TO DWABEN AXD ABANKOEO. 
51 
CHAPTER X. 
TO DWABEN AND ABANKORO. 
The king's messenger was preparing to return to Coom- 
assie, so we charged him with thanks for the royal gifts, 
and with a request for a comb and scissors to cut off our 
hair, for reasons too unpleasant to mention, incident on 
long neglect, and which prevented sleep. 
Our stay at Totorase was now suddenly broken up, and 
we were informed, to our great delight, that we were to 
start for the capital. We paid a farewell visit to the 
little grave, feeling that since our darling was gone, we 
need no longer dread the hardships of the way. We were 
also under the protection of the king's friendly messenger, 
vfho treated us with respect, while our guides ceased 
their arrogant and abusive demonstrations, and Ageana 
himself did not dare oppress us, though he grumbled more 
than ever. The road was good, and in an hour we 
reached Sokoree, a custom-house station of Ashantee 
proper, where it is necessary, for all travellers from the 
interior, to obtain official permission before proceeding 
further. The princess of the place, who sent us a present 
of palm wine, had gone to the next village, Afiguase, 
where we found her after three quarters of an hour's walk. 
The usual ceremonious salutations being over, we were 
permitted to experience a great deal of kindness at her 
hands ; and our friend, M. Bonnat, who visited her a few 
weeks later, was cared for by this kind woman as if he 
had been a relation of 'her own. 
