404 MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
and Gould not think what their message was ; I told him they must 
either be those the Governor was sending up, or Fantees with the 
King's tribute ; on his going away, he requested I would let him 
out by the door 1 had the key of, as he also was afraid of the 
man in irons swearing on his life, and was glad he could avoid 
passing him. 
Friday 5. This was the coldest morning I have felt since I came 
to Africa, being scarcely able to take breakfast, I was so chilly ; the 
thermometer stood at 65°. 
I was desired to write a letter to General Daendels, telling him 
the King had lost his notes for the Dutch forts, and requesting 
him to give new ones to Akimpon. The King's father had con- 
quered the Akim chief, who held a note for Dutch Accra ; he also 
conquered the King of Adinkara, who had the Elmina note, both 
of which were given up to him ; he would not take them both in 
one note as the General wished, but he must have one payable at 
Elmina and one at Accra. When the King weighed out the gold 
for his messengers expences, he weighed 10 ackies for me, which 
I hoped his Majesty would take back, as I did not wish for them, 
and requested he would not think I wished payment for writing a 
letter for him. My scruples were laughed at by them all, and the 
King said " that white men were very singular, as they gave gold 
or a good dash to any one who did any thing for them, yet they 
would not take any : he wished to do something like white men, 
and when any one did any thing for him he gave them something, 
and he wished me to take this to shew his good will.'' Odumata, 
who is the greediest man in Coomassie for gold, whispered, if I did 
not like it, I might send it to him when I got home. I did not 
exactly understand him, or I would have offered it to him then with 
pleasure, to expose his avarice. 
The captain who was arrested last week for peculation on Danish 
