IN COOMASSIE WITH PRINCE ANSA. 103 
the British ambassador was being received with great 
magnificence, when a man dying on a rack was carried 
past, as if by accident; another time — March, 1869 — the 
messenger of Mr. Simpson was ceremoniously greeted, 
when the bloody head of a man who had just been be- 
headed was placed before him. Prince Ansa, who was 
then present, angrily struck the bearer to the ground. 
We had much to learn in this strange capital. On the 
18th of December the great Adae or feast was held, when we 
were expected to go with the prince and Mr. Watts to the 
hall in Deabo Street, and sit while the procession passed, 
that we might salute the king. This feast-day occurred 
every fortieth day, and was followed in eighteen or 
twenty more by the little Adae. About six days be- 
fore each, the king retired into his palace, after having 
drunk palm wine m the midst of all his chiefs, while two 
men stood by shooting arrows into the air ; * on the feast 
day itself, he appeared in the streets, gave gold dust to 
the chiefs and strangers, and treated them to wine. Be- 
fore he left the palace, he visited the two buildings con- 
taining the chairs of the former kings, fourteen in number. 
The bones of these ancient worthies repose in Bantama. 
Their chairs of state the king sprinkled with rum. This 
over, he proceeded to the appointed place Mogyawe 
(meaning the blood dries), his ministers and chiefs pre- 
ceding him, amid the wildest music. 
On this occasion many saluted us, and some even 
danced before us ; a few had iron chains round tlieir 
necks, which at the end of the dance, they laid hold of 
with their teeth : the king's sixty fetishes were carried 
before him. Recognizing us he smiled, and commenced 
*At these palm wine festivals, which generally took place at the 
street called Dweboanda (meaning the flint-stone never sleeps), we, 
like all strangers, were obliged to be present and pay our respects to 
his majesty ; as a reward we received a jar of the wine. 
