296 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
The interference of Amanquatea, Quatchie Quofie, Odumata, 
and Apokoo, is purchased at a most extravagant rate by offenders, 
whether foreigners or subjects ; it is irresistible with the King ; 
Apokoo is generally preferred ; minor influence is purchased in 
proportion. No subject can sit in pubhc with a cushion on his 
/ stool, unless it has been presented to him by the King, or one of 
the four, who, as well as all the other superior captains, receive a 
periguin of gold for every oath the King exacts of them. 
During the minority, or the earlier part of the reign of a monarch, 
the linguists and oldest counsellors visit him betimes every morn- 
ing, and repeat, in turn, all the great deeds of his ancestors. The 
greatest deference sepmed to be paid to aged experience or wisdom. 
Apokoo is the keeper of the royal treasury, and has the care of 
all the tributes, which are deposited, separately, in a large apart- 
ment of the palace, of which he only has the key. Numerous and 
various as the sums are, he disposes of them by a local association 
which is said to be infallible with him, for the Moorish secretary, 
(who resided some time at Hio,) only records the greater political 
events. Apokoo holds a sort of exchequer court at his own house 
daily, (when he is attended by two of the King's linguists, and 
various state insignia,) to decide all cases affecting tribute or 
revenue, and the appeal to the King is seldom resorted to. He 
generally reclined on his lofty bed, (of accumulated cushi6ns, and 
covered with a large rich cloth or piece of silk,) with two or three 
of his handsomest wives near him, whilst the pleadings were going 
forward. He was always much gratified when I attended, and 
rose to seat me beside him. I observed that all calculations were 
made, explained, and recorded, by cowries. In one instance, after 
being convinced by a variety of evidence that a public debtor was 
unable to pay gold, he commuted sixteen ounces of gold, for twenty 
men slaves. Several captains, who were his followers, attended 
