From this time the desultory war between the Elminas
and their Ashanti allies, and the Fantis of the neighborhood had
never ceased. Our influence over our allies was but small, for we in
vain endeavored to persuade them to give up the invasion of Elmina.
We even cut off the supplies of powder and arms to the Fantis,
whose loyalty to our rule was thereby much shaken.
All these troubles induced the Dutch to come to the decision to
withdraw altogether, and they accordingly offered to transfer all
their possessions to us. The English government determined not to
accept the transfer if it should lead to troubles with the natives,
and as a first step required that the Ashanti force should leave
Elmina. In 1870 the King of Ashanti wrote to us claiming Elmina as
his, and protesting against its being handed over to us. According
to native ideas the king of Ashanti's claim was a just one. The
land upon which all the forts, English, Dutch, Danish, and French,
were built had been originally acquired from the native chiefs at
a fixed annual tribute, or as we regarded it as rent, or as an annual
present in return for friendly relations. By the native customs he
who conquers a chief entitled to such a payment becomes the heir
of that payment, and one time the King of Ashanti upon the strength
of his conquest of the Fantis set up a claim of proprietorship over
Cape Coast and the other British forts.
Pages:
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279