Evening star., 1896-11-16
SIGHTS IN ASHANTILAND.
Lecture by George X. French Before
the Geographic Society.

Lecture by George X. French Before
the Geographic Society.
The lecture Friday evening before the
Geographic Society by George K. French
on Ashantiland was one Of the best yet
given under the auspices Of the society.
Mr.. French was with the English military
expedition to Ashanti last year, and his
narrative Of sights and experiences there
was full of interest from beginning to end
Mr.. Gardiner Hubbard, president Of the
Geographic Society, introduced Mr. French,
and he entered at once a straighttor-
ward description of the country, it's peo-
pie, customs, resources and capabilities
The illustrations given by the stereoptcon
were from snap shot negatives taken by
Mr.. French and were beautifully cOlored
1t Is not exaggeration. to say that they
were among the best ever shown before
the Geographic Society.
The gold coast is so-called because of the
auriferous sands of the seashore and the
mountain streams, which distinguish the
region from the ivory coast, the pepper
coast and the grain coast. The natives
succeed in getting much gold from these
sands, and in the interior are rich deposits
whence come by every caravan to the
coast considerable amounts Of the shining
metal. This coast for $50 miles belongs
to England, the interior boundaries stretch
ing away to the Soudan. The journey from
the coast through the tangled gloomy fer
ests, the danger to human life from the
hostility of the natives and the ravages
of fever were we'll described. The ureva-
lence of rare and valuable timber was
shown in the use of mahogany for bridge
flooring on the military road to the in
terror. This road the natives have Inces-
sanity attacked and destroyed since 1t
was built by the British in 11S}. These an
noyances were the cause of the expedition
last year, when about 1000 English troops
with repeating rifles, conquered the
ASh Of
The people are federated under one king.
there being a number of lesser kings, " no
insist on considerable state ceremony in
their presence, and regard themselves as
mighty potentates. kumassl. the capital
of Ashanti was well described and pic
tured and numerous views of the Ashanti
palavers and professions shown. With
Mr.. Henry Tipping. a young Englishman
Mr.. French went far inland. visiting these
kings until finally Mr. Tipping was pros
trated and died of jungle iever. Mr.
French was attacked by it and obliged to
seek a speedy voyage homeward. Ihe
fearful slaughter of human life in ropitia-
ton of heather deities was fully told, and
the genial countenance Of the Ashanti
chief executioner, who, it is said, has sent
as many as 5000 of his fellow sinners into
the beyond, was thrown on the screen IN
a cheerful light. The king, it is said,
keeps a stock of wretches on hand to Of
fer as sacrifice on the slightest pretext
If it thunders the superstition IS that II
is the complaint of the kings dead an
cestors and slave or two or prisoner
of war has his head cut off and his tody
offered up in series of ceremonies TO ap-
pease them. When the king dies about
1000 of his slaves and wives are siam, so
they may keep him company into the bet
ter land.
Mr.. French was intently listened to and
the clear style of his graphic description OF
what he saw made the lecture most en-
joyable throughout.