River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-03-31
THE CAPITAL OF ASHANTRE.
4 City Built ON Hill of Ironstone-A King
with More wives than Brigham Young.


ith by Gen. Sir Garnet Wolseley, after
five days hard fighting and n loss OF
about 800 killed and wounded. Cap
tains Budile and Nicol and Lieut. Eyre
were the only officers killed.
Coomassie, or Kumassi, though the
apital of the kingdom, is not the
largest city of Ashantee. Originally
Duabin was considered a more signif-
cant place, and Salgna was said to be
three times as large. But from its
commanding position, il being the seat
Of Ashantee royalty, the headquarters
OF the army, and the scene of the ghast-
ly religious ceremonies of the popula-
ton it has gradually eclipsed all rival
towns.
CoOmassie is built ON the side of a
large hill OF ironstone. This hill is
among the last of the series of acclivi
ties which commence with the Adansi
and termina te a little to the north of
Coomassie. They are all densely
wooded, and present PERCEPTIONS sides
to the south. sloping more gradually
northward. The country between the
| the, successive elevations is at times
marshy, and always covered by this
thick brushwood
The city stands near stfeam called
the Soubin, which flows nearly all
around it, and in the rainy season fills
it with pestilontial fog. VI is girt
also with the dense forest, which
stretches all the way from the coast for
at least $50 miles. Three or four DAYS
marching, however, northward. brings
the traveller out of the bush, and there
the miserable paths are exchanged for
comparatively good and broad roads
leading to the large towns i'll the in
terror.
The streets of Coomassie are broad
and Gle IN. They are ornamented with
beautiful banyan trees that form
grateful shade from the sun. It's great
est popularity, however, is that every
house has ono large public room which
opens directly upon the street, and
this gives its thorougfares an extremely
agreeable appearance. They are, more
over, artistic. The walls are of waffle
work, but their roughness is carefully
hidden under plastering of mud. and
this is washed over with white clay.
The floors, which are mostly faised
above the ground, are generally covered
with rude carvings, and always kept
clean and nicely polished.
These public rooms average 20 to "a
feet IN length, II To 10 in breadth, and
Z to . in height. Their palm leaf caves
extend far over the walls, so as 10 keep
out sun and rain. Each of these large
rooms has behind it a number of
smaller ones. where the private life of
the people is passed, and these apart
mehts Bowdich credits with sanitary
arrangements superior TO those of many
European towns.
Coomassies principal buildings are
the Kings palaces. The chief royal
residence Is the Bantammah, on the
north side of the town, and this alone
covers five acres of ground. II is how
ever, at one and the Same thine the
royal abode, harem, mansuleum, and
magazine OF military munitions.
There are seldom more than six of
the 3, 333-the mystical number Of the
Kings wives resident in the palace.
The remainder mostly reside in his
Groom, or country residence. ~ Bar
ramang. IL Is built Of quarried stone.
Is two stories high, and contains large
and lofty rooms. Tho charge az this
huge building Is ALWAYS entrusted TO
ono of the greatest of the Ashaniee
uobles. Amanquattiah- has been
in command of the troops led against
the English, and rs believed to bo one
Of the slain held the office. King
koiiee has summer palace called the
lminlhlah, about two miles northeast
of the town.
A To the population, there seem 10
hc no accurate data II has been put
at 10000 and 2O0,000 According to
most accounts II certainly does not ex-
cecd the smaller number nj the present
day. The horrible rites, bloody sacri
fees. AMI wanton destruction of human
life especially the lives of the slaves
are believed To be reducing the number
of residents. in spite of the constant
acquisitions Of fresh captiyes. Bloody
scenes are of almost daily occurrence
IN the streets of Cdomassie. where the
eXccutioner strikes downthe unsuspcct-
ing victim, running the knife through
his checks, aud dragging him off to
"'Ni' Na'illiAt anu 10 tAoItlNe some
spirit
Rich gold deposits are found in the
whole country between Coomassie and
the seu The gold dust Of all deceased
and dlsgraced subjects, according
70 BoWditch, falls 10 the Soy.
ereign Besides which. he levies tax
ot gold on all slaves purchased from the
coast. The traders passing through his
country are mulcted heavily in gold du
ties, wmlc the elephant hunters are
similarly taxed In addition Ia these
sources of revenue the King has daily
returns VI gold yielded in the washincs
OF tho Soko pits and and on the hills
the iorm"r 1t Ia said, supplying as
much 200 ounces per month.
\ rom Who understands life "a we'll
o, letters. has made 10 a bride the pres.
ent OF broom with this pathetic sen
tmVnt
This tntling gift accept of me.
Tee use | would commend.
IN Sunshine usc the hushy Part,
Ia 81 HHss s.tf.a.