"Mader's Opinion to Strömberg's Report (No 3)"

Spells Strömberg’s and Zimmermann's ‘Asadsohale 'Asutyaree'. Zimmerman's party arrived at Awlotoi at 1 a.m. at the beginning of their journey into Anum country. 'The Ayigbe country and its capital Pekyi' is the home of the cotton brought out of the upper Volta country: and the area from which still more cotton can be obtained. On the other hand there is no cotton market by European standards in the district. Even in Pekyi's regular market, the cotton offered for sale is in small quantities. A cotton market could be built up around the provision of cleaning machinery. Cotton is already planted, e.g. by the Kyerepongs around Anum, but it is to be hoped that the area would be increased if trade opened up. Anum is as much of a cotton market as Pekyi, with Ayigbes bringing their cotton there for sale. Mader had travelled Asutyaree to Anum. This is a route used to by-pass Akwamu in wartime. Dodi is preferable to the Volta shore opposite Pese in that the village is built on a steep slope above the river and so is secure from floods, while the shore opposite Pese is low-lying, and the permanent settlement would probably have to be some distance away from the river. Dodi's disadvantage is that it is a Kyerepong town. In times of war the Akwamus would bar the Volta to people from Dodi. He gives a rather more extended town list in the Anum district (of Kyerepong towns, at least), with populations: Boso, 3,000, much cotton growing. Dodi, 800. The two Toseng villages, 1,200—1,400. Kwasitia, 4-500. Nkwakubew, 600. Anum, 4-5000. This group lives in its villages, and doesn't spread itself around the country in farming hamlets. He does not consider, if Anum is made the Basel Mission's main mission- and trading—post, that there is any danger in the foreseeable future that a settlement on the river will surpass it as a commercial centre. His summary judgement: Anum should be the new station, and the bank opposite Pese should be made the shipment point for goods conveyed on the river.

20.02.1864

20.02.1864

Text