The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-17
DESP0T OF ASHANTEE
The Foolish Man Who Has De-
fled the British Government.
REGULAR COMIC-OPERA KING.
The Ruler OF 5000. 900 Black People
In Western Africa " ears a Plug
Hat and n Grass Girdle.

New York World
The king Of Ashantee. the most extra rdi-
nary ruling p0tentate Of the world stands
suddenly revealed. OF ali me astonishing
kings of Africa or South Sea Island cannl-
bal chiefs he IS the most remarkable.
King Prempeh. king Of Ashantee, has
deaed the English government lie has
announced his readiness for war, and IS
now awaiting the arrival OF the Bricisn
troous.
The king Of Ashantee is the absolute
monarch Of about 100000 subjects. They
live IN the neart OF the African forest,
few hundred miles * from the Gold
Coast The king wears slrdIe OF dried
grass around his hips and a ''plGG' hat.
lie c~ns no crown, but in some way has
become possessed Of 4 silk hat, which now
does duty as emblem OF sovereignty
Another remarkable fact about This bar
baFOGs king is that ne has no throne. He
has, however, solid gold stool. which
does service as a throne. Il takes four
able-bodied slaves to tug this heavy stool
around.
But the great official emblem Of royal au-
thorty IS an umbrella. THIS curiosity has
b.g bamboo handle and spokes OF embossed
gold. On the end Of each spoke Is a hui
man skull. Nobody, not even the king
himself, knows the significance Of tals
strange sceptre of majesty. but II has de-
cestry.
King Prempeh, among other things. has
exactly 1855 wives allowed HIM by law.
Why this liberal figure was decided upon
his majesty does NOT know. Like the un-
brella. they came 10 him by inheritance.
The king wears earrings. They are OF
solid gold lie also has other personal
ad3rnmeats Of solid gold His royal ances-
tors all wore gold earrings. too.
lis majesty lives IN big stone and ma
tive brick palace-the only structure OF the
Kind IN the kingdom. HIS royal hlgness
sleeps on the floor.
The king IS several times a millionaire,
and It Is believed that he has several barrels
Of gold dust and nuggets. Ashantee is rich
in gold.
King Prempeh is a bloodthirsty monarch
and he Is IN the habit Of making human
sacr.hces on the wholesale scale. When
ever IL pieases him TO do 81 be orders a few
hundred subjects TO be heheaded. Besides
this, during certain religious ceremonies.
1t Is customary 20 kin subjects. II IS this
practice which England wants the king 10
stop. And il is TO put an end 20 these hui
man sacrifices that the British troops viii
wade INTO the forest and make war on the
king.
II is just twenty-one years since the Brit
lsh government appropriated 100000 %
send out an expedition TO bring the king
or Ashaatee 10 terms, and before the eXpe-
d.t;on got back. after burning Coomdse,
his capital Il had cost as much more.
The English troops under Sir Garnet
Wolseley remained only two days In the
capital OF Ashantee. Before they left The
savage potentate agreed 10 DO certain
things. That was King Koffee
His successor. the present king Of Asian
tee. King Pr=mpeh, has not fulfilled these
conditions
Turning aside from the complications Of
ha
Venezuela and the row with Russia over
China, the British gov rnment sent an MIA
nahum 10 the king Of AsTantec. They
gave him until October 81.
But this savage monarch was not fright
ened by the ultimatum of Britain lie d.d
not even wait until the ultimatum expired.
4 dispatch from Accra. on the Gold
coast. dated on the last day OF October
said that Capt Donald stewart. the spe-
Cial British commissioner, who had gone
TO Coomassie. escorted by 100 H,ussas.
had returned 10 the coast He said that
the king had rejected the ultimatum and
de6ed Great Britain.
The king of Ashantee said in effect that
he did not care snap of his finger FOR
the British government and that he was
looking for fight. According 10 opinion
on the Gold coast he viii get IT, The
king. at the time the British commission
er left for Coomassie, appeared 10 be pre-
pairing for war.
The terms Of tho ultimatum We're that
he should have a British commissioner i'm
his country. and that he should place
Ashantee under the protection" Of Great
Rritain This burly negro. who has 3.239
wives and orders peoples heads TO Doe cut
of If his breakfast disacrccs with him, is
believed % know what the protection
OF Great Britain" means.
England now controls the coast outside
81 his territory The French control the
neiehhornG country of Dahomev, 81 hose
king IS protected by a bodvguarj OF arm
cd women. Ashantee Is rich in gold and
both England and France have long look
cd a Il with jealous eyes
According 40 the latest dispatches from
the Gold coast, whore IN. coming war
op the king OF AsAautec IS the ore topic
~ conversation. there viii he 20 tiuc lost
in making a start 4 strong force Of inn
ptrial and aatiVe troops. Il is said. VIII
now be sent IN CoomasSie to bring the
king u terms Sir Francis Scott. i'm
epector general Of the Cold coast forces.
who is row in EuE'au3. VIII leave Tor
West Africa as soon as possible 20 oreau-
tZe The force
The advance Of the British into fhc King
IF Asba0tee's country is expected 20 De
we'll under way carly In Toeewnar. In
the fneauU hile troops VIII be- ~,ut t0 Ac-
era from Lagos and other places Al is
now excitement on the Gold coast
There S. pra abs ust another Afrrt az
r.on4~eh MO gau cause the British gov
eminent so much trouoie and expense 3s
the king - AsHao-ee. he is a very power
fal ro-enta-a ii.s people 3ra an born
fighters. who wonl3 rather n<h- than est.
T4e IS an absolute 3ssaat The knz "
AShantes cauit give points 10 desp'-sw %
the suItaG 81 Turkey and t1a .zfr ~ Rus
STA If tae Ear were - da .he things
which tae hing cf Ashaat.e thinks notn-
~ = ft. 3 tia