56 MISSIONARY LIFE IR ASHANTEE, 
monotonously, and we almost despaired as to whether the 
king ever meant to send for us at all, for our guards 
appeared to have settled down permanently. 
One night after we had retired, we were surprised by a 
number of people suddenly crowding into the court, and 
staring intently at us by the light of a dim lamp. It 
transpired that they were the attendants of a prince who 
was passing through Abankoro, and who called upon us 
the next morning, richly dressed in silk and gold. Upon 
his return journey a few days later, we implored him to 
furnish us with a comb and scissors, which he promised to 
send ; though a long time elapsed before his messenger 
arrived with a little soap wrapped in leaves, an old comb, 
and a small pair of scissors. How thankful we felt when 
we could thus at length rid ourselves of the burden of 
hair, which we had had no opportunity of combing for 
ten months ! It is needless to add, that when Kwabena 
ordered us the next day to give up the scissors, we 
stoutly resisted his demand, and hid them away most 
carefully. 
