11 5 
Enclosure 1 in N·o. 43. 
I NSPECTOR-GENERAL to tbe COLONIAL SECRETARY. 
Attabubu Exped it ionary Force, Abetiti, 
N ovem bel' 7, 1893. 
I HAYE the honour to forw"rd a copy of a letter I have received from the Basel 
Mis.ion missionaries at th is s t a~ion. 
There is, witbout doubt, mucb truth in wbat tbey say regard ing Kuma,i. 
I alll personally of tbe same oplOion, und feel sure tbat if 1b e tribe:; immediately to the 
north, nort.b-east, and east of KlIma,i , who are not already in the Protectorate, were 
given our protec~ion , Kumasi itself witb but li t tle pressure could be indnced to lollow. 
1 accordingly recommend tbat steps be at once taken in tbis direction . 
2. In anotber Despatch 1 am forwarding you an "'pplication from the town of Agogo 
to join us, and I am informed tbat messen!!ers from Koranza are within a day's IT,arch 
from here with, it is not iUlprobable, a simi lar request. 
I sincerely trust that the Government will see tbe necessity of fi nally doiug away witb 
tbe power of Kumasi, and will take advantage of the opportunity wbicb now ex ists to 
effect tbis end. 
I have, &c. 
The Hon. F . C. SCOTT, Colonel, 
The Colonial Secretary . Commanding A ttabubu Expeditionary Force. 
Tbe Rev. F . R AMSEYER to Colonel Sir FRANCIS SCOTT. 
SIR, Abetifi, N ovember 2, 1893. 
THE undersigned missionaries at A beteti in contemplation of your march towards 
Ateobu (A ttablllJU) and Ashantee beg t.o be ailolred to lay before you a few remarks. 
Tbey can ouly rejo ice about tbe display of' forces '."h ieh is made, and which call only 
strengthen the greut prestige tbe Government possesses, till far in the interior; but ill 
regard of the great expenses at the cost of wbich tbe expedition is made, tbey have only 
a prayer and a request; it is that the expedition rr.ay be tbe last stroke to make 
Coomassie powerless for ever, and this can be done 09J1iy by brVngYng Coomass;o wnder 
English jurisdiction. 
The reasons whicb move ns to say so, are :.-
J. Tbe Ashantees, although very few in number compared with their former power, 
have, nevertheless, not ceased to tbis day to give .t roub!e to the Government by tbeir 
constant quarrels and to bring even disturbance in tbe Colony. 
2. By Oll!' experience while working in the towns surrounding t.hc Ashanli frontier 
(in _-\sante Akem) and by visiting some of the towns belonging to Coomassie, and by 
tbe reports of our agents placed just at the boulldaries of Coomassie tel'l'i tory, we 
know that tbe people of Ashanti are longing and crying "fter the English to bring 
peace in tbe country. Alone, th e King and his mother, peril aps, and a few of his 
Cbiefs would not be very much inclined to bring themselves willingly under English 
jurisdiction. But it is as tbe people say ; the King cannot and will not ask to be taken 
in the English Protectorate, but if be is brought to no it he will accept it. 
3. Knowing the Ashantees since so many years we are of' the same opinion as all those 
around us (among whicb many Asbantees), and as our agent at Bornpata who few days 
ago wrote that if tbe Ashan ti'. are fined unly, they will soon boast agailJ, and bring 
trouble in the country; they say tbat tbey are ready to pay any amonnt. T here is no 
doubt that to fine them only will have not at oJI the resnlts expect.ed. 
4. The steps to bring Coomassie under British. jurisdiction , can be done, in our opinion , 
witbout a shot being fired, for as we hear from everywhere, the Ashantees are most 
friahtened and are so few in number. 
5. Already two places of Ashantee, Ahiasm (Konomngo) tbe town of Yow Sapong 
and Agogo on the West, bave asked to be received in tbe Protectorate. Wbat is no w 
remaining? Coomassie and a few surrounding pla~es, which I think would very will ingly 
surrender. Besides tbat, if Nkoransa is made Protectorate. wbat ougbt to be done, wbat 
remains of the former Asbantee kingdom ? We tbink tbat in consideration of all these 
points, tbere are reaSOl)S enougb, besides the point tbat tbe Ashant.ees have not yet paid 
the war indemnity aud that tbey have not ~eased tbe bumRn sacrifices , to declare to them 
tbat on tbe ground of all tbis aud the great expense thp,y bronght upon the Government, 
P 2 
116 
the time bas come for them to accept the English Protectorate and that they are from 
tbis hour placed · LInder English po\~er and laws . T bis st~p would, after our opiuion, 
not bring much more expense, as till now, for ollce a resident at Coomassie >j,S Com-
missioner, tbe post at Prahsu would be unnecessary. These ollr remarks we beg to 
excuse and to pardon us to have taken the liberty to bring them so openly before you. 
In 'doing so we do not believe that it is our duty to influence in any way the instructions 
of the Government but we believe, that having worked so long among this people, it is 
our d'"ty to say what we know and to lay before you how things stand. 
We do so all for humanity's sake, and for the bles.ing and welfare of the whole Gold 
Coast, having, of Course, in view the spreading of the Gospel. Keeping firmly to the 
words of our Lord that the Gospel must be brought to all nations. 
We have, &c. 
F. RAMSEYER. 
ED. PERREGAUX. 
1. [-I AASIS. 
Enclosure 2 in No. 43. 
Colonel SCOTT to the COLONIAL SECRETARY. 
Attabubu Expeditionary Force, Abetifi, 
SIR, November 7, 1893. 
r HAV" the honour uo forward the enclosed Jetter from Mr. Ferguson, which 
according to Y0ul' inst.]"uCltions, I opened and read. ' 
A letter containing much the same information was received from Mr. Ferguson the 
day aftei' in answer to the letter addressed to him by Captain Aplin. 
'Since receiving the above ~Omn1l1~licat.ions I have written to 1\11'. Ferguso~ enclosing 
messages and letters to [he KllIgs o·f Nkoranza and Atahubu, and to the fetish priest of 
Kraki. The priest I have ordered to leave Atabubu at once, together with his followers, 
and I have further informed bim tbat in the event of bis giving me any trouble I would 
have him seized and sent to the German authorities for being in our Protectorate with 
armed followers. I am daily expecting news from the Coast, and in case tbere sbould be 
any important informat.ion fr01l1 yourself I bave deferred sending on half the force, which 
is my present intention. I shall, however, not wait more than two or three days. 
Supplies appear to be extraordinarily scarce between this and Atabnbu and provisions* 
for the Hausus will have to be procured from here and carried. The quantity decided on 
wi ll tben be served out dailv ill lien of subsistence. 
" I have, &c. 
·F. C. SCOTT, Colonel, 
Commanding Atabubu Expeditionary Force. 
lVlr. G. E. FERGUSON to the ACTING GOVERNOR. 
SIR, Atabubu, Friday, October 27, 1893. 
IN continuation of the letter wbich I addressed to Y0ll!" Excellency from Abetifi, 
I have the honour to report that I have arrived here on tbe 18th instant. 
Road Rep01·t. 
It rained every afternoon, and prairie was surcbar~ed with water, which found its way 
into tbe narrow footpaths hollowed by long use. I hus throughout the wbole of the 
journey we waded through gullies, swollen rivers, ana in many cases through overgrown 
prairie. 
p,.0/51·ess. 
I submit tbe following notes of the progress of t he Mission. 
October 5th.-Arrived Aframsu. Raining. 
October 6th.-Arrived Jwafuabutan. Raining all night. 
Uctober 7tb.-Arrived Ohimenaboma. 
October Sth.-Arrived Suminsu, at noon. River overflown. and covered the usual 
camping buts, and obscured the approaches to crossing . 
• Rice IUHl ground nuts chiefly. 
117 
October 9th.-Bridged Sumi River. Left noon, arrived Nkaneku. 
October 10th.-Arrived Papeisu. Heard that King of Nkoranza is at Wiasi. 
Decided, therefore, not to take the Enyinewafi route to Ac"bub,t. 
October I !th.-Arrived Sene Ri"cr 4 p.m. River overflown more than usual. 
Backwater 300 vards on either side of main cbannel has concealed the usual 
crossing points. . Learnt from travellers waiting on the rigbt bank that the river 
has stopped all communication for nearly twenty days up to the time of my 
arrival . 
October 12th.-Surveyed river to find its channel, and, where narrow, to bridge the 
same. There are no canoes. 
Octoher lRth.-Cutting and collecting logs and vegetable ropes for hridge. 
October 14th.-Forded backwater (breast deep, 250 yards across) to main channel, 
173 yan)s wide at point selected by survey. 
October 15th.-Constructed bridge. Finished 6.23 p.m . Raining. 
October 16th.- Forded backwater, and party crossed bridge under heavy shower at 
rain. Arrived Nframa; some cases of small-pox in the town. Met here a 
Mr. Benson and messengers from the Ki"g of Nkoranza to the Governor. 
October 17!h.-Arrived Wiasi Sam. Met Effrim, the King of Wiasi. Many cases 
of small -pox in Kofidente; the pa~ients are not isolated. Heard Dente is at 
Ntorobosu. He is the commander of tbe federate forces. Stayed here to gather 
information from Nkoranzas as to the Ashanti Army. Seen several ca,es of small-
nox here (Wiasi). 
October lSth.-Left Wiasi ; arrived Atabubu ; arranged with King of Atabubu re 
spies. 
October 19tb.-Received intelligencc froID spics sent by Chief of Abease tbat tbe 
Ashantis pursued the Nkoranzas to the Pru River and retired to Kuntampo. 
A beasi, 'and villages between Trowbe ami KUlitampo destroyed. No food. 
Kuolampo is three days' journey from A talmuu. 
October 20th.-King of Atabubu deputed four men to reconnoitre the road to 
Koranza , and four others to reconnoitre the road to Kunlampo via Abease, under 
my direction. T bey are to report the actu~1 position of the Ashant.i Army. 
October 21st, noon.-Leaving for Wiasi to ascertain object of the Cllief Prie,t of 
Kraki Dente. Received intelligence that messengers from K lllnasi are on their 
way to Atabubu. 
October 22nd. ·-Arrived Wiasi. 
October 23rd.-Interviews with various persons. 
October 24th.- Fetish priest of Kraki Den te arrives at Wiasi . Resides at 
Koficente. 
October 25th and 26th.-(For proceedings see body of this letter.) Will leave here 
27th to ascertain result if spies have returned. 
October 27th.-Lelt Wiasi 5.30 a.m. Arrived Atabubu 2:10 p.Ul. 
Information "especting AsAanti Ar",y. 
J. The Ashanti army is composed of forces from the following places :-
Kumasi :-
By Asufu Buaki. 
Aduntinhene :-
Banlana. 
Asamoaquanta. 
Bekwai (King Yow Bebresi) :--
Mampon. 
Nsuta. 
Abissim. 
Ofinsu. 
Juabin at Koningo :-
Forces placed by the King under the command of his chief called Ampetsi. 
Kumawu. 
The King is called Krapa . He detailed his Chief Kw"miu Tawa to command. 
, Jissu. 
Agogo. 
Kwamain. 
Asokari (in Ashanti). 
2. Detachments from Nsutu, Asokori, and Kumau are to command the roads to Kwahu 
to intercept the King of Nkoranza when proceeding to Kwahu. 
P 3 
llS 
il. The main body is encamped at Kuntarnpo. Kuntampo is three days' journey fro m 
Atabubu. 
4 . The strength is variously stated at between ten thousand and seventeen thousand 
men, not including camp followers. They are armed· chiefly with the long flintlock 
guns. Though some of the neighbouring tribes north of Ashanti use the horse in war 
the Ashantis have not secured their alliance. A few Snider arms, stated at between 
300 and 700, are in possession of the Ashantis. Food is being sent to the camp at 
Kuntampo from ARhanti, and a reinforccment of 2,000 strong was sent (;0 Kuntampo 
about a fortnight ago. 
5. In the last engagement afte,' pursuing the retreating army of the Nkoranzas as far 
as the Pru Ri"er the Kumasi army stayed nine days at Abeasi and returned to Kuntampo. 
All the sick at Abeasi were killed by them· 
6. In the three engagements whicb took place, the casualties on the part of the 
Nkor~nzas were :-Five killed, aud about 400 very slightly wounded; all recovered. 
Evidently the arms are not very effecti ve. 
7. The food (cultivatious) have been destroyed by tbem at the following places, 
VIZ.:-
Abeasi. 
Kabompa. 
Keurumu. 
Kunshi. 
Kokronsu. 
S. Road to Kuntampo On which suppli es can be obtained is as follows :-
(a) Via Kumfa, Fakosi, Druma, Nkoranza. 
T he Nkomnzas and allied Fo'·ces. 
9. The King of Nkoranza is at Wiasi togetber witb the Chiefs of Yegi, Prang, Abeasi, 
and Druma wbo took part in tbe war. A ponion of the Nkoranza army is at Koro and 
Brumasi. In the engagemeut witb t.he Kumasis they received the alliance of the people 
of Mo. 
10. The Fetish priest of Kraki Dente (as federatc head of tbe Coufederation 
composed of Atabubu, Gwan and Ba~a, amI tbe Brong trihes) is at Wi• • i with 1,200 
men armed with tbe long flintlock guns, the King of Nkorau za having secured his 
alliance. He is reso] ved to proceed to Atabubu. 
11. Food in Gwan and Basa has been wasted and destroyed by the refugee Nkoranzas 
and adherents of tbe fetisb priest. 
12. In order to secure the cultivation at Atabubu for the use of tbe force wbich your 
Excellency may sent! up, and to afford time to make your preparations, I bad au 
interview with him (tbe. priest) yesterday and cautioned him that he ought to send to 
inform your Excellency be10re nlllk ing Atabubu a buse of operations ag"inst tbe .A"hantis, 
alld requested him to defel' proceeding to Atabubu until he heard from you. 
13. State !if ailai,·s and "elations oj the different people to olle another. 
Atabubu.- The people of A tabu bu profess a neutr"lity which is no t understood by 
the otber federate tribe, nor by the refugee Nkorauzas, who look upon At"bubu as an 
enemy, because the King of that country did not seud to aid him in his war with 
Ashanti. 
About a month ago messengers were sent by the King of Asbanti to say as follows: -
" To punish the King of Nkoranza was the objcct of the \\'ar, and he may now return 
, to serve me. Atabubu is not in the programme . The King of Asbanti bas nothing 
" ill against that of Atahubu." This message was delivered at Ejira to two Court 
officers of tbe King of Mampon (at Atabubu) to be conveyed by them to King of 
Atabuhu. The King of Atabubu sent his linguist, Yow Yami, to inform the otber 
Brong Ohiefs at Wiasi of the message. Tbe ling'uist returned to Atabubn witb four 
messengers from \V ias i, viz. : one from the King of Nkoranza, from· Chief Effrim, tbe 
King of Basa, and from tbe fetisb priest of Kraki respectively, to say that" if the King 
" of Asb.anti is sincere in his representations the messengers from Kumasi should 
" proceed to Atabubu." Tbis message was conveyed by tbe two Court officers of the 
King of' Mampon to the Ashanti messengers at Ejira. Whereupon tbe messengers arc 
said to ha ve stated tbat " it is sufficient Jar us to di scover that the King of Nkoranza is 
" with you, the Brong tribes, and that his messenger accompanied the linguist ot 
" Atabnbu from Wiasi to Atabuim. The King of Atabubu will hear further from the 
" King of Ashanti.". The mcssengers then left for Kumasi. 
Il9 
On the 21st instant I received the intelligence tliat messengers from Kumasi are on 
their way to Ata-buhn, and yesterday I learnt that they had arrived at Patira. 
Nkoranza.-Tbe conduct of' tbe refugees as well as that of the" irregulars" brollght 
by the cbief priest of Kraki Dente, is intolerable to the inhabitants. They take the 
food of the country by force, even to the extent of sbooting tbe owners and robbing 
them of personal effects. And now famine threatens Gwan and Basa. The King is 
assuming a domineering attitude over the inbabita-nts; and has threatened 0,11 invasion of 
Atabnbu on his return to Nkoranza . 
The feti sh priest of Kraki Denti. There are intestinal feuds between Kraki 
and Atabllbu wbicb the chief priest is coming to avenge himself of here. The arrival 
of the fore" here in good time to counteract bis presumptions will be very beneficial 
indeed. Cases of human sacrifice under bis connivance, and tbe seizure of goods being 
brought bere for sale, bave been represented to me. 
I have, &c. 
GeORGe E. FERGUSON. 
Enclosure 3 in No. 43. 
The I NSPECTOR. GENERAL to COLONIAL SECRETARY. 
Atabubn Expeditionary Force, Abetifi, 
Sm, November 7, [393. 
I HAVE the honour to inform' yon tha-t tbe m~ssengers from Koranza have arrived 
bere, and I have' intervie\\'ed them. As I surmised, tbey des ire to enter the Protectorate. 
They are at present putting Lh eir request into writing. Mr. Ramseyer's post, bO\7ever, 
is now ready to leave, and I am afraid this letter will not be written in time. The Agogo 
application as well is not yet finished. I shall not, therefore, be ,,-ble to for\\'ard them on 
thi s occasion. 
The question, however, remains the same, and r shall feel obl iged by your lettinl' me 
know whether tbe Koranzas aoel the Agcgos are to be taken iuto the Protectorate or 
not. The town of Agogo is willing to consider itself under the King of Kw."u, who 
again is agreeable to have it under his authority. 
2. I have not iearnt much from tbe Koranza messengers, except tbat the Kumasis are 
about to make overtures to the people of Sa-laga. I do not like t.his . Salaga is already 
jealous of Ki'ake, and would gladly join or help to reduce the increasing market 
importance of the latter place. 
3. If the British Government is willing to have Kumase at all, tbe quicker it is done 
tbe better. The Kumasis are undoubtedly nervous of our in tentions at present, and I 
tbink an ultimatum addressed to tbe K ing to the effect tbat he must now COlUe under 
the British Flag or suffer would be successful. The Kiugs of Ak"amu, Krobo and 
Akropong might be told to make preparations for war as also those to the westward. 
The news would, of course, spread at once all over the conntry, and if, combined with 
this, the ultimatum were sent, I little doubt but that Kumase would immediately conform 
to yOUl' wishes. 
I am not aware, of course, wbat answer Mr. Vroom has returned with from Kuma,,;e; 
wbatever may be its tone, however, peaceful or otherwise, there is 110 doubt tbat they 
are disturbing the whole country, and as bigh a hand as possible should at once be taken 
witb them. 
I sbould like a message concerning Salaga to be sent at once to Kurnase, to the effect 
tbat no political communieations must take place with that tOWIl . 
. With regard to the ultimatum, I propose addressilJg yon in a seoatate Despatch, 
which I shall send later, and in whicb I shall review the whole queslion~, stating what I 
consider should now be done, and recommending the Government to do it. 
I have, &c. 
F. C. SCOTT, Colonel, 
Commanding Atabubu Expeditionary Force. 
P4 
120 
Enclosure 4 in No. 43. 
Rev. RAMSEYER to the ACTING .GO VERNOR . 
YOUR EXCELLENCY, Abetifi, November 5, 1893. 
MA Y I be allowed to infofm your Excellency that in contemplation of the advance 
of Lhe tfOOpS towards Attabubu, we, tbe missionaries of Abetifi, have taken the liberty 
of writing a few remarks addressed to Sir Francis Scott in which we allow us to state 
what our opinion is. We repeat in it what your Excellency knows already, that in con-
sideration of our long experience, we can only pray that this expe.dition may be the last 
stroke to make Kumasi and his people powerless for ever, and til is can be done onlAJ by 
bringing Kumasi under English law and power. We beg to excuse liS if we have taken 
this great liberty, tbe more we tbink tbat our letter will probably be communicated to 
your Excellency. 
We know that every one expect tbat tbis is the best step, and it bas been already said 
tbat if tbis could not be done it would be regarded as a failure, and I am afraid it would 
not be for the prestige of the British Government. Even if tbe Ashantees did not attack 
Atabubu tbey have forced by their constant war the English Government to such great 
expenses, and it is time for them to ,top all disturhances, and to dictate to them tbe 
Protectorate. I cannot otherwise as to repeat and beg that this great display of forces 
about wbich we rejoice so much, but made at the cost of such expenses, may be not a 
failure but have full success in bringing Kumasi under English jurisdiction and opening 
the whole country. :Nlcoranza, too, ought to sign a treaty at once. 
I beg your ExcelJency again to be indulgent with me in taking this great liberty and 
to believe that my sole object is the blessing and the peace of the whole Gold CO!l.St. 
I have, &c. 
T" his Excellency the A"ting-Governor, F. RAMSEYER. 
Victoria borg, Accra. 
P.S.-Just now the messengers of Agogo have come back, nnd we rejoice much upon 
their desire to place themselves under the Protectorate. . 
As soon as the treaty will be signed I hope to be able to place some catechist there. 
F. R. 
It is reported, too, that tbe Ashantees are trying to get the help of tbe SaJaghR people 
and marcb against Krake. A ,'eason more for the step we ask for. If once strengthened 
by the Salagha people not only Krake will bave to suffer hut all the surrounding tribes, 
Ateobu and Braing, and so on. I am really afraid if Ashanti is not pun is iJed and made 
powerless at once. If the aim of tl,e expedition is only to show tbat the British 
Government is abJe to protect Atabubu and the troops return wit.hout having put the 
English flag at Kumasi tbe Asha"tees would laugh at them, and what a failure! I beg 
once more to excuse me. 
No. 44. 
ACTING GovERNon HODGSON to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received December 14, 1893.) 
[Answ87'ed by No. 53.] ' 
(EXTRACT.) 
Government House, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
November 18, 189::1. 
IN continuation of previous Despatcbes, I have the hononr to feport, tbat on ,he 8th 
instant, CoJonel Sir Francis Scott sent Captain L arym0re to me with the Jetter, dated 
the 8th November, of which I enclose a eopy, and which reached my hands on the 14th 
instant. In it he .states that the Ashanti army has been, and still is, in Attab,ubu, afld 
tbat it has destroyed A bease, and one or two smaller villages to the north-west of it, all 
of which are said by the Nkofllnza messengers referred to in paragraph.8 of my De~pa~ch 
of the 14th instant, *\ to belong to Attabubu. The Nkoranzas are mterested parties, 
and their statement nl ust, under the circu.m.tances, be received with caution; they would 
be glad to enlist the active sympathy of the Government in behalf of the Attabubu8•  
• No. 43. 
12l 
and therefore against tbeir enem ies the Ashantis, and if tbis could be done by means of 
a declaration n0t strictly accurate, tbey would probably not stop from making it. The 
places in question are not included within the boundary given to the country of Attahllbu 
by Mr. Ferguson in his map of D ecember 1890. 
I have requested Mr. Ferguson, in the letter of wbich I enclose a copy, acknowledging 
tbe receipt of tbe report a copy of which accompanied my despatch of the 14th instant, * 
to ascertain whether the boundary is c:orrectly given in his map, and whether the towns 
of Abease, Kumf., and villages in their ueigh\}ourhood, ought not to have been 
included. 
I enclose a copy of a letter dated 8th November from Colonel Sir Francis Scott, 
forwarding the message from the King of Nkoranza, taken down in writing by Mr. 
Ramseyer. The message is substantially the sume as the previous messages. With 
regard to this application, I have addressed to Colonel Sir Francis Scott the letter copy 
enclosed, in which alsu I have referred to the siatemellt made by him in his letter of the 
7th November, that the King of Asbanti is contemplating an alliance with the King of 
Salaga. . 
The King of Salaga referred to, is probably Kabatch i. It is quite p08sible that the 
information in the hands of Colonel Sir Francis Scott with regard to this matter may be 
incorrect, but it is not by any means improbable, because the Salngas would not be 
averse to getting the opportunity which would be afforded by an al liance with the 
Ashantis to destroy Kontempo, and to divert to their conn try the large t rade frol11 the 
interior which now goes to Kontempo. 
In his letter of the 8th instant, already referred to, Colonel Sir Francis Scott states 
bis views as to the course which in the interests of the Gold Coast should be adopted 
with regard to Asbanti. He advises the despatch of a further:ultimntnm to Knmasi with 
a view to the inclusion of Ashanti within tbe Protectorate-a step whi ch he considers 
can be taken at the present time withont bloodshed. 
But an nltimatum must be based upon some clear and distinct injury to the party 
sending it, !Lnd as I view the present situation there are only two matters upon which an 
ultimatum can be based nameiy,-
(a) A demand for an indemnity to cover the expenses of this Government arising out 
of the attitude of the King of Ashanti's forces towards a cuuntry within the 
Protectorate and the loss of trade inflicted npon tbe Gold Coast, and 
(b) The destruction of Abease and other Attabubu towns by the A shan t i army, 
should the further enquiry which I have ordered to he made with respect to them 
show that tbey are Attabubu towns without douht. 
I entirely agree with the opinion expressed by Colonel Sir Francis Scctt that the 
present juncture is favourable to the adoption of a forward policy with regard to Ashanti 
and I have endeavoured to place that opinion as clearly as possible hefore your Lordship 
in my Despatch of the 13th-instant.t 
1 am not altogether in accord with Colonol Sir Francis Scott in his opinion tilat 
Ashanti can be brought into the Protectorate withont opposition. Altbough the plincipal 
Kings of the Ashanti Confederation desire peace by incorporation wituin the Protectorate 
I am decidedly of opinion that King Prempeh and his party, which cons ists of lhe 
Kum.,is, Adjisus, Ofinsus, the remnant of the Mampons nnder their new King, and a few 
others, wish to keep Ashanti entirely independent of this Government. I believe they 
will y ield only to force, but I believe also that t.heir powers of resistance are insignificant 
and they could make no determined resistance. They are wretobedly armed and without 
money. It might prove to be the case that British troops would not be wanted hut such 
a contingency has to be provided for, and I am not preparect to advocate the despatch of 
a furt.her nltimatum to Kumasi unless it is. 
I have addressed to the Inspector-General the letter of which I enclose a copy. 
On Wednesday the 15th instant I saw the messengers from the King of Ashanti 
"in the presence "f Captain Powell, R.N., and the officers of H.M.S. "Phoehe," 
Commander F esting, R.N., and the officers of H.M.S. "Blonde," tbe Chief Justice, 
Acting Treasurer, and other officers of the Governrl.1ent, wben I delivered to tbem the 
message of which I enclose a copy, and tbe terms of which will, I trust, meet with yo ur 
Lordship's approval. 
I submit a copy of an application made to the Inspeotor-General by the Chief's 
of Agogo that their town may be taken into the Protectorate, a copy of Colonel Sir 
Francis Scott's covering let.ter, and a copy of my reply . 
• No. ·J3. t No. 42. 
o 8!J730. Q 
122 
Enclosure I in No. 44. 
The INSPECTOR-GENERAL to the COLONIAL SECRETARY. 
SIR, Abetifi, November 8, 1893. 
WITH reference to my Despatch of yesterday, I have n;)w the honour to review 
the whole question , regarding the existing troubles caused by the Ashantis, and to 
recommend the policy which I consider should at ollce .be adupted. 
TheJe is no -doub;, that the Ashanti army has been, and in fact is now, in Attabubu 
r.erritory. 
The Koranza messengers who arrived here yesterday, distinctly state that Abease 
belongs to Attabubu, also one or two smaller villages to tbe nortb -west of that place, 
and which, together with Abease, bave been destroyed. Mr. Ramseyer corroborates tbe 
messenger's statemeut. In Mr. Ferguson's map, these places are placed outside the red 
line which apparently denotes the Attahubu country . The map must tberefore be 
inaccurate. 
Tbe Ashantis are said to have captured 2,500 Koranza women. The King of Kumase 
bas therefore not only allowed his army to enter our Protectorate, but has laid waste 
villages belonging tc our people. 
The following remarks will show how matters stand in a geogl'apbical and political 
sense. 
I will first mention tbe villages which are in Attabubu jurisdiction beyond the limit 
shown on tbe map:-Yagi, Prang, Trawbe, Abease, Kabompa, Kewuwumu and 
Kumfa. 
The country to the east, Gwan and Basa, between Attabubu and the Volta River, are 
said to be subject to Krake, and should be taken into tbe Protectorate. 
The King of Mampon i s in tbe town of Attabubu, and wishes to join us. He 
proceeded tbere with a following, witb a view to aid tbe Koranzas. His people after-
waJ'ds fell away, leaving only women and childreu at .A ttabubu. His youn~er brother 
has been placed on the Stool by tbose in favour of Kumase. 
The Nsutas are also reported to be anxious and willing to come into the Protectorate. 
There is but Juabio left, and Yow Sapong, the King, has already applied for British 
protection. Cousidering that tne Koranzas have fled into our territory, I do not see bow 
we can refuse them our protection, having in view a permanent settlement of tbe question. 
I therefore now recommend that ail tbe above places I have mentioned viz :-Koranza, 
Mampon, Nsuta, Kuman, and Juabin, together with tbe territories of Gwan and Basa on 
tbe east of A ttabubu, be taken into tbe Protectorate. 
This would mean Kumase being . completely bemmed in. In conjunction with tbe 
above steps, I should recommend messengers being sent to aJl our most reliable and 
powtrful kings, botb to the eastward, westward , and south, telling them to hold their 
forces in readiness to advance on the Ashanti frontier, upon the receipt of furtber 
instructions. At t he same time an ultimatum sbould be addressed to the Ki og of 
Kumasi; he should be clearly showu how matters stand, and that the only solution of the 
question so as to avoid repetjt ions of these troubles, is to include Kumase within the 
1'rotectorate. Uuless Kumase belougs to us, I see no possible prospect of the Ashantis 
not giving trouble whenever it so pleases them. 
The cost of the above action would be incomparable with the expenditure that would 
be necessary were British troops sent fol', and until it is tried and fails and nothing is left 
except actual war I would defer applying for an Imperial Force. 
In the opinion of those best acquainted with the policy pervadiug the mass of tbe 
Asbanti people no objection what.ever will be made. I recommend, however , tbat a hundred 
Ra usas be applied for from Lagos and that the Prahsu Detachment be reinforced by this 
number. If at the time that the ultimatLlm wa, sent to Kumase, eveu a dozen marines 
01' sailors, with an offi~er, could be sent up as tal' a" Prabsu it would be aU the better. 
I feel sure from all I hear that the opportunity has now arrived, if the Britisb Govern-
ment is so minded. to take the wbole of Ashanti into the Protectorate, and J firmly believe 
it can be done without bloodshed. 
I tbink it is of such consequence that you should thoroughly see the meaning: and 
Durpose of this despatcb that I am sending Captain Larymore to Accra as its be.uel'. 
He will be able to give you all information that may not be included in it, and is in a 
position to inform you of my views on any otber point that may not have been referred to. 
I have, &c. 
F. C. SCOTT, Colonel, 
The Hon. the Inspector-General, 
Colonial Secretary. Commanding Atabubu Expeditionary Force. 
123 
EnclosUl"e 2 in No. 44. 
The ACTING GovEHNon to Mr. FERGUSON. 
(EXTRACT.) 
Colonial Secretary's Office, Yietoriaborg, Accra, 
November 15, l R9:3 . 
r HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your first l report from Attabubu 
dnted the 27th October. It co?tains valuable iuformation and clearly shows mc that you 
have made good use of your tlmu. A copy of It has been sent to tbe Secretary of 
State. 
Now that Colonel Sir Francis Scott has arr ived with tbe Ex peditionary Force in 
Kwahu I request that you wi]] adelress all reports to !him, and he will tl"allsmit them to 
me after obtaining trom them such information as be may require. 
I wish you to ascertain whether the houndary given to the country of A ttabubu in 
your map of December 1890 is correct or whether the towns of Abease, Kumfa, and 
villages in [heir neighbourhood which are shown in the Map as beyond the boundary 
ought not to have been inciuded. This is important, because i hear that in addition t'o 
destroying the food crops, qS st.ated in your report under acknowledgment, 1;he Ashantis 
ha "e also destroyed the tawns and villages in question. 
Enclosnre 3 in No. 44. 
Colonel Sco'rT to the ACTING GOYEHNOll. 
YOUR EXCELLENCY, Abetifi , November 8, 1893. 
I HAVE the honour to transmit the accompanying letter /i'om the King of 
Nkornnzn, who. is now at Wiasi, east of Attabubu. 
2. I strongly recommend that his wppeal for protectIon be favourably considered and 
that his conn try be taken into the Protectorate. 
I have, &c. 
F. C. SCOl'T, Colonel, 
. His Excellency Commanding Attabu bu Expeditionary Force. 
The Acting Governor, Yictoriaborg. 
The KfNG of NKOIlANZA to Colonel SCOTT. 
Sm, Wiesee, October 26, 1893. 
HAVlNG heard that you are on the way coming to Attabnbu, I selld this Ch ief 
of mine by the name of Akwasi Chintob, and my clerk, A. W. Benson, to meet you and 
to beg yon not to delay, but to hnrry up to see me and to pl~ce my town under British 
jurisdiction. 
2. Last year the Ashantie fonght with me and were bitten by me and retreated. 
I then sent my men to Accra with some present to tbe Governor, who promised to 
send a special man to Illy town, but before my messengers whom I had se.nt to Accra 
returned, the Ashantis gave me anotber attack, and bad a lot of battle fonght with thero, 
two time<; in want of powder I was obliged to retreat into Fghu ang or Attabllbu country . 
3. Tbe Ashantis did not sati sfy witb their conquest, and besides the 2,500 captive 
amongst whom are women and children they have carried away to Kumasi as their trop hies 
from Inkuamassab (Koranza?) hut they are still pursuing me. 
4. And if I am not protected by the British Government, then I and my country are 
done for, and would either cut into the pi~ces by Lhe Ashantis, or we should be taken as 
captives to Kumassi. r and my Ohiefs and all tbe country of Inkllamassah beg .' ou to 
hnrry up and take our town into the British Protectorate. 
5. I am at Wiase at present. The Ashantis delayed their attack owing to the fli iness 
of the River Pru. And tbey are waiting at Inkuant.rpo f or the abatement of the river. 
I bave, &c. 
tbeir 
KING COFm '1'OOrl. X 
CHIEF KWASfE CHrNTOH. X 
ANON1ME SACKZEE. X 
marks. 
A. W. BENSON, 
To Colonel Sir F. Scott. Clerk. '1'he writer. 
Q2 
124 
Enclosure 4 in No. 44. 
The COLONIAL SECRETARY to the INSPECTOR ' GENERAL. 
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
Sill, November 17, 1893. 
I HAV!: t.he honour to acknowledge the receipt on the 13th instant of your letter 
of the 7th instant., in which you report the arrival of messengers from the King of 
Nkoranza once more requesting that his countrY' may be taken int.o the Protectorate. I 
have received also at the hands of Captain Larymore your further letter of the 8th 
instant, forwarding the Kin~'s message taken down for you by Mr. Ramseyer. 
2. This is the third application wh ich has been made by the King to the Government; 
both the previous applications were answered by a statement to the effect that this 
Government could not take his country, but that should he and his people be driven ont 
of it by the Ashantis an asylum would be found for them within the Protectorate as has 
heen done for tbe Kokofus, Nkwantas, and otber Ashanti tribes which have had to seek 
protection from King Prempeh and his party. The Secretary of StaLe has approved of 
the policy thus adopted, and unless the Englisb Government is prepared to alter its policy 
with regard to Ashanti, I feel sure that it will not change t.he decision which has already 
heen come to with respect to that country. 
3. You must, therefore, tell the King that tbis Government is not prepared to take his 
country with all the responsibilities attaching to it at present, but tbat it will find a place 
within the Protectorate where he and his people can live until times change and they call 
safely return to tbeir country. 
4. It will be most undesirable to allow the Nkoranza refugees to remain in Attabllbu 
and upon your quitting Attabllbu to return to Accra, they must be brought away with 
you. A place can, I think, be found for tb.em at the extreme south of the country of 
Kwabu; it is unoccnpied land and not unfertile. It will be necessary for you to arrange 
this matter with the King of Kwahu and to send one of your officers in advance to select 
the site for their town. They will have to be located there ann warned against mixing 
them,elves up in intrigues against tbe Ashantis 01' doing anything to disturb tbe peace. 
and order of the district in which tbey live. 
5. I have written separately to you as regards the application made by the Agogos. 
6. You are quite right in supposing that it is very undesirable t.hat the Ashautis 
should form an alliance with the Salagas; and in conveying to the messengers from 
Knmasi tbe message which tbe Secretary of State instructed me to send to the King of 
Ashanti, I used the following words ;-" I desire you to impress upon the King that the 
" Queen of England will view with disfavour bis forming au alliance with tbe King of 
" Salaga, with whom I hear he is in communica,tion. I say "gain, let him show the Queen 
" that he desires peace and the development of trade by cp.asing from endeavours to form 
" alli ances for the purpose of continuing war." 
7. I am dealing with the subject of paragraph 3 of your letter under acknowledgment 
in my reply to your letter of the 8th instant. 
I have, &c. 
The HOll. the Inspector-General. F. M. HODGSON. 
Enclosure 5 in No. 44. 
The ACTING GOVERNOR to Colonel SCOTT. 
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoriaborg, Accl'El, 
Sm, November 17, 1893. 
I HAVE duly received at t.he hands of Captain Larymore, who arrived at Accra on 
the 14th instant, your letter of the 8th November, in which you place before me your 
views with reg'ard to the policy which should be pursued towards Ashanti. 
2. Before dealing with this matter it will, r think, be convenient for me to place )'OU 
in possessi,m of Mr. Vroom's report, the King of Ashanti's reply to the ultimatum, and 
the telegraphic correspondence which I have had with the Secretary of State. I 
copies of them, as well as a copy of the lIlessage which I delivered 
messengers whom King Prempeh had sent to Accra to emphasize the message 
had forwarded at the hands of Mr. V room. 
125 
3. You will observe that King Premreh states that the King of Atta,bubu sent men 
and arms to the King of Nkoranza for the purpose of assisting him against tbe Asbantis. 
It will be necessary for you to make inquiry into t be accuracy of tbe statement, an d if 
necessary warn the K ing of Atl'lbubu tbat nOI1" t hat his country is within tbe Protecto-
rate he must 011 no accou nt mix himself up ill thc t roubles of I, is neighbours, and that 
when in difficulty as to the proper course to pursue in certain circumst&Qces he is to 
apply to this G overnment for advice. 
4. I nutice t hat you state that the information in your bands indicates the Ashanti 
army to be in Attabubu. The King of Ashaoli, however, aS8ert.' positively that h is army 
has been recalled to Klimasi, an d tha t it has never impinged in any way upon Britisb 
territory. The messengers whom he sent down ~aid the same. 
5. In my letter to Mr. Ferguson of which I e1'close' a copy, I have requ ested him to 
make particular inquiry as to whether the boundary line of the Attabubu country given 
in his map of December 1890 is correct., or whether the towns of A bease, Kumfa, and 
villages in their neighbourhood ough t not properly to be inclnded. If it be found that 
they are actually Attn bubu towns it will be necessary for you to so acquaint me. 
6. I think it would be as well for you to proceed to Attahnbll for tbe purpose of 
letting th e Ashanti s see that the counlry is to be defended. My orders were t hat you 
were not to go there if the Ashanti army had occupied it; but it is not perfect ly clear 
that the army has occupied it, nor is it clear that the army is in th e country or near it. 
The King says the army has he en withdrawn 10 K umasi. 
7. I have given directions to Mr. Ferguson as regards making t reaties with the t ri bes 
on the right bank of the Volta which are outside tbe Neutra l Zone, and which clo not 
owe direct allegiance to the A~hanti s, as do, for example, th e l\'koranzas and Agogos. 
s. I approve of yonr givi ng instrllctiuns for t"e Fetish Priest of K raki and his armed 
party, to quit the ProleCtorrute and recross the Volta, and I have written to the Governor 
of T ogo, asking· him to gi,'e the Priest instructions not to meddle with affairs within the 
.5ritish Protectora te. 
9. As regards thc policy of t l)is Goverument tO'Yards Ash"nti, I have t he honour to 
repeat what I have stated in my Jetter of the 15th instan t, with regard to the application 
of t he Agogos to be t aken within the Protecto rate, that what is known as the Ashanti 
question is regardcd as an Imperial question , and that this Government has no power to 
deal with it. I am in agreement with you in t hi nking that the question is ripe for 
set t lement, and that a fo rward policy would very probably res ult in the annexation of 
Aslwnti without bloodshed. I have so written to tbe Secretary of State, and I have 
endeavoured to place hefore his Lordsh ip reasons for the adoption of' such a policy. But 
the policy hitherto pursued bas becn a policy of abste~tion , and I gabher from the 
telegram addressed to rue by the Secretary of State on the 8th Novem ber, pointing out 
that this Government mn;t not rely upon assistance from England , tbat t he policy in 
force has not materially changed. It is, under the circumstances, quite possible that my 
views, which are essen tially in agreement with those you have expressed, may not meet 
with favour, and that I sball be instructed to take no further action with regard to 
Ashanti. 1 have asked fo r a reply by telegraph. . 
10. Should the reply be in the negative, I shall at once recall the Expeditionary Force, 
and you will bring with you to the selected site the refugee N koranzas, in accordance 
with the instructions given in my let ter of even date. Should the reply be in favour of 
a dem3nd for an indemnity, I shall send you word to that effect without delay, as it may 
in t.hat case be desirable for the force to remain in Attabubu. . 
11. You will, 1 trnst, recognize that the Ashanti question is an Imperial qnestion, and 
th at this Govern",ent callnot act with respect to it without definite instructions from 
tbe Secretary of State. No countries of "he Asbanti confederation , such as J1 ampon, 
Juabin, Nsuta, and so forth, Can be taken into the Protectorate until a settlement of that 
question has been arrived at and the settlement can only take place after the receipt of 
instructions from England. 
I have, &c. 
The Hon. the Inspector-General. F. M. HODGSON. 
Q3 
126 
Enclosure 6 in No. 44. 
MESSAGE delivered by the ACTING GOVERNOR to the MESSENGERS from the 
KING of ASHANTI on Wednesday, November 15, 1893. 
I have asked you to come here to day to hear the message which the Queen of England 
sends to King Prempeh. You will unders t.and that, by means of the telegraph, the 
me»age which you brought from the King, and that which he sent to rue by Mr. Vroom, 
have been conveyed to the Queen, and Her Majesty's message to the King has been 
sent out to me in the same manner. (The Acting 'Governor here gave a simple explana-
tion of the telegraph to tbe messengers.) The Queen of England has instructed me to 
request YO ll to tell King Prempeh that sbe is glad to bear that he is anxious for peace, 
and has withdrawn his army from the neighbourhood of Attabubu; further that Her 
Majesty will expect the King to continue to maintain peace, and to refrain from any 
threatening action against countries under British protection, as should he not do so, he 
will incur great risk. The King has stated that bis cbief desire is for peace, and the 
fostering of trade. If his acts are in accordance wit.h his wishes, he will not involve 
himself and his country i!1 trouble, and I am to tell you, that if bis desire for the Queen's 
fi'iendship is genuine, he will a t once desist from further war against the Nkoranzas, he 
will allow safe aud free passage to traders throughout Ashanti, and will save the lives of 
the Nkoranza W0men anel children whom his army captured. If they are killed at 
Kmnasi in order to satisfy some native custom, the Quee.n will hear of it, and how then 
can she regard as a friend a King who allows innocent people to be sacrificed? The King 
says that he sent a message to the King of Attabubu, asking him not to mix himself up 
ill the war. I wish you to teli the King that that message sholild have been sent to me, 
and that I canDot permit him to communicate direct with the Kings of countries within 
the Protectorate. He must communicate with tbe Governor. I haye heard, notwith-
stanuing the King's assurance, that his army has not been entirely withdrawn from the 
neighbourhood lof Attabubu, and I have heard further, thnt the army has burnt Abeasi, 
and viJj~ges h longing to Attabubu. Should either 01' both of t.hese reports prove to be 
correct-and I have requested tbe officer in command of my army to enquire and let me 
know-the King will probably hear further from me. 
I desire yo u to impress UpOD the K ing that the Queen of England will view with dis-
favour his forming an alliance with the King-6f Salaga with whom I hear he is in communi-
cation. I say again, let him show the Queen that he desirp.s peace and the development 
of trade, by ceasing from endeavours to fonn alliances for the purpose of continuing war. 
Unless he acts up to theil), bis words are idle words, and his messages which are filled 
with protestations are useless. Tell King Prempeh that is wbat I say. The King will 
remember that t.his Government helped to place him in the po. ition he now holds, and 
has therefore a friendly feeling t.owards him, but ifhe causes trouble to tbis Government 
by not listening to the messages I have uow requested yon to take to him , how can he 
expect that friendly feeling to last? You will , I trust, remember all I have said and 
convey it correctly and faithfully to the King. 
Enclosure 7 in No. 44. 
Colonel SCOT'!' to the ACTING Gov"nNOR. 
YOUR EXCELLENCY, Abetifi. Novenlbel' 8, 1893. 
I HAVE tbe honour to trausmit herewith a copy of a letter addressed to me by the 
Chiefs of Agogo, a town Iyilog to tbe nortb-west from this place, prayi ng that their town 
be taken under the protection of tbe Gold Coast. Government and directly subject to the 
K ing of Kwahu. The King of Kwahu has expressed to me his readiness to receive them 
as his subjects. 
2. It WIll be noted tbat in paragraph 2 the King of Kumassi appears to have threatened 
tbe Agogos on the termination of the war in Koranza. 
I have, &c. 
F. C. SCOTT, Colonel, 
His Excellency Commanding the Attabubu Expeditionary Force. 
The Acting Governor, Victoriaborg. 
127 
Enclosure 8 in No. 44. 
The CHIEFS of AGOGO to Colonel SCOTT. 
SIR, Abetifi, November 8, 1893. 
WE, the undersigned men, hnmbly bcg to bri ng before you for the information 
of His Excellency the Governor. 
1. That after the first Ashanti war our late King Asumoa gave himself to the Killg of 
Okwau, i" order to be his subject and to tell the Governor to gi ve us a ling, ancl to bc 
Engli~h subjects as well as the King of Okwau. 
2. But hi s brothel' Koffi Amponsa, reported hin! to the King of K um assi, who 
persuaded sOllle or" the elders to det hrone the said Asarnoa and gave the ~tool to KoRi 
Amponsa. 
Koffi. Amponsa therefore threaten ing us badly and killing people without cause. And 
lately the K ing of Kumassi sent message that we may comc to join the army to N koran za, 
we refused that we could not for we are tired of fighting. Koffi Amponsa, the Chi ef, 
tben reported this to Kumassi King who sent us message that after he has fini shed war 
against the Nkoranzas will punish us. Upon this we took away Koffi Amponsa from t he 
Stool, and we have not yet got another King. 
3. I, Koffi Aka, the hrother of the ex-King, Chief, and the undersigned cIders 
represent the Queen and the people of our town Agogo, beg your worship to save us anJ 
to take us into the Protector.te and uuder the K ing of Okwau. If you will not save us 
our town will be in ruin. 
4. We would have school already in our town, but we are afraid of the King of 
Kumassi ; but we humhl y beg the missionaries too that they may send a teacher into our 
town. 
We are, &c. their 
KOPPI A KA. X 
KWAME HEMEN. X 
ATA KWA"ME. X 
To Sir F. C. Scott, Colonel, KC.M.G., C.B. marks. 
Enclosure 9 in No. 44. 
The A CTING GOVERNOR to the INSPECTOR-GENERAL. 
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoriaborg-, Acc ra, 
SIR, November 15, 1&93. 
I HAVE the bonour to acknowledge the receipt, on the 14th instant, of your letter 
dBted Abetifi the 8th November, transmitt ing a copy of a letter addressed to YOll by the 
Cbiefs of Agogo asking tbat their town may be included within the Protectorate and 
placed nnder the King of K wahu. 
2. As A~ogo is a town owing allegiance to Ashanti the Chiefs' req uest call Dot be 
complied with unless the Secret",ry of ~tate should , upon consideration of the views with 
regard to Ashanli which I have placed before him in a D espatch dated tbe 13th instant, 
decide, in connexion with the general question, th",1. the time has come for adopting a 
forward policy witb Ashanti with a "iew to its absorption into t he Protectorate. What 
is known as the Ashanti question is regarded os an Imperial question, and it is not ill my 
power to act with respect to it witbout direct instructions fi'om England. 
3. I have asked for a communication by telegraph after the receIpt of my Despatch 
referred to, and when I receive it, I will lose no time in acquainting you with its tenor, 
and in taking such action on it as may be called for. 
I bave, &c. 
The Han. the Inspector-General. F. M. HODGSON. 
Q 4 
128 
No. 45. 
ACTING GOVERNOR HODGSON tv the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received December 26, 1893.) 
[Answe1'ed by No. 53.J 
(EXTRACT.) 
Government House, Victoriab<irg, Accra, 
November 22, 1893. 
IN continuation of my Despatch of the 18th instant'" with regard to Ashanti 
affairs, I have the honour to transmit two letters dated the J J th and 13th November, 
which have been addressed to me by the Revd. F. Ram~eyer, the Basel Missionarv at 
Abetifi (Kwahu), in the latter of which he encloses reports addressed to him bi his 
Catechists at Bompa (Asanti Akim) and Patmnsa (Asanti Akim). The latter town is 
spelt Patiriansa in the Intelligence Department Map of 1887 and lies half-way between 
A betifi and KmDasi. 
The letter from the Catechist at Bompa refers to the attitude of the Juabins under 
Yao Sapon at Konengo (Asanti Akim), and that from Patransa sholVs tbat tbe Ashanti 
A rmy was recalled to Knmasi, not, as King Prempeh has said, for the purpose of 
preventing its overrunning Attabubu, but in order to protect Kuma~i against a possible 
attack by the forces of the Government. 
The object of the despatch of messengers from Knmas; to Inspector Bayly in charge 
of the constabulary detachment at Prahsn, to which reference is made ;n my Despatch 
of the 13th instantt, is given in both letters. 
King PrE-mpeh bas, aC90rding to the statementv in Mr. Boama's letter, already sent 
messengers to Yao Sapon, King of the J uabins, and to the Chief of Agogo warning them 
not to waver, but the former has, it would seem, sent them back with an unsatisfactory 
reply. 
Although Mr. Ramseyer says that King Prempeh and the Kumasis are only boasting, 
my own opinion is that they have no intention of letting Kumasi pass into the Protectorate 
without resistance. The resistance is not likely to be determined or strong, as stated in 
my Despatch of the 18th instnntt, but nevertheless it must be considered iu connexion 
with any action which is contemplated. 
I take this opportunity of mentioning t.hat at 9.:10 p.m. on Wednesday, the 15th 
instant, I privately interviewed Kofi Yami, the King of Bekwai's linguist, who came with 
the messengers ii'om Kumasi. He states that the Bekwais desire to be under the 
protection of the Queen but that the Kumasis are strongly against it, and that before 
any King of the Ashanti Confederation would openly oppose his opinion to that of the 
King Paramount Kumati must be in the hands of this Government. He stated t.hat 
when Mr. Hull went to Kumasi, as reported in Governor Sir B. Griffith's Despatch of 
tbe 3rd June 1891,t tbe King of Bekwai was at Kumasi and argued in favour of placing 
Ashanti nnder British protection, bnt that K ing Prempeh and his party wonld haye 
nothing to do with snch a movement. King Prempeh, in order to prevent any intrigue 
on the part of the King of Bekwai in the direction or protectio'n, made him" drink 
fetish." Kofi Yami said that the Beckwais wonld not fight against the Government 
forces if they were sent to Knmasi, but this I doubt. He stated also that the Agogos 
have eight towns and are fairly numerons. Further, that King Prempeh recalled the 
Ashanti army to Knmasi as soon as he heard of the preparations this Government was 
making, being afraid that the objective of the force despatched towards Attahubu uuder 
Colonel Sir Francis Scott was Knmasi. 
I enquired whether A.beasi is or is not an Attabubu town and Kon Yami stated that 
it was, and that the Ashanti army would have overrun the whole of Attahubu hut for the 
timely m"rch of the Hausas. . 
Enclo.nrc 1 in No. 45. 
Rev. RAMSEYER to t.he ACTING GOVEIlNOR. 
YOUR EXCELLENCY, Abetifi, November II, 1893. 
COMING back this evening from a visiting journey of three days at the foot of 
mountain where many Ashantees are living, I had the pleasure to welcome Mr. 
• No. 44. t No.4S. 
129 
I beg to thank yq~,r Excellency for having sending him as long as the troops are here, 
for I have no doulpt tbut his work will go on much more smoothly . 
The Cbief of O'bo died five days ago, und tbere are, it. see ms, some litt le d.isturbance 
with reg,ml to a successor, the townspeople being divided JI1 theIr Wlslws. 
/ If I dare add only two word s more to my last letter, it is to sa'y tbat all those with 
whom I have spoken on my journey, are one to declare that even if the King P rempeh 
agrees to . PilI any amount, this will never hinder him to begin again as soon. as the 
occasion will be at hand. Everybod/y expects tb e expected lust blow. A nd , lOdeed, 
the hour" at hand >md will never offer itself aga in in snch a way-Ashan tee is ripe. 
I have, &c. 
Ii . R AMSEYELl. 
Enclosure 2 in No. 45. 
R ev. RAMSEYER to the. ACTI NG GOVERNOR. 
Yoml EXCELL ENCY, Abetifi , No vember 13, 189::1. 
I DAilE not add an'y thing to Ill'y h.t letters in the ,< burnillg 'luest ion, " bllt take 
only t he li bert'y of enclosing here two letters arriv ed 'yesterday Irom Bompata and 
Petr~n za (on the boundar'y of Kum ase terri lory) wh ich show tb at our opinion is right, 
and what the people round about think and how t he Asbantees, alt hough trembling , are 
Jet b".sting. 
With most respectful salutations, 
have, &e. 
RAMSEYER. 
Mr. BOATCN(i to Rev . RAM Sl<YEIt. 
My DEAR SIR, Bompata, N ovember 10, 1893. 
HEREWITH acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 31st October b'y Mr. OIlee, 
with all the ~ontents well noted and with much thanks. 
I was not quite well the last week , but as y Olt want the answer of t he letIer as soon as 
possible, so I did try for all m'y best and go t.o Y ao Sapong last Tuesday . H e was very 
glad to see me I here. He c,'me with bis aunt al nne to me, asked me privatel'y tbe best 
news [brought. J explained every bit , aud exal11ined t hem for ulle hOllr good aDd I 
saw tbat they are true in all, but not play ing t ri cks ; he will be totalil/ wi th tbe Governor. 
:lUd will have nothing at all to do wi.h Prem pe. He said he formerly j oi ned Coomas"ie, 
only he is afrai d of them, because he had once been taken as a captive to Coorna,sie, but 
now if t.he Goveruor will humble Coomassie, and so'>1" offi cers should be , tationed 
there altogetber, tben there is nothing to be feared. 
After this he called lIIe before all his Chief. and elelers; and I di d explain them the 
reason why 1 eaille there. Kin g Yao Sa pong together with all hi s Chiefs and elders 
r~pe".ted the same words. W e want to be tctally with the Govern or, an d bave noth ing 
to d o with Prempe; and we earnesth hegging you to write all .hese to Hev. Ramseyer 
in order to be so kind and plearl for liS to I)e under tbe English flag and send a teacher 
here, then everything will be right. But Lhe only remark is, we are ",froid of Coomassie, 
bUI if she will he humbled and s" me officers will be established tbere, then everything 
will be carried on peaceably. [n short I beg to sa'y I believe KingYaoSapongtogetber 
with his Chiefs and elders are speaking the truth, but not pln'y ill g tricks. Yon wrote 
the Home Government seems Dot willing to force Coomas~ie to serve the, English but 
nevertheless yon push that th is must be ; I beg tD saY i, is absolutely necessary to pusb 
the most; lest r as,nre YOII it would De very fearful for the people here only some week. 
after, as SOOIl as the Ashante people will iearn tbat the Engli sh troops have re turned without 
submi t Coomassie qui te nnder the English Government and leave none of tbe officers 
at Coomassie. Because t. ilis is the onl'y reque,t of the young lDen and even 111.oSt of the 
Chiefs of A,hantees that the English should force Coomassie to se rve tb e English, and 
,orne officers sho'ild stay there. Some of tbe Chiefs want to send to the Governor to 
receive then. under the English ",. well as Yao Sapong but the.Y are only afraid; 
perhaps tbe Ellglisb will nut show t.heil· powel· tbis time and will return to tbe coast. 
If it happens so then they have to suffer bitterly from the Coom.ssic King; so the'y are 
() S9i:llJ. It 
130 
I, 
all wait.iug 10 see whetber tbo English cr.n submit Coomassie under the Enh 'l ish Govern ment 
or DOt. SO the English may not think at all it would be a hard joh before briDging 
Coomassie under the English Government; this can be done in a moment. 
Prempe has Bent to tell his Chiefs tbat tbey may not be afraid iu bearing about the 
English forces, not at all; because he has sent away the officer who came to Prasu, the 
E nglish are oniy coming to beg for some money, but as soon as they band over some 
tbey wiil rotun;. I beg to say 1 stop here, knowing how tbings are going on at Asbantee 
and always have reports from those who are coming from Ashantee, so T dare sav it is 
absolutely necessary that the English should punish Coomassie this time and put a heavy 
sum upon them to be paid as I did write the last time; because most of the .A.shantees 
are now lLnd then shedding tears tbat t.he English Government is not to be t rusted, 
because hhey are too much tired of fightings and human sacrificings, but tbe Euglish 
Government never put stop to it. So r beg to say these earnest req uests should he 
grantetl this t ime by the Englisb Government. 
As King Yao ::iapong want me to send his answer as won as possible, in order to be 
able and plead for him so he gave me a boy of his to send, in order tbat he ran receive 
soon your answer whether .'·OU will do your best to help bim or not; because most of 
his people ,re so afi'aid and I,al'e run to Okwau, Akem, &c. So be will be thankful if 
you do your best for him to be receive under the English flag and especially tbat the 
English ,,, ill promise to protect him. 
Yon a,ked bow much th e land at Palirensa will cost 1 I beg tl) say I haven't yet 
bargain it; because you \\'rote me only to try for a piece of land, and if you come tben 
we can buy it. I told to tbe Chief, wbo is thinking to get much for the land, that we 
have bought one at Bompata so tbere is no d;'::eulty to buy the second onr. 
Tn case if you have no time to come as you thought, and you want me to buy it, then 
please to let Ole know per the return of the carriers and 'end me the p"per of t ho hnd 
of Bompata in order to know how large and what I have to pay, &c. 
Tbe people ot' Asante Akem are even so afraid, so tbe.v will now clean tbe Bompata 
way as far as to Fommanso, and from Fommanso to Akwasidu belongs to the King of 
Obo, so please to tell bim to see that his part should be cleaned too. 
Now tbe Chief of Patirensa has given two boys; and Kwaku Kru too has given one 
here, and promised. to give one at Patirensa. 
Witb my best regards, &c. 
To tbe Hev. Fr. Ramseyer. SAMUEL BOAT ENG. 
Mr. BOAMA to Rev. RAMSEYER. 
DEAR Sm, Patriansa, November 9, 1893. 
WITH this I wi,b to let you hear of me, that I am quite well with my family; 
although noth ing bad concerning me, yet I do not justi(y myself, but simply to say that 
by the Grace of God, none of us is sick. You know that I am a new labourer, and 
. moreover I clidn't Btudy much that I can write you eyerything correctly; but as yon have 
counted me amongst your labourer" through the Grace of God I will write what I can 
by the same Grace. 
What I have heard and found mysel f is what r am writing. About two or three weeks 
agJ J hea.rd white men are.coming to Ashantee, so all tbe people nell" Okwau and Akem, 
&c. have prepared their things, the wbite men arc now at Okw;;u. All the people are 
shaking with fear. 
All the young men on,l slaves arc longing for peace. say ing whi te men rna,\' (come) bring 
us peace for we arc tired; and as for me I am writing you only what I havc heard, because 
you kn ow I am not rar from K umasc, so 1 heal' many t.hmg·s from the place . 
Some of the .A.shantees say, no one can rely on t he saying of a white man, wc all like 
to serve the Queeu. How cau whitel men sa\' thnt they rule over our countries when the 
town Kumase is not subdued? ~I any of the A,haule 'Akems wish to be under the sub-
jection of the British Government but they are afraid of KUlllase. So if our Gracious 
Queen wisbes in rleed to pi ty the West Afri cans here, tbere is no other way than to fine 
the Ashanties a good ame,ullt of money, say thousands and thousands of pouods sterling, 
and after t his build there it , he like. What cau,es me to say this is, about 
ago we wcre visited by SOIllC relatives of mv wife from their town 
when [asked them something abou t the A;hll ll tees. they said 
white men. that you sbake when you hear of thelD, but 116 for 
not afraid at all of tbem; then tbey said ill addition, wbite men are camin O' to Kumase 
only for the sake of money, if the King will give them money they will so~u go back, 
therefore we shall never fear tbem, and we can do whatever we like after they bave got 
what t hCy want and gone. . 
All those troops sent to Nkoransa have heen called back and the King has stopped 
every way saying that all bis army may stay, that when the Governor comes and-talk 
any fo olish word to him he would not agree. A.gam he h".s sent hi ~ message to tbe 
officer at Prnsu that be may he qUIet t bere, Jf not he will Jearn bun sense, and this 
officer has been quiet. So 110ne of hi s subjects has to fear. To affi rm what I am st"tiu O' 
I went to preaeh in the town of Yow Sapon, there I met with so me messengers fro~ 
Kumase, with the said errand! also 1 beard some have been sent to Agogo with t he same 
message, tbis proves that he IS mdeed not afraId. Tbose messengers wbo came to Yow 
:lapon returned shamefully because Yow Sapon did not agree with them. SO DOW Yow BOillJt ing 
Sapon is afraid. When I visited bim at hi. Court, he asked me, if I am sure the white men with the 
can protect him against the power of Kumase, and I told him they can, if God please, mouth, but trembling 
because eyerything comes from above. This IS what I can say, although am a new in his henrt, 
comer, that if it is the real mind of our Government to bring peace into all our countries just ns of 
except Knmase bas been de.troyed. Because if Kumase will still maintain its power, old.-F.l1. 
it will be useless to adv ise them with mere words. There is a proverb wbicb Rays: "A 
sword doesn't work without its sh~rpness," that means, 'lvhatever matters may be, 
Ashantees will do what they like. If the officers at Okwau now will return to the 
coast without destroying Kumase, then people in tbese quarters will hereafter suffer, 
especially the Ashante.-Akems. They all will h kill ed at once b'y th e Ashautees before 
the officer. wi ll get to tbe coast. If you tell them we have mission stations nt Ashante-
Akem, then they say, once there was schoo l too at Adnnse, but it was cru shed down by 
the Ashantees wben they puffed up, when they fou ght with tbem tbe white men didn't 
say anything. T.herefore if tbe Ashantee-Akems will Dot obey the Ku masees they will 
suffer the same, they will come upon them in one nigb t a. black ants (come upon attack 
men) in midnight. 
These Kumasees are to be compared with Pharisees and tbe Scribes, as our Lord 
spoke about them, they will neitber take the word of God tbemselves nor alluw anyone 
to take it. 
Wherever I go they used to tell me, we have a master, if we will say we like it, we 
sh,,11 be killed at once. Once when Mr. Boaten and myself went to Kumawu the King 
tbere said tbe same to ns: Although J like it, ?ut m'y master doesn't like, if I express my 
wisb I shall be killed wnh my people. A nd Jt IS true. 
In order to let all tb~se countries live in peace is tbat K umaRe lDay bc quiet. 
Dear Sir, I do not speak as a cbild, but wh at I am .aying is qni te true. 
So far I can write, so try to push them forward because 1 am sure if t he Ashantees 
will take the word of God. nil tbe otber countries ,,·ill do the same, because they have the 
will, only they are afraid of the King of Kumase. 
I remain , &c. 
To tlie Rev. F. Ramseyer. JAMES S. BOA"A. 
Nn.46. 
AC"fTNG GOVERNOR HODGSON to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received J an uary 13, 1894.) 
TELEGRAPHIC. 
;:nspector-General reports by messenger Salagas under command of Kabachl Wula 
contemplate attack upon Yeji, because gIving SUppOi t to late king; Bandos assisted by 
Ashantis have (,een defeated by inhabitants of Mas (?) wlio are allied with Nkoranzas : 
former endeavouring to form alliance WIth K ing of Bole. Ferguson has been despatched 
to Bole by Inspector-General, requesting that king should not give assistance. If 
Sslagas and Bandos succeed in hostile operations respectively, Nkoranza will be absorbed 
by Asb"ntees and Salagas, and greater portion of trade at present passing tbrougl) 
Kuntempo to Gold Coast will be diverted. This is another very strong argument for 
dealing with Ashanti lit tbe present time so as to endeavour to prevent alliance of 
Ash"ntis and Salagas. 
R2 
No. 47. 
THE LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE to COLONIAL OFFICE. 
[Answr"e(16y No. 50.] 
Botolph House, Eastcbeap, London, E.C., 
My LORD, January 13, 1894. 
THE West African Trade Section of tills Chamber had again under its considera-
tion at its meeting on Tllescla y the 12th idem, the desirability of the construction of a 
railway in the interior of the Gold Coast, but, as on a former occasiou, agreed that the 
.discussion of the subject should be adjourned, pending the report of Captain Lang and 
other engineers, who have heeu surveying the interior on behalf of Her Majesty's 
Government, and I am now directed to inquire whether Captain Lane: and his colleagues 
have furnished a report to the Colonial Office, and, if not, when yOIJr Department hopes 
to be in possession of this doclllllent. 
I am also to state that the Inain subject of consideration 2t the meeting I have just 
referred to, was the disturbaIH'''s, and their effect upon trade, which have lately taken 
place in connexion with the re!!ion formerly occllpied by the Kingdom of Ashantee, and 
which was finally placed within the British sphere of influence by the agreement with 
Germany of 1887, and that with France of 1889, As a result, I am directed to urge in 
the strongest possible terms, that in the opinion of merchants engaged in West African 
trade, the present is a most opportune time fur the Government of the Gold Coast 
Colony to establish in that region such a system of admin istrat.ion as will anorc! better 
security for life, libert.y, and property to the natives desirous of carr),ing on trade with j 
Europeans, tl 
The merchants interEsted are, of course, quite alive to lhe fact that such a course 
would involve considerable eXpenditure, although I am desired, in this connexion, to draw 
your Lordship's attention to the large yearly surplus of revenue over expenditure that 
exists at present, but they, at the saille time, also feel most strongly that sllch It step 
would put an end to tile continual risk of attack frolU the Ashantees to which the Colony 
of the Gold Coast has in the Pdst been subject, and which cannot ,,"ven now be said" to 
be "t au end, and" they have no doubt tbat the large development of trade which would 
follow the establishment of greater security and more peaceful conditions would fuJly 
recoup the expenditure invoked. 
E"'pressing the hopt tb"t this matter will receive the most carefld consideration at 
your hands and those of Her Majesty's Government, 
" I am, &c. 
KEN RIC B. MURRAY, 
Secretary. 
No. 48. 
ACTING GOVERNOR HODGSON to the MARQUESS OF RIPON, 
(Received January 15, 1894.) 
[Answe,'ed by No. 53.J 
( EX'I'RAC1'.) 
Government House, Victoria borg, Accra, . 
December 7, 1893. 
IN continuation of my Despatcb of the 22nd November * as to the situation of 
aifairs with regard to Ashallti, I have tbe honour to submit a copy of a further 
report which I have received trom Mr. Fer~uson. whom, as already stated, I sent to 
Atlahubu to watch the Olo,'ements of the :\sbanti army, and obtain and supply me with 
--"'infOrul-atlo'li,\ 
" Mr. Ferg'~lson, from tbe inquir'es which he has been "blp to make on the 
compiled, in i.\be form of a Memorandum, a very useful record of the history 
'oward, Ashan,ti of Nkoranza and the Brong tribes- (of which Attabubu is 
pres(:nt date. \ 
It. appears de\lr from this report that the King 
mea;,lIl'es against the Nkoranzus, had determined 
• No. 45. 
133 
tribes, not excluding Attabllbu , which, as shown in paragraph H , was mentioned by 
name in tbe oath taken by Amankwatia K walnin who was placed in command of' t he 
Asbanti army. It appears from thc statement in the same parag raph, that t he '\ koran zas 
were very decisi vely defeated by t he AsiHLntis, 2,00U to ~,OOO women and children Lta ving 
been captured and sent to Kumasi a< weJ! as thc State Stool and Umbrellas . The fate 
of these unfortunate captives it is not difficnlt to forecast, Imt I took the "pportllllity of 
referring to them in ti, e messa,!(e wh ich [deliverer! to the Ashanti messengers on t he 
15th No"ember, a cop." of which accompan ied my Despat.ch of the 18th NO"ember'" and 
I trust what I said may not be without ell·ect. 
I observe that Mr. Fer~'l1 son mcntions n King of Abeas i so that it would seem t hat 
Abcasi, wbich is referred 10 in paragraph 2 of my Des patch "f the 18th November as 
possibly an Attabu!Ju town, cannot rcally he so. 
It appears from p~ragrapb 15 of the Memoraudum, t hat the Ki ng of N komnza, 
rlollbtful of' th e good-will of' thc Kill g of Att.bubn, has passe,d witb his foll owers into 
Wins •. 
In pat'agraph Hi Mr. Ferg ll son refers to a message sent hy the King of Ashanti to 
tbe King or Attabubu desiring him to take the oath of alleg iance to him, and acquain tin!, 
him tbat, should h" not do so, he would order hi s army Lo invade his country . 
It appears (paragraph 17) that t he Nkomn zas, find ing, after their arrivaL at Wiasi, 
that the Brong tribes were too 'reak to be able to render any ass istance to tbem, con-
ceived the idea of suhjugating them , find, b~1 bring ing them again under the influence of 
the King 0(' Ashanti , to get back hy that means tn their 011'0 country without molesta-
tion. This idea had, however, to be abandoned upon its becoming known that tbis 
Go,'ernment was sending a Jarge force into Attahubu. 
The presence of che feti sh priest at Kraki with an armed party at Att.abnbll is 
reierred to in tbe enclosures to my Despatch of tbe 14th November. t Your L ordsbip 
will be glad to note that he rctul'Oed to Kraki upon receipt of Colonel Sir Francis Scott's 
order given to him through Mr. F erguson. 
Mr. Ferguson's 1Vlemorandum closes with a reference to the <Jrrivalof messengers 
from Ashanti at Attabubu, and to an interview whicb, in conjunction with the King of 
Attabubn, Mampon, n,nd Nkoranza. he had with them in Ihe town of Attabnbu on 
Monday the 20th No,'ember. 
:\1r. Fergnson urges that the cOllntry of NkoraDza should be taken into the Pro tecto-
rall', but I have pointed out t.o bim tbat tbe extens ion of' protection to it means, as 
~koranza is at war with Ashanti, that this Government must be prepared to face 
Ashanti and to deai, if needs be, wi th that country also; that the Asllant i question is an 
Imperial questioll and cannot be dealt with by th is Government; "nd t hat ullder tbe 
circllmstances it is not in my power to take any step such as "hat of extending protection 
to Nkoranza wh ich might, and probably would, have tbe effect of forcing the hand of 
the Imperial Go vernm ent . I have, however, written to him as follows :-
" I sec no reason why a treaty of friendship and frcedom of trade shoal d not be made 
with the King of Nkoran za so long as he understauds clearly that it is no more than that, 
and that it does not involve any obli!!ation on the part of this Government to "fford 
protection to him from the Ashantis ; and I anthorise yo ur making a treaty witb the 
King accordingly." 
Thc conclueion of sllch a treaty will impose no obl igation upon this Government, and 
ill pave tbe way to a closer relat ionship hereafter. 
Mr. Ferguson hav ing inf01'rned me in a letter datcd the 2.J.th Novembe r that in a Jetter 
"hich I addressed to bim on the 23rd October, I had used tbe word "protection," in 
connexion with the treaties wh ich r had directed him to make with tbe Cbiefs of various 
tribes on the rigbt hank of tbe V I)lta and outside the nentral zone, I have now 
informed him tbat I used the word in error, the treaties wb icb be bas beeu instructed 
o make, being treaties of " friendship and freedom of trade." 
In a further letler addressed by Mr. Ferguson to the adjntant of the Att-abnhu 
xpecl it ionary Force he states that" the news of a coutemplated invasion of Asbanti by 
, British Forces advancing from Prahsu has reached t.he King of Ashltnti "and "that 
, he bas sent to recall his troops from KonteDlpo." 
I ellelo,e a copy of a report, macle to Colonel Sir Francis Scott by Captain Lang, R.E., 
vhom be bad ,ent to Bompata (Asanti Akim), a town in tbe Protector"te sUI"e 40 miles 
ast of Kumasi, and 25 \V.S,W., of Abetiti . There is no doubt as Captain L ang says, 
hat by far the majority of thc peopk of Ashanti, are yearning for the pcacc and quiec-
less which would follow the inclusion of Ash,]]t,i into the Protectorate, !Jllt r uo not 
/" ~o. 44. t No. 43. 
R3 
134 
altoo'ether agree with Captain Lang iu thinking that K ing Prempe and his party would 
"ladly come to terms with tIlls Go\'ernment. I t.hink he would offer resistance, and 
~Ithough it wouid be a feeble resistance, he would not in my opinion let the forces of 
this Government march into Kumasi without firing a shot. 
P.S.:'-Sth December.-I have to·duy received from Colonel Sir Francis Scott the 
further letter of wlllch I enclose a copy. He has, as your Lordship will observe, 
stationed a section of Hausas at Bompata. 
F. M. H. 
Enclosure 1 in No. 48. 
Mr. FERGUSON to the ACTING GOVERNOR. 
SIR, Atabubu, November 24, 1S93. 
I HAVE the honour to subm it, for YOllr Excellency's information, the attached 
Memorandum on Ashanti and the Brong tribes. It is a historical sketch of what has 
transpired here recently, and shows that the King of Ashanti should be made responsible 
for the cost of the present expedition. Th" policy of the King of Ashanti in this part of 
the Colony is to destroy oW' prestige, I very respectfully submit that " determination 
to hold our own will have great moral effect in crippling this policy and this can he 
gained by taking the King of Nkoranza and his country under our protection. 
I have, &c., 
GEORGE E. FERGUSON. 
His Excellency F. M. Hodgson, E,q., C.M.G" 
Acting Governor. 
P,S.-The matters referred to in th is letter have all been communicated to the 
Inspector General ID detail together with the evidences on which the statements are 
founded . 
MEMORANDUM. 
ASHANTI and the BRONG TRlUBS, or the ATABunus in their relations with the Kingdom of 
ASHANTI and with the FET[SH PRIEST of KRAJ,:r. 
I. The geographical positions of the countries coming under notice in tbis historical 
sketch mnst be borne in mind, si nce it was tbis which brought tbe various tribes into 
contact wit.h t heir neighbours. The strong sympathy existing between fetish priests 
of different countries as well 8S the iufluence of religion or superstitiou over savage minds 
are potent political agents: the predominance of a fetish conn try is often in the 
predominance of it.s deity, and it is from this circumstance that Kraki and Krobo 
derived their importance, Nor must the inflnence aiso of commercial relations be 
overlooked; Atabubn, Nkoranza, and the Brong tribes stand between two countries with 
great trading predilections, namely the kolanut-producing country of Ashanti on 
the south-we.t and the Mahommedan states of the north-east, whicb send fortb annually 
their caravans with cattle and slaves &c., to be exchanged for kolanuts. The inllue e 
of !'ace and language is exerted more on the Brong tribes than on the otber 
tbis part, for the Brongs are identical in language with Asbanti. Kiripon is spoKen 
the people (If Kraki, while toe Hausa is the medium of commercial intercourse at 
Native customs- or rather their motives :1nd not the customs themsl'lves-when 
understood explain the importance of certain political events, hence 
customs relating to administration of justice, acquisitions of territory by 
&c" will be alluded to and explained according to the interpretation 
the Natives themselves. 
2, ~shanti proper was made up of the provinces of 
Nsuta, Nkoranza, &c., the Kings of which were 
Brong thus :- the King of Nkoranza is below Mampon 
Gwan, Basa, Yeji, Prang, and Abeasi comprise the 
of their own, which is slightly different from 
for offence and defence against a common 
oath. The,)' may be described as lying to the 
135 
the country bounded on the south by the Sene River, on the north by a large tributary 
of the Volta, which, t.aking its rise from t he Gaman country, curves nor~hwaril to join the 
"Daboya-Kraki-Ada" Volta. Kraki is on the eastern or left bank of t he Volta. Banda 
lies between Gama~ and Nkoranza. The King of N koranza possesses tbe territory to 
the west and north-west of Atabubn, while Mampoo and NSllta are sitnated to tb p. 
south-west of Atabubu. Recently the tenitories on left bank of the Volta River have 
becn bron)(ht under German protection; tb e Englis h Protecto rate being sitLlated to the 
west of th is boundary and a " Neutral Zone" immediately to tbe nor t h of it. 
:l. Nkoranza aud Ashanti proper wcrc fonnerly separate kingdoms, they were hroug ht Pol itical 
tOf\cthcr b.r an alliance formed between Opok \~ ',n· i, the King of Ashanti, and B.fu P im, rol"';on. 
E.IlJO" of Nkoranza, when the A.sh antis asked the Nkoranzas to ass ist them in a war ~~~C:~~~~ 
a"a'~st a King of Takima", call ed Ameo. From on ally tbe Nkoranza kingdom 
ricl"eJopcd int.o an Ashanti province. A ll the countries referred to in tbe preceding 
paroo-raph wcre fo rmerly under the sway of the King of Ashall t i. I-lis conquests 
c,tc~ded as far as the Gonja and Dagum ba territo ries, and from all these countries also 
he recei,·C'd yearly tributes. S"laga was the only mark et tben, and from tbcre tolls werc 
collected for him. The markets at Kuntalllpo and Atabu bu had not tben been estah1ished. 
Du t the Fetish Dente, of K raki, was already recognised, and appeal w,s made to it from 
Asl"'nti and surrounding countries in matters relating to fetish and relig ion, to divi natioo 
and cbarms, teleology, as well as in bealth , wealth , anel disease; but there was no trade 
don e in Kraki. Like most otber ~avage tribes Ashanti did not keep a standing army , but 
for the maintenance of authori ty one count.ry was deputed to punish another, and about tbe 
middle of the present century an expedition commanded by Dewia, t he King of Atabubu, 
was conducted agail1st Kojo G yeyi ni , the Feti sb Priest of Kraki, to subj ugate the Krakis 
who had revolted. Kojo Gyeyini, the father of t he present priest , was taken prisoner and 
s\" i" by the K ing- of Atabubu. Between all these several tribes th ere are also accounts 
of great and bloody wars, and sbortly before the Kumase war of 1873-4 o~e of these 
enSiled between Gaman and Banda, in wh ich war t he inbabitants of the latter country 
were driven frOID their ancient babitat to take refuge in Nkorall za territory. T he 
Bandas tben formed an all iance with tbe K umasis. 
The political relations described in tbis paragraph are tbose ,,·hich immed iately 
prcceded tb.e Ashanti War of 1873-4 . 
-I. Wben however the British furces entered Kumase in 1874, and dictated terms of Kumas! war, 
peace to Kofi Kalkali, the A~hanti K ing, the bonds which united the various cOlmtries to 1871. 
Ashanti were looseued. Atabubu witb the members of tbe Brong tribes, except Nkoranza. 
threw off their all egiance to the King of Kumasi and formed a confeder"tion with toe 
priest of the Fetish Dente of Kraki at the head; tbe Gonjas kill ed all the Ashant.is in 
tbeir territories, and Dagombn made captives of tbose in that territory. Kon Kalkali 
was deposed by bis subject~, and Mellsa was pl aced Oll tbe Stool of Ashan ti . But 
Juabin, Kokofo u, Mampon, NsuLa, &c., continued to be Ashanti prov inces. Nkoranza, 
though one. of the Brong tribes, remained under an indifferent sort of subj ugation to 
Ashallti, in fact it preferred to be independent, and it is stated thut Atafa, the ·King of 
:\'k()ranza, Dever after the Kumase war set his foo t in Kuroase, though messages were 
exchanged between the monarchs of the two countri es . Markets ,,·ere est.abl ished, one 
at Kllil tampo by Atafa, and another at attabnbu, by J a·n Kwaku th e King of Attabubu, 
from which the kings derived a hand ~otne revenue. 
fl. After the Kumasi war t he fetish priest of K rak i and the confederate K ings sent tusks Events after 
of ivory to the Governor of Accra. The native expression for this act is " Makoto aban Kumnsi war, 
roD," meaning" I bave deposited in the Wort," a token of acknowledgment of fealty 1874. 
to the conqueror. In fact the argument used by the n2tives runs thus: " The Ashanti 
" monarch was formerly our master. The Englisb fought with him and entered hi s 
" capital; Ashanti with all that pertains to it became the trophies and captives of the 
"couqueror. , 1,1 e can ,,,sert onr independence of Ash.nti, but. will only serve the 
" j':nglish who (:divered us from the tyrannical rule ofa bloodthirsty African monarch ." 
Such IS the prestige which was gained by the Asbanti War of 1873- 4. The Ashantis 
themselves kuow this and acknowledge the application of nati ve law and CLlstom to 
this matter. 
6. While Kalkali was King of Ashanti his relations with the King of Nkoranza were 
,·ery friendly, so mnch so tbat the former conferred upon the Jatter court decorations. 
consisting of gold sandals, state umbrella and accoutrements, articles which, according 
to the prescriptions of the customs of Ash"nti were, ·.vhen made of gold, hitherto beyond 
the rank 3f the King of Nkoranza, Rnd which he was not privileged to llse. This 
act of Kalkali naturally produced a certaio amount of sympathy between bim and the 
Kin/!, of Nkoranza, and when Kwaku J)ua and Kalkali became rival claimants to tbe 
R4 
136 
Stool of' Kumasi upo.n the deatb of King Meosa, Kalkali received strong support ii'orn 
OpOkll, tbe new KlIlg of Nkoranza, wbo had meanwhile succeeded Alafa. Kwak u 
Dua was, however, elected King, but he dietl .hortly afterwards, and Kalkali, being 
suspected of haVing caused his death, was killed b), tbe Ashantis. The usual course of 
succession to. the Stool of Ashanti wa" however, not again und isturberi and rival 
chumnuts _gam appeared In the persons of Prempe and Achl abuanda . 
7. Tbe Kingsof Mampon, Nsuta, and Kokofu supported Achrab nanda; tbe people of 
Kumasi preferred Pre~pe, while the King of Nkoranza witbheld hi; snpport from any 
except a favourite of the late Kalkali. Pe)))pe, bowever, under the 1I10ral support of the 
Gold Coast Government, was placed on the Stool of Kumas;. Bllt the other four 
provinces broke out in open rebellion against Prempe. One by one Mampon, Nsuta, and 
Kokofll provinces were overrun by the Kumasis, and tLougb a great deal of viudidiv~ 
blood has been shed, tbe suppression of the revolters has not been effected with any 
advantage to Asbanti. Nearly all of tbem bave taken refuge in tbe Britisb Protectorate, 
while portions of them fOl1nd tbeir way eventually to :Nlroranza, to wbicb country the 
attention of Prempe was soon directed. Prempe also prescribed a policy to destroy the 
prestige gained by us, and tried to llIake out tbat England would transfer all tbe people 
back to bim. 
S. About the early part of thc year 1388 Prempe called into que; tion the independence 
of tbe Nkoranzas, and requested Opoku, the King, to "drink water" with him that is to 
"drink fetish" with him which means that Opoku was to " take the oath of allegiance " 
to Prempe. Opoku made an el'asIOO, and represented that tbere was no reason to 
doubt his loyalty, to prove which he SWNC that be would recover for tbe King of Ashanti 
his authority m'er tbe Brong tribes wbicb was lost. in 1874 when tbose tribes asserted 
their independe.lce. The King of Ashanti we.s very pleased, and presented Opob, with 
a gold s\Yord and other decorations. To re-assert bis authority over those countries 
which were formerly under hi s sway bas been tlte dream of Ashanti siDce 1R74. In ' Olne 
cases the inlelltion bas been veiled II} other pretex ts, sHcb as those connected WIth the 
threatened in vasion of the Colony in 188 1; in otber cases tbe intention has been avowed, 
as wben it was pubiished hy t he Aehantis in 189l-2 tbat the Gold Coast Government 
had accepted gold hom tbe King ot Ashanti to gil'e up to Kumasi the Ashanti refugees 
as well as t be other tribes formerly ruied by thaI monarch, the moti,'e being to lower the 
prestio-e of tbe Go\'erament. so tbat the people (Itlostly those of the far interior) , having 
iost c~nfid ence in the English "S their pro'ector, might be compelled to serve their clll 
master. Opoku did not drink tbe fetish so as to concede his allegiance to Prempe. 
About 9. It was sbortly after the Kitlg of Nkorauza bad represented bis loyalty to tb,lt ,of 
J888- 80. Kumasi that Mampon audNsllta were overnm by the Kumasis. A portion of the people 
of Mampon fled to I, koranza ,,,hile the Nsutas and tbe remaining Mampons took refuge 
in Atabubn. After featbering (sheltering1) himself at 1I.tabubu, Senkere, the King of 
Mampon, dem'nded f rom the King of Nkoranza the return of the refugees, bnt the 
request >l"a1, refllseJ, upon which war ensued between the lVlampous and the Nkoranzas. 
Senkere could uot prevail on Kwabina -,\..sante, the King of Atabubu, to assistbim. Opoku, 
who bad been ailing when Senkere made hi s demand, died before the preparation" for tb" 
war were completed, hut bis peol,le turned to Kumasi for alliance. However, \Jcfore tbe 
aid from Kumasi reached Nkoranza, a decis ive battle had beeu fought, Senkere was 
ddeated, and he returned in dis.rntce to Atabubu, while part of the tropbies captured by 
the Nkoranzas were on their way to Kumasi . One after anotber the adherents whom 
Senkere brougbt with bim tc Atabllbu bU\'e descrted him and gone to Mall)pon iu 
Ashanti , and tbere they bavc :oct up a new King called Osunchc. 
About l890. ltl. As regards thc King of Nsuta and his people they all continued to reside in 
Atabubu until the relatious between them and Kraki became st rained in 1892. I t is 
affirmed that the subjects of the king ofKkoranza disrespect the oath of the fetish priest 
of Kraki. Now" abjuration [adjuration 1] bv a memorable evefit i It the history of a kiug, 
"chief, or count.r), " or "taking' :heir oaths," as this is t ermed, is tht' means of putting the 
native laws into operation. Tb"s in a dispute between two parties if any of them 
'llakes sllch an abjuration it i, the duty of the king- to whom the fact of the ta;':ing of 
tLe oath is reported or represented to investigate tbe matter, wbetber the person be his 
s'-lbject or not, and then bavinF done 80 to inAict fine on ~be gui!tyone. If. the oath 
appears to have been I'lolatea Or pelJured tbe person takmg It IS fined, WblCh, when 
collected, is sent to the person whose oatb was taken. The btter can, moreover, depute 
another king to collect the dlles for him . It was represented by the fetish priest of 
Krak i tbat when the N.uta peopl.'> resid ing at Atabubu to<)k bis oath the dues were 
'nOl f(\T\var<led hI' Edu Tre, the Nsuta king, to him, The King of Atabubu complained 
to the priest th,;t be could not receive the dues from Edu Tre. To pay himself, the 
fetish priest seized at Kraki, under various pretences, about sixty of the suqject s af the 
Nsutas, and he threatened to take 81mllar stops tawards the Nsutas residing at Atabubu. 
Edu Tre, knowing the fTiendly relations which existed between the l" 'i est Iwd KWSibina 
Asante. or rather recognizing that tbe acqu iescence which T<wabina Asante gave to the 
averhearing inAuence af the Kraki prie,t was .bautto praduce LLDdesinlilJ e complications 
between the NsutJS and the Atabllbus, preferred to. treat far peace wi th Prompe. When 
the country at Atabuuu wu. taken unci er the pratection of England on the 25th of 
November 1890 tbe Kings af Mrumpon and Nsuta were hath res iding t hcre, but. twa 
year, aftel'll nrds tbe circumstances refcTred to. compelled Edu Tn' and hi s people to 
make a sudden departurc far .'\shantl. Yal'- Eftnm, one of the C hiefs of Nsuta, 
preferred , however, to remain iu Atabub u ; he resides at Mem, and his relations with 
Senkere, the refugee Kllll; af Mampon, who resIdes at A tabubu, are sympathetic and 
fri endly . 
11. When Kafi Fa, t he present King of Nkoranza, succeeded to the Stool af bis War be-
ancestors after the sbort anarchy which s upervened during the war between tbe tweeD KU4 
Mampons and the Nkoranzas, Prempe t ook advantage af th e appeal which the mnsi nod Nkoranza. 
Nkoranzas had made to him far help to. renew his policy prescri bed agai nst NkoTanza, 
and sent to Kofi Fa to. ask that the relations between them sbould be cemented by 
Kon Fa "drinking fetis h " with him. Tbe King af Nkoranza again refused, and 
preferred tbat they sholiid be better friends apart. Wher eupon Preillpe ca lled upon 
him to. send to Kumas i all the Kokofu s, Mnmpans, and NSlIIas who had fl ed to N ka ran za, 
together with the Kumasis who made Nkoranza their residence after th e war of 1874. 
Kon Fa did not c(,mply witb th is demand , and so Prempe determined t o reduce the 
iniiependence of Nkol'anza by force of anTIS and declared WI',I' against that caunlry ahout 
tbe middle af 1892. 
12. Gifts fOT securing alliances were saon distl'iuut.ed by the King of Nkoran za. He 1892. 
sent 12 slaves and gold to the fetish priest af Kraki, wbo in I'espanse sent charms and 
medicated gunpowd~r to Kon Fa. The King of Atabubu, pressed by the advice of two 
of his principal councillors P rasibene and Kofi Do, acquie~ced in the arder of th e fet ish 
priest of Kraki and sent thirty mell under Kwam1D Akoj ina to aid the N karanzas, 
though it is represented by Kwabina Asante tbat that force was to watch t he Atabubu 
frontier. The King af Nkoranza also. sent to the Governor of Acern to take him undar 
the protection of the Queen, and a, an earnest oi his declaration he sent (Kota aban OlU) 
faur tusks of iva')' "pd r pereguins <If gold (value 861. es.) to tbe Government. He 
expected tbe alliance of least of the Government. And he also expected support fram 
th~ people ar Ma, a country to the west· af Kuntampa. The expected all iance af tbe 
Gavernar of Accra did nat arrive; by a strategic advance of the. Kumasi army the 
suppart of the people afMa, on whicb he had caunted, was severed from him, and he was 
obliged to. accept battle in that. . ituation. Engagements took place near KUlilfa where 
the Kumasis suffered severely from tbe nre af tbe Nkar >1 nzas in the swamp and 
marshes in the neighbonrhaad. Three hundred of them were tak en prisoners and slain 
by the Nkaranzas, and they retired to Kumasi while the· ~karanzas returned to their 
country.. . bu"nt by the Klimaois. But the K umasis retired to Asbanti , La return wit.h 
augmented forces in toe middle of l R93. Meanwh il e soon after the :\Tkoranz. war with 
Kl1masi, the King of Nkoranza went and fought. wiLh Banda to pnnish them for tl·,eir 
alliance with Kumas], and at the cJose of the war K.ofi Fa sent a co urt wjckerwork , in 
which native l(ing's are l'anied, together with t.wo slaves, to the :Kiog of' Atabubu as a 
recagnition of the seTvi ces rendered by ](lI'amin Akojina, whal1l be had persuaded to go. 
with him to Banda. Kofi Fa al so seut twelve slaves, gold, &c., to. the fet ish priest of 
Kraki to th ank the g'lc1 Dente, as the success in both these wars was ascribed by tue 
Nkara.nzas to. tbe powers of th e fetish Dente. . 
13. Senkere, the refugee King af Mampon, waS at t lt is I illle getting tired of his stay in Early part 
Atabubu, and, becoming very anx ious to secure the pardon 01' Prempe, thaught t he of 1893. 
relations between Nkaraoza and Kumasi a favaurable opportunity to represent to 
Prempe t.ilat he would secure the subjug",tion of th e revoltiug Nkoranzas and also. work 
out from Atabubu t he re-annexatian by Ashautee af the Bron!;' people. He was 
accardingly takeu into. the canfidence of Prempe, and henceforth tbe King 0.1' Ashanti 
conducted bis negotiations thTough Senkere. Senkere is sa id to have sent t o. the King 
ofA-shanti that he was present when the ,reatyof 1892 was executed with Atabl1bu, 
and that be thaught that Ashanti ilwasion of the Brong peaple was feasibl0 if ollly 
Atauubu were exclu,led, far he had di>covered during his stay here that Lhe British 
Government refraiued frOID exercising active territorial jurisdIction over those tribes 
who had •. Kota abau mu," except such as it bad "made paper with" ar executed 
t reaties with . But Senkere, mindful of the late war between him and Koii F a, was 
o R97~O. S 
138 
ominous of tbe failure wbicb ,"ould atten!! bis scheme if be dealt direct with tbe KinO' 
of Nkoranza. Knowing, kowever, the influence whiob tbe fetish priest of Kraki exercised 
over affairs in Nkoranza, he triea to make a tool of the priest in conducting 
conciliatory negotiations between the Nkoranzas and Ashan tis. Senkere tberefore seo't 
his messen~ers, called Kwabina Re, K"' amin Diene, Kwabina '''usu Ansa , Kwesi Adai, 
to the fetish priest ofKraki. It is not necessary to repeat, nor indeed can one translate 
into English, tbe eloquence with which the message was clothed; . uffice it to ,ay that ho 
asked' the priest to advise Kofi Fa not to fight; tbat tbe priest should represent to the 
Nkoranlta mnnareh the fate not only of Senker~ himself, but the fates of Asafu Ajei 
of Juahin, Asibe of Kokofu, and Erlu Tre of Nsuta, and tbat tbe Nkoranzas should 'be 
induced to y ield to tbeir sovereign. But Akwesi Jantradu, the fetish priest, and au 
excellent man of busiuess besides, would not lose tbe slaves and gold which accomp.nied 
tbe appeals ofNkoranza for belp against tbe common foe. He then said to tbe messengero, 
" Your king has foug-ht with the King of Ashanti, be als0 fougbt with the Kia~ of 
" Nkoranza; what sympathy has he with either Nkoranza, or Kumasi, or what interest has 
" he in their reconciliation 1" Thereupon the messengers and their followers, numbering 
19, were seized and 12 kegs of powder with 7t. 4s . confiscated. 
Juue. 14. Meanwbile war preparations were not relaxen by either the Kumasis 01' the 
Nkoranzas. The Kumasi army lI'a s composed of ~olltingents from Mampou, Nsuta, 
Abissim, Olinsu, Kumau, Aj issu, Agogo, K\\'umain, and Asokori. The J uabin KinO' 
at Koningo furnished l,i8 quota aud placed Ampetsi the son of the late King Asafo Aje~ 
in command: from this it will be seell tbat the relations of J uabin and Kumasi are 'not 
unfriendly; though the JuabillS at Korforidua declare that Yow Sapon, tbe King of 
J uabin, who is at Koningo, has n,) bands in tbe war. Yow Bebresu the King of Bei<,.,ai 
fully supported Prempe and contributed his sbare of forc~s. Amankwaitia Kwamin "as 
placed in command of the AshaD t i army, who'e iutentions, as settled iu tbe Council at 
Kumasi, are expressed in the oatb which Amankwatia K,.-amin swore before the KillO', 
Council, and people, when proceeding to the theatre of operations, viz. :-" I "ill pl'occ.;'d 
" to Nkoranza or whereve r the King of Nkoranza m,} be and bring him to you. I 
H will vis it BruP.1<tsi) I will take my breastplates CQ sen ') from the King of Prang, 
Yegi and Gwan. I will encamp 'It Atabullu, wbere the shady trees will give shelter 
" to my troops, and on my return I will bring Atabubu, Nkoranza, and all the Brong 
" uation witb me to you ~s pact of your kingdom by conquest." On the part of 
Nkoranza, Koli Fa (of Nkoranza) moved from Nkoranza to Kuutampo, ,0 that. be may 
110t again be severed from Mo; he sent to tb~ fetish priest for support, but the priest 
in his turn ~.sk Atabubu and the Brong tribes to ta ke up arms to .. ssist thc Kiug of' 
Nkoranza . But the injunction was inefFecturtl : excepting Kwabina Krn, the King of 
Abease, not one of tbe confederate Kings stirred. However the roads to Asbanti werc 
closed by the order of tbe Priest of Kraki, and, it is alleged, to pre.ent surprise by the 
asbautis. Traders from Atabubu could not pro ceed to Ashanti, and messengers sent b.v 
the King of Mall'pon to the coast 'rere sent back from Wiasi aud Nfi'ama, King Effrirn 
of Wiasi affirming that tbe priest had sworn tbat not one of the Mampons at .'ctahubu 
should escape hi s resentment, and that the roads to the coast should be c10std aga inst 
them. But while tbe priest of the Fetish Dente and the rnemuers of the Confederatioll 
oscillated towards one anotber the Kumasi army was advancing to Kuntampo. 
July. At the ,ame time the King of Ashanti sent his messengers Akwa and Opokn to 
KwabinaAsante of Atabubu and ail thc Brong p~ople. When the messengers arriwn at 
Ejira they s~nt one Kwam i Ejei, a subject of the Mampon refugee King, w i ~h the 
following errand : "Tell the King of Mampon and the King of Atabnbu that tbe 
" King of Ashauti presents his compliments to them. That the King of ,\shanti seud< 
" us Opoku and Akwa tr. info),m them that, he is at war ,.ith NI,oranza, and t.hat he 
" cautions the King of Atabubu nQt to aid the Nkoranzas, and tbat should Kwabina 
" Assante do so be, Prempe, would clestro), his COUll try. Prempe cautions the Broeg 
" people not to join the war. If the King of . \tabu bn is for peace Prempe was for 
"peace." The fetish priest ordered that the messeng·ers showd not be allowed to 
come to Atabubu. Kwabina Assante and his Chiefs then met ·in Conneil. Prasibenc 
and Koli Do opposed every measure cxcept wbat was iu cousonance with the dictatcs of 
the fetish priest, though they (Councillors) were all satisfied upon one point which 
tbc)' express as follows: " We know the artful ness of the Ashautis, we were once ollrsel ve~ 
" l~letT1bers of the king'donl before: jn S0111P cases while negotiat iol1sare being conducted 
" their forces are being disposed to the best advantage, in other cases thongb you Illay 
" keep perfect neutrality, yet when the Ashanti army returns the conqueror pretexts 
" are invariably found to include yon in tbe captures of the war." Tbus the a<surances 
of the King of Ashauti were doubted. ICwabina Assant.e and his Linguist Yow Yami 
131) 
preferred to adhere to the 00ve1'l101':$ auvice not _to engnge in war with a fOl'eig'll cOuiltry, 
l'rasibeue and Do swore that they will ass ist the King of' Nkor,lnza "od the fetish priest 
to the Inst. Some (,f the i\1ahomm0ch,n seWers of Atabubu left Song,) for the coas t. .8.bouLe nd 
al1(1 the Atabu!", inhab itants prepared to desert tbeir country. iCwa,bina "\ sante sent of ,July nnd 
to acqu:(int the (;overnor of Accra ot the state of "ft"irs. 11e "Iso spoke to Kwa", i" e~rt ~.r t 
r~i e i ilS follo'.vs :_H I have lleYCl' received lOessengers frOlil 1(uma8i s ilJ ce I severed my 0 1 Uoust, 
" conncxion with them, <wd nOw that Prc1l1pe is at wal' with ~Tkoram~a why should be 
" ~end to me? Prempe knows tbat we are all one members of the Brong tribe . HPrelllpe 
.. (lesiros peace he should offer to and make peace with tbe King of Nk'Hanza. I 
understand Lhat tbe King of NkuriLnza has asked for the protection of the Governor of 
., Accra. In that case he is Illy brotber, and if Prempe desires pelCS he should offer it 
" to DIy brother, but if Prempe figh ts him not.withstanding then it is possible his operations 
mar be extended to the other members of the l3rong tribe." Kwaillin Ejei then went 
to Ejira and told these Kumasi messengers wbat tlle King of Atabubll had said. Kofi 
Fa again tumed to the Governor for alliance, but he was disappointed , and the Nkoranzas 
hoc! to accept battle with only the people of Mo "nd Abease lor their allies . Atter two 
engagements were fought Ileal' ]( llnt.arnpo the K ing of Nkoran%a retreated to Ab easc, 
from which n1e~scngers were sent to Kwabina Asante ,lsk ing him to come and assist him 
and to the fetish prieet of Kraki to acquaint him of hi G disaster, but before the 
!HeSsengcfs returned to the Nkoranza camp the Kllmasis had gained a decisive victory, 
They lost five men killed, and 2,000 to 3,000 women and children \Ver~ taken captives 
to Kumasi, the Nkofall"a Stool and the State umbrellas bec"~rne trophies of tbe conquerors. 
The King of Nkoranz,t with a few ad herents crossed the Pru Ri\'CI, otbers Rew to 
Brumasi, Koro and neighbourbood, while tbe King of A beasi tock t he road to W iasi by 
way of Prang-. Soon after crossing tbe Pru River, forces wbich lCwabina Asante 
detailed to give assistance to Kol1 Fa were met, bot from the procrastination of the 
_~tabu bu, the Nblfanzas hod discovered that the King of' Atabubu was playing- dupl icity 
towards them in his endeavour to keep terms with them and wilh tbe Governor of Accra. 
The King of Nkorailza theu made haste for Atabubu; when th" people of Prang- and Yegi, 
neard that the Kiug of Abease bad gOlle ineffectually to the help of Kofi Fa they buried 
their cowrie::) and ran away to "Iia si. 
\.') . ,Yhen the vanqui>hed Nkoranzas came to Atabubn they were received with Middle of 
hospitality ty the King of Atabubu. The inglorious monarch was presented with a fat Augnst. 
cow, four sheep, and several loads of yams. But becanse Kwabina Asante had not 
gone to the aid of the Nkoranzas as ordered by the priest, and because Kwabina Asante 
is sn;'posed to have held commllllications tbrough tbe King of iVJarnpon with that of 
_·bhanti, in addition to tbe f,thehood which be played towards them, the sincerity of the 
Atabubu friendship "~as doubted, and after a stay of a few days the K ing of Nkoranza 
proceed.ed to Wiasi, where he fnet the Kings of Itbease, Yegi, Pra.ng, Gwan, Rasa, nnd 
Wia,i. 
16. To the Kumasis, however, it was not kuown wbere Kon Fa had fled to, and it is September . 
evidf'ntly with 1.':' view to discover his whereabouts that messengers wcre again sent to 
Atab" btl, for, shortly after Kofi Fa passed tbrough Atabllbu for Wiasi, messengers 
from PrcP.1pe arri,'ed at Ejira. From Ejira the Kumasi meosengers conducted tbeir 
negotiations througb the medium of Senkere, and senL one Ejei subject of Senkere 
to say as folk",s to tbe King of Atabubu and to the K ing of Mampon (the army of 
Prempe was then at Abe.se, only one day's journey from Atabubu) :-
" The King of Ashanti present s his compliments to you all. Hc has heard thaL the 
people of Atabubu and the Brong people ate deserting thei r country, tbey sbouM stay in 
their COUll try. If they like peace Prempe is lor pcace. If ther like war t hey will have 
it. Prempe desires that the King of Atabnbu and the King of Mampon sbould return to 
serve him; tbat they should eat fetish with him, after which they are to make peace 
oetween bim and the King of Nkoranza or else g ive up the refugee King of Nk"ranza. 
That the King of Alabubu, the King of Nkoranza, and tbe Brong people shonld Lake 
their oath of allegiance to Prempe. Sbould tbey not do so they ",re not for peace 
with A.hant i. If t hey are for peace the K:ing of Ashanti is for peace. If the messeng-ers 
return with unfavourable reply to their King the army tben at Abease would proceed 
apinst Atabub" and tbe Bro!Jg people. Should the invasion of Atabubn and the 
Brong people as well as the capture of t he Nkoranza King not be feasibl e now the 
arm\' would ret.ire to Kuntampo and wait there till it can fight them." Five days were 
gi\·cn to consider the demands of the ICing' of' . \.shanti. 
r he K ing of Atabubu communicated the message which was bruug ht by Ejei to the 
K ings of Gwan, Basa, .tbe rest of the Brong people, find to the Priest of Kraki, and they 
all inyited th" Kumasi messengers to proceed to Atabubu. When, however, the 
S 2 
140 
messengers beard tb~t Koil. Fa was at W iasi, tbey left for Kumasi without proceeding to 
Atabubu. Why they left IS not difficult to conjecture; it. is probable that tbey came to 
discover wbere the King of Nkoranza had fled to, so that orders may be given by 
Prempe ~o tbe Kumasl !trmy. However, the me'sengers themselves put tbe following 
explanatIOn for tbtlr Rl1d~en departure, namely, that they wcr~ sent to tbe King of 
Atabulm and the Brollg people and not to the King of' Nkoranza, but as tbey have found 
that the King of Nkoranza was here It is possible tbat after they have delivered their 
message the question may be a'ked them respetting the intentions of Prempe concerning 
the Nkoranzas; they went to ascertain the pleasure of tbeir King in tbe matter. 
October. 17. At Wiasi, and in fact wherever the Nkoranzas bave taken refllge, tbe weakness 
of the Brong trib~s was soon disr.overed by tbem, and they assumed a domineering 
a.ttitude over the inhabitants, indeed to such an extent that the pt'ople began to pry into 
the reason. They soon discovered that it was the intention of the King to per,evere in 
tbis attitude till an acknowledgment of fealty was made to bill" by the Brong people, 
and so, having accomplished by moral coercion what he thought to do by force of arms, 
Roil Fa would return to his country forgiven, and he received into favour by Prempe. 
Howe"er, this polic.\' wa< altered when it was known that the Ge.vernment was sending 
a large number of force, to Alabubu. All the desire of Nkoranzas is to occupy their 
ancient land, and they will do so at all costs . 
18. About the middle of October tbe messengers sent by Prempe left Kumasi and 
arrivecl at Petira about the 26th of Octouer. Akwa and Opoku have come to aeliver the 
message borne by them ill September last and to ask whether the King of Nkoranza is 
\lOW willing to give hi s allegiance to Prempe. And also to emphasize on the point tbat 
Prempe has the most friendly inteDtions towards tbe Brong people. 
November, 19. Tbe fetish priest and his followers are proceeding to Atabubu to hear tbe message 
brougb t by Akwa and Opoku. The priest was cantioned by me at Wiagi on the 24th of 
October not to enter into A tahubu with arms. I remonstrated with him nn the 5th of 
November, .nd told him he will i,e responsible for any aggressi"e acts committed in 
British territory, but persuasion un backed by coercion is of no use. At Wiasi the Chief 
Priest of Kraki swore to the Nkoranzas that he will resl'ore them to tbeir country and 
would make AtaQllbu his base of operations against tbe Ashantis. 
GEOIlG E E. FERGUSON. 
November 9, lS!J3. 
20. 00 the 14th Ne.vember the Fetish Priest of Kraki arrived at Atabubu with his 
forces, but I delivered to him the written order of the Inspe~tor-General to leave British 
territor)" and selJt him away i!llmediate1y. 
21. On the 18th instant the messengers from Kumasi proceeded to Atabuhu wi.tbout 
being invited to do so, and obtained a hearing of the message entrusted to them by the 
King of Ashanti . They said" A subject of the King of Ashanti, called Adunkwa reported 
" to Prempe that the Atabubus are deserting their towns." My king, said Akwa and 
Opoku. " Go and tell the King of Atabubu and the Brong people that [ bave n() palayer 
" with them, so why gilOllld they leave their homes. I have nn enemy among them. 
" My operations will be conducted against Nkoranza only. It is not during my reign 
" tbat the Brong people have severed their connection witb Ashanti. Tbey did so in 
" the time of my predecessors. I alll a yo ung king. ! do not know them, and tbey do not 
" know me, no messenger of mine has been tu sec them, nor has theirs come here. Go 
" alld tell them that (am on tbe best of terms with them, and tbat after my forces, now 
" at Kuntampo have returned I shan stnd to give them my compliments and exchange 
" peaceful relations with tbem. 
"So l'rempe ;poke. On the way I met KwamlD EJei at Ejna. Kwamin EJei IS a 
" subject of Akwes; Senkere, King of :viampon, who is now at A.tabubu. I told ,E:jei to 
" go and tell the Killg of Atabuuu that tbe King. of Ashantl has sent me to hIm. 
" Kwamin Ejei returnerl. to say that tbe King of Atabnbn and the other Brong pe')ple 
,. did not want to sec me. Then I returned to Kumasi. 
" While I was at Kumasi the King of A~hanti selid he had heard that the people of 
" Atabubu were leaving their country. The report was made to the King hy three men 
" who bad run away from Amanl.ing to Ejira. 1 was therefore sen t again to A t,abubu 
" and the Brong people. 'When I arrived at Ejira the second time, I met Ejei agam, and 
" sent him to Atabubu to let the King know I was ther~. Bjei returned with an 
" invitation (1'0111 the Brong people to COll1t to them. 
" When Ejei CalI!e I beard hom him that the Killg' of Nkorauza was at Wiasi. I 
" .aid to myself, when I delivered this message to the Brong people, they mlly ask 'Ille 
141 
" questions concerning the Nkoranza people respecting which I will be unable to give a 
reply, so I returned to Kumasi to ascertain tbe King's mind . 
.. I have now retlll'nerl the third tillle. I >11n sent to tell the King of Ata.bubu and 
" tbe other Brong people tbat my king is at peace with them. 1 am to ask tbe K ing of 
Nkorr.nza whether he will noW return to Nkoranzll to serve Prempe." 
21. As will be ob,erved the representations made by Akwa and Opoku do not explain 
why the Ashanti arm y is still encamped at KUlltampo. The army was seen there on 
the 12th November instant. My spies were fired upon by a man in ambush wben they 
were retlll'ning from Kuntampo to this place. Tbe message as delivered by A kwa and 
Opoku did not allude to what happened in Scptember last, and as it appeared on tbe 
whole to be an afterthought message I determined to enq'lire whether l(wamio Ejei 
was sent to tbe King of Atabubll with tbe message referred to as delivered in September 
last. It was admitted by the Kumasi messengers that tbey d id send Kwamiu Bjei witb 
the message stated in previous paragraphs of' tbis mem o. I attacb iu original the notes 
of tbe meeting as was taken down at the time. The adm ission made by tbe Kumasi 
messengers is in perfect accord with tbe oatb taken by .lm>Lnkwatia Kwam in, the Asbanti 
general, with the statement made by runaways from the Asbanti camp and by prisoners 
captured by the Nkoranzas, besides the support given to tbe statement of Kwamio 
Ejei by the conduct of' the King of Mampon, and tbe attitude previously ass umed but 
now abandoned, by the King of Nkoranza, all of which show the intention of' Ashaoti to 
invade Atabubu, &c. 
24/11 /93. GEORGE E. FEllGUSON. 
Atabubu, Monday, November 2Q, 1893. 
KWABINA ASAN 'rE, K ing of Atahubll. Nkoranza. 
KWAKU MENSA, Chief Prasihene. 
KWAMIN AKOJlNA, Chief. KOFr FA , King of Nkoraoza. 
KWAMIN AMOAKU; Chief. KWAKU DO L"' NA, Ankobiabine Ch ief. 
KOFl AMOAKl'. Commander [{car Gu,ml. ROJO ANKUMA, Sesamanhine Chief. 
KWABlNA TUA~ linguist. KOJO REMA"E, Chief of Amanting. 
Yow YA MI, linguist. KWAKU TUA, Captain main body. 
AKw~sr OWl'SU, lillgU',st. KWAHlN t\ DONKon, (;blef of Jcima. 
Rora ()wusu, J anahine. KOJO CHUn!, Real' Guard Captain. 
KWES[ JIHA, Jinguist. 
Enu KWABINA, linguist. 
Mampon. 
SENKERE, King of Mampon (Refugee). Ashanti. 
KoJO FOJo, Chief. Messengers from Prem pc : 
KWABLNA PIE, L andlord Chief. 
Y KOFr AKwA, COllJ't Crier. OKODUA, J asihine. OPOKU, Sword Bearer. 
SEYA AKWESf, Konahille. 
Yow EF"IlIM, Cbief of Essaman. GEORGE E. FERGUSON, Government Officer. 
KWAKU Owusu, Chief of Abankwia. THOMAS n. OOONKOR, rnterp. A. Exp. 
Tnu, Chief of Mampontin. Force. 
The King qf Atabubu to KwwlI'iu Ejei.- Rela te to us all what has t aken place 
between you and the messengers frail' the Kiog of Ashanti since your connectiun with 
them. 
Kwamin Ejei.-Somet ime ago r wen t to Ejint for the purpose of buying some 
kolanuts. I met messengers from the King of Kumasi there; ooe of theu! called Kofi 
Akwa jg a court crier, and the other, called Opoku, is a sword bearer. rrhe messellgers 
said to me, " We would like to send you to Attabubu," I agreed to go. Then they, tbe 
messengers, said to me, " Go and tell the King of Mampon and the King of Atabubu that 
" the King of Ashanti presents his compl iments to th em. The King ot' Ashanti sends u. 
to inform them that he is at war with Nkoranza, that he elluti0ns the King of' Atabubu 
" not to aid the Nkoranzas, and that should Kwabina _\.sante do <0 lIe, Prem?c, will destroy 
" his country. Prempe cautioos the Brong people not to joiu in the war." The message 
was to be delivered to all the Brong tribes. The messengers so id if tbe K ing of Atabubu 
was for peace P rem pe was for peace. 
S 3 
142 
I, Kwamin Ejei, then came to Atabubu. I delivered the message. Kwal;>ina.8.sante, the 
King of AtllJhubu, replied, I have never reoeived messengers tl·om Kumasi, since I severed 
my oonnection with them, and now that Prempe is at war with Nkoranza, why should he 
send to me. Prempe knows that we are all one members of the Broll g tribe. If Prempe 
desires peaGe he should offer and make peace with Nkoranza King. I understand that 
the King of Nkofanza has asked for tbe protection of the Governor of Accra; in that 
case he is my brother, anJ if you desire to make peace offer i t to my brother, but if you 
fight bim notwitbstanding this, then it is possible you will extend your operations tbis 
way against. the otber members of tbe Brong tribes. I, Kwamin Ej ei, again went to 
Ejira. I met the messengers tbere a second time. They said to me that I should come 
and deliver the following message to the King of A tahubu, and to the King of Mampon 
(Senkere) viz. :-" The King of Asbanti presents his compliments to yon all. He has 
" heard that tbe people of Atabubn and tbe Brong people m·e deserting tbeir country, 
" bnt tbat they sbould stay in their country. If they like peace he is for peace, if 
" they like war be \rill have it. He desires that the K ing- of Atabubu and the King 
" of Mampon should return to serve ililll, that they should eat fetish with him, after 
" wh ich they are to make peace between him and tbe King of Nkoranza, or else give 
up tbe refug-ee King· of Nkoranza. That the Ki ng- of Atabubu, the Killg of Nkoranza, 
" and tbe Brong people sbould take their oath of alJeg-iance to him; should they not 
do so tbey are not for peace with Asbanti. If they are for peace the King of Asbanti 
" is for peace. If the messengers return with a favourable reply to their King the 
" army then at Abeasi would proceed against Atabubu and the Brong- people. Should 
tbe invasiou of Atnbubu and tbe Brong people as weil as the capture of the Nkoranzas 
" not be feas ible, tben the army would retire to Kuntampo and wait tbere till they can 
" fig-ht tbem. Five days were given to consider the demands of the King of Ashanti . 
" T he King of Ashanti swears t.hree great oatbs of Opoku Wari, Sai Tntu, and Fedu 
"Ajumani." The King- of Atatubu then sent on~ of his linguists You Yami to acquaint 
the otber members of the Brong tribe of the message from the King of Ashanti. 
They g-ave tbe iiuguist their messengers to come to Atabubu to invite the Kumasi 
messeng-ers to Atabuhu. But whell I, Ejei, went to Ejira the messengers said they did 
not know the King of Nkoranza was at Atallllbu, they ha.e found this out and they 
would return to ask the" isbes of tbe Kiug of Ashanti in tbe malter. 
The me'sengers then left for Kumasi, but returned ag-ain. T, Ejei, was then sent to 
ask t hem to come to Atabubu; they arrived at Atabubu, and have now come to Atabubn 
town . 
Ferguson.-Is the statement of Kwamin Ejei conect ? 
Akwa and Opoku:-Yes. 
Fe'g-,,",on.- Is it true nbat while the Kumasi army was at Abea,i you asked that 
within five days la reply should be given by Atabubu and the BlOng people to the 
demand of the King "f Ashanti that they should all be one and take the oath of 
allegiallc<e to Serve Ashanti, and ill sbort whether the statements made by Ejei in th is 
respect are true or not. 
Aklfa and Opoku .-We confirm the statement of Kwamin Ejei, anr! it is the message 
which we are sent to give. 
Ferguson.-Is this all the message? 
Akwa and 01Joku.-Kwamin Ejei bas related the message up to the time of our second 
arrival at. E.iira~ This is the third time, and I am to add that if the King of Nkoranza 
uesires peace he, tbe K ing of Ashanti, is for peace. Nkoraoza King is one with Ash"nti 
K ing by relation, and if the former wisbes to come and serve him tben there will be 
peace. 
FP7g,"son.- I must reiterate to you what I said on the 18th that this territory i8 
British., anr! if your master, the King of Ashanti, has sent you it is but rig-ht that you 
should Irait for tbe King of Atahu bu to rerer the matter to his master, also so that a reply 
" "')" be gi,·cn to you in due course by the mast.er of the King of Atabuhu in auswer to 
the message entrusted to you by tbe King of Asbanti. 
A!c1Oa and Opo!cua.-I was not sent to the white mall; had I been sent to the 
Governor r .hould have taken the road to Accra and seen him there. 
11!J1-. Odo,dr07·.-As British territory, Atauubu is as good as Accra, Akim, and Fanti, 
and any que.tions respecting the refugee Nkoranza. and Mampofls should be referred by 
K ing of Kumasi to Governor of Accra, and if the King- of Ashantl is really for peace he 
should w" it for the white men at A betifi. 
A/fica and Opoku .. -\lIe arc not sent to the white man. 
(The messengers then took leave of the meeting.) 
The Kina; qf Nkoranza said that when war was declared against bim by As hanti 
tho General' of tbe "shanti army, called AmakIVatia Kwamin. took the follow iog ofLth 
before the King of Ashanti, viz. :-" I will proceed to Nkonlollza or wherel'cr t he King of 
" moranza m~y be and bring him to YOIl. 1 will "isi!. Hruo ••, ;; I will t.ake my breastplates 
" from the Kinas of Prang and Yegi and GII'a". I will encamp at Atabubu wbere the 
,. ~ha(ly trees '~ill giye shelter to mx troo'p~, and o n my return 1 :vill br ins- Atabubu, 
" ~koranza, and all the Brong nation \\'ItO me to ,YOLl as part of your klllgdom by 
"conquest." Kojo Taodo was present and he heard t he o>1th swo rn. 
Ferguson (to Ihe King ol .dtabUDlt).-How is it you havc never mentioned to the 
Government that ,,~hde the K.U1nn.si messengers were at ~jira the Ashanti forces were at 
Abensi, and yo u were thi'eatcned witb an invasion of your territory ,hould you not take 
the oath of alleg-ianee to the King: of Ashanti ? 
The King '!fLltabubl6.-Tb e message was in t he first instance frolll Kwamin Ejei, a 
trader. I preferred to hear it from the lips of the Kumasi messengers themselves or con-
firmed by the King of Knmasi?s messengers. Tbis has been done to-day, and my 
lllessenO"ers will leave forthwith t.o represcnt the matter to the Governor. .The Goveroor 
has told me that I should Dot tbink the Ashantis Iyill attack my country, nevertheless, as 
you will observe, they do Iwt let me bave peace in my countr). 
20 . 1 1 .9~. GEORGE E. F"R(;USON. 
Enclosure 2 in No. 48. 
Captain LANG to Colonel Sir FRANC[S SCOTT. 
:)IR, Abetifi , November :30, 1893. 
I HAVE tbe honour to report tbat in accordance with your instructions I left 
Abetifi on tbe 14tb instant. and arriyed at Bompata in Asbanti-Akim On th e 17th. 
At Bompata. i received an invitation from Yuow Sapon, K ing of Juabin, to visit 
him nt ~\'hi .\'ai\ll. 'This I declined, bUL made arrangements for a meeting on the 21st at 
Petlransa. His reception was mOEt cordial; he repea ted hi, earnest appeal for protection, 
and explained to me at SO !UC length his position with regard to the JZing of KLl~nasi , and 
pointed out that although be sent a few IIl en to join the Ashanti arm." against the 
Kkoranzas, he did so entirel) th rough fear of being- himself attacked in case of refusing 
to comply with the King's demand . The King is well a'vare of lh e ac~ion Yuow Sa,pon 
has taken and will assuredly take the carl iest oppontunity of punishing him. 
Yuow Supan is rtuite in earnest in bis appeal for prote,ctioo, and from informaticn I 
receil'cd fi'om fugltil'es from _~l.siko ,.i, Tnsut", M.mpon, and Kumahu tbe people arc all 
anxiolls to be taken into thE' Protfctorate. '! 'beyarC' simply \Tait in g, hoping we 'i\tiD go 
to Kurnasi, yet fearing that on this, as on previous occasions, no acti\'e measures will 
be taken against the King of Kumasi . The news that Kuma"j i ~ to be occupied woulo 
meet with general r~joicing , and thou!'ands \yould immed iatelY.loin us. Even in I{umasi 
ilself we woulrl I>e g ladly reccil~ed by a hrg~ Ilulnber of the inh>Lbi tants . The Kinl' 
would gladl.Y come to terms. 
Leal~in!! out the advant"ge to thi, Colony that would follow tbo acquisition of the 
"-hole of Ashanti, which can be brought about witboltt firing a shot., it is our bounden 
dut)r as a civilizing power to put a stop to the IlHll1Y barbarous cu"toms still pre\"l-\iling 
there, and to restore peace, which all tbe people earnestly de,i .. e. Our failing to do so 
now will lIlean t he ll"s of prestige, of confidence in us, and of the feeling of security in 
the territor,es already in the Protectorate . 
I have, &c. 
J. IRVINE L M:jG} 
To Colonel Sir Francis C. Scott, ICC. M.G., C.B. Captain, R.E. 
Forwarded to I-I. E. Acting GoYernor, 
F. C. S. 
30.11.9·1. 
144. 
Enclosure 3 in No. 48. 
Tbe INSPECToR-GENERAL to the COLONIAL SECRETARY. 
SIR, Abetifi, Decemher I, 1893. 
HAV~ the honour to report, for tbe information of bis Excellency, that I am 
leaving bere en route for Atabubu next Wednesday the 6th instant. 
The Second Division under Captain Aplin left bere for Atabubu on the 29th November. 
2. I wish furtber to inform you that I have considered it advisable to station a couple 
of sections of Hausas under Captain Boisragou at Bompata. 
I bave, &c. 
F. C. SCOTI, ColoneL 
Tbe Hon. the Colonial Secretary. . Inspector· General, 
Commanding Atabubn Expeditionary Force. 
No. 48A. 
ACTING GOVERNOR HODGSON to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received January 15, 1894.) 
[Answered by No. 53. ] 
Government House, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
My LORD, December 14, 1893. 
IN continuation of my Despatch of the 7th instant* I have the honour to transmit 
to your Lord~hip a copy of a let ter from Colonel Sir Francis Scott, daten from Abetifi, 
the 4th December, forwarding a letter addressed to him by tbe King of Ashanti and a 
copy of his reply to it. Tbe statement in tbe King's letter about robbing traders of 
tbelr goods is one very commonly made, but it is nearly al IVays untrue, and in t.his 
instance is certainly so. It is prohable tbat the object of tbe King's letter was to 
ascertaiu wbat instructions Colonel Sir Francis Scott held with regard to the tribes in 
tbe neighbourhood of Atabubu. 
J have, &c. 
F. M. HODGSON, 
Acting Governor. 
Enclosure in No. 48A. 
The INSPECTOR-GENERAL to the COLONIAL SECRETARY. 
SIR, Abetifi, December 4, 1893. 
I HAVE the honour to forward tbe accompanying letter I bave received from the 
K ing of Kumasi. I also attach a copy of the reply I sent to the King. 
I have, &c. 
F. C. SCOTT, Colonel, 
Tbe Hon. tbe Colonial Secretary. ComIllanding A tabubu Expeditionary Force. 
The KING OF ASHANTl to the CAPTAIN CO~IMANmNG THE FORCES. 
CAPTAIN, Kumasi, November 25, 1893. 
I HAVE received some unfair report from my Asbanti traders, tbat pass througb 
Kwawhu and Akim to the coast for trade, that you are frightening my people and 
compelling them to sign treaty of prokction with Her Majesty's Govemm"nt; I may 
say that if the report is true, it is not Jail' for sucb treatment, but I do not believe such 
report, for I know that white men are very civil people, and if anything dOlle wrongly, it 
is bis black followers, and I am glad to say; do kindly entreat your men to discontinlle 
same and also to cease from di.turbing the traders with tbeir goods, taking half of the 
goods in saying that white men say, we must take to make road. 
'·No.48. 
145 
2. I am sorry I have reported the matter officially to his Excellency the Governor, 
for I am a peaceful king with Her Majesty the Queen of England. 
I remain, &c. My 
To the Captain KWAKu DUA III. X 
Oommauding the Forces at Kwawbu. K ing of A.sbanti. marlc 
The INSPECTOR GENERAL to the KING OF KUMASI. 
KING, Abetifi, December 4, l El93. 
THE reports you have heard are quite untrue. None of your people have been 
frightened, and no one but the Q ueen can make treaties. 
You know t he reason I am here; it is to protect our country and people whom you 
threatened. 
The King of K umasi. F. C . SCOTT, Colonel Commanding Forces. 
No. 49. 
FOREIGN OFFICE to OOLONIAL OFFIOE . 
Sm, Foreign Office, J anual'y 18, 1894. 
AM directed by the Earl of Roseber)' to transmit to you herewith a let.ter from 
tbe Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, on the subject of trade in the Gold Coast, and 
tbe extension of the Briti sh Protectorate in the rear of that Colony. I am to reg nest 
that in laying these papers before the Secretary of State fer the Coloni es, :rOll wi ll 
suggest that in view of the fact that th e mat.ter to wh ich it relates is One of Colonial 
pulicy, the letter should be answered by your Department. 
The Ohamber of Commerce has been informed that their letter has been transmiUed 
to you. 
1 am, &c. 
I-I. l) EROY ANDERSON. 
Enclosure in No. 49. 
[Answered by No. 52.J 
" Affairs oj the Gold Coast Ashanti, 9-'c." 
African Trade Sec tion of the 
Incorporated Cham ber of Commerce, Liverpool, 
My LORD, January 9, 1894. 
REPRESENTATIONS have been made recently to this Chamber respectiog injury to 
the trade of the Gold Coast Colony, arising from frequent disturbances between the 
Ashantis and other tribes beyond the nothel'D limits of tbe Protectorate, but apparently 
within the British sphere of influence, as delimited by agreement with France and 
Germanv. 
It is 'stated that the result of such circumstances has been to divert t rade from the 
British ports to those of Germany and France, east and west. of the Colony. 
This Chamber whel) actively moving in tbe spring of 1892, with the support of other 
leading Chambers, for the retention and extension of British spheres of influence in 
connelCion with the West African Colonies, was requested by Lord Knutsford to specify 
the countries which it desired should be brougbt under B ritish influence, who promised 
that be would consider what action it wa~ possible or desirable to take. 
r may be permitted to draw your Lordship'S attention to a copy of the reply made to 
Lord Knutsford, which is printed on pages six to ei~bt of the enclosed Report of the 
proceedings of the African Trade Section in the year 1892.¥ It was therein recummended 
that the British spbere behind the Gold Coast sbould be eXlended over the basins of 
the rivers (the Volta for instance) which discharge themselves into the sea within tbe 
limits of the Colony. 
• Not printed. 
o S9780. T 
146 
I am directed to say tbat the African Committee beg to renew tbe r~commendation 
and to urge upon the Government that Ashanti, and other countries adjacent, which 
come under more active British influence than tbe dis(.ant parts of the interior, may 
be taken under British protection, and a British Commissioner be appointed to reside at 
Commassie. 
I have, &c. 
The Right Hon. THOMAS H. BARKBR, 
The Earl of Rosebery, K.G., Secretary. 
&c. &. &. 
No. 50. 
COLONIAL OFFICE to the LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 
[See .Vo. 6:2.J 
SIR, • Downing Street, January 19, 1 89~ . 
IN reply to your letter of 13th inst., * 1 am directed by the Marquess of Ripun to 
acquaint YOIl that the report of Captain Lang, R.E., with respect to the possibility and 
expcdiency of the comtruction of railways on t he Gold Coast has not yet been 
received. 
Captain Lang has been recently employed with the expeditionary force which it was 
necessary to send up to Attububu on account of all anticipated attack on that count.ry 
by the A;bantis, and tbis may llot improbably somewhat retard the completion of his 
survey and the preparation of his report. 
I am, &c. 
R. H. MEADE. 
No.5!. 
TIlE GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE to COLONIAL OFFICE. 
[ .d nswered by iVo. 54. J 
The Right HOll. tbe Marqu(·ss of Itipon, K .G., 
&c. &c. &c. 
The Memorial of tbe Chamber of Commerce and :VJal1Llfact.urers 'in the City of Glasgow, 
incorporated by Royal Charter in 1783, confirmed in 1860. 
RESPECTFULLY SHbwB·rH-
THAT the Directors of the Chamber having received communications from firms 
of West African merchants of standing in th is city, trading with the Gold Coast Colony, 
have, OIl report by their Committee Oil Foreign .AJi'airs, g'lven very careful con-
sideration to what is set forth ill the Memorial whicb the firms in ~nestion, viz. :-
(Messrs. Alex . Miller, Brother:; and Co,; Taylor Laug-hland & Co.; W. B. McIver & Co.) 
addressed to your Lordship, of dr.te 7th ult.;r as to Her Majesty's Goverument 
extending a Protectorate o\·er the Ashantis, and Tribes on the Nort.heru Frontier of the 
Gold Coast Culony. 
The Directors are informed tbat disturbances among the Ashantee ana Frontier 
Tribes are of frequent occurrence iu the regiUll placed by the Agreemcnts with Genuany 
in 1887, and with France in 1889, within tbe spherc of the influence of Great Britain, 
which not only have a most injurious effect on trade, but are aiso a serious cause of 
danger to life and property in the Oo[ony. 
The D irectors undcrstand tbat even under existing circumstances, the annual revenue 
derived from the Gold Coast Colony more thau suffices to meet its expenditure, and 
that a large increase of revenue woul,) ensue it·om the improvement and development of 
trade certain to result (rQfll greater securjty to life and properly. 
Your Mernol'i&.lists would therefore respectfully urge, through your Lordship, the 
necessity and expediency of Her Majesty's Government taking into tbeir early and 
earnest consideration, the subject of establishing a system of Administration by 
• No. 47. t Not printed . 
u7 
Protectorate over the region in qnestion, Or in such other way as the Government may 
deem most effective for preventing tbe disturbances complained of' and tbeir injurious 
effect on trade, as well as for the protection of the li \'('s and propcrty of tbe natives 
desirous of trading with Euroreans in t he Gold Coast Colony . 
And your Memorialists wil ever pray, &c. 
Signcd in name, on behalf, and l>y authori ty-of the Directors of the Chamber 
(L.S. ) of Commerce of Glasgow, and sealed with the common seal thereof th is 
Twenty-sixth day of Januar.\' , l R~).I yetHS. 
DAV ID R~NNEI~MAN, 
President. 
No. 52. 
COLONIAL OFliICE to the LIVERPOOL CH AM BE ll OF C(l~JMERCE . 
Sm. Downing Street, January 26, 1894. ' 
I AM directed by the Marquesci of Ripon to acquain t you t hat he has received 
from tbe Foreigu Office your letter of tbe 9tb inst .," addressed to tbc Earl of Roseber'y, 
ou tbe subject of trade at the Gold Coast, and the ex tension of t he British Protectorate 
in the rear of that Colou\' . ' 
In repl y I am to acqu~int you that the matters to which yo u refer are engagiug the 
attention of Her Majesty's Government. 
I am, however, to obsen'e that it would be impossible to exten d tbe Britisb ' phere of 
influe nce over a great portion of tbe basin of the River Volta, as tbe upper portion of' 
that river is embraced within the neutral zoue which was establi sbed by the Agreement 
witb German'y of l S87-3. 
The greater part of the right btwk of the Lower Volta is under the control of Great 
Britain, but the left bank from the River Abo to the Daka I'tiver forms the boundary 
between the British and German possessions under 1h e Anglo-German Agreement of 
1890. 
I am, &c. 
R. H. MEADE. 
No, 53. 
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON to ACTING Gon;nNoR HODGSON. 
[See No . 57 .] 
SIR, Downing Street, Januar.Y 30, [394. 
I HAYE had uudel' my cmsideration your despa,tehes noted in the margin and also Nov. 13, '93. 
your telegram ot 13th mstant,t furmslllng II1formatlOn WIth respect to the relatlOllS of Nov. 14 '03. 
the Colonial Government with Ashanti, and the con di t iol.l of affairs in tbe interior. and Nov. IS: '93. 
urging .that t he time. has arri"ed when action should be take" with, view of bril;ging ~Z; · :;2;;iS' 
Ashantl under a Bntl.h Protectorate. . , . 
In reply I have to acquaint you that Her Majesty's Govern ment, wbile full y 
appreciating the abil ity and judgment which you have displayed, and the clearne,s with 
wbich you have placed 'your views before them, ale not inclined to adopt the policy 
which you ~dvocate , wbieb they consider would greatly increase the responsibilities of 
the Gold Coast Government. 
Moreover, Her Maiesty's Government could not sanction the adoption of any course 
which might involve the employment of Britisb troop', and as, in your Despatch of l Hth 
November, you have stated that "such a contingenc'y bas to be provided for" and 
t bat you" are not prepared to advocate the despatch of a further ultimatum to Kumasi 
" unless it is," they find it impossible to authorise you to send sLlch an ultimatum, or to 
entertain the question of assuming a Protectorate over Ashanti by lorce. 
At the same time they are fnlly alive to the risk, which under p resent conditions, 
constantly exist.s, of Attabubu, and other territo:'i es which are under the protecti~n of 
Her Majesty, being invaded "y tbe Ashantis, ~nd they are therefore anx ious to ascertain 
,. ]~uclosu)'e jn r 0, ").9 
'1' 2 
148 
whether some via media cannot be round wherehy the ohjeet of controlling the power of 
Ashanti may be attained without the use of force. 
I have, therefore, to request yo u to consider and report to me whether, in your opinion 
it wouid he possible to get the King of Kumasi, and the principal Chiefs, to accept 
stipends, which might be fixed at a liberal rate, on condition that they should consent to 
receive a British Agent at Kumasi, and should agree to refrain from making war upon 
0)' disturbing any of the tribes, beyond a certain frontier which should be laid down by. 
the Governor of the Gold Coast and which should exclude from Ashanti the Nkoranzas, 
Bekwais, and other tribes who have asked for British protection. 
In case of any dispute between the King of Kumasi and any of these outside tribes 
the matter should be referred to the agent, who should enquire into it and give his 
decision, and if he found that the Ashantis were in the right the question should be 
referred to the Governor of the Gold Coast, who would require the offending tribe to 
make such reparation as he might deem expedient. 
The agent would, of course have a strong guard of Hausas, under one or more wbite 
officers, for his own protection, but it would be clearly understood that he must interfere 
as little as possible with the domestic affairs and policy of tbe country, bu t would 
confine himself to the duties mentioned in the preceding paragraph, of inquiring into 
disputes between the Ashantees and tribes iJeyend tbe border, of preventing the outbreak 
of war and disturbances, and of using his influence and authority to promote the 
development and security of trade. 
1 have to request you to commuuicate your views on these proposals, if possible by 
telegraph, and, pending a decision, I have to authori se YOll to exercise yOll!' discretio~ 
as to keeping the expeditionary Jorce in A ttabubu, 01' withdrawing it. In the event of 
its withdrawal , y ou should send a messenger to the King' of Kumasi , , aying that this 
step bas been taken on t he faith of his ascurance that he has no intention of invacing 
any portion of the British Protectorate; he must , however, understand that the question 
as regards his conduct, is not concluded b'y til e "'ith,lraw31 of the troops fnr the pres~nt, 
and that the question of wtat action sbould be taken in the future has been referred to 
the Queeh, and tbat ber decision, wiH, to a great extent, uepeud upon the King's conduct, 
as he cannot be allowed to continue with impunity to make war upon and destroy his 
neighbours, and that if he desires in any way to avoid Her Majesty's serious displeasure 
he must remain quiet and desist from further warlike operations. 
I bave, &c. 
RIPON. 
No. 54. 
COLONIAL OFFICE to the GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 
SIR, Downing Street, January 31, 1894. 
! AM directed by the Marquess of Ripon to acknowledge tbe receipt of the 
Memorial, dated 26th January,':' signed by you on behalf of the Glasgow Chamber of 
Commerce, urging tbat steps lIIay be ta,ken to place the Asbantis, and other tribes on the 
NOl,thern Frontier of the Gold Coast Colony, under British protection, with a view to 
preventing the disturbances which are so injurious to trade. 
I am to acquaint you, in reply, that the matters to wbich you rder are engaging the 
serious attention of Her Majesty's Government. 
I am, &c, 
EDWARD WINGFIELD . 
.. No. 51. 
149 
No. 55. 
ACTING GOVERNOR HODGSON to the MARQ,UESS OF RIPON. 
(H,eceived February 9, 1894.) 
[Answered by No. 61.J 
(EXTRACT.) Government House, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
January 9, 1894. 
HAVE the honour to transmit copies of two further letters from Colonel Sir 
Francis Scott dated from A ttabubu the 24th and 25th December respectiveLy, together 
with copies of two nsefnl reports from Mr. Ferguson on the condition of affairs in 
Attabubn and the attitude of the Ashantis. 
It has been ascertained definitely that. Abeasi, which is referred to in my Despatch 
of tbe 18th November* as:having been destroyed by the Ashanti A nny, is not an Attabubn 
town, that the bound,1l'Y given by Mr. Ferguson· to the country of Attabubu, as shown 
in bis map of December 1890, is substantially correct, and that the Ashanti ,"'my did 
not cross the boundary or impinge on country within tbe Protectorate. 
The King of Attabubu has been informed tb",t be acted wrongly in sending an armed 
. force to assist the Nkorft!lzas against tbe Ashan tis or as he put3 it "to protect bis 
frontier," ann he has been warned against mixing himself up in affairs outside bis 
country. 
Sir Francis Scott again nrges th"t the Nkoranzas should be taken in to the Protectorate. 
Both he and Mr. Ferguson state tbat Nkoranza declared its independence of Ashanti in 
1874, at the same time that Attabubu sh00k off the yoke, out if it did so the declaration 
was not observp,d , and the King of N koran za was constantly in communication with the 
King of Ashanti •• shown in Mr. Fer¥uson's memorandum wbicb accompanied my 
despatcb of the 7th Decernber.t I have already expressed the opinion that the absorption 
of Nkoranza into tbe Proteetorate is out of the question unless this Government is 
prepared to reckon with Asbanti , and J see no reason to alter that opini0n. [t wonld, as 
I have stated in previous despatehes, be for the welf"'re of the people of the Protectol'ate, 
and to the interes ts of 'mde and civilization that Ashanti should be reckoned with , but, 
until Hel' Majesty's Government i. prepared to break a way from the policy bitherto 
followed as regards Ashanti , Nkoranza must, until it has defini tely asserted and obtained 
its independence, remain outside the Protectorate. I have, as stated in my Despatch of 
the 7tb December;t authorised the signing of" treaty of " Friendship and Freedom of 
Trade" witb the King and Chiefs of Nkoranza but, as matters stand now, that, I 
consider, is the extreme point to which this Government can go. 
The King of Nkoranza and his people wIll not leave their conn try to seek an asylum 
witbin tbe Protector"'te, and , from the inform3Jlioll wbich I obtained subsequently to 
instructinrg  Colonel Sir Francis Scott to off~r them that alternative to fnrther war with Ashanti, do not think that they would do so. 
Mr. Ferguson in his report dated the 20th December explains the cause of tbe war in 
Salaga "hi<:h has resulted in tbe Right of the King- and the triumph of his opponent 
Kabachi Wula. Tbe King, it. appears, was assisted in ohe e",dy part of the war by the 
people of Yeji, and Kabachi Wula is stated to be meditating an attack on that town in 
which case the Yejis will probably cross into the Protectorate. In paragraph 4 of my 
Despatch of tbe 18th November' I referred to a possible alliance botween the Salagas 
aud A.sbanti. and the resnlt whicb would ensue from such an alliance. !\Ir. I<'erguwn 
refers to such a contingency as being contemplated. It would, in my opinion, be most. 
unfortunate for the trade of the Gold Coast were the alliance to be made; Kontempo 
wonld cease to exist as a market town, and tbe greater part of the trade which now finds 
its way to the Gold Coast would be diverted. The possibility of an alliance between 
Salaga and Ashanti is a strong ",rgument in favoUi' of a forward policy with regal'd to tbe 
latter country and its absorptian within tbe Pl'ote<>lorate. 
Mr. Ferguson refers in subhead (D.) paragraph 1 of his report of the 20th December 
to the Bandas having as.sisted the Asbantis in fighting against the people of Mo-allies of 
the Nkoranzas- and to an engagement iu which the latter were victorious, Kukrantumi 
tbe cbief Stool-bearer of the King of Ashanti, and Seidu Nji, the heir apparent to the 
Stool of Banda, having been killed. 
!) No. 44. t No. 48. 
T 3 
150 
In his report of the 25th Decemher, Mr. Fergusol! states that be has ascertained 
from a reliable source that the Bandas had obtained tbe alliance of the people of Bole 
to enahl~ them to continue the war against tbe Mos, and that the Ashanti., by way of 
€ncour~giug tbe Bandas, had promised the latter a large portian of the country of 
Nkoranza. Tbe Boles are stated to have started on the campaign and to bave reacbed 
a town called Asisesu, the Ashactis aud Bandas being encamped at Babato, a town in 
Nkoranza. 
Colonel Sir Francis Scott in his letter of the 25 th December states that in order, if 
possible, to prevent the Boles from allying themselves wi th tbe Bandas and Ashantis and 
thus plaving into the ho.nds of the Salagas, he has assumed the responsibility of sending 
Mr. Fergusun to the King of Boie with a Iequest th"t, as a frieud to this GOI'ernment, he 
WI ll desist from entering into any alliance proposed to him by tbe King of Ashan!i. In 
the in terests of trade, apart from other considerations, it is very desirable to prevent 
the war from spreading, and, taking all the circumstances into consideration, I think that 
Colonel Sir Francis Scott has acted rightly in endeavouring to check the Boles froID 
joining tbe Bandas, and I shan so inform him. 
In paragrapb 2 of bis letter of the 25tb December Sir Francis Scott mentions that 
the Boles received an English flag from Major Ewart in 1888. He states also that he 
learns from the Nkoranzas that tbe King of Bole signed a treaty brought to tbem by Mr. 
Ferguson in May 1891. This is, of course, the treaty whicb was signed in 1892. 
With regard to paragraph four of Sir Francis Scott's letter of the 24tb December, 
I am anx iously awa iting an expression of your Lordship's views as to tbe policy to be 
now adopted towards Ashanti. Until I receive it I do not propose to take any action 
for the withdrawal of the expeditionary force from Attabubu. 
I may mention that the Rev. F. Ramseyer of Abetifi was in Accra a few days ago, 
and in the course of a conversation which I bad with him as regards Ashanti affairs be 
intormed me tbat it was within his knowledge that. Asibi, King of the Kokofus, had 
accumulated a large store of gunpowder and guns preparatory to bis joining hands with ~ I 
tbe King of Ash~nti, and that be considered it to have been an excellent stroke of policy I 
in preventing that alliance by tbe withdrawal of Asibi and Prince Atcheriboanda to 
Accra. 
Enclosure 1 in No. 55. 
INSPECToR-GENERAL to COLONIAL SECRETARY. 
(EXTRACT.) 
Atabubu, Decemher 24, 1893. 
I HAVE the bonour to inform you that since last writing I have interviewed tbe Kings 
of Nkoranza and A tabuhu. 
I enquired of the latter tbe reason he bad sent men to help tbe Nkoranzas . He 
assured me the men were sent solely wltb a view to protecting his frontier agamst tbe 
Ashantis. I, bowever, warned him to be most careful in the future and not mix himself 
up in affairs outside bis country. 
I furtber elicited th",t Abease was not in Atabubu territ.oryand tbat the Ashantis 
destroyed nothing that either belonged to or was in that territory. Tbe King, never-
tbeless, is assured tbat were we, in tbe present state of affairs, to leave bis country, it 
would, witbout doubt, be iuvaded after our departure. 
The messages, to the following effect, that King Prempe is sending about would appear 
to confirm tbls belief:-
"Tbe 'Whiteman I know means to do :notbing, he always carries about plenty of 
ammunition. be will sbortly return to the coast and then," &c. &c. 
The Atab llbu are indeed so confident of t.he above misfortune befalling them " hen 
we leave tbat they bave asked to be allowed to accompany us. This, of course, I 
consider as out of tbe question. 
Witb regard to the Nkoranzas I can only most strongly recommend their 
being taken inlo tbe Protectorate. T hey are a fine people and, with tbe Government 
to uack tbem, would be able to defy Kumasi; indeed bad they not, during the late 
war, r un short of powder, it is extremely probable tbat. tbe Kuruasi army would have 
been driven back with heavy loss. As it is, one of their Chiefs, wbo harl only 20 men 
with bim <Lnd lay in ambush, is at present enjoying tbe reputation of having caused the 
whole of the Kumas i Forces to tnrn and run. Nkoranza is not in any way suhjt'ct to 
Kumasi, and bas not been so since 1874. Tbe country is considered as being part of 
}3ron~ (tbis the :King himself assured we of), lind consi4ering the fact, tbat Atabubu 
151 
was, until taken into the Prote~torate, similarly situated, and that it is now under 
protection and further that treaties are ahout to be made with the Brong people, I 
cannot see any objection under this head why Nkoran~u should not also be included. 
I also considered that if it is decided eventually to leave Kumasi once again unpun-
ished the fllct of Nkoranza helonging to us would very much simplify future troubles 
beino- dealt with, troubles which I am sure, with Kumasi left as she is now, are ce"tain 
to o~cur. The Nkoranzas are gradu~lIy returnin(1: to their country, feeling they will 
not be molested whik, we are here and fondly behevlllg tllat before we go our fl ag will be 
ho!sted in their capital and their troubles will have ceased. There are abollt 6,000 in this 
town, including women and childrell; the army, however, or most of it, is at a place called 
Brumassi and numbers rouJ"hly 12,000. The King, 01' his people, will not accept Lbe offer 
of land farther south in the Protectorate; they are a prairie people and would be qui te at 
a loss in a densely wooded country such as Kwahu. Their country, besides, is a vcr v 
wealthy one and possesses many gold mines and it is bardly to be expected that they wiil 
give up aU this without another fight for their freedom. A fight, moreover, they are 
determined shall take place if we do not take t bern over. 
I enclose a letter addressed to me by Mr. Ferguson with reference to the affairs 
in Salaga. I yesterday ryceived an urgent application from the Chiefs at Yegi, askin ". to 
be protected. The town is about to bc attacked by Kubachi W ula, a ri val for the Sfool 
of Pembi. As Ye~i, however, is north of the boundary of the neutral zone l am unable 
to do anything in tbe matter. 
I am expecting your despatch, with the Secretary of State's fioal decis ion, in about a 
fo rtni".ht from now. If, howe ver, it is contrary to the above recommendation regarding the 
Nkorfnzas I shall take the responsibility of waiting bere uotil a further reply to this letter, 
as I am so throughly convinceJ that, even if nothing further is to be done with Kumasi 
Nkoranza should be taken into the Protectorate. 
Mr. FERGUSON to the ADJUTANT of the Atabubu Expedit.ionary Force. 
SIR, Atabubo, December 20, 1693. 
I HAVE the honour to report that spies having been despatched by me to :-
(A.) Yegi, Or! the Salaga Road. 
(E.) Insuta, in Ashanti, via Enyinewofi. 
(C.) Nkoranza and neighbourhood, via Kumfa, Druma, &c., 
(D.) Kuntampo, vitt Abease, Kok ronsu, &c., 
(E.) Mamp<ln, in AshaIiti, vill Petira, Amanting, &c. 
the followin/1: is the intelligence brought by them, viz. :-
(A.) Koji Tua, Akwesi Amoaku and Bini , spies from Yegi, stated on tbe 29th 
November with regard to affairs in Salaga that the war between Kabachi· W ula and the 
KiDg of Pembi is not yet over. The King of Pembi has taken flight, it is not known 
where to. Kabach i· Wula advanced to near Yegi and his Yend i aliles crossed the Volta 
and captured three Yegi people because Ye2 in the earl ier part of the war was inclined 
to aid the K ing of Pembi. The King of Ji.Hbachi (Kabachi.Wula) bears very strong 
je,\lousy against the Atabubu trade and had you (Ferguson) not come here in time the 
consequences of the war at Salaga &nd Nkoranza would have been the absorption of the 
Brong people into it, including Atabubu. The Erong people would be subdued and 
Salaga would do di rect trade with Ashanti. As to the cause of the war it is stated that 
a long time ago, when Salaga was under Kumasi rival claims in the Stool of Pembi were 
made by Sempi-wula, Kunaka·wula, in whicl! both claimants fought with vacillating 
resolts. The King of Ashanti ordered Dewia, King of Atabubu, to settle the matter 
and it was arranged that the orOer of Buccession should be, Pembi·wula, Kanjasi-wula, 
and Kanko·wula. However, when it came to the turn of Kanjasi-wula to be King 
of Pembi, he was done out of it by the people of Pembi and tbe people of Kanko. 
"N ow Kabachi-wula is a -brother of Kanjasi·wnla and he has now espoused the cause of 
his brother; and for himself to come King hereafter. Tbe people of Pembi determined 
to kiU Kabachi-wula in orc1er to destroy the claim. The traders of Salaga preferred to 
be neutral and are now scattered at Yegi, Koro, Debre, Boyamsu, Kraki and Pabia. 
It is likely they will return to Salaga aftel the war. 
(B.) (l.) Abu Bukari and Wanzau- spies- " Saw on Saturday the ~5th November 
" a few men of Nsuta return from Knntampo with their Dane guns. The rest of the 
" men were said to be coming from Kuntampo but had not yet arrived at N suta." 
T4 
152 
(2.~ Kwaku Kiebe and Yow Menza.-" No one has passed from Ashauti to 
" En)inewofi since the Nkoranza war. We saw two wonnded men arrive at Kwamain 
" about the 25th November." 
(C.) On :Monday 11th December 1893 Kofi Kra, &c., (persons named below) brought 
intelligence from Nkoranza and neighbourhood. 
Reute of spies :-Duabon, Kymfa Fakosi, Druma, Edumasa Buabinmai, Yakukrom, 
EllUnja, Nkoranza. 
Report.-Yarkukrom, Ahunju and Nkoranza were bUlDt and razed by the Ashantis-
no people there. There are few persons in the farms at Kumfia: six men were at 
Fakosi. 
Druma. .- Here we saw the remains of a woman, dead. No ·living person in the town. 
Not burnt. 
Bdudasa.-Nobody ; not destroyed. 
Buabnmai.-N ot burnt. One of our party, called Kofi Amanku searched here for oue 
Kwamin Tua whom he knew. He found Kwamin Tua in a farm-Kwamin Tua said 
the Ashantis were gone, they were seeu by him when he foraged to Ahnnjn. The 
Ashantis seCll by K wamin Tua were four in number, had uo guns but tried to catch him 
when he fired on them. 
Nkoranza.- Spies reached here on Monday, 4th December. All shades t rees burnt, 
oil palms cut down and made into latrines. All houses in town burnt. We fired 
four rounds each ten of us, to invite any enemy in the town. vVe stayed from 
early morning till late in the evening, saw no A3hantis and 'returned :to Buabinmai, 
or Buama, on our return journey. We fired tlVO rounds e'~ch when some people of 
Bombir came, five men, they enquired news of ns and we t0ld them we were come to 
look at tbe place. They stated to us that t.he Ashantis caught some Nkoranzas fro'D 
Jeima and Kal1krope, about 120 in nnmber; on the way to Ashanti one of them escaped 
and reported that King of Asilaliti sellt to can,p at Kuntall1po, but the army ,aid 
they were bound by their oath to bring back the King of Nkoranza with them as 
well as invade Atabnbl1 and the Brong' people; the army said they were engaged in ' 
collecting Nkoranza prisonel·s. The Kirrg of Ashanti sent four tit!les and the fourth 
time he sent a Chief of conseqnence in Ashanti to swear his great oath to say that the 
white man was comi'lg to Kumasi, what for was not known, and therefore that all of 
them should return. Tbe escaped ~{koranza further said that an N koranza Prince 
called Kwaku F l1okno was with the Ashantis. Kwakl1. Fuokuo is a nsurper to the 
Nkoranza Stool. The Ashantis propose to make Kwaku Fuokuo King of Nkoranza, 
give half the captured Nkoranzas back to him and send him to reign in Nkoranza 
because the Ashantis haC. heard that Kofi Fa, the present King of Nkol'a'llza was gone to 
K wahu and would no't return there again. The escaped Nkoranza also reported tbat 
Akwesi Dumfe and Kukurantumi had gone to give fetish (to cri'fer the oatb of allegiance) 
to the people of Mo but they hoth were killed in in " battle which ensued. 
(Spies.--Kofi Kra, Kofi Ankuma, Kofi Bo, Kwarnin Cbirn , Esnom, Kofi Bain, 
Kwamin Ankuma, Kojo Doukor, Abuaji, Kwamin Buodu, Y"kUc!OIll, Kwaku Fuokuo, 
sent to examine all the towos in Nkoranza. Above is slllnmary of their reports). 
The Nkoranzas are gradually returning to their villages. 
(D.) News from KUlltampo: Akwesi Bo brullgbt the following intelligence to the King 
of Nkoranza from the Nkoranzil Prince at Kokrousu called Yakudom, 5th December 
1893. "Thc beir aHarent to the Stool of Banda called Seidu Nji sent to tell Kukur· 
" antumi the chief stuol bearer of the King of Ashanti was with tbe Commander 
" Amankwatia Kwamin in tbc camp at [{ untampo, that forces should be sent to him to 
" fight the people of Mo, who haJ. crossed to the ot.her side of Volta." Three hllorlred 
meu were sent: but Kukurantumi said it was too sm<111 aud Akwesi Dumfei, tbe Chief of 
AsalTHmkwtl, "Was J.epll~ed with forces to :lug'men t the others. Engagements took place 
and the A,hantis were defea,ted. Kukurantumi was shot and fell into a pit dug for gold, 
but he was taken unt out and beheeded. Seidu Nji was also caught and hilled. 
(E.) A maD from Mampon caned KoB Dll !il'rived at Petira on tbe 19th instant. He 
tolcl the King of All1antillg that he was sent to him by the King of Egira who was 
acting nnder instl'ucti"tls fl'om the King . of Ashanti. Kofi Dus.id to tbe King of 
Amanting, " I am sent to you by the King of Ejira. The King of EjirR wants you to 
" remem bel' the history of yoU!' ancestors, your ancestors served Ashanti and you should 
" do the same, whenever there tS a little dispute between Ashanti and Nkoranza, yo u 
" run away to Atabllbu . This time should the whit.e man go back without any harm to 
" Ashanti you will have to square it with Ashanti. They, tbe white men, always car!'y 
ammunition with them, they do not mean anything this time, and you had better decide 
" to return tu Ashanti or after they are gone you will have to answer to Ashanti."· 
153 
2. It takes five daF, to go to KlIntamp" from Kuma, i, an d reckoning that messengers 
were sent four times 'to the cam p at Kuntampo by Prempeh before the fo rces were 
withdrawn, it ap pears t.hat this WJuld be about 30 days after the arrival of Mr. Vroom 
at Kumasi: that is to sar, the Ashanti army reaebed Kumasi aboll t tbe 24th of 
November. 
3. The King of Amantiug desires me to remind Colonel Sir Francis Scott abont his 
application to he taken ':Ind~r British protection. Tile Ki ngs of Eny inewofi, Abease, and 
Drum" are here with a slmll ~r req ues,. They :lre none of them under a llegiance to the 
Kin" of Ashanti. Abease anci Druma do not owe allegi"nce to the King of Atabu bu, 
t.hp. ,7 were not represented in th~ Treat.Y with Ata bu bu, and the boundar)' of Atabubu as 
given in my map of 1890 i, correct. As you wi ll have karn! from my previous reports, 
N koranza also severed its connection witb A.IM nt i in 1874 in the 'ame way that 
Atabnbu did. 
4 . Captain Aplin , with the advance guarn, a rr ived bere on Sunday the l Oth December 
a week before tbe arri val here of Colonel Sir Francis Scott on the 17t h. Before yo ur 
arri"al r bad bad the town well cleaned and made healthy, my carriers had been 
employed in making c~mping sheds; quarters for officers and men were accordingly ready 
on their arri val. 
5. it will be neres"ary to define the extent of terr ito ries or those Kings with whom 
treat ies may be executed . 
6. In the second paragraph of Hi, Excellency's letter of the 15th November l 893, 
I was inform ed tbat m'y report, will be trans llii tted to H is Excellency t hrough the 
H onourable Colonel Si r F rancis Scott. J th erefore beg that you will k indly plllce 
the foregoing- intelli~ence before His Excellency tbe Acting Governor. 
I have, &c. 
The Adjntant, GEORGE E. FERGUSON. 
Atabnbu Expeditionary Force, 
Atabubn. 
Enclosure 2 in No. 55. 
Colonel Sir FRANcrs SCOTT to tbe COLoNrAL SECRETARY. 
Sra, Atabubn, Decem ber 25, l 893. 
I HAVE the bonour to for ward you a letter [bave received from Mr. Ferguson 
since addressing you yesterday. 
As matters might become serionsly cnmplicated by the alliance whicb tbe King of 
Knmase is endeavouring to bring about between the Boles and the Bandas in order to 
enaole the latter to continue tbe war against N koranza , I have decided to send Mr. 
Fergmon to tbe former tribe to relilind thelll that they not only received a fla~ from 
Major Ewart about 1888, but have, according- to the Nkoranzas, signed " t reaty with 
tbis Government wben Mr. Ferguson passed tbrough the Nkoranza territ0ry on hi, way 
to Bole in May 1891, and to reqnest them as frien Is to desist from entering- on any 
alliance that ,he King of Kumase mig-ht propose. 
It is clear that Prempeh is not to be trusted, and that wi th al l bis ass uran ces of peacc 
and good will on the coast he is playing a double game up here. 
He has promised the Bandas a portion of the Nkoranza country, shoul d tbey prove 
vic'orious, and is sllp ply ing them with arms and monc'y, and furtber by negotiating- with 
IBoJe he is once again in tonch with Sal.g-a, as a gl eat part of Bole is Mahommedan 
and posses,es the same sympathies as Salaga. 
, If I can succeed in stopping the Bole, from taking any part against the Nkoranzas the 
Bandas wiUnot dare to fight witoollt their assistance. 
l As stated in my lett~r despatched to you yesterday, the Nkorallzas ,>te gradualh' retu rning to their home~, and if through our iOlervention tbe Boles can only be induced 
'to remain nentral. confidence in us will be much increased throngbout t.he country. 
I have, &0. 
The Hon. tbe CoJonial Secretary. F. C. SCOTT, Colonel, 
Inspector-General, 
Commanc1 ing Attabubu Expeditiollary Force, 
o 89730. u 
154 I 
Mr. FERGUSON to the ADJUTANT of the Expeditionary Force.  
SIB, .A.tabubu, December 25, 1893. 
I HAYE the honour to report as follows, for tbe information of his Excellency tbe 
Acting Governor, \·iz. :- . 
!. The appl ication of tbe people of Amanting, which I rderred to you, havin!l' been 
favourably considered by Colond Sir Francis ~cott, I executed a treaty with them on 
the 21st Decemher at noon. ' 
2. On the 23rd December intelligence was received ibrough Chief Etfrin of Wiasi 
tbat Kabachiwula is auout to attack Yegi. i-ihould he be victorious, it is very probable 
tbat the people of Ycgi will also fl y to this ~ountry for protection . 
3. On the 23rd ncws reached me hom a reliable source tb~t the Bandas bad obtained 
the alliance oi' the people of Bole agai nst Mo, and yestermorning j bad an interview 
with a man wbo wos present at all the operations of the Ashantis and also at tbe last one 
reported in my let.ter of the 20th December (D .) in which it was stated that Seidu Nji 
and Kukntantumi were killed. 1 was informed (by Wro Wela from Banda) that private 
messeng'ers were sent a few weeks ago by Prempeh to the camp at Banda; the Bandas 
were requested to continue the war, and were promised a large portion of the Nkoranza 
country; the Ashantis have obtained the alliance of the King of Bole; tbe Asbanti army 
is composed of cont.ingents f1'01ll tbe A shant.i towns of Wenchi, Boasi, Bawem, N trubodom, 
Nchraa, Badukiotn, Opima, Beidu, Nsoko and Wuansi; tbese towns lie to the north of 
Ashanti; t he Boles have left their town, and are encamped at Asisesu about a day's 
journcy frum Longoro (Mo). The Ashantis and Bandas are encamped at Babato, 
Nkoranz,~ to\\'n. The people of Bole are strongly sympathetic with Salaga, they ha,-e 
espoused the AsLanti inception~ of the war, and it is the general belief that if the alliance 
is not checked it will necessitate the Atabubu Expeditionary Force being detained to give 
confidence to the people here, and tO \VatcBh operatirons. IBensari and Kofi Jesi, from Mo, .1 
reports tbat messengers have Come f rom ole to ~' o, te ling tbem to prepare lor battle 
in 7 days time. ,I I have, &c.  
The Adjutant, Expeditionary Force. GEORGE E. FEIlGUSON. f 
No. 56. 
ACTING GOVEHNOIl HODGSON t.o the MARQUESS OF RlPO:\'. 
(Received Februa.ry 9, 1894.) 
[Answered by No. 61.] 
Government House, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
My Lonn, January 11, 1;;94. 
11'< continuation of Ill\' Despatch of the 9th instant," on the subject of affairs 
in Attabubu, and the attitude of tbe Ashantis, I have the houour to transmit, for 
your Lordship' s information, copies of letters which I h:lVe addressed to Colonel Sir 
l irancis Scott, comrnanding the Expeditionary Force iu Attabubu, dated the 15th 
December und 10th instant; a copy of my letter to Mr. Ferguson to whicb relerence is 
made in paragraph 3 of the former letter was Jorwarcled to your Loroship iu my 
Despatch of the 1 ' tb November.t 
I have, &c_ 
F. M. HODGSON. 
Acting Governor 
Enclosure 1 in No. 56. 
The COLONIAL SEOnEl'An~ to tbe INSPECTOR-GENERAL . 
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
Sm, DeceUlber 15, 1893. 
I HAVE tbe honour to acknowledge the receipt, on the 14th instant, of Mr. 
Ferguson's Report, dated hom Attababu the 24th November, in which he furnishes 
. -- --- ._--------
-No. 55. t No. 44. 
155 
~ useful record of tlw history and position towHrds the Ashanti s of t.he Brong tl'ibes, 
illcludino' .A.ttabubu, and of the e\'ents which have recently takcn placc in tbe countries 
of those "tribes up to the present date. J am in receipt 81 so of Captain I.ang's report of 
tbe 30th Nowmber ~llcl of your letter of the 1st Dccember. in ",bid) 1 0U report tbat 
yon are leaving .A.betlfi for .A.ttallUbu on I I edllesday , t he 6t h IIlstant, and that you have 
placed two sections of Hausas unde:' Capt.ain Boisragou at Bompata. 
2. I have forwa rded copies of these reports and letters to the Secretary of State in a 
Despatch dated the 7th instant. 
3. In answer to Mr. Fergusou's separate letter of the 24th November, which is 
endorsed by you as having been seen on the 30th November, in which he refers to the 
making of treaties with the Kings of the Brong tribes and also witb the Kin g of Nkoranza, 
T have Lbe honour to forward to YOll, for your intormation, a copy of a letter which T have 
addressed to Mr. Ferguson on these and other subjects . You will observe that T have 
authorised his waking a trcllty of frienn ship and freedom of trade with t he King of 
Nkoranza so long as the Killg understands clearly that the treaty is no more than thaI., 
and that it cioes not involve any obl igation 011 the part of this Government for prote~tion 
to bim from the Ashantis. 
-t. I observe that Mr. :b'ergnson in his report, or as he calls it, memor6lldum, mentions 
" King of Abeasi,' so that it wonld scem that Abensi, which has bcen before refe rrcd to as 
possibly an Attabubu town, cannot really be so. 
5. I am glad to learn that the Fetish priest of Kraki has left Attabubu with his armed 
pa~~"r observe that Captain Lang is of' opiuion that King Prempe and his party would 
gladly come to terms with this Government and that the acqu isition of the whole of 
Ashanti could be hrought about without tiring a shot; bllt I feel quite certain that the 
King and bis party, which is not inconsiderable, would not quietl y acquiesce in the 
country being taken within t.be Protectorate. The policy :rf the King aud his party has 
been to consolidate their power and to exteno it wherever it has been thougbt possible to 
do so. They have becn strong euough to drive out of t.he country in succession the 
Kokofus, the Nkwantas, the Nsutas, tbe Mampons and the Daniasis, ancl "Ithougll the 
continued fighting has now weakened them I feel sure that they would offer resistance and 
that they would not let the forces of this Government march into Kumasi without firi ng 
a shot. Tbe resistance would possibly be feeble, but, nevertheless, there would be 
resistance, and I nm not prepared to recommend any advauce in the direction recommendecl 
unless the Secretary of State is prepared to comply with the requirements with rcgard 
to British troops whicb were embodieu in 'yullr letter of the 2nd October. 
r have, &c. 
Colonel Sir Francis Scott, K.C.M.G., C.B. F. M . HODGSON. 
Enclosure 2 in No. 56. 
The COLONIAL SECRETARY to the INSPECTOR-GENERAL. 
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
\ SIll , January 10, 1894. r HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of youI' letters of the 24th and 
25th December, together with Mr. Ferguson's reports of the 20th and 25th December 
which accompanied them, on the subject of the coudition of affairs iu Attahubu and the 
attitude of the Ashantis. 
2. I note that it has been ascertained definitely that Abeasi is not au il.ttabubu town, 
that the boundary given by Mr. Ferguson to the COllntry of Attabubu as shawn in his 
r>ap of Decembel' l8~0 is Sllbstantially correct, aild that the Ashanti army did not cross 
pre boundary or impinge on country II ithin the Protectorate. I note also t.hat the K ing 
I of Attabubn has been informed that he acted wrongl \" in sending an armed force to assist 
the Nkoranzas or, as he puts it, "to protect his frontier," that you have warned him 
against mixing himself np in affairs outside his country, aDd further that a treaty has 
been signed by Mu. Ferguson with the King anci Chiefs of Amanti n. 
1 3. I have forwarded copies of your Jetters and of Mr. Ferguson's reports to the Secretary 
r f State. 
4. With regard to your remarks about exteuding protection to the country of 
Nkoranza, I regret that I cannot give you any other decision than tbat conveyed to you 
in paragraph 2 of my letter of tbe l7th No\·ember. You will, however, have received 
my letter of the 15th December in which I forwarder! to you a copy of a letter which I 
. U 2 
156 
had addressed to Mr. Ferguson authorising him to make a treaty of" Friendsbip and 
Freedom of Trade" with the King of Nkoranza. This t.reaty, the terms of which do 
not include protection, is all that can be done by tbis Government unless Her Majesty's 
Government is prepared t.o change its policy witb regard to Ashanti, or until the 
independence of the Nkoranzas is acknowledged by the A~hantis, which, it is obvious, is 
not the case at present. You must, I am sure, recognise that were protection to be 
extend~d to the Nkoranzas this Government would at once find itself faee to face with 
Ashanti as well as with the trihes in alliance with Ashanti against the Nkoranzas and 
that, under the circumstances, it is nCot in my power to take the step you recommend, 
however much I may think it desirable in the interests of the Protectorate, of trade, and 
of" civilization. 
5. I had already formed the opinion, snbsequently to my having instructed you to 
offer an asylum to the Nkoranzas within the Protectorate, that they would not leave 
their country, A.nd the statement made in paragraph ~ of your letter of the 24th December 
makes it clear that they will not do so, and, further, that t.he proposed site fo r their 
location, had they elected to come into the Protectorate, would have been unsuitahle. 
6. I regret to learn that Kabachi-wula, the present King of Salaga, meditates an attack 
on Yeji in consequence of t.he support given by tbe people of that country to the late 
King, but althongh any step which hrings the Salagas nearer to tbe Ashantis is much to 
be deprecated you have acted rightly in ta.king no action, having regard to th" fact 
tbat Yeji is within the neutral zone. I have already repre'ented to the Secretary of 
State the extreme desirability, indeed neces~ity , of preveoting an alliance between the 
S",]aga, and Ashantis, and I have now again done so. 'Were such an alliance effected 
Knntempo would cease to ("xist as a market town, and the greater part of the trade which 
now finds its way into the Gold Coast would be diverted. The possibility of such an 
alliance is a very strong arg ument in favour of a forward nolicy witb regard to Ashanti 
and its ahsorption within the Protectorate. 
7. I approve of the action which you have takcn in sending Mr. Ferguson to the 
King of Bole for the purpose of inducing him to desist from rendering assi. tance to the 
Bandas and Ashantis in their war against the Mos. It is very deSirable in the interests 
of trade, apart from other considerations, to prevent the war from spreading . 
8. [ regret 10 inform you tba , up to the present date I have not been informed by the 
Secretary of State of the decision which has been corne to as regards the policy to be 
adopted towards Ashanti henceforth, and I am unable, therefore ttl give you instructions 
with regard to your further movements. I have, as you are aware, suggested that a 
forward policy should be adopted and tbat ,he King of Ashanti should be called upon 
to pay an indemnity of :2,000 ounces of gold in H·.pecr of the expenses incurred by the 
Government in despatching an expeditionary force to Attabubu. I shall communicate 
Lord Ripon's rlecision as soon as I receive it and, in tbe meantime, I de,ire yon to remain 
in Attabubu so that confideuce may be restored among the natives in that part of tbe 
Protectorate. 
I have, &c. 
The Hon. the Inspector-General. F. M. HODGSON. 
No. 57. 
ACTING GOVERNOR HODGSON to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received February 20, 1894.) 
TELEGRAPHIC. 
[Answered b./j No. 58 .] 
Agree entirely with proposals c~nt"ined. in .your Despatch of 30th January.* 
intended to make suggestlOns of a slmllar klOd 10 the event of prevIous proposals not 
approved. I hAve Vroom at head-quarters in immediate readiness. to proceed to Kumasi. 
Request permission to send (him) at once, with, Despatch emb~dYlDll" terr~s proposed. I 
shall now issue necessary orders for withdrawal of greater portlOn of N atlve troops . 
• No. 63. 
157 
No. 58. 
THE MARQUESS OF RrrON to ACTING GOVERNOIl HODGSON. 
TELEGRAPHJC. 
February 22.-In reply to your telegram of 20th February" you have authority to 
seurl Vroom as proposed. 
No. 59. 
ACTING GOVERNOR HODGSON to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received Fehruary 27, 1894.) 
(EXTRACT.) 
Government House, Vietoriaborg, Accra, 
Jan lIary 29, 1894. 
REFERRING to previous corr~spondence with regard to the relations between the 
Gold Co. .t  Government and Ashanti, I have the honour to transmit a copy of a further 
report fr<'1ll Colonel Sir Francis Scott. It is dated from Attabubu tbe 16th January, and 
reached me at 8 p.m . on the 26th January. 
Sir Francis Scott still argues most strenuously in favou r of taking tbe country of 
Nkoranza into the Protectorate. and I should he exceedingly glad to be ill a position to 
instruct him to do so. but it is, as I have already pointed out, a matter for your Lordship' s 
decision, baying regard to the facts mentioned in my despatches, and to the situauon 
which would be evolved from such a step. 
It is satisfactory to note that Mr. Ferguson's missioll to Bole, which I reported in 
my despatch of tbe 9th Januaryt bas been completely successful, tbe Bole forces havin!; 
flerl on hearing that a Government Officer was on his way to tbe King. Si r Froncis 
Scott does not s·"y whether Mr. Ferguson went on to Bole, and interviewed tbe King on 
the subject of the overtures made to him by the Ashanti" or desisted from doing so on 
learning th2t the Bole forces had retired. On this point I will make inquiry. 
Sir Francis Scott states that, as he is experiencing difficulty with regard to bis food 
and water supplies, he has, upon the advice of the principal medical officer attached to 
the expeditionary force, sent a detachment of 100 men uuder Inspector Mitchell to 
!\mantin ; which is shown on Fergusr.n's map of December 1890; Amantin is, I notice, 
some 30 miles distant from Attabubu and on the road to Kumasi. ·Were a forward 
m0vement on Kumasi contemplated the posit.ion selected is, I should say, a good one. 
Detachments of Hausas are now at Prabsu, Bompata, and Amantin, and King Prempe 
and his adherents with him at Kumasi must be getting nervous as to a furt.her 
development of the situation. Sir Francis Scott thinks, from inform~tion he has 
gained, tbat tbe arrival of tbe Government torce at Kumasi would be welcomed and tbat 
he could enter without firing a sbot. 1 do not alter the opinion wbich I have already 
expressed in this regard. 
Enclosure in No. 59. 
The INSPECTOR-GENERAL to tbe COLONIAL SECRETARY. 
SIR, Atabubu, January 16, 1894. 
I HA VB the bonour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th 
December, together witb a copy of a letter addressed by you to Mr. Ferguson 
authorising a treaty oftriendship being made with the Nkoranzas. 
This will be carried out immediately. I still, however, maintain that they should be 
afforded protection, and am hoping tbat a tinal decision regarding this, in answer to my 
letter of, the 24th December, will be to this effect. 
The awe with wbich the Government is regarded in these parts wiil, I am sure, prevent 
the Kumasi-Nkoranza w"r recurring, ODce tbe latter is known to have our protection. 
• No. 57. t No. 55 . 
U 3 
158 
I am convinced of this and did not ad vocate the step without considering the point 
you mentioned in regard to furcing the hand of t he Imperial Government by t he 
Nkoranza war becoming our own. 
2. With reference to my letter of the 25th December, regarding the Banda-Bole alliance, 
I have the nOllOUr to report Mr. Ferguson's return . H is mission was successful in so far 
as the whole of the Fole forces fled on hearing of the advent of a Government officer 
and a force of Hausas_ 
Mr. Ferguson had one non-commissioned officer and two privates with him. T he 
alliance is accordingly at an end, the Boles having returned to their country. As 1 
presumed, the Bandas have not dared to act alone and have also retreated. 
3. My latest information from Kumasi, prucured Oll excellent authority, is to the effect. 
that the dissatisfaction in the to \I n ;s considerahle. The young men state openly that, 
were the forces of the Government to advance to-morrow on Kumasi, they would refuse 
to tire a shot, indeed would gladly welcome us, and refer us to their Chiefs who have 
caused them so much trouble lately by continuai fighting, of which they themselves are 
heartily tired. There is undoubtecily much truth in the above report. K umasi is no 
longer the Power she is credited to be on the cuast. 
4. Owing to the difficulties I am at present experiencing with regard to water and 
supplies for Hausas and carriers, I have found it necessary, on the recommendation of the 
principal medical officer, to send a detachment of 100 rank and file to Amantin under 
the command of Mr. ~fitchelJ. Amautin is one of the few places which has not sutf~red 
from the depredations of the Nkoranzas and Krakis. Mr. Mitchell has full instruct ions 
in regard to the boundary of the Protectorate. Amant.in is about 30 miles from this 
place. 
I have, &c. 
The I-Ion. the Coloniai Secretary. F. C. SCOTT, Colonel, 
Commanding Atabubu Expeditionary Force_ 
No. 60. 
ACTING GOVERNOR HODGSON to the MARQUESS OF R IPON. 
(Received March 3, 1894.) 
TELEGRAPHIC. 
March 3, 1894. Vroom left for Kumassi this morning. 
No. 6l. 
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON to SIR W. B. GRIFFITH. 
Sm, Downing Street, March 6, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour ' to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Hodgson'S despatches* 
Jan. 9, '94. "vted in th", margin, iorwHrding further reports and documents on the subject of afiairs 
Jan. 11 , '94. in Attabubu anel the attitude ot the Ashantis. 
I have to refer you to my despatch of t be 30th January, t in which I explained the 
views of Her Majesty's Government. 
I have, &c. 
R IPON. 
• Nos. 55 and 56. t No. 53 • 
159 
No. 62. 
THE LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE to COLONIAL OFFICE. 
(Received March S, 1894.) 
[Answered by No. 64.] 
Botolph House, Eastoheap, London, E.C., 
SIR, March 7, 1894, 
YOUR communicat.ion of the 19th January,* in reference to the report of Captain 
Lang upon the expediency of the construction of railways on tb e Gold Coast, was laid 
before a recent meeting of the West African Trade Section of thi s Chamber, and I was 
directed to call your attention to the fact tbat your letter does not make any reference 
to tb e administration of Ashantee, which was dealt with in Illy Jetter to you of the 13th 
of the same month,t and of which your letter was an acknowledgement. 
I have, &c. 
KENRIC B. MURRAY. 
Secretary . 
No. 63. 
ACTING GOVEllNOR HODG SON to the MARQUESS OF RIPON . 
(l~eceived March 10, 1894.) 
[Answered by No . 66.] 
(EXTRACT.) 
Government l-Io"se, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
February 12, 1894. 
T HAVE the honour to report that on Sunday, the 4th in stant, K06 Bua, a sword 
bearer, and Kurlj'o Tano, a court crier, arrived as mes:::.enger.<:; from the King of Ashanti, 
accompanied by Yow D e"beh despatched by the King of Bekwai, bringing with them 
the letter of which, together with it, enclosure, I transmit copies. The enclosure is It 
copy of the letter addressed by the King to Colonel Sir Francis Scott which, with that 
officer's reply , [ forwarded tJ your Lordship in my despatch of the 14tb llecember.t 
I interviewed the messengers on Monday, the 5th instant, and on Saturday, tbe 11 tb 
instant, I handed to them my reply, of which I enclose a copy. Tbe terms of this 
reply were carefully considered and approved in Executive Council a ll the 8th instant. 
I thougbt it desirable, as treaties of friendship and freedom ,)f t rade are being, Or have 
by this time been, signed witb the Brong tribes, to take the opportuuity of referring 
definitely to them in paragraph 3 of the lelter, and in tbe advisabilit), of doi ng eo 
members of the Council were unanimous. 
When handing the letter to tbe me,sengers I took the opportunity of requestinf! 
tbem to tell the King of Asbanti t.bat a treaty of friendship and freeuom of tmde had 
bel'n signed Iyith the King of Nkoranza (r suppose it has by this t ime) and. to convey 
Ill)' advice to him t~at he wou ld do wBll to desist from furtber war. The Il1c.;senge rs 
informed me that the King's letters were wrilten by Osoo An,ah wbo, from what ohey 
said, appears to be the King's secretary and principal adviser. He is called in Ashanti 
Ohin'Nana, and is no doubt the real author of the present trollbles in. that conntry. 
The messengers travelled in no state, and might from their general appearance ha" e 
come from any petty Chief. Tbey were without sufficient means and hegged for 
money to assist them on the way when returning. I told them to tell King Prelllpeh 
that the embassy was not such a one as should hal'e been sent to t he representative of 
the great Queen of Englal!d, that I had some hesitation in receivi ng it, and that in 
future he must pay more respect to the Governor of the Gold Coast if be wanted hi s 
letters to receive attention. 
I may state that the conversation which r had with Kofi B!la impressed me with 
the feeling that King Prempeh was very nervous as to the action we were going to take, 
that he is without the means of providing himself with sufficient munitions of war, and 
Ihat he desires peace because he Eeels his weakness. 
• No. 50. t No. 47.'; 
U4 
160 
I enclose a copy of a letter which I addressed to the Inspector-General in A ttabubu 
on the 8th in~tant in which I have aut.horised him to withdraw the expeditionarv force 
from Attabubu and to return to Kwahu, should he consider it desirable to do so in view 
of the scarcity of food and water supplies in the former coumry. ' 
Enclosure 1 in No. 63. · 
The KING OF ASHANTI to the ACTING GOVERNOR. 
GOVERNOR, Kumasi, November 25, 1893. 
I AM really surp rised to learn, when 1 have returned your native District Commissioner 
together with my messengers, bearing the t rue explanation fo rthe charges made agn,inst 
me, that I have contemplated an attack on Attabubu, whIch IS untrue and solicitin <r at 
the same time to recall your officer and men you send out for that purpose thro~gh 
Kewawhu to Attahubu, and my messengers have not yet returned from you; when 
suddenly, I am informed, that your officer whom you send out is frightenin<r my people 
and compelling them to sign t.reaty of protection with the British Govern~ent such as 
my subjects of Akim Agugu which are Illy loyal subjects, I beg to say it is not fair with 
my good friend to treat me such, and I beg to state if any of my subjects are will in.,. to 
come under the protection of Her M "jesty's Government, kindly let me know of sa~e. 
2. I havt sent my messengers witb my letter to your officer asking him to be civil 
to my people that may pass hIS way to tbe coast to trade; a copy of the letter· I 
berewith cnclosed. 
3. I think I am justified in saying it is not ;your wbite ofllcer that is fri<rbtenin<r 
my subjects, but bis f~lIowe:s, tbe bad and cruel treatment that are giving to m~ 
AshantI traders, smce thIS affaIrs took place, I am sorry to say too numerous to mention 
tberefore ,. b~g. t.o say for tbe sake of 'peoc and tranquillity make a strict enquiry about 
same, and sohcltmg you at the same tIme to recall you r officer and men. 
Receive the assurance of my personal regards. 
I have, &c. My 
His Excellency F. M. Hodgson, KWAKA DUA III. X 
Act.ing Governor. King of Ashanti. mark. 
Enclosure 2 in No. 63. 
ACTING GOVE RNOR to the KING OF ASHANTI. 
Government House, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
KING, February l O, 1894. 
Yom] messellg~r Kon Bua, acco mpanied by Yow De.beb, headman from tbe 
Kil1g of Bekwai, arrived at Accra 011 the 4th February with your letter of the 25th 
November, having taken upwards of two months to come down. It would seem that 
under the circumst.ances yo u cannot have attacbed very much importance to the subject 
of it. 
2. I beg to state, however, in reply to the letter that you have been misinformed as to 
the action of the officer whom I despatched with an army into Attabubu. If the people 
of th<1t part of Asbanti which adjoins Attabubu, are, as you say, frightened, the cause must 
be attributed to your havin~ disturbed them with your OWI1 forces, the commancter of 
wh ich had, I am aware, boasted that he would do great things, anu bad sworn he ",<'uld 
not return to Kumasi until he bad brought the Brong tI ibes under subjection. Those 
of your people who live near the Queen's country and know the benefits of peace and 
good government, as for exalllple the Agogos. to whom you refer in your letter, rlo not 
want war, and it is not unnatural tbat they should be frigbtened when the) see your 
fighting men, heing' aware by a long sad experience of tbe tronble whicb war brings 
upou them. 
3. Tb~ Brong tribes, of whicb Attltbnbu is one, do not serve you, and I see no 
necessity for communicating with YOIl with respect to them. I recogni ze them as free 
to act as they think best in their own interest, and you will do well, King, to remember 
that, and not again trespass ou the forbearance of this Government, as you did when 
your army menaced Attabubu in your avowed scheme for conquering those tribes . 
• See Enclosure in No. 48A.. 
161 
4. The eommander of th e Queen 's army in Attabubu sent a )'eply to t he letler 
which you addre'Sed to him on the 2f>th Novemher. What he say" in it is correct, and 
I ha\'e nothing to add to it excepting to slate that so long as vou and your advisers arc 
alwayc wanting war so long will th ofe· of your people who desire pence /Lnd know t.he 
benefits of it want to break away from YO ll , and gct clear of tbe tcrrible Iroubles and 
poverty whi~h war brings. • 
5. When this Government helpcd to place you in · the pos ition in which you now are 
it was to he supposed that you would have sought tbe advice of ~b e Governor from 
time to time and relied upon it, but YOll bave tho ught yourself ahlp. to act independen tly 
and bave gone on in very much the same way as ,Your predecessors. 
This Government has :-vatched your career WIth regret. If, finally, you are brougbt 
into serio liS trouble you Will, at any rate, only have yourself to blame for it. 
lam, &c. 
F. M. HOnGSON, 
The King of Ash anti. Actin g GovernGr. 
Enclosure 3 ill No. 63. 
The COLONIAL SRCUETARY to tbe I NSP8GTOR-GENERAL. 
Colonial Secretary" Office, Victoria borg, Accra, 
SIR, february 8, 1894. 
I HAVE tbe honour to ack nowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th ultimo, 
a copy of which has heen sent to the Secretary of Stat.e. 
2. I am glad to learn that Mr. f erguson's mission was succp.ssful , and that tbe Bo.1es 
have severed tbemselves from tbe Bandas, but I beg to he informed whetber Mr. Ferguson 
Rctually proceeded to Bole and had an interview with the K ing, or returned to Attahubu 
wben he had obtained authentic informlttion of tbe fligbt of the Bole fo rces . 
3. Your action in sending a detachment of Hausas under Inspector Mitchell to 
Amantin is approved. 
4. I have received a telegram from tbe Secretary of State iofo rlT]ing me that a reply 
to the several despatches whicb I have addressed to him on the situation with As hanti 
has been sent to me by the mail leaving Lil·erpool on the 31st J anuary, due at Accra on 
the 19th instant. It will, [ hope, indicate the policy t.o be pUlsued by th is Government 
and con tain instructions as to the fllrther steps to be taken at the present juncture. J 
will communicate with ),ou immediateiy on its receipt. If, in the )r. eantime, in view of 
tbe scarcity of water and food su ppli es in Attabubu , and you have completed treaties 
with tbe Brong trihes as \\'ell as placed the country of Attabilbu once more in order, yon 
think it desirable to return to K wahu , you are at liberty. to do so witbout wa it in <r for 
further instruction" but should you do so [ beg that you will advise me and stat.;' the 
probable date of your arrival at Abet.ifi. 
I have, &c. 
The Hon. the Inspector-GeneraL F . M. HODGSON. 
No. 64. 
COLONIAL OFFICE to the LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMt<:RCE. 
SIR, Downing Street, March 13, 1894. 
I AM directed by the Marquess of Ripon to acknowledge the reoeipt of your letter 
of 7th instant, * and in reply I am to acquaint you that the relations between tbe Gold 
Coast Colony and Asbanti a re engaging the attention of Her Majesty'" Government, who 
are in correspondence with thp- Governor on the subject, but that Lord Ripon is not in a 
position at present to give you any further in formation with respect to it. 
ram, &c. 
JOHN BRAMSTO!'~ . 
• No. oZ. 
o 897aO. x 
162 
No. 65. 
ACTING GOVERNOR HODGSON to the MA RQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received March 20, 1.894.) 
[A'MWered by No. 74.J 
(EXTRACT.) 
Government House, VictOliabol'g, AC9ta, 
February 21, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour to transmit, with reference to previous Despatches on the 
subject of the relations of t his Government with Asbanti and the condition of affairs in 
Attabul>u and the neighbourh'oocl, a copy of a fur~her report which I have received from 
Colonel Sir Francis Scott together with cOl,ies of ihe enclosures which accomnanied it. 
I feel sure that Y0ur Lordsh ip will lp-:trn with regret the fact that the flouri shir", 
market town of Kontempo ex ists no longer .. It has been visited by Mr. Fergllson wh~ 
states that the town, which llIust have con tamed more than 5,000 inh"bitants, is n ow in 
ruins. Such a catastrophe cannot but disturb the trade between the Gold Coast and its 
hinterland, and is in itself a cogeut reason for putting a stop to the llseless and ruinous 
wars undertaken by the King of Ashanti. I t is some satisfaction, however, to note that 
the Hansa Chief and the principal traders of Kontem.po under him have migrateri illto 
the Protectorate, and that Colonel Sir Francis .Scott has been able to find a suitable place 
for them at a point Gear the Volta River in the locality of the new road for whieh Mr. 
Ferguson holds instructions to make a survey as soon "s he has complet.ed the special 
mission upon which he has now been sent. There, I hope, they will start a new market. 
town and attract to it much of the trade which now goes to Salaga and as much as 
possible of that which formerly went to Kontempo. . 
A treaty of friendship and freedom of trane has heen si,,;ned with the King 0(' 
Nkoranza, and Sir Francis :)cott states tbat tbe King and his people were greatly pleased, 
and expressed the hope that at no distant date their cOllntry would be included in tbe 
Protectorate. 
King Kabachi- Wula of Salnga bas been diverted from his inrention to attack Yeji, a 
matter ,.hich J referred to in my Despatch of tbe 9th January. * 
From paragraph 6 of his report, dated the 16th Janllar)" I gather that Mr. Fprgusotj. 
did not consider it necessary to proceed as rar as Bole, the Boles, who bad beeu sent by 
the King of that country to a~sist the Bandas in their war against the Mos, having 
deserted their camp and returned to Bole upon hearing of Mr. Ferguson's near approach. 
Mr. Ferguson states tbat he ,yent o,'er the Ashanti-Nkoranza battlefields and found 
traces of slugs (of volcanic scorire) having been used and that not a single vestige of a 
Snider cartridge was apparent. it may, I think, he infelT~d from these facts that th~ 
provisions ofthe General Act of the Brussels Conference, ,<hich are embodied in Gold 
Coast Ordinance No.3, of 189'2, supplemented by Ordiuance No. 4, of l892, are 1l0W 
weli at work, and that the Ashantis are without propel' munitions of' war. . 
It is melancholy to have to note that Mr. Ferguson heard on reliable authority that 
the Nkoranza prisoners taken by the Ashs.ntis were sacrificed during the" cllstom" held 
in memory of those of the Ashanti Ohiefs who fell in the war. 
Enclosure in No. 65. 
The INSPECTOR-GENERAL to the COLONIAL S"ECHETARY. 
(EXTRACT.) 
. Atabubu, February 7, 1894. 
I HAVE tbe honour to ackno,dedge the receipt of your two letters of the 9th and lOth 
January respectively; These only arrived ber'e hst night.. It is to he regretted that a 
separate small escort was not told off ('J[ the mails alonc, in which case they would haye 
reached me on or about the ~2nd January , and I should accordingly have been in 
possession of .YOUl' inslructions with refe'renee to Mr. Ferguson's III issioll so much earlier. 
The majority of load carriers to Mr. Ferguson had been sick Oil the journey Hod b'ld 
thus delayed the whole party. 
• No. 51; 
]63 
" ' itb reference to the special mi%icn about to take place, I huve carefully noted 
your inst~·nctions. Mr. Ferguson is away at present hut will be hack here in II day or 
two. 
I will direct Captaiu Lang to conclude the treaties t iHl.t have not already been made 
witb tbe people east of this to the Voltu. 
The treaty of friends;)i):> with the NkOl'anzas has bccn effected . 
The King' and his people were immensely ple"ed, at the ,aUle tillle sincerely tru,ted 
that the present tree.ty was but. a I'orernnller oftbc protection wbinh they so wisbed for . 
I really believe, however, myse lf that ~ UI'rOllndlDg tl'loes will be unable to ulJdcrstand 
how anYOlle who has received, 11 flag aud " llIa\le paper" ""'lth Ie the whiLe man" can be 
otherwise than under his protection. 
YOll will be glad to learn that I sncceeded in dissuading Kabachi-Wula froll attackiug 
Yegi. This was done io a purelY private ma.nner. . 
I enclose a report rece ived from .Mr. Fergusun after hi s mission to the Boles. 
P.S .- The bearer, Private ~<I usa Fulani (2), is an exceptionally good runner, h"ving 
arrived here some dUJs ago in 10 day!=; fl'0111 Accra. I therefore recommend hi s being 
employed sbould you require to cornmunicltte with me urgently . 
Mr. FEHGUSON to the ADJUTANT, Attabubu Expeditionary Force. 
Sm, . . Amanting, January 16, 1894. 
WITH reference to the instructions contained ilf your letter uf the 26th December 
1H93, I have t he honour to report tbat on the 26th D ecember I le ft A ttabubLl at 4 ~.m. 
and proceaded in a generai direction of' W. by N . '~ N. (Compass) to Duabon or 
Dompodua.-
eli st.nce 4.7 statute miles· 4.7 miles 
27.12.\}3, Dompodua to Fakosi, W .N . W. 23.5 
28. 12·90, Fakosi to Druma, W. t N. 19·7 
29.12.9~. Druma to Ahunju, W . by S. ~ S . 14.2 
00 .1 2.93, Ahunju to Nkoranza, S. W. ~ W. 4.2 
30.12.9:3, Kkoranza to Bodom, N. i W. 13.8 
31.12.93, Bodom to Kokun., N. by E. t E. 
31.12.93, Kokuma to Natlle (farm) ]Sf. E. iN. . } 23. 1 
1.1.94, Nante to Kintampo N. ~ E. - 10. 
2.1.94, K intampo to Amansara, N.W. 't N . 19·5 
3.1.94, Amansara to Longoro 1.2 
Total distance traversed about· 134 
The intermediate villages are not mentioned. 
2. fbere were enumerated to mc more than 120 towns and villages (not induding 
hamlets) in the Nkoranza territory . These will be embodied in a map showing my 
traverse and other roads in Nkoranza wbich r am preparing. 
3. The route followed by me led through the ground on wbicb en~agern ent.s between 
the Asbantis and l'Ikoranzas were fOLlght. The mnrks left on baobab trees sbow that 
in many cqses slugs (of volcanic scoriie) were used . I searched carefully for Snider 
cartridges but disco\'ercc! none. The evidence nn the field indicates tbat th e' AsllUntis 
suffererl more than the Nkoranza.; and t.he infonllution aln~ady communicated to you (,n 
thi!=\ point was \ el'ificd. The Ashan tis have, however, hurllt ('very thing in \ :ko ranzH. 
The market town of Kint.mpo, which must ha\'e coot.,illed more tlian 5,000 people, i9 
now in rui"s, aDd the Nkoranza capital town is entirely razed. Man), of the Nkor.onzas 
who were taken pr i so;J(~rs to Asbanti have been sacrificed during the "custom" for 
those Chiefs who fell in the \YOI' witll Nkoranza: thi, information was received from a 
reliable source, and before leaving Kintarnpo I am informed ' that great dissatisfaction 
was expressed by the Asbanti army, that they "ere tired of' the prolonged wars carried 
on by Prempeh. 
4. When I reached Amansara and Longoro, I found noboely tbere. The men of Mo 
were encamped against the Bandas and the women were concealed in little farms on the 
banks of the Vo lta. The presence of our forces at Altabubu was kllown and tbe people 
had also heard t ha~ the King of Nkoranza was returring to bis country. 
X2 
164 
5. In order that my stay at Mo may not be protracted I sent a mnnerfi'om Nanie 
to acquaint the people that I was coming. On the 3rd and 4th January 1894 r held 
intervIews with them at whIch the following Chiefs were present, viz :-Kwamin Gua, 
Linguist; Kofi Yangira, Yow Donko, Abrantea Kujo, Yow Bofu, Kojo Sadu, Akwesi 
Bouma, Akwesi Bordi, Kojo Kraa, Kwesi Mpra, Kwa Donko, Kwamin Amua, Kofi 
Mante, Eso Kojo, [lange, Jei, Ejei, Kofi Wei, Jin Diukra and Akwesi Kuma. These 
Chiefs stated to me :-" When your runner arrived to acquaint us that you were coming 
" there were two Banda prisoners here. The prisoners had been captured some time 
"ago. On the night of the day when your messenger arrived the two prisoners ran 
"away. The news of your coming' to Longoro reached the camp of the Boles 
" simultaneoU8ly with the news that the King of Nkoranza was r~tUl'ning to his country; 
" it was taken there by the two prisoners who escaped from our camp. We captured 
" yesterday another man. He told us that the two men who escaped had represented 
" that the King 0f Nkoranza had obtained the alliance of the white man and was 
" coming upon them with a force of 300 soldiers. Thereupon the Boles refrained from 
" taking part in the war and deserted their camp." 
6. Thus, when I reached Longoro, three days after my messelJ~er sent from Nante 
the camp had been deserted. I proceeded to the camp and observed that the contingent 
from Bole deserted their calllp in great confusion. The camp would not contain more 
thau 1,500 men. My party of three Hausas was, as you will observe, represented as 
300. 
7. On the 4th I noticed a number of women and children returning to Amansara and 
Longoro. They told me that inasmuch as the white man who conquered Ashanti had 
seut his party through the country, they were confident that the country was safe. A 
large number of Nkoranzas were met by me going to Nkoranza from Brumasi and Koro. 
8. Ilefj Longol'<-' early in the morning of the 5th and arrived at Att.buhu on the 
evening- of the 11th Jannar)'. On Illy return journey I passed through Nkoranza and 
met th~ people who had returned engaged in clearing the overgrown town. There w~re 
two villages 0f Nkoranza already occupied by a few Ashantis and the King of Nkoranza 
had sent to tell them to le!i,'e them. 
D. I made a verba.! report of the foregoing to you on my returu to Attabubu. 
1 have, &c. 
The Adjutant, GEORGE E. fERGUSON. 
Attabubu Expeditionary Force, 
Attabubu. 
No. 66. 
THE MAHQUESS OF RIPON to SIll W.E. GRIFFITH. 
Sm, Downill,!!: Street, March 21, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Hodgson's Despatch of 12th 
ultimo,· and to express my approval of the letter which he addressed to the King of 
Ashanti under date of the lOth February. 
I have, &c. 
RIPON. 
No. 67. 
ACTING GOVEilNOR HODGSON to the MARQ.UESS 0])' RIPON. 
(Received March 26, 1894.) 
[.dnswered by No. 74.] 
(EXTRACT.) 
Governmeut House, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
February 26, I t'94. 
I HAVE the honour tll acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's Despatch of 
the 30th January,t conveying the vip.ws of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the 
• No, 63, t No. 53 . 
165 
action to be t aken towards Ashunti. I regret that it bas not heen deemed expedient 
to adop t those which I ventured to pu t forwurd; but although the via medJia wb ich has 
now heen suggested will , if carried thruugh, as I tru st it lIl ay be, in vo lve the Go vernment 
of the Gold Ooast in sC lUe add itional ex penditure in t he work of controlling tbe power of 
A,htlnti, it is undoubtedl y the bes t cour'e tt' be take n under tbe ciroUl11sta "ces. 
In anticipation of a pO~5ible rej ection of th e proposals of thi s G:overDllleot I had 
thougbt out an altemau"e plan of action which was almost entirely in ~armony witb 
tliat sketched out io your Lordship's Despatch, and I bad taken the precalltioll of having 
tbe means at band of carrying it out withont delay. I was therefore able to telegraph 
at once my acquiescence in the proposecl arrrangernent and to ask permission to proceed 
to cP. rry it out. 
It was partly in view of the contingeucy tbat this Government milrht have to 
rewrt to negotiations, that I bad brought to Accra Asibi , King of Kokofus, and 
Atcheriboanda, King J:rempeh's rival to the Golden Stool of Ashanti. I felt tbat in 
negotiating with King Prempeh much might be done by playing off bis rival against 
him. 
I enclose a copy of tbe inst ruct ions wbicb 1 bave given to Mr. Vroom , tbe officer 
wbom ) bave selected to proceed to KUI"asi, and a copy of my letter to the K ing of 
Asbanti, together with a copy of the agreemen t drafted by Mr. Bruce Hindle, t he 
Queen's Arlvocate, for the King'. signature in the event of hi s consenting to the 
proposals now pllt before him. 
For the reasons stated in my instructions to Mr. Vroom, r have made no reference in 
the King's letter to the qllestion of granti ng stipends , nor bave I mentioned Bekwai as 
a conn try to be considered nutsirte of Ash.nti in the proposed frontier. The K ing of 
Bek wai , who· made overtures to th iE Ci overnme nt , \V;1S the late Ki ng, and for doing so he 
was deposed, ifnot murdered , as stated in my Des patch of thc 23rd September,'" the 
present King having been placed on t he Stool becallse of his supposed loyuhy to King 
Prempeh and because he advocated Prempeh 's scheme for t.he reconstitution of the 
Ashanti Empire and power. This heing so I thought it donbtful policy to mention 
Bekwai speci fi cally and decided to omit nil mention of that country . 
Mr. Vroom will leaye Cape Coast on or about the 2nd March and should be back 
from his missioll about tne 2nd April. I bave bowever, tolr! him tbat if he sees that the 
object of the mission can be gained by not too mllcb hurrying King Prernpeh, be OJay 
delay. 
It does not appear to be necessary, especially having regard to the e'p~nse wbich 
is being incurred by the Government, to continue any longer the occupation of Atta bllbn 
loy an armed force or to maintain the present situation of guarding the fron t ier against 
possible attack by the Ashanti s, and I have tberefore sen t to Colonel Sir Franci. Scott 
the Jetter of instructions of which I enclose a copy. The movement 0[ t he t roops will 
commence about tbe 10th March, some two or tbree days before Mr. Vroom will arrive 
at K um asi. It is certain to he reported to King P rempeb wbo will not be aware of 
the cause of it or of the destination of tbe force and it will, I think , tberefore ass ist 
Mr. Vroom in bis negotiations. 
Enclosure I in No. 67. 
The ACTING GOVERNOR to Mr. VROOM. 
Government Honse, Victoriahorg. Accra, 
SIR, February 23, 1894. 
I HAVE tbe bonour to inform you that I have once more selected you 10 proceed 
on a mi'sion to the King of Ashanti. On this occasion tbe mission i, a mo~t important 
one, having for its object tbe securing of tbe consent of King Prempeh to a British officer 
heing placed at Kumasi as the agent of tbi s Government and his fricnd and sci viser. 
2. I feel snre that I can rely upon yunr proceeding in tbis matter with the utmost tact, 
discretion, and judgment, and that you will do all in )'our power to bring tbe negotiations 
with the King to a succesful issue. 
3. [enclose the letter wbich I bave addressed to King Prempeh, and I desire you to 
read it to him publicly and impressively, explaining c""efully any portions of it whicb 
may not in tbe first instance be perfectly clear to him. I have emborlied in the letter the 
• No. 31. 
X 3 
166 
.condition, which Her Majesty's Government requires him to sub~cribe t@ in the event of 
his accepting tl)e proposals as regards the establishment of a Briti,h Agency at Kumasi. 
Reliance must not be placed upon a verbal licceptance; tile matter must be the subject 
of an agreement and I have therefore had the necess3ry agreement drawn up. I enclose 
two ~()pie~ of it to botl, of which the King must place his mark and you sboulcl, if possible, 
obtam to 1t the marb of the King of Bekwal and the Kmgs of otlier countries, if present, 
as well as the marks of tbe princi pal Court offkials who would, according \0 native 
cnstom, be reqUIred to sign with the King and be parties to an alTangement macle by 
him. 
4. The Secretary of State has authorised the nego tiations being conducteJ on the 
basis of tbe grant of stipends to King Prempeh and the principal Kings of Ashanti, ann 
you will probably find the task before yon lightened when the King' comes to talk over 
tbe conditions with you and knows th"t lw will be recol!lpen,eu. 
5. Acting upon your ad vice, I have not mentioned the matter of stipends in the letter 
whicb T have addressed to King Prempeb as to do so WOuld, )'ou told me, cause him to be 
suspicious, and bis councillors to tbink that he and his country were being bought hy 
British gold. With that advice I entirely agree. 
6. You are at liberty to pledge thi s Government in the matter of stipends to the extent 
of 1,5001., or even, if necessary, 2,0001. a year, and I would suggest the following as 
suitable stipellds ;-
£ 
To tbe King of Ashaut i - 600 (501. a mont.h.) 
"Mempon - These are the fa])]' principal Kings of the 
"Kokofu - 22.0000 } country anJ tbe stipends in the case of 
" ,, 'Bek,wai - 2uO those '\vho are now fugitives from Ashanti 
" " Jnabin 200 would be paid upon their return to it. 
Queen Mother Yaki. 80 
7. I desire you to let King' PrempeiJ lInderst~nd that the agent will be an officer who 
will as"st. hiln in putting bis country in order, a matter whicb caunot but be one be bas 
at heart ; tbat with the arrival of tbe agent lI'ars wi ll cease and the country will in time 
again become flourishing and t.he people haPI'Y and contented, knowing tbat. their lives, 
·homes, and property will be safe. 
8. You are at liberty to tell Killg Prempeb t bat ,his Government has made a treaty 
witb the king of Nkoranza alld with all the tribes known as tbe Brong tribes, as well as 
wi th tbe K ing of Bole. 
9. In my l ett~r to the King I have mentiolled more than once his rival, Prince 
Atcheriboanda. This Prince is still consi,lered by tbe Kings of Mapon, ]< okofu, aor! 
other fugitive tribes po be tbe rightiul heir to tbe Golden Stool of Asbanti . He is livi!lg 
in Cbri,tiansborg with the King of Kokofu , and YO II shoul cllet King Prempeh understand 
t.bat he is in coustant communication with me, and tnat a word from me, if I l ike to give 
it, wOlild bring the Kol>ofus, Dadiassis, Inkwantas and Daniassis back to Asbanti, in 
support of his claim froU1 tbe South, the Kings of Juabiu and MaUlpon, with tbeir 
people, from the East, and the King of Nkornnza with his peo ple, as well as the Mas, 
from tbe Nortb; that his present position is, under the circumstances, a h~zardous one; 
and tbat it is to his interest to draw close to tbe Governor of tbe Gold Coast in the 
manner which he bas now been requested to do . 
10. I intend to give you an escort of 20 Hausas under Native Officer Dambarnu, and 
will be ycry careful to see that they are kept well in hand during the whole t ime tht 
thev are with 1'0(1 . . 
11. I shall' permit you to draw a travelling allowance of 21. a day, and I give you 
two ac1val1ces, one of 301., for the subsistence of the Hausa escort and yOID' hammockmeu 
aud carriers, aod one of lOOt. to enable you to pll'chase suitable presents at Oape Ooast 
to take with you to Kumasi to be given to the King and such other persons as it may 
be necessary to make gifts to in tbe event of the agreement being signed. 
J 2. I rely upon your carrying out yOUI' mission with expedition. 'Phe date of your 
departll'e must . be notified to me by telegraph. 
I have, &c. 
H. Vroom, Esq., F. M. H ODGSON. 
&c. &c. &c., Acting ·Governor. 
Oape Ooast. 
167 
( 
Enclosure 2 in No. 67. 
! The ACTING GOVERNOR to KING KWAKu DUA III. 
Government House, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
KING, February 23, 1894. 
ONCE more I s~nd to you my trusted officer, Mr. Vroom. H e come" to tell you 
that the Queen of England has been furth er consider ing the message which you gave 
to him to bring to me, as well as the message sent by YOUl' messenger, Yow Nkuma. 
Those messages were to the effect t.hat you were anxious for peace, for the maintenance 
of-trade, and for the continuance of Her Majesty's fri endship. 
2. The time has now come, King, for you to show to the Queeu 's r epl'esentative, the 
Governor of the Gold Ooast, t h"t yOUT 111essages did not contain idle words, but tbat 
they accurately represented your thoughts and wishes. 
3. You have more tho.n once said that your actions have been rnis\'epresented to the 
Governor, but, be this as it may, tLere is no donbt ~hat you and your people would be 
much benefited were you to avoid aJl chances of misrepresentation by now allying 
yourself more closely to this Government th an you haV13 dOne in the past. I n the letter 
which I recently sent to you by your sword-beM'er, Kofi Bua, I pointed out to you the 
!?l'eat responsibility you had incurred, and the ri sks you had run by acting contiuually 
~ithout the advice of tlie Governor, and as if you could afford to neglect t ile haud 
which helped to place you Oll t he Stool. 
4. I am now to inform you thatLhe Queen of England has directecl me to say that 
she desires to place a British officer at Kumasi t o act a·s the agent of this Government , 
and as your fri end and advis'er in all matters in which you may require help. The 
following are the condItions, which will have to be observed ;-
(a..) The King of Ashanti will agree to refrain from making war upon or disturbing 
any of the tribes beyond a certain frontier which will be laid clown by t he 
Governor of the Gold Ooast and named to him by the agent. The frontier 
will exclude nom Ashanti, Nkoranza, Mo, and other countEies which have 
either obtained or asked for British protection. 
(6.) In the case of any dispute between the King of Ashanti ';'nd any of the tribes 
outside the alTanged frontier, the matter is to be refelTed to tbe agent, who 
will inquire into It and give his decision. In the event of the decision being 
in favour of the King of Ashanti the question is to be refel1'eil to the Governor 
of the Gold Ooast who will require the offending tribe to make such reparation 
as he may deem expedient. 
(c.l The agent will be instructed to interfere as little as possible with the domestic 
affair" and policy of the Ashanti Kingdom, and to confine himself to tLe duties 
mentioned in paragraph (b) . He·will, however, give "dvice in all matters in 
which it is sought by the King of Ashanti; he wilL prevent the outbreak of 
war and disturbances; anel will use bis intluence and authority to promote the 
development and security of trade. 
5. 'rhe rurrangement now proposed is in overy way so advantageous to you and your 
people, because it will bring peace and prosperity to Ashanti, both of which have so lon o-
been absent, and will be the mea.ns of bringing all the tribes back again to thei~ 
respective countries, that you will, I feel sure, not hesitate to agree to it. There is no 
wish to force yon to elo so . Prince Atcheriboanda, who is now living here with the Kino-
of Kokofu, a loyal friend to the Governor, would, I doubt not, subscribe to the arrange~ 
ment and would loyally carry out the wishes of the Queen in the event of his succeedino-
to tn~ Golden Stool, for whi.}h step he has, as you know, very powerful supporters. Bnt 
you were selecte<1 by the Governor for the position you holc1, and it is on ly right that 
you should be kept in that position provided YOil confor m to the wishes of the Queen of 
England. I now ask you to do so, and to show Her Majesty that YOU" pl'otestations of 
friendship were sincere. 
7. I have placed the arrangement now· proposed to you in the form of an agreement 
which it will be necessary for you, the Queen Mother and your principal officers to 
subscribe to. In the event of this being done, I shan engage to ensure that Prince 
Atcheriboanda wili [Jot be allow:ed to intrigue against you or to interfere in any way 
with your position as King of Ashanti , in which position· Y0U will be kept so long as 
yeu abide 10y ..1 1y by the aFl'angement [lOW proposed to you. , 
X4 
168 
8. I desire you to come to a conclusion in this matter without delay. It affects yom 
personally and need not therefore be the subject of a long debate in your Council. It;. 
affeots your people in this way, and I have desired Mr. Vroom to make the fact as 
widely known as possible, namely, that upon the arrival of a British officer at Kum~si 
as the agent of this Government, and as your friend, all further wars will cease and they 
will live herAafter in peace in their homes with theil' wives and children, and they will 
know that their lives and property will be secure. 
I am, &c. 
His Majesty King Kwaku Dua III., F. M. HODGSON, 
Kumasi. Acting Governor. 
Enclosure 3 in No. 67. 
THIS SOLEMN COMPACT is made and entered into at Kumasi in the kingdom of Ashanti 
this day of . 1894 between HER MOST GRACIOUS MA.TESTY VICTORIA, 
Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, a,nd Empress of India, her heirs and successors, by 
Her Majesty' s loyal subject Hendrick Vroom, an officer in the Civil Service of the Gold 
Coast Colony, acting under special instructions received from his Excellency Frederic 
Mitchell Ho.dgsoll , Esquire, Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael 
anel Saint George, Acting Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Gold Coast Colony, 
also a loyal subject of Her Majesty of the first part; KWAKU DUA Ill. , KlNG OF ASHANTI, 
for h imself and his heirs and successors, and on beh"lf a.\so of all the Chiefs, headmen, 
and people in any way subject to his authority of the second part, and 
(in order to bind themselves as they now do separately and respectively by the terms of 
this compact so far as such terms in any way affect or concern them, and for the purpose 
of testifying their approval of the compact by their execution of the same) of the third 
part. 
Whereas in order to more closely connect the kingdom of Ashanti and the dominions 
of Her Majesty the Queen-Empress, to establish peace, order, and well-being and to 
promote the development and security of trade and the contillblance of friendly inter-
course it hath been agreed by and between the parties hereto to enter into this solemn 
compact. . 
Now, therefore, in consideration of the stipulations herein-after contained, and on the 
part of Her Majesty the Queen-Empress (herein-after referred to as Her Majesty) to be 
observed and performed, the King of Ashanti agrees:-
1. Tha t he will from time to time, and at all times henceforth, receive without 
opposition or hindrance at Kumasi an officer selected by Her Majesty for the purposes 
of this compact and herein-after referred to as the British agent, that he will properly 
and suitably accommodate at Kumasi any and eve~y such British agent and his party 
and will allow them or any of them to remain there and to go or come without 
interference or molestation in any way, and that he will keep open communications so 
and in such manner that any and every officer, messenger, or other person employed 
by or on behalf of Her Majesty may freely, safely, and speedily ptoceed to or from 
Kumasi and to and from the British agent, aud that he will not in way prevent 
necessao-y supplies. 
2. That he, the said King, will not make war upon or disturb any country 01' countries 
beyond a frontier to be determined by the Governor fOT the tinne being of the Gold 
Coast Colony from and after the communication to him, the said King, by the British 
agent or otherwise of such frontier determination which shall exclude any and every 
country or tribe which has obtained 0" has asked for British protection and may also 
exclude any other country or tribe whatsoever. 
3. That in case of any dispute between him, the said King, and any outside native 
tribe the matter shall be referred to the British agent to be enquu-ed into and decided 
by him, and if he shall find the said King to be in the right the question is to be referred 
to the Governor for the time being of the Gold Coast Colony who may require the 
169 
offending tribe to make such reparation as he may deem expedient and that he, the saia 
King , will submit to and abide by any deci sion which may be arrived at as aforosaid : 
And in consideration of the stipulations by the King of Ashanti herein·before contaiued 
and on his part to be observed and performed, Her Majesty agrees to pay to the said 
King so long as he actually holds tbe position of King of Asbanti anel faithfully 
observes "nd performs all the stipubtions of this compaot so far as tbey are to be 
observed and performed by him t he annual stipend of £ and also to pay to 
the Kings of Mampon, Kokofu, Bekwai, and J uabin, so long as they hold their respec· 
tive positions and a,re of good behaviour the annual stipend of £, each and also 
to pay to Ya Kia, the Queen Mother at Kumasi, during good behaviour, the annual 
stipend of £ such stipends to be payable by equal half·yearly instalments and 
the first instalment to become due and payable on the expira,tion of half a year from 
the date of the reception of the first British agcnt at Kumasi. 
In witness whereof the parties to thi s solemn compact have hereunto set their h"nds 
and affixed their respeeti V0 seals. 
Done at Kumasi, in the kingdom of A shanti, this do-y of 
in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-four. 
Enclosure 4 in No. 67. 
The OOLONIAL SECRETARY to the INSPECTOR·GENERAL. 
Oolonia.! Secretary's Office, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
SIR, lfebruary 21, 1394. 
REFERRING to previous correspondence, with regard La the relations of this 
Government with Ashanti and the condition of affairs in Attabubu and the neigh-
bourhood"I have the hononr to inform yon that I have !Jaw received the views and 
instructions of Her Majesty's Government on these matlers . 
2. The Secretary of btate has informed me that the policy which I have advocated, 
namely, the inclusion of Ashanti within the Protectorate. is not one which H er 
Majestis Government are inclined to adopt, as they consider that such a step would 
greatly incroase the responsibilities of the Gold Ooast Government, while the adoption 
of any course which might, as I have pointed out, involve the employment of British 
troops is not one which can be sanctioned. 
3 . In these circumstances Her Majesty's Government find it impossible to authorise 
me to send a further ultimatum to the King of Ashanti, or to entertain the quest,ion of 
assuming a Protectorate over that country by force. 
4. At the same time, having regard to the risk which, under present conditions, 
constantly exists of Attabubu and other territories being invaded by the Ashantis, I 
have heen authorised to adopt a course which may, and I must say, I think will, result 
in this Government obtaining control over the power of Ashallti without the exercise 
of force. A mission, probably in charge of Mr. Vroom, will be sent at an early date 
to Kumas; for the purpose of bringing the proposals of this Government before King 
Prempeh. 
5. The decision which has been come to renders it unnecess",ry to continue the 
occupation of Attahubu by an armed force or to maintain the present situation of 
guarding the frontier against possible attack by the Ashantis. All that is now wanted 
is that, pending the negotiations with the King and upon the withdrawal of the main 
body of the force, a small detachment should still be kept at Bompata with a support, 
say, at Abetifi, Or at some point further south should you think the position of Abetifi 
unsuitable. For the arrangement now proposed one company of Hausas should, it is 
thought, suffice. 
6. Upon the receipt of this letter, therefore, or as soon as you have completed the 
work of making treaties of friendship and freedom of trade with the tribes not owing 
allegiance to Ashanti and who are outside the neutral zone and on the right bank of 
the Volta, I desire you to return to Accra with the main body of the force under yonr 
command, bu t making the disposition which I have named in the preceding paragraph. 
7. Three additional ASdistant I nspectors of Oonstabulary having arrived from 
England on Monday, the 19th instant, I h",ve directed one of them-Oaptain Davidson 
Houston-to proceed to Abetifi to await your arrival there, as you may desire to utilise 
o 89730. Y 
17@ 
his services in view of the fact that so many of the officers .at present with you are 
either due for leave or nearly so. 
S. You will probably think it best to leave Inspector Mitchell in charge of the 
company detailed for duty in accordance with the new disposition, placing the detach-
ment at Bompata under a native officer, but with orders that the Oommanding Officer 
or Oaptain Davidson Houston is to visit the detachment periodically. 
9. You are at liberty to acquaint the Brong tribes and others who may fear the 
outbreak of fresh troubles upon the withdrawal of the force under your command that 
this Government is in negotiation with the King of Ashanti with a view to the pre-
vontion of further wars on his part and that an officer is on hi8 way to Kumasi to 
make alTangements with the King, the result of which will be, it i8 hoped, to ensure 
peace not only on the frontier but throughout Ash anti and to bring prosperity once 
more to the people of that country. 
10. I may add that Dr. MUlTay should return to head.quarters with the main body 
and Dr. Lenehan should remain with the company detailed for furthel1 duty-this 
an-angement being in accordance with the wishes of the Ohief Medical Officer, whom I 
have consulted on the subject. 
I have, &c. 
The Hon. the Inspector·General. F. M. HODGSON. 
No. 68. 
ACTING GOVERNOR HODGSON to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received April 2, 1894.) 
[.1nswlJ'l'ed by No. 74.] 
Government House, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
My LORD, March 5, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour to report the arrival of messengers from Kumasi on Friday, 
the 2nd instant, bringing with them the letters of which I enclose copies. Both the 
messenO'ers were under the influence of drink when I granted them an interview on the 
followi~g date, and I tberefore declined to recognise them, or to return an answer by 
them. . 
2. I have sent a fast runner to Mr. Vroom bearing the reply of which I enclose a 
copy, with a letter to that officer instructing him to read and deliver the reply to the 
Kiug of Ashanti. 
3. It is, I fear, the case that refugee Ashantis are interfering with traders in the 
neighbourhood of Prahsu, and before the arrival of the messengers I had sent Mr. Hull, 
Travelling Oommissioner, to look into the matter and as far as possible to find out 
exactly what is taking place, so that steps may be taken by the Government to put a 
stop to tbe interference. The cure of the evil ],ies in the return or the .A.shanti tribes 
to their respective countries, a matter which, however, can only be satisfactorily brought 
about by using the influence and control of this Government. 
4. The consolidation of the Ashanti Empire, or in other words the return of the 
fugitive tribes to their respective countries, can be secured ouly in two ways, namely, 
by the absorption of .A.shanti into the Protectorate, in which case each tribe and country 
in .A.shanti would be regarded as independent the one of the other, or, as such an 
arrangement is not deemed desirable by HeJ' Majesty's Government, by the election of 
a King to the Golden Stool, through the influence of the Government, acting through 
the medium of a British resident at-Kumasi. 
5. King Prempeh, as I have stated in a previous Despatch, has not been placed on 
the Golden Stool, he is not therefore King de jwre. The King is placed upon the 
Golden Stool only after the performance of very elaborate native ceremonies in which 
it is an absolute essential that the Kings of Mampon, Kokofu, and Bekwai, who are 
the principal Kings of the Oonfederation, should take part. The Kings of Mampon 
and Kokofu are fugitives from their countries, and as they regard Prince Atcheriboand", 
as the rightful heir to the Stool the British Resident will find it difficult to induce them 
to abandon their views and tbrow in their lot with King Prempeh, against whom, 
moreover, they have a distinct grievance, inasmuch as it was through him they became 
fugitives. 
171 
6. As soon as I received your Lordship's Despatch of the 30th January.'" with regard 
to takinlt steps for placing ~ British R~sident at Kumasi , and had despatched a letter 
to King .t'rempeh on the subject, I sent for ASlbl, King of the Kokofus, to sound hIm as 
to whether, in the event or a British Residency being estahlished at KUmasi, and a 
O'uarantee for peace in Ashanti being thus secured, he would return to his country of 
KOkofu, and abandoning his support of Prince Atcheriboanda, would take hi s usual 
place in a native custom held for placing Prempeh on the Golden Stool; further, 
whether, havinO' placed him there, he would serve under him and regard him as King 
paramount of the confederate tribes. He fenced my questioIl:s with much skill, con-
fininO' himself at first to the latter and less Important questIOn, saymg that havmg 
recei~ed the hospitality of the British Government for so long he and q.i s people were 
British subjects, and 'would do as the Governor of the Gold Coast desired. W hen at 
last I brought him face to face with the main question he said he would act as regards 
Prempeh as the King of Mampen acted. Finally, when I put the matter to him in 
this way, that assuming Her Majesty decided thae Prempeh should be elected to ehe 
Golden Stool and in that event th&t his return to his country would depend upon his 
taking his place in the election of Prempeh, he said that for the good of hi s people, 
who yeamed to get back to their old homes, he would do 80 and carry out the wishes 
of this Government, but, he added," your Excellency can see how hard it is for me to 
" assist in the election of Prempeh to the Golden Stool." 
7. The election of King Prempeh-and either he 01' Prince. Atcheriboanda must be 
elected, if peace in Ashanti is to be secured--upon the return of the fugitive tribes will 
require the exercise of much patience, tace, and judgment on the part of the Resident. 
My own opinion now is that Although the King of Kokofu had decided upon returning 
to his country at the invitation of King Prempeh it was his determination to try con-
clnsions with him at the first favourable op'portunity after his arrival. With a British 
Resident at Kumasi more or less directing affairs and controlling the power of tbe King 
paramount, he, as well a<l other malcontents, will be kept quiet if they ",re propel'ly 
handled. 
I have, &c. 
F. M. HODGSON, 
Acting Governor. 
Enclosure 1 in No. 68. 
King KWAKu DUA ·III. to the ACTING GOVERNOR. 
GOVERNOR, . Kumasi, J anuary 22, 1894. 
IT is with my greatest pleasure that I write to report to yoUI' Excellency the 
present state of bad treatment received by Ashanti tradesmen going down the coast to 
trade. It is reported to me that there are certain Ash anti refugee. in the Protectorate, 
who hav~ come to live between Prahsu and the coast, and when thoy find the Ashanti 
tradesmen going down the coast the refugees try to finel fault with tbem, and impose 
fine upon them; if the poor tradesman refuses to give the fine the refugees make uses of 
my great oaths upon the tradesman and this great, oaths of my .Asbanti Kingdom is 
most sacred with the Ashantees, and when it is used the poor tradesman is bound and 
compelled to give the fine. 
May I therefore call your ExceHency's kind assistance in this matter, to inquire 
diligently those Ashanti refugees that are carrying on such bad habits, and when they 
are found to warn them, or confine them in such places, that our road to the coast may 
be safe in future. for I fear that if your Excellency do not put an end to such bad 
habits, I am sorry it will disturb the trade. 
Wishing your Excellency" A merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year." 
I remain, &c. 
my 
KWAKU X DUA, 
mark 
King of Ashan ti . 
• No. 63. 
Y 2 
172 
Enclosure 2 in No. 68. 
King KWAKU DUA Ill. to the ACTING GOVERNOR. 
GOVERNOR, Kumasi, February 7, 1894. 
I WROTE your Excellency on the 25th of November last, reporting the treatment 
given to my Ashanti subjects by your officer whom you send out through Kwawhu to 
Attabubu, and soliciting your Excellency at the same time to recall your officer and 
men when this day I am apprised of the coming of that officer to Kumasi, which I am 
really surprised at such treatment. 
2. Your Excellency will remember that when his Native District Oommissioner was 
sent out to me last year your Excellency requested him to make certain remarks, that I 
have sent to certain native Kings ill: the Protectorate, and therefore if the report is true 
I must discontinue same; it is the same feeling with me, and I will consider this iu 
future as a good policy, that when any official is send out to visit me he must come 
through the main road, as has been done alway, but anyone that has been sent out to 
countries either in the interior or not within my Ashanti Kingdom that I have nothing 
to do, or interfere, I am sorry to say, it is not polite that he should pass through my 
capital, for if they had passed from my capital to the interior, surely they may pass 
through here to the coast, therefore, as your officer did not pass through here to 
Attabubu, I beg your E xcellency most sincerely to send to recall your officer, for it is 
not my wish that he should pass tm:ough my capital from Attabubu. 
3. I an' always ready and willing to receive my friends (the white men) at my capital 
whether visits of-pleasure or on political matters, and I think I am justified to say, that 
as my late grandfather, King Kwaku Dua 1., was so friendly with Sir George McOlean, 
then GOV8l'l10r of the Gold Ooast, a.nd received the kind advice of Her Majesty's 
Govel'l1ment, so likewise I imitate the footsteps of my late grandfather, that I am a 
p0aceful King with Her Majesty the Great Qneen of England. 
With my SlDcere regards, 
I am, &c. 
my 
His Excellency F. M. Hodgson, O.M.G., KWAKU X DUA III. 
Acting Govel'llor. mark 
King of Ashanti. 
Enclosure 3 in No. 68. 
The ACTING GOVERNOR to KING KWAKU DUA III. 
Government House, Victoriaborg, Accra, 
KING, March 4, 1894. 
I HAVE dnly received your letters of the 22nd January and 7th February in the 
fonDer of which yon complain that Ashanti traders are molested within the Protectorate 
and in the latter that my officer in command of the army in Attabubn has notified that 
he wonld come to Kumasi. Your letters were brought to me by Kwabina Antchi 
and Akuayena, both of whom c:tme into my presence very mnch under the influence of 
drink, an offence which, 1 think, reflects bnt little credit npon the present Government 
in Ashanti in selecting such messengers to send to the Queen's representative. 
2. I refused to give the messengers an audience, but out of courtesy to you I will 
reply to your letters. 
3. 1'he fact that Ashanti traders are being molested by their own countrymen only 
shows how necessary it is that there should be a British officer in Knmasi who can settle 
the country, and by settling it pnt a stop to the differences whioh have arisen between 
the varions tribes by the useless and bloody wars in which you embarked as soon as 
Oaptains Lonsda.!e and Barnett left Ashanti. 
4. I shall not, of course, permit the molestation to continue, but if it be Pllt a stop to 
where it now exists I have no doubt that it will break out again elsewhere, because it is 
dictated by hatred of your tyrannical rule. The only cure' is for this Government, by 
haviIlg a resident officer at Kumasi, to get the tribes back to their own countries in 
Ashanti, and to arrange for a compaot of friendship and peace between the Kings who 
would then restrain their men, 
5. Your own power is now at a vory low ebb, due entirely to your having acted 
throughout without the advice of this Government and at the instigation of men whose 
bad counsels have embarked you in enterprises wmch conld do no possible good, and 
have on the contrary brought serious harm both to you anel your country. 
6. As to the subject of the second letter I call only say that if I should consider it 
necessary to order my army to maroh into Ashanti my officer ill command of it would 
do so and wonld proceed at onoe to Kumas; . If he notified to you that he was ooming, 
"'moh I doubt, as he has had no orders as yet to do so, it was" warning given to you 
for whioh you must thank British franknes~. No doubt the present situation of British 
troops being at Amantin, Bompata, anel Prahsu is not a pleasant olle for you to oon-
template, but it is the result of your having had the presumption to menace Attabubu 
and to think that this Government would let you do so. 
I am, &0. 
His Majesty King Kwaku Dua III., F. M. HODGs0N, 
Kumasi. Acting Governor. 
No.69. 
Sm W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS Ole RI PON. 
(ReceivedAprilll , 1894. ) 
TELEGI'APH [c. 
Referring to my D~spatoh of 5th Maroh" Vroom uncleI' date of 28th Maroh has 
written as follows : I am in receipt of letter dated 4th Maroh 1894, as well as one 
addressed to Kwaku Dua III. in reply to his two letters. On 19th March, after I had 
read carefully content;; of letter sent to King of Kumasi, and had explained it to him 
and the ohief authorities present, King of Kumasi promised to send a further communi-
cation on various subjects connected with let ters sent to him, but to this moment he 
has not done so. Any further oommunication I may receive from King will follow 
this. 
Despatch follows by ml1il.t 
Inspector-General of Constabnlar.v with greater portion of expeditionary force returned 
to head-quarters 3rd April; Scott, Larymore, Cramer, Clements embarking for home by 
mail steamer" Cabenda" 22nd April, Lang by wail steamer" Bonny." . 
No.70. 
Sm W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received April 16, 1894.) 
Government House, Christiansborg Castle, Acora, 
My LORD, .March 22, 1894. 
REFERRlNG to the Despatchest 'uoted in the margin upon the subjeot of the relations A,t. Go,. 
of this Government with Asbanti and the condition of affairs in Attabubu anel the ;:::~: ;;: ::!: 
neighbourhood, I have the honour to transmit, for your Lordship's information, copy of lIl'''h 5. '9'. 
a letter whioh I have received from Colunel Sir Francis Scott, together with copy of a 
'Minute whioh I made in relation to ms inquiry as to the re-establishment of the Volta 
patrol. 
2. I think the Inspector-General will arrive at Aocra early in April. 
I have, &0. 
W. BRAND FORD GRIFFITH, 
Governor . 
• No. 68. t No. 74A. ! Nos. 65, 67, and 68. 
174 
Enclosure 1 in No. 70. 
The I NSPECTOR-GENERAL to the COLONIAL SECRETARY. 
SIR, Attabubu, March 5, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt yesterday of the following letters 
from you: -
(l) Of the 21st February. 
(2) Of the 20th February. 
(3) Of the 21st February. 
2. With reference to the first mentioned I have to acknowledge the receipt of the book 
packet and letter for Mr. Ferguson. They have been duly despatched to overtake him 
by two Hausas he left here for the purpose. 
3. With regard to your letter, No.2, I have 3!lready forwarded to Captain Lang 
copies of extracts from it in respect to the settlement, within the Protectorate, of the 
Salaga Princes and traders, and have instructed him to have their assurances in writing 
that they will not in any way interfere with the new King of Salaga, that they will 
recognize their new settlement as a permanent home, and 'that they will live peaceably 
with their neighbours. 
4. I have further to report that the instructions contained in your letter No.3 have 
been noted. It is with extreme regret I learn I am not to advance on Kumase. The 
surrounding country expected it, and I am informed on good authority that Kumase 
itself regarded my eventual advance as a foregone conclusion and were prepared to 
submit peacefully to whatever terms were proposed. 
I fear British influence in these parts will not be strengthened by the retrograde 
movement. I leave this on my returnjouruey next Monday the 12th insto.nt, and expect 
to arrive at Abetifi on or about the 24th instant. I shall then carry out yonI' instructions 
regarding the detachment which is to be stationed in Kwahu. 
5. I should feel obliged by your informing me whether the Volta patrol is to be 
re-established, in which case I could send the necessary number of non-commissioned 
officers and men to that district when I reach Akrollong. The European officer, however, 
who is to command the patrol would have to be sent from Accra or elsewhere and 
should meet me at Akropong. In the event of this officer being a new arrival in the 
Colony, I can spare Capt. Cramer to assist him in posting the patrol. 
I have, &c. 
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. F. C. SCOTT, Colonel, 
Inspector-General, G.C.C. 
Commanding Attabubu Expeditionary Force. 
Enclosure 2 ,in No. 70. 
'rhe GOVERNOR to the ACTING COLONIAL SEQ1'ETARY. 
ACTING CQJ.ONIAL SECRE'l'ARY, 
INFORM Sir F. Scott that the Volta patrol will be re-established, but that I 
prefer, for weighty reasons, that the detachment for the purpose shall proceed from 
Accra upon the return of the expeditionary force from the interior. 
W.B.G. 
20/3/94,. 
No. 71. 
THE LIVERPOOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE to COLONIAL OFFICE. 
(Received April 25, 1894.) 
[Answered by No. 72.] 
AFFAIRS OF THE GOLD COAST COLONY. 
The Incorporated Chamber of Co'mm9rce of Liverpool, 
My LORD, Liverpool, April 24, 1894. 
REFERRING ~o the representations recently made to you by this and other 
Chambers on the subject of t.he commercial affairs of the above-named Colony, as affected 
175 
by the disturbances between the Ashantis and other tribes, I am directed by the 
Oommittee of the African Trade Section of this Ohamber to inquire whether any steps 
have been taken in the direction of the appointment of a British Oommissioner to reside 
at Ooomassie. 
I have, &c. 
THOMAS H. BARKER, 
Secretary. 
No. 72. 
OOLONIAL OFFICE to the LIVERPOOL OIIAMBER OF 
OOMMEROE. 
SIR, Downing Street, April 27, 1894. 
I AM directed by t.he Marquess of Ripon to acknowlege the receipt of your letter 
. of 24th instant* enquiring whether any steps have been takon for the appointment of a 
British Oommissioner to reside at OoomasBie, and in reply I am to acqnaint you that his 
Lordship is expecting shortly a report frum the Governor of tho Gold Ooast Oolony, 
and that he is not in a position to give any further information at present. . 
I am, &c. 
JOHN BRAMSTON. 
No.73. 
SIR W. B. G'RIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received April 30, 1894.) 
[Answe"ed by No. 75 .) 
Government House, Ohristiansborg Oastle, Accra, 
My LORD, April 5, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith, f01' your Lordship's information, copy of 
a letter, received on the 1st instant, from Inspector General Oolonel Sir Francis 0, Scott, 
K.G.M.G., O.B. , commanding the Hausa OonstabulaJ·.Y of this Oolony, in which he 
refers in a very gratifying manner to the behaviour of the force under his command on 
the expedition to the interior of the Protectorate, from which he was returning to Accra 
when he wrote to me. 
2. From my own experience of travelling in the Oolony and its outlying Protectorate 
I can well understand that Sir Francis Scott and the force under his command had to 
contend with great discomfort and privation, whilst the want of potable water and 
suitable vegetables must have been keenly felt. But, Sir Francis observes, "Notwith-
" standing these trials, the conduct of all was everything that cOllld be wished," and he 
specially requests " that a particular note be made regarc1iug the list of names" of 
officers he submi ts in his lotter, while he makes a comparison between ilie difficulties he 
had to contend with, together with his force, as against those of the Red River 
Expedition, and states that "many who were employed with it received no small 
recognition.') 
3. I feel sure, my Lord, that no one will more readily appreciate than your Lordship 
the good service which has been rendered to this Oolony by Oolonel Sir Francis Scott 
and the officers and men under his command in the duty they have recently been 
engaged upon. 
I have, &c, 
W. BRANDFORD GRIFFITH, 
Governor . 
• Ko 71. 
Y4 
116 
Enclosure in No. 73. 
Colonel SIR F. SCOTT to the GOVERNOR. 
YOUR EXCELLENCY, Komfrodwa, March :31,1894. 
WITH reference to my letter covering the Repor t on the Attabubu E xpedition 
which I forwarded from Abetifi, I bave now tbe bonour to bring before you the general 
conduct of all who accompanied me. 
I have much pleasure in stating that the behaviour of all ranks afforded me every 
satisfaction. . 
We were sii months absent from Accra, and during this period I had ample time and 
opportunities of judging tbe respective merits of both officers and men. 
Although tbere happened to be no fighting, I can assure your Excellency that tbe 
hardships were no less. For weeks at a time we were without proper European food, 
such as biscuits, flour , rice, tea, cocoa, &c., and had nothing to drink but water which 
was by no means good, as our filters proved. Tbe country vegetables as well were all 
used up; and had it not been for the sbeep brought down from tbe nortb by Moshi 
caravans I should have been unable to rema.in in tbe district as long as I did. Not-
withstanding these trials, the conduct of all was everything that could be wished, and I 
would specially request that a particular note be made regarding the list of names I now 
submit. 
I wish in no way to over ·rate tbe work done by tbe Expedition. I will, however , 
in conclusion, draw a parallel with the Red River expedition under Sir Garnet, now 
Viscount, W olseley in which tbere was also no fighting, but when, although the climate 
was perfect and the transport difficulties uil ill comparison to those in West Africa, 
many who were employed with it received no small recognition. 
The names I would specially bring to your Excellency'S notice are as follows :-
HAnsA CONSTABULARY. 
1. Inspector Captain Aplin. 
2. Captain and Adjutant Larymore. 
3. Assistant-Inspector Captain Crams 
4. Pay and Quartermaster Mr. Clements. 
5. Quartermaster and Sergeant P lange (Acting Transport Officer). 
6. Native Officer anc1 Native Adjutant Mr. Mardah. 
7. Gunner Native Officer Mr. Akkerre. 
8. Store Labourer James. 
SPECIALLY EMPLOYED. 
Captain Lang, R.E. 
MEDICAL STAFF. 
Dr. Murray. 
Dr. Lenehan. 
I have, &c. 
His Excellency F. C. SCOTT, 
The Governol' and Commander-in-Chief. Colonel, 
Inspector-General G.O.C., 
Commanding Attabubu Expeditionary Force. 
No. 74. 
THE MARQUESS 01" RIPON to SIR W. B. GRIFFITH. 
Sm, Downing Street, May 2, 1894. 
I HAVE tbe honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Hodgson's Despatches 
of the 21st and 26th of February and the 5th of March,'" relating to the affairs of 
Ashanti . 
• Nos. 66, 67, and 68. 
177 
2. I approve of the instructions, dated the 23rd of February, which . were given to 
i\!1\·. Vroom with regard to his mission to Kumassi , anel of the instructions to the 
Inspector-GeneI'll! of the Oonst,abu!ary, dated the 21st of February, with regard to tho 
withdrawa.! of the foroe which had been sent to Attabubu. 
3. I approve also of the instructions which Mr. Hodgson gave to the Inspector-
General, as reported in the Despatch of the 21st of February, with reference to the 
princes and traders from Sa.lagha who had taken refuge in the Protectorate, and of the 
answer, dated the 4th of Ma,rch, which he sent to the representations of thc King of 
Ashauti, as to the molestation of traders, as reported in the Despatoh of tbe 5th of 
March. 
I havo, &c. 
RIPON. 
No. 74A. 
SrR W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received May 16, 1894.) 
(EXTRACT.) 
Government House, Ohristiansborg Oastle, Aocra, 
Apri l 12, 1894. 
REFERRI NG to Mr. Hodgson's Despatch of the 5th March,'" I havo the honour 
to transmit, for your Lordstip's information, copy of a letter dated 28th March, 
reoeived from Mr. Vroom, by the Oolouial Secretary, on the 8th April. 'l'he contents of 
this letter were embodied in a telegram which I despatohed to your Lordship on the 
11th instant.'I' 
Enclosure in No. 74A. 
Mr. 'IT ROOM to the OOLONIAL SECRETARY. 
SIR, Kumasi, March 2>3, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge th" receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, 
as well as the one addressed to King Kwaka Dua III. in reply to his two letters brought 
to you by Kwabina Antohi and Akuayena. 
2. On Monday, the 19th, the contents of the King's letter was read anel explained 
by me to him and the Ohiefs assembled. The King promised to send a further 
communication on the subjeot of the letter, but up to this moment he has not done so. 
3. I therefore return the Hausa runner to Accra with the Government stick he 
brought with him; any communication I may receive from the King will follow this. 
I have, &c. 
'£he Hon. the Oolonial Seoretary, Hll:. VRoCAr, 
&c. &c. &0., District Oommissioner, G.O.O. 
Victoriaborg. 
No. 75. 
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON to SIR W . B. GRIFFITH. 
SIR, Downing Street, May 30, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of 5th ultimo,! 
forwarding a report from Sir Fraucis Scott, K.O.M.G., on the behaviour of the force 
under his oommand during the reoent expedition to .Attabubu. 
" No, 68. t No. 69. t No. 73. 
o 89730. Z 
178 
I hifve to convey to you the e"flression of my entire satisfaction with the excellent 
service rendered on this occasion hy Sir F. Scott and the officers and men under his 
command, under the arduous and trymg circumstances with which they had to 
contend. 
I have, &c. 
RIPON. 
No.76. 
SIR W . B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received May 30, 1894.) 
[Answered by No. 83.] 
Government House, Christiansoorg Castle, Accra, 
My LORD, May 7, 1894. 
Sec. of State, REFERRING to the correspondence men~ioned in the margin,'" I have the honour 
Jnn.aO,'94. to transmit herewith, for your Lordship's information, copy of a letter dated on the 7th of 
~c~ID~6G,~~, April, addressed to Mr. Hodgson by Kwaku Dua, King of Kumasi, and delivered to me 
e. , . by Mr. Vroom on the 24th of April. 
2. Mr. Vroom arrived at Kumasi on the 17th of March and left it on the 10th of 
April after a stay of over three weeks, without being able to get the question he went 
there to try and have dealt with even touched upon, beyond the hearing by the King 
of Mr. Hodgson'S letter when read. It will be seen by the King's reply that the 
" District Kings, Chiefs, and principal men" were to be at K umasi "about the middle 
" of April for ,orne very important business, when the subject of the British Govern· 
" ment which is not" small case, would be discussed and an express messenger sent" 
to me " with a final decision of the subject." 
3. I understand from Mr. Vroom that the" important business " is the placing of 
Kwaku Dua ou the (}olden Stool, whereby he will be regarded as "King of Ashanti," 
two puppets having been set on the Kokofu and M~mpon Stools in order to enable this 
sham ceremony to take place. 
4. I have the honour to enclose herein a copy of a letter which I addressed to the 
King of Kumasi, of even date with this Despatch, and in view of circumstances within 
my knowledge generally, from information I had received, I considered it judicious to 
st",te to the King that I trusted I should hear from him again in a short time with 
reference to the subject matter of Mr. Hodgson's letter to him , adding, "it is a matter 
" of serious import to you; and I may as well tell you frankly that the wishes of Her 
" 11'[ajesty's Government cannot be trifled with.". 
I have, &c. 
W. BRANDFORD GRIFFITH, 
Governor. 
Enclosure 1 in No. 76. 
King KWAKU DUA III. to the ACTING GOVERNOR. 
YOUR EXCELLENCY, Kumasi, April 7, 1894. 
I BEG to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd of February last, per 
your officer Mr. H. Vroom, Native District Commissioner, and in reply, I beg to state 
that my District Kings, Chiefs, and principal men, will be here about the middle of this 
month for some of our very important business, when the subject of the British Govern-
ment, which is not a small case, will be discussed, and an express messenger will be 
sent to your Excellency with a final deci sion of the subject. 
I remain, &c. my 
KWAKU DUA X King of Ashanti. 
His Excellency F. M. Hodgson, C.M.G., mark. 
Acting Governor, Accra. 
* Nos. 53 and 67. 
179 
Enclosuro 2 in No. 76. 
Government House, Ohristiansborg Oastlo, Accra, 
KING, May 7, 1894. 
My Oommissioner, Mr. Vroom, whom I sent to you on a special mission, 
. delivered to me on the morning of the 24th April your letter, dated tbe itb of that 
month, in which you acknowledged the receipt of :Mr. Hodgson's letter of the 23rd 
February last, and stated tbat your District Kings, Ohiefs, and principal men would bo 
at Kumasi about the middle of April for some of your v~ry importan t business when 
the subject of the British Government, which was not a small one, would be discussed 
and an express messenger would be sent to me With a final demslOll of the subject. 
2. I trust. that I sb"ll hear from you again in a short time with reference to the 
subject matter of tbe late Aoting Governor's letter to you, already reforred to, as it is a 
matter of serious import to you; aDd I may as well tell you franlety that the wishes of 
Her Majesty's Government cannot be trifled with. 
I remain, &c. 
W. BRA.NDFORD GRlFFI~'n, 
His Majesty King Kwaku Dua III., Governor, Gold Ooast Oolony . 
Kumasi. 
No. 77. 
SIR W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received May 30, 1894.) 
[Answered by No. 83.J 
Government House, Chl'istiansborg Oastle, Accra., 
My LORD, May 7, 1894. 
IN continuation of my Despatch of even date,* I have the honour to submit hel'0-
with, for your Lordship's consideration, MI'. Vroom's report, elated the 24th of April, 
of his visit and mission to Kumasi , undertaken in accordance with instructions received 
from Mr. Hodgson in his letter of the 23rd February whicb had its origin in yOUI' 
Lordship's Despatch to him of tbe 30th of Jannary.t 
2. Mr. Vroom, unfortunately for the purpose of his missioll , alTived at Kumasi at a 
time when the King and Ohiefs were mourning for a princess who had died on the 
13th of March, "anel," Mr. Vroom observes," on account of whose obsequies and 
" perhaps human sacrifices, on such occasions. indispensable, the King of Ashanti 
" evidently endeavoured to keep me away from h,s town for some time." 
3. I think it best, instead of quoting at any length from Mr. Vroom's repm't, to leave 
it to commend itself to your Lordship's notice, as it contains informatiou of an interesting 
character, faithfully described, I should say, but I would ask attention to what he states 
from paragraph 15 to p!liragraph 23 included, and with regard to what is stated in some 
.. f these sections, I shan have agalll to address your Lordship both with regard to 
Kwaka Dua and to the man Ansah. 
I have, &c. 
W. BRAND FORD GRIFFITH, 
Governor. 
Enclosure in No. 77. 
Mr. VROOM to the GOVERNOR. 
YOUR EXCF.LLENCT, J]hristiansborg, April 24, 1894. 
I nAVE the honour to report, for your information, tbat, in accordance with Feb. 23, '94 
instructions contained in the letter as per margin, I left Elmina on the 3rd March aud 
arrived in Kumasi on the 17th with a party as follows:-
Mr. Damburnu, Native Officer, Gold Coast Oonstabulary, 25 non-commissioned 
officers and men, 26 hammockmen anel caniers, one messenge.r. 
2. From Pra-sue the messenger preceded me to apprise King K W!liku Dua III. of 
Ashanti that the Governor of the Gold Ooast Colony had sent me to him On an im. 
-No.76. t No. 53. 
Z 2 
180 
portant business, and to request him to assemble all the Kings and Chiefs representing 
Ashanti to attend a public palaver which I intended to hold immediately on my arrival 
in Kumasi. 
3. Arriving at Bekwai on the 12th ultimo, I halted for one day, first to allow the 
King of .Ashanti time to collect his Chiefs, and secondly to make further inquiries into 
the alleged murder of Kwaku Ababl'ase, ex-king of Bekwai, as Mr. Hodgson verbally 
instructed me to do. 
4. '1'he result of my inquiries confirm the statement made in my report 011 last 
October's mission to Kumasi. Kwaku Ababrase was identified on the 13th March last 
by the following Housas, viz . :-No. 890, Corporal Lawani Geshu, Gold Coast Con-
stabulary; No. 237, private Ali B01'unu, Gold Coast Constabulary. These men accom-
pa,nied :Mr. Hull to Kumasi il1 1891, and, knowing the ex-king personally, I selected 
them to go to Adaisuwa village for hi s indentity. 
5. Leaving Bekwai on the 14th March, I met two messengers from the King of 
Ashanti in Esumju village; they desired me not to proceed beyond this village until 
the King's pleasure should be made known to me. I requested them politely to inform 
the King that I would rather not break my journey however, in courtesy to him, I 
would march slowly so as to reach Kumas; on the 17th ultimo, a day; I know the 
Ashantis regard as " lucky" for transactions of public business. 
I arrived on that day in Kumasi, hut at an nnfortunate moment. The King and 
Chiefs were mourning for Princess Ekua Bedua., who died on Tuesday the 13th, and on 
account of whose obsequies, and perhaps human sacrifices, on such occasions indispen-
sable, the King of Ashanti evidently endeavoured to keep me away from his town for 
some t ime. 
6. Immediately on my arrival in Kumasi the King gave me the usual public recep-
tion. '1'his was made to appear as imposing as could be possibly done. Chief Amank-
watsia , whooreeently comman ded the Ashanti army to Nkoranza, was the only man who 
for a short t ime indulged in a WaJ.' dance; the public, however, did not give him any 
encouragement for its continuance. 
7. On Monday the 19th I saw the King and Chiefs of Kumasi. At this interview I 
read and explained to them the missive which was brought to me by a special runner 
sent from Accra. 
Owing to the absence of the Kings of Mampon, Nsuta, Bekwai and the Chiefs of 
other districts, or their representatives, it was decided to postpone the reading of the 
King's letter I took with me until their aJ.Tival. 
8. Tuesday, the 20th March, was the seventh day of E kua Bedua's death. '1.' he town 
was thrown into great excitement by the public "ppearance of King K waku Dua III. 
The wild dances of the King and his Chiefs, the sobs and groanings of the women, 
which suddenly gave W:1y to singing and dancing, gave this public procession an 
"ppearance of ghastly confusion of mourning and mirth. 
I visited the King and expressed our feelings of sympathy with him and his people 
for the sad event; in your Excellency's name I sent him, in accordance with native 
etiquette" funeral presents" to the value of 51. 88. 
The King was much pleased with this observance of native custom, and sent a 
deputation of Chiefs to convey his thanks to your Excellency. 
9. Preparatory to the puhlic palaver, I found it needful cautiously to approach some 
of the principal Chiefs and linguists of Ashauti . This had to be done quietly in the 
night, because they mistrust each other. By these nightly interviews I was able to 
draw some of them to our siele, and mould their minds into the right way of viewing 
the proposals cll>ntained iu the King's letter. I was able to show them its advantages 
and the advisability of its acceptance by tho Kings and Chiefs. The establishment of 
British Agency in Kumasi, I showed them, is intended for the good of the people. I 
do not regret the nights I spent in Kumasi with these Chiefs; and if the present 
negotiations end successfully I think its success might be traced to these nightly 
visits. 
10. The public palaver did not take place until the 28th March last; that is fourteen 
days after my arrival in Kumasi. '1.'he delay WflS explained by tho public mourning 
consequent on the death of Ekua Bedua, and the absence at a dIstance of sOlDe of the 
importal1t Chiefs. The Kings of Mampon, N suta, and Bekwai were represented at this 
palaver by their linguists; tbe meeting itself was one representing all the present 
districts of Ashanti . 
11. At this palaver I publicly read and explained to the King of Ashanti and the 
Chiefs assembled the letter I carried for the King. Points thl>t appeared somewhat 
lSI 
abstruse to native minds wertl made clear and intelligible te them by carefully selected 
illustrations. 
Havia'" impressed upon them the importance of tbe business, and tbe expediency of 
consideri~g tbo quostion favourab ly, u.nd bringing tbeir decision oarly, if possible, at 
the next palaver, arranged for the 5th instant, I left the meeting. 
12. Botb in my pri\'ate and public intel'l'iews witll the King and Ohief; of ARhanti, 
I was very careful not to sal' anytb ing which could g ivo them cause to suppose that 
the Government dcsires in any way to interfere with tho domestic affairs a,nd policy of 
Ashanti. 
On the otber hand, I think I had ,.lwaY$ tbe hest of tho arguments to prove to them 
tbat by accepting the present proposals Ashant is are not only saved from constant 
frictions with their neighbours, bringiug to thcm sea of tl'Oubles, but that on this also 
depends the making of tho Ashanti Kingdom. 
13. The palaver arranged for the 5th did not [come 1] on ti ll the nh instant. At 
this meeting tbe question of stipends to hA paiJ to the Kini?;s of Ashanb was cal'efuUy 
in~roduced. '1'0 the King of Ashanti himself the sum of 600l. was n",mod and to the 
Queen :Mother SOL. a year. '1'0 the othel' Kings 2001. each pel' annum, in the ovent of 
their subscribing to the agreement I took with me, and which was also read and explain cd 
to them. 
14. It appears to me that in Iheir assembly on the night of the 5th instant :Mr. J. O. 
Ansah, whose a$sumed office and supposed influence retire into the shade with a 
British Agent resident at Kumasi, and those few councillors whose counsels to King 
Kwaku Dua III. are influencecl by self-interest rather than honest devotion to the 
King or his country, set their wits to work to thwart at the last moment the nego-
tiations terminating successfull y, .i n order to gain time fLlrther to plot and intrigue. 
15. From my confidential man in Kumasi I leamt that these men are counselling 
'an embassy to Ohristiausborg, headed by some of them (and perhaps with M:l·. Ans",h 
as the spokesman), to dictate to, and force upon, the Govemment certain terms which 
they think will secure to the Kings of Ashanti bet· ~er ad vantages than those contained 
in the present proposals . 
16. At the palaver of the 7th the linguist asked me to return to the coast and 
inform your Excellency that King Kwaku Dua III. is preparing to make the funeral 
cnstom of his brother the late King of Ashanti; that on the arrival of the otber Kings 
to the custom the suggestions made to them wi ll be considered ",nd messengers sent to 
your E xcellency with their decision. 
17. I told the King that if be would put the message in writing I shall send the 
letter to your Excellency; but before leaving Kumasi I must first communicate to 
you the progress of the mission and ask for further instructious. 
18. My stay in Knmasi during the. coming custom waR no doubt very distasteful 
to those bodies who oppose the residence of a British Agent in Knmasi. Another 
palaver was arranged for the 9th iustant. At this palaver Ohiefs Amankwatsia and 
Asafu-Buachi figured most conspicuously. Its obiect was to beg anel press for my 
return to the coast and wait for the messengers which they say were ~oon to follow me. 
I took no notice of their solicitations of clamour nntil King K waka Dua III. himself 
reluctantly spoke. I replied to the King that, taking his req~est as a modest command, 
I had no alternative but to leave his country at once and report my proceeclings to 
your Excellency. 
The King was so perplexed with this reply that he would not allow me to leave 
the meeting until he gOi a promise from me not to represent to your Excellency that I 
was driven away from K umasi; and I myself do not intend to he inferred that King 
Kwaka Dua III. sent me away frO ID his country. 
19. I must bere remark that the message sent by the King of A"hanti was dictated 
to him by tbe parties ment·ioned in paragraph 14 of this r eport. It was delivered 
without the knowledge and consent of the other Kings or Ohiefs or their represen, 
tatives. It was cleverly invented, I think, to get K waku Dua III. , placed on the 
"Golden Stool" before dealing with the proposals of the Government. At present 
King K waku Dua III. has no right to veto the decisions of the otber Kings and Ohiefs 
wben tbey are in majority. He could exercise this prerogative only when enstooled on 
tbe " Golden Stool." 
20. I am of opinion that this device will be defeated by the parties who side with 
us ; and that, before taking part in t he ceremonies of tbe enstoolment, they will clemand 
the settlement of the question of a British Agency in Knmasi. 
The enstoolment takes place forty days after the "funeral custom," whioh, I 
understand , begins in the first week of lI![ay next. 
Z :l 
182 
21. It remains to be seen when the messengers will come down. On their arrival 
it will be for your E xcellency to decide whether they should be received 8It Prasu 
or in Christiansborg. I would humbly recommend the former. 
Any messenger below the rank of a Chief, I humbly submit, should not be honoured 
with a direct interview with your Excellency. 
22. It was very pleasing and satisfactory to me to not e the disappointments of a 
good many of the Chiefs present at the two last palavers. Some of them could hardly 
disguise their disgust with the supposed message of the King of Asb anti. They appealed 
to me by their looks to press tbe matter; but I had no wish La do anything which the 
few opposed to us could misrepresent hereafter that tbe Kings and Cbiefs were dnressed 
to sign the agreement. 
23. Undoubtedly the King of Ashanti feels sore with our recent · treaty with 
Nkoranza and Mo. The messengers will perhaps bring up this and other similar 
questions; but I submit the Government should not give into them. On the other 
hand, I would venture to advocate, in case the present negotiations failing, which will 
not be the case, I bope, tbe extension of British protection to those countries who have 
asked for it. It is only fair that these tribes should be assisted in their struggles for 
freedom ; and this would be the only means of bringing tbe King of Asbanti to reason. 
I was not altogetber ignorant of many things said in their assembly, notwithstanding 
its strict secrecy. Tbe Queen-Mother entertains nervous apprehensions of the policy 
I have ventured to suggest. At a certain meeting she bhtmed the Chiefs who embarked 
into tbe Nkoranza war for the loss of that country to Ashanti. 
24. On the eve of my departure from Kumasi King Kwaku Dua III. sent me 41. in 
gold dust. I returned it to him, saying that, having already accepted 81. 2s. from him, 
I could not take further present before the negotiations are closed. The King was 
very sorrr. 
25. In conclusion, I would beg to state that the mission entrusted to me was able to 
split the Council of King Kwaku Dua in three divisions :-
(a.) Parties who oppose the establishment of British agency in Kumasi. 
(b.) Parties who favour British agency in Kumasi . 
(0.) Parties who advocate the extension of British protection to Ashanti provided 
. the Government recognises the suzerainty of the King of Ashallti over the 
countries already under our proteotion; provided certain Kings and Chiefs are 
not compelled personally to attend British Courts on the sea coast; provided also 
tbat the Government does not "nterfere with domestio slavery in Ashanti . 
26. I return herewith the agreements (in duplicate), aud the Government stick and 
seal I took with me to Ashanti. 
27. Leaving Kumasi on the 10th instant, I arrived in Elmina on the 18th and 
Christiansborg on the 23rd instant. 
28. Tbe Hausa escort behaved themselves very well. '1here were no complaints 
against them. 
Much credit is due to Mr. Damburnu for keeping his men in band so well. 
I have, &c. 
His Excellency Sir W. Bra"dford Griffitb, HK. VROOM, 
Governor and Commar::der-in-Chief, District Commissioner, 
&c. &c. &c. Gold Coast Colony. 
Gold Coast Colony. 
No.78. 
8m W. B. GRIFFITH to the lI1ARQUE8S OF RIPON. 
(Received May 30, 1894.) 
[Answe"ed by No. 83.J 
Government House, Christiansborg Castle, Accra, 
My LCRD, May 8, 1894. 
'l'Im messengers who were sent by the King of Kumasi to accompany Mr. Vroom 
on bis return to the coast pl'esented to me on tlie 25th April a duplicate of the letter 
King Kwaku Dua bad addressed to Mr. Hodgson, togetber with a letter from the King, 
dated on the !lth April, written for him by :Wh. Ansah, as it is in the handwriting of 
the latter, and addressed to me. A copy of this document is enclosed. I may mention, 
in passing, that, on my asking Mr. Vroom how it was that King Kwaku Dua had 
183 
written to me instead of Mr. Houl'son , when I had had no oommunicatioll wi th hil'll ",net 
he could not have known I had come back, ;Mr. Vroom repli ed, that the circu ms tanco 
of my a.rrival at Accra had, he understood, been promptly reported f"om C,\pe Coast to 
Kumasi. He stated: "From what I could gather it appears to me that tbe n0W~ of 
" your rettu'n to the Colony made the King of Kumasi more nervous and caused some 
" changes in his present policy. 
" It oocurs to me that the Kiug fully remembers your connexiou wi th the putting 
"down of the King Mensah's attempt in 1880-1 to make war against the 
" Government; his own position as placed on the 'Stool' by your Excellency in 
" 1888, and the firmness of purpose which you have shown in your dealings with him 
H generally. 
" The King is therefore very cautious. In their public palavers the Linguist would 
" say nothing hastily." 
I have placed this statement before your Lordship, because the circumstance referred 
to in it may have had some bearing upon t~e first portion of the obser~'~tion made in 
paragraph 9 of the King's letter to mo. 
2. Upon the receipt of this document, I at once minuted it to Mr. Vroom. I enclose 
a copy of what I wrote to him and of his reply. Mr. Vroom has told me that on 
reading the King's letter he observed there had been embodied in it, here and tbero, 
portions of conversations he had had with Ansah, who had sought him out at hi s house. 
and who was evidently acting as aspy, on his own behalf, on Mr. Vroom; that Ansal, 
came to hi s house, Mr. Vroom's, one morning when the King's father was wi th him, 
and when the former left, Mr. A.nsa.h left also, and at Some little distance from the 
houso, Mr. Vroom heard high words and a quarrel going on between An sah and the 
King's father, because tho latter had gone to see Mr. Vroom without him, Ansah bemg 
jealous of the man seeiug Mr. Vroom alone. At a later period, in conversations Mr. 
Vroom had with Ansah, the statements of the latter wel'e so palpably fal se that Mr. 
Vroom told me that it was only from prudential motives that he "refrained fro m telling 
" Mr. Ansah that he was, like all his Ashanti people, a liar." 
3. I brought the correspondence mentioned in this Despatch to the notice of the 
Executive Council on the '4th instant, and members agreed with me that the letter of 
the King of Kumasi should be repli ed to in the terms of the document of which a copy 
is enclosed, members agreeing with me that it was not desirable to en ter into any 
discussion with the King of Kumasi <"ith regard to his letter , or to say any marc than 
it was intended to state as e"lllaiued by me to the Council , to whom the draft of my 
letter was subsequently informa.]]y submitted, with the result tha.t some slight changes 
'were suggested and carried out. 
4. I asked Mr. Vroom specially with regard to the wish of the Kumasis to " drive 
him Ollt of their country"; and he stated that he had no doubt whatever that this was 
their desire, and the reasons he gives are these-
First. They did not wish him to be present when the ceremony of placing the King 
on the Golden Stool was being proceeded with, as he would thereby see the 
weakness, as regarded numbers, of the King's adherents, and see his puppets ; and 
in connexion with this, 
Second. That it was most undesirable Mr. Vroom should be in Kumasi on the 
occasion referred to, because there would undoubtedly be a great sacrifice of slaves 
on the occasion, Mr. Vroom would be sure to become aware of this, and would be 
a witness against the Ashantis that, in spite of all their protestations to the 
contrary, th@y still carried on human sacrifices. 
1 have, &c. 
W. BRANDFORD GRIFFITH, 
Governor. 
Enclosure 1 in No.' 78. 
The Kuw OF As RANT! to the GOVERNOR. 
YOUR EXCELLENCY, Kumasi, April 11, 1894. 
LAST Saturday, the' 7th instant, I handed to Mr. Vroom, your Native District 
Commissioner, a letter from me to deliver to your E xcellency, and I beg to state that 
that officer's conduct to me, I am extremely sorry to say, it grieves me very 
much. 
2. All of Mr. Vroom's official business with me, has made me believe that if I did 
not exercise patience it will bring a great misunderstanding between my good friend 
Z4 
184 
and myself, for I know that he has written a very long report to your Excellency, 
according to the tenor of his words, most unfaJirly about me and my people, and where 
am I to defend, or who is there for me to defend. the misrepresentation 1 This causes 
me to write to my good friend , to remove any doubts tha,t may exist. in your Excellency's 
good mind about me. 
3. Mr. Vroom boldly said to my Linguists that" don't you know that I am here as 
" the representative for hi s Excellency the Governor, ",rid you have driven me out of 
" your country, and have disgraced me 1" I beg most humbly to say that if such 
expressions are in his report you must never take it to be so from your good friend , 
for who can disgrace an ambassador from my friend, or driye my friend 's messenger to 
me from my country, far be it. 
4. At the first interview with :M:r . Vroom on Monday the 19th ultimo, he enquired, 
where "re the Kings of Beckwai, Mampon, Fesu, Gesu, &c., for I was deputed by 
his Excellency the Governor to come and negotiate with you all. I told him, if I 
had received previous notice before you~' arrival, I would have summoned them 
to be present; as it is now late, I shall send to request them to send their 
Linguists immediately, and promised to hear Mr. Vroom at the arrival of the provincial 
Linguists. 
5. On Thursday, the 29th ultimo, I was informed that a cane bearer from Mr. Vroom 
was going down the coast; I send to tell Mr. Vroom to wait, for my provincial 
Linguists have arrived, and I am preparing to sit this morning to hear him; then he 
could send to the Goveruol'. Mr. Vroom did not agree, but send the cane bearer, and 
send to inform me that it is not serious, but only repOl·ting of hi s safe arrival here. 
I send again to inform him that not that I have detained him so long in Kumasi 
without hearing his message, but he could remember that I sustained the loss of my 
sister three or four days before his arrival, and on account of his business I hnye 
stopped making the full cllstom of my sister deceased. However, I sat and had a 
general meeting. Mr. Vroom delivered his letter, rea.d and explained before the 
general meeting. I despatched instantly, before Mr. Vroom, my provincial Linguists to 
their masters for their information, and as the matter is one of importance, I requested 
them to return within four days. After the four days my provincial Linguists had not 
turned up yet, when my friend's messenger to me began to sbow me some signs ; Mr. 
Vroom send to tell me that if I am not ready for him he will ask leave to return to 
the coast, fo~ I have promised to give him a reply on Monday past. I send to bet; 
him to wait for next Saturday, for the whole of my provincia.l Linguists have not 
turned up yet, and I believe by Saturday they all wili be present, and more also. 
I cannot give an answer without my provincial Kings, Obiefs, and principal men . He 
send to tell me that his daily expenses is too much, but jf I could give him some 
reliable hopes that his missiou will be successful. he would not lUind to Jive here ·even 
a whole month , but, as he knows fully well that r and my people were dodging him, he 
will never wa.it for the Saturday. I tried very hard before I got him to agree. 
6. Saturday, which was the 7th instant, I got ready with my assembly, and I selld 
for Mr. Vroom. T told him my provillcial Linguists are here, and I beg you to take my 
reply to my friend his Excellency the Governor. 
Mr. Vroom said, " Why, I have not finished my business with you, how then that you 
" are going to reply me, for I remember I told you at the last meeting that if you agree 
" for the proposal" the British Government have made to you there are some arrange-
" ments to be read to you; I have not read and explamed the aITa:p.gements, how then 
" yon could be able to give me a reply to the Governor?" I said, Very well, read and 
explain the al'l"angements. MI'. Vroom then read and explainod the arrangements. 
Myself and Oouncil then told Mr. Vroom as per enclosed copy of a letter to your 
E xcellency. Mr. Vroom replied that be knew very well that his mission will end no 
better than this, and he begs that he could not take His Majesty's reply to his Excel-
lency the Governor verbally, for when he takes it verbally the Governor might think 
that he did not execute his business, that he might have been on the half way and 
returned to the coast, so he begs that the verbal reply must be written on paper, for he 
brouO"ht his message on paper and not verbally. I said it is quite true, I shall get a 
lette,':' ready for you, and the meet,ing was dismissed. 
7. r got a letter to be written and send it to Mr. Vroom, to take it to my good friend 
the Governor, he send to inform me that he has received his .l!ixcellency's letter, but 
after he came home he has thought proper to senri his Excellellcy's letter per express 
messenger and that he i. going to wait here; when I received this information. I was 
greatly surprised and astonished, and send to tell Mr. Vroom, that, if he had said so 
before the public assembly, all the provincial Linguists would have heard so and take 
1S5 
to their masters, but ;'ow as he has asked me to give him my reply on paper to the 
hearing of all assembly, I beseech him to take my reply to m'y good friend his Excel-
lency the Governor, for when the Kings, Cruefs, &c., hear that he is remaill ing with me 
after lt was said a,t the public meeting tbat he is gOlng to take m'y good friend's letter, 
my people will think otherwise. Mr. Vroom refused totally. 
S. I called a meeting and sent for MI'. Vroom to tell me fully before the public 
assembly if there is anything left beh ind uusald; he said nothing left behind unsaid, 
but that he has thought proper to wait and heal' from hi s Excellency. I t,old him, 
you knew that you cannot leave here without tbe knowledge of hisffixcellency the 
Governor, why then did you urged upon me to give you leave to return to the coast, 
because your uaily expenses is too much. I said tbe offer tbat tbe British Govern ment 
makes to Asbanti h,s Excellency says, " There is no wish to force you to do so," hm if 
you came to force us, tell us; he said he cannot force us, when bis Excellenoy the 
Governor could not force you, how tben he, being merely a servant, could force you. I 
and my Council then told him, if you do not mean to force us, then take my good 
friend bis Excellency tbe Governor's letter yourself and not by anyone, upon this he 
says, that I have driven him out of my country, that I have disgraced rum; f(1I/' be it. 
I told :Mr. Vroom, that a man on political business like this must have a patient spirit, 
for he must know that if he says an'ything against me it will affect me very seriously, 
so he must be careful. 
9. I hope, therefore, at the explanation I bave made bere, "'nd, as I learn that you 
are an experienced old gentleman, you know tbe position of a ruler, 1 humbly beg you 
will not glve much attention to what report your Native Officer, Mr. Vroom, will say 
againsL me to make our old friendsbip less, but will wait patiently to heal' from me 
again when I shall be able to send an influential and excperience Chief to you r 
E:wellency. 
With regard, &c. 
my 
KWAKU X DUA III., King of Ashanti. 
His Excellency, mitl'k. 
William Brandfol'd Griffitb, K.C.:M.G., 
Governor and Oommander-in-Chief, 
Gold Co~st Colony. 
Enclosure 2 in No . 78. 
The GOVERNOR to ~1r. VROOM. 
MR. VROOM, 
I ATl'ACH to this minute paper a letter received this morning at 10.20 a.m. by 
two sword bearers sent by the King of Kumasi. 'rhe letter is dated at that place on 
the 11th of April. In it you will observe tbat King Kwaku Duah states that be is 
extremely sorry for YOllr conclnct towards him as it has grieved him very much. 'rbe 
letter describes itself, and I requE,st you will be so good as to consider what is written 
and to place on tbis minute paper any observatious you desire to offer, with reference 
to the statements made in the letter, for my consideration. 
W.B.G. 
25/4/94. 
Enclosure 3 in No . 78. 
Mr. V ROOM to the GOVERNOR. 
YOUR EXCELLENCY, 
I AM not aware that I did anything in Kumasi to give King Kwaku Dua Ill. any 
cause of complaint. I parted with bim on the best of terms and with the hope of 
meeting him again. 
With regard to paragraph 3 of this letter, upon which the alleged griev&nce IS based, 
I would respectfully ask your Excellency's reference to my report paragraph IS. The 
matter was sealed between us before I left Kumasi . 
o 89780. .t\ a 
186 
I submit your Excellency would consider thi s letter as coming from Mr. Ausah 
rather than the King of Ashanti. It was dictated and written by Mr. Ansah on the 
receipt of a letter I wrote to him and copy attached . It is, in my humble opinion, an 
invention of Mr. Ansah to get me out of the way in regard to the present negotiations 
with the King of Ashauti. Mr. Ansah knows his position is shaky as long as I have 
anything to do with the affair. 
I do not think I have made any complaint against K waku Dua III. in my report. If 
so, the King should be informed of this and his mind set at ease on the subject. 
H. VROOM. 
25/4/94. 
Enclosure 4 in No. 78. 
Government House, Christiansborg Castle, Accra, 
KING, May 7, 1894. 
ON the 25th April the messengers you sent with Mr. Vroom with a copy of your 
letter of the 7th April, to which I have already alluded in my letter of thi s date, 
delivered it to me, together with another letter from you dated the llth April, in which 
you beg to state that Mr. Vroom's conduct towards you, you were extremely sorry 
to say, grieved you very much. 
2. I at once placed your letter in Mr. Vroom's hands in order for him to give me an 
exp\anation of the statements you have made with reference to him, and I send you 
herewith his reply, iu which you will observe that Mr. Vroom remarks, " I parted with 
him," that is, with yourself, "ou t he best of terms and with the hope of meeting him 
again." 
3. There are statements in your letter which I do not think is necessary to deal with 
at this moment, but which I shall probably have to write to you about when I again 
hear from you with reference to the communication which was made to you by the late 
Acting Governor through Mr. Vroom, which tha,t officer handed to you, and, read to 
you and the Chiefs assembled with you at the time, viz., on the 28th of March. 
4. I take this opportunity to inform you that I have the fullest possible confidence 
in Mr. Vroom. I have known him for years as a man of strict integrity and honour, 
and I do not believe that he is capoNe of making auy statement to me which is not 
stTictly truthful in' every respect. You will observe he refers to a Mr. Ansah, and states 
that he considers that your letter has come rather from Mr. Ansah than fro m yourself. 
5. When Mr. Vroom arrived he gave me a letter addressed to me by by Mr. Ans~h, 
together with a letter which Mr. Ansah addressed to him, and Mr. Vroo m also handed 
to me copy of a letter he WTOte to Mr. Ansah in reply. I think if you saw these letters 
and had them correctly interpreted to you, you would very probably form a different 
opinion of Mr. Ansah to that which you enter tain at present. 
6. The difliculty in my correspondence with you is this, that you have no one to 
interpret the letters addressed to you by this Government bu t Mr. Ansah, and I am 
fully aware, from what I know of him, that, where there is anything in my letters 
which refers to himself in a way he does not like, he is not very llkely to let you know 
it. But I will t.ake very good care that yo u do know it later on, and I think you will 
then be rather surprised when yo u see the letter he has taken the liberty of writing 
to me. 
I remain, &c. 
W. BRaNDFORD GRIFFITH , 
His Majesty King Kwaku Dua III., Governor, Gold Coast Colouy. 
Kumasi. 
187 
No.79. 
SIR W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received May 30, 1894.) 
[A'!.8we'red by No. 83.] 
(EXTRACT.) Government House, Christiansborg Castle, Accra. 
May 9, 1894. 
I have the honour to transmit herewith, for youI' Lordship's information, copies of 
the following documeuts:-
A letter from John Ossoo Ansah, dated at Kumasi, the 5th of April, addressed 
to me. 
A 110te from John Ossoo Ansah, dated at Kumasi, the 5th of Apri], addressed to 
Mr. Vroom, Native District Oommissioner. 
A note from Mr. Vroom in reply, dated at Kumasi, the 9th of April. 
A letter from the Private Secretary written by direction of the Governor, dated 
Accra, 7th May, addressed to John O. Ansah, and an extract from the" Gold Coast 
Ohronicle" newspaper of the 31st March 1894. 
These documents are all self-explanatory, and therefore it is nnnecessary for me to 
enlarge upon them. 
Mr. John Ossoo Ansah was originally employed ill the public service of the Oolony, 
from which he was dismissed. He is a son of the late Ashanti prince of the same name 
who "ave so mnch trouble to this Goverument, when Mr. Young was cbarged with its 
admi~istration. He married a daughter of a Mrs. Hu tchison of Elmina who, I have 
heard, is seeking to be divorced from him for desertion . He has a.!so lately figured in 
a discreditable case tried at Liverpool, in J anuary last, I think. He has everything to 
gain by remaining at Kumasi and influencing the King for evil; aGd he is a plausible 
ma.n, with glibness of tongue, and likel.y to be regarded by the King , from his heing 
able to read and write, as valuable to him . 
Your Lorrlsbip \vill observe that, in the concluding paragraph of his letter , Mr. Ansah 
states that so far as his little influence goe~ with bis people he conscientiously believes 
he will be the propel' means of instrumentality for bringing his people in to the Light of 
civilisation , which I understand to mean that if he was commissioned for the purpose 
he would be " proud to live to see, and for the future welfa.re of his people, that the 
" Ashanti Kingdom is one of Her Majesty the great Queen of England and Empress 
" of India'" territories." This is the statement made in paragraph 4 of his lettel'. 
I think Mr . .~ nsah is very jealous of any intelligent officer being sent to Kumasi. 
He had to be publicly reproved by Mr. Hull wheu the latter visited Kumasi in 1891, 
and now he has, through the King, set bimself IIp in oppositioll to Mr. Vroom. 1'he 
papers relating to Kumasi sillce Mr. Ansah went there bear testimony to the unworthy 
character of the man. 
Enclosure 1 in No. 79. 
Mr. ANSAE to the GOVERNOR. 
YOUR EXCELLENCY, Kumasi, April 5, 1894. 
EVER since I have been out of my time I have being alway trying to bring my 
country (Asha.nti) into the light of r.ivilisat.ion ; although my people do not seem to 
know the good fruits whi0h civilisation bears, and which is being en joyed by the other 
civilised. world, yet it is my earnest and constant prayer that the light of civilisation 
should smile upon this benighted land. 
2. In 1889 I came out here for gold mming business, through the invitation of an 
Ashanti Ohief; the Ohief, being misguided, placed my business so backward, not until 
I obtained the leave and consent of all the Kings, Ohiefs and principal men, as well as 
h is Majesty the King of Ashanti. Just as I commenced my business Mr. Hull's mission 
to Ashanti took place, my business was again interrupted, my men I employed from 
the coast deserted me, and my gold mining business was a total failure; having comc 
to this conclusion, I asked the King's leave to return to the coast, for it is useless for 
me to stay out here without having business in my hands to carry. His Majesty the 
King, Kings, Ohiefs, and principal men of Ashanti, solicited me earnestly to assist 
Aa2 
188 
them to look into the Ash anti . affairs with the British Government. I refused, that 
inasmuch as Mr. Hull has misrepresented my conduct to you in the public assembly, 
that I was bad adviser, that I was misleading yo u, and that I shall be the cause of the 
future destruction of Ashantee Kingdom, which m!1de his Majesty the King to make a 
brief explanation on certain points, and I was then permitted to explain myself, when 
Mr. Hull then publicly apologized tQ me before the assembly, I feared greatly to 
interfere any longer with Ashanti polinical matters. 
3. Mr. Hull's mission to Ashanti might have proved successful, or somewhat satis-
factorily to both parties, had he not tried to put me away; aud even the consent of 
my replying His Majesty's lettAr to your Excellency according to their dictation was 
reluctantly given. 
4 . His Majesty the King, Kings, Ohiefs and principal men of Ashanti, having found 
that without my assistance they could do no better than to leave all the business to my 
hands with t.he British Government, I was then preparing to be send to the coast to 
arrange matters between the Bl'j.tish Government and Ashauti, for I shall be proud to 
live to see, and for the future welfare of my people, that Ashanti Kingdom is one of 
Her Majesty the great Queen of England and Empress of India's territories. When 
unfortunately the late war with Nkoranza took place, I objected to it greatly, and 
having no one to support me, only hi s Majesty the King seems to agree with me, on 
some points I \Vas placed on the back ground, and they took their war. I spoke to his 
Majesty very strongly aDd explained to bim the nll-ture of wbat war brings; he took 
my advise, and I obtained the leave to go to the camp to try to bring in the warriors; 
.I went anct tried, but wa,s not successful, and if I was present at the fight, it was 
merely a matter of satisfying my curiosity, and I believe if I had not been there, I fear 
Ashauti might have trespassed on the grounds of the British Government, for I posi-
tively tolcl them, that if they do chase the King of Nkoranza as far as to Attabubu, 
Ashanti shall have to reckon with the British powers; however they took this my 
advise and returned from Abeasi. 
6. I am extremely sorry to learn from my friends on the coast, and from Ashanti 
traders that return from the coast that my name is so scandilized, that it is rumoured 
that I caused Asb anti to go to war with N'Koranza and I fear perhaps this rumour may 
fall into your Excellency hearing. I beg humbly to defend my name and character; 
that if I am out here, I am here for the good and welfare of the country; I shall never 
misguide my people, but will give them the advice which will lead them to enjoy the 
future happiness of their country, for I belief there exists a set of people who live by 
inventing and propagating thi s kind of li es, because they find a mark~t fur them, and 
the best way that I can defend my name and character is, if such reports come to your 
Excellency'S hearing, I beg that you will treat them like had shillings; I know if I am 
successful in bringing my people into tbe light of civilization, as a prince, I shall be 
highly respected in~ a civilised circle, but what is a prince of a barbarous country? The 
Ashantees thiuk that in days gone by, were days of prosperity; I repudiated the idea 
witb tbem a,nd argued that if Ashanti wel'e to take my simple advice, and be one with 
the British Government they would soon see it clearly that tbose days that had gone by, 
for which they call it days of prosperity, were only days of torment, although they bad 
not seen it to ce so, but for the one which I proposes will be surely days of continual 
peace and h8.ppiness. 
6. In conclusion, I tbank your Excellency in anticipation for the precious time you 
have spent in rea.ding this letter, and the kind advice which your Excellency gave me 
during my interview w1th your Excellency at Obristiansborg Oastle is always before me, 
teaches me to be very careful with my people; I think if I could manage to bring my 
people into a better position than now is, and if my people conld ta,ke my advice, because 
I know the frui ts of civilisation, and if I keep it away from them I believe it is a great 
sin on my part, and so far as my little influence at present with them, I conscientiously 
believe I shall be the proper means of instrumentality of bringing my people into the 
light of civilisation, and 1 believe I should have <.lone nobly for my country and people. 
Mr. Vroom, Native District Oommi, sioner, and a most trusted officer in Her Majesty's 
service, I believe, will explain to your Excellency more fully my opinion of staying out 
here. 
I remain, &c. 
His Excellency JOHN Ossoo ANS.m. 
Wiliiam Brandiord Griffith, R.O.M.G., 
Governor and Oommander-in-Ohief, 
Gold Ooast Oolony. 
189 
Enclosure 2 in No. 79. 
Mr. A NS AE! to Mr. VROOM. 
DEAR Sm AND BRaTlTER, Kumasi, April 5, 1894. 
W ILL you kindly t ake with YOll a letter I have addressed to his ExcelJ ency the 
Governor and send herewith nnder a flying seal. I trust you can vouch for the vie\vs 
I have expressed in this letter. and that you may be able, from your own knowledge, 
to explain matters to his Excellency, so as to remove any doubts he may, tbrough 
mi8representation, entertained of my conduct in regard to Ashanti affairs. 
I remain, &c. 
H. Vroom, Esq. , JOHN Ossoo A NsA H. 
Native District Oommissioner. 
E nclosure 3 in No. 79. 
Mr. VROOM to Mr. ANSAH. 
Sm, Knmasi, April 9, 1894. 
I N acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 5th instant, written immediately 
after I had pointed out to you the risk you are running by the hne of conduct you have 
hit.herto pursued in Ashanti affairs, I must tell you that I cannot deceive h is Excellency 
the Governor by endorsing statements which, so far as I know, are incorrect and contrary 
to yonr actions. 
2. It is my dnty to inform his Excellency the true state of affairs as I found them. 
I remain, &c. 
J. O. Ansah, Esq., Kumasi. H. VROOM. 
P.S.-I write thia without prejudice. 
Enclosure 4 in No. 79. 
Government House, Ohristian.borg Oastle, Accra, 
8m, May 7, 1894. 
I AM directed by the Governor of the Gold Ooast Oolony, Sir W. Brandforjl 
Griffi t h, to inform yo u that Mr. Vroom has deli vered to him a letter which yon addressed 
to his Excellency uuder date of the 5th April. together with a copy of your letter to 
Mr. Vroom and of his reply to you . 
2. I am directed by the Governor to state that it is unnecessary fo r his Excellency to 
say anything with regard to these letters at present, but he will take ca·re that you shall 
hear more of them presently, and that the.v are brought to the knowledge of the King 
of Kumasi in a way in which there shall be no 1I118L1uderstanding, so far as the King is 
concerned, of the part you are playing, which is not unlikely to place you SOOner or later 
in a very serious position with this Government. 
I am, &c. 
Mr. John O. Ansah, Kumasi. H . M. H ULL, 
Private Secretary. 
Enclosure 5 in No. 79. 
EXTRACT from the" GOLn OOAST OHRONICLE" of 31st March 1894. 
GENERAL NEWS. 
'l'he authorities a,re said to have decided upon the removal from Ashantee of John 
Ossoo Ansah, the son of the late Prince Ansa h. John Ansah is reported to have taken 
part in the recent inter-tribal hostilities and which almost resulted in another war with 
.Ashantee. It is added, moreover, that it was at his instigation that A ttahubu was 
threatened just before the departure of Sir Francis Scott. We do not helieve all the 
reports that have reached us with regard to J ohn Ansah, although it may be feared that 
his continuance in Ashantee may seriously affect our relations with Kwaku Duah III. 
Aa3 
190 
But Aus",h would not be so foolish as to do anything which could be construed into a 
deliberate effort on his part to endanger British interests, They say that the Gold 
Coast authorities are determined to get him out of Ashantee and to send him to 
St. H elena. This, we need hardly add, would be totally uncalled-for. Bringing him out 
of Asbantee and compelling him to stay in this Colony would be a prudent step. But 
making him a prisoner and transporting him, in view of the doubtful nature of the 
evidence against him, would be altogether absurd. It is thought that Mr. Vroom is the 
o'ffcer who has been sent to Ashantee to bring Ansah down. We have not forgotten 
that, although a native of .Ashantee, John Ansah was perfectly loyal to the Queen during 
the last war with Ashantee. He was a sergpant-major at t.he time in the Gold Coast 
Rifle Corps, a force whicb haa tbe honour of taking part in the cam paign of 1873-4, alid 
it was inspected by Sir Garnet (now Lord) W olseley. In fact, Ansah would be the last 
man to foment strife. For his services in 1873-4 he received a medal. 
No. 80. 
SIR W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(lteceived June 13, 1894.) 
[Answered by No. 83.J 
Government House, Christiansborg Castle, Accra, 
My LO RD, May 21, 1894. 
IN continuation of my second Despatcb of the 7th instant,'" I would observe 
that it was stated in paragraph 2 of that Despatch as follows: "Mr. Vroom. unfor-
" tuuately for the purpose of his mission, arrived at Kumasi at a time when the King 
" and Chiefs were mourniug fol' a princess" (sa,id to be the King's sister) "who had 
" died on the 13th of March. and .1\11' . Vroom obsenes, on account of whose obsequies 
" 'and perbaps human sacrifices, on such occasions indispensable, the King of Ashanti 
" 'evidently endeavoured to keep me away from his town for Some time.' .. 
2. I deeply regret to inform your Lordship t·hat Mr. Vroom's anticipation of what 
would happbll consequent on the fu ner",l custom for tbe King's sister appears to have 
been realised, for in tbe usual weekly return sent to the ColoBial Secretary by the Con-
stabulary clerk in charge at Prahsu, under date of 6th of May, it is stated he had been 
informed by a trader named Kofi Owusu, a native of Kumasi, who had crossed the river 
into the Protectorate, " that the funeral custom of the late sister of King Prempeh of 
" Kumasi commenced on Monday last, the 30th April 1894, and that about 50 persons 
" were decapitated for the said funeral custom." The unfortunate victims were probably 
some of the people ca.ptured iu the late attack by Prempeh's forces on the Nkoransas. 
3. Mr. Vroom stated to me in conversation that he believed when King Kwaku Dua 
was enstooled fully 200 people would be sacrificed iu honour of the ceremony. It is 
lamentable to tbink that such fearful cruelty should be capable of being practised by a 
savage African Chief whose country adjoins the British Protectorate of this Colony and 
who owes his position as King of Kumasi to the friendsh ip and k indness of Her Majesty's 
Go,ernmeut in aid ing by their powerful influence his being selected to replace th(l former 
King, in the full belief that he would rule his people wisely and abstain from the cruel 
and avaricious practices of bis predecessors; but "bo has apparently returned to the 
savage barbarism of bis "ace and appears to be somewhat, if not \a.rgely, influenced by a 
Britisb subject, John Ossoo Ansah, who, as will be seen from the transcri pt of his 
lette)· to me which I forwarded for your Lordship's information in my Despatch 
dated the 9th instant,t seelllS to have beeu taking a prominent part in tbe political affairs 
-so far as th~y may deserve to be so styled-of the authorities of KUlllasi, and prates 
of his desire for the civilisation of Asha-nti . 
5. As having some bearing on the cruelties practised in Kumasi, I transmit, for your 
Lordship's informa,tion, copy of a memoraduUl which I requested Mr. Vroom to draw 
up upon his mentioning tbe particulars to me in the course of conversation. It will be 
observed that Mr. Vroom obtained his information by hearing it imparted by an eye-
witness (onG of Mr. Ansab's servants) to hi s (Mr. Vroom's) carriers . 
S. The British Govemment are pledged by the General.Act of the Brussels Con -
ference to do all in their power to put " an end to the crimes and devastations engendered 
" by tbe traffi c in African slaves, and ensuring for that vast continem the benefits of 
• No. 77. t No. 79. 
191 
" peace anil civilisation." It appears to me, tberefore, my Lord , lbat if the l'epol'" 
of human sacrifices recently committed, and of others in oO l'lemplation, at Kurnasl are 
w be believed. a great l'esponsib,lity rests upon t hi s Govol'nment, witb the consent of 
Her Majesty's Government, to put a stop, once for all, to tbo abominable cl'UelLies for 
II'hicu the autboJ'lties of Kuma,i arc l\ufortunately noto l'iuuR, and it appears to me 
tbat, if the King and Cbiefs of that country should decline to oOloply with tbo wisbos 
and advice of H er Majesty's Govern ment, it will be necessa ry ill! the n eOlI' jutUll'e to 
adopt a line of policy towards them which will compel tbem to obedience to a superior 
power. 
I have, &c. 
W. BRAND FORD GRIFFI'rH, 
Governor. 
Enclosure in No. 80. 
MEMORANDUM by MI'. VROOM. 
MEMORAND UM. 
In .Ashanti the punishment for ad ul tery with a Chief's wife is death, as I learn from 
the following story, told in my hearing by an eye- witness (one of Mr . .ALlsah's servants) 
to my carriers. namely-
'rbat shortly before my arrival in Kumasi a certain young man was accused of 
having committed adultery with one of thc wives of a Chief (a Ohief has many wives, 
sometimes as much as 10, 20, or more). 
This young man was seized; to prevent him swearing the King's oath to challenge 
hi s accusers two spearlllg klllves were tbrusted mto both cheeks. He was taken to a 
public street, cruelly tortured, and decapitated. 
H. VROOM . 
2nd May 1894. 
No. 81. 
SIR W . B. GRIFFITH to the M.ARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received June 13tb, 1894.) 
[.&nswel'ed by No . 83 .J 
Government House, Chr istiansborg Castle, .Accra, 
My LORD, May 22, 1894. 
IN cuntinuation of my Despatch of yesterday, ' in whicb I reported having 
received inrorm"tion that about 50 persons had been sacri ficed at Kumasi at tbe 
funeral of the late sister of King Prempeb, J regret to have to further inform your 
Lordship tbat I received this morning from tbe Acting Oolonial Secretary the usual 
weekly return from the Constabulary Clerk in Charge at Prabsu, elated the 13th of 
May, in which he states he had heard " from an Ashanti trader tbat t be funeral custom 
" mentioned in " hi. " prev ious report terminated on the II th instant, and that more 
" than 100 persons were decapitate,J. during tbe custom." The clerk's report is dated 
May the 13th, and as it urdinarily takes about fou r days to travel from Kumasi to 
Prahsu, it appears to me that if t he date of the return is correct, his informant must 
have left Kumasi on the 9th, and was not therefore in a 'Position to assert that the 
.custom terminated on the 11th vf May, as he could not bave been in Kumasi at the 
time, but I will direct that the clerk at Prabsn sb&U be called upon for an explanation. 
2. Gra nting, however, that the informatiou is otherwise correct, nothing can be more 
opposed to humanity, to possible civilisation , and to peace with their neighbours, than 
the atrocious conduct, if true as reported, of the anthorit,ies of Kumasi. 
I have, &0. 
W. BRANDFORD GRI FFITH, 
Governor. 
• No. 80 . 
.Aa4 
192 
No. 82. 
VISCOUNT WOLSELEY to COLONIAL OFFICE. 
(Received June 30, 1894.) 
Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin, 
June 28, 1894. 
The enclosed letter from a well-known missionary in the Gold Coast is forwarded for 
the consideration of the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. 
I have told the writer I have done 80 . 
WOLSELEY, 
Field -Marshal. 
Enclosure in No; 82. 
[Answered by No. 84.] 
To His Lordship the GenAr"l, the Right Hon. VISCOUNT WOLSELEY, K.P., G.C.B., &c. 
UDited Service Club, Pall Mall, London, S.W. 
YOUR LORDSHIP, 
No doubt your Lordship will be most astonished at the reception of these lines, 
ani! probably astonished, tot), that I take the liberty of writing, the more as what moves 
me tn do so is a matter in connexion with the political state of the int0l~or of the Gold 
Coast. But the matter being not only such which we missionaries in Ashantee have 
very much at he"rt, but which is, too, of the greatest importance for the welfare of the 
Gold Coast, I have, although with much reluctance, taken the liberty to write to your 
Lordship. I would scarcely have done it had I not been encouraged to do so by a 
military person of high rank, who assured me that your Lordship was the proper person 
to apply to. 
rt is only since a few days that we have arrived (Mrs. R. and myself) from the Gold 
Coast, and when in London I would have taken the liberty to call at your address, but, 
being very uncertaiu if your Lordship was in town, and our time being very short, so 
that I would have scarcely been able to wait for an appointment, I thought it wiser to 
take the lib8rty to bring the matter in a letter before your Lordship. 
I may also mention that what encouraged me to write is the remembrance of the great 
kindness shown to us in 1874, and the interest your Lordship takes in the welfare of the 
mission work on the Gold Coast. 
As it is easy t.o guess, what moves me to write is-the p1'escnt state oj the As/w;ntu 
country and the wish, perhaps by the high support of your Lordship, which we most 
hu m bly are asking for, to see the voices of the missionaries in Ashantee been heard at 
tbe ColoDial Office or any competent place. 
Well do J know that missionaries must not in any ways interfere in political ma.ters, 
and we too do not wish and wi/.l not interfere in matters of tbis ressort, but wben we 
Sfle and hear what is going on in that country, and when we mis,ionaries, who have 
stayed and wo!'ked nearly 20 years among this people, know tbat there is only one way 
to bring peace and freedom in the country, I think it is not interfering in political 
matters when we humbly ta.ke the liberty to say what we know, and what is not known 
in England, and to express our opinion concerning Coomassee. I cannot describe better 
our position than in Baying, we are like a man seeing a house burning, and who cries, 
H Come and help; this house is burning." I beg, therefore, your Lordship to show us 
the great kindness to give a willing ear to the following statement. 
As your Lordship knows, in the last months of 1893 an expedition under Colonel 
Sir Francis Scott, with about 400 Haussa soldiers, has passed Abetifi. (our beautiful 
station, since and over 20 years in the Ashantee province K w• .h u), making Abetifi. their 
headquarters. The expedition went as far as Ateobu (or Atabubu), a province, placed 
since about two years under Englisb protection, seven days' journey on the N.N.W. 
'of Abetifi, and wbich was threatened by the Coomassees. The King h"d sent his army 
towards Nkoransa (three days' journey on the west of Atabubu), a tributary state of 
CoomasBee, which had refused to pay its tribute in slaves; they burned their towns and 
took, as the reports say, about 2,000 women and children prisoners. The Nkorans9.'l 
having taken refuge at Atabubu, the Ashantee army, only about 6,000 to 7,000 men, 
was on its march towards Atabubu when the reports reached the Governor. 
193 
When the expedition passed Abetifi: we were full of hope, and, with the officers, we 
oould not think otherwise than that the last and long-expected step would be done and 
Coomassee made powerless for ever, in cUctatiJng to the King the Protectorate, i.e., in 
plaoing Ooomassee under British jurisdiotion .. We could hop? this the more as, ~ooord­
ing to all what I know, thIs oould be done WIthout a shot bemg fil'0d. In the tlmo the 
headquarters were at Abetifi there oame from many provinoes messengers from Kings 
and Ohiefs 'irnploring Oolonel Soott to help them that their oountry may be placed under 
English protectorate. One of them is the rather influential King of Djabong, Yaw 
Sapong, now at Asunte-Akem (14 hours from Ooomassee), and at whoso place, at his 
instant request, I have placed a missionary agent. Besides these provinces many others, 
in faot the whole of Ashautee (exceptOoomassee with very few towns) were expecting to 
see at last (as they said) the English Government bring their law and make peace roign 
in the country. "Why wiUthey not make for us what they have made for others?" 
were they constantly asking. As I say, the whole cOlllntry was itmplor'ing for the last 
step to be done, and to see the troops in returning go to Ooomassee and to sign the 
treaty_ • 
To our great astonishment and sorrow the step has not been done, and the ~roops 
have returned to Accra, after having been at Ateobu (At",bubu) for some weeks, and 
having encouraged the Nkoransa people to return to their oountry and build their 
town, giving them the English fl ag as sign that they had no more to be afraid of tbe 
Ooomassees. 
And now we are waiting with the whole country to see if this is the last word about 
the expedition, and if, nevertheless, a step will be done with CoomasBie. If not, tlien I 
can assure that the display of foroe, which, for a time, made the King tremble, will have 
been in vain_ 
Seeing how the state of things is, we missionaries of Abetifi, who are working among 
the Ashantees since and over 20 years, and knowing the pitiful state of the tribes 
around us, which, as I say, are imploring us to help them, cannot otherwise than to say 
that, should Ooomassee remain as it is, it will have the most deplorable effects on the 
whole Gold Ooast; for-
I . By the return of the tl'OOpS without any sign of a step towards his oapital, the 
King has become more impudent than ever, and just before leaving for Abetifi. I heard that 
he had sent to all his Ohiefs the message: "There is nothing to be afraid of ; the English 
Governor dare not attack him, and all his troops are now returning to the eoast." And 
we hear, too, that the Ashantees are on the point of returning to Nkoransa to drive the 
people away again_ ' 
2. All the surrounding tribes, especially those which have asked for the Protecto1'",te, 
are trembling, for they know what they have to expect of this bloodthirsty King when ' 
left at his mercy. 
3. Before leaving the country I took a journey to Asante-Akem, on the frontier of 
Ooomassie territory, and I could hear the people say that if Ooomassee does not beoome 
English there are only two ways before them, to submit again , to this bloodthirsty King 
or to leave their beautiful country_ Other Ohiefs were openly saying, it is in v",in 
that we put our confidence on the Government, for they leave us at the mercy of the 
Ooomassees. 
4. By leaving Ooomassee as it is now, I am obliged to say openly that the English 
prestige- which since 1874 has become so great that they speak of it very far in the 
interior- will receive a blow which will be felt on the whole Gold Ooast, and will bring 
muoh uneasiness among the tribes, if not severe troubles. 
5. I have further to add that if things are remaining as they are, this means constaJnt 
qW1lrrels and troubles vn the mte'rior; it means the continuat·ion of ilAllmaJn salYrijices, 
which have never oeased, and it means the countr·y shut up for cortllmlYrcial pw)'poses and 
edJucational work. 
In face of all these facts and the pitiful state of the beautiful province of Nkoransa, 
threatened by the Ashantee, your Lordship wiU surely feel with us and understand that 
as Ashantee missionaries- although not wishing to interfere in politics- cannot otherwise 
than humbly beg that the ve?'y itmportant quest·ion of Ooornassie may be taken in con-
sideration, and to see wbat step is to be done to the end that peace may be established 
on the whole Gold Ooast, ",nd Ashantee with its capital open for trade, educational ana 
mission work. 
That this can be done, and very easily, there is no doubt about it; it can be done 
perhaps without any further display of force, for Ooomassee and the few towns faithflll 
to the King are nothing compared to what it was before. 
o "730. B b 
+94 
From several persons, and even official persons, I have heard that in the next six 
months a great change would take jllace with COQmassee; it will be made powerless, 
and this most probably on diplomatic ways, and perhaps with a resident there. If this 
will be done, what a blessing for the whole country, and how glad shall we be! It is 
all that we could wish. For I may as well say it h('re, not only we expect to keep 
our two posts where we have placed agents lately, Odumase (Djabeng) and Agogo, but 
we wish very much to extend our work as far as Nkoransa. 
Your Lordship will say that mission work has nothing to do with political change or 
armngements I understand it '0 too, but if the Home Government could see the good 
which our work has done in the Kwahu (Ashantee) province, what the Governor of the 
Gold Ooast did more than once acknowledge, it would not hesitate to say that it is to 
be wished that the whole of Ashantee may receive the blessing of the mission work. 
But my letter is much longer than I thought at first, and I most 4umbly beg your 
Lordship to excuse the great liberty I have taken, and to see if it would be possible 
that our humble voice may be heard when we plead for the welfare of the poor Ashantee 
country. 
May Goel our Lord, w bose work we are doing' in tbat country, bless your Lordship 
for your Lordsbip's great kindness towards us and our mission. 
I bave, &c. 
FR. RAMSEYER, 
rEcluse, Neuchatel, Switzerland.) 
N euchatel, 19tb June 1894. 
P.S.-Just now I have received tbe report of one of our missionaries of Abetifi, who 
came back from", journey to Atabubu and Nkoransa. He writes that the people of this 
last town are in a most pitiful state, bave scarcely to eat, and are most of them naked 
and without houses, all tbeir towns having been destroyed. Nevertbeless, and althouO"b 
trembling, tbey are beginning to build their town again. He adds further tbat the 
reports say that tbe K ing of Coomassee has absolutely refused to allow scbools in its 
kingdom. If this is true, what will be done? Is it not time to act towards tbis tyrant, 
wbo has lately sa.crificed hundreds of poor innocents? For bumanity sake, the English 
Government cannot besitate; it ought to make a step; and if Coomassie had to remain 
as it is, at least may the Government declare those provinGes wbich have i1mplo,-ed the 
Governor for protection: Dwabin, wit·h the two towns Odumase aud Ahyiaem, tben 
Agogo and-in the north-Nkoransa are now English protectorate and no more under 
the King of Kumase. For God's sake I plead for it. 
No. 83. 
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON to SIR W. B. GRIFFITH. 
SIR, Downing Street, June 29, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatches noted in the 
MZl)' 7, )fl4. mar~in* furnishing information on the subject of affairs in Ashanti, and Mr. Vroom's 
May 7, )94. lllSSlOll. 
Mo.y ~,)94. 
May 9, '94. I bave to convey to you my approval of all your proceedings in respect to these 
May 21, '!)4. matters, and of your communications to tbe King of Ashanti. 
May 22, '04. With regard to Ossoo Ansah, it seems probable tbat but for bim there would be little 
difficulty in getting the King to accept a British Resident at Kumasi. 
I have no doubt you will consider whether Ansah's inflnence might not to a great 
extent be neutralised by sending Mr. Vroom, or some other officer, again to Kumasi to 
receive the answer of tbe new assemblage of Kings and Obiefs, unless such a course 
would be likely to defeat its own object by infringing native etiquette too seriously. 
With reference to the last paragraph of your Despatch of 21st May,t I must await 
the reply of the King to the demand made upon him to receive a Resident before I 
consider tbe question of what action should be taken with respect to the barbarous 
practices and cruelties which are apparently still carried on at Kumasi. 
I have, &c. 
RIPON. 
• Nos. 76 to 81. t No. SO. 
195 
No. 84. 
COLONIAL OFFICE to the REV. F. RAMSEYER. 
Sm, Dowling Street, July 6, 1894. 
I AM directed to inform you that Lord W olseley has forward to the Marq ness 
of Ripon your letter of 19th ultimo,* calling attention to the position of affairs in 
Ashanti and its neighbourhood. 
In reply, I am to acquaint you that the matters to which your Jetter refers have been, 
and are, engaging the serious attention of Her l\1ajesty's GOl'ornment. 
A communication of their views has been made to the King of Coomassie by tbe 
Governor of the Gold Coast Colony, and the King has promised to assemble his Chiefs 
and advisers for its consideration, and to return ::m early answer. 
Until the reply is recoived Lord Ripon is not in a position to fumish you with any 
further information. 
I am, &c. 
JOHN BRAMSTON. 
No.85. 
SIR W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received July 12, 1894.) 
[Answered by No. 86.] 
Government House, Christiansborg Castle, Accra, 
My LORD, June 14, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith, for your Lordship's information, copy 
of a letter addressed by Mr. Ferguson to the Adjutant of the Atabubu Expeditionary 
Force dated at Longoro Mo, 9th March 1894, a transcript of wbich was sent by the 
Adjutant at Atabubu to tbe Acting I nspector·General. 
2. In this letter Mr. Ferguson reports intelligence which bad reacbed him as to the 
rumoured action of the King of Kumasi with regard to those tribes who bad entered 
into treaty arrangements with the government and bad received tbe British flag. It 
will be observed that, in the third paragraph, Mr. Ferguson expresses tbe opinion that 
Ashanti might be informed of the fri~nd ship which exists between the British Government 
and the Treaty Kings, so as to avoid the chance of tbe flags which bad been given to the 
Treaty Kings being violated. 
3. I would here mention that I have rec.eived a letter from Mr. Ferguson, dated the 
11th March, which, however, simply contains a statement of tbe number of men wbo were 
attached to his expedition, viz., 129 men, and describes the manner in which they were 
severally employed. By the same messenger who brougbt bis letter of the 9tb March 
to the Adjutant from Atabubu to Accra, one of my clerks, Mr. Brew, received 1\ sbort 
note from him dated 4th Marcb in which be stated tbat be was then 148 miles from 
Ata bubu and did not know when he would return . 
4. I also enclose, for your Lordship's information, copy of a letter from the King of 
Nkoranza, addressed to Colonel Sir Francis Scott under date of the 14tb April 1894, 
and would call attention to that portion of paragraph 7, marked" private," in whicb he 
states: "I have heard in a hint that King of Kumase will soon send bis messengers to 
" me to drink water as an oatb, but if I did not drink it to his request he will send his 
" forces again to come and drive me from the land, and I will let you know tJ:uly as 
" soon as the said messengers of Kumase arrived here." 
I have, &c. 
W. BRAJ\TDFORD GRIFFITH, 
Governor.  
• Enclosure in No. 82. 
Bb2 
196 
Enclosure 1 in No. 85. 
Mr. G. E. FERGUSON to the ADJUTANT, Atabubu Expeditionary Forc~. 
Sm, Longoro, Mo, March 9, 1894. 
I !lAVE the honour to report tha,t intelligence has reached me that soon after the 
treaty was signed with Nkoranza, and the British flag was delivered to the King and 
people of Nkoranza, certain countries near Nkoranza, viz . :-Boasi, Tuobodom, Bueyen, 
Ofumai, Nchraa, Wenki, Sronasi, Nsoko, Badukrum, Ewisa, Bradan came to ask the 
King of Nkoranza to allow them to be parties to the treaty; they desired to swear their 
oath of allegiance to the King of Nkoranza so as to be friends with the English. The 
King of Kumasi heard of this and sent some people, armed, to prevent the Wenkis, etc., 
mentioned above, from coming to make friend with England. 
2. This state of affairs is similar to what happened in the case of Yow Sapon of Juabin 
when he heard of your forces at K wahu, it is similiar also to the action of the Kjng of 
Ejira when he heard of your forces at Amanting, it is similiar also to the attitude of 
those persons who at present desire our friendsbip. 
3. I think Ashanti might be informed of the friendship which exists between us and 
the Treaty Kings, Nkoranza, Amanting, Abeasi, &c., so as to avoid the chance of British 
flags which have been given fo the Treaty Kings being violated. 
4. Sbould you leave your post at Atabubu without some action in this regard, these 
unfortunate people who have accepted our friendship will be left to the tender mercies 
of the Ashantis, and there may be a recurrence of the present troubles when they are driven 
by Ashauti to our territory. 
I have, &c. 
GEORGE E. FERGUSON. 
The Adjutant, Atabubu Expeditionary Force, 
Atabubu. 
P.S.-Since writing the foregoing, a messago has been sent to me by the King of 
Nkoranza confirming the above intelligence. 1 havo taken the opportunity to send this 
letter by his messenger. G. E. F. 
Enclosure 2 in No. 85. 
The KING OF NKORANZA to Oolonel Sir F. SCOTT. 
SIR, Nkoranza, April 14, 1894. 
YOUR note of the 6th ultimo received and the contents of which have been 
carefully noted. 
2. In reply thanking you for your kind instructions you have given me in your letter. 
3. I would have already replied to your request had not the letter kept so long at 
Atabubu. 
4. Herewith send you per bearer, by the name Kwamine Sacikee, the nocket gold 
weighing eight pounds, 81. sterliug, and the stool you require for. 
5. I would send you tho biggest one, but all of my things or properties were lost 
during the wa.·, also I would dress the stool with silver but sorry no goldsmith at this 
place. 
6. IIowever, I will try for you next time, after my country is saved by the help of the 
Government. 
7. 1 am sorry the treaty was made during my clerk's absence for Attabubu, I mean 
my clerk, A. W. Benson, however, I will soon send him with the treaty of mine to you 
or Accra, to sign his name under in the presence of you or the Governor and I will 
also recommend him t(l tho Governor. (Pl'ivl\te.) - I have heard in a hint that KinO' 
of Kumase will soon send his messengers to me to drink wator as an oath, but if I did 
not drink it to his request he will send his forces again, to cOllle and drive me from 
the land, and I will let you know trully as soon as the said messengers of Kumase arrived 
here. 
197 
8. I am rather short of writing papers and envelopes, and I shall be very thankful to 
you if you would spare me few pel' bearer. 
\I. I am alright, hoping you are the same condition. 
I am, &c. 
A. W. B'·;NSON, 
Colonel Sir Francis Scott, K .C.M.G., C.B., pro KING COFIE FOA. 
&c. &c. &c. 
P .S.-I also had your letter of the 21st March per the Hausa man; in reply I have done 
what you request me to do say. I have given my own express bearer to the Hausa man 
and to direct him to Mr. Ferguson. 
KING COFlE FOA. 
No. 86. 
TIlE MARQUESS OF RIPON to SIR W. B. GRIFFITH. 
Sm, Downing Street, July 20, 1894. 
I !lAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of 14th June," 
on the subject of Ashanti affairs. 
If you do not hear soon from the King of Ashanti, you should consider whe ther it 
would be desirable to send up a message informing him that you are dirocted to state 
that his answer to the communication which you made to him by the order of Her 
Majesty's Government cannot be indefini tely delayed; and warning him that he must 
not interfere with any of the KlDgs who have entered into treaties with the Gold 
Coast Government. 
I have, &c. 
RIPON. 
No.87. 
SIR W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received July 28, 1894.) 
(EXTRAC'l'.) 
Government House, Christiansborg Castle, Accra, 
June 26, 1894. 
I have heard nothing as to the proceedings of the King of Ashanti, except a rum our 
that further sacrifices of a large number of victims had taken place at a continuance of 
customs at Kumasi. Intelligence as regards Ashanti goes chiefly to Cape Coast and 
Saltpond. I intend to visit the former town next week, on special business, and may 
then he able to ascertain what is passing at Kumasi, although natives are very reticent 
generally with regard to what is going on at that place, and it is most difficult to obtain 
any reliable information respecting it. 
If by' the middle or end of July I should not receive an answer to the letter sent by 
Mr. Hodgson, through Mr. Vroom, to King Kwaku Dua in March last, to which he 
promised a reply after a meeting of his District Kings, Chiefs, and principal men wbich 
was to take place about the middle of April, when the subject of the letter would be 
discussed, a.nd an express messenger sent with a final decision, I may tbink it advisable 
to submit for your Lordship's consideration that I should be authorised to send bim a 
reminder by a strong Enropean messenger, occupying a high official position, and make 
him understand most distinctly that the Government must not be trifled with by him 
and his adviseFs. 
I think it is my duty to state to your Lordship that the prevalent opinion of all 
Europeans ana intelligent natives in the Oolony is, that, sooner or later, as a matter of 
supreme importance in the interests of humanity and of tbe Gold Coast, the provinces 
of Ashanti will have to be annexed to the Protectorate under this Government. 
~ No. 85. 
Bb3 
198 
No.88. 
SIR W . B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON .. 
(Received August 9, 1894.) 
(EXTRACT.) Government House, Cape Coast Castle, 
July 11, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour to state, for your Lordship's information, that I left Accra on 
the evening of the 2nd instant on the s.s. " Benin." 
On her way here the" Benin" anchored for a few hours at Saltpond wben the District 
Commissioner, Mr. Adams, came off to see me. On my stating that I was anxious to 
know wbat was going on in Ashanti, but could not find anything out, and inquiring 
of him whether there was any news relative to Ash",nti at Saltpond, he said that there 
was, and told me generally wbat he had beard. I requested him to put his statement 
in writing and send it to me at Cape Coast, and I have the honour to transmit herewith 
to your Lordship a letter which be wrote to me upon the subject under date of the 8th 
instant. 
Yesterday, a special 1'unner from the Clerk in Charge at Prahsu, brought to the 
Commissioner at this place a telegram from the Clerk, to be forwarded to me at Accra., 
It was worded as follows :-
"One sword-bearer, one town crier, and tbree servants from the King of Kumasai 
arrived bere this day (9th July,) at 12.30 p.m" with a letter to your Excellency; I have 
accordingly detained him here, pending your Excellency's instructions as to what steps 
I am to take." 
As I am going up to Prahsu, I will see the Ashanti messengers, and as soon as 
possible afterwards transmit, for your Lordship's information, a copy of the letter sent 
by tbem by the King of Kumasi. It will be recollected that in the letter written by 
tbe King of Kumasi on the 7th April he stated that he was going to have a meeting of 
his Kmgs, Chiefs, and Principal Men and that he would send down a message by a 
distinguished Chief, but he has merely sent a sword-bearer and court crier, and I have 
been informed by native gentlemen of this place well acquainted with native ways that 
these are messengers whom I should neither see nor hold any personal intercourse with, 
because underlying the circumstance of such men being sent is the intention on the pHt 
of the senders to be disrespectful to the Government. 
I shall leave Cape Coast at dawn to-morrow, the 13th instant, and will probably 
arrive at Prahsu on the 16th. I hope to be able to return to Cape Coast by the 22nd, 
and to Accra by the 27th, instant. 
Enclosure 1 in No. 88. 
Mr. ADAMS to the GOVERNOR. 
(EXTRACT.) 
Saltpond, July 8, 1894. 
I HEAR that the King of Kumassi is collecting all his Chiefs and Captains 
tbrou"hout the country to come and pay a general tax, the money realised to be divided 
into t*'o portions, one to go to pay to the Government the ra.nsom of the King of the 
Kokofus, whom tbey think is being detained by the Government till a ransom is paid, 
and tbe other portion is to go to paying off the debts of the King of the Kokofus, 
incurred while he was in the Protectorate. 
They say that Prempeh is now in a position to set bis kingdom in order, and con-
solidate the Ashanti nation, but be first must be set on tbe Golden Stool, and this 
entbroning can only be doue by t):te King of the Kokofus. Bence their anxiety to get 
him back. I hear that tbe custom they have been celebrating bas not been for Karikari, 
but Quacou Duah, whose custom was never celebrated, owing to the unsettled state of 
the country, and wbich had to be got out of the way before another regal custom could 
be undertaken. This will be Prempeh's when he is placed on the Gold Stool, and I 
hear it is to surpass any custom that has taken place in Ashanti within the memory of 
man. It was described as " Big, big, no man in Ashanti ever see such custom." But 
it cannot be done without the Kokofu King. 
I don't know what they are going to do when the kingdom is settled, but it seems a 
fact that the people are flocking to Kumassi. 
. 199 
No. 89. 
The REV. F. RAMSEYER to COLONI AL OFFICE. 
(Received August 13, 1894. ) 
[Answe-red b-y N o. 91.J 
YOUR HONOUR, Neuchll.tel, August 10, 1894. 
A FEW weeks ago I had the honour to receive, by direction of his Lordship the 
Secretary of State, a communication* as answer to a letter t written by me to hi s 
Lordship Lord Wolseley concerning the state of things in Ashantee. I n this communi-
cation, for which I wish to express to his Lordsh ip my most respectful thanks, it was 
. stated th"t his E xcellency on the Gold Coast was expecting an answer from the King 
of Coomassee, who had assembled his Chiefs to take in consideration the message sen t 
to him. 
After having received this information, I did not think to write again, and was 
waiting anxiously to see what would be the result of the soeps taken by his E xcellency 
the Governor of the Gold Coast. But a letter, received to· day, from my colleague ",t 
Abetifi forces me to take the pen in hand again, and I beg his Lordship the Secretary 
of State most respectfully to allow me to bring before hi s Lordship the following 
information. 
The included let ter, a true extract out of a letter by Rev. E. Perregaux, gives a 
pitiful description of what is going on in Ashantee. Not only has the expedition been 
of no result towards opening Ashantee and Coomassee to civilisation, but as the letter 
proves, it has come to what we were afraid of . The power of the King. instead of 
having been abated, has, on the contrar,)'. in the last months. so increased. that those 
provinces which were implO1'irt{! the Enghsh Government to be taken in the Protecto-
rate, receiving no answer and seeing that their hope has been frustrated. are ret urning 
to serve Coomase. More than that. for even those pro~inces which are already uncleI' 
English jurisdiction are now so wavering, for fear of the increasing Ashantee power, 
that. if occasion would allow it, they would not wait long before submitting to the 
King of Coomassee, and accept his offers by which he is const",ntiy trying to decoy 
them. This in spite of the expedition of which everyone. as well on the coast as in 
Ashantee, speaks of as a total failure, and which in Okwahu has been and is still a 
source of exasperation by the ways in which those Haussa soldiers are behaving, 
although in a friendly country and in the Protectorate, very often stealing and 
plundering the poor inhabitants. In Asante Akem, a Chief was asking our missionary ; 
" You speak of peace, but is this peace, when the Haussa soldiers are stealing our 
"sheep?" . 
These same reports I have already received some day ago from another part of the 
country, and just two days ago I heard from a true source, that t he King had sent to 
tell the King, or Chief, Yaw Sapong, that he had not to be afraid of the English troops, 
that they CAN'T do nothing, it is totally impossible to them to take any steps against 
Ashantee. This message in the same time when in the most pohte terms he is assuring 
the Governor of his goodwill and his friendship. Oli! these Coomassee people ! if only 
the English Government would see through their deceitfulness, how often have they 
deceived the Governor, and how sweet is their mouth! 
I can only add to these few lines what I wrote lately. For God's sake,fa?' hwmani fA/s 
s(]'ke, for THE PRESTIGE the English Government bas still on the Gold Coast sake, may 
the Government act at O1We before it is too late, and bring peace in the whole Ashantee 
country and open it for the work of civilisation, for the work God has laid in their 
land, and for which it has been so much blessed. And these hundreds and thousands 
of poor innocent people who have been sacrificed in the street of Coomassee, are their 
voices not loud enough! Oh, do halp for God's and humanity's sake! may these their 
cries be heard before it will be too late. 
Yay his Lordship and your Honour excuse my great liberty, but I was constrained 
to do it, for Ashantee is in a most critical state. 
I have, &c. 
F . RAMSEYER, 
Basel Missionary. 
• No. 8~. t No. 82 . 
Bb4 
200 
Enclosure in No. 89. 
EXTRACT of a LETTER written to Fr. RAMSEYER by Reverend EDWARD PERREGAUX, 
Abetifi., June 25, 1894. 
Mon collegue, Mr. Haasis, vient a faire une tournee dans 1'Asante Akem 
et eu 1'occasion de se convaincre de la verite et de 1'importance des symptomes que 
signalaieut mes demier rapports. L'avertissement de l'expedition anglaise a mis tout 
Ie pays en fermentation. Ce ne sont pas seulement Ie roi Yaw Sapong et la ville 
d' AgQgo qui cherchent it rentrer dans les bonnes graces du roi de Coumassie, et qui 
lors des dernieres funerailles lui ont envoye leur tribut, mais les villes de l'A sante-
Akem elles-memes, Ateobu ct quelques chefs de l'Okwaou lui ont envoye secretement 
des messagers. Les Achantis ont reconquis en quelques mois une bonne partie dll 
prestige qu'lls avaient perdu depuis la derniere guerre, et si comme chacun en avait 
l'impression la derniere expedition anglaise eut pu s'emparer de Coumassie et la 80U -
mettre sans coup fe rir, il n'en sora plus de meme it 1'avenir, les Ach!1lntis ont reprn 
C01lfi!1lnce en",-memes et ont eI' Ie temps de se ,·esaisV,.: 
Voila. ce que nous craignions, et ce qui nous faisait tant desirer une action energique 
at immediate contre Coumassie. L 'avenir est maintenant gros de nuages. Nos deux 
catechistes a Odumase (sous Yaw Sapong) et a Agago sont, pour Ie moment, fort mal 
vus, au moins par une partie de la population et par les chefs. Celui d'Agago a meme 
eM cite devant une assemblee populaire et hue publiquement ! 
Et ce qui nous navre profondement ce sont les nouvelles qui nous arrivent de 
Conmassie meme. Le roi, enhardi sans doute par cette retraite honteuse et par bravade, 
a redouble de cruaute. II a fait massacrer toutes les femmes de son predecesseur 
et plusieur esclaves, ii a fait couper la tete au 8econd chef d' Agona et a six personnes 
que lui :wait envoyees Ie chef de Mampong pour l'occasion; en outre nombre de 
Nkoransas ont eM sacrifies et bien d'autres encore qui ne nous ont pas ete mentionnes! 
Pareilles nouvelles no us font bouillir d'indignation, et nous ne pouvons com prendre 
(et Ie officiers Anglais pas plus que nous), comment Ie Gouvernement Anglais, que nous 
avons soin de tenir au courant, peut demeurer impassible au su de pareilles horreurs! 
Les gens sout ci excites et si outres contre les Anglais que leur haine se reporte sur 
nous, et llOUS rencontrons beaucoup moins d'attention et beau coup plus d'oppos:tion 
dans nos tournees d'cvangelisation. 
Cet 6ta,t des esprits perce meme dans 1'0kwaou et dernierement Ie chef o'Obomeng, 
peu satisfait d'un jugement du roi, prit les armes contre lui, et nous aurions certaine-
ment eu un con flit grave it deplorer si l' officier Anglais ne s' etat rendu a la hate sur les 
lieux avec ses ~oldats et n'avait reussi a separer Jes combattants. Le roi neanmoins est 
si effraye qu'il supplia l'officier de lui laisser une garde de corps! 
Voila ou nous en sommes au jour d' aujourd'hui et vous comprendrez pourquoi nous 
regret tons tant que cette expedition Anglaise soit demeuree pacifique. Fut-elle restee 
chez elle nous serions certainement dans une position beaucoup plus favorable qlle 
maintenant. Eut-elle agi ! 
No. 90. 
Sm W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIP ON_ 
(Received August 23, 1894.) 
Government House, Cbristiansborg Castle, Accra, 
My LORD, July 26, 1894. 
I N continuation of my Despatch of the 11th July," I have the honour to state, 
for your Lordship's information, that I left Cape Coast on the 13th instant and arrived 
at Prahsu on the 16tb, accompanied by the Acting Colonial Secretary. On the following 
day, at my request, :Mr. Ashmore sent for the messengers who had arrived there a week 
before, and received from them a letter which they had brought from the King of 
Kumas; addressed to me. I transmit herewith a copy of this communication, which 
bears internal evidence of the considerable part Mr. John Ossoo Ansah had taken in its 
composition. 
2. I did not see the messengers, as their rank was not such as to make them worthy 
of having an interview with me. I left Prahsu on 18th July on my return to the 
• No. SS. 
201 
ooast, and the men were direoted to remain there for a reply, which would bo sent to 
them from Accra, to Quaku Dua's letter . 
3. I adopted this course, consider ing it best to consult with the Executive Counci l as 
to the reply to be sent to the King of Kumasi, intending to state to membcrs such 
information as I had collected on my tour westward, and which bore particularly upon 
the course of action Ansah has been pursuing in Ashanti , and, as I have been informed. 
elsewhere. 
4. At present, my disposition is, that, in acknowledging the King of Kumasi's letter. 
I ought distinctly to decline to receive MI'. A nsa-h. This man has incurred logal 
liabilit ies which would lead to his arrest on his returning to the coast, and he probably 
thinks that, if he could come in the position of a messenger from Qualm Dua, tho 
protection of the Government would be thrown around him. In case of taking the 
action referred to, I should mention this reason to the King of Kumasi. togcther with 
others, showing why his relative would not be received, being objectionable to this 
Government, of which he is a subject (as he was born at Cape Coast, his mother being" 
native of that town who has never been in Ashanti , as I understand), and towa,rds which, 
if I am correctly informed, he has been guilty Of treasonable conduct. 
5. Quaku Dua refers to Mr. Ansah as his" grandson," aud I understand by th is that· 
the latter is thereby a member of the King of Kumasi's Gounci!. But this clogreo of. 
relationship is merely a local arrangement, the fact being that, whilst the King is about 
24 year s of age, Ansah is 43 years old. 
6. Your Lordship may fully rely on my exerting great caution and prudencc in tl,e 
management of the relations of this Government with the King and Chiefs of 
Kumasi. 
7. I returned to Accra yesterday from Cape Coast. 
I have, &c. 
W. BRANDFORD GRIFFITH, 
Governor. 
Enclosnre in No. 90. 
KING KWAKu DUAl III. to the GOVERNOR. 
YOUR EXCELLENCY, Royal Palace, Kumasi, June 28, 1894. 
I SllND my Sword Bearer" K0fi Buar" and Court Crier" Ofori " with this to 
inform your Excellency that my district Kings, Chiefs, and principal men of Ashanti 
have come to the capital, and the important subject of the British Government have 
being laid before them, and I am preparing to send my grandson, Prince Ansah, together 
with two of my influ ential Chiefs, Chief "Boatin," and Chief "Kwaku Fakoo," 
Linguist, Inkrumah, Kojo Tufoo, Akempon Daban, Sword Bearer, a,nd RondaI', COlll't 
Crier , to you with the final decision of the important letter pel' Mr. Vroom, your Native 
District Commissioner, and I believe if I do not say anything about th,s important 
subject before the arrival of my messengers you may think that my mind is not very 
particular about it. 
2. I am happy and thankful to iuform your Excellency that after the arrival of all my 
loyal district Kings, Chiefs, and principal men of Ashanti, and after our important 
business had being performed, on Adai Monday, the 11 th instant, I entered at tho 
Royal Palace, and I pray and beseech my elders, a6 well as my gods, and the spirits of 
, my ancestors, to assist me, to give me true wisdom and love, to rule and govern my 
nation, and I be~eech you, my good friend, to pray and ask blessings from your God to 
give me long life and prosperous and peaceful reign, and that my friendship with H er 
Majesty's Government may he more £rm and more closer than hitherto had been done, 
that bye-gones will be bye-gones, that Ashanti nation will awake herself as out of sleep, 
that the hostilities will go away from her, that the evils which the constant wars has 
brought upon her, like destroying our jewels, may die everlastingly from her, and that I 
shall endeavour to promote peaoe and tranquillity and good order in my Kin g-dom, and to 
restore its trade, and the happiness and satety of my people generally, by makmg it 00 
the advantage of the r efugees to return, inhabit, and cultivate their respective countl~es, 
and thus r aise my Kingdom of Ashanti to a prosperous, substantial, and steady position 
as a great farming and trailing community such as it has never occupied hitherto, and 
that the t rade between your P rotectorate and my Kingdom of Ash anti may increase daily 
to the benefit of all interested in it. 
o 89'130. Cc 
202 
3. In your last letter of the 7th Yay last, pAr my return messengerB Sword Bearer 
and Oourt Orier, your Excellency 'made mention of my grandson Prince Ansah, that he 
has written your Excellency some letter. I am happy to say that if it is the same letter 
that your Native District Oommissioner, Mr. Vroom, delivered to you, and not otherwise, 
I and my Ohiefs were not ignorant about it, for before he wrote that letter Prince Ansah 
informed me that news have reached him that some people on the coast are scandalising 
his name so far as it has reached your Excellency's hearing, and asked my permission 
that he would like to explain himself in writing when Mr. Vroom, your officer, is 
returning to the coast. After the letter had been written by my grandson, Prince Ansah 
read and explained the letter to me and my assembly, and all his wishes he expressed in 
that letter was for the future welfare of his grandfather's nation, and from what I have 
gathered from him, as well as my district Kings, Ohiefs, and principa1 men of Ashanti, 
that he is a very good assistant and a very good adviser, that if he could, and if it is in 
his power, he would bring up his grandfather'S nation to a great and dignified state. If 
my grandson Prince Ansah is with .us here, he is here for the future happiness of his 
nation, and I know there are some evil people who are misrepresenting hijll to you; 
therefore I pray you, my good friend, that if any reports reach you, you may not take 
it to be fact . 
Receive my best regards. 
I remain, &c. 
my 
His Excellency KWAKU X DuA. III., 
William Brandford Griffith, K.O.M.G., mark 
Governor and Oommander-in-Ohief, King of Ashanti. 
Gold Ooast Colony. 
No. 91. 
OOLONIAL OFFICE to the REV. F. RAMSEYER. 
SIR, Downing Street, August 31, 1894. 
I AM directed by the Marquess of Ripon to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter of 10th instant,? again calling attention to the state of affairs in Ashanti and the 
neighbouring countries, and I am to acquaint you that the matter is receiving the 
attention of Her Majesty's Government. 
I am, &c. 
JOHN BRAMSTON. 
No. 92. 
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON to SIR W. B. GRIFFITH. 
[t!nswe"ed by No. 101.] 
SIR, Downing Street, August 31, 1894. 
WITH reference to previous correspondellce, I have the honour to transmit, for 
your information, a copy of a letter':' from the Rev. P. Ramseyer, respecting the con-
dition of affairs of Ashanti and the neighbouring countries, with a copy of the answer 
which has been returned to it.t 
I have to call your attention to ihe sta,tements of Mr. Rams@yer as to the misconduct 
of the Hausas in Kwahu. 
I have, &c. 
RIPON. 
• No. 89. t No. 91 • 
203' 
No. 93. 
Sm W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received September 7, 1894.) 
(EXTRACT.) Government House, Christianshorg Castle, Accra, 
August 10, 1894. 
IN continuation of my Despatch of the 26th of JuJ y,'" I have the bouour to 
transmit herewith, for your Lordsllip's information, copy of a Jetter wbich, aftor 
consideration in the Executive Council, I decided to send to the King of Kumasi . 
I anticipate that, allowing for the habitual delay and procrastination of the Ashantis, 
the messengers the King intends to send to me will not reach Prahsu before the ond of 
this month, and as I consider it is unadvisf1ble that tbey should have any personal 
communication with Asibi. Chief of the Kokofus, who is residing at the village of 
Christiansborg, where Quaku Dua's messengers would also have to be provided with 
lodgings, I intend to go to Cape Coast and receive them there, where tbey'will be 
detained only sufficiently long to enable them to recover from the fatigue of tbeir travel 
to the coast. 
I transmit, herewith, copies of two letters from the clerk in charge of PrahBu, dated 
respectively the 20th and 29th of July. by the first of which it will be seen that the 
King of Kumasi has ordered a tax to be collected from each of the Ashantis at the rate 
of lOs. per man; and by the second that this lax was to be collected on behalf 
of King Asihi who is in the Protectorate. I have other statements relative to this tax, 
viz., that half of it was to be applied to the payment of debts contracted hy Asibi in 
the Protectorate, and the remainder was to be offered to this Government as a condition 
of his being allowed to return to Ashanti. 
I have also to transmit, for your Lordship's information, copy of a letter addressed to 
Captain Houston, who is in command of the detachment in Kwahu , by Yao Sapong, 
King of Duabin, to which I ask special reference. Of course, it would not be politic to 
enter into any treaty with Yao Sapong until it is seen clearly wh",t pos ition the Govern· 
ment Will have to take up with regard to the King of Knmasi, but I believe that, if 
ultimately it became necessary to require th"t section of Ashanti to consent to the 
exercise of British influence in the country, not onl.\' Yao Sapong would gladly throw 
himself on the side of the Government, but that the King of Bekwai would act in like 
manner, for I have reason to think that he desires to free himself from the domination 
of the native authorities of Kumasi. 
When I receive the messengers from Kumasi, I shall make such inquiries of them 
as may appear necessary upon various matters, and finally state to them that their 
King's message, Ol' letter, will be submitted for the consideration of Her Majesty's 
Government, and that, as soon as I am instructed as to the decision of the Imperial 
Government, I will communicate it to King Quaka Dua. 
P.S.- I find I have omitted to state my belief that the assertion that a tax of lOs. 
is to be levied on every person in Ashanti for the benefit of Asibi , King of the 
Kokofus, is a mere pretext on the part of the authorities at Kumasi to raise funds fol' 
other pnrposes. Such a t~x, if fairly: collected, would amount to a very large sum . I 
have not heard that AS,b, I S ill debt III the Protectorate ; and the Ashantis know very 
well that this Government would not move from any position it had taken up for any 
pecuniary consideration. 
In view of the collection of Ithe tax: referred to, I would submit that. it is a matter 
for consideration whether it might not be advanced as a strong point towards promoting 
a satisfactory settlement with the Ashantis that they are indebted to Her Majesty's 
Government for tbe unpaid balance of the 50,000 ounces of gold, viz. 48,000 ounces, 
which they agreed by their treaty in 1874 to pay as an indemnity to Her Majesty's 
Government for the expenses of the war they had caused. 
I have instructed Captain Houston to inform Yao Sapong that his letter will be 
transmitted for the consideration and decisioll of the Queen, and that, as soon as I 
receive the instructions of Her Majesty' s Government with regard to his application, he 
will be fnrther communicated with. 
W. B. G. 
August 11, 1894.  
• No. 90. 
Cc2 
204 
Enclosure 1 in No. 93. 
The GOVERNOR to KING QUAKU DUA: III. 
Government House, Christiansborg Castle, Accra, 
KING, August 3, 1894. 
YOUR Sword Bearer and Court Crier arrived at Prashu on the 9th of July. The 
clerk in charge of that station, knowing that I was at Cape Coast on a tour of inspec-
tion which was to include a visit to the Prah, detained the messengers to await my 
anival. On the 17th of July, a letter dated the 28th of June, written and signed by 
Mr. John Ossoo Ansah in your name, was delivered by your messengers to the Colonial 
Secrotary, and they were directed to remain at Prashu for a reply to be sent to it. 
2. I have read what is stated in the communication .... ritten by Mr. John Ossoo 
Ansah, and observe that you will send some of your Chiefs and other people to me 
with the final decision which it is stated that you aud your supporters have come to, 
upon the important letter forwarded to you by Mr. Vroom. I will not say more now 
upon the subject matter of tbat letter, but will await the receipt of the communication 
mentioned. 
I remain, &c. 
W. BRANDFORD GRIFFITH, 
Governor and Commander·in-Cbief, 
Gold Coast Colony. 
Euclosure 2 in No. 93. 
Ml'. ENNISSON to tbc COLONIAL ~ECRETAIW . 
SJI', Pl'abSlle, July 20, 1894. 
1 IlEO most respectfully to report, for the information of his Excellency tbe 
Governor, the following i11telligence which comes from Ashanti. 
I. That King Prempoh of Kumasi has arranged to dispatch two of bis principal 
Chiefs, ll amal.r :- Kwaku llaiku a11d Buatsin who will proceed from Kumassi to Accra 
SOOl1or or later on with message to his Excellency. 
2. Tbat the King bas ordered a tax to be collected from each of the Ashantis; I am 
told at the rate of lOs. per man. 
3. I shall endeavour to ascertain the cause of this tax and report as soon as I am in 
a position to do so. 
I am, &0. 
F. ENNlssoN, 
Clerk in Charge. 
Enclosure 3 in No. 93. 
Mr. ENNISSON to the COLONIAL SECRETARY. 
Sill, Prahsue, July 29, 1894. 
ADVERTING to the last paragraph of my letter of the 20th July 1894. I beg most 
respectfully to state, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, that the 
colJectlOlJ of the tax therein referred to was Oll behalf of Ex-king Assibey, who is now 
in the l'rotectol ate, and that the same will be forwarded to Accra per Chiefs K waku 
Faiku and Buatsin, whose names are melltioned ,in the first paragraph of my letter 
abovo quoted . 
I obtained this information from a tradel' named Kwamin Dmo, native of Kumassi, 
who arrived here on the 28th instant, e?t "oute to Cape Coast. 
I am, &0. 
F. ENNISSON, 
Clerk in Charge. 
205 
Enolosure 4 :in No. 93. 
The DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, Saltpond, to the GOVERNOR. 
(Extract.) Commissioner's Office, Saltpond, 
July 24, 1894. 
From what the Ashantis traders here say, King Prempeh seems to be . living the life 
of a sable Tiberius, having completely given himself up to sensuality; and t he people, 
sick of human sacrifice, strife, and dissension, with the consequent stoppage of trade, 
and ruin of the smaller people, and proud of their ancient traditions,. as every true 
Ashanti is in a very remarkable degree, view with alarm and sorrow the sad state of 
the once powerful.A shanti nation, and would welcome any powerful hand that would 
administer the government firmly and properly, provided, as MI'. Russel! says," there 
" be no undue interference with their establisbed customs." 
From what I have learned, I make no doubt that the approaching grand custom of 
Prempeh's, and which it is stated is to surpass anything of the kind ever seen before in 
Ashanti, and the importance of which is evidenced by his anxiety to get back the 
enthroning official, the King of the Kokofus, the care taken to have King Kwaku Dua's 
custom finished and out of the way, and the quality of the goods ordered from Ml'. 
Frank Russell, is a final effort of Prempeh's to establish his rule, and that if the custom 
should any way fail, or any strife break out during the time it is being made, the country 
will be at the mercy of anyone who chooses to take it. 
'fhe intimate relationship, however, both as regards family, language, and customs-
social as well as religious- that exists between the sections of the Tchui-speaking 
people, the Fantis almost surrounding Ashanti, and the Ashantis themselves, the 
immemoriaJ. trade intercourse between these two bl'<'1nches which has had its inevitable 
result in imbuing the minds of the Ashanti s with respect for British commerce, power, 
and uprightness :in dealing with native races, combined with the popularity of the 
present Government of the Gold Coast Colony when contrasted in the native mind with 
the neighbouring foreign administrations, of the native's opinion of which I have had 
more than one evidence, and the prestige of the British name, owing to the capture of 
Kumasi in 1874, which, though weakened, is yet by no means eKtinct---au combine to 
render the Union J ack the flag of all others at present the most acceptable to the 
Ashanti people. 
Enclosure 5 in No. 93. 
YAO SAPONG to Captain HOUSTON. 
DEAR SIR, Ahyoom, July 21, 1894. 
I HUMBLY beg to write these brief lines to you bearing requests as following; first 
of all, I might ask you to call attention to the story herein follows: 
During the late hostility and war between my Grandfather Asafo Adjei, King of Dnabin 
and the King of Coomassie, our Duabin Stool came pe.adventure to the possessiou of the 
British Government, and is still now under the protection of the Queen. 
But during the late Expedition to Atabubu, I sent my representative and clerk with the 
message to the Colonel Sir Francis C. ~cott, then in Abetifi, to take the British flag . He, 
the Colonel, sent Captain Lang to me in order that I may repeat the message brought to 
him; an agreement thence was made to sign a treaty. 
I therefore humbly beg you to take upon yourself to write to the Governor, firstly to 
assure ·him that I am still in my promise; and secondly that His Excellency may kindly 
send his 'European Commissioner to my country to arrange everything again in order; and 
even to stay with mef01' ever; and the third and the last, I beg for my stool and my people 
viz., the Duabins in Akem and coastwise. 
I say, in conclusion, that I have not failed in my promise; and I beg with the name of 
the Almighty and the merciful God that His Excellency may take upon heart the requests 
herein stated. 
Yours faithfully. 
YAO SAPONG, 
King of Duallin. 
20'6 
. No. 94. 
Sm W . B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF -R1PbN. 
(Received October 11, 1894.) 
Gov.ernment House, Cape Coast Castle, 
My LOltD, September 14, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship tbat I considered it advisable to visit 
Cape Coast at tbis time, bringing with me the Acting Colonial Secretary, in order to see 
what progress was being made witb the alLerations and repairs of this Castle, to inspect 
tbe Cape Coast-J ukwa road, to inquire into some matters to which my attenhon !:las been 
calJed by circumstances and also, anu more particularly, with the object of meeting the Chiefs 
whom I was informed by the King of Kumasi, in his last letter, he intended to send to me 
with his reply to the communication addressed to him by Mr. Hodgson, by your Lordship's 
Jirection. 
2. Not being able to ascertain on my arrival here, on the 9th instant, anything relative to 
the mission to be sent from Kumasi, I inquired of the District Commissioner of Saltpond, a 
place to which Ashantis resort in large numbers, whether he could give me any information 
upon the subject, and I transmit, herewith, and request reference to, a copy of a letter dated 
the 12th instant which I received yesterday from Mr. Adams. 
3. The weekly retums from Prahsn show that about one ton of gunpowder, together 
with large quantities of Jead bars and trade gnns, have been taken every week lately from the 
Protectorate to Ashanti, but chiefly to Bekwai; and the people passing to and fro have 
doubled in numbers. 
,t This morning a copy of" The Gold Coast Methodist Times," of the 31st of August, was 
placed in my hands by Mr. Hagan , one of my clerks. I have the hODour to transmit it 
herewi t,h for your Lordship's information, in order, My Loro, to request your Lordship's 
notice of a statement near the end of the third column of the front page headed," Ash.nti," 
in which it is stated that Prempeh hau been formally installed King of Ash.nti; that four 
principal Chiefs had attended the ceremony, incluJing Yow Sapong of Juabin (which I do 
not credit) ; that a consultation had taken place, lasting for two weeks, to determine how 
order alld peace could be restored to the Kingdom" and .L1.shanti ,.egain its past glmy 
nnel ,.tmOlcn" ; and that large sums of money sllOuld be raised to send to the British 
Government for the giving back of Asibi of Kokafll, and Inkansa of Ad.nsi. It is also 
stated tllat '100 human beings had been slaughtered on the occasion of Prempeh's 
installation; tbat each of t.he Chiefs had contributed slaves for sacrifice, except the King ·of 
Bekwai, " who brought gold dust instead of hlllUan victims, stating his intention to conform 
" to British custom and practice. ' 1' 01',' said he, ' my ancestors did not prosper by their 
" 'huma!'. sacrifices, and I am detctmilled not to follow their practices.' " 
5. On the 10th instant, I despatched a special Hausa runner to Pmhsu to convey a small 
present I bad promised to Inkansa, King of Adansi, wbom I met at Brasjaku on my late 
visit to Prahsu, and also with the object of ascertaining from the clerk in charge whether 
he had received any information relative to the movements of the Ashanti Chiefs, wbo had 
be.en previously reported by him to be en ,·o·ute to the coast. The messenger arrived at 
Prahsu, a distance of 77 miles, ill 32 hours from the time I despatched hi m from this Castle, 
and he retlll·ned yesterday in 36 hours, bringing me a letter from the clerk in charge at 
PrahsLl, a capyof which I transmit herewith. Your Lordship will observe the statement 
it contains that the Ashanti Chiefs" have not yet left Kumasi, but it. is stated that they 
willlenvc there on Saturdav next, the 15th instant ." Should this be the case, what with 
their large retinue and if 'it be true that they are br;nging a large quantity of coin with 
them, they may take fully a fortnight, if not more time, before they reach Cape Coast, but 
whether or mIt this should be the case, I intend to wait here and receive them when they 
arrive. 
I have, &c. 
W. BRANDl!'ORD GRIl/FITH 
Gov~rnor. 
Enclosure 1 in No. 94. 
DEAR GOVERNOR, Saltpond, September 12, 1894. 
1 WAS away all yesterday at Arkra and did not get back till late at night and got 
the wire this morning. 
207 
I have made inquiries and find, as I said in my wil'o of to-day, that the mission stal'teJ 
for Accra all r ight, consisting of Foku and Boatin. I suppose that is the Dlall who came 
down in 1891 when Mr. Hodgson was acting. 
The mission got as far as Edjuabin whcn they were stoppcd hy messengers from the King 
and told to wait aud there they are now. My informant told me that I cOLlld rely on this 
being trLle as Foku fllld Boatin had seut down messcngcrs to him to buy gin and tobacco 
during their stay at Edj uorbin, aud that it was from thesc messengers he got his infor-
matiolJ. In fact, they are still in the town. '1'ho reason of this delay, as statcd by the 
messengers, is as follows :-When the two lIlen (Foku and Boatin) had started from Kumassi, 
tbe Chiefs of the Adansis sent to Prempeh saying that the Kokofns were goi ng back to 
Ashanti and they wonld not allow it unless the Adansis were brought back also. '1'herc was 
a big palaver and hnaIly it was decided that the hut should be sent round again to get funds 
to bring the Adansis back, and the message was sent to the ambassadors to stop until thc 
further money was sent tl} them. The message reached them at Edj lIard in where thcy are 
now waiting. My informant told me they expected to move about the end of the month 
and that he was sending up word t.o them that. the Governor was at Cape Coast and not 
Accra. This is what I have heard. There seems a lull in Ashanti matters just now and a 
very cnrious one, as, although many Ashanti traders are coming down, not one will own to 
having been lately in Knmassi itself. I heard, though 1 don't vouch for its trul,h, that the 
first part of Prempeh's big custom is over. FI·.nk Russell's valuable silks, &c. have been 
taken out of the warehouse. I snppose they have gone np country. I w ill Ie.t you know 
directly I hear anything. 
I am, &c. 
W. H. ADAMS. 
Enclosnre 2 in Ii' o. 9'1, 
Extract from the" GOLD COAST METHODIST 'l'lluES" of August 3 1, 1894. 
ASHANTI. 
(From a Correspondent.) 
Coronation of Prempeh.-Magniiicent display of Royalty. 
On the 4th of June last, Prempeh, who bad been elected to the Stool in 1888, was 
formally installe<L King of Ashanti and placed ou the Golden Stool, amidst magnificent 
display of royalty at the Ashanti metropolis . 'l'he election of Prempeh, some six years ago, 
occasioned much serious contention and bloodshed in the Kingdom, which led one of it, 
principal Chiefs, Osai Esibey of Kokofu, to quit bis district and flee to the P rotectorate. 
Among the influential Cbiefs present at K umasi, on the grand day mentioned, were As"fu 
Bll.kyi, Bantuma Ewua, Etsia Yaw Buaky; of Eekwai, and Yaw Sapon of Dwabin, who 
turned up in State, making Kumasi look like on some memorial days gone by. After the 
coronation festivities, t be Cbiefs and King with hi, conncillors are said to have devoted full two 
weeks to deliberations as to how order and peace could be restored in the Kingdom, and Ashanti 
regain its past glory and renown. 'l'he assembly dispersed about the 24tb of June; it having 
been agreed to levy from the nation an amount of mOlley to send to the British Government 
for tbe giving back to the Kingdom of l!:sibey of Koko fu and Nkansa of Adansi, Chiefs who 
bave taken refuge in the Protectorate. To this end, 40 perequins (324(.) was to be raised 
by each of the great Chiefs in tbeir various districts. 
A direaijul slaughter qf human victims.- It being customary with the new King of 
Ashanti, 011 his enthronement, to observe a general funeral custom for royal relatives deceased, 
Prempeh also, being now installed, kept the hereditary custom by slaying some 400 human 
beings in cold blood in honour of the royal dead, eaoh of bs Chiefs bringing him presents of 
buman VIctims from their provinces, except the Chief of Bekwai, who brought gold-dust 
instead of human victims, stating his intention to conform to British custom and practice, 
"For," said he, "my ancestors did not prosper by their human sacrifices, and I am determined 
" not to follow their practices_" 
Oc4 
208 
Enclosure 3 in No. 94. 
The CLERK IN CHARGE, Prabsu, to tbe GOVERNOR. 
YOUR EXCELLENCY, Prabsu, September 12, 1894. 
I nG most respectfully to acknowledge tbe receipt ·of your Excellency's Memorandum, 
dated 10tb September 1894, at 10.1 5 p.m., on tbe lltb instant, togetber with a parcel 
addressed to King Inkansa of Adansi, who is now living at Brasiaku, tbree villages from 
this station on tbe main road, and beg to state, in reply, tbat tbe Asbanti Chiefs tberein 
referred to bave not yet left Kumasi, but it is stated t hat tbey will leave tbere on Saturday 
next. tbe 15th instant. 
A~ soon as I hear authentic news of their leaving, I shall at once seud down a report by a 
special runner. 
I shall carry out your Excellency's instructions wben they arrive at this station . 
I have forlVarded the parcel to King Inkansa as directed, and he desires me to convey 
his hearty thanks to yo~r Excellency for the same. 
I am, &c. 
To His Excellency F. ENNISSON, Clerk in Charge. 
Sir William Bmndford Griffith, K .C.M.G., 
Governor and Commander-in -Chief, 
Golrl Coast Colony, Cape Coast. 
No. 95. 
Sm W. B. GRIFIIITH to tbe MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received October 18, 1894.) 
(EXTRACT.) Government House, Cape Coast Castle, 
Septero ber 20, 1 ~94. 
Referring to my Despatch dated the 14tb instant," relating to information connec~ed with 
Ashanti, I have now tbe houour to place before your Lordship copy of a letter dated at 
Prahsll. Oil the 16th September, addressed by tbe cle l'k in charge there to the Commissioner 
of this Distric" to which I ask reference. I have since heard that the intended mission will leave 
Kumasi to · day. 1 ts travel to the coast will occupy about fifteen days. 
'I'he District Commissioner furnished me yesterday lVith a retul'll, of which a copy 
is annexed, showing the number of persons crossing the Prah from the Protectorate to 
Ashanti, the llumber coming into it from that country. i.e., Bekwai and Kumasi, and tbe 
quantity of gunpowder taken by the former to Ashanti, by which it appears that from the 
1st of July up to the 5th of August 2,851 persons crossed to Ashanti, and 3,120 arrived 
from it; and that 6,914 people came from Ashanti between the 12th of August and 16th 
September, and that 7,193 went there from the Protectorate, the totals being 10,044 and 
10,034; while those who retnroed to Ashanti between the 19th of August and the 16th 
of September-the nnmber being 6,594-took with tbem 10,810 Ibs. of gunpowder, or at the 
rate of 2,162 Ibs. or say a ton, per week in five weeks. They also took trade guns but not 
in any quantity. No doubt "hilst the proclamation prohibiting the sale of arms and ammnni-
tion prevented Ashantis and others from purchasing the prohibited articies at Chama, Elmina, 
Cape Coast, Anamabu, and Salt.poncl they obtained their supplies from Winniba, Accra and 
other towns, and conveyed them to Ashanti by other roads, crossing the Prah beyond Prahsn. 
Enclosure 1 in No. 95. 
1'he Cr,ERK tN CnARGE, Prahsue, to the DISTRIcT COMUISSIONEJt, Cape Coast. . 
SIR, Prahsue-, September 16, 1894. 
ADVERTING to my memorandum of the 8th instant, in reply to yonrs dated 
January 1, 1894, I beg most respectfully to report, for the information of his Excellency the 
Governor, that a trader hy the name of Aequasi Arldaye, native of Bequn, who arrived here 
tbis morning ~n route for Salt pond, informs me that the Ashanti Chief. have now left 
Kumasi fol' Adjuman, there to await for the people who are to proceed down with them. 
• No. 94. 
209 
'l'hat although he (the informant) is unable to tell me the exact date on which they shall 
leave that vi llage for the coast, but sti ll, he is q uite ~ure tllnt they will not prolong their stay 
at that place. I shan at once send a "eport to you by a quick runner for tbe information of 
bis Excellency the Governor as soon as I hear of their approaching or leaving the village. 
I am, &c. 
The District Commissioner, ll . E NNISSON, 
Cape Coast. Clerk in Charge. 
Enclosure 2 in No. 95. 
RETURN of PERSONS crossing the PaAH for QllOTter ended 30th September 1894. 
Nurnb('r crossing Number cros~i ng 
Date. Total weight I to Asho.ut i. I from Asbft.Dti. I of Powder. 
1894. Ib, . 
July 1 ' 443 425 
8 - 4 10 495 " 15 586 360 
" 22 387 536 " 29 479 792 
August 5 546 512 
" 12 
599 765 
19 841 1,1 2+ 1,200 
" 26 1,434 1,683 3,530 
S~~tE\mber 2 1,623 1, 160 2,500 
9 J ,H7 1,058 2,020 
" 16 J,549 1.1 21 I 1,360 " -
No. 96. 
SIR. W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUES S OF RIPO N. 
(Received October 24, 1894 .) 
(EXTRACT.) 
Govemmen t H ouse, Cape Coast Castle, 
September 28, 1R94. 
I HAVE t.he bonour fo transmit herewitb, for your Lordship' s consideration, a memurand um 
of information I have derived from what I consider to be a fairl y ant hentic European source 
relative to Ashanti. It would appear from the stat.ement made to me that the authorities of 
Kumasi are parsuing a vacillating, if not a Fabian , poli cy, and at all events are acting with 
tbe unl'unctuality which characterizes their proceedillg' generally. 
2. As tbe messengers referred to in the memorandum are expected to be here within next 
week, or ,bortly after, I intend to remain at tbis place until the arrival of the outward mail 
due here · on t he 12th of October, and if tbey do not come by that time, and I bave no tidings 
of the. advent of the Chiefs whom the King of Kumasi stated some two months ago he 
intended to send to me, I will ret.urn to Accra, and will tben decide, wbether or no, as 
to sending a stroog mission to Kumasi to require a definite reply to tile communication 
wbicb Mr. Hodgson addressed to King P rempeb, in March last, by your Lordship's direction. 
3. In stating· th at I wo uld send" a stl'ong mission" to Kumasi, I intend to convey 
tbat its members would be officers of such strength and force of character and so fitted by their 
ability, experience, tact, and judgment, to deal with the matters entrusted to them, tbat 
they would, I feel assured, either bring about an amicable arrangement with the authorities 
of Kumasi, or show clearly the course which should be taken . by this Government, with 
the sanction and support of tbe Imperial Government, to Grl ll g Ashanti into line with 
bumanity, civilization, and order. Besides this, ,be mission wou ld be able to collect 
information as to the position of tbe authorities of Kurnasi to assert their opposition, 
sbould circumstances compel arriv.l at such a conclusion-the almost inevitable one, as 
I fear will prove ultimately to be the case- tbat Asbanti wil l have to be absorbed in the 
Protectorate of tbe Gold Coast. 
" 89180. Dd 
Bncliisurc in' 'Nb. 9'6.1 
MrmoRANDU~{. 
Wednesday, September 26, 1894. 
Hurl 11 conversation with lie stateu that mission had 
not yot starterl from Kuma, i. 
W6uld l1l'inp; 2,0001. to payoff liabil ities and expenses of all Ashantis in the Proteetorate 
so thai, I.h oy lIli ~ lit be I11l 0wed to retl ll'n to A.hanli. 
Ans,)it wnultlnot accompany mission. Was uppal'ently in disgrace, under charge of having 
Ilppropriated some of (:he money collected. 
King of Kutnnsi appeared perpl exed as to line of action he shonld take, and was vacil. 
latinp; "nd seelll et! unable 1.0 ll1"lt e ttp his mind what he should de. 
Denhtcd whetl,or II mi"ion wou ld ho sent "fler all. 
KUlllasi is a town falling into ruins. Does not consider any resistance could be made if a 
doterl11iltCCl co urso of (letion was t"ken. 
'l'!'Ilde wou ld bo grently sett.led alld imp"ove,l hy Ashanti being dealt with in n decided 
mnllnor. 
Ashuntis ill S"ltpo,"l in dread of Govornment nceoptin l( 2,0001. , wbereLy they would be 
ordored to re(.lIm La Ashallti. I I' so, their hel\d, might ho ellt off, but nevOl'lheless they 
would havo to lenvo tho J'rotectornlc if so ord ored hy their 1": inl(, Asibi of the Kokofns, and 
wonl" havo to ahide by the conseqllellces, whlltever the,e mip;ht be. informant stated that 
~on l O grent rm;tOlm; had been Cllrried ouL, but some greater ones were to follow. 
Kin::; rJ('sirc.~ informan t: should go to Kllmasi to see him, but the latter had stute,l that 
th"L if ho ,lid so he could not romnin very long. '1'0 which l'rompeh" messengers replied 
fj '11110 J( lllg C:Il ll1l 0t he hurt'jed." 
l" 'o l\,peh ill l.01llls 1.0 Ll\ke LiLl o of (~lIakll Tlllnh It. 
W. ll . 0 .. 
Cape C",,,t Cnstic, 
'27/9/9, \.. 
No. 97. 
H ilI \Y. Il. GH ll"J>' l 'l' ll to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Reecived Novomber i i), lo!H.) 
(;OVCflI IIICllt. 1 [ol l se. Christiansburg Castle, Accra, 
My LOlln , Octobcr 22, 189,J., 
IN mv Despntch of tho 1 J,t,h of Se pl em bel'," J hud the hono\1\' of t" allsillittillg, for 
YOl II ' j,o",lshil" s infor\\laLioll , 1\ co py of the " Gold Coast Mcthodi.t 'l'ilUes," dntod the :31st 
of AnglOS!" ill whieh il. wus slnled ~hl\l there had been "n dl'cadfnl sl(\I\ p;I, to l' of hllman 
viotim::.:" ill Ashnllti , 011 the oocasion or the installat.ion of l~rompch of Kumasi, :\S King, 
wllOn ho "kept the hCI'OLlitnrj' clIstoms by slnyillg some 400 human beings iu cold hlood, 
"ill hOllol\l' or lhe l'oy"1 dend." 
2. ~in('c my rctu\'l\ to Accrn, 1 ["11'0 receivod n lotter dated lit Axim, October 5th, of 
whioh II oopy i. e\leloscu, from II MI'. A. A. Ossoo Ansah, a ~O ll of thc bte Ashanti Prince 
or thllt IIUIIIl), allli II hrothcl' of Lho lUlIlI who is aL Kumasi, in which he refers to the state-
mellt mnde il\ tho newspapcr, ,ulll obsorvos: "1,,1\\ confident that your Excellency, from 
" YO UI' great knowledge of Gold Coast aflairs, will not, ue misled by repo,·ts such as thcse to 
" tnko ~llly !lusty COHl'SQ of nctioll," n soruow hat rcmtwknblo observation, and he refers to a 
roport whieh WIIS currollt in lS81 that 200 youlI g girls hnd been sac rificed nt thc timc nt 
SOUj O cus tom nl. 1(lIml\si, virtuully e"I"'essillll: himself us if t.he roport was unfounded, and 
IHldill lr : u os IU y c!ollllt,l'ymcn nrc (k~il'Oll~ of continuing their indepondellce, 1 beg: hero to 
" SI.\'~n l' l y suggest. to your Excellonc), Ih(\t it is essential that the Governmeut otlght now to 
I'orn\l\lly llckuowleLlge Ashnllti a' ItO indopol\llcot na tive' empiro, &e." 
3. I c<) nsidor it wi ll bo COlll'onien(. lill' me to attnch to this Despntch another copy of the 
., Gold Const Mothodist '1'im08," of Augnst 31st,t nnd 'lisa 11 copy of the sneceeding number 
of the 29th SoptamiJol', on (,ho last puga of which a lettor fro\\1 M,·. Ansuh is printed, being 8 
copy of ono he onelosed to 11lO. 'l'he st(\(,omont \\1,\dc lly tbe od itors of tho newspapor, with 
rogul'Ll bo Ml·. Amah's conLJ'(\llietion of w\\lIt appcl\J'ed in ~hoir pltpel' of :J 1st August, is a 
mitol'lltion of what the)' t hen nss()rtod, and moro. for thoy observe :-" wo can fISs ure tile 
• No. 94. t SQO No. 0·1. 
----------------':211 
Prince " (Mt. AnsBb), "that wllat 1ve printed was pelfectly true, othel' Informations 
more fiendish and atrocious have since come to 001' knowledge." 'rhe statement that human 
sacrifices did take place at tbe time referred to is supported by a letter written to Captain 
Houston by the Basel Mission agent in Juabin , and by other persons who are aware of tbe 
facts. And in this connexion I enclose a copy of statement 111.Ue to me by the first clerk 
in my office, Mr. Hagan , relative to informatiun he recently received when at Cape Coast. 
1 directed him to put this in the form of a memorandum, and I would also call attention to 
what he states in tbe second paragraph of his p~per . 
.4 . With regard to Mr. Ansah's alillsion to the report of human sacrifices in Ashanti in 
1881, I enclose, for convenience of reference, Sir Samuel Rowe's Despatches to Lord 
Kimberley* and the weight of information given ill the lust Despa tch, especiully in the face 
of tbe statements of Mr. Watts and Captain Lonsdale, support tho view that T.ne,·e hd been 
a great and murderous destruction of hlltnan life, by sacrifices at Ashanti, at 01' nea)1 the time 
t.he report of the sacrifice by the King of t\:!.t country of ZQO girls prevailed. 
5. The enclosures to the Despatches referred to, and otber corres po"dence relating to the 
subject under notice, will be found at pages 22 to '13'of tbe ParliAmentary paper, "Affai ,'s of 
the Gold COORt" '(C. 3386)' presented to Parliament, August 1882." 
6. I think it will be as well tbat I "should place before your Lordship information relating 
to tbe earlier life of Mr. .A .. A. Ossoo Ansah. 
7. He accompanied Sir Samuel Rowe to Prahsu in 1881 as an extra clel'k, and afterwards 
held some minor temporary offices until March L883, when he was appointed to be a tele-
graph clerk. In tbis position he was most inatlenti,'e to his work, so that hi s couduct was 
brought under the Governor's notice when", having expressed regret for his inattention to his 
duties, he was allowed to retain his post. 
8: In 1884, Ansab's condllct became so reprehensible owing" to his insolence, irregulari-
ties, and disobedience of orders," that the Governor, Mr. Young, dismissed him from the 
service. He then became very penitent, and on the intercession of M,·. Hughes and Mr. Mathew 
Jones, was allowed to return to tbe Telegraph Department, but on a lower grade. Allsah, 
however, took umbrage at this reduction in his position, and senu in his resignation , which 
the Governor declined to accept, and ordered that be sbould be discbarged . 
.9 . Since 1884, Mr. Albert A. Ossoo Ansah has not been heard of, but I understand he 
has been trading in a small way at Cape Coast and has gone lately to Axim. 
10. I look upon his letters to me and to tbe " Gold Coast Methodist 'Ilmes" as iutended 
to draw fortb some expression of opinion as to the intentions of the Government with regard 
to Ashanti, and to bring him into prominence before tbe local public of the Colony. He is 
probably, too, working in some connexion with his brother at Kumasi. 
1 bave, &c. 
W. BRANDFORD GRIFFI'I'H, 
Governor. 
Enclosure 1 in No, 97. 
Mr. ANSAH to the GOYERNOR. 
SIR, Axim, October 5, 1894. 
IT is mucb to be regretted that scurrilous reports of tbe nature exhibited in the" G.C.M. 
Times" of Aug. 31, should also be taken up by tbe " G.C. People" newspaper uf Sep.24, 
re the alleged atrocities in Ashanti. I have "'Titten the Jlditor of the first-named paper on this 
matter, a cOPYl of which I herewith submit. for your Excellency's perusal, and I am coufident 
that your Excellency, frol11 your great knowledge at Gold Coast affairs, will not be misled by 
reports such as these to take any hasty course of action, for undoubtedly your Excellency 
might remember how a similar report tum out on investigation by the GO\'ernment during the 
Administration of the much lame~ted Governor Sir Samuel Rowe. I must mention tbat I 
am forwarding a copy of tbis to my agents in London to have same publish"rl in Mr. 
Laboucbere's paper the" Trntb " and also a copy eacb to sllch of my correspondents in 
Ellgland as I may consider advisable. As my countrymen arc desirous of continning their 
Independence, I beg bere to strongly suggest to your Extelleucy, that it is essential that the 
G"veroment ought now to formally acknowledge Ashaoti as an independent Native Empire, 
or, III other words, engagements entered into with her similar to the understanding . now 
• No• . 16,21, and 27 in [C. 3386.) Aug. 1882. t See Enclosure 2 . 
Dd2 
212 
existing between Her Majesty's Government and the Ameer of Afghanistan by which 
annexation by any Power is rendered impossible. 
I have, &c. 
To His Excellency Sir B. Griffith, K.C.M.G., A. A. Ossoo ANsAH, P. 
&c. &c. &c. 
Enclosure 2 in No. 97. 
EXTRACT from the" Gold Coast Methodist Times," of Sept. 29, 1894. 
SIR, 
Ee your issue dated August 31st, in an article headed" Ashanti," you observe that 
there has been dreadful slaughtering of human beings in Ashanti in connexion with the 
coronation of the present King. 
I must at once write to deny this fact, for, since the above publication, I have made every 
inquiry and have fonnd out that but for the national rejoicings in June atteuded on every such 
occasion at the capital nothing beyond this had ta:ken place. And I write thus at once 
because as a Prince of that counLrv I cannot allow such a fabrication, since tbat there's not a 
particle of tmth in it, to pass ,;n-contradicted. I consider it a pure bogus tr~mped-up 
business to get Christian world against our nationa,lity, bllt readers of Gold Coast papers 
should remember tbat sometill1e in the" eighties" similar scurrilous prints were circulated to 
the effect that the ex-King Mensah had caused to be slaughtered over ;;00 (three hundred) 
young virgins for the purpose of utilising the blood in repairing a Royal sepulchre and which 
caused great comll1otion and was I'ccopied into several English papers, but, on official 
inquiry by the Local Goverument, this report was fOlllld to be pure myth. 
Happily the sacrifices of days gone by have long been done away with, and for the present 
only persons who art tried and found to be murderers and conspirators suffer the capital 
punishment. The administration of justice is impartially administered, and this cannot be 
denied by any Gold Coast native. 
Yours truly, 
Axim, September 25, 1894. A. A. Ossoo ANSAH, P. 
[We are very mnch pleased to receive the above oOl'respondence from the Prince. He 
writes as onl.v a Prince can write on a subject like this: tbe letter furtber shows a deal of 
interest in the welfare of his country. We trust he will use all his civilised influence to 
stamp out that fiendish custom in his great country, a custom which seems to us to be about 
the only stain on the otherwise great kingdom of Ashanti. Perhaps as the means of punish-
ing murderers, or those fonnd guilty of high treason, and such kindred crimes, it Ulay be 
justifiable, taking it to be somewhat equivalent to tbe hanging of the civilised world; but such 
a wholesale hutchery of human beings we must expose and resolutely condemn. The 
Prince might have made inquiries and found out that something was not true, out we may 
respectfully inform him that what did appear iu om coluUlns, to which he refers, was not 
a' bogus trumped-up business' to get the Christian world' against' his ' nationality '- a 
nation we greatly respect and admire. \V e can assure the Prince that what we printed was per-
fectly true: other informations more fiendish and atrocious have since como to onr knowledge. 
Perhaps it will be better for the Prince to make personal iug uiries into these things by 
going over to Asbanti himself. G. C. lVI. T.-EDS.] 
Enclosure 3 in No. 97. 
MEMORANDUM. 
In a conversation which I had with one of the editors of the" Gold Coast Methodist 
Times," (when at Cape Coast lately with your Excellency) with regard to the article which 
appea~ed ilhtheirissue of tbe 31 August respecting" a dreRdfnl slaughter of humarn victims," 
he stated that the information published was communicated to them by a correspondent who, 
although a native of the coast, li,-es in Bekwni, whel'e he carries on business and who sawall 
That wcnt on during the coronation of Prempe as he \Va. at Kumasi at the time, and tbat, 
hesides what was printed in that paper, they possessed other information as to bintaltty and 
cmelty practised at Kumasi on the occasion which was so hOITifying thllt t bey did not like to 
pUblish it. He also told me that the person who supplied them with the iuformation was 
213 
then nt Cnpe Canst, but would leave in R day or two for AsbanLi, so that if I wanted to see 
him on the subject before his departure 1 should do so at once. 
Shortly before we embarked for Accra, I called to say good-bye to a friend who wished to 
see me before my departure, aud in convers.tion he touched upon Ashanti affairs, and stated 
that were tbe Government to send a mission to Ashanti with the object of getting the tri bes 
t.o accept British Protection, all the neighbourin g countries would at once yield to the 
request of Her Majesty's Government, should the King of Kumasi, Prempe, declipe to accept 
the proposals of the Government, because, \Vi~h the presence of the mission, they would have 
nothing to fear from Prempe, who they thought would wage war against them should they 
come forward and ask to be taken into the Protectorate, but thllt the (;overnment, instead of 
making a forward movement towards that end, were very slow at it. Some Ashantis lodge in 
this gentleman's house when they come to Cape Ooast. 
J. SAMSON I-lAGAN, 
'Govern or's Office, 2nd Olerk, Governor's Office. 
Christi.nsborg Castle, Accra, 
October 20, 1894. 
No. 98. 
S,R. W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received November 19, 1894.) 
(:EXTRAC1'. ) 
Government Honse, Chl'istiansborg Castle, Accra, 
October 24, 1894. 
I N continuation of my Despatch of the 22nd instant", with regard to a letter receiveu 
from Mr. A. A. Ossoo Ansab, relating to the repot'l of human sacrifices at Kumasi, I have 
the honour to transmit herewith, for your Lord'hip' s information, copy of a letter addressed 
to the ·Oolonial Secretary from Axim, on the 17th instant, by the Commissioner there, in wh ich 
he relates a conversation he had had with Mr. Ansah to which I ask reference. 
Enclosure in No. 98. 
MI'. Loy to the OOLONIAL SEeRE·I'A!tY. 
SIR, Ax im, October 17, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour to report that _'I.. A. Os sao Ansah has been trading here for 
some years as a partner in the fi rm of ,Johnson and Ansah. 
I bad a conversation with him and find he is a son of Prince Ansah . 
His eldest brothel' is now in Koomassie and is ch ief adviser to the Kiug, and is in 
constant communication witb him; and, A. A. O. Ansah informs me, has recen tly 'ent 
word that there is not anv truth in the rumonr about sacrlfices ; be also sa"s that the 
King is very anxions that Ashantee should he recognised as an independen't kingdom, 
and is shortly· going to send representatives to England to try to bring tbis abont, and that he 
will be one or else take his brother's place in Koomassie and bis brother will go to England. 
He is a well -educated man and speaks very good Engl ish. He asked me if I would grant 
him a license to cany a double-barrelled rifle, breech-loading, which his brother was sending 
him from Koomassie. 
Your telegram of the 12th instant led me to think that some particulars might be 
acceptable. . 
I bave, &c. 
The Han. the COlonial Secretary. THOS. N. Loy . 
• No. 97. 
Dd 3 
214 
No. 99. 
SIR W. B. GRU'FI,!,IJ to the MARQVESS OF RIPON. 
(Received 12.10 p.m., 27 November 1894.) 
TELEGRAPH !c. " 
[Anstdered by NQ. 102.] 
As King of Kumasi is sending messenger to '('Jape Coast Castle and Great Britain, it appears 
to me that it is not necessary to despatch Special' Mission to Kumasi. Colonial Secretary 
a!'rived at head-quarters 20th November. Ashmore left for England by mail-steamer 
"Bathurst" 22nd November. 
Following is snbstance of statement as to action contemplated by King of KuroaM, cdm-
municated to local newspaper by Albert Ansab: He is to be associaled with J obn An,ah 
and natives; they Me to proceed immediately to Great Britain, in capacity of Ambassador 
at t.he Court of Saint James. It is stated tbat John Ansah has been ac(illg as Prime Minister 
to King of Kumasi for a long time; he is not to be at t.he head of Special Mission. Special 
Embassy hope to winter in Great Britain, and after completion of Special Mission to British 
Goyernment will probably proceed on a visit to Paris [and 1 Hague. With regard to the 
Aus.hs, both of them are British subjects, being natives of Cape Co'ast Castle. 
No. 100. 
SIR W. B. GRIFFI'l'H to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received November 28, 1894.) 
(ExTRAc1'.) 
Government House, Chri~tiansborg Castle, Accra, 
October 31, 1894. 
IN continuation of my Despatch of the 24th instant,* and in connexion with affairs relative to 
Asbant.i , I h/"ve the honour to sta~e, for your Lordship's information, that, having carefully 
considered tbe statement made by Mr. A. A. Ossoo Ansah to the Dist,ict Commissioner of 
Axim, it appeared to me clear that t.he object of the collection of money recentl,v in Ashauti 
was not made, as had been reported, for (he purpose of Geing presented t.o this G",-ernment as 
an inducement t? _ allow tbe refugee Ashantis in this Protectorate to return to their COllUtry, 
but with the veiled object, no doubt at the instigation of Ansah, to make pecuniar.V provision 
to defray the expense of sending messengers to England- ambassadors as they are termed-
to interview your Lordship, in tbe hope that you \yould be persuaded to acknowledge Asbanti 
as independent. Ansah is, no doubt, the master spirit at work in tbis business. He is 
somewhat grave and courteous, and is fluent in conversation. No doubt he has done his besi 
to make bis relations at Kumasi believe that he is tbe most skilful, diplomatic, and capable 
agent th"J' conld employ to promote the views and expectations he has put into their minds, 
and he is very probably looking forward to an enjoyable time in England in bis ambassadorial 
character whether he succeeds or fails; while, posing as an African Prince, be ",ill probably 
get credit from crednlous people at home, and come out of the ambassadorial mission with 
substantial advantage to himself in the end. 
Yesterday, the 30th instant, I received a telegram dated the 28th October, from the 
District Commissioner ofAxim, addressed to the Colonial Secretary, in whicb it is stated 
that Prince A. A. 03S00 Ansahhad informed the District Commissioner that a special embassy 
to the Governo,' of the Gold Coast was coming, and, after consulting witb the Governor, would 
go immediately on to Great Britain. Prince Ansab will leave to join t.he others when the v 
arrive at the frontier line. 
r think it may be convenient in tbis connexion to place before your Lordship a 
memorandum relating to an interview I had witb John Ossoo Ansah in 1889, when be came 
ostensibly a" an ambassador from Prempeb, who at the ~ame time repudiated bim by the 
meSRengers who were sent to accompany him. It will be seen that at that time, accord ing to 
ilis statement, Ansah barl advised Prempeh "to hand over the kingdom of Ashanti to the 
" English, expressing tbe opinion that, under the good government of the English, the tribes 
who had left Ashanti would return." . 
• No. 98. 
215 
I would ask reference to enclosures in my Despatch of tbe 9tb of May lasl,* boing 
copies of letters written by Mr. Ansab in April to Mr. Vroom and myself, together with 
our replies to him. Mr. Ansah 's letters in some measure disclose the man's character. 
1I1J:. Vroom's letter to him of the 9th of April shows the opinion he entertained of Mr. 
Ansah. . 
·1 had intended to postpone a little louger the transmission to your Lordship of copies of 
papers addressed to me soon after my return to the Colony by Mr. Fergu.son, C"'ptain Lang, 
and Mr. Vroom, bearing upon the relat ions of this Government with Kumas i, but I tbink it 
is now advisable to send them with this Despatch, and I request your Lordship's consideration 
of tbe consensus of opinion between the officers named, all writing from ddJerent standpoints 
and without being aware of each other's action. ,',rhe opini.on of all points in the direction of, 
and to t.he necessity for, a strong and resolnte policy being taken in dealing with K umasi. 
In connexion with the views 'expressed by tbe officers meot,ioncd, I have the hononl' to 
submit herewith, for your LOl'dship's consideration, copy of a memorandnm, the fi rst 20 
paragraphs of which were prepared for me when I was last in England , at my reqnest, by my 
son, Mr. William Brandford Griffith, who was then at home on leave from Jamaica, and wbo 
com'piled the information contained in tbose paragraphs, chiefly from Bllw Books in the 
Colonial Office Library, and in some small measure from wbat I told him on tbe snbj ect. The 
paragrapbs from, and inclusive of, No. 21 contain statements of my own views and convictions 
uf'on tbe Asbanti question, and were ent~rtained by. me before I received tbe communi. 
catiolls of Messrs. 1<'erguson and Vroom and of Captain Lang. A ll of the foregoing papers 
(4) were 'shown to tbe Chief Justice and Mr. Ashmore when we lVere at Cape Coast in 
September. . ' . 
In all matters relating to Asbanti (irrespective of others) I bave taken tbe members 
of the Executive Council into my fullest confidence, and since my retul'u I have requested 
tbe Chief Justice to act as an extraordinary member at tbe meetings of Conncil , ·because, 
inte1' alia, I have all alcng intended that, if a mission was to be despatched to Ku masi, 
he should be one of its members, togcther with Mr. Ashmore, both of these gen tlemen 
being exception»lly fitted for the discharge of the delicate duties they would be entrusted 
with, whilst their official positions would command respect from and show to the Ashantis 
tbat the Government was thoroughly in e• .r nest in dealing with them by sending Sllch 
representatives. As regards tbe escort of 50 Hausas, it was intended to be a guard of honour 
to show the high and dignified position of Her Majesty's representatives . 
I have the honour to submit, for your Lordship's consideration, copy of a memorandum 
which I read to' the Executive Council at a meeting specially convened on tbe 27th instant 
for purpose of considering our position with Ash anti. The statements put forth in tbe 
memorandum were gone carefully into and fully considered at the meeting, and finally I asked 
tbe opinion of each member of the Council-tbose present being the Chief Justice, tbe acting 
Colonial Secretary. the acting Quee~~ Advocat~, and the Treasurer-as to the propriety of 
tbe policy and recommendations placed before tbem, and they were unanimous in ex pressing 
their hearty and strong approval and support of the recommendations made ill tbe memorandam. 
It was then arranged that I should make a communication by telegram to your Lordship 
upon tbe main subject.matter of the memoralldum ; but on Monday morning, tbe 29th instant, 
I heard that tbe African Direct Telegraph Cable was at fault and ~esisted from continuing 
to cod,e a message. 
Tbe memorandum, which was read to the Executive Council on the 27th of October, and 
received the strong and hearty support of its members, fully sets fortb and explains the views 
and recommendations of this Government--which are also su pported by tbe subsidiarv evidence 
of three experienced, able, and trustworthy officers. I therefore very respectfully snbmit them 
for your Lordship's serious consideration, in order to a decision being arrived at as to the 
course which, in all of the circumstances stated, Her Majesty's Government may determine to 
bave taken with regard to Ashanti, as soon as this Government is informed of the reply 
which is expected to be sent by the King of Kumasi to the commnnication made to him by 
the direction of your Lordship, and which, in view of the delay owing to the late heavy rains, 
may possibly not arrive on the coast until late in November. 
When Mr. Vroom was at Accra in May last, I requested bim to fllrnish me .with a 
memorandum as to the best roads by which to reach Kumasi from Cape Coast, Elminu, or 
other t owns, and I transmit hereWith a copy of his paper, as it may be useful at horne. 
In a telewam which I will do myself the honour of addressing to your Lordship in a day 
or two, I intend to recommend that, in view of the uncertainty of circumstances, It would be 
for the convenience of! the public service of this Colony. that the 1nspector·General and 
Mr. Vl'O?ID should be required to remain in England until your Lordsbip had received and 
• No. 79. 
Dd4 
considered this Despatch. If active operatio ns against· Ashanti are ordered, it will be of 
advantage to your Lordship to have the IIlRpector-Genera l at hand for a few days, shonld his 
advice be required with rega.rd to a supply of ammunition and as to local matt,ers and 
arrangements; and if Mr. Allsah forces his way to England, and your Lordship should decide 
to grant him an interview, 1 think it would assist your Lordship, and keep Mr. Ansah in 
useful check, if Mr. Vroom was directed to be present at any such interview ill order to 
advise your Lordship with regard to Ansah's proposals shou ld your Lordship so desire. 
In endeavouring to forecast events, it appears to me that my best course, in view of the 
uncertainty of circumstances, will be to wait and see whether or not any mission will be sent 
to this Government fro m Kumasi to reply to the commullication made to the authorities there 
by the direction of your Lordship. Should I be assured that such mission is coming, I 
propose·to go to Cape Coast and meet it there- so as to save time and expense- and on 
\eceivillg the rep ly brought, to transmit the pitb-or if it appears advisable, the whole- of it 
to yom Lordship by telegram, detaining the messengers to await your instructions in reply to 
the message brought by them. Should it alJpear that Ansah's visit to England is to depend 
I1pon your Lordsh ip's pleasure, I will'ofcourse awa it the expression of it in dealing with hi m. 
If he is made to understand tbat yoUI' Lordsbip will not receive him if he presents himself 
at the Colonial Office, I th ink tbat his desire to go to England free of expense to himself, and 
hig feeling that he will never again have such a chance of enjoying himself at the expense of 
Ashanti, will be gO strong that he will IllOSt certainly take bis chance of evenk; and proceed 
to England. On the other hand, it might be advantageous in .variou~ ways if your Lordship 
condescended to grant him an interview, for then, should ,be hear from your own lips the 
decision of Her Majesty's Government with I'egard to its future relation with Ashanti, it 
might lead to the authorities of Kumasi deferring to the wishes of the Government. But then, 
again, it must be kept in view that the dry season in tbis country la~ts only from December 
to Febrnary, and that in this regard Ashantian trickery, faithlessness, falsehood, and pro-
crastination, shOUld be taken into consideration and reckoned with, or active measures, if 
deemed advisable, will have to be deferred for another year. I think your Lordship may rest 
assured t hat the declaration fI'om Ashanti, in reply 'to the message sent, will be that the 
proposals of the Government made to tbem in March last by Mr. Vroom are declined, and tbat 
Ashanti elects tn remain as she is. Shol1ld this be so, it wJlI be only a waste of time to 
parley with Ansah or his principals. Tberefore it seems to me that strong measures should 
be enforced without undue delay to compel tbe obedience of Ashanti to I mperial control. 
As bearing UpOll the general question, I think that I ought to mention to your 
Lordship that, when recently at Jukwa, I asked the King to tell me what he thought the 
Ashantis were at? H is reply Wag, " The Ashantis are fooling the English." 
Enclosure 1 in No. 100. 
MEMORANDUM of INTERVIEW with Mr, JOHN Ossoo ANSAIl, at Christiansborg Castle, 
on .Tu ne 13, 1889. 
Ris Excellency the Governor, Sir W. BRANDFORD GRIFFITH; the H on. the 
Colonial Secretm")" F, M. HODGSON, Esq. 
The Governor stated th at he unde.rstood wh. Ansah bad received a telegram which 
compelled him to leave for Cape Coast by the next homeward steamer, but that Mr. A nsah 
desired to put certain information bef.,re him before he left. Mr. Ansah replied that -this 
was '0. The Governor then spoke of the interest which he personally, 8S well as the 
Government, felt in Ashaoti, mentioning this in order tbat Mr. Ansah might speak with 
the utmost frankness. 
Mr. Ansah said that, baving been away at the Niger from 1879 to 1886, the arrival 
of Buake from Ashanti during the threatened Ashanti invasion of 188 1, as well as t he 
death of his father, took place during his absence; nnd on his return in 1886 he proposed 
to viSit his relal,ives in Kumasi, whi ch )Ie did in this year (1889); and t hat while there, 
seeing the ruined state of Kumasi, he advised the King to han d over the Kingdom to 
tbe English, expressiJlg the opi nion at the same time that" under the good government 
of the English, tbe tribes who had left Ashanti would return. He offered to be their 
representative here; the King of Ashanti consented. Documents were drawn up, after 
which Mr. Ansah told them that to represent them before the Governor, his Excellency 
must approve or rather recog nise him as ambassador ; and with this object tbe King gave 
217 
him messengers to accompany him bere. It was with surprise therefore that Mr. Ans.1! 
said he beard Boatin and followers sny they did not wish him to be present. at the delivel'Y 
of tbeir message. Mr, Ansah added, that on his I'eturn ,iomney fl'ol1l Kllmasl he received 
a letter from his wife, stating that Asbantis had been down to !.he coast illquil'ing as to the 
object of his visit there. 
Tbe Governor said be coulrl not understand the l'easOIl of Boutin's wishing to deliver 
his message without the presence of Mr. Ansah (a member of the l{oyal Fa lnily of A shanti), 
and added th at Boatin, in the delivery of his message, said that formorl y he never used to 
go to MI', Edmund Bannerman when he 0ame down, but inquired whe ther be might do so 
now, His Excellency said that, according to the statement made by Mr. Ansnh, it would 
"ppeltr t.hat the Ashantis hod their suspicions of him, and messengers wel'e sent to Inake 
inquiries at Cape Coast ns to the object of his visit. His Excellency then said, 
"Would it he worth ),our while to be the representative of any man 01' naLion who 
treated you thnt way? " His l<:xcellency observed that. action of this kind was nnalogolls 
to that which brought the late Prince Allsah into collision with Mr, Edmund Bannermnn 
abont the year 1881, and, without wishillg Mr, Ansah to suppose that he had been 
~habbi ly treated or that. there was nny want of respect for him, the Govel'n ol' distinctly ' 
and frankly told Mr, Ansah tbat he would not recogmse Inm as ambassador, because 
snch a COHrse of having a middleman to tre.t with between A shallti nncl the Government 
Ilad in the pASt. led to mi sunderstanding, dissatisfaction, and party feeling in A shant.i, nnd 
the resul t of this might he that messages sent to th e middleman migh t differ in their 
instructions from those sent direct t.o the Governor, the probability being that Mr, Ansah 
in that situation might get him self into difficulties ; and, as it appeared to ~im , the 
Governor, tbat a straightforward course was infillitely preferable to a tor tuous one, 
he must repeat what he had said, viz" that he declined to recognise MI'. Ansah as a 
rcpresentative of the King of Ashnnti, and the King would be informed of tbis through 
Boat,in. Mr, Ansah admitted tbat it would be better and easier to take " straightforward 
conrse to fl certain point than a zigztlg one. 
1'he GOI'ernor informed Mr. Ansah that messengers were sent froln A shanti by the K ing 
to the District Commissioner of Cape Coast., in which they requested the loan of 80 ozs, of 
gold, or abollt 3201" to purchase silks and suitable apparel wherewi th tbe K ing could enter 
the Royal 'rl'easur), at Bantama. 'rhe Governor tbought over tbe matter and promised a 
reply, which was duly sent by Mr. LetbLridge. His Excellency consented to lend the King 
,he amount he required on condition of his signing a treaty with tbe E nglish Government, 
because, ill consideration of having supported him so far at the cost of some 3,000/" they 
would not like to see Ashanti under t he protection of a foreigu nation . His Excellency 
added :-" We hnve 320 miles of coast line, and with the tribes in the interior we have as 
" many irons in tpe fire as we can attend to; lYe do 1I0t want to annex A~ hanti. Should 
we do that, our establishment of officers would have to be increased, also our establi shment 
" of H ausas; more doctors and district cOlllmissioners \yould bave to be procured, and Lhe 
" Government would have to incur consirlerable additional expense witbout comlUenSUl'ate 
"advanta~r." Wbat tbe Government proposed wa., that in consideration of the friendsbip 
and goodWill wblch It had shown towards, nnd of tbe SUppOlt It had given to, the King of 
Ashanti, tbat country should make a t!'eaty with the Government tn the effect that the roling 
authorities there should a{(ree not to enter in to any treaty with a fOI'eign Power to take 
Ash.nti under its protection nnle,. with the consent of this Government, which would have 
a say in the matter. 'rhe proposal to assis, the King with tbe money he asked for was not 
to bribe him to elltering into "treaty, but this Government could not be expected to ~rant 
such a loan without some consideration. The King told Mr, L ethbridge tbat he ,,:'ould 
be willing to execut.e the treaty withoot the "onsideration of the loan being made a coudition 
in it , as it would seem to the native idea that he had sold his country, If the King was still 
willing to execute the treaty wit.h the Governor, the latter would accept it. 
'1'he Governor retired, and in the interval MI'. Ansah gave the following answers to 
questions put by the Colonial . Secretary :-Mr. Ansnh ,aid he was 22 days in Kumasi; 
he could not give definite information as to the intentions of the King of' Kumasi townrds 
Yow Sapong, of Juahin, but he considered that, if the King of KUlllasi made a successful 
interference for the return to Sapong of t.be Stool of Juabin held b), Government, the result 
would be that the Jnabins would return and settle in Ashant,i; the Juabin settlers in the 
Protectorate woold return to J uabin; and as to Amba Snwuah, he thought sbe mlcrbt be 
made t.he Queen- Mother if she returned. " 
The Governor .returned at this point, and having been informed by the Colonial Secretary 
of the conversatIOn whlCh had been takmg place, hIS Excellency remarked on the ac.tion of 
Yow Sapong in detainiug a subject of the King of Okw,wn, 
o 89780. E e 
218 
l:!-eierring to tbe request of tbe King of Asbanti fOI' tbe retulln of tbe Adansis to tbeir 
country, tbe Governor said be intended, if thEy went back, that tbey should retnrn to settle 
in tbe same independent condition tbey were in before leaving Adansi. 
Mr. Ansah proposed to go by the steamer, wbile the messengers who accompanied him 
would meet bim at Cape Coast, where tbe messengers bad left some of tbeir boys. 
Mr. Ansab said a word sbould be sent to explain Boatin's conduct in the matter of his not 
wisbmg to deliver bis message ill the presence of Mr. Ansab, lest he shollld get into 
difficulties at Ashanti witb the authorities by it. 
Mr. Ansah said there was not much trade in Ashanti. 'rhe country was ricb in gold. 
He bad been given a gole! mine by the King of Ashanti, but he considered it IIngafe to work 
it just now on account of t.he affairs of Ashanti not boing quite settled. 
'rhe Governor said there was anotb" thing with regard to the loan business which he 
did not like. Boatin wanted to lead them to believe t,hat the King had never sent those 
messengers at all to the Government aud tbat they came down for trade purposes; but th is 
was in direct opposition to what the King tolel Mr. Lethbridge and Major Ewart, and the 
Governor remarked, " We cannot. 00 business on the basis of deceit." 
Mr. Ansah said tbe Ashantis, especially those at Cape Ooast, Saltpond, and Anamabu, 
took good gold from the traders who had come from the interior and substitu ted bad 
gold, and tbat be complained of this dishonourable conduct to the King of Ashanti while be 
was in Kuolasi. 
Mr. Ansah furtbel' stated that t he Ashantis on tbe coast, in oreler to rai.e money for 
trade, took a child or relative to a place, made arrangements for sell ing or pawning it. 
receiving tbe con.ideration mone)' , and by a preconcerted clandestine arrangement with 
a friend, who would visit the buyel' and tell them that the child belonged to tbe informant, 
and that if not given up, the buyer woule! be informed against, the Government to the child 
was got back home, making the other party the loser thereby, and in this way they obtained 
money from people. 
'rhe Colonial Secretary said that both part ies-the giver and the taker-being conscious 
that they were eqnally gnilty, neither party woulri come forward so as to lay information or 
give evidence to enable prosecntions to be made. 
A few desultory remarks were made, in wh icb Mr. Ar!sah st.ated that the tribes in union 
witb KUlllasi were Bekwai, Juabin , Fessu ('i,ono fighting men), and Jusu (5,000 fighting 
meu). When he left, there \\'ere rumours that Mampoll and Insuta (both llumbering about 
1,000 fighting men) were going to fight against Kumasi. Mr. Ansah st.ated that he was 
38 years of age, his full name being Johu Ossoo Ansah. 
The Governor, summarising what had passed stated, "I have told you that I shall be 
" nn ab le to recognize you as the representative or ambassador of Ashanti, aud t.hat I 
" will only deal directly wit.h the King. With regard to tbe money tbe King asked for 
" as a loan, I shall let him have it if he stili wishes; it i; 1I0t intended to bribe him. An 
" English Governor is iucapable of sucb an act. ; but I say be ought to make this treaty 
" with us so as not to allow another nation to annex Ashanti, for there is ,orne consideration 
" due to us on account of tbe SUppOlt which we have heretofore given to the King, anei by 
" means of ".\' hieh he has been placed on the Stoo l. I sball tell Boatin and h is party what 
" bas passed between us genel'u1ly in our convelsation. " 
(Interpreted, G. E. F.) 
NO'l'E.-On bhe uccasioll of tbe interview stated, \Ofr. Ansah was, at its conclusion, 
presented with I Ol.- W. B. G. 
October 30, 1894. 
Enclosure 2 in No. 100. 
Mr. FERGUSON to the Gov"aNoR. 
SIn, 
YOUH EXCELL}'NCY, BOlllbir, near Kintnmpo, Marcb 1, 1894. 
I AM 011 tbc lIlove again to the hilltelland, and have reached so. far, but I am 
travelling slowly so us to insure the" Kautieal Almanar," which I have applied fOl', Teachlllg 
me before I e:et to the other side of the Volta . 
1 bave had no "alicia), sinre you]' :Excellen cy left. I ('arne up to Atabubu und~r a few 
bours' notice, and the leave of absellce which I I,ad hoped to have enjoyee! \\ as foregone 
bv me to cany Oil lIrgent public husiness . 'l'here)8 1,0 Ilews here except Ashanti affairs. 
As t.o these you Excellency will, befoEc this reaches you, have read tbe official papers 
ll19 
about it. Nevertheless, as from conversation with various persons (fl'om the Kings down 
to their lowest subjecls), I am acquainted with the sItuation lind w ith i.he boa rings of 
the Ashanti qnostiol ' from vnrions s tandpOints. I hllve tnken tho liberty in this 
note to commnnicnl" to ),ou wbat 1 knoll'. SI ,olllcl anythtng in jlhis note ap pear 
dietel.orial, I beg thllt 1 III11Y be forgiven. as the object of t hns w"iting yOLla' Excellency i, 
to explain maUers with perlllips mOle freedom thilll I ca n do ill olttei.l terms. When I 
came up to Atahubll, 1 heirl instl'llctiolls to ohtn in illfol" tnatioll respecting the As hanti 
Ol'LUVas well fiS Ashonti afiilil's genernl ly. Anerward~, I was r.oll1 l1~j ssio ncd to execute 
tl'eatie~ with various Chief~, and 1 have done so \\ itl! the count ries of Amanting, Auease, 
and Nkornnza, and have delivered flags to them; wbile Captain Lang is at pl'esent 
engaged wit.h making trenties with conn tries to the south of the Neutral ZOlle and enst 
of - Atabubu. Now this quest ion of flags is inLimnt.eiy eOllnQctecl wicb bile present 
situation, as your Excellency will see lflter 011 . The Ashanfiis, as youI' Hxcellency knows, 
are treacherous and unreli[lbl e; t.heir policy is a very s lippery policy, Hnd may be su mmed 
up in tbis, tbat it is full of apologies for mistakes or misnnderstandings all their part, and 
it ma), be that apology may be offered ill the present mstnl1ce for thei,. menaoing attit ud e 
towards the King of Atab1lbu. But what about. the heflvy expense IlOW being incurred? 
Wben your Excellency sought to improve, or rather improved , Ihe rel'ellne of the Colony, 
was it to be expenned on Ashanti ? r ask yonI' Jlxcelleucy's penllission til say t hat I 
know that schemes for improvillg and aclvi1ncillg t.he Col ou.\' were yuur motives, "nd are 
being developed by yOUl" Excellency, and it is undesir~hle, or certainly a pity. that Ashanti 
should be aHowed tel frU8tl'<lte the end III view b,v uhsorbir'g our revenue ill expendi tu re 
iucnrred for their mistakes or misrepresentation> "s has been tI,e case hi therto. 'l 'nke 
the history of Ashanti for the past two or tbrep decades and it will be seen that heavy 
ex penses have been incurred without commensurate :::.dva ntages beillg derived thcrefr011l; 
in 18(;2-3 Lhe relations between us and Ashanti were very stra,ined and cost u< a lot of 
money; in l872-3-·} there were the complications which culmin ated ill the expedition 
under Sir Garnet (now L ord) vYo lseley ; in l~SL tbe C"lon), II'"S tb rent ened with an 
Ili vasion wbich "'as nipped in the bud by YO Ul' Excellenc),; and now ill 1803-4 tlie King 
of Aslianti has demanded that Kwahina Asante, the King of Atabubn, who is a King in 
British Protcct,Jrate. and moreover, has a British fl ag fl yi ng in his Gonntry. should go and 
Rerve him, otherw"ise the forces of Pl'em peh, which were only a clay's march from 
Atabubu. would be directed to invade that country (Atabubu). It appears tbat Ashanti 
has now turned its attention to give us trouble in the interior. OUt' experience shows 
tuat ollr re latiorrs with tha t cou ntry are strained every ten years, alll! it is 1I0 t improbable, 
indeen it is very probable. ihat t.he Ashantis may dis respect or ills!llt Lhe .British flags 
which have been gil' en to the Kings of Amallt.ing, .'\ bease, "lid Nkorau "H, and other 
conntries who have concluded treaties with 11 :1. lL is considerAtions such as the above 
that make me st_ate that the qu estion of flags is ultimately connected with the present 
sit nation. It is true that the treaties execllter! are thuse ',f friendship and freed om of 
trade only, but what will be the result if tilt, British flag delivered to the ICings is 
violated by Ashallti r It lI'ill mean " recn 'Telice of the present t rollble~ and expense. 
Hente. ~he present queslion- the lIl euacing attitnde of Ashan tl towards Atabnbu-
requires to be settled p"ospective!y, ·" lso with rega rd to our relations with tbose coullLries 
with whom 'we are in treaty and DO w'hom Hags have been delivered. Asbanti has turned 
its attention to this part of the country, and its policy requires to be counteracted at 
alice, looking to the distance of the seat of Govel"Ilmelit from tbese I'al'ts . It is I'limoure'! 
that the flags rleliverc,1 to these Chiefs are not genuine; of course this is an Ashanti 
rumonr and it has its siglliticauce. Ashallti should be told tbat ilkoranza, Amantillg, 
&c., have recei"ed British flag.~ , thus the determination to h" ld 0111' own will have great 
mo ral effect. Jt is unciesirallie tf,at Ashanti should regain its power, for it will be a thorn 
in oUl" side, but this power it will certain(y regflin 'if the peopie Itere m'e aito'red to be 
deluded Ivith repuseulalions, or mther w'ith misrepresentations, 6y th.e As/",nlis thai the 
Govenw,' of Acora has accepted gold to brill{!: all Ihese Iribes back unde,' the ruLe of 
Ashan:i; that Lhlwnl'i 's 'LOU' swperio1' 10 the ,,·hite man, alld tnat the power of tbe 
English is nothing or rather has declined as \\ ill be ,eell ey their policy; that the King 
of Ashanti can threaten a. British Protectorate uith irnpuni~~; th"t the King qf Ashanti 
has driven away the Gonerno,.'s officer stationed at Pmhsu, c~c., c)-c. These lIlay not 
appear to a civilized mind to be of any cOllsequt::nce, or to bave allY effect on our pl'cst i.::?,'e. 
Though this may be so to a civilized mind, nevertheless we are, ill these pal'~s, dealing 
wiLh native minds, alld to tbem the effect of these misrepreselltations and rumou!"s set 
ahout by Asbanti is to des~roy ou!" prestige here. When it is taken illto consideration 
tbat we are extending our influence into tbe hinterland, the motives of these representations 
together with their effect al e what are to be weighed aud considered, and not the 
E e 2 
~• .., .. - ' 220 
representations (0£ misrepresentations) themselves. A few days ago, messengers from 
K umasi came to A[~anting bearing' a lett.er from Prempeh, which demanded that Oolonel 
Sir .Francis Scott < ' must" desist from certain thing" because the King hari sent to his 
fl'ielld the Governor of Accra. The Asbantis made capital of the fact that they can 
send their messengers to any part of the country nnder our rule, while any officer of the 
Government riared not send a message to Kumasi. 'fhe Ashantis have a way of slighting 
Government officers and native Kings in the British Protectoraie, they decline to 
recogllise that an officer of the Government, snch as the Inspector-General now at 
Atabubu, represents tbe Governor. and no'y the rumonr has reached me from Kintampo 
that "tbe Asbantis have asked the Governor at Accra and the forces at Prahsu to come 
" and fight Colonel Sir Francis Scott· as t.hat officer came to Atahubu without the 
" Governor's consent and is unable to make auy demand from the Ashantis." 'fh e rumour 
is ridiculous, but it is significant. Should the forces under Oolonel Sir Francis Scott at 
Atabubn he recoiled without some demand being made by Sir l<'rallcis from Ashanti, our 
influence in tbe hintel'land would be at an end. The natives here would not understand 
that the matter has bee I! settled between the King of Ashauti and the Governor at Accra, 
the people of Atabuhu, &c. would have lost their confidence in us, the hands of Prempeh 
would have been strengthened enol'mously, and the achievements of the presenL expedition 
would have been prejudicial to our interests instead .of givin~ confidence to the people a.nd 
strengthening our influence in the intcnOT. It IS a pity that, III these days of civilisation, a 
savage and unreliable country like Asbanti should be rccognised ~nd respected as though it 
was one of the great Powers of Europe. Is it not time that a definite policy was prescribed 
as regards Asbanti, ft polic,\' perhaps similar to the J ebu polic), 1 That country, Ashanti, 
binders the development of our Oolony greatly. There is no doubt that Ashanti indulges in 
human sarrifices, a practice 1101. followed at present by any nat.ion with any pretence to 
civilisation , and J have received reliabl e information that some of the Nkoranzas who were 
captured in the war were sacrifice.d when the custom for the death of the Ohiefs of Ashanti 
who fen in the field was performed ill Knmasi. The object. of tbe '['reaty of 18H with 
Kumasi to secure an uninterrupted t rade to th e Colony has no t been secmed, and, moreover, 
instead of demanding the war indemnity of 1873- 4 tbe Colony is being impoverished bv 
frequent expenses 0[1 acco unt of Ashanti. It was not too ear(1! u'hen .your Excellency 
proposed to tuke the Ashantis into the Protectomte. If Ashanil IS alloweri to regain its 
power it will be a thorn 011 Olll' side. 011 the other hand , if we accept the Ashallti provinces 
indiscriminately into tbe Protectorate this will mean a disintegratioll of Ashanti, while if this 
disinteg ration 'is canied on too far Ashanti will not be worth having, because the petty 
independen t proviuces \\'ill be troublesome to govern. These considerations lead to the 
question as to what policy ought to be pUi'sued witb regard to Ashaoti. Should we take 
Ashanti into the Protectorate, or a British resident plared there, it may be argued that a large 
miJit.ary force and civi l establishment would be necessary for the enforcement of our rille or 
arbit1'Rtion. 'l'his may be so, bu t how did Ashanti forilledy govern its large kingdom 
withom a lal'ge D,ilitary establishment? 'fhe different States were allies to Kumasi, and 
when Kumasi thought propel' to punish one State it obtained the alliance of the others 
t.o do so. Besides, 1 believe there is a mistaken idea as to the p,.ese"t power of Ashanti. 
In 1873 we hac! to deal with forces from Awulla, Krepi, Akwamn, Kwahu, Atabubu, 
Nkoranza, alld t hc Brong II'ibes; contingellt s from Gaman and Sefui, also Appoloni. , 
Chama, &c. 111 short, we hail to deal with forces contributed by all area of rOllghlv 
150,000 sg"are miles. The va rious members were also united loyall v together. No;,' 
the present. , ituation of Ashanti is quite different to what it was in 1873 . Ashanti cannot 
be called A shanti bllt "Kumasi," i.e., Kumasi alld its provinces : Awuna, Krepi, Akwamu, 
Kwahu, Atabubu, Sefui, Appolonia, Chama, &0.., are now in our Protectorate ; Nkoranza 
and the Brong tribes have accepted the fl'iendship of England and taken British flac-s; 
Gaman, Dagomba, &c . have severed their connexion entirely from Ashanii, and what is 
at present. tel'meo Ashanti , hut which propel'll' ought to he called Kumasi and its 
provinces, is confined to an urea of rooghly not more tban 15,60tJ square miles. All that 
is necessary is that we should foster the friendship between us and Nkoranza, the Bronc-
tribes, and the Kings in the Protectorate; when thns uni ted, the moral effect will tell o~ 
Knmasi and there will not be a large standing army necessary to enforce 0 111' I'Ule of 
arbitration. Just now, Yow Sapon of Koningo, when he heard a rumonr that we were 
proceeding to punish Kumasi for its men"eing attitude tow~rds Atabubu quickly showed 
the " flag of truce." When the King of Eji1'8 heard that the trade road throu<>'h 
Amanting (with whom we are in treaty) was being improved, it was taken that we w;re 
advancing on Kumasi, and he quickly made a road to meet the one from Amanting and 
to declare his friendship to us. All these actions point to the fact that the \'arious 
provinces of Ashanti are not .t all united, and if we are to undertake to punish Kumasi, 
221 
the resistance, It any, will be very weak; hesides, the King of Nkoranza i. very uesirous 
to be our ally, as lt is because he has offered his oOllntry to the English that A sl",nti, 
nuw desirous of crm.olidating Rnd extending its kingdom , proceeded to punish him. 
Some of the Asbanti p!'ovinces have applied to be tak~n under the Bri tish Proteotorate. 
When at In.t the forces at. Atabuhu are withdrawn witnont its being made to make a 
demand from Ashllnti, dllrk time will threnten British prest ige hcre. Should those 
unfortunate peop le who have applied to us to be takcn into aliI' protection be refu sed, 
they will suffel' when the force retires from here. '1'he rc is no donbt t li at t.be town s of 
Ejira, Kon ingo, &c, will be burnt. oy Ashan!.i , the peopl c will \Qse thcir lives and propcrty ; 
in sbort, t.bey will be left to the tender ",ermes of Kumasi, all because t hey wished to 
come IlIIder am rule. I t.hink that this is just the time \\'h en, with the disall'ections in 
Kumasi, we can arrange matters. Should our interference be question ed J t hink that 
tbe local forces mth a few "Il ies cnn infl ict t he necessary punishment on Ashm1li. Even 
the necessity fol' the employment of the allies r conside r' very douh tful, 01' pm'haps not 
at all necessary, looking at tbe d Isunion in Ashanti. But this I think is a qu es tion for 
t he Inspector-Generll l, that is to say, arrangoments migh t be made for As ban li to co",e 
into the Protectorate or a British resident placed there. "I' hat. ought to be the scheme 
for this? I venture very resper)tfully to throw io a few suggest ions, viz . :-
(fl.) In the first place, the limits of present Ashanti should be denned :-
(1.) It sbould he informed that Atabubu is in th e Protectorate, that Nkoriln za, 
Amanting, Abeas i, and the Brong tribes are our friends and allies ; they have 
accepted our flag, aod their indepelldence must be acknowledged by Ash" ut i. 
(2.) 'j'hose towns who have applied to LI S to be taken into the Protectorate mi O'ht 
ue accepted, 01' at any rate tbeir independeuce of Ash&nti migh t be acknow ledg~d, 
and flags of friendsh ip given to them. suoh as Yow Sapon of Koningo, the Chief 
of Nsuta and Chief of Ej ira. 'rhis will show the il shanii s that A sh"nti itself is 
ours by conqllesi, and it cannot be allowen to I· ival us in ierritorial acquisition. 
(3.) The boundaries of the above conn tries with Ashanti sbould be defined and seWed, 
the presence of Captain Lang with , he forces be:ng an advantage in th at l'OO'ard. 
By the above mcans, we pluck the feathers of Ashanti. But we must prevel~t tbose 
feathel"s frrlm growing. ano this ran be done by OUI' fostering our friendship with our 
all ies. A state umbrella, 01' a state sword, sonic native ins ignia of offi ce snoh as those 
worn by "oseng" (breastplates), &e., are all .powerful means of cementing friend ship 
wben presenteu by the supenor power to the mfen or, and IS much valued. At least tbis can 
he do!!e uotil the state of A.shanti does not require such soft policy witb oLlr allies . 
\b.) When Ashanti is thus reduced , there will remain Kumasi and its prov in ces . A 
resident might be placed there to influence tbe Ashanti politics. I may remark 
that Ashanti does not require to be dealt wi th in sofe and refill ed policy such as has 
been usnal in past. 'rheir attitude in tbe present instance requires to be dealt 
with with a corresponding firm policy. While that man Ansa is in Kumasi, we will 
always have trouble with Asbanti, and the combination of A shanti trickery with 
his, so to speak, educated roguery re~lIires to be dealt with firmly. 
Of course, if Ashant.i cau manage its affairs without givng us trouble, we will nol; 
interfere, but its policy has caused us so much expense in the past, and is preventin!) the 
advance of tbe Colony now, that seif- Illterest dlotates t hat we mus t deal with that 
cOll ntry in a settled, fi r'm, and prescribed pol icy. If a nation SlICh as Asbant.i, who has 
bad connexion ", itb us for centuries, does not recognise our power after it has been shown 
it in 1&74, it wi ll be its fault if it, caJlle into conflict with liS, and it cannot be said that 
we bave massacred savages in cold blood. Ashanti is not so ignorant as it is thought; 
it know. a .thing or two. Had your Excellency'S experience of Ashanti been taken 
advalltfiSe of; and A.hanti made Lo come under us in some wa.v 01' the other, I have no 
doubt that when Ashanti thought of figbting with Nko\'anza tbe motter WOllld have been 
referred to onr arbitralion by one or otber party, and t,le presen t expense saved and the 
money reserved for the improvements intended by YOllr Excellency . 
It i!' raini ng while I am writing, a few drops of water are coming down to make worse 
tbe already UIlpresentable scribble now before yoiii' Excellency. ' I beg your Excellency 
will excuse the scr ibble. I am none the worse for lI1y trip, only I feel a bit anxious to 
receive t he" Nal\tical Almanac," an d I am beginning to tbirok it will be a waste of time 
to proceed without the book. 
I am, &c. 
H is Excellency GEORGE E. I~RGusoN. 
Sir W. Brandford Griffith , 
&c. &c. &c. 
R e 3 
222 
Enclosure 3 in N oJ. 100. 
NOTEs on the POLITICAL SITUATION of ASHANTI. 
Until recently, Ashanti has been regarded from the standpoi nt of 1874, when the 
extent of' territory g'overned by tbe King was vast as compared with the size of his 
territory at the present time. Before this, Ashanti power had not suffered auy seriuus 
check, and they not unnaturally considered themselves invincible. Th is was also the 
dominant feeling amongst their neighbours. 
2. The destruction of Kumassi by Sir Garnet (now Lord) Wolseley was followed by 
many outlying provinces refusing tD own allegiance to the King. Some of these have 
been absorbed into the Protectorate. The affairs of the cOllntry continued in an 
unsettled state until Prempe 'ras placed on the Stool in preference to a rival claimant-
Acheri Boanda. These would-be Kings were sons of sisters, of whom, in accordance with 
the universal opinion of t hose questioned in the matter, Acheri Bounda' s mother was 
mperior, and therefore her son had 3 prior claim to the ~tool in accordance with native 
cnstom. 
3. Prempe's accession led to dissatisfaction among many of the principal Kings. 
Notably among these were the Kings of Koi<ofu, J uabill, and M ampon . Prempe was 
succ~ssful against them in his Ivars. The Kings of Kokofu and Mampon were driven out 
of tile country and Juabin was defeated . Many important Chiefs have sought refuge 
heyond the borders oftbe conntry, and, in common with those wlio remained, are in hopes 
(somewh Ht faint now) that peoce aud order will be restored to the country bl' the 
Government of this country. 
4. The late war against Koranza was en tered upon with two objects: First, to force 
the King of that country to submit himself to Prempe, and, secondly, to regaiu control 
of tbe trade of that region inhabited by the Brong tribes . Attabubu is included among 
these. The principal supply of sla ves, cattle, s'heep, and cloths ent,ers Ashauti throngh 
the Brong territories, for which kola ' nuts are exchanged. There is no reason to doubt 
that Prempe-notwibbstanding his assertions to the contrary- would have permitted his 
army, flushed with success, t o enter Att.bubu allo also to attack the W'iasis and Basas, 
and ill all probability the Kwahlls and Ashanti -Akims, had the Govel'l'meut not 
interfered. 
5. hempe, on learning fhat a force of HausHs was advancing on Abetifi, at. once 
withdrew his army ho,,, Koranza, allowed the men to depart to their bomes, and 
afterwards made uo preparations to resist a po>siiJle march ou Kumassi. 
6. Prempe succeeded in raising an army to attack Koranza, because the Chiefs to 
whom appl ication was made were afraid to refuse lest they would be afterwards punished. 
E,·tn Yaw Sapon, King of' J uabin, sent a few men, and it was well known that b~, with 
all hiR people, is very eager to be brought into the Protectorate. This is the case also 
with the people of lns"ta, A,sikori, Kumahu, and in a great measure throughout 
Mampon. 
7 . IV ere the pe0ple of these territories assured tbat ill future Kumassi is to be 
controli ed by this Government, Prempe would be pOll erless to raise an army, even were he 
disposed to try conclusions WIth force of 'mus. He well knows what the ultimate result 
wonl,l be in any casc, and tbat any allen'ptat resistance would cost him his Stool, and as 
a consequence he would elect to come into the Protectorate, retaining his Stool, rather 
tban tight and lose it. 
S. As 0 means of preventing a pos,ible unioD of the Kings under a popular head, thus 
creating an element of d,mger, it is considered that tbe refugee Kings should be restored 
and that each should be ",ade directly responsible to the Government for peace within 
their several territorieR, ano that the power of tbe Ashanti Stool should be confined to the 
province of KUll1assi alone. 
9. Th" earl.v acquisition of Ashanti is of paramount importance to this Colony; the 
central position occupied by her enables the King to exercise much con I 1'01 over t.he 
trade to the coast. The country would settle down, trauers would enter it in confidence, 
and the opening of a direct road through Kumassi to Kuntamp" would aff(.rd an easy 
means of reaching the coast from the interior. 
J. IRVINE LANG, 
Clrristiansborg, April 13, 1894. Capt., R.E. 
223 
Enclosure <I in No. lOll 
Mr. Vnoo" to the GOVERNOR. 
!II ~MORANDUM. 
YO UR: EXCELL1<:NCY, 
TNE Ashant is have been, ull d they will a lways be, the lion In the path to tile 
moral, social , and commercial advancement of the Gold Coast ColullY unless the 
Government now faces t he Ashauti question with a Jirm and slrong hand. 
2 . The elevation and culture of t he G old Coast people, con'"LUplated and un dertaken 
by the PortuO" uC'se, DLitch, and 8uglish since the J 3th eentmy, as y our Excell ency knows, 
remain ed at on ver I' low ehb uutil arter th e war of' 1874" because t.h e. A, hantis bad 
possess i'Hl nf our 'binterlaud, "nd kept it closed against civ ilization, Christian ilY, and 
comluerc". Let t.he Kings of Ashanti have theil' own way and yo u will see t he co un try 
furth er up shut against us directly. 
3. Frol11 time ililmemorial the Ashantis have been known as a warl ike and bar barous 
nation, their Kings as tyrannical and cruel, e xercis ilJ g the grossest tyranny, ordering 
decapitations on the slightest or 11 0 pretence, imposing enormous and un just fines upon 
thei r subj ects. 
4. The K ings of Ashanti are as cruel, inhuman, and barbarous in our own t imes as in 
times gone by . T hey live by mak ing wars ou tbe weaker tr ibes. In Ashanti, a human 
being is alm,o"t on the same level wlt.b a brute; to avert some ~magJOru.'y calami ty, man 
is sacrificed; man is killed to honour the dead; man is even kil led to satisfy individual 
caprices. it;~ not an uncommon thing to sac1'iji,," 200 to 400 pe"sons 01' mQ1'e when a 
King dies. 
5. III 1824, S ir Charles M"ca rthy reso lved to crusb t he Ashanti power an d set free 
the people so cr uelly oppressed; that power, bowever, remained until 1874. ' Vith t be 
fan of Kumasi, we found tbe As balltis, wh o had so long groalled under t he cruel and 
tyrannical rule of their Kings, showing a ,lesire for more freedom aori a better form of 
Government wh ich would free them from despotism. 
Adansi declared its inrl ependence in 1874, J uabin re"olted, I thiuk, in 1878. 
BetweAn 1R74 and 1878, Aowin , Gaman, Sefwhi, Kwahu, Krepi Salaga, aud other 
countries extend ing easl\\'~rd:) to toe Dahomian frontier, and which were eitht!1' dependen t 
or feudatory to the Kings of Ashanti, also revo lted and declared their inde pendence. 
These countries looked to the Po wer who crushed Ashanti for protection. Brit.ish 
prestige was respected in all these coun tries. 
6. Englaud did not wish to increase her responsibili t ies on tbe Gold Coast. ::; he did 
not annex A.hanti, as was expected, in l874. She was content ",ith the Treaty sig ned 
at Fomana on t he 13th February, and ~'hich has since t hen becoloe virtuallv a <lead 
letter.' " 
/. In 1881, trouhles broke out again with Ashanti, wh ich m ill'bt have ende,l seriously 
had yo ur Excellency oot checked tLem by t he action YOll promptl y took. As hanti was 
let off a~ain with a small pay ment of money. 
8. Fr~1ll 1881, the provincial Kings and Ch iefs of Ash" nt i became more and Ill ore 
dissati,fied with the Asb.nti rule. In 1.883, the tr ibutary Kings of B ekwai, [(okofu, 
Danias i, Kwanta, and otber places stated the.ir detcrmination not to submi t aga in to t he 
ty rannical rule of th e Kings 01' As hanti. They so ught . B ritish protection to avert 
interruption of trade as well "8 extensive and hornble bloodShedding- which must fo llow 
internecine wars. The Government was averse to the disin tegration of the Ashll nti 
Kingdom, refused its protection to these countries unless t bey remove to th e Protectorate, 
but expended large sums of money on expeditions to Ashanti to patcb up matters. 
9. In 1884, another opportunity was given to the Government voluntarily by t he 
people themseh'es to deal with the question finally, either by anncxing Ashallti, or by 
placing a British agent io Kumasi. 1 refer to the t rcuble O f' tbe " Stool oi' Ashanti." 
10. The Chiefs and Elders of Ashauti placed virtll ally tne co untry under British 
protection when in their hour of trouble they sought the in letTention of t hi, Governmen t 
to place a King on the Stool of Ashanti. In placing a King on th eir" Stool ," they 
gave us then the right to instruct them, and require them to accept our terills and 
conditions for their future guidance and government. Without our ipterference, there 
would be no King now on the" Stool," and Ashanti Kingdom would he no wbere. In 
this matte\" again, the Government played at cross purposes, and in 1888 wefoLind Pre:npe 
ensteoled with our a>sistance as Kwaku Dua III. 
E e '1 
224 
11. N o doubt Kwaku Dua III. made the mo,t solemn promises to rule Ashanti in 
accordance with the advice and wishes of this Government. If so, he did not remain 
faithful to his promises. 
In 1892 we found the Ashanti army encamped agai'lst Nkoranza on a frivolous pretext. 
The Government ~'as not consulted in the affair, because tbere was something behind the 
scene. The Nkoranza war was spreading itself to Atabubu in the Protectorate when its 
ad vance was checked by the despatch of the troops sent there under Sir Francis 
Scott. 
12. The Kings of Ashanti have always been false, as well as treacherous, in all their 
dealings with tbis Government. No reliance mnst be placed on the most solemn promises 
made by them. They would witbout remorse break their most solemn compact" ifit suit 
their purpose to do so. 
13. Between 184 1 snd 1874 the Kings of Ashanti had signed more than one treaty 
with us. Tbese treaties were broken before the 10k was dry on the p"per on which they 
were written. 
14. The public opinion throughout the Colony is t.hat the Government has been 
temporising long enough with the alfairs of Ashanti, and that the time has now come to 
take up the matter firmly and decisively in hand and settle them once ror all. 
15. If E ngland has no wish to annex Ashanti- a policy which will ensure permanent 
peace , tbe opening up of t.he lvilnterland, and the development of its vast resources, and 
increase of commerce-she should also not be in the way to prevent its disintegration. I 
think Hr.r M"'jesty's Gov"rnment should not deny protection to those countries who, 
smarting under the rule of cruel and despotic ki ngs, apply to her for protection. 
16. In conclusion, I would venture to submit that in tbe interest of prudence. economy, 
and humanity, Ashanti must be annexed at any cost. This is a question the Gover nment 
will have tofu.ce soone?' or {a.ler . J think this is the proper time and opportunity to do it 
01' we sha.ll regret our short-sighted policy. Speaking from my own experience, and 
from mi xino- w,th and hearing them discll ss this question, I can say wi th certa inty that 
every' nativ~ in t.his Co lony, and ever,r resident E uropean, would cordially endorse the 
vie" sand suggestlOns con tamed m th iS paper If they were consulted upon them, and the 
Govemrnent could rely upo?> the fullest support tlie people of the Accra, Fanti, and other 
nations in the Colony and Protectorate co/tid aff01'd to give it. . 
H. VROOM, 
Gold Coast Colony, District Commissioner. 
April 30, 1894. . 
Enclosure 5 in No. 100. 
MEMORANDUM as to the Policy t.o be adopted towards ASHANTI. 
First,.it will be well to trace the history of the policy of the last few years. 
From 1881 (not t.o go back further) the policy of the British Governmenl has been to 
treat Ashanti as a friendly allied state . On tbe other hand, Ashanti appears to have 
regarded the British Government as somewhat more than an ally, and has looked to this 
Govern ment to assist it in setting a King on the Stool. 
2. [n 1887- 8, the appointment of a permanent resident at KUlllasi was pressed on the 
Government. The Government did not see its way to this appointment, and the poIicv 
was laid down that officers should visit K nmasi as frequently as officers could be 
spared. 
3. Early in 1888, a new King, Prempeb-Kwaku Dua [[I., was enstooled, and the 
Government was in hope that he would be able to keep Asbanti from disorder. In that 
hope the attitude of t.he Government was one of "friendship and goodwill, but at the 
" same time of great caution ond careful abstinence from any undue interest in the 
" affairs of Ashanti." (April 18~8 .) 
3A . Later on in the same year (July 1888) the policy of the Government, as set forth 
by Sir W. Brandford Griffith, was to promote the recovery of the Ashantis" from the 
" state of a.pprebension, perplexity, friction, aod flmbarrassment which has been their 
" chronic condition for some years past, and gain confidence in their unity and learn 
" to be self-reliant." This policy was endor.ed by the Secretary of State in September 
1888. 
4. Meanwhile, the Kokofus, one of the Ashanti tribes, 
Bekwais and Kumasis and driveu into the Protectorate, where 
2l!5 
5. In December 1888, Impectnr Akers, as the rcsult of his travelling commissioner-
ship, made a Ie poct, in which he h,id SI ress on the unsettled state of A shanti, and 
su!<gested as a remedy the appoin tment of a special commissioner to that country. 
6. In forwardin~ this report. to the Govern or, t he Secretary of State, whi lst dis-
cla,iming any intention of au nexing As hanti 01' placing it under British protedioll , pointed 
out cerlain advantages to be derived fro m a resident at Kumasi, und advocated" strong 
and firm friendly relations " with I hat country. 
7. In November 1889, the Actjng Governor sent to tbe King of Asb.nti stating that 
the iVIampons hact asked to be located in the Protectorate, and warning the King not to 
interfere with the Kwahus, who were uuder Britisb protection. 
S. In December 1889, the K ing answered the Acting Governor in a tone more inde-
penden t and uncompr0mising tban was consistent with the former relations between 
Lhe Goverument und the Ashantis, and, further, despatched u letter to the Secretary of 
State. 
9. In July 1890, the King sent down a mi ssion to the Governor to reqnest t hat the 
various Ashantis who had been located in the Protect.orate might be sent back to 
Ashanti. At Ii"t t.he mission took tbe line that the Guvernor by Dot corlling to meet 
them had failed to treat them with courtesy, but when shown tbat they fai led to 
meet the Governor they changed t beir tone. 
10. In reply 10 this mission. the Go\-ernor wrote to Lhe King that the Asb.ntis in the 
Protectorate mio-bt retu rn if they so wisbed. In his letter the Governor made a poi nt 
of insisting on the respect due to bim from the King, usi ng more peremptory language 
tban heretofore. 
J l. The King replied in a tone very different from that used in December 1889, 
admitting that be bad many" proofs" of the" goodwill " of'the Government and of its 
"desire to promote the interest and peace of (bi s) Ashanti Kingdom." 
12. The result of this mission was that officers were sent to the Kokofus and 
Dad iassies to enqwre wbether they desired to return to Ashanti. The Kokofus decided 
to return, but, as they appeared to be ulfder Ibe impression that they would retu rn under 
British protect ion, it was made clear to them that the Government did not propose to do 
anything furtber than permit tbe ll' to return to Asbanti _ 
13. Meanwhile it came to the know ledge of the Governlllent tbat tbe As hanti Juabin s 
desirerl to enter into the Protectorate. Further, the Bekwais were found anxious to 
have British protection. Furthermore, the Adansi Road--the hig h road into Asban t i, 
wbich the Asbantis were by the treaty of Fornana bound to keep in order-was becoming 
bush. Further, the disorder whic h tbe Government bad hoped in 1888 wOflld be put down 
was as rife as ever, and A sbanti appeared to be f~lling in to decay . In these circum-
stances, the Governor deci~~d on a change of policy, and, without. consnlting the 
Secretary of Stat~, entere,l IOtO negotlatlOns \\,Ith tbe King' fo r Ashantl t.o come nnder 
Bri lish protection. 
14. The Kin g of Ashanti refused the proferred treaty (May 1891), stating in his 
letter of reply to Si r Briindford Griffilh ," I am happy to SG(Ij we have ar?ived at tlllis 
" conciu.,ion, that my Kingdom of Ashanti will neve" commit itself to any such policy. 
" Ashanti must remain independmt as of old, at the same time to be friendly with at! 
" white men." H e also stated, " Believe me, GOVIl'f'7WT, 1 am happy to info'l'm you that 
" the cause of Ashanti is progress?:71g, and that there is no reason for an 'y Ashanti man. 
" to feel alarm at the prospects, 01' to believe for a single instant that our cauge has 
., heen driving back by Ihe events of past hosti liti es." 
15. Mr. Hull, who had been sent t.o the King of Kumasi witb a letter advising him to 
Cvme in to the Protectorate, visited Akyikyesu in Western Akim in J anuary 1891, 
,,,hen the Kokofus Princess, wbo was locat~d there \~ith King Asibi a~ld other people, 
called upon hIm at Dlgltt, a tIme tbe Afncans preler for the dISCUSSIon of particular 
business, and in tbe course of her conversation, j flSt before sbe left, remarked to him : 
" If the Govemor would send a white officer to reside at Kumasi and help the King 
" tbey all knew that it would be a good thing lor Ash""ti ; " but she added, "not too 
" many white officers. \·Ve do not want too many white men in A shanti. " In this 
connexion, Sir Brandford Griffith remark .. " that Chief Odonkor, of Po.ng, the in terpreter 
" to Mr. Hull's mISSIOn, told bun that, 10 conversatIOn WIth Ashantls at Kumasi with 
" regard to the proposal that the_1' should receive British protection, weIlinf(mned people 
stated te hIm that the authontles strongly objected 10 havlOg a comml'SlOner residellt 
" at Kumasi, • as tben there wouln be two kings there instead of one.''' " In these two 
" statel1,enls," the Govern~r observes, "I think the reason may be discovered why the 
.' Asbantis refused to accept tbe proposal placed before Ihem in my letter to their 
H King." 
() 89130. F f 
226 
IG. The Govel1l1or then advvcated a policy of non-interference with Ashanti, but that 
the Government should at the same time be prepared to prevent any contemplated action 
on the part of the Ashantis to work injury to the Gold Coast Colony. 
17. Within a few months (Octoher 189 1) Ashanti was preparing for further internal 
struggles. The Koknfus were collecting arms and ammunition. preparatory to returning 
to Ashanti, whilst the Bekwais were preparing to protect themselves from the Kokofus. 
The Djabins were waiting to see with which side they should ally themselves. 
18. The Kokofus not having yet returned to Ashanti, the King, towards the latter end 
of 1892, made an expedition against Nkoranza, one of his states containing the important 
trade centre of Kontempo. The Nkoranzas thereupon applied to be taken under British 
protection, but the Government refused to take them, as Nkoranza was under Ashanti 
rule. 
19. In September 1893 information was received by the Government that the Ashantis 
intended to attack Attabubu, as it was alleged that it had given assistance to Nkoranzas. 
Attabubu waB under British protection, but it was stated that the Ashantis thought we 
sbould take no step' to binder their design, as we did nothing when they drove the 
Adansis out of Ad.ansi. 
20. Prompt steps were taken to send a force of about 350 Hausas to protect Attabubu 
fron} the Ashantis. This had the desired effect, and the Asbantis rep'ldiated having 
entertained any designs against Attabubu. 
21. At present, it appel1rs that there is a general feeiing in Government, native, and 
commercial circles that Ashanti might be taken without a blow. The question for 
consideration and decision is, What poli cy should the Gold Coast Government adopt in 
the circumstances described? 
22. It would appear to be neither humane nor politic to continue the policy of non-
intervention. It has bad a fair trial and has not succeeded, and fnrther non-intervention 
will mean constant interference with the trade of the Gold Coast, frequent costly 
missions to Ashanti, a r,ever-encling state of disorder in that country , one district flying 
at another's throat, or Kumnssi and ot.her districts warring against a recalcitrant state. 
Bloodshed and disorder has beeu our experience of non .intervention, and will continue 
to be the result of non-intervention. A further result of non-intervent.ion will be loss of 
influence which might be exercised for good. 
23. It is needless to consider rebuilding Ashan ti so as to make it independent and 
self~relian.t. That would require a military organisation, which would be used against 
us and our protected states . J ndeed, we cannot suffer A.sbanti to remain independent of 
us, as it commands our trade routes; and our previons relations with it entitle us to take 
this position, wbile we cannot with safety to the peace of the Protectorate permit Ashanti 
to continue to occupy the position of a country in a state, mOre 01' less, of antagonism 
to the interests of this Colony, whilst its barbarous and cruel customs are a disgrace to, 
and an outrage upon, humanity , and all parties in the Colony are unanimous in the 
opinion that we must not aid Ashanti to attain to any part of its old position of 
dominance. 
24. I am convinced that by far the best solution would be to include the several 
tribes forming the Ashanti combination in the protected territories, and this could be 
accomplished practically by annexing its ' several sections in detail , or by at once 
asserting our power over the whule country. And it seems to me that the last will be 
the most sagacious and least troublesome course to take. 
25. The 'present state of things cannC't be permitted to continue, and, in default of 
our determining to take over the whole of Ashanti at once, I repeat, I alll of opinion, 
t.hat the Lest course to pursue would be to accept tbe offer of allY of its tribes to come 
under om ~rotection, and I will proceed to show that. circumstances and events justify 
thi s ~ourse. 
26. After the Treaty of Fomana, by which Ashallti 109t the Adallsis, the Kwahus 
threw off the yoke of Kumasi and snbsequently came under Britisb protectiou. The 
Juabm" rollowed suit but, becom:ng involved in war with Kurnasi and being defeated, 
the greater nart of them came into the protected territories. Then the Kokofus and 
Dad,assles. being also defeated by the Kumasis and Bekwais, carne into the protected 
terri tones, but before these occurrences Gaman also had thrown off its allegiance to 
Rumasi. Quite lately, Nkomnza strove in vain to make itself independent. From 
our experience of A.shanti we know that as SOOIl as any Chief thinks himself able to do 
so be-fortbwith set. himself" up as independent, and thereupon Asbanti ranges itself into 
two camps, one in favour of such Chief, and the other for tbe authority of' K'lmasi. 
27. Their ullion in arms WIlS the only bond which formerly held together the various 
Ashanti tribes. As long as they had a common enelDY, viz., the Fantis, or the 
227 
Denkerahs, Or one or other of the tribes now under British protection, they were able tr, 
keep together. But now things are cbanged. All tbeir forme)' ioes are uuder British 
protection. Tbe bond which formerly bound tbem together no longer exists, and it is 
contrary to experience to expect. them to huld together. It must be remembered that 
they bave no specio.J lauguage, or dress, or habits, or religion; the'y are practically th~ 
same in language, aress, habits, and religion as the Accras, Fan tis, Denkerahs, Assins, 
aud other tribes in the protected territories, except that the Accras speak a language 
of their own. 
28. Asbanti is no lQnger the more or less compact state that it was. After 20 years 
earnest endeavour on anI' part to make it at unity with itself, and self-reliant, it is 
nothing bnt a few tribes with difficulty held together by tbe power and tbe reC\)llection 
of the former infl.uellce of Knmasi, eacb tribe biding its time to become independent.. 
29. Probably if any tribe merely declared its independence the Kumasi autborities 
would take no heed and suffer it to go its way. But as such a declaration is invariably 
accompanied hy insulting messages and murder of messengers, war is bound to follow. 
30. In these circumstances, I am of opinion tbat it wili be false policy to continlle to 
treat Ashauti as a compact state. We should recogn ise tbe fact tbat it is only composed 
of a bundle of states kept togetber by no common interest, but which by tbeir in ternal 
wars and intrignes menace the interests and the security of the trade of tbe protected 
territories. I would, tqerefore, submit for consideration the adoption of eitber of two 
lines of action with reganl to Ashanti; first, tbe policy of accepting any advances from 
any of these tribeg, and if they ask to be taken under our protection I consider it would 
then be our duty to extend it to tbem; and as to tbe second line of action, wbere no 
such offers were made, tben we sbould exercise our power, and compel obedience to it 
by bringing recalcitrant tribes under our supreme control. 
31. Sbonld we dec ide upon eitber of the lines of action stated, I think due notice of 
tbe cbange of attitude of tbe Government ought without delay to be. given to the King 
of Asbanti . For 20 years we have striven loyally a.nd earnestly to prop up Ashanti, btlt 
all to no purpose. Asbant) is now practically in a state of disintegration, and to any 
tribe wbo seeks it we sbould grant our protection as a preliminary course of procedure; 
but I am most strongly of opinion that tbe wisest, sarest, mo,t prudent and inexpensive 
course of action will be to pursue a resolute policy, and if the sections of Ashanti ,,"bich 
are still independent of the Gold Coast decline to accept its rule they sbould be 
compelled to do so. 
Governmeut House, Cbristiansborg Castle, Accra, 'V. B. G. 
October 25, 1894. 
The ASHANTIS lD tbe WESTERN PROTECTORATE to tbe GOVERNOR. 
SIR, Cape Coast, October 1, 1894. 
WE, the Asbantis wbo bave ran to this Gold Coast Protectorate anel met safety 
under yom protection, beg most respectfully to bring to your Excellency's notice, 
through some educat.ed class in this town, certain facts which have recently taken place 
in Ashanti. 
It is rumoured bere amongst us from Ashantee tbat King Prempe will shortly send 
bis Captain Quacoo Fokoo with 1,000 perigwans of gold, perigwan is equal to 81. 2s. 
sterling casb, to your Excellency, so that your Excellency may send away all Ashantis 
in tbe Gold Coast Colony under your Excellency'S protection to him, Prempe, truef 
King of Asbanti. If this rum our be true, we will all kill ourselves ratber than to be 
delivered up into the hands of tbat tyrant, murderer, cruel, and thief King. All we 
pray for is that your Excellency may naturalise us as belonging to the Colony and the 
good Queen your Excellency represent. We beg to bring to your Excellency's notice 
that about month Angust this year truef King Prempe was installed at Bantama in 
Cooma"sie, the capital of Asbanti, wbere the late thief Kings are buried, and within 
the two montbs 400 buman beings were killed, including men, women, boys, and o-irls. 
He swore his great oath tbat if he gets us by cunning and stratagem he will kill ~ll of 
us without mercy, because we rebelled against the truef King of AshaI>ti. Ansah, son 
of late Prince John Owoosoo Ansah, a native of Cape CQast, whose mother's maiden 
name is Sarah Boxe!1, who gives him all ad vices touching the Englisb Goverume"t and 
the Gold Coast and his chief counsellor iu all rus atrocities, because bis fatber's house 
was sold to Catholics for his debt, and he is rebelled against the Englisb Government. 
Tbe King of Ashan°ti is notbing at all now, he is but a mere name, is not mote than 
Ff2 
228 
any of the Gold Coast Chiefs, but, being six days' journey from Gape Coast, he thinks 
himself secured and boasted himself. All his subordinate towns deserted him, and 
they are in the Protectorate, such as J "bbin, Kokofoo, Adansie, Fijassie, Assokolie, 
and Coomassie, the capital, which is not half so big and populous as Cape Coast. He 
only has under him Guissue and Finsue, which are but poor, insignificant, desolated 
places. All neighbouring countries around Ashanti are against Ashanti, and they 
joined to the Gold Coast as far inland as 20 to 40 days' journey from Gold Coast. 
We can assure you your Excellency can take Ashanti with mere words, not a fight. 
They stand in dread of the English Government. You can bring the King here under a 
summons if your E xcellency choose. That Ashanti and its thief King is not an inde· 
pendent place but dependent upon Cape Coast Castle from time immemorial, so it must 
be annexed to Gold Coast Colony at all event. They can never be the subject of any 
ether European nation whate. . er jf they attempt to do so. We give your Excellency an 
instance. In the year 1831, late King Quacoe Duah of Ashanti, by command of his 
Excellency Governor George Maclean, sent his Princess Arkianwah anel Chief Quarquah 
to deposit ozs. 600, six hundred ounces, gold dust in Cape Coast Castle for three years 
for future good conduct, in conjunction with Princes Quantamissah and Owoosoo Ansah 
as hostages, and at thA expiration of that term that King did not break the peace the 
ozs. 600 was refunded to him by Governor Maclean. 
In 1822, Governor Sir Charles Macarthy was going to puui1h King Ossay Yarwoo. 
but the iniquity of that King was not yet full, he escaped unhurt. Governor 
Macarthy lost his life; the King at last at Accra narrowly escaped, and lost most of his 
property and Princesses at Accra. In 1852, during the g0vernment of Governor 
Stephen John Hill, the King of Asbanti was repulsed while attempting to rob Chibboo 
and Gabi11, two Assin Chiefs. 
In 1863, under Governor Colonel Edward Conran, the British troops were marching 
to River Prah, and as the King of Ashanti's iniquity is not yet full the troops were 
withdrawn. 
I n 1873, the Asha,nti King's iniquity was over full, the sword must depart th~re, the 
King Kofi Kalka.li thrown it into the Atlantic Ocean at Cape Coast, Elmina, just as 
Pharaoh of old thrown his sceptre into the Red Sea. 
The fifty thousand ounces, ozs. 50,000, which his Excellency Sir Garnet Joseph 
W olseley levied on Kon Kalkali and his successors of Ashanti, who ran away before his 
Excellency like a rat before a cat, was not paid yet up to now. It is a debt owed by 
Ashanti Kings thieves Kofi Kalkali and successors to Her most glorious Majesty 
Queen 'Victoria, the best of all Sovereigns on earth: 
Prempe, thief King of Ashanti, about a month ago sent his messengers to insinuate 
Saiwhees to his side. This district is joined to Gold Coast. The Wesleyan mis8ionaries 
at Cape Coast have schools there. Nearly two years ago, Prempe, thief King of Ashanti, 6 
now poor rat, sent his executioners and gold manufacturers to Cape Coast, the name of 
whom is Ossay Quacoe; they brought brass and copper rods, and with mixture of one 
ounce good gold they manufactured into four ounces, and with that nearly ruined the 
firm of Messrs. F. and A. Swauzy, of London, whom Honourable C. W. Burnett was 
their agent. That Ossay Quacoe is still living at Cape Ooast in a Douse surrounded by 
thick bush at the foot of Fort Victoria. Prempe is an inveterate enemy to Her Majesty 
Queen 'Victoria. Ossay Quacoe, h is executioner and his manufacturer of bad gold, was 
sent by Prempe to spy Cape Coast and sent him reports every aay. So drive away this 
murderer Ossay Quacoe and his accomplices from Cape Coast so that the town may free 
from bad gold. It is a wise and safe plan that your Excellency condemned gold dust 
in the Customs Department. 
Cape Ooast Castle, the town into which the .Ashanti sword was thrown or taken by 
his Excellency Governor Sir Garnet Joseph Wolseley, is the capital and chief seat of 
the British Empire on the Gold Coast Colony. What is an African (like these places) 
Kings? A poorest Englishman is wealthier than 1,000 of them; an Englishman's 
pair of trowsers is more valuable than their state appearance in full costume. 
Your Excellency, Sir William Brandford Griffith, K.C.M.G., in perpetuation of your 
Excellency'S name throughout rising generations on Gold Coa8t Colony henceforth and 
for ever, may include Garman, '['akiman, Koranza, Ashanti, Saiwhae, &c., &c., &0., ail 
iu the Gold Coast Colony, as they were all situated to the eastward of River Assinie, 
the boundary, and they were all related to the Fantees, one nation, .one tribe, and one 
family, from these the Fantees proper on the Gold Coast flowed lUtO the coast and 
settled. We pray your Excellency may take our petition into serious deep 
consideration and deliver th9 couutry from the hands of those .useless, numberless, 
murderous, thieves, devils, heathens, and self-made Kings, who do not at all allow the 
229 
progress of the Gospel of our Lord to have its free course and evangelise and civilise 
the na,tive population. 
May Almighty God in HIs infinite mercy asslst your Excellency m these arduous 
labours and nndertakings are the earnest prayel's of us, you well,wlsher, obedIent 
and humble servants, 
'I'he Ashantis in this Western Protectorate 
His Excellency and the N ati ves hereof. 
Sir William Brandford Grill:ith, K.O.M.G., 
Governor-in-Ohief, 
Gold Ooast Oolony, Oape Ooast Oastle. 
Enclosnre 6 in No. lOO. 
MEMoRANnuM by Mr. VROOM. 
From Cape Coast, or Elmina, Kumasi could be reached uy-
a. Denkera via Sefwhi Awiansu 9 days 
b. .. " Ayenfuri 7 
c. Assin .. Prahstl 8 
The road in Denkera is kept. fa;rly in good order up to Boasi. It. ;s !lot hilly ann is 
easily traversed. There are convenient. baIting places. The countr.\' is well supplied 
with water in dry season, and food plentiful. Beyond Boasi,..ic is a mel'e Imnter's track 
lying tbrough a delne forest, with lew villages very far between. There an~ nUmerous 
streams to be crossed, many of which are impassable after a heavy rain. Food sC'lrce, 
On account of these drawbacks, traders seldom use this- rOild. 
The Assin road is the one much used by traders. From .cape Ooast to Prahsu, aLout 
75 to 80 miles .• the road is leept fairly clear and in good condition. Many of the streams 
are bridged and ferries exist where bridges are wanted. Like tbe Denkera road, it also 
bas convenient halting places. The villages are not tar between. There is plenty of 
food and water on this road. 
Crossing River Prah the road be~omes very difficult in the rain season. It is swampy 
and dangerous owing to the sudden and rapid rise of tbe small ril'ers aud streams, and 
w bicb lia ve neither bridges nor ferries. The road is also obstructed by fallen .trees. 
These obstacles, however, are greatly diminished in the dry seas\>n, and with little outlay 
of money it can be made easy in a short time. In 1874, auout 40 miles of this part of 
Ashanti road was cleared by our troops. Its traces might still be seen; unfortunately 
it was not kept up by the Adan,is. The Assin road appears to me 10 be the best to 
reach Kumasi in dry season when troops couid go IIp with little or no trouble. 
There is only (>De hill of note on this road, i.e., the Kwisa Hill. 
There are other roads to reach Kumasi (rom Akim and Asbanti Akim. I have never 
beetl over these roads so as to be able to give any i"formation respecting them. 
H. VROOM, D.C, 
3rd May 1894. 
No. 101. 
SIR W. B. GRIFFlTH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received November 28, 1894.) 
[A,l1=ered by No. 103.] 
Government House, Christian,horg Castle, Accra, 
My LOR~, November 3, 1894. 
REFERRING to vour Lordship's Despatch of the 31st August,* in which it is 
stated that your attention had been called to tbe conduct of the Hausa Constabulary in 
Kwahu, who, although in a friendly country and in tbe Protectorate, were very often 
stealing sheep aud plundering the poor inbabitants, I have the bonour to transmit here-
with, for your Lordship's information, copy of a communication from Captain Davidson-
Houston, the officer commanding the detachment of Constabulary in Kwahu, iu which, 
• No. 91. 
F f 3 
230 
as your Lordship will observe, a complete denial is given to the statements which have 
been made to you with regard to the condllct of the Hausas in that district. 
2. I am not personally acquainted with Oaptain Davidson- Houston, but, judging from 
what I bave seen of bis conespondence and from what I have beard 'Of tbe able, energetic, 
and careful way in which he di~cbarges bis duty, I feel sure tbat be is not an officer wbo 
would allow any men under his cbarge to be guilty of such conduct as that imputed to 
them by Mr. Ramseyer's correspondent. 
I have, &c. 
W. BRAN])FORD GRIFFITH, 
Governor. 
Enclosure in No. 101. 
Oaptain W. B. DAvmsoN-HouSTON to the ACTING I NSPECTOR-GENERAL. 
SIR, Amanforo Kwahu,' October 16, 1894. 
HAVE the honour to acknowledge the r eceipt of your letter to the Officer 
Oommanding Hausas, Accra, forwarded to me by that officer, enclosing a copy of a 
letter from the Acting Oolonial Secretary, with reference to a statement made to the 
Secretary of State, regarding the conduct of the Hausas in Kwahu, and beg to inform 
you, for his Excellency's information, that there is no foundation whatever for the 
assertion that th'3 Housa Oonstabulary " are very often stealing sheep and plundering 
the poor inhabi tants." 
2. How ~u'Ch a st&.teme'1t came to be made to the Marquess of Ripon, I cannot 
underst"liu as neither the King nor any of the Obiefs in K wahu have at any time 
C61nplained to me of sheep stealing or plundering by the Hausas, so that such a charge 
ag linst the men undel .11 command is totally groundless . 
.3. Only on two occasion" has any question arisen regarding sheep, but in both of 
these instances it was not a. Case of stealing, but a di.pute as to tbe price. When the 
matter was reported to me, I at once sent for the owners and the H ausas concerned, 
and aetermined tbe prices myself, certainly to tbe satisfaction of the sellers, as the 
prices decided upon by me in both cases (128. and 188.) were in excess of the sum 
usually paid hy tbe native" themselve&, lest there m,ight be any ill-feeling on the part 
of the inhabitants, and consequent difficulty in obtaining food in the future. 
4. The second charge, that of " plundering the poor inhabitants," is quite as 
imaginative as the former, for during the six months of my command here I have only 
been appealed to three times on account of Hausas taking Bupplies without paying for 
them, and each time I made the men pay up in full for whatever they had taken. 
5. I h ave repeatedly told the neighbouring Ohiefs to report at once to me any 
irregularity of tbe soldiers in their towns, and with the above exceptions, all of a very 
trivial character, I have received no complaints during the periods mentioned. 
6. I attach a copy of a circula.r letter I sent round immediately upon receipt of 
your letter to the King and Ohiefs named tberein , and their replies to the questions 
asked, lest they sbould bave bad any complaint against the H ausas of which they had 
not acquaint"d me. This letter, and the answers of the King and the 14 Head Ohiefs 
of Kwahu , fully bears out what I have already stated. 
7. It is to be regretted that such an ~rroneo us statement should be made to the 
Secretary of State regarding the men bere, whose conduct has been uniformly good 
since they bave been stationed in Kwahu, and at a t ime when the relationship between 
soldiers and civilians was never more friendly. 
I have, &c. 
W. B. DAVIDSON-HOUSTON, Oaptain, 
Officer Oommanding Kwahn Detachment, G.O.O. 
Oaptain DAVIDSON-HOUSTON to the KING and OHIEFS. 
KING or OHIEF, Amanforo Kwahu , October 13, 1894. 
I WOULD be obliged to you if you would kindly tell me if any sheep have been 
stolen from your town or from your people by any Hausa soldiers under my command 
at any time, and, if so, how many, and about what date was such theft committed. 
I am, &c. 
W. B . DAVIDSON-HOUSTON, Oaptain, 
Officer Oommanding Kwahu Detachmeut, G.O.O. 
2~1 
To the King of K ",ahu No. To the Ohief of Littlo Ativi No. 
Ohief of Nkwatia Ohief of Amauforo 
Ohief of Abetifi Ohief of Bepow 
Ohief of Aduamoa Ohief of 'l'afo 
Ohief of Obo Chief of Pepiase 
Oh ief of Tweneduase Chief of Mpreaso 
Ohief of Obomeug Chief of Asakraka 
Ohief of Ativi 
No. 102. 
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON to SIR W . B. GRIlIFITH. 
(Sent November 30, 1894.) 
TELEGRAPHIC. 
(EXTRACT.) 
In reply to your telegram of November 27,· inform King of Ashanti that Special 
Embassy will not be received here. H er Majesty the Queen can only communicate wi th 
him through Governor of Gold Ooast, who is Queen's representative, to whom he should 
at once reply to message sent to him; in no case would she receive mission from a r uler 
who is accused, on apparently good grounds, of allowing human sacrifices. 
No. 103. 
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON to Sm W . B. GRIFFITH. 
Sm, Downing Street, December 3, 1894. 
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of 3rd 
November,t forwarding a report by Oapt. Davidson-Houston on the a,liegations made 
by the Rev. F. R amseyer of mIsconduct on the part of the H ausM in Kwahu. 
I thinl, this report fully exonerates the Hausas from the charges brought against them, 
and I have received it with satisfaction. 
I haTe caused a copy of it to be communicated to Mr. Ramsyer. 
I have, &c. 
RIPON. 
No. 104. 
SIR W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received December 6, 1894.) 
(EXTRACT.) Government House, Christia,nsborg Oastle, Accra, 
November 8, 1894. 
IN continuation of my Despatch of the 31st ultimo,! I have the honour to 
state that I have received reliable information that a mission from Ashanti with from 
300 to 500 followers will arrive at Oape Ooast about the middle of this month, and it is 
stated, that" the mission is to proceed.to Great Britain." Of course this is absurd. 
It is probable that Prince Ansah alone will go. to E~gland, 01' he may be accompanied 
by one or two of the four Ohiefs who are commg WIth hIm, two from Kumasi and two 
from Bernai, as I have been informed. 
I intend to leave Accra by the" Batanga " mail steamer on the 14th instant for 
Oape Ooast, accompanied by Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Ashmore, to meet the expecte,d 
messengers, and Immediately upon recervmg the mess":ge entrusted to them by the King 
of Kumasi for dehvery to me I WIll commUDlcate Its purport to your Lordship by 
telegram. 
I cannot, of course, forecast what your instructions to me may be with regard to 
your Lordship'S possibly receiving Prince Ansah when he arrives in England. I think it 
may be assumed as a certa.inty that he will go there. Money has been collected in order 
• No. 99. t No. )01. tNo.lOO . 
Ff4 
232 
to send him .. He will certainly not lose the chance of going to Enghnd and making the 
very best of hIs holiday, and I would almost venture to predIct, that havmg done so, he will 
take very good care not to return to Ashanti again, because if he did , it i~ !lot at all 
unlikely that he would be decapitated; or, as is the custom when members of the Royal 
family transgress, compelled to commit suicide, and therefore his interbst will lie in the 
direction of k~eping a.t a respectful distance from Kumasi in future, and in ultimately 
seemg Ashantl undAr the control of Great Brltam ; because, m that case, whatever his 
misdoings, and however bitter the Ashantis might in the end feel towards him for having 
deceived them, yet he would know that under British rule his head, at least, would be 
safe. 
H this man goes to England I would with very great respect submit for your Lord-
ship's oonsideration, looking to his antecedents, and to the circumstance that there can 
be no doubt that, being the principal adviser of the King of Kumasi, he has been 
accessory to the massacre of hundreds of unfortunate persons taken captives by the 
Ashantis, whether your Lordship should condescend to take any notice of him in the 
character in which he will present himself at the Oolonial Office upon his arrival in 
England. 
5. In connexion with the question generally of Ashanti, I bave the honour to transmit 
for your Lordship's information copy of a letter from Oaptain Houston, dated the 
30th October and received on the 6tb November, to which I ask reference for what is 
stated in it rel,.tive to the mnrders committed on helpless people in Ashanti m 
celebration of deatb customs. 
I have, &c. 
W. BRANDFORD GRIFFITH, 
Governor. 
Enclosure in No. 104. 
Oapt. DAVIDSON HOUSTON to the GOVERNOR. 
(EXTRACT.) Amanforo, Kwahu, October 30, 1894. 
I have the hononr to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, information that 
and, in compliance with the reqnest therein, beg to acquaint you with the following 
I have lately received. 
I hear that the Ohief of Ofeso when sacrificing four people at his Uncle's death 
cnstom did so openly in the streets in full view of all his people. 
During the late Kumassi cnstom a number of people (adults) and children, 
specially destined for the King's (Prempe's) death custom were slaughtered. 
It has been reported also that gold dnst to the amount of 300 Peregauns (2,4001.), 
though some say 500, has been sent from Kumassi to yonI' Excellency under the care of 
an interpreter named KuaKll Fuku, and two other linguists, whose names I did not 
learn . 
No. 105. 
THE REV. F. RAMSEYER to OOLONIAL OFFICE. 
(Received December 7, 1894.) 
YOUR HONOUR, (Undated.) 
THIS morning I receiven from your Honour tbe information* which his Lordship 
the Marqness of Ripon so kindly directed to be sent to me with regard to the reported 
condnct of t.he Haussa soldiers in K wahu. 
Will you kindly express to his Lordship my sincerest thanks for this information, 
which shows me again with what great care matters concerning the welfare of the people 
of the Oolony are dealt with. 
'After having heard the report of Oaptain Davidson-Houston, and having the privilege 
to know him personally as a man who certainly will nse all his authority to avoid and 
redress all excess of tile Haussa soldiers, I am very thankful to note tilat thing's bave 
heen exaggerilted, if not always erroneous. I regret that my letter has led to this 
investigation, for in my inform.tion I had not so much in view to relate what people were 
saying concerning the behaviour of the Haussos as to report tbe excitement in which 
some of the tribes were, in having the Haussa soldiers so long among them and seeing 
• No. 101. 
233 
nevertheless , that no step bad beln taken to subdue their old oppressors anll enemies, the 
Ashantees and Comassecs, against whom the whole exped ition fl'om the beginning had 
been started. And I call understand their excitement when they say, " What' shall 
become of us?" On one side the Hausas, on the other side the Comassec Kin", "ho 
is decoyino- the surrounding tribes and is hoastin~ that he will soon recover his lonner 
power. Wbo knows tbe people can understand theil' excitement. 
As I say, I kllOW personally Captain Houston, and I be lieve in tbe sincerit\, of his 
report, wbich really appears to exonerate the Hltussa soldiers of the charge; bl;t T ben-
to remark tbat we missionaries, living among th e people and understanding perfectly 
their language, do heal' and see much more of wbat i, going on than a Government 
officer through his interpreter. I am away from the country since soon eight months, and 
so I callnot j udge personally of whllit is going on no \\" ; but last year I had seve ral 
reports concerning- acts of excess of the Haussas to bring- befo re Colonel Scott, who, Tam 
glad to .ay, waS always ready to redress what COl lId be proved. But all cou.1d not be 
proved, for t he soldiers were wearing- the sanlO uniform, and who could be8r witness ? To 
show tbat an offi cer cannot see ancJ. he .. r all what we hea r, I may be allowed to relatc 
that last year, going to Bompata (.\s3nte ;\kell1), I met in the dense forest a procession 
of about' 12 to 15 running-away slaves and, -100 stcps fu rther on, 2 to 3 IJaussa 
soldiers, who had, it seem;, decoyed them from their m;lster and were going with th em to 
the coast. When [ spoke of it ro the officer in charge of t he Haussas at Bompata, he 
said tbat he would not allow such a thing and would make investig.tion, but, of course, 
the people before reach ing the coast had been .cuttered in all directions anll proof was 
very diffteult to get. Of course I was, on one s((le, glad to see these poor sla ves become 
frpe (if they got free at all ?), but, on the other side, [ conld understand the excitement 
of those masters. 
As 1 SHY, 10.111 tnankrul to hear from Caplain Houston, whom I esteem ve ry much, and 
of WhOl1l QUi' mi':;5iotlurie::: speak as or a friend, that t,he reports have been cxao-gerated, but 
rou wjJj understand that our missionaries, living nmong the people, must le~d a kind ea r 
to what they say, but, nevertheless, r will beg them to be careful. 
There is one way tc bring peacc, goo(1 understandi ng, and welfa.re in the country, that 
is, to make Coom.ssie, before which all the tribes are sti ll tremblin,,", powerless for ever. 
and an officer resid ing at Coomassie; may this uay soon be at h.111d, I am lon o-ing for it' 
and, if possible, when we sball go back next year reach tbere. '" 
I bave, &c. 
F. RAMSEYER. 
No. 106. 
SIR W. B. GRIFFITH to t he ,\IA RQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received December 13, 1894.) 
Government ITouse, Cape Coast Castle, 
My LORD, November 22, 1894. 
IN continuation of my Despatch of t be 15th instant,'" I bave t.he honour to 
submit herewith, for your L or dship's information, copy of' a letter dated the 17t.h instant 
with enclosures addressed to me by Mr. Arthur Albert 08800 AnsaL, and of tbe reply 
wbicb I have had sent to him. 
2. From a communication, uated the 18tb instant, received from tbe clerk in coaro-e 
at Prahsu, I learn tbat the messengers the King of Kumasi is sending to the Coast h~d 
travelled on their way about 30 miles from Kumasi. 
, I bave, &c. 
W. BRANDFORD GRIFFITH, 
Governor. 
Enclosure 1 in No. 106. 
Mr. ANSAH to tbe GOVERNOR. 
Ashanti Emba~ssy (Provisional), 
Freemasons' H all, Cape Coast Cas tle, 
SIR, November 17, 1894. 
ON the 25th October, I received instructions from my Royal relative tbe King 
Quacoe Duah III. of Ashanti to join a selected number of important Chiefs, with my 
brother Prince John Ossoo Ansab at the head, to Her Britannic Majesty . 
• No. 109 which was not received until two days after this despatcil. 
o 89730. Gg 
234 
2. That I I?ersonally took over to the District Commissioner of Axim the bearer of 
these instructIOn" and who I duly infll'meJ of the object of his ,·isit . 
3. Tbat I was instmcted further to inquire, ",nd I did so through the District Com-
missioner of Axim, whether it would meet your Excellency's convenience to receive 
these special ambassadors at Cape Coast Castle, as His Majesty the King is very desirous 
that we should have an interview with your Excellency before our departure for 
England. . 
4. That, acting on my instructions, I left Axim on the 9th instant, and arrived here in 
the s.s. " Ambriz" last Sunday morning. 
5. That on the following day (Monday) I wired the District Commissior _r of Axim 
informing him of my arrival, and ascertaining from him whether your EAcellency was 
likely to be ;11 Cape Coast; and although I prepaid for the reply, I did not get one from 
him. Mr. Supervisor Thompson, however, informing me yesterday that your Excellency 
was coming, and le~rning to-~ay th.at you have. arrived, I have taken it as perhaps a 
response to the WIshes of hIS MaJe~ty; but It IS vel>Y WIldly rumoured that the Prince 
J obn 08S00 Ansah, the head of the Embassy to Her Britannic Majesty from the Kino- of 
Ashanti, is threatened with deportation immediately he sets his foot on British soil,"'the 
charge alleged being that he is a British subject, and had been interfering in Ashantian 
politics. 1 have the honour to state most respectfully that, in consequence of these wild 
reports, I had communicated to the · Press of this Colony certain facts for pllblication, 
copies of which I herewith submit for your Excellency's information. 
6. The mis.,ion from the King to Her Britannic Majesty being one of a very pacific 
nature, r hope your Excellency will be graciously pleased to give me assurances for the 
infurmation of the King and my colleagues that the reports as circulated are without 
foundation. 
I have, &c. 
To His Excellency A. A. Ossoo ANSAH, P. 
Sir Brandforcl Griffith, K.C.M.G., 
&c. &c. &c., 
Cape Coast Castle. 
Mr. ANSAH to the EDITOR of the" Gold Coast Methodist Times." 
Freemasons' Hall, Cape Coast Castle, 
SIR, November 15, 1894. 
Now that public opinion is divided as to the relative position of my father, the late 
Prince John Ossoo Ansah of Ashanti, with tbe English (Tovernment, perhaps it would be 
interesting to your readers to know this as officially defined in a Despatch from Lord 
John Russell to President Maclean, a copy of whicb I enclose for pllblication, dated at 
Downing Street, 22nd March 1841. 
You will see from this Despatch that his receipt of 1001. allowance from Imperial funds 
did not make him a British subject, neither was he in any way bound to live in the 
Colony. 
And I must here publicly , state, and I say so on behalf of my brother John Ossoo 
Ansah, that never have we naturalized ourselves as British sllbjects, nor considered 
ourselves as such at any time. 
Yours, &c_ 
To the Editor G. C. M. Times. A. A~Ossoo-ANSAH, P. 
SIR, Downing Street, March 22. 
HER MAJESTY''; Government, having taken into consideration the serious difficulty 
in which the young Princes Quantamissah and Ansah might be placed if, having no 
resources of their own, they shotlld become entirely dependent on the King their relation, 
have determined to make to e"ch of them an allow'ance of loot. which you are to 
consider yourself authorised to issue to them on conrution, which you will explain to 
them, that they sball from time to time come from Ashanti to Cap" CO.1St Ga;tlc to 
communicate persollally with you or with tile officer administenng the uft'aIrs of the 
Castle. 
You will issue these allowances balf yearly or annually, as you shall judge most 
expedient, and reimbnrse yourself for each payment by a bill at 30 days' sight drnwn 
upon Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Altairs, to whom advice of 
235 
each such bill must be punctually sent, at the time of drawiug, by a letter to th is 
Departmeut . 
You will »Iso take care to report to me from time to time your observations on the 
--conduct of tbe Princes, until their allowances are discontinued by orders from home. 
I havc, &c. 
J. RUBSJ9LL. 
Enclosure 2 in No. 106. 
The GOVERNOR to Mr . .ANSAJ!. 
Government House, Cape Coast Castle, 
SIR, November 22, 1894. 
I A)I directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your lettter of th~ 
17th instant, in which you r efer to a rumour that J oh11 Ossoo .Ansah, the bea,d of the 
Embassy to H er Britannic Majesty frOID tb? King. of .Asban.ti, is tbrea,ten ec1 with 
deportation immedIately be sets blS foot on Bfltlsb sOIl.and ask for assurances tbat tbe 
reports are witbout foundation. In reply, I am directed by bis l!lxcellency to assure 
you that the reports are without foundation. 
I remain, &c. 
Mr. .A . .A. Ossoo-.Ansab, J. HALL, 
Cape Coast. Private Secretary. 
No. 107. 
H. LABOUCHERE, ESQ., M .P., to FOREIGN OFFICE. 
(Received December 15, 1894.) 
[Answered by No. 110.J 
5, Old Palace Yard, S.W., 
)\h LORD, December 13, 1894. 
I HAVE received the following telegram this morniDg :-
"Cape Coast. vVe are eight in number, commission ed by onr King to Her Britannic 
Majesty. Arrived here last Monday. Rece ived by Governor G ri ffith in audienc~ 
~' esterda.'. Pray notify Foreign Office, and obtain Her ~'jajesty's permi,sion for us to 
proceed to England. Reply for twenty words paid. 
" Ashanti Ambassadors." 
I have replied: " Have written to Foreign Office, can do no more." 
I would venture to request your Lordship to inform me whether this permission will 
be given, and whether, in this case, you wish me to telegraph a reply in that sense. 
r have, &c, 
H . LAEOUCHERE. 
No. 108. 
SIR W. H. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received December .15, 1894.) 
TELEGRAPHIC. 
[Answered by No. 112.J 
Messengers arrived from Kumasi 10th December; official reception 12th December. 
They stated that King of Ashanti had sent them to inform me that all matters connected. 
with King have been entrusted to Ansah, who is to go to Her Majesty the Queen 
accompanied by brother. On my asking whether they bad brought King of K umasi's 
rel'h to Hodgson 's letter sent by Vroom, they stated that King of .Ashanti thought that 
if h e kept writing to Governor of Gold Coast that would not ,ettle matters in dispute 
for eyer. Mne letters would not settle matters, therefore King has sent Ansah to go on 
a ml~slOn to Her. Majesty the Queen so that peace may be perpetually effected in Ashanti. 
I pomted out that the form of procedure the King was taking with regard to not sending 
reply to Jetter received from Vroom was treating with discourtesy and disrespect Her 
Maj esty's Representative. To this special messengers answered thal King of .Ashanti 
had treated with courtesy letter referred to because in answer to letter be is sending us to 
Gg2 
236 
Her Majesty the Queen. I reiterated that this statement did not in tbe least answer the 
purposc of a reply to my letter; that King was in duty uOJlnd to answer that letter to 
Her Majesty's Representative, the Govel'llor of Gold Coast. 
On J 3th Dccemher I pointed out [toJ special messengers that the subjects under 
eonsidcmtion serioClsly afl"ecled Ashanti, anel subsequently informed tbcm that tbey would 
llot be received ill England; that Her Majesty the Queen could only communicate with 
King of' K unJllsi through Governor of Gold Coast, who is Her Majesty the Queen's 
Representative, to whom King' of Kuma,i should at once send repl'y to message scot to 
him, anl l that in no case wOllld Her JvJajesty the Queeu receive mi,sion from a ruler who 
is accused, on apparontly good grounds, of' allowing humau Raerifice. Special messengers 
IIppeal'ed to he taken completely by surprise, and dissappointed at message from Her 
Ml\iesty's Government, an([ ask for time to give the matter full consideration. iVleeting 
adjourned ,ill 15th Decelllber. 
No. 109. 
Sill W. B. GHIFFITH 10 the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Itceeivcd December w, 1894.) 
Governlllent House, Cbristianshorg Castlc, Accra, 
My LOrio, November lfi, 1894.t 
IN eont,illul1tion of my ])espatch of the 8 th of Novcmber,* I hove the h0nour to 
trn,nsmi, herewit.h, (or yo ur Lordship's inii)flllation, copy of' a letter addressed by 
Mr. J\. A. 08S00 An,ah, a petty trader at Axim, to the Commissioner of' the Axim 
District, which I received on the 13th instant. The writer of the letter arrived at Cape 
Coast fro II I 1\ xilll , by the" Ambriz," !L few days ngo. B'y the same mail b'y which I 
r l'ce ivcd his letter, a co py of the" Gold Co",t IVJethodist Times" of the 31st of Octobcr 
Wll S (ilrwarded to me h'y tile COll llni ssioner of' Cu pe Coast as it. contained a " special 
telegnllll," which 110 doubt was sent by ]\fl'. Ansah of Axim to the paper. I annex to 
t his J)('spalch a slip J have ell! from the paper containing tbe " special telegram." 
2. lilt"e not tltken ao'y noticc of Mr. Ansah's letter, but I intend leaving Accra b'y the 
" Balllnga" ii)r Cape Coast to-morrow, and 00 arri,'al therc will make ~OI11C prorision for 
lodgin{,:' t.lle C hief, who arc coming hom Kumasi. 
I have, &c. 
W. BRANDFORD GlUFFITH, 
Governor. 
Enclosure 1 in No. 109. 
Mr. ANBAll to District Commissioner Loy. 
DUR COMMISSIONER, Axim, November 7, 1894. 
I 1Uo:QUES1' that you will be good enough to inform his Excellency the Governor 
by wire, for I'll bcar the cost thereof, if you so desire it, acting undcr the commands 
rcceivcd from m'y roynl relative the King of Ashaoti, that an cmbas;y, of which 1 am 
a member, is de~patched for E ngland irom Coomassie direct to ~Ier Britannic Majesty, 
and that same IS to cmbark from Cape Coast Castle, but as IllS Majesty the KioO' is 
very de,irous that thesc cn voys should have an interview with his Excellency before 
they finall'y leave the Coast for their destination, I am commanded further to here 
inquire, for His MlIjesty's information, whcther it will meet his Excellency's convenience 
to rcceive thcse special cnvoys Itt Cape Coast Castle. That I am to add that the said 
special envoys will arrive at .the above-mentioned port ill the middle O!' towards the end 
of this month, Rnd to mentIOn thilt tbe embassy bl'lng down a followmg of 300 to 500 
attendants in Btate. 
J have, &c. 
T. N. Loy, Esq., B. L., A. A. OS800 ANSA II, P. 
District COHIIllisBionor, Axim. 
• Nu. 104. t 'J'hiM dOlJpntch WIS l'Ucoivod in Colonial Olllc, two do.y" after tb 
287 
Enclosure 2 in No. 109. 
EX~l{ACT from" THE GOLD COAST METHODIST TIMES " of October 31, 1894. 
Prince 'Albert Arthur Osoo Ansah, having Leon commissioned by H is Majesty King 
Quaroe DUM the Third of Ashauti to act as one of the special ambassadors to the Court 
of St. James, London, left this day by the ,teatnship" Ambriz" for Cape Coast Castle to 
""'rut tbe arrival of the rest of the envoys. It is stated thut his elder brother, Prino~ John, 
who bas been acting as Prime Min ister to bis royal relation for the past four years, is 
bead of the mission. The emb.ssy hopes to winter in England and, utter completing their 
diololDatic mission to tbe British Court, they will probably visit other European cap itals, 
n';tably Paris aod the Hague. Prince John is expected at Cape Coast Castle middle of 
current month with a retinne of about five hundred, all told, and in graud state.-Special 
telegram. 
No. 110. 
SYDNEY BUXTON, ESQ., M.P., to H. LABOUCHERE, ESQ., M.P. 
DEAR 1ABOUCHKRE, Downing Street, December 15, 1894. 
T i'IE Foreign Office bave seot over to us (as Ashantee is in our Department) a 
letter of yours dated December 13th* in reference to a telegram you have received frolll 
" Ashanti Ambassadors." . 
The position is tbat the Queeu can not receive these persons . The King of Ashantec 
is now only the head of a tribe, and cloes not bold a position which would eutitle him to 
send" amhassadors" to the Queen of Engbnd; neither are they the class of person whom 
tbe Queen could he asked to recei,-e. 
Further, there are ample and solid grounds for helleviug that the Ashantee King. Chiefs, 
and people still continue the practi ce of human sacrifice; on wh icb grou ud alone his 
messengers could not be receIved here. 
Besides all this, the questions that these messengers have come to discuss can be, and 
shoule: be, as heretofore, treated on the spot by the Governor of the Gold Coast in con-
sult.ation with the Secretary of State. Of course any representations which these messengers 
desire to make to Her Majesty's Government througb the Governor of the Gold Coast. 
will receive due consideration. 
I may add that we have been in tele/!raphic communication with the Governor on the 
subject, and their application to you is, I presume, in consequence of their having been 
informed that they could not be received in England. 
I write to you informally, instead of sending you an official reply, as it is easier thus to 
explain the position. 
Yours very truly, 
:SYDNEY BUXTON. 
No. 111. 
SIR W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received December 17, 1894.) 
TELEGRAPHIC. 
[Answered by No. 112.J 
Referring to my telegram of 14th December,t at an interview with messengers 
a'Qved from Kumasi held in the afternoon 15th Jjecemb~r , Ansah read from a pape!' 
as follows:-
As Ambassado," we have been simply commissioned to visit England and the above' 
instructio,,~ we intend to carry out, althou/!h if we rightly remember, his Excellency had 
informed US that liberty and courtesy which arc always accorded to British subjects will 
be denied to Us. 
In reply to inquiry whether, in the face of message received from Her Majesty's 
Government, are they intending to go On a mission to England previously to com-
municating all information respecting message to K ing of Kurnasi, they replied that was 
• No. 107, t No. 1O~. 
Gg3 
238 
their intention. I pointed out they would not be received; under all the circumstances 
of the case, therefore, it would hle 0f no use fQll !.hem to go on a mission to Engla\ld, and 
called attention to the gravity of qnestion generally under discussion. This resulted in 
"the Ansahs declaring that they would send messenger to King of Kumasi, and would 
wl!<if for reply, but at the same time the Chiefs IISsocia~ed with them stated that they 
would not wait for return of their messenger with King's reply they anticipate. 
Fully considering matter; I should not be surprised at their going immediately to 
England, for Ashantis cannot he depended on. Keeping in view that King of Kumasi 
has sent special messengers to Cape Coast Castle, I considered it desirable to first 
hear from them his answer to letter which had been sent by Vroom previous to 
informing them of your Lordship's telegram of 30th November,* but, with a view to King's 
clearly understanding position of affairs in order to his arriving at definite decision as 
to his course of action, and with the object of bringing matters to a climax, should 
'your Lordship approve proposal , propose to send Vroom to King of Kumasi to require 
immediate reply. within a week after delivery to him of yom Lordship's message, "yes" 
or "no" to conditions laid clown in Hodgson's communication of 23rd February. 
I will await instructions from your Lordship whether or not Vroom is to be sent. to King. 
Would yO\1 be good enough to reply by telegraph [if you] concur? My impression is 
that King will decline to give information, stating that this has been already done by 
bis special messengers to Her Majesty the Queen, and that special messengers are to 
go to England. 
No. 112. 
TH~ MARQUESS OF RIPON to SIR W. B. GRIFFITH. 
(Sent 20th December.) 
TELEGRAPHIC. 
[Answered by No. ll5.] 
In answer to your tele~rams of 14th December, 17tb December,t messengers cannot 
be received. You should, tberefore, forGid their going on to England. A European 
officer, aecompar.ied by Vroom, should be sent to Kumassi to explain to King that his 
messengers haye been stopped as in my telegram Qf 30th November, and he should be 
asked for definite answer to letter of 23rd February, ~nd told that bis independence will 
not be interfered witb farther than is involved in conditions laid down in that letter, and 
that, if he rejects those terms, equally favourable ones may not be offered again. 
No. 113. 
THE IVIARQUESS OF RIPON to SIR W. B. GRIFFITH. 
(Sent"December 20, 1894.) 
TELEGRAPHIC. 
Referring to my telegram of this date,t you will of course, while forbidding the 
Ashanti messengers to come to England, not make use of force to prevent them from 
doing so. 
,~---------------------
No. 114. 
SIR W. B. GRIFFITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received December 26, 1894.) 
'Government House, Cape Coast Castle, 
My LORn, November 29. 1894· 
IN continuation of my Despatch of the 22nd November,§ I have the 
to forward herewith , for .'lour Lordship' information. copies O! cOIDmluvioa.tions . 
have been addressed to Ine relative to movements of the 
will observe the presumption of the of Kumasi in 
• No. lOll. 
2au 
Y IW Sapon of Juabin to the Juabins located at Korfroduah in 'Bl'itish territory. It will 
alall be ,een, on reference to the papers enclosed, that the so·terme(l " E nbassy" has 
~...rved within eight. miles of the colonial station at Prahsu, but ill viel\ f the nSllat 
li:~~tO"S~ of Ashantis I think that the" Elllbassy" is unlikely to arrive ut CapL Coast in 
Ikss Glldn a week hence, or about thc 6th of Deceulbcr, but it may be late). 
I have, &c. 
\\T. BRANDFOIW GltIFFtTH, 
Governor. 
P.S.-30th No;ember.-Since wntmg the foregoing have this morning rec ived 
from the Colonial Secretary at Accra a pa,rti cular st!l!tement relative to the message Sl Ilt 
from Kumassi to the JUBbins, and transmit a copy of it attached to this Despatch .--
W.B.G. 
Enclosure 1 in No. 114. 
TELEGRAM received at 4.57 p.m. from COLONIAL SECRETARY, Accl'a, 
21st November 1894. 
Ambah Sewah brings intelligence that Yow Sapon sent messengers to Korforundua 
six days ago accompanied by two messengers arrived fi'om Knmasi. 'rhe message from 
latter was ,delivered to Juahin Cbiefs at Korfordua during absence of Ambah Sewah at 
Accra. Messengers state that they had been sent by P rempeh to tell all Juabins that 
Governor, Gold Coast, had been requested to send tbem back to their country, and that 
he (the) King of Kumasi wished to Jet them know so that they might be ready to go. 
Chief.. J"erlied that tbey could do nothing in the matter and sent back messengers. They 
left for Kumasi via Konengo three days ago. I told Ambah Sewab and messengers fi-om 
J uabin Chiefs that they had acted correctly with this exception, that you would have 
been better pleased If they had brought Kumas; messengers to Accra. I took opportunity 
to tell Juabins that treaties of friendship had heen signed with Nkoran211 and Brong 
tribes. I did so becanse contingent had been sent by Yow Sapon to fight with J5::uma Jis 
last year against Nkoranzas. 
Enclosure 2 in No. 114. 
Mr. AN SAn to the GOVEltNOR. 
Ashanti Embassy, Attobiasi, 
YOUR, EXCELLENCY, November 25, 189,1. 
MYSELF and colleagues consisting the Asbanti Embassy are now on the way to the 
eoast to meet your Excellency; we, therefore, beg to inquire wbere it will he convenient to 
meet your Excellency, learning that your Excellency is at Cape Coast Castle at pl·esem. 
I have, &c. 
To His Excellency JOH N Ossoo ANSAIT, 
William Brandford Griffith, K.C.M.G., of Ash"nti, Head of Embassy. 
&c. &c. &c., 
Cape Coast Castle'. 
Enclosure 3 in No. 114. 
'fhe PRIVA'!'E SECRE'fARY to Mr. ANSAII. 
Government HOllse,Cape Coast (JastI! 
NO\CI1:bcr 28, 18!)~k. 
uU'ectec! by Govel nor Sir William Brandford Grllli.h to &tate 
~,ceillelicy has received a letter wntten and signed by you to the effect that v 
of what you term an " Ashanti Embassy !' are 110\\ on th 
thj and inquiring .vb ere it will be con vel !Cnt to r' 
Gp;4 
. 240 , " i 
2. In reply I have to ~ltt.~ tbat the Governor is at present at Cape Coast Ca~tle, lIhere he 
,,·ill grant alLi11terview to tl\0 " Ashanti Embassy" wben it arrives at Cape Coast. 
. ;j. Ilis· Excellul'cy has deputed Mr. Commissioner Vroom to meet the" Eml",s&y" at 
'prahsu and accom pallY it to Cape Coast. 
I am, &c. 
Mr. Jollp. Ossoo Ansah, J. HALL, 
Attobiasi. Private Secretary. 
Enclosure 4 in No. '114. 
Princess Amba Sewa has come to Accra to report that messengers arrived from Yow 
Sapon of Juabin at Konforodua on the 15th November with two messengers from the King 
,01' Kumasi, named Kam Kam and OW11n, the former a sword-hearer, and the latter an 
elephant. tail bearer. 
'rhe Kumasi mp.ssengers stated that the King ofKumasi had sent them to inform all tbeJuabins 
tllat li e bas sent to t he Governor of the Gold Coast asking him to allow the J uabins to return to 
K umosi, and that he uesirecl the Princess to be made aware of this. The Princess was absent 
from KOllforodua Ht the time, bllt the Chiefs ca.lIed a council and replied tbat they could do 
1I0thing, and requested them to go. 'I'hey left Konforodua thlTe days after their arrival, and 
returned to Konengo. No message was sent to King Yow Sapon. 
l'rinc~s Amua Sewn states that she is under the impress ion that a similar message has 
been sent to the Kokofus. . 
I tol<ll\mba Sell'a and the messengers from the Juabin Chiefs that they h3d acted correctly, 
excepting that tbe Governor 1I'0ul,1 have been better pleased if they had brought, down the 
K umasi messcngers to A~cra witb them. I took the opportnnity of telling tbe J uabins that 
treaties of friendship had been signed with the Nkoranza and Brong tribes. 1 did so because 
Yow Sapon had sent a contingent to fight with the Ashantis against the NkOl·an ••• last year, 
the cOlltillgent being placed under the command of a son of the Jate Asafu Adja)'e. 
NoveJiPber 26, 18\'M. F. M. H. 
No.115. 
SIR W. B. GRIFL·'ITH to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. 
(Received December 28, 1894.) 
TELEGRAPHIC. 
Referring to your telegram of December 21," Stewart and Vroom started on December 
24 to cxplalll to King of Knmasi message received from your Lordship, and ask that he will 
give definite answer as soo n os possible to lctter sent by Vroom bearing date 2~rd Fcbtuar), 
et cretcra. Special mission has been instrncted to use all despatch in performance of duty they 
have been entrusted with, but at the same time do not expe"t that they will be back for four 
weeks at least. 
Sent Despatch OU co-day bj' mail steamer" Benin." 
° No. 112. 
__ \jJ . ..