ASHANTI', or ASITANTEE', a negro kingdom in western Africa, on the n. of the Gold coast, in lat. 6° to 8° n., and long. 0° to 3° w. It is mountainous, well watered, and healthy, except in the lower alluvial districts. The principal rivers are the Volta, Pusil, and Assinie Pop. 1,000,000, of whom a fifth are warriors. The land is extremely fertile, producing maize, millet, rice, yams, tobacco, sugar, cocoa, the pineapple, and other fine fruits. with gums, dyewoods, and timber. The principal exports arc gold dust and palm-oil, together with slaves. The natives are remarkable for their skill in certain articles of manufacture; their cottons are beautiful, as also their earthenware and sword-blades. The capital is Coomassie (q.v.).
The beginnings of the A. kingdom are obscure, but its traditions point to an emigra tion some hundreds of years ago from a region n. of the Kong mountains, probably caused by the spread of the Mohammedan empire of Timbuctoo. Our first positive glimpse of it is got in the year 1700, when Coonmssie was made the capital by Osai Toe too I., %%1m conquered Akim, Assin, Gaman, Denkira, and other neighboring states, and
became a sort of feudal sovereign over a large district. In their course of conquest over the Fantees. the Ashantis became involved in war with the British (1807-2G), and were finally driven from the sea coast. In 1873-74, in consequence of disputes arising in connection with the cession of the Dutch forts to Britain. they were again involved in a war with the same power; and an army under Sir Garnet Wolseley forced its way to the center of the kingdom. After a severe battle at Amonful, and several days' fighting. Coomassic was taken, Feb. 4: 1874, and bunted on the though the rainy season had set in, the army returned in safety to the coast. The people arc sanguinary in dis position and in their religious ceremonies, but brave, and more intelligent than the races along the coast.