees
to possess a small portion Of coast line which
should be theirs and none other, the English out
Of their abundance might have set apart strip OF
10 miles Immediately adjoining Elmna, and prof
fered it to the Ashantees, and they might have
even gone far as to assist the Ashantees in the
construction of road from Prahsu to the new
Ashantee settlement thus proving to them that
they were as ready to enter into friendly alliance
with them as the Dutch had been. The fear that
the Ashantees would soon have made themselves
masters OF the country need not have deferred the
English, for the coast line would always remain in
their power, and always within reach OF the guns
OF their African naval squadrons. Elmina and
Cape Coast also would ever be protected by the
guns Of the castles and the forts, so that such
policy as the one indicated above might have been
prosecuted TO a very desirable end-viz., that
OF p0pulating an uninhabited portion Of the coast
with a portion Of an 0pulent tribe DESTROYS OF
opening direct commerce with the English, ana
securing the friendly alliance OF nation which,
In . commercial sense, was worthy OF being allied
with.
The traveller, after observing
THE TREMENDOUS ENERGY OF THE ENGLISH,
In other lands, and the keen intelligence which n.
ways directs their policies finds himself compelled
to condemn the extraordinary apathy which char
acterzes the British authorities the West Coast
and the unwisdom OF their mode OF government.
From Sierra Leone down to Accra rum and decay,
neglect and apathy visible in every settlement.
Thirty years ago Sierra Leone was q thriving and
prosperous commercial mart. forest of nasts
reared their tall heads in the unrivaled harbor,
the soul of business seemed to animate her Streets
the natives appeared to possess some idea that
they were made to work ana that their limbs
were formed for labor. Now, however, an
occasional steamer may be seen in the
Aarbor, homeward or outward bound and
the natives are utterly spoiled for work and seem
20 think that celestial state has already arrived
when humanity ceases from toll and betakes itself
70 perpetual psalm-snging and halleluiah-chant.
ing. Apollonia, Dix Cove, Chamah and Emina are
heaps OF ruins. The Dutch LETT them prosperous
and happy; the English took it upon themselves
TO govern them, and within IS months ruined
them, laying the settlements in mortar and dust
heaps.
THE rANTEra
have not found out that their alliance with the
English has been curse instead OF q blessing be-
cause they have not yet been taught the OF de-
ducti0n. But should they ever be schooed to
logic have no doubt but they will say:-"If we
had not been friends with the English the Ash
antees would not have burned our villages or
consumed our produce or laid waste our planta-
tions.n 10 which the English may perhaps an.
swer:-"We went to war with the Ashantees for
your sakes; If we had not been fools we would not
have rejected the Asnantees and accepted such
miserable towards as you have turned out to be
Tor our allies"
have already informed you that the Fantees
occupy the country between Cape Coast Castle and
the Prah, though In reality the Fantees proper
inhabit the town OF Cape Coast and its immediate
neighborhood. Those of the Fantees who dwell in
the villages of the interior are distinguished after
Fantee territory may be about 1000 square miles.
II ia not a kingdom. Fantee Land is more OF a re-
public OF villages, whose chiefs are banded to.
gether for military protection against the COM
mon encmy-tne Ashantees. Cape Coast has its
king, or CHIEF. Annamaboe has another, though 1t
Is but seven miles distant. Dunquah 16 miles dis
tant. has another chief, and Abra Campo has its
Chief When any chief has q grievance against
any other, the British Governor Of the Castle ia
eaiied upon to arbitrate, and his word is supposed
20 settle the palaver.
Conhning my remarks, however, to the Fantees
OF cape coast, and taking it for granted that the
Fantees OF the interior are no better, must say
shat the town presents the strongest evidence
that could possibly be produced OF the apathy OF
che English on the West Coast OF Africa Two
hundred and five years has this town been In pos
session Of the British. AND yet out Of its popula-