GOLD AND THE GOLD COAST
By C. F. ANDREWS
THE future of the Gold Coast as a Colony—working its way upward towards self-government—is very nearly assured. That was the impression I have come away with, after seeing, under peculiarly favourable conditions, its evident prosperity and progress.
The physical vigour and cheerful good-humour of everyone I met first attracted my attention. It was such a happy contrast, when compared with what I had so often seen in India and in other parts of Africa. Here was a young nation in the making, enjoying life to the full, laughing and singing. This bodily fitness and cheer- fulness had its complement in a mental capacity, which showed every sign of healthy growth. I had been invited to give a series of addresses, and an opportunity was thus afforded for personal interviews with those who came to hear me. In this way I was able to form a fair judgement of the intellectual calibre of my audience.
Each afternoon they used to meet me individually, in order to put their difficulties before me. Since they under- stood and spoke English, there was no hindrance on account of language. They came quite voluntarily and were evidently eager to do so. There were girls as well as boys, and the level of intelligence was very nearly equal. Questions were put to me about their own country, for they are intensely patriotic : but the main subject of interest was religion. They live in a world of spirit. Heaven lies about them in their infancy as a young people. The " shades of the prison house " have not yet closed around them. Ancestral voices still call them back to haunted chambers of the mind, even while they follow with a new-found, ardent fervour, the Christian religion which they profess.
Among the problems posed the following may be' taken as examples : Did I think that the spirit of some ancestor came back to earth when a young child was born ? Did I believe in re-incarnation ? Do we live in some spirit- world elsewhere, after we leave this body at death ? Did I believe in ju-ju (magic) ? Was prayer always answered, if we prayed hard enough ? What was the meaning of dreams ? How can we keep our hearts pure, so that we can see God ? Such questions as these came up again and again during our talks together. It was evident to me that there had been no fatal break with their old traditions leading on to a mere colourless imitation of the West. The Gold Coast was thinking for itself.
Among recent Governors, the name of Sir Gordon Guggisberg stands out. He was fortunate in coming to the coast when the cocoa boom was at its height, and therefore money was plentiful. His greatest experiment was Achimota College, situated on a healthy site eight miles from Accra. He invited the Rev. A. G. Fraser, of Trinity College, Kandy, to build up this new institution from its foundation, and he could not have made a better choice. Mr. Fraser brought with him Dr. Aggrey, one of the noblest African Christians, and there sprang up a deep and loyal friendship between Dr. Aggrey and the Governor, which did much to establish good racial relations. There is little sign of the colour-bar on the Gold Coast today.
Some anxiety is being expressed lest the expansion which was rapidly taking place in the gold-mining area • should attract speculators from South Africa, holding the colour-bar tradition, and should in this way ..disturb the racial harmony which is such a pleasing feature on the Gold Coast. While I was there, it seemed as if there was every likelihood of a vast extension of the mining industry. The steamers were full of mining engineers and workers, coming out on contract. Men talked of another " Rand " having been discovered, which might lead to an almost indefinite opening up of the gold reef which runs north- ward for nearly one hundred and fifty miles. In that case, Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti territory, would become one of the most important towns in West Africa in the near future. During last year, I was told, the number of Europeans on the mines had been more than doubled, and the number of African labourers had gone up from fifteen thousand to nearly thirty thousand. The Government was expecting an even greater percentage of increase during the present year. Whether such a, sensational event as a Gold Boom would really benefit this prosperous and contented colony time alone would be able to reveal. The Government is fully aware of the many dangers that lie ahead, and is taking, every precaution. It is paying special attention to . the health .and housing conditions of the African labourers who go to work in the mines. A vaccination centre has been established at Kumasi. This is now the metropolis which„ All the. men in search of labour . pass through as they come down, from the North. If the new rush for gold takes away the people' from the soil, then iti is certain that harm will ensue : for the African is always. happiest when he has land to cultivate which he can call• his own. Meanwhile everything possible should be done in England to send out the best men in the Civil Service, and also for the work of the flourishing Christian Church.
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