204 WESTERN AFRICA. 



country ; they want war, they want war !" Mr. James 

 merely rephed, " No ; we want trade ;" but the monarch's 

 wrath increased to such a degree, that he started from his 

 seat, and bit his beard, calling out, " Shantee foo ! Shanteo 

 foo !" and added, " If a black man had brought me this mes- 

 sage, I would have had his head cut off before me." A sin- 

 fular manoeuvre now took place in the diplomatic party. 

 h. Bowdich, with two junior members, conceiving that 

 Mr. James's too rigid adherence to rule was endangering 

 the preservation of peace with this powerful sovereign, re- 

 solved to supersede him, and undertake the charge of the 

 negotiation. They conducted it entirely to the satisfaction 

 of his Ashantee majesty, who concluded a treaty with the 

 English, and even made a proposal of sending two of his 

 sons to be educated at Cape Coast Castle. 



During their stay at Coomassie, the commissioners wit- 

 nessed dreadful scenes, which seem to sink the Ashantee 

 character even below the ordinary level of savage life. The 

 customs, or human sacrifices, are practised on a scale still 

 more tremendous than at Dahomey. The king had lately 

 sacrificed on the grave of his mother 3000 victims, 2000 of 

 whom were Fantee prisoners ; and at the death of the late 

 sovereign the sacrifice was continued weekly for three 

 months, consisting each time of two hundred slaves. The 

 absurd belief here entertained that the rank of the deceased 

 in the future world is decided by the train which he carries 

 along with him, makes filial piety interested in promoting 

 by this means the exaltation of a departed parent. On 

 these occasions, the caboceers and princes, in order to court 

 royal favour, often rush out, seize the first person they meet, 

 and drag him in for sacrifice. While the customs last, 

 therefore, it is with trembling steps that any one crosses 

 his threshold ; and when compelled to do so, he rushes along 

 with the utmost speed, dreading every instant the murder- 

 ous grasp which would consign him to death. 



To cultivate the good understanding now established, the 

 British government very judiciously sent out M. Dupuis, 

 who, during his residence as consul at Mogadore, had ac- 

 quired a great knowledge of Africa and its people. But, 

 before his arrival, the ardour of their mutual aflfection had 

 been cooled by the intervention of some clouds, which he 

 bad set out in the hope of dispelling. This mission, which 



