180 
MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
Friday, August 30th, and I was again forced to witness 
headless bodies dragged by a rope to the horrible recep- 
tacle which already contained thousands. On the second 
day of purification, September l7th, we withdrew from the 
ceremony held in honour of the protecting Fetish Bosom- 
muru, and went to our plantation, for in the meantime 
our horizon had again darkened ; indeed, the storm was 
already begun. 
On September 2nd, the high council met, at which were 
the Princes Dwaben, Mampong, and Bekwae, while Adu 
Bofo, who was seriously ill, was represented by his son, 
and a subordinate officer, Nantschi. The subject of the 
ransom being first discussed, Nantschi expressed his 
astonishment at the governor naming £1000 as the highest 
sum, when their demand had been £4860 at the very 
loivesf. To this the king replied, " Siisse will come again 
and found a school, but with such demands we should 
make this return impossible," he then suggested the sum 
should be lowered to £2000, to which, after a long 
palaver, they all agreed. 
Mr. Flange was then called upon to give his opinion. 
Utterly unable to conceal his annoyance, he said abruptly 
that the governor would not pay a farthing more than 
£1000, and if he returned to the Coast without us, the 
way would be blocked immediately. 
Fatal words ! The chiefs first laughed, then a general 
tone of dissatisfaction was apparent, and the storm broke 
out in curses, oaths, and threats. " A few days ago," said 
the king, " I thought you were joking, if you are in earnest 
you may come. We are ready ! Your governor cannot 
leave his fort without an umbrella, so afraid is he 
of sun and rain. Let him try to come to us. For a 
long time the Ashantees have been going up to Fantee, 
and then the white men hid themselves in their 
forts, it would be something new if the Fantees were to 
