32 
MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASEANTEE. 
as our path was constantly crossed by wide ditches and 
long drooping branches, we grew more stiff than ever, by 
dint of stooping, climbing, and leaping, and emerged on 
the open plain less able to bear the burning rays of the 
sun. Still this was a red letter day, for two rare luxuries 
awaited us. Beside a spring one of our soldiers found a 
quantity of snails, which were hailed as a prize and made 
into broth ; and never was food more welcome than this 
repast proved to us in our half-starved condition. Nor 
was this all. In a clear brook, two feet in depth, we were 
actually allowed to bathe — for the first time in our cap- 
tivity. In grateful relief we forgot for the moment our 
chains, and soon sank into a deep, refreshing sleep. 
The weary plain was crossed at length, and on the first 
of July we saw in the distance a glorious range of moun- 
tains, and stood on the banks of a fine river, some eighty 
feet in width. As this was to be crossed, I plunged in to 
try the depth, and finding it reached my waist, I asked 
that my wife might be helped in making the passage. 
As this was contemptuously refused, I was myself forced 
to carry her over, a feat which I am thankful to say was 
accomplished in safety, while Ageana, to our surprise, took 
charge of the little one. On landing, we found a row of 
camp huts, built in the beginning of the year by Adu 
Bofo, on his march to Akwamu, and here Kwateng met 
us with the caravan, and I extorted a reluctant consent 
to our abstracting a pair of socks out of one of our trunks, 
my wife being by this time nearly barefoot. Three 
soldiers superintended this search. I also ventured to 
ask Ageana for the loan of one of the chairs with which 
Adu Bofo had presented us, and which he had appro- 
priated while the others were left behind, but his savage 
reply was, " leave it alone I " 
Our ears were now saluted with the glad news that if 
we pushed on rapidly, we might hope on the morrow to 
