"Asante’s Report on the Ramseyer-Asante Expedition to Kumasi"

Asante records the Asantehene as saying in reply to their approaches that when his town had been built up again as it had been before then he would welcome-any white man who wanted to visit him, and -welcome following visits, too. Asante also considered that the reply signified the message that the destruction and ruin of Kumasi was the saddest thing which had happened to him and his chiefs, and they would never love someone who had been connected with the destruction as Ramseyer had. Enmity against Ramseyer is still strong – the strength of Ramseyer’s own wish to work in (love for) Kumasi is so strong, however, that he does not see this. The Kumasis are not bowed and want to create their old political power again. The only change is the ending of public ritual murder, though Asante saw and heard signs that it continued in secret. In any case he reckons some other society will be invited to Kumasi, if any ever is, Ramsayer's so-called friends tell him what he wants to hear - and even then an old man, a friend of his, once told him that no-one was more responsible for the breakdown in trade between Kumasi and the north-than Ramseyer. Asante considers that the Kumasis already know well, through Ansah, that Ramseyer's imprisonment did not cause that war. Asante believes, however that the Asantes think their luck was 'taken from them by Ramseyer's imprisonment hence the enmity. And, of course, his staying in Kwahu and working in Asante Akim has not endeared him to Asante --the Asantes think that but for Ramseyer's presence in Kwahu, and the Kwahu belief that he was some sort sf protection for them. Kwahus have returned to the Asante empire. Their gifts of food from the Asantehene also came late, and all the eggs were bad, this signifying that the Asantes were trying to create a situation in which Ramseyer would not-want to return. Asante advises giving up all hope of an Asante mission until the power of Asante is broken, meanwhile contemplation working in the seceded kingdom.

20.09.1882

20.09.1882

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