IN C003£ASSIE WITH PRINCE ANSA. 107 
spoke to us from Eccles. ix. 12 — "For man knoweth not 
liis time " — and also from Is. xxx. 15 — ''In quietness and 
confidence shall be your strength." We needed the lesson, 
for all around us was unstable to the last degree. 
On the evening of the 19th, the king took his seat so 
near the mission-house that we could not avoid saluting 
him, and we had the honour of sitting near prince Ansa, 
and within twenty yards of the sovereign. We supposed 
he had ordered this meeting for the purpose of drinking" 
palm wine, two jars of which were sent to us. This 
however was not his only object, for as he sat, about 
eighteen people advanced in procession before him, laden 
with presents, a tribute from the prince of Asini ; and 
this occurred only three Aveeks after Asini had sworn 
allegiance to the British Protectorate. Several dozens of 
rum, liqueur, champagne, and some beautiful silk stuff 
made up these presents. As soon as they had been de- 
livered, about a hundred women, in three groups, appeared 
on the scene, splendidly adorned and not wanting in grace, 
v/ith white circles painted round their eyes, supposed to 
enhance their beauty. The king seemed very happy, and 
congratulated us on looking well. He promised to send 
prince Ansa an antelope, which really arrived the next 
day. During the time of rest, presents of these animals 
are constantly coming from the surrounding chiefs, who 
are in return supplied with gunpowder. The prince, who 
had to make a present, offered a bronze case of lavender 
water, upon which he received nine dollars in gold dust, 
and a second antelope. 
Christmas came, and found us in a far better position 
than we had been the previous year. I preached God's 
word for the first time in Coomassie (from John iii. 16), 
and felt that I was again at a mission station. How I 
longed to speak the Tshi more fluently and correctly; 
however, the people said they understood me. Unhappily, 
