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Africa, are situated between twenty degrees north and twenty degrees south latitude. They were, not many years since, under the care of the African company, whose principal establishments were upon the Gold Coast; but it having been found necessary, from a variety of causes, that they should transfer their possessions to the British Government, their forts were all placed under the command of the late lamented Sir Charles Mac Carthy, in the March of 1822. From an early period our merchants had to contend against the rivalry of the Dutch, who had, and still, we believe, maintain considerable factories at Accra and Elmina. It has often been suspected that, on more than one occasion, the Dutch have endeavoured, by intriguing with the natives, to expel our influence from the whole of that coast: and even now, it is believed that, from motives of gain by the horrid trade in slaves, they persevere in sowing, wherever their spies can penetrate, the seeds of hostility against the very name of Great Britain, representing that our ob ject is to gain possession of Africa, by means similar to those which have placed so large a portion of India under our sceptre. It is certain that all our travellers in Africa, we believe without an exception, have complained of treacherous acts on the part of individual Dutch merchants, whom they encountered on the coast, or in the interior of the country. If it should ever appear that these persons have been actuated, or even connived at, by their own government, a thing not at all impossible, we hope that, as a first step towards the effectual regeneration of Africa, the flag of Holland shall be swept from every part of that continent.

At the period when Sir Charles Mac Carthy took possession of the forts transferred to Government by the Company, the Ashantees, constituting, perhaps, the most powerful tribe on the Gold Coast, were entangled in a pecuniary dispute with the natives of Cape Coast, who were under our protection, and also with the Commendas, a tribe which, though strictly speaking they were not in the same relation with respect to us, had still some claims upon our friendly assistance. These disputes not having been arranged to the satisfaction of the king of the Ashantees, Osai Tootoo Quamina, he interdicted all communication between his people and those of Cape Coast, and matters seemed strongly verging towards war, when the fire already kindled was fanned into a blaze by a stupid occurrence, which took place in the November of 1822. An Ashantee trader chose to pick a quarrel in the fort of Annamaboe with a serjeant of the Royal African Colonial Corps, by cursing his master. The serjeant retorted, and turned the trader out of the fort. The affray was enquired into upon the spot before a magistrate, when the parties were both acquitted, and it was apparently thought no more of. Some months after this, however, the unfortunate soldier, while upon duty at Annamaboe, was kidnapped by agents of Osai, and conducted to a prison in Donquah, in the Fantee country, where he was kept in irons, and assassinated in

February, 1823. Sir Charles Mac Carthy, perhaps too hastily, took up the matter as one in which the honour of the whole British nation was concerned, and adopted immediate measures for the chastisement of the persons who committed the murder. He proceeded with great haste to Annamaboe, and having ascertained that the individuals who were present at the murder of the serjeant, with their followers, amounting to two or three hundred, were still at Donquah, about twenty miles from Cape Coast, he formed a small expedition, and marched suddenly in the night against them. Unfortunately, however, from the treachery or ignorance of the guides, the troops which ought to have arrived at Donquah at four o'clock on the following morning, lost the right road, and while suffering from excessive fatigue, and want of every sort of provisions, they were attacked under a heavy fire by a numerous force of Ashantees and Fantees, who were ambushed in a thick covered wood, and they were obliged to make the best of their way back to Annamaboe. This disaster was followed by the most deplorable consequences. Osai, emboldened by the success of his troops, sent Sir Charles a message through the Dutch governor of Elmina, advising that Cape Coast Castle should be enlarged, as, in the language of Napoleon, he intended to drive the English into the sea. He also recommended that they should arm the fishes of the sea, for all would be of no avail against the army which he intended to bring against them.'

Meanwhile the passions on both sides were much exasperated by petty conflicts between parties of the Ashantees and of the tribes under our protection. Sir Charles visited different parts of our territory, and sent a mission into the interior, in order to extend his alliances with the natives, and to ascertain upon whom he could depend. In travelling through those portions of the country in which roads were cut, he and his suite were usually conveyed in carriages drawn by natives, six to each vehicle, which accommodated two persons. The reader will, perhaps, be surprized to hear that these carriages were drawn at the rate of six miles an hour, and that at the conclusion of a day's journey, generally thirty miles, the natives thus employed were not in the least fatigued. On the Gold Coast there is hardly any other mode of conveyance, as neither horses, donkies, nor mules, thrive there, even when brought thither from other parts of the coast; they always died a short time after being landed. At Accra, horses have been known to live for some years; but, generally, Europeans travel in the vicinity of the forts in the manner just described, unless where the roads cut through the woods are too narrow for wheeled vehicles. Then they are borne in wooden chairs, or wicker baskets, by means of poles, or upon the heads of men, and it is astonishing with what facility and expedition long journies are thus performed.

In the course of his visitations, Sir Charles was everywhere received in the most flattering and joyous manner: the inhabitants

of the villages shewing their hospitality by bringing out large quantities of palm wine, and headed by their chieftains, who individually swore mutual friendship and support on his sword, according to their usual custom. The streets and hills through which he passed were crowded by all classes, cheering, shouting, firing of muskets, beating of drums, and the sounding of horns, in token of their fidelity to the British Government. In some places, the females sang and swept the path before him, while others sprinkled it with water. Among the places visited by the mission was the town of Fouricaria, seated on the river of the same name, distant about 100 miles from Sierra Leone, under the dominion of king Amorah, who is mentioned as a very clever man, and well versed in the Arabic language, which he writes with great fluency. The town itself is described as extensive, and very neatly built, the streets being composed of cottages, which are erected at some distance from each other. There were several Arabic schools in the town. The banks of the river are beautiful, and a good-sized vessel can get up the river as far as king Amorah's town. Horses

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with country-made saddles and bridles were always ready for the officers of the mission, who rode about the country, which was beautiful and well cultivated with rice. The coffee tree grows wild here.'

Information having been received early in the month of June (1823), that the Ashantees had shewn themselves in the Fantee country in considerable force, the organization of the expedition against them was accelerated, and camps were formed in different parts of the country, which were crowded with the native tribes, amongst whom the Fantees, who were supposed to have been completely gained over to the British cause, were the most conspicuous for their apparent activity and zeal. It was late in the year before the forces began to be marshalled on each side; the signs of the coming war are depicted with much vivacity by Major Ricketts, from whose narrative we shall here select one or two of the most characteristic scenes of preparation. On the 15th of December, Sir Charles returned to Annamaboe.

'On landing, the crowd of chiefs, pynins, (a kind of magistrate among the natives,) men, women, and children, was innumerable; the air resounded with cries of "Accoa ba E'woora O!" meaning, how do you do master. His excellency, after a short visit to the fort, inspected the militia. The parade here was also crowded by an immense population. After the inspection, the native chiefs, with their martial bands, armed followers, dignitaries, and favourite wives, passed in succession before him, being seated under a neat bamboo hut erected on the ground for the occasion, surrounded by his suite, and the officers and gentlemen of Annamaboe. The several chiefs shook hands most cordially with the governor, expressing in the strongest and most animated terms by words, countenance, and gesture, their satisfaction at his return among them. As soon as they had resumed their seats around the parade, their several officers marshalled

their men, who went through the evolutions and firings of a sham fight; chief after chief sent his men, and various chiefs of towns situated at a small distance from Annamaboe, joined the meeting, their men taking a share in all the sports; the firings, &c., lasted for several hours; the reports of the muskets, the noise of the war drums and other instruments, the cries of the warriors, and the rejoicings of the women, produced such a singular effect, that it is impossible by words to depict an adequate idea of the scene.

"The arrival of a messenger from Appea, king of Adjumacon, announcing his intended visit to Annamaboe to pay his respects to his excellency, induced the governor to defer for another day his visit to the camp at Yancoomassie, in the Fantee country, which had been formed in his absence by Captain Laing, under the directions of Major Chisholm.

On the morning fixed for the grand entry of Appea into Annamaboe, the whole line of the beach between that place and Agah, (one mile in length,) was crowded with the carriers of his army. As the day advanced, the line of dependants was succeeded by the armed men of this chief; innumerable umbrellas of various colours could be distinguished, and their glittering swords, with gold hilts, had a very imposing appearance. About eleven o'clock, notice being given of Appea's near approach, his excellency left the fort, and took his seat in the bamboo hut before mentioned, every thing indicating the rapturous ecstacy of the multitude; as Appea advanced, a dead stillness prevailed, which was only broken by the sudden sounds of horns and drums. The procession, which entered the area in good order, had been arranged with great taste, and the effect certainly exceeded expectation. Eight large canopies attracted curiosity from their ingenious construction of cloth of various colours, some of them diversified with figures; also some large umbrellas, carried over the several captains, riding in their palanquins, or litters of various descriptions, each captain or commander being surrounded by his own clan. At length Appea, of whom all had felt anxious to obtain a sight, appeared; he was carried by his own domestics, who, by every expression and attention, shewed their care of their master; he reclined on a satin cushion, with a handsome cloth of native manufacture, to cover his body if required; his occras, or confidential pages, preceded his palanquin, carrying elephants' tails, emblematic of his power, and ten gold hilted swords; his first wife and sister were close in succession, followed by his bards, who sang his victories and great titles; his band followed playing their familiar airs, by which the deeds of their great men are recorded in the minds of the people. His drums, which played their part in the rehearsal of his power, were covered with tartan plaid, to hide the skulls and jawbones of his conquered enemies, with which they were decorated according to the custom of the native chiefs on this part of the coast; he being fearful, from the character he had heard of his excellency, that they might give offence. As each of the chieftains of Appea drew near the bamboo hut, the captains alighted from their palanquins, and after making a low obeisance to his excellency and uncovering both shoulders according to the custom of the country, they shook hands and endeavoured to evince every demonstration of respect and affection: each paraded to the spot allotted to him and his retinue: the same form was followed by Appea. The whole of the chieftains, surrounded by their countrymen and adherents, having taken their proper stations accord

ing to the custom of their country, the same compliment was observed by the caboceers of Annamaboe.'-pp. 35—38.

All this pageantry affords indications not only of a well organised state of society amongst the people under the sway of Appea, but also of the wealth of his territory. We find the carriers of his army occupying a full mile of road; his dependents and army very numerous, and the latter well accoutred, the hilts of their swords being formed of gold. Their use of umbrellas is at least a favourable omen of their disposition to encourage the silk trade, while their canopies promise as much for the trade in cloth. The description of the palanquins shews considerable progress in the fine arts, which here, as in all other countries where they flourish, are found united with poetry and music. The covering of the horrid ornaments of their drums with tartan plaid, in order to conceal objects which might be deemed disgusting to European eyes, is in itself a proof of the facility with which such a people might be induced to adopt our customs in still more essential matters; and the regularity with which the whole pageantry was conducted, affords a satisfactory demonstration of quickness of intellect and love of order. The king and people of Adjumacon must, in fact, have already made a very respectable approximation towards European habits.

On arriving at the camp at Yancomassie, Sir Charles was received in the most enthusiastic manner by the chiefs of the Fantees, with whose mode of testifying their allegiance, however, his Exellency, we apprehend, would have cheerfully dispensed. The person about to swear, takes a sword in his right hand, and with great animation, whilst expressing his determination, calls Heaven to witness that he would be faithful to the cause, continually pointing the sword upwards at the governor's head, and flourishing it round his own, so near at times, that his Excellency's eyes must frequently have been in imminent danger. The country round Yancomassie is described as beautiful. The town of Donquah, through which Sir Charles returned-the fatal scene of the event which immediately led to this unhappy war-is also said to be very pretty. The main street is about sixty feet wide, with a row of trees in the centre, affording a canopy of shade that must be peculiarly acceptable in that climate. He was shewn the house in which the unfortunate serjeant had been imprisoned, and the tree under which he was murdered; the principal agent in this atrocity having been a child under ten years of age, who was afterwards at school

at Annamaboe.

Early in the January of 1824, the Ashantees were reported to be in full march, in twelve divisions, against Cape Coast and we regret to observe-though we ought not perhaps to speak with much confidence of military movements-that Sir Charles does not appear to us to have very well known what he was about, in giving his orders for arraying his motley forces against the enemy. Divi

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