The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-16
ASIAN TEE.
The British Advance March Tow
ards Coomassie.
Sir Garnet Wolseley's Headquarters Turnout
and His appearance When Mounted.
K0fFE'S ENJOYS BROUGHT INTO CAMP.
linking OF the Peace Di-
PlOmacy.

PRAHsU, ON THE PRAH, Jan. 4, 1874
Sir Garnet wolseley, the young chief OF the
Ang1o-Ashantee expedition, arriving here on the
morning Of the "a inst, was well received. He
was mounted In solitary state the top of light
buggy. which had been drawn all the way from
Cape Coast Castle by six strong Fantees, assisted
now and then over the deeper sl0ughs by the po-
lice b0dyguard. Colonel Wood, Majors Russell and
Hume were in the great square OF the headquarters
ready to receive their chief and when the news
passed through camp that the General had arrived
tne enthusiasm Of the native troops manifested
itself IN hoarse murmur and deep hum OF Joy.
REVIEW OF THE WORKS.
Sir Garnet, having reported himself well, In ex-
celIent health and spirits, to the numerous
queries prOpounded to him, expressed himself
very well satisfied with the vast clearing, the
construction OF the spacious huts, the ample
accommodation provided for the white troops.
and with the prospective sanitary condition
OF the camp on the Pran. The Offcers OF his stan
corroborated to man the descriptions have al
ready given to you OF the country between the sea
and the Prah, and gave the palm for general dis
comfort muddy cataclysms, Responding sloughs,
dreary, Oppressive melancholic appearance to that
part which lies between Sutah and Yam Coomassie
ASSN.
ENJOYS BROUGHT IN.
Early the same morning Lieutenant Grant, IN
charge Of the pickets the other side Of the Prah
was informed by his people that there were some
strange people, probably Asnantees, skulktng be-
hind trees at some distance beyond. When Lieu
tenant Grant arrived upon the scene he found both
pickets and strangers gesticuiating violently tow
ards each other, ducking their heads and dodg.
ing behind any defensive tree that offered
ITSELF each evidently DESTROYS to I'm
press the other party with the feelings OF
amity which possessed them; but in the words
Of q British Ofhcer who criticised the perform
ance, "both parties were in a beastly funk" The
Lieutenant, however, contrived to calm the ges-
ticulative pantomme, and to induce the small
party OF Ashantees to come forward, when he was
told by small, stouty formed Ashantee, wearing
large square g0ldpated badge on his breast, that
he was the town crier Of the Asnantee capital,
come upon an erran0 from the King to the Eng
lish chief; that his companions, at least six OF
them, were sent with him to see that he did his
duty.
"But who are the others? There are eleven OF
You altogether" demanded the Lieutenant.
-Four OF them,' replied the messenger, fare
Ashautees. who overlook US on the road from
Amonquatiah's camp"
your partyf"
"They came to find out where the white men
are.n
"On, indeed they are scouts, them" said the
Lieutenant. "n they will accompany me they shall
see where the white men are"
"COuld you not let them return to their Chief
who is waiting to hear from themY" demanded the
messenger.
"No could not do such q thing They came to
look for the white men. The white men are on the
otner side of the Prah; but they must come and
see them for themselves, that they may be better
able to report about the white men,"
The eleven were accordingly brought across the
Prah and, as the General had arrived were con-
Quoted to him; but as he was too fatigued to see
them just then they were taken to a hut guarded
by detachment Of the Second West India regi-
ment.
THE ROYAL MESSAGE.
The gold badged ambassador had brought let
ter TO Sir Garnet Wolseley from the Ashantee
King, the contents OF which, when read, created
no small astonishment among the star.
The King of Ashantee. In his customary. ambigu-
GUS way, which may be seen by q glance at his for
mer letters published in the Blue Book, had written
to say that he was greved to hear from his mes
sengers the losses his troops had incurred from an
attack made on them at Fasua by the white people.
The attack, he said, was perfectly unjustifabe.
His young men were returning to their own coun-
TO the King OF Denkerah when, after the Denkerah
Kings death-which had occurred during the visit
his men were Bet upon them by the
white people, who slew many hundreds.
He had always loved the white people.
had ever been friendlily disposed toward
them; had always wished to cultivate nearer and
amicabe relations with them; but this wanron at
tack his people in the forest OF Fasua he could
not understand. Would the English chief conde-
scend to let him know what this hostility meant.
and send his messenger, who was In his confidence,
back to him in safety
THE EFFECT.
The feelings OF all who heard the contents Of this
strange letter may be better imagined than
described. Either the Ashantee King is o pro-
found diplomatist he is poor tool Of the Asian
tee chiefs, who have made war upon the Fantee
protectorate without informing him Of the enter
prise in which they have been engaged since Feb
ruary, last year. Either he is an unmitigated
rogue or fool, who Is notaware Of the valuable
time he is losing by writing such puerie letters,
when he still might save his kingdom, and perhaps
his crown and life, by asking on what terms can
peace be secured at this late hour
LESSON IN GUNNERY.
This morning the Ashantee ambassadors had the
qualification OF witnessing the mechanical powers
Of the Calling gun. The gun was constructed by
Sir william Armstrong, and cost the sum OF f245.
1t weighs, without the caisson nearly 400 pounds.
The calsson Is square chest mounted on wheels
and contains but four drums, each drum contain
ing 24O cartridges BY the time the gun was
wheeled behind Sir Garnet's house, with It's omi.
nous muzzie pointing up shaggy oosomed reach
OF the Prah, it was apparent that the Gatiings
harsh thunder was to have larger audience than
had been anticipated. Every oficer to whom its
wild cracking, ripping notes were unknown had
gathered about the Ashantee ambassadors, in the
rear OF the monster, and away rearward was q vast
concourse Of Fantee iaborers. who had crowded
every available spot TO witness the effect Of the
Calling upon the unconscious Prah
Captain RAFT and Lieutenant Knox, OF the artil-
lery, who superintendent the arrangement, we're