THE RANSOM MONEY. 
155 
in white garments, and painted white on the breast, 
shoulders, and forehead. We saw hundreds of these " ser- 
vants" of the "king's souls," who enjoyed the preroga- 
tive of not being beaten or insulted by anyone. What 
the " king's souls " exactly were, remained a mystery. 
One must just suppose it a " protecting god," personified 
by a silver urn filled with gold. 
The prince accompanied us to the festival, where we, 
with many others, saw the " king's souls " carried past. 
Our baby was with us, and greatly delighted both the 
king and his mother, whose astonishment ^found no ex- 
pression. One of the bystanders directly named it, a 
thing of the gods." 
The next day we distributed our presents. To the 
king we gave a piece of violet velvet, and four of foulard 
silk; to the queen mother, two looking-glasses, some 
soap, hair-oil, and Eau de Cologne ; to the king's brother, 
Mensa, and to Bosommuru, such things as we thought 
would please. The latter afterwards gave his Eau do 
Cologne to the king. 
In private conversation with Ansa, the king appeared 
kindly disposed towards us, and owned that the campaign 
against which the prince had warned him was a mistake. 
But anxious as he was for peace, and a flourishing trade 
with the Coast (for he is very desirous to possess manu- 
factured goods) ; wishful also as he was to see his chief, 
Akjampong liberated, he showed no disposition to let us 
go : though he allowed us to send for sugar and money, 
and was ready to do us any little service. Ansa did not 
think he was aiming at a ransom. Remembering how in 
1826, after the battle of Dudowa, the English had sent 
\)ack the king's own grandmother, and other princesses^ 
fvdthout any recompense, although they . were actually 
prisoners of war — " It would be such a disgrace," he said, 
" to sell the missionaries ! " But money was an important 
