Mission from Cape Coast Castle to Ashantee
With a Statistical Account of that Kingdom, and Geographical Notices of Other Parts of the Interior of Africa

This 1819 work describes Bowdich's journey from Cape Coast Castle in West Africa into the territory of the Ashanti.

Thomas Edward Bowdich (Author)

9781108072250, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 22 May 2014

550 pages, 1 b/w illus. 10 colour illus. 2 maps 2 music examples
29.5 x 21 x 3 cm, 1.5 kg

This work by Thomas Edward Bowdich (1791?–1824) describes the journey he made on behalf of the Royal African Company from Cape Coast Castle in West Africa into the territory of the Ashanti, a warlike tribe which had legendary resources of gold and which had been attacking European settlements along the Gold Coast. The intention was to make a peace and trade treaty with the Ashanti, and also to learn more about their culture and customs. Bowdich, not the original leader of the expedition, took control, and negotiated a treaty of mutual co-operation and trade. He returned to Europe in 1818, publishing this fascinating account in 1819, but he felt that his own efforts, and his book, did not receive the rewards they merited. He died on a second, scientific expedition to West Africa, leaving his widow, naturalist and artist Sarah (later Lee), to edit and publish his last work.

Introduction
Part I: 1. The objects and departure of the mission
2. The route and reception of the mission
3. Proceedings and incidents until the third dispatch to Cape Coast Castle
4. Proceedings and incidents until the signing of the preliminaries to a general treaty
5. Proceedings and incidents until the ratification of a general treaty
6. Proceedings and incidents until the completion of the mission and its return to Cape Coast Castle
Part II: 1. Geography
2. History
3. Constitution and laws
4. Superstitions
5. Customs
6. Architecture, arts, and manufactures
7. Climate, population, revenue, city, market, etc.
8. Trade
9. Language
10. Music
11. Materia medica and diseases
12. Mr Hutchinson's diary
13. Sketch of Gaboon, and its interior
14. Suggestions for future missions to the interior of Africa
Appendix.

Subject Areas: African history [HBJH]