"Asante to Widmann"

This letter contains the text of the letter Asante sent to the prisoners. Much is printed in the Heidenbote 1870, pp49-50, p78, p121ff. Other points in the manuscript include: The Begorohene had sent a party of men with the hunter who Asante had commissioned to take the message to Kumasi. The messenger was able to give some information on the prisoners – e.g. that they were not in Kumasi itself, but in a village about as far away as Akropong is from Mampong Akw. The man was able to say this as he had spent a whole year in Abiri. He 'also gave news on the war, which had been going badly for the Asantes - many losses and nothing much obtained. The army was now on its return journey in an area on the upper Volta called Pae, and from there they would return via Sohae to Akoroso. Many salt and tobacco merchants had come with Asante’s messenger - they were buying a quantity of salt which cost 1/- on the coast for 2 dollars and selling it again for 9-10 dollars. The business is arranged in such a way that only two Kwahus who have a secret connection with the Begorohene are allowed into the town – and they have to remain in concealment. The rest stay in the forest, while these two do business for them.

07.03.1870

07.03.1870

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