Negroes.  They exchanged the bow for fire-arms, and soon became a warlike people.  Osai Tutu led in a desperate engagement against the king of Denkera, in which the latter was slain, his army was put to rout, and large quantities of booty fell into the hands of the victorious Ashantees.  The king of Axim unwittingly united his forces to those of the discomforted Denkera, and, drawing the Ashantees into battle again, sustained heavy losses, and was put to flight.  He was compelled to accept the most exacting conditions of peace, to pay the king of the Ashantees four thousand ounces of gold to defray the expenses of the war, and have his territory made tributary to the conqueror.  In a subsequent battle Osai Tutu was surprised and killed.  His courtiers and wives were made prisoners, with much goods.  This enraged the Ashantees, and they reeked vengeance on the heads of the inhabitants of Kromanti, who laid the disastrous ambuscade.  They failed, however, to recover the body of their slain king; but many of his attendants were retaken, and numerous enemies, whom they sacrificed to the manes of their dead king at Kumasi.

After the death of the noble Osai Tutu, dissensions arose among his followers.  The tribes and kingdoms he had bound to his victorious chariot-wheels began to assert their independence.  His life-work began to crumble.  Disorder ran riot; and, after a few ambitious leaders were convinced that the throne of Ashantee demanded brains and courage, they cheerfully made way for the coronation of Osai Opoko, brother to the late king.  He was equal to the existing state of affairs.  He proved himself a statesman, a soldier, and a wise ruler.  He organized his army, and took the field in person against the revolting tribes.  He reconquered all the lost provinces.  He defeated his most valorous foe, the king of Gaman, after driving him into the Kong Mountains.  When his jealous underlings sought his overthrow by conspiracy, he conquered them by an appeal to arms.  His rule was attended by the most lasting and beneficent results.  He died in 1742, and was succeeded by his brother, Osai Akwasi.

The fame and military prowess of the kings of the Ashantees were borne on every passing breeze, and told by every fleeing fugitive.  The whole country was astounded by the marvellous achievements of this people, and not a little envy was felt among adjoining nations.  The king of Dahomey especially felt like humiliating this people in battle.  This spirit finally manifested itself in feuds, charges, complaints, and, laterally, by actual hostilities.  The king of Dahomey felt that he had but one rival, the king of Ashantee.  He felt quite sure of victory on account of the size, spirit, and discipline of his army.  It was idle at this time, and was ordered to the Ashantee border.  The first engagement took place near the Volta.  The king of Dahomey had succeeded in securing an alliance with the armies of Kawaku and Bourony, but the valor and skill of