The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-03

tue hln2 lnLeuueu 10 VlSlt Hllu uurinR thc oitci-
noon to sign treaty OF peace and friendship with
him, as Sir Garnet, In the hope OF inducing him 10
come hao reduced the indemnity to mere nomi-
nal sum, and no longer insisted that the Queen
mother and the heir apparent should be given up
as hostages, but mad stated that he would be
satisfied Ii two or three chiefs OF rank and IN
iuence would be sent to him instead, wherein, az
II Is evident he betrays his ignorance OF the native
character and his total unftness for anything like
a STERN relentless casGgator OF the Ashantees.
The day passed slowly. When almost all the
sights OF the city had been seen people were
latigued at looking at the litter which strewed
the streets OF Coomassie. Sir Garnet was
anxious that the King would come, that
he might put graceful finish to campaign
that had been successful so far, and almost
every oficer shared Sir darnet's anxiety. Three
O'Clock came and with It tornado OF wind and
rain, which inundated the streets and made us all
chilly and uncomfortable. An hour later 1t had
again cleared up, but the streets we're soaked and
the Uttered lanes even worse than ever.
GoLGorHA
Just at sunset went to see Sammonpone, or
the Golgotna, the stencil from which peryaded
every nook and Granny IN Coomassie and made 1t
appear as though we dwelt IN charnel house.
The Golgotha was the dense grove, which, pro-
jectng almost into the heart OF the city, appeared
the very fttest place for Q cemetery were not the
grove and the swamp Objectionable from SAM
tary point OF view. little narrow path leading
through a maze OF tall grass and dense growth of
cane. which grew on the edge OF the grove from
the foot OF the great market place, brought
us, after traversing 100 feet or so, into
glade, where the quantity Of dead bodies thrown
in had killed the underground, and revealed the
most appalling sight that can be imagined. We
had entered the place with our handkerchies to
our noses to prevent suGocation, for the odor was
intolerabe; but as the fell smell penetrated the
iolds OF our handkerchiels we could only remain
long enough to assure ourselves that this whole
sale butchery Of humanity was real, and not q
sport or freak OF our fancy Right al our feet, as
we emerged before the hideous scene, were twenty
or thirty
DEAD BODIES
Of men and women. which had been dragged
hither after decaptation. There was only one
body-that OF boy Of eleven or twelve years
old-which showed that decapitation was not the
only means OF INJECTING capital punishment
or sacrificing human beings to fetichsm,
and this boy had evidently persisted
from strangulatiOn. These dead bodies IN
the early stages OF decay rested upon untold strata
of human relics, of skulls. thigh bones, ribs and
vertebra. say untold strata intentionally, Tor the
reason that, ever since the city OF Coomassie was
founded, in the eighteenth century. this portion
OF the grove mas been the receptacle OF the hun
dreds OF victims slaughtered annually for the OBJ
servance OF the cruel customs imposed upon the
natives by their abject ana pitifu superstition.
Bowdich mentions that in 1917 the place was
crowded with relics OF mortality. Remember,
them that at the rate OF 1000 unfortunate slaves
sacrificed every year, period OF ffty-seven years
which has transpired since Bowdich visited Coo
ha victims ed
at the bloody footstool OF tetichism 1t
has been repeated over and over to
US that the people OF Coomassie slaugh-
ter thousand men and women slaves annually
for the observance OF their customs. N. Bonar, q
French captive lately released, says he saw about
800 killed in one day. So that the enormous mum.
Der OF $1,000 is only moderate estimate OF the
victims which have been dragged into this grove
to bleach and rot during fity-seven years. We
cannot, then, be very lar wrong If we compute the
dead which have been thrown into this owe since
the accession OF Sy Tutu to the throne o! Ashantee,
in the eighteenth century. at about 10000.
STRATA OF SLAIN BODIES.
And here they lie, strata upon strata OF human
dust, fresh victims hurled in each day-sometimes
one, sometimes dozen. sometimes 30o-recs oil
humanity scattered by the thousand. nay, tens OF
thousands, as II the negroes OF Central Africa had
tee specially born for the observance OF Ashantee
ceremonies and to pander to the lust OF murder
inherent In the souls Of this cruel Iratrlcldal race
HORROR AND MORE HORRIBLE.
/ hurried away from scene which bafnes &C.
scrlption, which eclipsed that most awful sight,
the incarnate fury Of the Emperor Theodore had
prepared Tor US below the cil1s OF Magdaa, in
Abysslnia.
MESSAGE FROM THE MONARCH
The day waned into night, and still the King had
not come.
OsaKOKo, the Kings favorite messenger mad ar
rived during the day. and had told Sir Garnet the
King would surely come, while at the same time
that royal fugitive was in full flight. Osakoko was
discovered subsequently handing out arms and am.
munition out OF house to his people, which, con.
sidering the peaceful nature OF his supposed
errand, was very strange conduct. Mosema.
jura too, a chief OF importance, accustomed to
traverse the streets OF Coomassle with 200 re-
tainers shouting his titles tanning him. hold
ing his umbrella procaimlng his valor and pedi-
gree. was captured while touring 1t about on.
l presume, special investigation into
the causes OF the Ashantee Kings defeat.
Two or three others OF lesser note, such as the
chief OF the Houssa body guard the chief execu-
toner and dozen or so OF important slaves were
made prisoners with which leafs, believe, Sir
Garnet rested content for the day, lnwardly sorry
that the King Would not come, put determined TO
burn Coomasse to the ground next day.
CHILLED AND THINKING OF HOME.
The night OF the 5th was another uncomfortable
night. The ventilation Sits along the ROOF ridge
had been left open by the Ashantees, through
which the rain battered necessarily the whole
night, and cold wind came in rawish gusts,
which gave US all pretty nearly severe cold.
ATTENTION ~
On the morning OF the 9th the troops were astr
early, an order having been promulgated the pre-
vious night that q march was to be made; but
whether it was to burn the sacred city OF Bantam
nah or the royal country residence at Aminecha
very few knew unit, at six A. NJ, the wounded
were borne, with their conveys, towards the sea.
coast. Major Hume, OF the engineers. was re-
ported to be mining the palace and preparing to
burn the city.
AT seven A. M. the staI following the brigaae