342 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
nearer. The Danes would no doubt relinquish their claim to the 
navigation of the Volta, for it is a doubtful one. Dalzel writes, 
" the Danes claim the exclusive navigation of the Volta, which is 
disputed by the English, who have a settlement near it, called 
Loy/' The great prices the Ashantees get for rum, iron, &c. from 
the people of Inta and Dagwumba, and the avidity with which 
they purchase their small supplies, leave no doubt of the eagerness 
with which they would resort to our market ; and the silks they 
obtain from Fezzan being dearer than our own, I should think we 
could induce a preference. Our Manchester cloth and cotton 
manufactures would be novel and useful to them, as those I saw 
wore vests and tunics. But here I must observe, that whenever 
our commerce with the interior may be established, the returns of 
it, in my opinion, will fall short of the general idea and expectation. 
The King of Ashantee viewing our settlements on the Volta, 
would, I have no doubt, be reconciled by our undertaking to sell 
neither guns or powder to any but his own people; a measure due 
to humanity as well as policy, for the preponderance of one great 
nation is auspicious to the civilization as well as the tranquillity of 
Africa ; but for that, the slaughter of the human species would be 
incalculable; there would be a constant warfare between the numer- 
ous states, naturally querulous, and our passage to the interior 
would be impossible, not only on that account, but because there 
would be no powerful monarch to recommend or protect us. If 
the King of Ashantee were not satisfied with our new settlement 
confining the trade of guns and powder to himself, he would cer- 
tainly be repressed by the alarming reflection, that it was at our 
discretion, (depending on his behaviour,) to supply Inta and Dag- 
wumba with both, and thus to undermine his empire; for it is well 
known, and has been confessed, that the greater population of these 
countries, could they but procure fire-arms, would give them a 
