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MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
Most of the slaves in Coomassie, were sent as part of the annual 
tribute of Inta, Dagwumba, and their neighbours, to Ashantee ; 
cheaper to them than ours, considering that they get 100 per cent, on it at Coomassie. 
Mr. Lucas mentions " silk wrought and unwrought amongst the articles exported from 
Fezzan to Rassina, Apokoo and several others related to me, that Sai Cudjo bought a 
piece of silk at Yahndi, so very fine, that although it could be compressed between two 
hands, it was nevertheless larger than any cloth I had seen the present King wear, and 
his appeared monstrous. Apokoo added, that six slaves were paid for it, which would 
have produced £l60. at the water side. 
(b) This is a highly glazed British cotton of bright red stripes with a bar of white : it 
is bought solely for the red stripe, (as there is no red dye nearer than Marrowa) Avhich 
they Aveave into their own cloths, throwing away the white. There are 280 inches in a 
piece. A cloth of Ashantee manufacture will be sent to the British Museum, and, I 
expect, the size, fineness, and variety will surprise. 
(c) This is also a highly glazed British cotton of more colours, and in handkerchiefs ; 
ten of which are in a 305. piece. 
(d) This is an unglazed India cotton, not much in demand, and yielding the least 
profit. The Manchester cotton called Tom Coffee is preferred- 
(e) This is India cotton unglazed, for all of which there is, in proportion, but a small 
demand. The Ashantees invariably prefer cloths of the Dagwumba, or their own manu- 
facture, and we rarely saw any others worn in Coomassie. 
(y) These are white cottons, six yards in a piece, but narrow, they are bought for 
fetish cloths ; but the next article, the white cotton cloth of Dagwumba, is preferred, a 
piece of which, painted, will be sent to the British Museum. 
(^) These are the wholesale and retail prices at Coomassie, the average length of a roll 
is 42 fathoms. 
(h) Powder is retailed for customs or festivals : those who purchase it for war, or can 
afford a I barrel, send to the water side for it. A f barrel contains 25 lbs, and the 
Ashantee charge weighs 1 6 ackies, equal to f of an ounce avoirdupoise. 
(«) This was owing to their brisk intercourse with tlie Spanish and Portuguese slave 
ships, a dollai generally fetches two ackies or lOs. Mr. Park writes, from £l. 5s. to 
£2. 10s. at Sansanding. 
(Jc) Sandals and a cushion will be sent to the British Museum. In Marrowa they 
decoct a good red dye from a tree called mossaratee. 
The reason green ells are purchased by the Warsaws only, is, that they must be the 
wedding garment of the females of that country : if they are fast colours, and will not 
shange to a blue with lime-juice, they will not look at them 
