DUPUIS ^ASHANTEE. 205 



arrived at Coomassie early in 1820, was well conducted, 

 and succeeded in its object. The king renewed, in the 

 most ample measure, his professions of desire to cultivate 

 a friendly intercourse with the British nation ; withdrew 

 such of his demands as were shown to be inadmissible ; 

 ind while he claimed full dominion over the coast, agreed 

 that the English should exercise jurisdiction within, and 

 even in the immediate vicinity of their own forts. 



M. Dupuis found this monarch deeply impressed with 

 respect for white men, and also with a desire to imitate 

 hnd rival the pomp of European kings. He was erecting 

 a palace, the outside of which consisted only of large logs of 

 timber; but the interior was to be adorned with brass, 

 ivory, and gold. He said, " Now white men know me, I 

 must live in a great house as white kings do ; then I shall 

 not be ashamed when white people come ;*' — and on an- 

 other occasion, " I must have every thing suitable, and live 

 like a white king." He had procured architects from El- 

 mina to give instructions to his own subjects, who, how- 

 ever, performed the task in so awkward a manner, that he 

 himself laughed at them, exclaiming, "Ashantees fools 

 at work." But the want of skill was compensated by their 

 numbers ; and while engaged at work, they suggested to 

 M. Dupuis the singular image of a legion of devils attempt- 

 ing to construct a tower of Babel. 



The envoy had the unhappiness of being resident during 

 the " Little Adai Custom," as it was called, and under- 

 stood that in one day upwards of seventy victims had been 

 sacrificed in the palace alone. He was not present ; but 

 waiting on the king immediately after, saw his clothes 

 stained with blood, the royal death-stool yet reeking, va- 

 rious amulets steeped in gore, while a spot on the brow of 

 his majesty and his principal chiefs indicated the work in 

 which they had been engaged. 



The govenmient of Cape Coast Castle unfortunately did 

 not ratify the treaty concluded by M. Dupuis, but under- 

 took to support the Fantees in an attempt to throw off the 

 Ashantee yoke. They were thus involved in hostilities 

 with the latter people, whose sovereign, in January, 1824, 

 entered Fantee with a force of 15,000 men. Sir Charles 

 M'Carthy, newly appointed governor, being ill-informed 

 ..s to the strength of the) enemy, marched out to meet him 

 S 



