140 
MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
impatiently waiting for the king's messenger, a cousin of 
Prince Ansa's (Kwado by name), who had not started be- 
fore October, taking with him payment for the goods 
which had been sent here, in the shape of slaves. 
British subjects, even Government native officials, did 
not hesitate to settle accounts thus, quieting their con- 
sciences perhaps with the thought that these poor crea- 
tures, whom they exchanged on the way for ready money, 
might thus fall into better hands than if they had 
remained in Coomassie. The governor however, at last 
interfered and forbade this questionable trade until the 
arrival of further instructions from England. 
The jealousy that existed among the chiefs made the 
greatest care necessary on our part, lest we might be the 
means of causing more intrigues than already existed. 
A great disturbance had occurred in the palace in con- 
sequence of a robbery. The keeper of the king's sandals 
had during the last two years sold several cast off pairs. 
The king found it out, and demanded the name of the 
buyer, to whom he said, " I do not like any one to dis- 
honour my talisman " (referring to the Arabic writing on 
the sandals). The affair was brought into court, the man 
was beheaded, and twenty people imprisoned, six of 
whom were bound in irons, but at length the king, 
wearied of prosecuting the affair, pardoned the criminals. 
On October 2nd, his majesty sent me my violin, with 
an enquiry how to play on it, so little sense of shame did 
he exhibit in the possession of other people's goods. 
Our little girl excited the deepest interest in those 
around us, and many a visitor did she receive. One 
mohammedan presented her with a shilling, a very accept- 
able perquisite to the nurse and Kokoo. 
Meanwhile our open-air service continued to be a great 
source of joy for us. Deeply did I feel my weakness, but 
took comfort in the thought that God often chooses " the 
