MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
61 
stern ; he prefaced that " he did not wish to make war with the 
En dish ; but that the 4 ackies a month shamed him too much ; 
that the captains said to him, King ! they cheat you, they put 
shame on you ; we will go to night and bring you the heads of all 
die Fantees ; that he was forced to say to them, I beg your pardon, 
but as I see the white men's faces, I beg you to stay till to-morrow, 
when they can write to the Governor, and they will tell me them- 
selves what he says ; then if he does not send me Amooney's and 
the BrafFoes books, you shall go and kill all; that he had been 
obliged afterwards to dash them sheep and gold to make them 
stav until the white men sot the Governor's letter/^ Mr. James 
assured the King " that the King of England and the Governor 
wished to be friends with him, to do all that was right ; and he 
thought in his own mind that the Governor would give up the 
books." The King took no notice, and continued serious : the 
moment called for the most energetic appeal to his reason, for 
every imposing argument and circumstance. There was a long 
pause; Mr. Bowdich rose, and charged Mr. James's linguist to 
interpret truly. We took the precaution of making notes of this 
speech, feeling we should be particular where we pledge our 
honour, and volunteer our affidavit ; it was as follows. 
" We swore yesterday as the King wished, to day we wish to 
swear as we should before our own King."' The King held up the 
two first fingers of his right hand as he did to the captains. " We 
swear " (presenting our swords and kissing the hilt, as the most 
imposing form that occurred to us) " by our God, and by our 
King, and we know the Governor of Accra will do the same, that 
we mean no bad to the King, that the King of England and the 
Company ordered the Governor to send us to make the Ashantees 
and English as one, that we are sure the Governor will do the 
King right, and that when we write him all the King says, we will 
