IF COOMASSIE WITH PRINCE ANSA. 101 
ings of their poor victims, or cut pieces out of the neck 
of the man they were about to behead ; at the same time 
they were full of superstition, and would throw palm- 
wine on the ground, and from the figures it formed prog- 
nosticate the future. 
At four o'clock, a royal messenger with gold-hilted 
sword came to escort us to the king. Clad in our best 
attire, white trousers, &c., we made ourselves look as well 
as we could. Mr. Watts and the prince could not accom- 
pany us, as they had to take their position near his 
majesty. We were received in the market place by our 
former chief from Duro, and Ageana with our soldiers all 
in full military costume ; the dresses were beautiful, even 
Ageana wore silk, and was far too proud to notice us. 
We were then led for an hour and a half through narrow 
streets and bye-ways, and at last brought into the midst 
of a crowd, here we waited a long time in the most in- 
tense heat, though happily the prince's forethought had 
provided us with chairs. 
At length the approach of a stately man covered with 
golden ornaments, and his head adorned with fans of 
eagle's wings, warned us that the grand event was near ; 
making his way through the throng he led us before the 
king, but though we were surrounded by the aristocracy 
of Coomassie, so rough was the scene, that my wife's hat 
was torn off as she bowed before his majesty. Then re- 
tiring some distance, we took our seats under the shade 
of a large tree, and awaited the saluations from the 
grandees in return; some were very friendly, while 
others, among them Opoko (one of the linguists to 
whom we gave the name of Pharisee), would not take 
our offered hand ; it was easy to see that the chiefs were 
at variance among themselves. Two men then came and 
danced like maniacs, with drawn swords, apparently 
trying to frighten us, while their servants were very 
