Kneeland.] 336 [March 4, 



pied by the Ashantees. Their country is also fertile and populous, 

 and they have important trading stations on the coast; they are a 

 fine looking race, more muscular but less warlike than the interior 

 tribes, and are known by the small scarifications on the back of the 

 neck and upper part of the cheeks. 



A few years ago they became involved in a war with the Ashan- 

 tees, and obtained the aid of the English, who had a small fort in one 

 of their towns; but, in spite of this aid they were overpowered, and 

 the whole country became a part of the Ashantee empire, with the 

 consent of the English. 



Cape Coast Castle is the capital of the British settlements on the 

 coast of Guinea, and has a population of about 10,000. The town is 

 irregularly built; the climate is very damp and unhealthy, and is 

 more deadly to the invading whites than the weapons of the native 

 tribes. From this are exported gold dust, palm oil and tortoise shell, 

 brought down by the natives. There are strong fortifications on 

 a granite rock projecting into the sea, once nearly taken by the 

 Ashantees. 



Before the English, the Dutch paid a subsidy for the privilege of 

 the trade; the former refused to pay the subsidy, and to allow the 

 Ashantees free trade with the coast. The Ashantees attacked the 

 Fantees, and drove them into Coast Castle, under the very guns of 

 the English, who were obliged to assist the Fantees — hence the 

 present war. The stories of the English victories he believed greatly 

 exaggerated, as this warlike and numerous people, aided by their 

 unhealthy climate, would render any victory, and especially the cap- 

 ture of Coomassie, their capital, a dearly bought one. 



The sand in the streets of the coast towns, and the sand on the 

 shore, is rich with gold; the natives work the gold-bearing earth till 

 it caves in, and then they leave it, fearing the displeasure of their 

 gods, which they think is thus displayed. The nuggets belong to the 

 king, the dust to the people. The king of Ashantee is allowed three 

 thousand three hundred and thirty-three wives ; a photograph of one 

 of whom was presented, also others of Ashantee musicians and Fan- 

 tee princesses. The dress and pouch were made by the Mandingoes, 

 an interior tribe to the north of Liberia; they are very skilful tan- 

 ners and workers in leather, using for tanning the bark of the 

 mangrove. 



