Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-28
THE ASHANTIS.
A Warrior Tribe of Western Africa Which
Would Rather Fight Than Eat.

Warrior Tribe of Western Africa Which
Would Rather Fight Than Eat.
The Ashsntis of the west coast of Afri-
ca are brave, fighting people. Lord
Wolseley says, in an article on "The
Negro as Soldier" that they have been
me6e so by physical education which
appeals to the dread of bodily punish
ment. If III battle the Ashanti turns to
hy be encounters close behind him men
who are on the lookout TO kill every
coward. Should these men in the second
line fail to do their duty there is third
line of subaltern officers who will kill
them and the runaway coward. If the
commanding general fails to gain a
victory he answers for his failure with
his head when he returns TO his king at
Coomassie,
The Ashanti in the front fighting line
feels that ne incurs less risk by going
forward than by running away. The re-
frain of the war song, which they sing III
shouting voice when going into action,
expresses this feeling:
"If go forward / die,
If / 60 backward | die;
Better 60 forward and die"
According to the Cambridge Review,
the principle of fear has so converted
the Ashanti into brave warrior that in
dividual Ashantis often displayed, in
their battles with English troops, cool
courage worthy of men to whom political
liberty is dear.
The Ashantis once made an attack on
a British post and were repulsed. Gen.
WoIseley sent party in pursuit, who
found the Ashanti camp guarded by q
few scattered men, the main body having
fallen back to gather food. One of
these men remained alone within five
yards of the road along which the Eng
lish we're advancing, and coolly fired into
them.
Another was discovered as the party
advanced, standing in an open pathway,
who with the utmost GOODNESS le7eled his
gun at the officers leading the party and
fired at them.
The Fanti knows that he can ruiz away
with impunity, and he will look British
officer in the face and without shame
tell him that he ran away because he was
afraid.
Lord Wolseley examined a Fanti boy
as to what took place between the Fantls
and the Ashanti army. The boy said he
had accompanied his father into action
and carried case of ammunition on his
head. "What did your father dor" asked
the English general.
"He ran away"
Sand what did you dor"
81 ran away, too"
'1And what became of the ammunition p
II threw him away" said the boy, as
If talking about some natural occurrence.
In 1888 thousands of Fantis turned
out to help relieve small BIRTHS garrison
besieged by the Ashantis. "Wherever
the governor lays his head, there we will
lay ours" said the chiefs to Gen. Wolse
ley. The place was relieved by night
and the next DAY the Fantis were ordered
to follow the retreating enemy into the
bush.
They were drawn up in line under their
kings and chiefs, but not a step would
advance. Two English officers tried to
persuade them to GO forward by smack
ing the backs of the kings and chiefs
with umbrellas. They only made them
run hither and thither in mortal fear.
company of savage cannibals, who
fought only with swords, was drawn from
a regiment and ordered to advance be-
hind the Fantis and drive them for ward.
Clanking their swords and bowling like
tends these savages approached the rear
of the Fanti lines. Whereupon the Fantis
Kings, chiefs, and people-fied into
the forest.