The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-06-20
FUTURE OF ASHANTEE.
The English Programme to Develop the
African Gold Coast.

The English Programme to Develop the
African Gold Coast.
Now that the object of sending the
recent expedition TO AshantCc is at
tanned, and british protection is ex-
tended to the countries from the gold
coast as far as 100 miles north o.
Coomassic, it is worth considering what
effect will be produced on the future
of our gold coast colony. The country
in the interior differs entirely in its
character from the forcst-clad land OF
AsEhantee Tie northern limit of the
forest is reached about 60 miles north
Of Coomassie, where the country be
comes an open grassy plain, relieved at
intervals by patches of woodland. This
plain extends north and east toward
the Niger, and to the eastward the
coast belt of forest is considerably mar
rover than opposite COomassie. The
air of the plains is dry and healthy;
elephants, lions and other game
abound; the natives own large herds OF
cattle and horses; further to the north
and east various Iousa tribes, such as
the Crush, Dagomba, Yoruba, etc, live
in large numbers, and are engaged in
trading and hiring themselves out as
soldiers to project caravans. The Ian
guage of this interesting race is stated
to be spoken by 1G,000,0O0 people, and
it is the lingua franca of this part OF
Africa. 1t is the men of this race who
keep the most horses and own the
largest herds of cattle, and with this
comparatively rich and popuIous coun
try it is. hoped we, may, open up a
flourishing trade.
In furtherancc OF this object. mar
row-gauge railway line has been sur
veyed, and the construction of it will
probably soon be commenced. Start
ing from Saltpond, on the coast be-
tween Accra and Cape Coast, it will
proceed by the valley to the east of
the Adansi hills to its northern termi-
nus near the edge of the plains in the
neighborhood of Mampon. This route
offers few difficulties to the engineer,
and promises economical construction,
but, as Saltpond is an unimportant
place, n coast line of railway will con-
meet it with Cape Coast and Accra.
Further trading facilities will be given
by the construction OF brcakwater
to protect the landing at the last-men-
toned place. 1t is 10y measures such
as these that the colonial secretary will
improve what he calls the undeveloped
estates of the crown.
The opening up of the forest coun-
try appears at present almost a hope
less task. The air is so damp that it
is impossible to make clearings by
burning the underground, while the
trees are so close, and the natives arc
by nature so indolent, that nothing in
the way of pioneer work can be eX-
pected from native enterprise. So long
as they have enough to eat, the coast
and forest tribes will do nothing un-
less forced by the more vigorous white
man. Doubtless, gold exists in abun-
dance in this forest land, but specu-
lators must remember that it is very
difficult matter prospecting for gold
here us compared with the open,
healthy veIdt of South Africa and the
thinly wooded plains of west Australia.
No European could do manual labor
on the west coast and live, and even
as overse ers the death rate would be
very high. for it is well known that
where the ground in the forest is dis
turhed the malaria arising from it in
creases its deadliness. Therefore the
gold coast cannot, under present con
ditions, lie considered promising re-
gion for the investor in gold or any
other mines. For the same reason we
must be prepared to lose some valuable
lives before the projected railway is
completed. - Ashantee Cor. London
Standard.