476 
APPENDIX. No. I. 
but peace with the Fantees was considered impracticable. Apoutay had escaped the 
King's vigilance ; and Acoom was at the head of a strong party, and marching towards 
Annamaboe to give th^ King battle. The King assured the Governor, that after he had 
subdued his enemies to leeward, he would return to Annamaboe for the purpose of 
maldng arrangements relative to the future welfare of the country, and the regulations of 
trade. 
It was agreed, that those residing under British forts, provided they observed a neu- 
trality, should not be molested, and that every respect should be paid to the British flag^ 
The Governor likewise procured the release of those who sought refuge in the fort, 
although the King contested his right to them ; for this reason, that as he destroyed the 
town, he had a claim to every person and to every thing belonging to it. On report of 
Acoom being in arms and making preparations to attack the Ashantees, the King ordered 
his army to collect and march to meet him. Two days subsequent to the King's departure 
(3d J uly,) Acoom's party and the advanced guard of the Ashantee's met ; a battle was 
the consequence, which ended in the defeat of Acoom, who, with his party, would have 
been cut off, if a river, that was in their rear, had not favoured their flight ; the fordable 
parts of which were known to them, but not to the Ashantees. After this defeat, the 
King's enemies dared not shew themselves in the field in any force ; they however sup- 
ported a kind of predatory warfare, and were sometimes successful in cutting off small 
foraging parties, As the Ashantees proceeded to leeward, desolation accompanied them ; 
almost every town and village were laid in ruins ; but disease, which got among them at 
Annamaboe, and which spread rapidly, carried off vast numbers. This unexpected 
calamity altered the King's intentions : he could not return to Annamaboe without risk- 
ing the loss of his whole army; prudence therefore directed him to face towards his 
kingdom, leaving at Accra a sufiicient force to dispose of prisoners, and to convey them 
in safety to Ashantee. 
Cheboo and Apoutay, who appeared inseparable friends at the commencement of this 
war, and throughout it, fled to Cape Coast with about five hundred followers, as soon as 
they perceived the Ashantees approaching towards Annamaboe, on the 15th of June. 
The Cape Coast people were willing to afford them protection and assistance, but when 
the Governor heard how things were at Annamaboe, he warned them of the danger, and 
advised them to be neutral. When an account arrived at Cape Coast of the desperate 
attack made on Annamaboe fort, the Governor came to the resolution of securing, if pos- 
sib e, both these men, and dehvering them up to the King as the most probable means 
of not only putting an end to the war, but of securing the King's friendship. A party 
was accordingly selected for that purpose ; but Apoutay, after a warm contest, wherem 
some were killed on both sides, effected his escape. Cheboo was not so fortunate ; he was 
secured and sent to the King, as we have already mentioned ; his followers too made a 
