New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-10
THE ASHANTEE WAR.
PREPARING TO CROSS THE PRAH.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CHIEFS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF ELAiINA.
lfRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRTBUNE.I
CAPE COAST CASTLE, Nov. 26.-There is at
present little going on here except hard work. The
Aspantee Army which for the last nine months has
occupied and ravaged the portion Of the British Pro-
tectorate north Of Cape Coast Castle Is known TO
be marching as speedily as possible back to their own
country. and the leading parties have already crossed
the Prah. Beyond occasionally harassng its and
picking up few prisoners there Is now nothing more
to he done with the enemy and we have a month OF
monotonous hard work before to prepare the road
for the white regiments when they arrive They may
be here in four weeks from to-day but 1t is moro likely
that they will not be here for weeks Even this Ia little
enough for all that there be done In readiness for
them. great effort lie being made in the first place to
dsarm OF the native levies and to convert them
into carriers. The native leves not satished with
this They will not ght they will not even. II they can
help IT, remotely approach the enemy but they do not
find IL altogether unpleasant to sit in the shade to eat,
drink, and sleep, to musket about, and to draw
q weekly stipend. Such being the case the native
naturally objects exchange this agreeable life for the
toll Of marching along the road from Cape Coast to the
Prah with o 6opound bag OF salt pork or q bag OF
biscuits upon his head.
The native fool. As long IL only a matter
talk native ally to be turned into car
rier native ally continued ~ sit with his musket
But when the step taken Of issuing an order that
upon the following day he to start without his gum
Cape Coast bring up provisions, the native felt
that IL time for him TO act with decision; and 40
he went without thinking necessary to acquaint any
before hand OF his intentions. The native lines at
Dunqua have therefore, somewhat in the last
few days. when ordered to fall in next
morning for the Coast. $50 Of them missing. This
upsets the calculations OF the Control depart
ment and renders 1t difficult to accumulate at Mauss,
which IL quarter OF the way to Coomassie, such
supply food desired. 1t il not because 1t hap
pens he quarter OF the distance to Coomasse that
be accumulated there, but because Is
present rather it until yesterday the farthest
point the way occupied by the British 1t is desired
to have vast store Accumulated at Mausu, In order
that IL may be pushed by Prahsu the road
is finished to that place Prahsu is half way to COomas
se il is the point which the Pra the river dividing
the British proecOrate from Ashantee is crossed by
the road to Coomassle
Ihave several bodies of the native levics march
Tor rather walk In for there is no marching about NJ
for their loads. / yesterday which may take
as typical. There about 400 Of them Some were
fneiooking young fellows were little old men,
and there was every variety between these extremes
Their was, for the most part scanty in many 30
scanty indeed, to be scarcely worth mentioning
while in other the pretty well wrapped
up from head to foot in their cotton coored cloths
Some had empty boxes and Kegs on their heads some
carried only food wrapped up in plantain leaves
IL these last who wrapped up in their cloths
Going out this morning with loads, all were scantily
clothed The first time | observed this popularity,
thought over it long time without coming to
any satisfactory conclusion. The next time L
went down 20 the yard to them take
up their loads they were sitting on the ground
and were all wrapped up in their cloths. Ii was just
day and damp. thought that they looked like
10, tIx anna
the order from the Control olcercontro is the British
name for the department which feeds the army and
carries ts baggage and in fact does all Its work excep
the ghting-in charge OF the operation for each man
10 take up keg Of pork from large pile that stood
near Then the matter which had puzzled me was ex
planned The natives stood up, and each man took off
his cloth Just the order had been for general jump
into the sea. Then each rolled up his cloth into
sort OF thick wad about the size OF muffin and put 1t
upon his head 10 form pad between the skull and
the load to carried. Like party OF bronze statues
but with much talking aud noise, the3 started upon
their return journey.
These large parties are always accompanied by
Control officer. / cannot say that l should like his
work even a day. lie has IS miles TO 20, and 600
negroes to drive lie has "a hammock, but he will only
ride in it for a few minutes at a time when utterly
exhausted with the efforts he has made TO keep the
regiment OF together, and to whip up, in every
sense OF the word. the stragglers. month of such
a.
temper in the world JOB drove 500 negroes had
he done So he never would have got such reputation
for patience IA ne has. have already seen several
officers who when they arrived here iInbued with
what may be called the and brother sentiment,
but who now their sticks with freedom and EN-
phass alike useful the service and refreshing to the
looker-on.
SIR Garnet Woseley has on shore again from the
hospital ship Simeon. He is good deal pulled down
hui ha IA in .tha
respects we'll again. The Simeon has gone for cruise to
ST Helena and Ascension Some OF
will be shipped to England from St. Helena the rest
WILL ii IL hoped be able TO return to duty at the end OF
their fortnights trip There surprise at the
hospital ship being away, but the medical officers
here were Of opinion that the ship was becoming in
eced the number Of cases Of fever board There
are other hospital ships their way out from England
and until they arrive, temporary hospital will be
formed on an abrupt hill by sea, the of the
town called Connor's HILL Inyalds here get all the
benefits both OF the land and breeze. without the
heavy monotOnous rolling In which even the steadiest
ships indulge upon this coast Still the change TO Con-
ner's Hill will be less complete than going on board
ship and shall he glad to hear that Of the sptsl
ships on their way out has arrived III the road
stead There are eight or ships Of lying at
anchor of Cape Coast. Why they are there one APP
pears to know The Ashantees inland tribe they
have no navy What, then, is this British fleet doing
here The only possible explanation Is that the Ad-
mraty maps by them of this part of the coast,
and having had some sailors killed while exploring
river mouth by hostile coast tribes they jumped
to the conclusion that Ashantee could be attacked by
boat expedition. hurried out ship after ship
fast could be placed in readiness As they
here no doubt shall have naval brigade OF some
800 or 400 men, 10 give the fleet the pleasure Of
taking some part in it but ono transport, with bat.
TALON OF marines board could DO Of service to
the expedition than all this fleet OF vessels of war; Here
is An enemy to DO attacked hundred miles from the
sea- Ten menof. sent out with orders that
OF the men are land except OF emergency.