MR. HUTCHISON'S DIARY. 
383 
was discovered that he had succeeded in stealing nearly half a sheep, 
a quantity of kankey belonging to the boys, and a table knife. I am 
not sanguine enough to imagine I shall be long allowed to take my 
walks unmolested ; when the novelty of my remaining alone passes 
away, they will return to their old insolencies. 
Monday 29. Paid Apokoo a visit, and dashed him a razor. 
Several people were there talking palavers, and wishing him to 
interest the King for them; among others, an old captain com- 
plained heavily of Quamina Bwa, our guide, but since dead, who 
he said had stolen a slave from him and sold him during the Fantee 
war; he had unavailingly apphed to the family, he therefore 
washed it to be brought before the King. 
Apokoo complained of head-ach, and one of his women brought 
a decoction of herbs, which she poured into a hollow piece of wood 
with two tubes, these were inserted in the nostrils, and the liquor 
poured in, while the head was held back, and afterwards spit out 
by the mouth ; I have seen the same poured into the ear for a like 
complaint. He wished me to try a little of it ; I of course declined 
it. He called one of his daughter's, and wished me to consaw, or 
espouse her ; I told him she was too young ; he said that was 
nothing, as he would keep her for me : he added, the Ashantee 
custom was, if a great man's wife with child took anotlier man's 
fancy, he consawed the child in the womb, and if born a girl, when 
she grew up she became his wife ; if a boy, it was his to serve and 
attend on him, and he took care of it. Four ounces of gold it 
generally cost to consavv^ a girl. I said he was a rich man ; " true," 
he replied, " but it sometimes costs eight or ten ounces, sometimes 
only two." Observing a bow and arrows standing in the room, I 
began to amuse myself with shooting them ; he told me these were 
only for play, but when they went to fight, they tipped them with 
iron, and put a deadly poison on it, which caused almost instant 
