"Ramseyer to Basel"

A sequel to the letter No. 134 above. The 'mitrailleuse' is some sort of gun firing rockets. The English officers are now all on the station which they admire - several are hawing to live in the houses of the Christian families. The 400 hausas are billeted in the town. One day the officers were officially greeted on the station by the various Kwahu towns dancing war-dances in their honour. The missionaries are not clear what Scott's mission is. They believe it involves creating a situation in which the Asantes cannot disturb the peace again, so they felt it was their duty to write a letter to him setting out the arguments for putting Kumasi under British law. This letter was very graciously received and sent to the Governor. Meantime more towns are trying to break free of Kumasi. Agogo has destooled its chief and applied to be put under the English protectorate. And Ramseyer himself received a letter from Yaw Sapong (his ambassador was accompanied by ambassadors from Konongo) written by ex-sir teacher Odei addressed to him which asked him out of the kindness of his heart to save their lands from destruction by the English troops, and also to send a teacher which had done such a lot for other states (Ramseyer interpolates that he refers to Bompata here), and also to get his land accepted into the Protectorate. The request for a teacher is repeated - he can point out to us whether we are going good or evil'. Colonel Scott's reply was to send an officer to the coast for guidance, and to request that people be present in 14 days’ time empowered to sign a treaty.

03.11.1893

03.11.1893

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