T. Edward Bowdich

 
Bowdich, T. Edward (Thomas Edward), 1791-1824.

Mission from Cape Coast Castle to Ashantee, with a statistical account of that kingdom, and geographical notices of other parts of the interior of Africa... London : J. Murray, 1819.

Bowdich was only twenty-six when he was sent on a trade mission to the Gold Coast in 1817. In this work, the first detailed account of the thriving Asante kingdom, he describes its wondrous capital Kumasi, the royal court, and the surrounding countryside. In addition to his narrative of customs and cultures, he also includes climate data, vocabularies of common words in the several languages he encountered, and notation of traditional music.