8 
MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
as we were told we should soon come back — but alas, 
from that fatal moment we beheld our much-loved home 
no more. 
We formed a singular procession, headed by a half-clad 
soldier, armed with gun, bowie knife, and a long leathern 
whip under his arm ; next myself, carrying our babe, then 
my wife and Mr. K., three soldiers bringing up the rear. 
We were soon met by hundreds of painted negroes, who, 
despite the efforts of our leader to turn them back, rushed 
up the hill shouting the name of Adu Bofo. It was easy 
to see that their aim was the spoliation of our house and 
property ; yet they did us no harm personally, and were 
even outwardly polite, acceding to our request to point 
their muskets away from us. In the company of this 
riotous crowd we at last approached the town. Its silence 
was broken now — the Ashantees had indeed taken pos- 
session. They fixed on us their glaring eyes as they 
vociferated in triumphant tones and noisy songs their own 
heroic deeds. We sought in vain for their captain, though 
they assured us he was near. Alas ! on the very spot 
where I had so often stood proclaiming God's message of 
peace, all was havoc and confusion ; debris of all kinds 
was scattered about the streets. 
We were driven forward under a blazing sun, passing 
burning houses, whose scorching heat increased our suffer- 
ings terribly. For four hours the merciless march con- 
tinued, and we were urged onward faster and faster, till, 
on our strong remonstrance of such continued effort bein^r 
required of a woman, they promised us a sedan chair to 
carry us back to Anum in the evening, A few yams, and 
some milk for the little one was our food until we reached 
Pekyi, a town which was said to have surrendered to 
Ashantee unconditionally, yet one house alone remained 
entire among smouldering ruins. Our enquiries after the 
captain were answered by the command to march on, " but 
