12 



THE GOLD COAST, ASHANTl, AND KUMASSI 



A ROYAL PROGRESS IN -WEST AFRICA — THE KING OF DADIASSI 



From a photograph by George K. French 



Toward the end of 1895 the once powerful Ashanti confedera- 

 tion had become greatly weakened by the open secession or 

 wavering loyalty of its constituent tribes. These were ten in 

 number, namely, Beckwai, Daniassi, Kokofu, Nkoranza, Dadiassi, 

 Juabin, Mampon, Nquanta, Nsuta, and Kumassi. Only three of 

 these, the most remote from the coast to the north of Kumassi, 

 were openly loyal to the King of Kumassi, who held the throne 

 or golden stool and was called the King of Ashanti. The other 

 kings were quite ready to secede from the confederation, the 

 unity of which was now about to be attacked and destroyed by 

 British arms, and they were anxiously awaiting overtures from 

 the coast. Such was ttie pitiable and liumiliating condition of 

 the " Ruler of Heaven and Earth " at this time. Proud and arro- 

 gant to the last, although abandoned b}^ most of his followers. 

 King Prempeh calmly awaited the approach of the little band 

 of British soldiers, led by Sir Francis Scott, from Cape Coast 

 Castle. He was, however, only a weak and misguided tool of 

 the savage Queen Mother and a dupe of dishonest advisers, and 

 he offered no resistance to his seizure, with some forty of his 

 courtiei's, and his removal to the coast, where he is now impris- 



