300 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
Music. These peculiar flourishes are more particularly for their 
government in action, for all the soldiery, indeed I might say all 
the women and children, being familiar with every flourish, the 
positions of the various chiefs are judged of when they cannot be 
seen; whether they are advancing, falling back, or attempting to 
flank the enemy by penetrating the woods, is known, and the 
movements of all the others become co-operative, as much as pos- 
sible. The King's horns go to the market place every night, as near 
to midnight as they can judge, and flourish a very peculiar strain, 
which was rendered to me, " King Sai thanks all his captains and 
all his people for to-day/' 
Several of the hearts of the enemy are cut out by the fetish men 
who follow the army, and the blood and small pieces being mixed, 
(with much ceremony and incantation,) with various consecrated 
herbs, all those who have never killed an enemy before eat a por- 
tion, for it is believed that if they did not, their vigor and courage 
would be secretly wasted by the haunting spirit of the deceased. 
It was said tliat the King and all the dignitaries partook of the 
heart of any celebrated enemy ; this was only whispered ; that they 
wore the smaller joints, bones, and the teeth of the slain monarchs 
was evident as well as boasted. One man was pointed out to me, 
as always eating the heart of the enemy he killed with his own 
hand. The number of an army is ascertained or preserved in 
cowries or coin by Apokoo. When a successful general returns, 
he waits about two days at a short distance from the capital, to 
receive the King's conipliments, and to collect all the splendor 
possible for his entree, to encourage the army and infatuate the 
people. The most famous generals are distinguished by the addi- 
tion of warlike names, more terrific than glorious, as they designate 
their manner of destroying their prisoners. Apokoo was called 
Aboawassa, because he was in the habit of cutting off their arms-. 
