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

OF warke pople At
THE FIRST VIEW
OF them arose the excusable plea that the artisans
had not the proper material to work with; that
The plaster work not durable because there
was no durable support Tor 1t; that all these fine
designs wrought on plaster OF iriable clay,
scattered over fragile bamboo rods, instead Oh
stone. Without the pastered embellishments ana
involved ribbons OF clay mortar. the hnest al
coves would but present to us the waited and
mud daubed huts common to the Fantees as well
as the Ashantees. But that they have been aDle
with such material as European worKmen would
refuse, to exhibit the original genius they possess
is marvel to any unprejudiced mind, ana
inclines one more than ever to compassionate
the foolish stuDbornness and contumacy which
have induced them TO continue their hostility
against the imperial power of Great Britain. In
corner OF this courtyard observed door which
led to q smaller court and less ornate than the
preceding, where there were two or three dozen
Ashanrees squatted on a raised platform. en-
deavored TO open conversation by means OF an
interpreter with them, but in return received
only most malevolent glances and the knowledge
OF how little they regarded human life made me,
confess 10th to continue the tedious task Of con-
versing with such sullen beings. RetracIng my
steps came to the grand court OF audience, where
the King seated in state, under the shadow OF one
OF the richly columned porticos, could observe
every one and be observed by his subjects.
Here, l presume, the State councils were held,
for in one OF the porticos / observed o number
OF drums, one OF which was garnished with
a number OF skulls. There were also several State
umbrellas and stools. Beyond this court was stlll
another wherein tame crested crane stalked as
II ne were sole owner of the palace and In his
despotic masters absence had arrogated to him.
self the indisputabe rights Of the King This court
exhibited signs OF decay. The steep matches OF
the portcos required repairing, large chips OF plas
ter were wanting to the column casing and the
entablature above was considerably frayed, but
the lower portions gllstened with new covering
of ochrsh clay and the courtyard was clean.
KOFFER's PERSONAL RESIDENCE.
Beyond this court was the Kings private resi-
dence-a strongly built edifce Of stone, plastered
over with lime mortar Every pound Of
lime was transported at immense cost from
Cape Coast Castle In appearance 1t was
like any of those solid square buildings
which one may see anywhere In Palestine
or Syria. with the addition OF battlements and
loopholes. 1t was altogether substantial struc-
ture and any British merchant at Cape Coast or
Sierra Leone would have been proud to call such a
house his own. 1t enclosed a quadrangle or a
paved courtyard. twenty-four feet by twenty and
was two stories high and nat rooted. flight OF
mortar and stone stairs led from the inner quad
rangle to the second story, where were the Kings
sleeping apartments.
THE STOOL OF BLOOD.
Among the strange, heterogeneous plumber Wis.,
ibe in courtyard and In the recessed apartments
around it was the stool which. according to re-
port, was never quite dry from human blood.
That 1t had been lately dyed anew with the blood
of some unfortunate victim to q despot's caprice,
or some barbarous custom, was evident, for the
flies had settled in hungry myriads on it, Among
the thousands OF things, strange antique, and curl
Gus, which were seen about were dozen or so Of
STATE UMBRELLAS,
leaning against corner OF the wall and stand.
ing ten feet or SO above the ground When
opened one OF these umbrellas gave one an idea OF
q large and lofty circular tent of gaudy coors. The
major part OF them were made OF red, blue and
black blanket cloth others were OF variegated,
fine broadcloth with silver bendlcles ringing
sweet chimes as soon as one touched them; others
were Of vari-coored silk OF exquisite pattern and
manufacture, which latter, 1t may be presumed,
were the Kings own umbrellas or belonged TO
members OF his family. In one OF the lower rooms
were also found heaps OF faded tapestry, carpets,
silks, cloths, worn counterpanes OF siiken damask
and cast-of hanglngs OF similar stutfs.
DRUMS.
Another apartment on the lower floor disclosed
to us q variety OF drums, from the huge European
regmental bass drum to the smallest Kettle drum
OF European make, while stacks OF drums OF
native Workmanship lay also piled. Chairs also for
travelling seemed 10 be numerous; old trunks and
boxes OF leather, deal. mahogany and teak lum.
bered up the room. One OF these old trunks had
it's interior pasted over with an old copy Of the
London Times, October II, 1913. and another was
covered with copy Of the Bristol Mirror oil equally
old date.
AN AMERICAN RELIC.
But one OF the most curious things OF all found
was an old brass snuff or tobacco box on which
Beecher stowe, with the name Of "Mrs. Slower
engraved upon 1t. There were certainly the outlines
OF the face Of the famous authoress OF "Uncle Toms
CABIN" and the ringlets hanging down each side
of the face-a true portrait suppose, OF Mrs.
stowe as she appeared twenty or thirty years ago.
The gentleman who picked up this antique box in
tends to present it to the British Museum
WHAT WAS FOUND UP STAIRS.
The plumber discovered IN the upper rooms was
very valuabe-at least some ofit-while much OF it
would have fetched high figure If properly sold at
auction In one room we found. cove ed over with
q carpet, the Kings breakfast and dinner service
OF silver. There was a large tea Kettle OF silver,
and as handsome an epergne as any European
gentleman OF wealth would wish to possess There
were plates, knives, FORKS, goblets and cups OF
silver while bottles OF rich Bohemian ware gave q
sumptuous and regal value to this quantity of
loot.
Carpets OF Kidderminster and Persia lay rolled
up in heaps, while numbers OF boxes and trunks
here contained a parapnernalia too varied to
describe. There nm ND
great state chairs, richly decorated with solid
brass work, and trays and dishes OF wood, tin,
japanned ware and silver, piled up In any quantity,
making an assortment or curious lumber that
would be too tedious to attempt enumerating. In
another apartment, which we found to be the
Kings sleeping apartment, was revealed a luxury
such as no African potentate south OF Egypt can
boast OF. The bedstead was a marvel OF native
workmanship. The chairs around the room snone
with bright brass nails; ornaments OF solid brass
work; the floor was covered with richly figured