112 MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
when you are worshipping God ?" After the service, 
he announced the cause of his visit, which was to inform 
us that a new delay had arisen in the transporting our 
goods from Totorase, no doubt the fault of the inter- 
preter Nantshi, who would have liked to appropriate 
them. The following Sunday (January 22nd), he came 
again, when I had the opportunity of speaking before 
him on our Lord's words, " Go ye into all the world," fee. 
The feast of the king's household fetish, lasted ten 
days, when chickens and sheep were sacrificed ; goats 
were brought for the same purpose, and kept in a hamlet 
near the town, although they are usually strictly for- 
bidden throughout the whole country. 
On the first day the king danced in front of a house 
near us, the birth-place of one of his ancestors. Prince 
Ansa declined to be present on such occasions; but on 
the 20th, when this dance was repeated, his majesty sent 
for us ; Rosa, however, remained at home, being unable 
to bear the noise. We found the king surrounded by 
his chiefs, dancing with a quiver on his back covered 
with gold, and a richly ornamented velvet cap on his 
head. He sprang backwards and forwards, flourishing 
sword and gun, and looking continually at us, evidently 
desiring our admiration. He kept very good time to 
the music, which was performed by a band in the centre 
of the group. He dances really well, but wildly, so that 
some of his people surround him with outstretched arms 
in case his foot should slip. 
But as to his followers, their dance surpasses in savage- 
ness everything which can be imagined ; if one can fancy 
a number of men in all possible and impossible positions, 
flitting about in noisy confusion, and so mingled to- 
gether as to remind one of a band of demons, you have 
them before you. Yet they kept wonderfully good time. 
Still, however frequently one may witness such scenes. 
