46 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
Mr. James being indisposed, we went by invitation to see the 
chief captain's horse, when the King sent to us to say, he was 
walking that way, and requested us to get our chairs and wait, that 
he might bid us good morning. Directly he saw us he ordered the 
procession to alter its course, and stopped to take us by the hand. 
The procession consisted of about 2000 menj and was marked by 
all the suit and parade of royalty. The caboceers that day in 
attendance appeared as warriors, being divested of the rich silks 
of the preceding day ; the executioner, the master of the bands, 
and the cook, were in the train, with suits which shewed the 
importance of their offices; the latter was preceded by a massy 
service of platen Mr. Bowdich's report will be more particular. 
The king sent his messenger this morning to repeat, that he 
thanked the King of England and the Governor very much for 
yesterday. 
The King was much pleased when Quashie, the Accra linguist 
(who is our only intelhgible medium,) attempted to describe the 
use of the sextant ; consequently, when Mr. Bowdich saw the 
King's chief captain this morning, he offered to shew it to the King, 
with the camera obscura and telescope ; the captain said it would 
please the King, and reported, that the King was much pleased 
with us, that he liked to be friends with the English, that he wished 
to make pleasure with us, and would send for us by and by to do 
so. We have been particular in these lesser circumstances, as 
they are the evidence of the King's good feehngs, and of the fair 
prospect of the consummation of the Mission, superior to all the 
prejudice and intrigue opposed to it. 
We were sent for to the King's house; he was only attended by 
his privy counsellors ; he expressed- much delight at the camera 
obscura and instruments. He said, " the Englishmen knew more 
than Dutchmen or Danes— that black men knew nothing.'' He 
