418 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
morning, and had taken medicine just before the King sent, and 
not eaten any breakfast. 
In the afternoon Apokoo called ; he had heard Adoo Bradie 
had been on board a ship, and that 400 flags were hoisted to receive 
him ;* that was the reason, he said, thej did nor wish any of the 
King's people to learn to read and write, they became white men, 
and saw so many fine things, they never thought of returning to 
Ashantee. I told him if it was disagreeable, it would be given over. 
Every one was pleased, he said, to lliink any Ashantee great man 
was well used at Cape Coast ; but it turned their heads, not being 
accustomed to it. The King would give Adoo Bradie fetish when 
he came back, and if he told the King Hes, the fetish would catch 
him, and where would be the good ? The English would have all 
their trouble for nothing. 
His Majesty, some years ago, took one of Apokoo's daughters 
to wife ; she is now one of the finest women in Coomassie, and 
must have been a great beauty. It w^as discovered by the chief 
eunuch that she had intrigued with one of the attendants. It was 
told the King that one of his wives had proved false ; " let her die 
instantly,^' said he in a rage ; the slave whispered him " it is Apo- 
koo's child.*' He rose in silence, and went to the harem, and the 
culprit being sent for, the King turned his head away, while he 
folded his cloth around him, and lifting the curtain to let her pass, 
he exclaimed " go, 3^0 u are free ! your father was my father,-^- he 
is my friend, and for his sake, I forget you ; when you find any 
man good enough for you, let me know and I will give him gold.'' 
Her father has not allowed her to marry again. 
* The signals happened to be drying on board H. M. S. Cherub, Captain Wills, then 
lying in the roads of Cape Coast. 
f It will be remembered, that the present King carried an elephant's tail before 
Apokoo, until he unexpectedly succeeded to the stool. — See page 295. 
