388 - MISSION TO ASHANTEE. . ' 
a white man before. Apokoo came to the entrance of the croom, 
which is small, to meet me, and took me into the place where he 
lives himself ; it is like all country houses here, a square lined with 
palm leaves and thatched with grass ; his own room, raised on the 
; floor, painted with red inchuma or ochre, and at one end of it, his 
couch raised on wood wdth plaited palm leaves, and covered with 
large cotton cushions. Near his head hung three strings of fetish, 
made of gold, red earth, horn, and bone, in the shape of thigh 
bones, horns, jaw bones, &c. &c. One side of the square was 
fitted up with a forge and bellows to work gold ; another served as 
a cooking place, and the fourth for his sons to sleep in. About 
11 o'clock he went to one of the side places to eat, that he might 
not trouble me in his room, as he said. Before he began, small 
pieces of yam were laid on his fetish ; a small table was then set 
before him, and clean water poured into a brass pan, with which 
he washed his right hand, and then eat with it: — they are careful 
not to touch victuals with their left hand. A large pot of yams and 
another offish being boiled, he satisfied himself first ; the remainder 
was then divided into as many lots as there were persons to partake ; 
when the door was opened, and about twenty sons and daughters^ 
with their calabashes, received each their mess. He had given my 
servant two fowls, some fish and yams, and told him to make any 
thing I could eat; I told him to make a soup of the fowls. When I 
was eating, Apokoo said he thought I was ashamed, and requested 
I would let him put down the screen; I told him I dared not eat 
much through the day, being afraid of sickness. He enquired if I 
wished to go to sleep, for his couch was at my service. I declined 
the offer, and he went to sleep himself. Shortly after, four of his 
wives came from town with a mess for him; he was awaked to 
know if they were to have admittance, as usual : he ordered them, 
to set down the meat and go away ; they pretended to do so, but. 
