MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
41 
lustre, and made the human trophies of the soldiers more awfully 
imposing. The skulls of three Banda caboceers, who had been 
his most obstinate enemies, adorned the largest drum : the vessels 
in which the boys dipped their torches were of gold. He stopped 
to enquire our names a second time, and to wish us good night ; 
his address was mild and deliberate i he was followed by his aunts, 
sisters, and others of his family, with rows of fine gold chains 
around their necks. Numerous chiefs succeeded ; and it was long 
before we were at liberty to retire. We agreed in estimating the 
number of warriors at 30,000. 
We were Conducted to a range of spacious, but ruinous build- 
ings, which had belonged to the son of one of the former kings, 
and who had recently destroyed himself at a very advanced age, 
unable to endure the severity of disgrace : their forlorn and dreary 
aspect bespoke the fortune of their master, and they required 
much repair to defend us from the wind and rain, which frequently 
ushered in the nights. 
G 
