YAMS AND CHRISTMAS FESTIVALS. 
151 
and others necessarily absent, the total number cannot be 
less than three hundred ladies. That however is not 
known to any Ashantee. These are kept in such good 
order by the eunuchs that I only saw one cast a stolen 
glance at our little Eosa, though, doubtless, they all 
wished to see the white baby. 
The king's eye beamed with joy when he looked at 
her, as he turned to his people on both sides of his sedan, 
and pointed laughing to the babe on its mother's lap. 
This was a sign for hundreds of black heads to show us — 
shouting, laughing, and singing — their white teeth. His 
majesty may well be proud, for none of his predecessors 
have ever been able to boast such white property, which 
will ever be spoken and sung of with great exultation 
throughout Ashantee, and he evidently thought much of 
the honour. His looking-glass, which is always carried 
with him, was on this occasion so large that two men 
could hardly stand upright under it. About seventy 
bearers of sheep followed, hundreds of which were 
slaughtered. 
Very simple, in comparison, „ was our yam festival, i.e,, 
Christmas-day. We had given Bosommuru due notice 
but the king only sent us a sheep and a load of yams- 
salt was wanting, and nothing had arrived from the Coasi 
We had to relinquish the idea of an intended feast for ou. 
people, our purse being very low, and could only give 
them an extra fufu. Indeed, our means had become so 
limited, that we seriously thought of making a change in 
our household. Joseph had been entruste--^ with it 
hitherto, but too many people were supported at our ex- 
pense, and our own folks were fed sparingly, while our 
stores vanished unaccountably. The kitchen was always 
open, and it was perfectly impossible to exercise any con- 
trol. We determined therefore, that in future we would 
provide for ourselves only, leaving prince Ansa's people 
