CONSTITUTION AND LAWS. 255 
the King must avoid the sight of it, if he would avoid the fatal 
vengeance of fetish or deity. 
If a slave seeks refuge from an ally or tributary, he is restored ; 
if from an unconnected power, he is received as a free subject. 
The tributary state which distinguishes itself in suppressing the 
revolt of another, is rewarded by privileges at the expense of the 
offending power: thus if a subject of the former kills a subject of 
the latter, the price of a slave only can he recovered, instead of the 
fine otherwise attached to the death of a freeman ; and the damages 
for other injuries are reduced in proportion. 
If the subjects of any tributary do not like the decision of their 
ruler, according to the laws of their own country, they may appeal 
to the King, and claim decision by the law of Ashantee. The 
commission allowed to the collectors of tribute or fine, is two 
periguins out of ten. 
The direct descendants of the noble famihes who assisted the 
enterprise of Sai Tootoo, the founder of the kingdom, are not sub- 
ject to capital punishment, but can only be despoiled. There are 
now but four remaining, Ananqui, Assafee, (see Diary,) and two 
others, all beggars. 
We were present at the promulgation of the following law : 
" All persons sent on the King's business shall no longer seize 
provisions in any country, whether tributary or otherwise, in his 
name ; but requiring food, shall ofier a fair price for the first they 
meet with, if this is refused, they shall then demand one meal, and 
one meal only, in the King's name, and proceed. This extends to 
all messengers sent by the head captains, whose servants, as well 
as the King's, have been long in the habit of extorting goods from 
traders, and tobacco and provisions in the market place, in the 
names of their masters, which they shall do no longer without in- 
curring the same penalty which is attached to the former part of 
