240 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
implored death ; which was inflicted (as the blood of the royal 
family could not be shed, and as he could not be privately drowned 
in the sacred river) by fixing his feet on the ground, bending his 
body backwards with a prop in the small of his back, and suspend- 
ing several large teeth of ivory from a noose around his neck, 
which, hanging from the prop, strangled him. 
1799- Sai Apokoo did not live more than a few weeks after 
being elevated to the stool, and was succeeded by his brother 
Sai Tootoo Quamina, the present King, who must then have 
been about seventeen years of age. On this occasion, the 
general assembly of the captains, jealous of the aristocracy, and 
desirous of making a favourable impression on the young King, 
insisted that the remaining members of it, should propitiate the 
reign, by publicly disclaiming their exemption from capital 
punishment. 
The invasion of the Fan tee kingdom in 1807 was the first im- 
portant military act of the present reign, the circumstances and 
origin of which, being pretty accurately described by Mr. Mere- 
dith, in the extract in the Appendix, I need not repeat. Whilst the 
invasion was meditating, Baba, now the chief of the Moors, pre- 
sented himself to sohcit an asylum in Coomassie, having been 
driven from Gamba by the rapacity of the King, his near relative; 
and professing solely to desire the recovery of a large property 
with held from him, to make the King of Ashantee the heir to it. 
The King promised he would obhge the King of Gamba to do him 
justice, on his return from the Fan tee war, if Baba and his com- 
panions were fortunate in their prayers and charms for his success. 
The King of Gamba did not think proper to resist the demand 
afterwards made through the Ashantee government. 
1807. Coonadua, the King's mother, was left regent during his 
absence ; this woman was a second Messalina, and many young 
