Rumours have been current all the week about disasters in
Ashanti, but they are, we believe, almost entirely without foundation. A tribe, the Coomassis, is no doubt in insurrection, but they have not had the nerve to "rush" the capital, and Sir F. Hodgson, the Governor, who is shut up there, has received reinforcements. The subordinate chiefs remain faithful, and there is not a shadow of evidence for the story that the French are promoting disturbances and want Ashanti. They are sick of the territory they already have in West Africa. The whole affair has, in fact, been much exaggerated by the natural fears of local Europeans and loyal natives, who see that the trained force in West Africa is inadequate to protect at once the coast ports, the river villages, the authorities, and the scattered miners who have begun searching for gold.
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