288 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
several are unsuspectingly called on in a hurry to assist in placing 
the coffin or basket, and just as it rests on the heads or skulls, a slave 
from behind stuns one of these freemen by a violent blow, followed 
by a deep gash in the back part of the neck, and he is rolled in on 
the top of the body, and the grave instantly filled up. A sort of 
carnival, varied by firing, drinking, singing, and dancing, was kept 
up in Assafoo for several days ; the chiefs generally visiting it 
every evening, or sending their linguists with a dash of palm wine 
or rum to Quatchie Quofie ; and I was given to understand, that, 
but for the approaching war and the necessary economy of 
powder, there would have been eight great customs instead of one, 
for this woman, one weekly, the King himself firing at the last. 
The last day, all the females in any way connected with the family 
(who are not allowed to eat for three days after the death, though 
they may drink as much palm wine as they please,) paraded round 
the town, singing a compliment and thanks to all those who had 
assisted in making the custom. 
On the death of a King, all the Customs which have been made 
for the subjects who have died during his reign, must be simulta- 
neously repeated by the families, (the human sacrifices as well as the 
carousals and pageantry) to amplify that for the monarch, which 
is also solemnised, independently, but at the same time, in every 
excess of extravagance and barbarity. The brothers, sons, and 
nephews of the King, affecting temporary insanity, burst forth with 
their muskets, and fire promiscously amongst the crowd ; even a 
man of rank, if they meet him, is their victim, nor is their murder 
of him or any other, on such an occasion, visited or prevented ; 
the scene can scarcely be imagined. Few persons of rank dare to 
stir from their houses for the first two or three days, but rehgiously 
drive forth all their vassals and slaves, as the most acceptable 
composition of their own absence. The King's Ocras, who will be 
