68 MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
sionaiy educated at Basle, and as we thought of the 
messenger we shuddered. 
The contents ran thus — 
" Much beloved brethren, — We have taken all possible 
pains since your captivity to effect your deliverance. 
Twice have we sent messengers to the Ashantee camp 
offering money for your release, but in vain. I have been 
sent to Begoro, on the frontier of Akem, to try and come 
into communication with you, as up to the present time 
we have only heard of you by reports. I give the bearer 
a pencil, paper, and scissors, that you may write ; or if 
that is not possible, send some of your hair, as an as- 
surance that you are still alive." 
Further on signs were mentioned, through which we 
were to make ourselves understood to the bearer without 
words; but he had either been captured, or from fear 
delivered the letter to the king. We thought it best to 
keep simply to the truth, and translated the letter ver- 
batim. After hearing it they rose, and giving us their 
hands, permitted us to return to our seclusion in the wood. 
But who can describe the feelings of our hearts upon 
hearing from those so dear to us after a silence of ten 
months. We now understood why we had been brought 
so near the capital, and we perceived that the mention of 
ransom had made a deep impression ; for, as the courtiers 
remarked, " the king loves money." 
After an interval of two days, we were summoned to 
the village to receive a present of food from the queen 
mother, which was followed by another ox from the king. 
In acknowledging these gifts, I sent them word that our 
supply of salt was exhausted, and we immediately re- 
ceived another load, so that we were now, by comparison, 
living in comfort. We afterwards heard the reason of 
this unusual liberality. It seems Adu Bofo was just then 
in a very embarrassing position, and it was thought we 
