128 MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
her in. She had not tasted food that day, and amongst 
the division of prisoners which had taken place, she 
alone remained behind. I felt how useful she would be 
to us, having always lived with Europeans, and knowing 
us so well. We therefore begged Bosommuru to speak 
to the king, and in about a fortnight she was given up to 
us, on condition that if we eventually went to the 
Coast, she was to remain behind. Thus at the right 
moment, what we so much needed was supplied, and at 
the same time a box from the coast with needful articles 
for my wife, arrived. Bosommuru was overwhelmed with 
astonishment that so much preparation should be made 
for an expected child. 
The long looked for ambassadors now arrived. One of 
them, a Mr. Flange, sent by the Dutch governor, lodged in 
the town ; the other, Mr Crawford, who had formerly re- 
sided in Coomassie as a Wesleyan teacher, occupied the 
prince's rooms, he being detained by illness, but he sent 
us a letter, and mentioned how he had been traduced by 
natives at Cape Coast ; and Elmina, on account of his 
treaty with the king, and especially because of a letter 
which he had written to Elmina by his majesty's orders. 
Mr Crawford brought not only peaceful assurances from 
the British colonial government, but powder, lead, and 
other implements of war, which had not been allowed 
over the border for three years. The governor also sent 
back to the king the Ashantee prisoners who were in 
Akem to shew him that nothing stood in the way of 
friendly intercourse. He demanded in return that Adu 
Bofo should be recalled. Nothing was said concerning 
us in writing, as no doubt was felt at the Coast that Mr. 
Forson would take us back with him.* 
* At the same time it must not be forgotten that the English Colonial 
Government always said, " The white men having been taken prisoners 
outside of the Protectorate, we have no nMcial duty to them. 
