The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-22
Tho BRITISH PRIZE In AFRICA.
Population, Scenery and Wealth
Of the Ashantae Territory.
PRAnsU, ON PIE PRAH RIVER, !

have Just finished reading BOwditchs mission
to Ashantee," and a more interesting book OF
travels have never read. The only fault to be
found in 1t are his exaggerated notions OF such
scenery we have passed through on our journey
from Cape Coast. would hardly take it upon me
to crticise at this late hour a book so long ago
Obscured by later volumes on the same subject,
except that 1t has Just emerged from obscurty and
Is so valuable guide to the country which we are
now bound for, tar surprising anything
that may be written upon Ashantee
again. AS it is SO generally commended,
and as can heartily Join In the commendation
1t only remains to be said, guide to those who
may entertain wrong ideas Of the country from its
reading, tnat It's scenic descriptions must have
been written by very young man in the flush Of
ardent youth, gazing for the first time upon will
derness OF tropical vegetation. such expressions
az enchanting, ''grand," magnificent" 'beau-
uful, :" "unrvalleu," extensive area OF SUBMITS"
are entirely out OF place IN connection with what
we have seen. To be literally true, he should have
used such strongly contrasting words as dis
agreeable,n "monotonous" ''meanchoIy,n "de.
pressing" GLOOMY" "letid," &C. We have seen
nothing, as yet, that could be called
grand unless you were to call the
lofty cOttonwoods by that title, and the
most extensive areas have been ancient cearings
not more than twenty acres in extent. AS for
anything being magnificent in this dense forested
land, where your vision is limited by tall, thick
brush and colossal cottonwoods, can hardly con-
ceiye the meaning OF such word IN this country.
"Beautiful" is evidently misnomer, for nothing
can be regarded as beautiful that inspires disgust
and nausea; and the expression ''unrivalled''
could only be used by one who had never seen
mucn'of tropical vegetation, though tue density OF
forest and brush is really unrvalled. Apart from
the enthusiastic freshness of language kindled by
tropical nov elites, there Is wonderful amount OF
industry manifested in Mr. Bowditch's book, and it
has been with the utmost pleasure have taken
his book to CLEAN some idea Of the country still
before US, for
OUR A/LCc
Crossing the Boosumprah, according to Bow.
ditch, we come to Prahsu, three-quarters OF mile
Gom the river. CThis has no existence in 1874, and
i.s site can barely be recognized.)
Kckiwhirri, beyond Prahsu one mile and half
"a larger town, not so regular"-is q collection
or old nuts, untenanted IN 1874.
Altobiassee, four miles from Kickwhlrri, ru-
lned village, insignificant and unpopuated, hut
now occupied by us as port.
Asharaman or, as we cali it, Essiaman. nine
miles from Atobiassee, a small village an emf
cence was occupied by few Ashantee famines
January G. 1874, who, excepting TWO women, dc.
serted the place on the appearance of Chords
scouts. the two women, who expected death
slavery, were very much astonshed when Lord
Ciiord informed them that If they did not leave
the camp he would make them go.
AKrofroom, twelve miles hey ond Essaman. Path
thither swampy; forest thick.
Molssee, the iurthest town in ASSN, eleven miles
from Akrofroom, situate at base OF three high
hills (Adansi Hillsl, which are the southern bar
rers Of the Ashantee kingdom.
Ascending steep mile and q half in length
which is very rocky, thence descending and cross
ing small river called the Bokinen, noted for the
virtue OF eoquence which its water is supposed
10 give, and passing through the first Ashantee
village NIed Quissa-Quisha or Kevisa, we come to
an important town called Dcompassy, after a
march of SIX miles.
Two miles beyond DoOmpassy is Tioboso, situate
on high Hill, thence to Datlassoo is seven miles,
and one mile further Is Dadawassi.
Descending hill ana march OF eight miles
brings us 10 Assmnia.
Proceeding through Boposo, situate on another
nigh hill, and passing through several unmportant
villages we come 10 Sarras0o, at distance Of
eleven miles from Asslminia.
Crossing the River Dan, stream sixteen yards
wide and four feet deep, march OF SIX and half
miles brings as to Coomassie, or kumassL, the
capital OF Ashantee.
WHAT REMAINS poR ACCOMPLISHMENT.
The distance then we have to march before
reaching Coomassle Isl
Kiles.