MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
15 
Marly their own, and none could be more ingeniously tormentinge 
At four o'clock on Thursday morning we started the remainder of 
the packages, and followed them at half past six. Proceeding 
about two miles in a N. N.W. direction, we descended a steep 
hill, a quarter of a mile in length, and entered a beautiful valley, 
profusely covered with pines, aloes, and lilies ; and richly varied 
with palm, banana, plantain, and guava trees : the view was 
refreshed by gentle risings crowned with cotton trees of a stupen- 
dous size. I never saw soil so rich, or vegetation so luxuriant. 
The first croom we reached was Quama's, about three miles and 
a half from Annamaboe ; it presented but a few hovels ; and we 
passed through three others, Simquoi, Taphoo, and Nasmam, just 
as wretched and insignificant, before we reached Booka, roman- 
tically situated amidst the luxuriant foliage of a high hill, termi- 
nating the valley. Abra is about three miles eastward of this 
croom : it has been entirely deserted since the last invasion, the 
Ashantee army under Appia Nanu having made it their head 
quarters. It formerly exceeded Annamaboe, but the little that 
now remains is in ruin, the inhabitants having retired to the small 
crooms of their caboceer, or Captain Quaggheree. 
Passing through Tachradi, which scarcely existed but in name, 
we ascended a gentle rising, with a small croom, called Acroo- 
froom, on the left hand. The astonishment of its miserable inhabi- 
tants engaging our attention, the extensive area of the summit 
burst upon us with the more effect. It was environed by small 
groves ; and clumps of cotton trees rose so happily in frequent 
spots, as to afford all the scenery of a romantic litde park ; the 
broken rays of the sun stealing through the small trees in the 
distance, to make the deep shade of the foreground more imposing. 
The path then became more hilly, and the landscape fuller of 
wood : our descents and risings frequently through long vistas, so 
