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

bearing arms. every cnler owing allegiance every
oficer OF his household arms himself for battle, and
force OF 100, 600 men Ii thus speedily raised.
HIS STATE UMBRELLA
Is borne over or before him by a chief wherever
he moves, the sight OF which rouses the interest
and zeal OF every member OF his army This UNI
brea costs small fortune-about So, 900 or "a OOO
1t is made OF alternate pieces OF crimson and black
velvet, while hundreds OF gold pendices form
fringe around 1t, wnie a large boss OF pure gold
surmounts 1t above.
THE DRESS OF THE KING
on such occasions is exceedingly costly. A tunic
OF crimson velvet covers his body, his loose Moorish
pantaloons are made OF the same stun, broad
band OF gold encircles his waist cap turban OF
Silk richly embroidered covers his head; his
weapons are decorated prOfusely with the
precious metal.
THE Kings REVENUE
Is derived, apart from his own private estates,
which are vast. from the gold mines. The dust
becomes the property of the miners or proprie-
tors, but every nugget, great or small, throughout
his dominlons, belongs to the King. Whichever
person is guilty of reservng any OF the Kings
portion liable to the death penalty, which is in
variably carried out.
THE ARMS OF THE AsHANTEES
consist OF long five foot Danish guns nint locks),
though many are also found with blunderDusses
The cartridge boxes serve as girdles, the leather
or wooden cups into which the powder Is poured
being sewed on belt, the two ends OF which are
either tied with a leather thong or buckled IN
front. The bullets or iron slugs are in
small eathern pouch, slung over the
shoulder. This pouch, sometimes found on
the dead Ashantees, Is generally found to
contain as miscellaneous a set OF articles
as may be seen in any Jack Tar's box or bag.
IN rk har I,ro hohlu corxp .inuN
iron pins, queer-loOking stones, an assortment Of
darkcolored beans, stale piece OF yam or manioc,
piece OF chew-stlck, a handful so OF small
snail shells and other extraordinary articles repre-
sent what an Ashantees pouch contains the
battle field. Any Of your readers who may have
seen a Greek brigand's, an Albanian's, a Kurds
or BedOuns cartridge box may guess at once
what kind OF cartridge box the Ashantees use,
and they undoubtedly derived their notions
OF the utility OF such thing from the
trading Tuaregs of Timbuctoo You need not
wonder, then, at the very few severe wounds
inflicted upon the English despite the very many
splendid opportunities the ambushed Ashantees
have had to infict instantaneous death. The
powder il thrown loosely into the barrel. and be-
Ing often without wadding material, the bullets
slugs of iron or handouts OF snail shells, piece
OF unsmelted iron ore, are dropped on the loose
POWDER and the loose charge is thus fred when
only a few feet from their foes. Fence we need
not wonder that so lew fatal wounds have been re-
| ceived by the English.
There is not the least doubt but the Ashantees
have improved Immensely since they first became
a nation. They can now point to
EIGHT KINGS
who have worn the crown OF Ashantee, who have
carried terror ana dismay to the hundred nations
around and spread the reputation of the Ashantees
lar and wide. The certain consciousness Of the
fact that their Ashantee lOreathers were warriors
that their kings were cOnquerOrs and that they
themselves have not degener lted has impaired
dignity OF bearing and air OF superiority to the
meanest Ashantee soldier.
The Ashantee warrior, miserable as he may
appear compared to the gaudily dressed West India
British soldier is his equal, nay. may say supe-
rior to him, in the battle. The West Indian,
confronted with the almost nude warrior
of Ashantee, may, with serene smile Of
self-satisaction, tap his breech.loadng Snyder
rifle and dare his foe to the battle, that his
weapon, his own superior knowledge of military
laws and tactics and the discipline in which he
has been trained may carry the day. On the other
hand, the Ashantee-iull OF the traditions Of his
race, conscious only Of the power of his King and
that he is the Kings warrior even to the death;
that, until he the British soldier the Ashantee
went to the battle only to conquer; that in four
cOmpaignS at least. against the British, the Brit.
ish were worsted; that IN the Bautammah. the
Kings treasure house ut Coomassie there lies q
bleached skull of o British governor q trophy OF
the Ashantee's might-can tap his cheap Brum-
magem gun with it's old-fashioDed nintock his
bad powder and his cast iron slugs, and, relying
his superior craft in the bush, and with smile
ofproud serenity, accept the combat which the be-
dizened and tasselled negro OF the West Indies
prOfiers him.
Give the Ashantees the same weapon. the
breechloadlng Snyders, with the proper ammu-
milton, with which the allies of tAe English have
been furnished, and even the white troops would
find that the Ashantees composed foe worthy Of
their best efforts.
HINTS TO THE ENGLISH.
It ia thousand pites that the British governors
have not succeeded in winning the confidence OF
tine Ashantees. Yet, who knows but that this war
may prove the greatest blessing that could beall
deprive their present enemy Of their King and at
tach unto themselves these brave and formidable
warriors, and Through them open the whole Of
Central Africa to trade and commerce and the
benefcent Influences of civilization. The Romans
would have been delighted at such an opportunity
OF extending their power Tor the benefit OF them
selves and the world at large. Two thousand
Ashantees. under the leadership OF an intelligent
British officer would soon extend the power OF the
English from Cape Coast Castle across the Tho.
GOSH Mountains to Timbuctoo. and from the Man.
dngo Land to Benin.
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