•92 
MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
The miserable state of our huts, which leaked at every 
-shower, caused us to entreat the king to give us better ones; 
and we hoped that he would allow us to remove to the 
town. Bosommuru however brought word that no 
change would be permitted until after Adu Bofo's return, 
and he gave orders to the people of Amanghyia to build 
new huts for us ; we were also permitted now and then 
to write a letter, which was some consolation to us during 
this long delay. 
We one day complained to Bosommuru of Ageana's 
rudeness to us; he constantly refused us the services of his 
boys, so we asked if the king would be kind enough to 
send us two lads, that we might not be dependent on our 
surly keeper. Bosommuru severely reprimanded the old 
man, telling him that he was unfit to have the charge of 
white men, and that for the future the soldiers were to 
obey our orders exclusively. This reproof made so deep 
•an impression upon Ageana, that he actually begged us to 
pardon him, and not to deprive him ot the honour of 
waiting upon us. So we tried him once more. 
On Sunday, October 28rd, the shouting and screaming 
in the village, mingled with the beating of drums, 
announced that the great yam festival had begun. It 
lasts a fortnight ; the first and fifth days the people fast, 
but only to whet their appetite for drink. The king dis- 
tributed brandy to all his attendants, and sent us a bottle, 
which we gave to our people. On the fifth day, a 
<iriminal is executed — "sent as a messenger to the late 
king in the lower world;" then his majesty eats fresh 
yams (" ode/' as the best sort are called), and on this occa- 
sion, the people also are permitted to partake ol them. 
The king s mother passed through our village, laden with 
this vegetable, and at the suggestion ot the servants we 
went forward to welcome her, and to thank her for her 
kind presents to us. Suddenly the sense of ber own im- 
