152 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
after Mr. Tedlie and myself. The inhabitants were asleep, but 
they rose cheerfully, cleared the best house for us, and made fires. 
The next morning I received the dash of gold from the King's 
linguists, in a Mallowa bag, with a long compliment ; the conclu- 
sion of which was, that I must always be ready to use the same 
spirit and address, in talking a palaver for the King of Ashantee, 
as I had shewn in talking that of my own King. This testimony 
of their good feeling and esteem, which they could not avow whilst 
we were political antagonists, was grateful. 
Marching through Sarrasoo, where we were liberally refreshed 
with palm wine, we halted in the evening at Assiminia. We were 
received with great hospitality by the principal man, who provided 
us with excellent lodging, to his own inconvenience, and presented 
us with some fowls. The path was almost a continued bog, for the 
rainy season had set in violently. The next day we marched 
through Dadasey to Doompassie, and occupied our former com- 
fortable dweUing. One party spent the night in the woods. 
Thursday morning, the 6th, we had a short but most fatiguing 
march over the mountains dividing the frontiers, to Moisee, the first 
Assin town. The difficulty of procuring provisions until the people 
returned from the plantations, detained us in Moisee until four 
o'clock in the evening. As the stage from Doompassie had been 
short, (although fatiguing) I determined to proceed to Akrofroom, 
as we should gain a day by it. The Ashantees remonstrated, 
knowing the swollen state of the several small rivers, and the 
aggravated difficulties of the path from the heavy rain ; but I was 
so apprehensive of being detained, by their pleading their super- 
stitious observance of good and bad days for traveUing, that I was 
afraid of seeming to yield to them, lest it might encourage the dis- 
position. I recommended them to go back, and started without 
them, but they were soon at my heels, declaring, they should lose 
