"Mader to Basel"

Additional comments to accompany Mohr’s letter of 22 March 1875 (see No 254). This letter is printed in parts in the pamphlet “Begoro und Okwau. Bericht über zwei Untersuchungsreisen als Vorbereitung für die Asante-Mission" (1875). Begoro is built four square and is greater both in number of houses and number of inhabitants than Kibi. The estimate of 5000 inhabitants is probably too high, however. It is certainly no bigger than Akropong. The population are not scattered in farming hamlets. The town is the most beautiful he has seen in Akim, only Gyadam in its time could have compared with it. They are a farming and not gold-digging people. There are villages belonging to Begoro on the plains to both sides of the hills – on the west Fankeneko and Dome, Samang and Osino. Those to the east are not named – there are several of them. There are only hunter’s paths to Kwahu and Akwapim (to Adukrom, and through there reaching Krobo). Mader thinks that now the fear of the Asantes has disappeared; routes will become opened up, however. He offers the suggestion that the gold-diggers organise their labour force partly by means of augmenting their number of wives. The colonial government has succeeded in getting the Akim chiefs to have the roads cleaned. The Okyenhene himself is well-disposed towards the mission, but his elders still play the scoundrel - 2 sheep have recently been stolen from Asante, in the second case it was returned after Asante had told the Okyenhene that if this did not happen he would ask him to pay for it. It is said that the Okyenhene has received a sum of money from the English Government for road-work and though he should have divided it among his subchiefs he is supposed to have kept it. He is building a two storey stone house.

21.04.1875

21.04.1875

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