MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
129 
We were present at the trial of Appia Nanu, who ha.d accora- 
panied his brother Appia Danqua in the last invasion of Fantee, 
and was ordered by the King, on his death, to take the command 
of the army, and prosecute the campaign. In the irritation of the 
moment, he exclaimed, before the royal messengers, that though 
the King did not prevent him from succeeding to the stool, and 
the honours of his brother, he kept back all the rock gold which 
belonged to the inheritance, and desired to wear him out in the 
pursuit of the revolters, to prevent his claim and enjoyment of the 
property of his family. From this time he was very inactive, and 
became suspected of cowardice; however, having succeeded in 
getting the head of one of the revolters, he returned to Coomassie ; 
where he was coolly received, but not accused until the 8th of 
July. The witnesses were the messengers the King had sent to 
him, who had been concealed in a distant part of the frontier ever 
since, that Appia Nanu, believing the general report of their death, 
might be the more confounded when they burst upon him at the 
moment of his denial of the charge. He was deprived of his stool 
and the whole of his property, but permitted to retire with three 
wives and ten slaves ; the King hearing the next day that he still 
loitered in the ,,capital, exclaimed, that no proper man would bear 
so much shame before all the people, rather than leave his home, 
and ordered only one wife to be left to him, whereupon Appia 
Nanu hung himself. The King considers, that none but the basest 
spirits can endure iife after severe disgrace. 
The Moors celebrated the feast of Ramadan in this month : 
there was nothing curious in this ceremony. Men and women 
were dressed in their richest suits, and seated on large skins before 
their houses, for they occupy one street exclusively. They rose 
occasionally in small troops, made short circuits in different direc- 
tions, saluted each other, and then sat down again. In the evenings 
s 
