Then they crossed the river and entered Ashanti, the great rival empire of Dahomey.

As Ashanti was at peace with England they had now no fear of molestation on their journey.
Ashanti consisted of five or six kingdoms, all of which had been conquered, and were tributary to it.

The empire of Ashanti was separated by the river Prah from the country of the Fantis, who lived under British protection.

The people drew their supplies from various points on the coast, principally, however, through Elmina, a Dutch settlement, five miles to the west of Cape Coast.

The Ashantis could not be called peaceable neighbors.