INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 
XT 
further to the east, formed a secret alliance with Ashantee, 
and the latter power sent an army across the Volta to 
seize upon territory just outside the British protectorate. 
It was believed in Coomassie that the English would not 
raise any earnest objection to this, and the plan was, after 
winning great victories, to push on with increased strength 
to the Gold Coast. This expedition led, in June 1869, to the 
destruction of the two mission stations Anum and Wegbe 
(or Ho). Whilst the residents at the latter place were able 
to escape in good time, retreat was impossible for the Basel 
missionaries. The Swiss, Frederick Augustus Ramsey er 
(with his wife and their infant son), had been in Anum 
since December 29th, 1868, He had worked on the Gold 
Coast since 1864, so that he had much African experi- 
ence. The Silesian Johannes Kuhne had been in Africa 
since 1866, but he had only joined Ramseyer as a merchant 
two months before they were made prisoners. We will 
now proceed to their own narrative. 
