MISSION TO ASHANTEE. S9 
him 4 ackies from Cape Coast?'' The Cape Coast messenger 
(Quashie Tom had absented himself) spoke again with great tre- 
pidation ; the King could not conceal his emotions; his counsellors 
became clamorous ; in an instant there was a flourish of all the 
horns; all the captains rose and seized their gold headed swords 
from their attendants ; the head general snatched Mr. Tedlie's 
from his scabbard ; numerous canopies crowded one upon the 
other in the background, as if some considerable personages had 
arrived ; there was nothing but commotion, wrath, and impatience. 
The captains, old and young, rushed before the King, and ex- 
claimed, as Quashie reported, (who seems to have been afraid to 
tell us all, and was restrained by Quamina) " King, this shames 
you too much ; you must let us go to night and kill all the Fantees, 
and burn all the towns under the forts.'' They then presented 
themselves successively with their bands of music and retinues, 
and bowing before the King, received his foot upon their heads ; 
each then directed his sword to the King (who held up the two 
first fingers of his right hand) and swore by the Kings's head, that 
they would go with the army that night, and bring him the books, 
and the heads of all the Fantees. Each captain made the oath 
impressive in his own peculiar manner ; some seriously, some by 
ridicule, at our expense, and that of the Fantees, pointing at our 
heads and ears, and endeavouring to intimidate us by the most 
insolent action and gesture as they held out their swords. The old 
general (Apokoo) who swore the last, after he had done so in the 
most expressive manner, threw Mr. Tedlie's sword to him, over 
the heads of the people with contemptuous defiance. The number 
was so great, that we thought this awful ceremony would never 
finish. 
The King left the council a short time. In the interval, Quamina 
Bwa (our guide) told Accra Quashie to beg Mr. James to speak 
