THE TWENTIETH WAR : IN ASHANTEE. 39 



THE TWENTIETH WAR: IN ASHANTEE. 



1873- 



The Ashantee War originated, strange as it may sound, in the 

 Straits of Malacca, which is known as the Gate of Commerce 

 between Europe and the China Seas; and which, in 1809, England 

 was asked to surrender to Holland, in order to secure a cession of the 

 Putch territories on the Gold Coast 



In this cession one would naturally suppose the two parties should 

 have been consulted. First, the natives on the Gold Coast it was 

 proposed to transfer ; and, secondly, the King of Ashantee, whose 

 rights and position at Elmina, and access to the sea, were largely 

 affected. But, though the interests of the Coast Tribes, and of the 

 King of Ashantee, were largely involved, their consent were not 

 obtained. 



On the contrary, every kind of pretext was made against the 

 transfer by King Koffee Kallali, for, in his letter to the English 

 Government, he used these words : — 



" I hope your Excellency will not include Elmina in the change, for 

 it is mine by Right." 



And the Chief of Elmina declared — 



" On no account will we become English. Elmina is willing to serve 

 under the Dutch flag, and no other." 



The Convention was signed in 187 1, and the transfer of the 

 Territory was effected in 1872, without either the King of Ashantee 

 having renounced his claim, or the Chiefs of Elmina approved of the 

 cession to English Rule ; and, as a last protest, they sent an Address 

 to the States-General of the Netherlands against the sale of their 

 Territory, and refused to hoist the English flag. 



The central difficulties were — the Elmina tribute to the King of the 

 Ashantees, the free access to the Coast, and the presence of the 

 Chief of the Elminas in the Territory ; and yet the English Govern- 

 ment, aware of these facts, signed and ratified the Convention 

 without procuring the settlement of either. 



In January, 1873, news arrived at Cape Coast Castle of the 

 invasion by the Ashantees of the disputed territory, and the War 

 having broken out, it was necessary to alienate the Elminas ; but 

 when the oath of allegiance was tendered them and refused, they 

 were made prisoners and sent to Cape Coast Castle, and the War 

 now became general. 



Elmina, a town of 10,000 inhabitants, was bombarded and desitroyed. 



