EBENEZER. 
83 
l)ut we soon fell back into the old routine — snail soup and 
dried meat. On the 28th we were summoned to an 
audience, and anticipated special news, as we were to carry 
our chairs, which always denoted something important. 
On arriving at the leafy chamber where the king awaited 
us, we saw some boxes addressed to us. We naturally 
supposed they were from our brethren, but to our surprise 
the king handed us a letter from his excellency admini- 
strator Ussher, expressing the hope that, in virtue of his 
treaty with the king, he should soon welcome us at Cape 
Coast ; meanwhile he had sent us a few needful articles. 
On opening the boxes we were deeply affected at their 
contents, which consisted of stuffs, soap, metal plates, 
knives and forks, preserved meats, ham, cheese, tea, sugar, 
biscuits, and, above all, writing materials ; with a quantity 
of gold dust, in value £22, quite a fortune in our secluded 
life. Three umbrellas were also found; one had dis- 
appeared on the road. There was besides a valuable 
present for the king, consisting of three boxes of cham- 
pagne ; we too had our share of wine, some of which we 
offered to his majesty. He took four bottles, which he 
drank in company with his chiefs, till the whole party 
became very merry. Our people were commanded to 
appear before him, and he swore, with uplifted hands, 
that whoever took anything from us would lose his head. 
This was said so solemnly that Ageana, though he tried 
to speak, became dumb ; and being roughly pushed aside, 
had quickly to retire. 
After the king's departure, Bosommuru begged for a 
second translation of the letter, though prince Ansa had 
already read it; we of course complied. This done he 
gave us another letter from Major Brownell, which in- 
formed us that he had conducted the embassy to the 
Ashantee king as far as the Prah, and would remain 
there until we came. How joyfully we embraced this 
