Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-02

when we anchored two miles oil Emma
and all night long the roar OF the water
dashipr against the rocks of the shore couid
be heard. Owing to this peculiar surglng
swell of the ocean here boats cannot De
safely landed, SO canoes managed by natives
are USED.
Shortly after daylight in the morning L
went to the port so as to have view OF the
town. A large stone structure at once at
tracts NV attention. This is the castle
erected by the Dutch in 14S1, when they
ruled this territory. AT 9o'clock five oil
us take a canoe and start for the shore. AS
we near land we are tossed by the great
waves. and it seems that they will capslze the
canoe, but the reputation of the natives OF
the Gold Coast for managing canoes is such
that we feel no alarm Tor our safety. After
passinr around the castle we approach the
shore, and wonder how we shall get on land
through the shower of spray made by the
heavy SUR. Before we realize 1t, however,
each native leaps from the canoe, selzes a
passenger. and, holding him above his
head. carries him through the spray and
places him on the dry sand. They now beg
US for "dash''-which term we learned
meant money for drink.
The population OF Elmina is almost en-
tirely native, there being only few Euro
pean merchants and English officers at the
place, The natives belong to the Fantl
tribe. and many of them are civilized
through the long contact with white people.
But bv tar the larger part are quite unclTll-
lied and continue to practice their native
customs. The Wesleyan Church has been
established here for many years, and main
tains a hourishing school. The Roman
Catholics have also recently started church
and school.
Directly back of the country along the
Gold Coast is the kingdom of the Ashantees
"A people renowned in history Tor their
warlike Yalor. Half 4 century ago the
Ashantees were noted for great prosperity
and large extent OF territory. The history
of these people previous to the first of the
eighteenth century is not known. From
that time up to 1920 1t is an account of con-
tinual territorial acquisition, and OF
struggles between the FantIs and several
other tribes in which the Ashantees were
invariably successful. But after that Gate
the success of the Ashantees began to ex-
tend to another people, and that none other
than the English, who then owned the Gold
Coast, having obtained possession of 1t from
the Dutch.
A MOST BARBARoUS WAR.
Two tributary chiefs revolted, and in
flight sought the protection of the Fantls.
The Ashantee King sent messengers re-
ouesting the deiiverance of these chiefs. The
messengers were put to death by the Fantis,
aud this so enraged the King that he swore
an oath that ne would never return to his
capital without the heads of the revolted
chiefs. He marched his army into the Fanti
country and caused such destruction of life
and property as has seldom had its parallel
in history. The FantiS he to the English
forts, where they supposedG the Ashantees
would not dare to come. In this they were
greatly mist aiken, for the King OF the
Ashantees followed them with his army to
the very gate of the fort, which h,~ made
preparation TO blow up, and he would Ger.
tainly have done SO had not flag OF truce
been shown. One of the chiefs who caused
this trouble escaped, but the other was de-
livered up and put to death with the most
horrible tortures.
The Ashantees continued to annoy by fire.
Quent incursions the merchants OF the Fanti
country to such an extent that in 1924
England took steps TO have the matter ad-
justed in friendly manner. A treaty was
made, but several months delay on the pa rt
OF the English in carrying it into effect
made trouble. Sir Charles Mccarthy was
now made Governor of the Gold Coast, and
learning that the A shantee King was