74 MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
the following words : — " To his Royal Highness, Quakoo 
Dooah, King of Ashantee, West Africa." They had never 
been worn, and though time and insects had made their 
acquaintance, they were still in serviceable condition. 
Thus had a covering for my wife's feet been prepared 
for her thirty years before, and this circumstance gave us 
a fresh assurance that our God would still provide for her. 
I will now describe the kino- s return visit : — We were 
one afternoon summoned to the chief of Duru, and on 
entering the courtyard, after politely saluting him, we 
observed a man of sallow complexion, in a shabby 
European dress. He rose, offered his hand, and said to 
us in English, " That we had no doubt often heard of 
him, that he was sorry to find us in such a posi- 
tion, that he was himself detained at Coomassie, but 
daily hoping to be allowed to return to the Coast." He 
added, " that he and the brethren m Coomassie had for a 
long time mentioned us in their prayers." This was not 
all said consecutively, but in the course of conversation ; 
and while we were wondering whether he was an 
English envoy or an agent of the slave trade, he told us 
that we were in the presence of the king. The latter had 
observed us from the ante-room of the chief, and was so 
amused that he laughed aloud. Chairs were then brought 
us, and the king asked us how Ave were, and in what 
manner we had been taken prisoners. 
He looked serious when we told him we had been put 
in irons, and seemed not to know that we had been 
plundered. A word escaped him which sounded like 
" they shall repent of it ; " before we took leave we asked 
him if he could let us have a Bible through " the prince," 
as we had now been without the Word of God for almost 
a year. Great was our joy when by permission of the 
sovereign " the prince " promised to send us a copy of 
this precious volume. 
