The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-28

many men ~ the Engli can arm, an
are plucky, Woodworking fellows. Il
the last war these mon were formed
into an irregular artillery. They hauled
the guns over the worst roads and IL
action served them most credltably.
Another kingdom that will gladly send
a contingent to help the British are the
Juabins and the tribes along the Volta
river. These people suffer more from
the annual Ashantee invasion than any
of the rest, and it is from these that
the Ashantees collect the majority Of
their victims for their frequent human
sacrifices.
All these tribes are part of the great
Fanti family. Their dress consists OF
single cloth, made from the cotton of
he ceiba or sllk-cotton tree, and il
yorn like Roman toga, the right arm
eing bare. The salute of these men Is
eculiar. When passing or wishing t"
speak to superior, the right arm is
Jassed across the left shoulder and this
nd of the cloth raised from it for
moment. The women wear a calico
cloth, generally of blue color. This
cloth is wrapped 10 tightly as possible
around the body.
Polygamy is recognized among all
these tribes, the number of wives being
limited only by the mau's power of
buying them. The women do all field
work, and the men along the coast are
great fishermen. The fish 10 if-cooked
and then sur-dried. 1t 10 not market
able until it has acquired flavor that
only Fanti can stand. Ga the roads
leading to the interior long lines of
men and women can be smelled affair
off as they trudgs along the narrow
paths. the women carrying the loads
while the men 60 along as an escort.
Everything is carried by hum IN car.
'ers, as no horse, donkey nor mule
viii live on the coast.
Tue men who will have the hardest
work in the campaign will be the two
battalions of the West India regiment.
These will probably number about
1900. rank and file. The mon are all
coiorsd and are recruited exclusively
in the West India islands. In physique
there are few regiments that are their
supsriors, and ~ these men have been
doing good deal of border warfare
around Sierra Leone for the last few
years, they are in excellent condition
for tus-le with their old enemies.
The officers are all white men aud have
the same uniform as officers OF the
line, but with thu men the uniform Is
that OF zouaves The hsadgear is q fez
with 'urbsn bound around it. A red
sleeveless jacket is drawn over white
waistcott with sleeves. The trousers
are bsg2y aud of blue serge. They are
led up juet under the knee and hang
over pair of yellow leggings that are
4 capital protection. The men are
veil booted with Oxford sh res, over
which are buttoned pair of white
"spats," or overgaiters.
When on active service the men
havs dungaree trousers, and the red
jacket is used only on Sunday parade.
The men are fairly good shots and
keenly love fight. The chief diff
Guilty 10 to keep the men in hand when
lively fight is taking place. They
are not given to burdening themselves
with prisoners.
Another force that will be called
upon to do hard work and hard fight
ing are the Honssa force or Gold
Coast constabnlary. These men come
entirely from the Hyussa tribe that
has its home on the banks of the
Congo. They are short, stocky men,
capable of enduring almost any hard
ship, and, like the Gourkas of India,
live only to fight. They, like the West
India troops, are differed by white
men, and have proved themselves in
many brush fight brave and reliable
men. Their dress is after the zouave
fashion, but is serviceable, dark blue
cloth. Their legs from the knee down
ward are incssed in what is known as
"putties," All East Indian term. This
consists of roll of cloth about three
inches wide and about three yards
long. 1t is bound tightly around the
leg and has been proved to be one of
the best things to help men going on
long march The men as rule speak
only the Houssa language, but they
soon learn the words of command in
English, and the non-commissioned
officers are selected either for bravery
or for having learned the English
language. They are about 1900 strong.
New York Tribune.