420 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
that if he washed the bones of his mother and sisters, who died 
while he was on the throne, it would propitiate the fetish, and 
make the war successful. Their bones, were therefore taken from 
their coffins, and bathed in rum and water with great ceremony ; 
after being wiped with silks, they were rolled in gold dust, and 
wrapped in strings of rock gold, aggry beads, and other things of the 
most costly nature. Those who had done any thing to displease 
the King, were then sent for in succession, and immolated as they 
entered, " that their blood might water the graves." The whole 
of the night, the King's executioners traversed the streets, and 
dragged every one they found to the palace, where they were put 
in irons : but (which is often the case) some one had disclosed the 
secret, and almost every one had fled, and the King was disap- 
pointed of most of his distinguished victims. Next morning being 
Adai custom, which generally broughtj^fi immense crowd to the 
city, every place was silent and forlorn ; nothing could be found 
in the market, and his Majesty proceeded to the morning sacrifice 
of sheep, &c. attended only by his confidents, and the members of 
his own family. When I appeared at the usual time, he seemed 
pleased at my confidence, and remarked that I observed how few 
captains were T present. He appeared agitated and fatigued, and 
sat a very short time. 
As soon as it was dark, the human sacrifices were renewed, and, 
during the night, the bones of the royal deceased were removed to 
the sacred tomb at Bantama, to be deposited along with the re- 
mains of those who had sat on the throne. The procession was 
splendid, but not numerous, the chiefs and attendants being dressed 
in the war costume, with a musket, and preceded by torches ; the 
sacred stools, and all the ornaments used on great occasions, were 
carried with them ; the victims, with their hands tied behind them, 
and in chains, preceded the bones, whilst at intervals, the songs of 
,1 
