54 MISSIONARY LIFE IiY ASHANTEE. 
passed before the first group of court heralds, who wore 
caps of monkey skin ; and then before the sword-bearers 
and various inferior chiefs, after which, raising our hats 
to his majesty, we retired and tasted some palm wine, 
while Ageana and our people indulged in deep potations 
of this beverage. After thanking the king and answering 
a few simple questions, we were allowed to depart, and 
the royal messenger succeeded in sheltering us in a quiet 
plantation village for the night, whence on the following 
day we proceeded to Abankoro. 
Here we found a troop of women who were dancing 
and singing wild songs, which increased in vehemence on 
our approach. They naturally took us for prisoners of 
war, and swung their fans in our faces with the maddest 
gestures ; but the wife of the chief, who represented her 
husband in his absence, welcomed us so cordially that we 
forgot this unpleasing reception, little dreaming however,, 
that Abankoro was to be our abode for six long months, 
for we were now only a moderate day's journey from the 
capital where we had hoped soon to be liberated. 
Abankoro is a v^T-ell-built place, having a large street 
which resembles a square, laid out with shady trees ; a 
contrast to the poorer quarters, where the huts are pitched 
about anyhow. Elevated on four poles at the end of the 
village we met with a Fetish house, inside of which a 
globe shaped mound of white earth marks the burial place 
of a "python snake, to which ofierings of palm wine are 
presented, being poured into a hollow at the top of the 
grave. A carved human figure with a cloth cap and 
sword in hand keeps watch in front, and a picturesque 
group of palm trees forms a charming background to the 
scene. While staying here I once met with a large snake, 
upon whose life I was about to make an attempt when a 
timely warning informed me that the creature was con- 
sidered sacred, as a descendant of the enshrined python. 
