MB.. FLANGE'S SECOND EMBASSY. 181 
come here !" This was spoken amid thundering applause. 
The Bantama prince then shook his fist in Flange's face, 
and in the most offensive and insulting language, 
threatened war. The queen mother said, " I am only a 
woman, but would fight the governor with my left hand." 
" I am but a small chief, said another, yet shall the 
governor pale before me;" while many voices cried, " who- 
ever sells fixes the price. We had trouble enough to get 
these goods here ; if the governor will not buy them, he 
may leave them." At last there was a frantic and united 
cry of " We will not give them up. Let him fetch them 
with fire and sword, we will kill them ;" while the king 
turned angrily to Flange, adding, " if you wish, I can show 
you my supply of powder." 
One man alone remained quiet in the uproar — the 
gigantic prince of Mampong, who had before voted for 
our freedom without a ransom. To him Flange turned 
with the request that he would try to soften down the 
high council, while the king exclaimed, " that is a good 
word, we will now break up." It was evident all wished 
that things should take a milder turn, as the interpreters 
remarked that Mr Flange need not repeat to the governor 
what he had just heard. 
That after their recent heavy losses of money, men and 
first-rate leaders, the chiefs should again wish for war, we 
could scarcely believe, though if it were declared, they 
would doubtless march into the field with spirit. But far 
worse to me was the thought that in that case the idea of 
a mission in Ashantee must be given up, and I greatly 
doubted whether the king would set us free, even if 
£2000 were offered for our ransom, though at the same 
time I did not believe there would be war on our account, 
neither did the committee expect it. 
For some weeks Kiihne had been suffering from his old 
complaint, cough and hemorrhage ; the continued disap- 
