WEST COAST OF AFRICA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 22, 24 June 1871, Page 15

WEST COAST OF AFRICA.

DREADFUL WAR. —TWENTY THOUSAND NATIVES KILLED. Intelligence of a reliable nature has been received at Cape Coast Castle to the effect that the Ashantee army that invaded the eastern parts of the protectorate had been entirely and its generals killed. There had been a great deal of fighting in that part of the country to which the Ashantees had retired, the native tribes of the district having sought and obtained assistance from some other tribes in the neighborhood of Dahomey, and subjects to the King of that country. The Ashantees were caught in ambush, their army dispersed, and Addoo Boffoe and Neancheeve, their commanders, had either been killed in battle, captured and slain in cold blood, or had blown themselves up to prevent being taken alive by the enemy. The King of Ashantee was sending a new army to the eastern districts ; and the Akeira were said to be on the look out lest these new troops should, on their march to the seat of war, commit any ravages on the Akeira territoiy. The number of men which the Ashantees are said t© have lost, up to the latest accounts, was estimated at 20,000 killed in battle, besides numbers which have died from disease, staivation, and taken prisoners. The new army, it is said, number not less than 30,000, and the men were being despatched rapidly to Agotim and Crepee. Whilst these movements are being carried out to the extreme east, and north-east, the Ashantees on the west and north-west are also said to be stirring. It was rumored that they were approaching Assinee, Axim, and Appolionia; whilst on the other hand it was stated that there were no powerful Ashantee forces in or near Asinnee, and the rumors about there being any-

where near to the sea board on the windward coast were utterly unfounded. The King of Kinjaibo, while anxious to avoid coming to an open rupture with the King of Ashantee, appeared determined not to permit him to send any armed force through Kinjaibo to the seaside, as he is adverse te the Ashantees being allowed to meddle with the affairs on the coast. It was believed that under these circumstances the King of Ashantee will detain the white captives as being a prize too valuable to surrender until he can make such conditions with the English Government as may secure him some advantage or some immunity that he may soon be greatly in need of. —“ Cape Monitor.”