The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-08

pleasure feel in writing the following remarks
upon the Ashantee nation =
In the days OF Cada Mosto, Fernando Gomez,
D'Ambuja, Vasco da CANA and other heroic navi-
gators who nourished about the latter part OF the
hiteenth century, the Ashantee nation was not
known. II 1t were concrete people, organized
under despotic king as renowned in war as the
Ashantee nation Is to-day, there is no doubt that
some OF
THE ENTERPRIsINa PORTUGUESE EXPLORERS
and writer's especially De BarrOs and Cada Mosto,
would have heard something about its existence
and noted 1t In their journals with the same ex
actness and accuracy with which they penned
their notes Of other kings and nations whom they
came In contact with OF whom they heard
report; for while, looking eagerly their
quantity written journals OF discoveries along the
coast OF Guinea we struck at the ease with
which the steps OF the Portuguese navlgators may
traced to-day 1t is true that many names OF
tribes and rivers have become lost, but the major
number are still to be recognized
Instance these proof Of what ! say. Cada
Mosto writes in l4e9 OF the success of Fernando
Gomez in his trading for gold dust at the port Of
Nina, which we at once recognize to be
ElRina OF the present day, where, during
peaceful times, the same trade In the
precious metal is still carried on. Again, he says
that the first exchange in gold dust occurred at a
village called Stamina, few miles further up from
Nina, which We know to be the place called Cha
nah, where Commodore COunnerell and his boat
Meet received such check lately. 1t may not
appear singular that Nina now called Elmina
should have retained it's name since 1t has been in
the possession OF European Power ever since;
but 1t Is singular that small village like Chamah
should have retained its native name in a country
Ike Guinea, where everything is so mutabie and
where changes transpre SO quickly, and nations
and tribes, once prominent in local traditions, so
sink into oblivion or are so soon swallowed by
others more powerful.
My opinion IS that the Ashantees at the time Of
which write were divided into small village clans
or sub-tribes acknowledging no ruler save their
local chiefs, or elders; that wars for supremacy
ana right of way to the coast were frequent among
them; that defeat of one village served to add
power ana subjects to the cOnqGering sub-tribe
which, probably, in the course OF time was aug
mented by other victories over weaker neighbors
There is
TRADITION
among the Fantees that in former times very far
back the Fantees and Ashantees composed one
tribe; but that while engaged on war expedition
into distant region they suffered severely from
hunger; that one portion. sustained itself
hy feeding on shrub or plant called
Fan, while another portion found susie
nance in shrub called Shan, from which
the eaters of Fan became known afterwards as
Fantees, while the others in ike manner became
known as Shantees. to which imperfect hearing
has added the prefix A, so that the tribe is now
called Ashantees by the English. This is of course
liable, but only more thorough knowledge of the
roots of the language would enable US to decide
whether the fable is correct.
We know, however, TO a certainty by the records
OF the Portuguese navigators that gold dust IN
considerable quantities was brought down from
the interior to Emina by peoples who were not
distinguished under any distinctive title during
the latter half Of the fifteenth century, and we
know through official records by the Dutch Gov
ernors, who succeeded the Portuguese at Elmna,
that the same trade was carried on between FL
NINA and the interior during the whole of the six
teenth century.
But at the beginning of the seventeenth century
there struggles slowly into the minds Of the Eu-
rOpean authorities on the Guinea or Gold Coast
knowledge of the existence OF nation growing IN
0pulence and power where the gold dust comes
from, called the Ashantees, and OF Chief or King
who governs them whose name strikes terror into
the hearts OF the sub-ribes the coast, who were
accustomed TO convey palm Oil and cloths into the
interior to exchange for gold dust. This Kings
name was sy Tutu. During his lifetime the SUBJ
tribes, the clans. villages and towns throughout a
great extent OF country were consolidated into
one kingdom, with Sy Tutu, the conquerng chief
as a sovereign. In the attempt to extend his
power on this side OF the Prah River in the terri
tory Of the Akims at the great battle OF Coro-
mantee fought on Saturday, the conqueror, Sy
Tutu, was slain.
AS in more civilized countries,
GLORIOUS ERA OF CONOTJrST
and power was not forgotten by the nation he had
founded and made great by series OF victories
and the memory OF Sy Tutu is kept green to this
day by the Ashantees. The most binding oath
known to-day among this people is the one which is
made by "Coromantee saturday," The present
King CofTee Calca, has taken this solemn oath that
lie will either drive the British from Elmina, or he
will make prolonged and bloody war.
1t was natural that, after q glorious reign such
as Sy Tutus, his successor should be his son.
and accordingly the throne dev0lved upon Apuku
his eldest son, who during his reign maintained
the supremacy Of the Ashantees, conquered the
Akin territory and added it to Ashantee 1t is said
that Apuku, like the Plantagenet, John, DESTROYS
of curtailing the power OF the sub-chies exas-
perated the cheitains ana caused them to band to-
gether and drive the monarch from Coomassie, the
capital but, more successful than his British pro-
totype. he was enabled to rally to his standard an
army of warriors who had probably shared IN his
fathers conquests, with whose aid he retook
Coomassie and subdued the fractions and turbulent
rebels.
Apuku died and was succeeded by his son,
Akwass. This King, after extending his power
toward Denkera, in the West, turned his atten.
ton to a powerful country on the east called
Dahomey The fact that Dahomey is still inde-
pendent, and Is understood to be as powerful as
Ashantee, proves that Akwassi obtained little or
no success IN his wars against the Dahomans
Akwassi, dying about the year 1852, was succeeded
by his son, Sy ,Kudju, warlike prince whose
memory is venerated for the numerous successes
which attended his arms throughout long and
prosperous reign.
Sy Kwamina, the fifth monarch since the dynasty
was established, succeeded Kudju; but he was
shortly dethroned by the chiefs and was replaced
by younger brother, Sy Tutu Kwamina, about the
year 1900.