Mission from-Cape Coast»Castle to Ashantee. 381 
sea-water, it’ being 1027:1. (temperature 42°), which is greater 
than we had found it since the fifth day of July. 
‘€ Between eleven and ‘twelve o’clock, P-M. we made sail to 
the southward, and abandoned-the search for a passage in this 
quarter; from a thorough conviction,I should hope, that-not any 
such passage exists-here. I am perfectly satisfied myself that this 
isnot the place-to look for'it, although I must confess that T did 
not see’ the continuity of land all-around the top of this bay, if it 
may be so termed ; and, in order-'to show that: I am-not the only 
person who has been’ unfortunate in this respect, I have inserted, 
in the Appendix, an-exact copy of the ship’s log for this day, by 
which it does not appear that the land was seen all around: at 
one time ; neither, by a comparison of the bearings of the east 
land, and of the west, taken at different times, do they appear to 
meet.” , —__— 
Mission: from Cape Coast Castle to Ashantee, with a Statistical 
Account of that Kingdom, and Geographical Notices of other 
Parts of the Interior of Africa. By T. Edward Bowdich, esq. 
Conductor. 4to, pp 512. 
The Ashantees: are mentioned: by Bosman and:Barbot as first 
heard of by Europeans about the year 1700; the latter calls it 
Ashantee or Inta, ‘and writes that itis west of Mandingo, and 
joins‘Akim on the east: he asserts its preeminence in wealth and 
power. Mr. Dalzel’ heard of the Ashantees at Dahomey, as very 
powerful ; but imagined them, the Intas, and the ‘Tapahs, to be 
one and'thesame nation. Mr. Lucas, when in Mesurata, was in- 
formed that Assentai was the: capital of the powerful kingdom of. 
Tonouwah. In’Mr. Murray’s enlarged edition of Dr. Leyden’s 
Discoveries in Africa, we find, “* The northern border of Akim: 
extends to T'onouwah, denominated also Inta Assiente or Assientai, ' 
from its capital-city of that name, which stands about eighteen 
days’ journey from the Gold’Coast. 
In 1807 an Ashantee army reached the coast for the first time, 
and did-some injury to a Dutch settlement. The Ashantees 
invaded Fantee again in 1811, and a third time in'}816, and on © 
each oceasion inflicted the greatest miseries. The prolonged 
blockade of Cape Coust Castle, in consequence of this last inva- 
sion, led the’ English governor to represent to the committee of 
the African Association, the propriety of venturing an embassy to 
the kingdom of Ashantee, to conciliate the friendship of its so- 
vereign, and establish, if possible, a commercial alliance. The 
suggestion was warmly taken up by the African committee; and 
in 1817, the store-ship which went out carried liberal and valu- 
able presents, and every other authority and instruction neces- 
sary for the proposed mission. Mr. Bowdich was appointed con- 
ductor to the mission; and on the 22d of April it left Cape Coast 
Castle, 
