HISTORY. 
Tribute being demanded from the neighbouring kingdom of 
Dagwuraba, a war ensued, and its troops were defeated. The 
King of DagwuiDba, convinced that his former reliance on a 
superior population was vain, from the military genius of the 
Ashantees, and the commercial disposition of his own people, dis- 
pirited from their want of fire arms,* prudently invited a peace, 
before a more decisive defeat left him no dignity, and his enemies 
lio moderation for treating. As it was, they still respected his 
resources, and were content to secure him as a tributary, rather 
than exhaust their forces in his subjugation, in the infancy of their 
kingdom. A triumph in policy was in the view of the King of 
Dagwumba, equivalent to the small diminution of personal dignity ; 
and at the expense of an inconsiderable tribute, he established a 
commercial intercourse, which, his markets being regularly supplied 
from the interior, was both an advantage and a security to him, 
from the great convenience to his warlike neighbours, whose 
superstition assenting to his great reputation for making saphies, 
and for augury, would not only augment his revenue, but insure 
him superior respect as a tributary. Inta had previously become 
tributary. 
I should have mentioned, that every subject state was placed 
under the immediate care of some Ashantee chief, generally resi- 
dent in the capital, who seldom visited it but to receive the tribute 
from the native ruler, for whose conduct he was in a reasonable 
degree responsible. Thus Quatchi Quofie has now the care of 
* Fire arms are unknown to such of the nations on the south of the Niger as the 
Shereef has visited ; and the reason which he assigns for it is, that the Kings in the 
neighbourhood of the coast, persuaded that if these powerful instruments of war should 
reach the possession of the populous inland states, their own independence would be lost, 
have strictly prohibited, and by the wisdom of their measures, have effectually prevented 
this dangerous merchandise from passing beyond the limits their dominions. Lucas. 
