Terrible War in Ashantce. Shocking Scenes of Sacrifice and Slaughter.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 171, 25 September 1886, Page 8

Terrible War in Ashantce. Shocking Scenes of Sacrifice and Slaughter.

Captain R. E. Firmingek, the English officer who was despatched iuto the: ABhantee country a few months ago to mediate between the Becquehs and the Adansis, has arrived at Liverpool in the British and African Company's Royal mail steamer Benguela, and gives particulars of the terrible conflicts and sacrifices. Captain Firminger, with a bodyguard of thirty Ho'ussas, visited the camps of both armies, and was well received in, each instance. All his efforts, however, ,to- persuade the belligerents to cease hostilities were unavailing. Captain Firminger was just in timeto save forty women and children beingoffered as a sacrifice to the "fetish" god Banda. These poor people had been captured by the Adansis. The Adansi King's son had been captured by the Becquehp,and the Prince,on the mediation of Captain Firminger, was releassd in exchangefor the forty . women and children. The latter would have been killed on the morning following their release had it not been for the British officer's intervention. Captain Firmingerwaß shown the spot where the Adansis hadjast sacrificed thirty women and children belonging tp the enemy. Theae unfortunate I people had been captured by the Adansis. [ The children had their brains dashed out against the stones, and the women were killed by being beaten on, the back of the neck with sticks until they died. The brains of th<3 children were bleaching in the sun when Captain Firminger visitedthe place. There is a superstitious belief in both countries against the shedding of the blood of either women or children, which explains the reason of the shocking mode adopted to take the lives of the innocent victims. The Becquehacapturad sixty-three Adansis, who were> seized, tied, robbed and then executed in, the most horrible manner. At sunrise a long knife. was thrust thiough the cheek, passing through the fcongue, and out. of the .opposite cheek. In this shocking condition the victims were kept until sundown, when they were put out of their misery by being killed. Hq <{ sacrifices " were made in Captain Firminger's presence — indeed, he warned them as strongly as he was able against the horrible practice. No. quarter was allowed on either side, and thewounded were beheaded whenever captured by the enemy. Just before Capt. Firminger left the coast orders had been issued y the Aehanteea for the destruction of all< Adansis, traders and others, no matter where they were found. The weak tribes of Akim, who are under British protection, were, blocking .the trade routes, causing more trouble. A British commissioner has left to compel the Akims to remove the restrictions. , ' ,