THE MARCH TO THE VOLTA. 
29 
finally ventured to follow, after which we resumed our 
journey into the unknown regions before us. 
Here we will make a slight pause, in order to introduce 
some details of the company in which we travelled. The 
first party was composed of old Ageana* and his staff. 
He was a bald, grey-bearded man of sixty ; surly, dis- 
contented, and feared by all. He appeared always angry, 
except when under the influence of drink, when he boast- 
fulty related wonderful histories of himself and his ances- 
tors ; at other times he made no friends, and his be- 
haviour to us was grufl" and savage in the extreme. Him- 
self a slave of Adu Bofo, he, in his turn, owned numerous 
slaves, and a great collection of wives. His son Kwabena 
— a faithful copy of his father — was a confirmed drunk- 
ard, though only eighteen years of age, and his rude 
arrogance and covetousness added a good deal to our dis- 
comfort. His relative, Opoku, the inseparable companion 
and chief councillor of Ageana, was an aged man, and an 
adept in cunning craftiness, deceit being stamped indelibly 
on his every feature. He was a person who well knew 
how to carry his point, and when flattery was unavailing, 
the expression of his rage became truly awful. A few 
slaves completed this first party. 
The next group (" our soldiers ") was formed by three 
warriors, each about thirty years of age. Adu Kwaku, 
a hairy little man of sanguine temperament; Bobie, a 
quiet, phlegmatic fellow ; and Angfwiri the youngest, a 
man of ambiguous character, who said very little, but 
always contrived to keep in old Ageana's good graces, 
which made him an object of envy to the others. They 
all presented a very singular appearance, having twisted 
their long hair into small tufts, which they regarded as 
peculiarly handsome. They were rough and rude at first, 
but as time wore on they became our best friends, and 
* The g in this name is pronounced hard. 
