416 
MISSION' TO ASHANl:^EE. 
not Goncerned with masonry, I might answer ; this, they said, was 
what the people in their country said. Abraham said he was sure 
the Arabian magicians made use of bones from genii to make fire 
and control them. It would be a curious circumstance to know 
that phosphorus, and inoculation, existed in Arabia in the days of 
its splendour, and continue nOw; as they are considered as two of 
the most eminent alii on g modern European discoveries. After they 
were gone, I called on Odumata, whom I found all talk as usual.- 
He said he knew I wished to take some of the King's sons to Cape 
Coast for education, but the captains had represented to his Ma- 
jesty, that they did not wish it. If the King wanted gold, and 
they had it, they would give it him ; and were always ready when 
he called them, to rea^^ive his foot on their necks, and swear to do 
whatever he wished theM,' iSF"fev&^t^^^ return. The reason he 
gave, was, that they were afraid of being discovered when they 
cheated the King, which they made no secret of avowing, and 
having their heads cut off. I told him he did not like a white man to 
live here then ; yes, he said, they all Hked that ; but he was suffi- 
cient to settle all palavers between the King and the Enghsh, 
without any of the King's people knowing English. He began to 
boast of the many wives and children he had, more than English- 
men. I told him there was a possibility of an Englishman know- 
ing his father; but no black man could tell his; they were all 
slaves, and rendered incapable of inheriting their father's property; 
none of his children need to thank him, he neither could give them 
any thing while alive, nor leave them any thing when dead, and 
many of them kept wives, while their slaves enjoyed them. He 
said I spoke very true, but that I could not show keys with 
him ; he produced two large bunches, and I offered him an ounce 
of gold if he would shew me a lock for each key ; he evaded this : 
I took them in my hand, and found many of them broken, and 
