By Sheer Pluck

G >> G. A. Henty >> By Sheer Pluck

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Up to this period the Dutch trading ports and forts upon the coast
were interspersed with ours, and as the tribes in their neighborhood
were under Dutch protection constant troubles were arising between
the Dutch tribes and our own, and in 1867 an exchange was effected,
the Dutch ceding all their forts and territory east of the Sweet
river, a small stream which falls into the sea midway between
Cape Coast and Elmina, while we gave up all our forts to the west
of this stream. Similarly the protectorate of the tribes inland up
to the boundary of the Ashanti kingdom changed hands. The natives
were not consulted as to this treaty, and some of those formerly
under British protection, especially the natives of Commendah,
refused to accept the transfer, and beat off with loss the Dutch
troops who attempted to land. The Dutch men of war bombarded and
destroyed Commendah.

This step was the commencement of fresh troubles between the
Ashantis and the English. The Commendah people were Fantis, and
as such the implacable enemies of the Elmina people, who had under
Dutch protection been always allies of the Ashantis, and had been
mainly instrumental in supplying them with arms and ammunition. The
Fantis, regarding the Elmina natives and the Dutch as one power,
retaliated for the destruction of Commendah by invading the territory
of the Elmina tribe, destroying their villages and blockading
the Dutch in their port. Another reason for this attack upon the
Elminas was that an Ashanti general, named Atjempon, had marched
with several hundred men through the Fanti country, burning,
destroying, and slaying as usual, and had taken refuge with his
men in Elmina. From this time the desultory war between the Elminas
and their Ashanti allies, and the Fantis of the neighborhood had
never ceased. Our influence over our allies was but small, for we in
vain endeavored to persuade them to give up the invasion of Elmina.
We even cut off the supplies of powder and arms to the Fantis,
whose loyalty to our rule was thereby much shaken.

All these troubles induced the Dutch to come to the decision to
withdraw altogether, and they accordingly offered to transfer all
their possessions to us. The English government determined not to
accept the transfer if it should lead to troubles with the natives,
and as a first step required that the Ashanti force should leave
Elmina. In 1870 the King of Ashanti wrote to us claiming Elmina as
his, and protesting against its being handed over to us. According
to native ideas the king of Ashanti's claim was a just one. The
land upon which all the forts, English, Dutch, Danish, and French,
were built had been originally acquired from the native chiefs at
a fixed annual tribute, or as we regarded it as rent, or as an annual
present in return for friendly relations. By the native customs he
who conquers a chief entitled to such a payment becomes the heir
of that payment, and one time the King of Ashanti upon the strength
of his conquest of the Fantis set up a claim of proprietorship over
Cape Coast and the other British forts.

Of a similar nature was the claim of the Ashantis upon Elmina. The
Dutch had paid eighty pounds a year, as they asserted, as a present,
and they proved conclusively that they had never regarded the King
of Ashanti as having sovereignty over their forts, and that he
had never advanced such a claim. They now arrested Atjempon, and
refused to pay a further sum to the King of Ashanti until he withdrew
his claim. In order to settle matters amicably they sent an envoy
to Coomassie with presents for the king, and obtained from him
a repudiation of his former letter, and a solemn acknowledgment
that the money was not paid as a tribute. The king sent down two
ambassadors to Elmina, who solemnly ratified this declaration.

The transfer was then effected. We purchased from the Dutch their
forts and stores, but the people of Elmina were told that we should
not take possession of the place except with their consent; but it
was pointed out to them that if they refused to accept our protection
they would be exposed as before to the hostility of the Fantis.
They agreed to accept our offer, and on the 4th of April, 1872,
a grand council was hold, the king and chiefs of Elmina announced
the agreement of their people to the transfer, and we took possession
of Elmina, Atjempon and the Ashantis returning to their own country.

Upon the transfer taking place, Mr. Pope Hennessey, the governor
of the colony, sent to the King of Ashanti saying that the English
desired peace and friendship with the natives, and would give an
annual present, double that which he had received from the Dutch.
At the same time negotiations were going on with the king for the
free passage of Ashanti traders to the coast, and for the release
of four Germans who had been carried off ten years before by Aboo
Boffoo, one of the king's generals, from their mission station on
British territory near the Volta. The king wrote saying that Aboo
Boffoo would not give them up without a ransom of eighteen hundred
ounces of gold, and protracted negotiations went on concerning the
payments of these sums.

At the time when Mr. Goodenough and Frank had landed on the Gaboon,
early in 1872, nothing was known of any anticipated troubles with
Ashanti. The negotiations between the English and the Dutch were in
progress, but they had heard that the English would not take over
Elmina without the consent of the inhabitants, and that they would
be willing to increase the payment made by the Dutch to the king
of Ashanti. It was known too that efforts would be made to settle
all points of difference with the king; and as at Abeokuta they
received news that the negotiations were going on satisfactorily,
and that there was no prospect whatever of trouble, they did not
hesitate to carry out the plans they had formed.

Before crossing the Volta, they sent across to inquire of the chief
of the town there whether two English travelers would be allowed
to pass through Ashanti, and were delayed for a fortnight until a
messenger was sent to Coomassie and returned with a letter, saying
that the king would be glad to see white men at his capital. With
this assurance they crossed the stream. They were received in
state by the chief, who at once provided them with the necessary
carriers, and with them a guard, which he said would prevent any
trouble on their way. On the following day they started, and after
arriving, at the end of a day's journey, at a village, prepared
to stop as usual for a day or two to add to their collection. The
officer of the guard, however, explained to them through Bacon, who
spoke the Ashanti language, that his instructions were, that they
were to go straight through to Coomassie. In vain Mr. Goodenough
protested that this would entirely defeat the object of his journey.
The officer was firm. His orders were that they were to travel
straight to Coomassie, and if he failed in carrying these out, his
head would assuredly be forfeited.

"This is serious, Frank," Mr. Goodenough said. "If this fellow has
not blundered about his orders, it is clear that we are prisoners.
However, it may be that the king merely gave a direction that we
should be escorted to the capital, having no idea that we should
want to loiter upon the way."

They now proceeded steadily forward, making long day's marches. The
officer in command of the guard was most civil, obtaining for them
an abundance of provisions at the villages at which they stopped,
and as Frank and his companion were both weakened by fever he
enlisted sufficient hammock bearers for them, taking fresh relays
from each village. He would not hear of their paying either for
provisions or bearers, saying that they were the king's guests,
and it would be an insult to him were they to pay for anything.

Ten days after starting from the Volta they entered Coomassie.
This town lay on rising ground, surrounded by a deep marsh of from
forty to a hundred yards wide. A messenger had been sent on in
front to announce their coming, and after crossing the marsh they
passed under a great fetish, or spell, consisting of a dead sheep
wrapped up in red silk and suspended from two poles.

Mr. Goodenough and Frank took their places at the head of the
little procession. On entering the town they were met by a crowd
of at least five thousand people, for the most part warriors, who
fired their guns, shouted, and yelled. Horns, drums, rattles, and
gongs added to the appalling noise. Men with flags performed wild
dances, in which the warriors joined. The dress of the captains
consisted of war caps with gilded rams' horns projecting in front,
and immense plumes of eagles' feathers on each side. Their vest was
of red cloth, covered with fetishes and charms in cases of gold,
silver, and embroidery. These were interspersed with the horns and
tails of animals, small brass bells, and shells. They wore loose
cotton trousers, with great boots of dull red leather coming halfway
up to the thigh, and fastened by small chains to their waist belts,
also ornamented with bells, horse tails, strings of amulets, and
strips of colored leather. Long leopards' tails hung down their
backs.

Through this crowd the party moved forward slowly, the throng thickening
at every step. They were escorted to a house which they were told
was set aside for their use, and that they would be allowed to see
the king on the following day. The houses differed entirely from
anything which they had before seen in Africa. They were built
of red clay, plastered perfectly smooth. There were no windows or
openings on the exterior, but the door led into an open courtyard
of some twelve feet in diameter. On each side of this was a sort
of alcove, built up of clay, about three feet from the ground. This
formed a couch or seat, some eight feet long by three feet high,
with a thatched roof projecting so as to prevent the rain beating
into the alcove. Beyond were one or more similar courts in proportion
to the size of the house. A sheep and a quantity of vegetables and
fruits were sent in in the course of the day, but they were told
not to show themselves in the streets until they had seen the king.

"We shall be expected to make his majesty a handsome present," Mr.
Goodenough said, "and, unfortunately, our stores were not intended
for so great a potentate. I will give him my double barreled rifle
and your Winchester, Frank. I do not suppose he has seen such an
arm. We had better get them cleaned up and polished so as to look
as handsome as possible."

In the morning one of the captains came and said that the king
was in readiness to receive them, and they made their way through
a vast crowd to the marketplace, an open area, nearly half a mile
in extent. The sun was shining brightly, and the scene was a brilliant
one. The king, his Caboceers or great tributaries, his captains,
and officers were seated under a vast number of huge umbrellas,
some of them fifteen feet across. These were of scarlet, yellow,
and other showy colors in silks and cloths, with fantastically
scalloped and fringed valences. They were surmounted with crescents,
birds, elephants, barrels, and swords of gold, and on some were
couched stuffed animals. Innumerable smaller umbrellas of striped
stuff were borne by the crowd, and all these were waved up and down,
while a vast number of flutes, horns and other musical instruments
sounded in the air. All the principal people wore robes woven
of foreign silk, which had been unraveled for working into native
patterns. All had golden necklaces and bracelets, in many cases so
heavy that the arms of the bearers were supported on boys' heads.
The whole crowd, many thousands in number, shone with gold, silver,
and bright colors.

The king received them with dignity, and expressed his satisfaction
at seeing them, his speech being interpreted by one of his attendants,
who spoke English. Mr. Goodenough replied that they had very great
pleasure in visiting the court of his majesty, that they had already
been traveling for many months in Africa, having started from the
Gaboon and traveled through many tribes, but had they had any idea
of visiting so great a king they would have provided themselves with
presents fit for his acceptance. But they were simple travelers,
catching the birds, beasts, and insects of the country, to take
home with them to show to the people in England. The only things
which they could offer him were a double barreled breech loading
rifle of the best English construction, and a little gun, which
would fire sixteen times without loading.

The king examined the pieces with great attention, and, at his request,
Mr. Goodenough fired off the whole contents of the magazine of the
repeating rifle, whose action caused the greatest astonishment to
the assembled chiefs. The king then intimated his acceptance of
the presents, and said that he would speak farther with them on a
future occasion. He informed them that they were free to move about
in the town where they wished, and that the greatest respect would
be shown to them by the people. There was a fresh outburst of wild
music, and they were then conducted back to their house.

After the assembly had dispersed the two Englishmen walked about
through the town. It was not of great extent, but the streets
were broad and well kept. Many of the houses were much larger than
that allotted to them, but all were built on the same plan. It was
evident that the great mass of the population they saw about must
live in villages scattered around, the town being wholly insufficient
to contain them.

Three days afterwards they were told that the king wished to
see them in his palace. This was a large building situated at the
extremity of the town. It was constructed of stone, and was evidently
built from European designs. It was square, with a flat roof and
embattled parapet. They were conducted through the gateway into
a large courtyard, and then into a hall where the king sat upon a
raised throne. Attendants stood round fanning him.

"Why," he asked abruptly as they took their places before him, "do
the English take my town of Elmina?"

Mr. Goodenough explained that he had been nine months absent from
the coast, and that having come straight out from England he was
altogether unaware of what had happened at Elmina.

"Elmina is mine," the king said. "The Dutch, who were my tributaries,
had no right to hand it over to the English."

"But I understood, your majesty, that the English were ready to pay
an annual sum, even larger than that which the Dutch have contributed."

"I do not want money," the king said. "I have gold in plenty.
There are places in my dominions where ten men in a day can wash
a thousand ounces. I want Elmina, I want to trade with the coast."

"But the English will give your majesty every facility for trade."

"But suppose we quarrel," the king said, "they can stop powder and
guns from coming up. If Elmina were mine I could bring up guns and
powder at all times."

"Your majesty would be no better off," Mr. Goodenough said; "for
the English in case of war could stop supplies from entering."

"My people will drive them into the sea," the king said. "We have
been troubled with them too long. They can make guns, but they
cannot fight. My people will eat them up. We fought them before;
and see," he said pointing to a great drum, from the edge of which
hung a dozen human skulls, "the heads of the White men serve to
make a fetish for me."

He then waved his hand to signify that the audience was terminated.

"Things look bad, Frank," Mr. Goodenough said as they walked towards
their home. "I fear that the king is determined upon war, and if
so our lives are not worth a month's purchase."

"It can't be helped," Frank said as cheerfully as he could. "We
must make the best of it. Perhaps something may occur to improve
our position."

The next day the four German missionaries, who had so long been
kept captive, called upon them, and they obtained a full insight
into the position. This seemed more hopeful than the king's words
had given them to expect. The missionaries said that negotiations
were going on for their release, and that they expected very shortly
to be sent down to Cape Coast. So far as they knew everything was
being done by the English to satisfy the king, and they looked upon
the establishment of peace as certain. They described the horrible
rites and sacrifices which they had been compelled to witness, and
said that at least three thousand persons were slaughtered annually
in Coomassie.

"You noticed," one of them said, "the great tree in the marketplace
under which the king sat. That is the great fetish tree. A great
many victims are sacrificed in the palace itself, but the wholesale
slaughters take place there. The high brushwood comes up to within
twenty yards of it, and if you turn in there you will see thousands
of dead bodies or their remains putrefying together."

"I thought I felt a horribly offensive smell as I was talking to
the king," Frank said shuddering. "What monsters these people must
be! Who would have thought that all that show of gold and silver
and silks and bright colors covered such horrible barbarism!"

After chatting for some time longer, and offering to do anything
in their power to assist the captives, the Germans took their leave.

CHAPTER XVII: THE INVASION OF FANTI LAND

The following morning Mr. Goodenough and Frank were called to the
door by the noise of a passing crowd, and to their horror saw a
man being taken to sacrifice. He was preceded by men beating drums,
his hands were pinioned behind him. A sharp thin knife was passed
through his cheeks, to which his lips were noozed like the figure
8. One ear was cut off and carried before him, the other hung to
his head by a small piece of skin. There were several gashes in
his back, and a knife was thrust under each shoulder blade. He was
led by a cord passed through a hole bored in his nose. Frank ran
horror stricken back into the house, and sat for a while with his
hand over his eyes as if to shut out the ghastly spectacle.

"Mr. Goodenough," he said presently, "if we are to be killed, at
least let us die fighting to the last, and blow out our own brains
with the last shots we have left. I don't think I'm afraid of being
killed, but to be tortured like that would be horrible."

The next day a message was brought them that their retaining private
guards was an insult to the king, and that the Houssas must remove
to another part of the town. Resistance was evidently useless.
Mr. Goodenough called his four men together and told them what had
happened.

"I am sorry I have brought you into this plight, my poor fellows,"
he said. "There are now but two things open to you. You can either
volunteer to join the king's army and then try to make your escape
as an opportunity may offer, or slip away at once. You are accustomed
to the woods, and in native costume might pass without notice. You
can all swim, and it matters not where you strike the Prah. If you
travel at night and lie in the woods by day you should be able to
get through. At any rate you know that if you try to escape and are
caught you will be killed. If you stop here it is possible that no
harm may happen to you, but on the other hand you may at any moment
be led out to sacrifice. Do not tell me your decision; I shall be
questioned, and would rather be able to say that I was ignorant
that you intended to escape. There is one other thing to settle.
There is a long arrear of pay due to you for your good and faithful
service. It would be useless for me to pay you now, as the money
might be found on you and taken away, and if you should be killed
it would be lost to your friends. I have written here four orders
on my banker in England, which the agents down at Cape Coast will
readily cash for you. Each order is for twice the sum due to you.
As you have come into such great danger in my service, and have
behaved so faithfully, it is right that you should be well rewarded.
Give me the names of your wives or relatives whom you wish to have
the money. Should any of you fall and escape, I will, on my arrival
at Cape Coast, send money, double the amount I have written here,
to them."

The men expressed themselves warmly grateful for Mr. Goodenough's
kindness, gave him the names and addresses of their wives, and
then, with tears in their eyes, took their leave.

"Now, Ostik, what do you say?" Mr. Goodenough asked, turning to
him.

"I stay here, sar," Ostik said. "Houssas fighting men, creep through
wood, crawl on stomach. Dey get through sure enough. Ostik stay
with massa. If dey kill massa dey kill Ostik. Ostik take chance."

"Very well, Ostik, if we get through safe together you shall not
have reason to regret your fidelity. Now, Frank, I think it would
be a good thing if you were to spend some hours every day in trying
to pick up as much of the language here as you can. You are quick
at it, and were able to make yourself understood by our bearers
far better than I could do. You already know a great many words in
four or five of these dialects. They are all related to each other,
and with what you know you would in a couple of months be able to
get along very well in Ashanti. It will help to pass your time and
to occupy your mind. There will be no difficulty in finding men
here who have worked down on the coast and know a little English.
If we get away safely you will not regret that your time has been
employed. If we have trouble your knowledge of the language may
in some way or other be of real use to you. We can go round to
the Germans, who will, no doubt, be able to put you in the way of
getting a man."

The next day they were again sent for to the king, who was in a
high state of anger at having heard that the Houssas had escaped.

"I know nothing about it," Mr. Goodenough said. "They were contented
when they were with me, and had no wish to go. Your soldiers took
them away yesterday afternoon, and I suppose they were frightened.
It was foolish of them. They should have known that a great king
does not injure travelers who come peacefully into his country.
They should have known better. They were poor, ignorant men, who
did not know that the hospitality of a king is sacred, and that
when a king invites travelers to enter his country they are his
guests, and under his protection."

When the interpreter translated this speech the king was silent
for two or three minutes. Then he said, "My white friend is right,
They were foolish men. They could not know these things. If my
warriors overtake them no harm shall come to them."

Pleased with the impression that his words had evidently made Mr.
Goodenough returned to Frank, who had not been ordered to accompany
him to the palace. In the afternoon the king sent a sheep and a
present of five ounces of gold, and a message that he did not wish
his white friends to remain always in the town, but that they might
walk to any of the villages within a circle of three or four miles,
and that four of his guards would always accompany them to see that
no one interfered with or insulted them. They were much pleased with
this permission, as they were now enabled to renew their work of
collecting. It took them, too, away from the sight of the horrible
human sacrifices which went on daily. Through the German missionaries
they obtained a man who had worked for three years down at Cape
Coast. He accompanied them on their walks, and in the evening sat
and talked with Frank, who, from the knowledge of native words which
he had picked up in his nine months' residence in Africa, was able
to make rapid progress in Ashanti. He had one or two slight attacks
of fever, but the constant use of quinine enabled him to resist their
effect, and he was now to some degree acclimatized, and thought no
more of the attacks of fever than he would have done at home of a
violent bilious attack.

This was not the case with Mr. Goodenough. Frank observed with
concern that he lost strength rapidly, and was soon unable to
accompany him in his walks. One morning he appeared very ill.

"Have you a touch of fever, sir?"

"No, Frank, it is worse than fever, it is dysentery. I had an
attack last time I was on the coast, and know what to do with it.
Get the medicine chest and bring me the bottle of ipecacuanha.
Now, you must give me doses of this just strong enough not to act
as an emetic, every three hours."

Frank nursed his friend assiduously, and for the next three days
hoped that he was obtaining a mastery over the illness. On the
fourth day an attack of fever set in.

"You must stop the ipecacuanha, now," Mr. Goodenough said, "and
Frank, send Ostik round to the Germans, and say I wish them to come
here at once."

When these arrived Mr. Goodenough asked Frank to leave him alone
with them. A quarter of an hour later they went out, and Frank,
returning, found two sealed envelopes on the table beside him.

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