-94 MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
kind parting words, as she gave me her hand and said, 
' Go, and be a blessing to your country every day shews 
anew what misery war brings upon a land, and how 
hopeless our prospects are under its influence." 
The prince had lately seen a large number of prison- 
ers, amongst whom was a mother with a dead child on 
her back ; and this cruel war still goes on. Maize and 
corn were sent to the camp, and the leaders who had 
«ome home were sent back again. Meanwhile, Major 
Brownell was detained on the Prah, and complained 
bitterly of having to keep his seventy Ashantee prisoners 
there so long. 
Brother K. still continued very unwell, and we all 
felt much annoyed at Bosommuru's behaviour; for the 
last five weeks he had promised to send us meat, salt, 
.and clothing, but nothing had come. Brother K. adopted 
what appeared to be the only available means of making 
an impression, and refused to partake of food until the 
promised supplies arrived. Upon this, Bosommuru paid 
us a visit of enquiry, and we had to inform him 
that white men understood "yes" to mean "yes," but 
that we had here discovered that promises were worthless, 
our letters to the king being unanswered, and those to 
the Coast not forwarded, or we should certainly have 
received some attention. 
The chamberlain manifested displeasure, and half 
threatened to send us to another village, saying that 
here we saw too many people, by which he meant to 
express his annoyance at prince Ansa's frequent visits. 
However, he ended with an attempt at apology, and 
begged brother K. to take some food. We were talking 
over the subject after his departure, when ouddenly a 
large black serpent glided up the wall, which was only 
made of sugar cane fibre. Brother K. attacked the rep- 
tile, and struck it with a knife, but it managed to escape. 
