The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-11-24
Aslantee and Its People.

Ashantce, new klnSdom on the 6olu
Coast, has given the British no little
trouble, and may give them good deal
more. 1t is mountainous, we'll watered
and healthful, except in the lower dis
tricts, and has a population of about
1900, 900, one-fifth of whom are war
riors. The beginning of the kingdom is
obscure; but traditions say that it was
occupied several centuries ago by immi-
grants from region north of the King
Mountains, caused, probably, by the
sprt tad of the Mohammedan Empire to
Timbuctoo. The first known of it In
Europe was in 100, when Coomassie
was made the capital by Osai Tootoo l.,
who, having overcome various separate
states, was established as kind OF
feudal rrince over large district. In
their course of conquest over the Fantees
the Ashantees followed them even to the
large seaport towns, aud butchered thu m
by thousands. The British sided with
the weaker party, when the savage foe
attacked the fo.t of Anamboe, and
would have slaughtered the garrison
had not the British Governor displayed
a t,ag of truce. Hostililies lasted,
with some interruptions, from 1907 to
1926 when the Ashantees were finally
driven from the sea coast. Some four
teen years ago the British were involved
in another war with their old enemy.
Then all army under Sir Garnet Wolseley
penctrated to the heart of the Kingdom,
burned Coomassie and returned safely to
the coast. Notwithstanding their re.
verses and losses, the Ashan!ees are still
bclligerent and powerful, and enjoy as
much prosperity as any negro nation in
western Africa. They are very barbar-
Gus and bloodthirsty; but their abund-
ant gold, extent of territory an | success
full Campaigns have yielded them pres
tioe and prominence. They have no
military knowledge, but depend upon
their savage bravery and overwhelming
numbers, Including many >laves. which
the chiefs can put in the field. The
King is commander n-chief, and often
leads his host in person. As an instance
of their desperate courage, many OF them,
after defeat by the British, were so NOR
tiled and so fearful of degradation that
they coolly sat down on kegs OF gun
powder an blew them elves into the air,
in presence of the hostile camp. The
cove, nment of those negroes is an abso-
lutte dcspotism, the King exercising COM
plete control over the lives and property
of his subjects. He has spies every.
where, aud the slightest act or word OF
disaffection is at once reported, and the
rebel il nut to death. He is the great
property owner; he lcvies tax of twenty
per cent. on all manufactured gold and
all gold taken from the mines. so that Re
is the richest individual in Africa.
Slavery prevails extensively, the chiefs
often holding 1000 slaves each; these
beings are for the most part pagan ne
rroes. captured in war by Mohamme.
dams, brought from the interior and sold
into bondage. Polygamy is favorite
institution, q mans Importance being
rated by the number of his wives. The
King is limited, poor fellow, to 1888,
who occupy two entire streets and are
vigorously secluded from everybody save
the sovereign and his feminine relatives.
T, look on one of them, even aeclden-
tally, is capital offence. Adultery IS
punished by a fine, and retaliation OF
any violent kind on the part of the hus-
band is thought mean and degrading.
Thc Ashantees seem to delight in she'd
ding blood. and human sacrifice IS a
pa,t of their religious ceremony COM
mrcial Adpertiser.