34 MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
after eating which we entered the deep shades of a prime- 
val forest. Still suffering from the keenest pangs of 
hunger, which had been only augmented by the cruel 
fragment supplied, our strength was unequal to the 
strain, and we repeatedly staggered and fell, our feet re- 
fusing to move at our bidding, spite of the repeated in- 
junctions of our guides to rouse and exert ourselves as 
our goal was near. 
At this critical juncture a messenger of God's provi- 
dence appeared in the shape of one of the soldiers who 
came to meet us at a bend of the road, carrying some 
maize cakes, every crumb of which we devoured with 
avidity, and being thus strengthened, half an hour more 
brought us to the plantation on the outskirts of the 
town. Here we again fell in with the captives from 
Tongo, and to our delight saw large quantities of maize 
being carried off the fields. Kwateng soon brought us 
a small supply of palm, wine, which revived our fainting 
powers, and with thankful hearts we entered the clean, 
well kept street of Tafo, the capital of Okwao, which 
boasted five or six hundred inhabitants. 
Our reception was superior to anything we had hoped 
for ; indeed the people vied with each other in kindness, 
and no rude jesting escaped their lips as they gazed at us 
in wonder and pity. We were shown into a small 
room in the centre of the town, which seemed to have 
been specially prepared for us, and the kind owner, un- 
willing to subject us to the annoyance of inquisitive 
bystanders, soon removed us into one which was more 
spacious. We were now prepared to show ourselves to 
the people of influence in the town, who consisted chiefly 
* The average of our daily march was about thirty English miles, 
sometimes more, at other times less. I can regard it as nothing less than 
a miracle, when I think of my delicate wife's endurance of this con- 
tinued physical effort during so many weeks. 
