Nine Years at the Gold Coast http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.CH.DOCUMENT.sip100067 Use of the Aluka digital library is subject to Aluka’s Terms and Conditions, available at http://www.aluka.org/page/about/termsConditions.jsp. By using Aluka, you agree that you have read and will abide by the Terms and Conditions. Among other things, the Terms and Conditions provide that the content in the Aluka digital library is only for personal, non-commercial use by authorized users of Aluka in connection with research, scholarship, and education. The content in the Aluka digital library is subject to copyright, with the exception of certain governmental works and very old materials that may be in the public domain under applicable law. Permission must be sought from Aluka and/or the applicable copyright holder in connection with any duplication or distribution of these materials where required by applicable law. Aluka is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to creating and preserving a digital archive of materials about and from the developing world. For more information about Aluka, please see http://www.aluka.org Nine Years at the Gold Coast Author/Creator Kemp, Dennis Date 1898 Resource type Books Language English Subject Coverage (spatial) Volta-Tano Watershed, Ghana, Elmina;Asante Temples, Besease Temple;Patakro Temple Source Smithsonian Institution Libraries, DT510.2 .K4X 1898 Description Chapter I: Offer of services for the Gold Coast Mission. Particulars as to outfit, &c. Notes of introduction to friends in Africa. Chapter II: Furnishes brief information respecting the various tribes of the Gold Coast. Our early relations with them, and the value of their country commercially. Concluding with remarks respecting the Fetish religion. Chapter III: Contains a revelation to the Author, the study of which proves that the Missionary's preconceived ideas respecting his vocation did not harmonise with his actual experience. Suggestions are also respectfully offered to the aspiring West African resident in refer ence to the preservation of health, and the reader is introduced to an invaluable colleague. Chapter IV: Deals with the difficulties in introducing Christian ideas respecting marriage. Reflections concerning the character of the native, and references to our school at Cape Coast. Chapter V: Gives an account of a journey into the "Bush," with glimpses of forest scenery, and an introduction to the rural members of the Church. Chapter VI: Relates circumstances which will summon an immense concourse of people a funeral, a fire, or a festival. And has a reference to Elmina Castle and its connection with the Ashanti War of 1873. And concludes with remarks respecting personal associates Chapter VII: The arrival of the Roman Catholic Missionaries at Cape Coast. Theological differences do not affect personal friendships. The Reverend T. J. Price and his difficulties with the vernacular. His Excellency Sir W. Brandford Griffith, http://www.aluka.org K.C.M.G. Happy relations with Anglican Clergy. Chapter VIII: Records a memorable journey through Aburah and Assin. And furnishes illustrations of the Fetish priestcraft. Chapter IX: The first serious break in the European Staff. A journey to the gold mines. Extracts from Reports—Peacemaking between converts. Advantages of African workers among Africans. The arrival of the Reverend A. W. Hall. Industrial training. Commercial interests in West Africa not essentially selfish. Chapter X: The Missionary is joined by his wife. The urgent need of lady workers in Africa. Suggestions respecting the sanitation of the Colony. A journey to the Aburi sanatorium, and an account of the Croboe heathen customs. Chapter XI: The Drink Traffic. Our attitude as a Church towards the question. Suggestions to the Government. Reckless travelling. His Excellency the Governor and the Colonial Secretary testify to the value of Mission work—Proposal to establish Girls' Boarding School at Aburi. Practical support of the Home Government. Chapter XII: The steamship " Calabar". Advance in shipping accommodation. Difficulties in negotiating land questions with the unsophisticated African. A plague of locusts. "Liberty, Fraternity Equality". The Gold Coast Board of Education. Difficulties in building. The transport question. Kru boys to the rescue. Chapter XIII: Improved locomotion in our journeying. The arrival of Miss A. I. Jackman, and her lamented death. Miss Mary H. Kingsley. Missionary methods and Missionary converts and their critics. The devotion of Basle Missionaries. An illustration of the power of the Gospel. Chapter XIV: The British occupation of Ashanti. A respectful tribute to the British Army and Navy as agents that make for justice and mercy. An account of a journey to Kumasi. Chapter XV: The last voyage to the Coast, in company with kindred spirits. A brief summary of Mission work, and references to three "Missionary-made men". Format extent 322 pages (length/size) http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.CH.DOCUMENT.sip100067 http://www.aluka.org MICHAEL GRAVES-JOHNSTON NINE YEARS AT THE GOLD COAST wI mpA NINE YEARS AT THE GOLD COAST BY THE REV. DENNIS KEMP LATE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT WESLEYAN MISSIONS GOLD COAST DISTRICT ionbon MACMILLAN AND CO. LIMITED NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1898 All rights reserved AUG 0 7 1985 ~LIBRARIS RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BUNGAY. TO MY WIFE PREFACE THE considerations which induced me to yield to the wishes of personal friends to attempt a description of mission work at the Gold Coast were:First, a desire to furnish the supporters of our Missionary Society with such information as might not merely be of interest, but which would, to a certain extent, give the results of missionary enterprise in a small but important part of the foreign field. Hitherto our friends have been under the necessity of deriving their information from travellers whose literary talents have been out of all proportion to their opportunities for studying the subject of missions. Secondly, I have entertained the hope that it might be possible to give such information as would be useful to young men in training for work abroad. I have endeavoured to show that each of the colleagues with whom I have had the pleasure and privilege of being associated has contributed towards the growth of the Gold Coast Mission. It is hoped that future missionaries will thus learn that there PREFACE is ample ,scope for the exercise of a great variety of gifts on the foreign field. And then, as experience has taught me that there is a growing interest in this old British possession, I have ventured to touch upon topics other than those of a purely missionary character. In the presence of the literary critic I exceedingly fear and quake, and tremblingly plead "guilty," and urge " extenuating circumstances" to every conceivable and inconceivable charge that may be brought against me from a purely literary point of view. I am well aware that much more might have been written, even by so incompetent a pen as my own, but to have attempted a larger work would have required more time from my present ministerial duties than I feel warranted in taking. The reader will doubtless observe that I have had little occasion to make use of materials furnished by previous writers on West Africa; in mentioning the early connection of the Portuguese with the Gold Coast I have, however, placed myself under an obligation to Mr. C. P. Lucas' "Historical Geography of West Africa "(Clarendon Press), and in referring to the trade relations of the Colony I have made use of Mr. Hesketh Bell's address to the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce. I sincerely regret the fact that it was only after finally leaving Africa that I mustered sufficient courage to record my experience. Fortunately my Gold Coast letters to my mother have been preserved; these, naturally, have been PREFACE indispensable to me. Articles and photographs by myself which have appeared in our missionary magazine, Work and Workers, have been placed at my disposal by the Editor. My old colleagues, the Reverends S. C. Hall and J. S. Ellenberger, have also furnished me with information, for which I am most grateful. I hesitate to associate the name of the Reverend W. T. A. Barber, M.A., B.D., with the reading of the proof sheets. If I take the liberty I must explain that my friend's considerate regard for the susceptibilities of an inexperienced author has considerably restrained him, or he might have "corrected " my work beyond all hope of recognition. ELIAMA, ST. URSULA GROVE, SOUTHSEA, Mark 3rd, 1898. CONTENTS CHAPTER I Offer of services for the Gold Coast Mission-Particulars as to outfit, &c.-Notes of introduction to friends in Africa . Pages 1-7 CHAPTER II Furnishes brief information respecting the various tribes of the Gold Coast-Our early relations with them, and the value of their country commercially- Concluding with remarks respecting the Fetish religion ..... ................. .Pages 8- 26 CHAPTER III Contains a revelation to the Author, the study of which proves that the Missionary's preconceived ideas respecting his vocation did not harmonise with his actual experience-Suggestions are also respectfully offered to the aspiring West African resident in reference to the preservation of health, and the reader is introduced to an invaluable colleague ............... ..Pages 27-47 CHAPTER IV Deals with the difficulties in introducing Christian ideas respecting marriage.-Reflections concerning the character of the native, and references to our school at Cape Coast ........ Pages 48-67 CHAPTER V Gives an account of a journey into the "Bush," with glimpses of forest scenery, and an introduction to the rural members of the Church ...... .................... .Pages 68-85 CONTENTS CHAPTER VI Relates circumstances which will summon an immense concourse of people-a funeral, a fire, or a festival-And has a reference to Elmina Castle and its connection with the Ashanti War of 1873 -And concludes with remarks respecting personal associates Pages 86-98 CHAPTER VII The arrival of the Roman Catholic Missionaries at Cape CoastTheological differences do not affect personal friendships-The Reverend T.