78 2IISSI0NARY LIFE IN ASIIANTEE. 
proceeded thus far in separating ourselves from our black 
attendants, we set to work to construct bedsteads with 
sticks and palm branches, forming string from banana 
fibre. With a little wooden hook, which I had cut as an 
implement, my wife made a pocket, a hat for herself, and 
a cap for me, while I succeeded in manufacturing a work- 
table for her, and a dining table for general use, from 
plaited rushes. The ingenuity of M. Bonnat greatly 
aided us in our various manufactures, which gave a deep 
interest to our secluded life. 
As we had now the privilege of a daily ablution in a 
neighbouring stream, our health quickly improved, but 
our clothing alas ! as rapidly decayed, and indeed was 
in the last stage of existence, when a quantity of common 
calico arrived, out of which M. Bonnat and my wife 
managed to construct a woman's dress, and a suitable 
garment for the other three of us. 
On July 6th, the king again called, his retinue accom- 
panying him, some of them carrying a brass dish, on 
which was his fetish, as a protection from evil spirits. 
He took his seat under the palm tree, asked a few ques- 
tions, and spoke with the people about us and our dress. 
Prince Ansa was with him, who brought us a letter 
from David Asante, and petitions from Mr. Ramseyer's 
family, and from the senior missionary, Wiedmann. We 
read and translated these papers, which were all open — 
though this had already been done by prince Ansa, who 
was desired to write in reply, that we should be set at 
liberty as soon as Adu Bofo returned. At our request 
we were each of us allowed to enclose a small pencilled 
note in the king's letter. 
Although the question of our liberty was still in abey- 
ance, we could perceive that the king's feelings were 
friendly, though we continued to be treated as under suspi- 
cion. One of the pencils sent by David was left with us. 
