The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-19

The Composition OF Ecra
Quamin.
SWORN TIE KINGS BIG OATH"
L A M A G. d A L A
ELMINA. Gold Coast. West Africa,

or the "mine," whence the Portuguese, who
farmed the revenues OF the Gold Coast In the six
teenth century, obtained ingots and gold dust
enough to stir the kings OF Portugal to mightier
and grander achievements which finally cumi.
mated in the discoveries Of the Eastern and West
Indies. love the old town for its associations
and its history for the impetus 1t gave to cviiza
ton. for the fair promise that IL held out to Don
Juan and his brave Captain OF an empire TO be
established, OF the redemption OF Africa by means
of the Catholic missionary a dream, however,
that has not yet been realized, and never will be
by its present holders but may be by younger
and more vigorous nation, such as Germany.
THE CASTLE OF ST. GEORGE,
tall mass OF white buildings, stands on spit OF
land to my right; the Castle of San Iago situate
a hill which commands the town Of Elmina and
Castle OF st. George stands ON my left. The har-
Dor OF Elmina, formed by the River Began, Is be.
tween the castles The town OF Elmina groups
itself at the base Of San Iago and then struggles IN
two irregular lines along the shore OF the Bay OF
Emina. 1t probably contains population OF 5000
souls in time Of peace, but just now the warriors
have been mustered in as auxiliarles OF the English
against the Ashantees, while the drones have been
captured by pressgangs and enrolled carriers TO
convey material OF war from Cape Coast to the
'front.' The people do not. like this state OF things
1t is in such striking contrast to what they have
been accustomed to under the benign rule Of the
Dutch. They feel aggrieved that they are COM
PEELED to do service under nag which they never
acknowledged that they are forced to fight against
the Ashantees, people whom they were accus-
toned to look upon as allies and friends in the old
days.
see vast difference between their treatment by
the Dutch and the English. The Dutch INDUCED
them 10 ngwnded palavers in the castles, treated
their chiefs with Difference and respect, were mer.
cifu to their oibles, their old customs and their
ignorance. The English are brusque and peremp-
tory in their dealings with them; absolve them
from attending at palavers; content themselves
with giving them orders and seeing that such
orders are carried out by armed police; p0oh-po0h
their Anticipated and ignorant objections; keep
watch and ward over them with martial vigil
lance; drive their warriors to fight against old
friends and press men to transport service with
out so much asking the consent OF their chiefs.
All these peremptory doings OF the English are
sources of grievance.
AFRICAN LINouIsTs.
Mostly all the Eminas can speak Dutch nuently,
because the Dutch were accustomed to keep two.
schoolmasters at the fort for the instruction OF
their subjects. There are several clever mechanics
and sailors among them also, whom the English
md exceedingly useful at the present busy time.
The superiority Of this town over Cape Coast as
the headquarters OF the British on the Gold Coast
is at once seen by any coming here for the pur
pose Of comparing the advantages OF the two
towns. The people, in the first place, are very
much more advanced than those OF Cape Coast
The Dutch have mingled more with them and in
cucated in them Industrious habits, and their in
telligence has been very much more expanded.
The castles are stronger and better adapted for
defence, the country is healthier and might be
made much more so. until, In fact, levers would be
as rare as in any part OF Europe. Then, as last
argument In favor Of Elmina over Cape Coast, the
former has harbor which is accessible to boats at
high tide, and, with little outlay and small
dredging machine small schooners under
200 tons might enter with ease and
safety-a very important thing for the
Gold Coast, which has not single
harbor where ships boat can land with safety
should say that an outlay of 100000 would make
Elmina first class harbor The sand and mud at
the bar and in the river are the only impediments
which, however, are easily removable, AS large
schooners once noated In the harbor, there is no
reason why they should not noat again even in
deeper water.
The civil commandment, Captain Helden, OF the
Second West India regiments. is doing good work,
however, and in the right direction. 1t is step
which, If followed up by the colonial authorities,
would lead towards establishing Elmina as head
quarters and promoting the commerce OF the Gold
Coast The ruins that have dlshgured the neigh
borhOod Of the castle of st. George since the de-
struction Of the native town last June by the
launches and boats OF the English feet are being
removed by convict labor, and wide embankment
is being constructed along the right bank
OF the Began, which will confne the waters to
narrower limits and enable the swift ebb current
to deepen the harbor. When the ruins have been
VAI,1A fhy<n
European watering place Will be left exposed to
the cool breezes of the sea, which will insure to
the European quarter or the town OF Elmina, as it
is now, an unpoluted atmosphere and q healthy
future. The prospect is encouraging, and II only
the authorities abandon that nest Of malaria and
sickness, Cape Coast and remove to Elmina, and
continue the good work Of Improvement, which
would be pleasure to most people, on considering
the vast advantages to be derived from them In a
sanitary, social and moral sense Elmina will have
been the means Of removing from the Gold Coast
much of the evil character it now bears.
BY my visit to Elmina have been fortunate in
securing the results of an interview one OF the
government employees had with messenger who
was sent to Amonquatiah, the Ashantee General
in-Chief Some things here reported are very start
Ing which those who read may digest thoughtiuly.
1t Is surprising that while England has braced
herself at last after infinite grimaces Of disgust
and expressions OF discomfort, to wage war from
Cape Coast to Coomassie against Ashantee, that
such letter as is here spoken OF should have been
sent to the Ashantees II true, take the letter to
be most Illuminating to the pride OF any nation,
great or little. cannot conceive the possibility OF
an officer STOPPING 80 low even to be the bearer
of such letter, which Is nothing more than con.
fcssion. Of weakness and inability to cope with
Ashantee and the African climate
THE COMPOSITION OF ECKRA QUANIN, OF KI.AINA,
WHO WAS SENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF ELMINA TO
The SENIOR GENERAL, AMANKwATSIA, In ASIAN
TEE CAMP, WITH A LETTER.
The Chief Quamina Esferne sent to call me from
my house about the hour of p. M. and did
went; he told me. Pm going TO send youi