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280 ' MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
deserted ; the succeeding day the King washes in the marsh at the 
south-east end of the town, the captains Kning the streets leading 
to it on both sides. He is attended by his suite, but he laves the 
water with his own hands over himself, his chairs, stools, gold and 
silver plate, and the various articles of furniture used especially by 
him. Several brass pans are covered with white cloth, with various 
fetish under them. About twenty sheep are dipped, (one sheep 
and one goat only are sacrificed at the time,) to be killed in the 
palace in the afternoon, that their blood may be poured on the 
stools and door posts. AH the doors, windows, and arcades of the 
palace, are plentifully besmeared with a mixture of eggs, and palm 
oil; as also the stools of the different tribes and families. After the 
ceremony of washing is over, the principal captains precede the 
King to the palace, where, contrary to usual custom, none but 
those of the first rank are allowed to enter, to see the procession 
pass. The King's fetish men walk first, with attendants holding 
basins of sacred water, which they sprinkle plentifully over the 
chiefs with branches,* the more superstitious running to have a 
little poured on their heads, and even on their tongues. The King 
and his attendants all wear Avhite cloths on this occasion. Three 
white lambs are led before him, intended for sacrifice at his bed 
chamber. All his wives follow, with a guard of archers. 
Another national custom is the Adai, by the number of which 
the Ashantees appear to reckon their year, which began, I could 
not understand why, on the first of October. The common people 
pretend, or believe, that the time for repeating the Adai, is marked 
by the falling of a fruit like a gourd, from a tree called Brebretim, 
and which generally takes place in about twenty days from its first 
appearance, all the birds and beasts in the neighbourhood crying 
* " Idem ter socios pura circumtulit unda, 
Spargens rore levi et ramo felicis olivse."^ Mn. vi 
