184 
MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASIIANTEE, 
youths who had been sent away from their homes {see 
page 169). The chief refused to take them, and sent word 
that if the king did not pay in gold, he would wait no 
longer. From this, and from the fact that, on account of 
the expense he declined to visit the abode of his Fetish 
during the yam festival, it appeared that Kari-Kari was 
really suffering from want of money. Kwakoo Dooah's 
treasure {see page 171) was regarded as crown property, 
that might be used for national but not for personal 
expenses. 
An Ashantee one day tauntingly exclaimed to a Fantee, 
" Only wait a while, and the king will march against you 
and drag you all here." In a private interview with Mr. 
Flange, the king declared in angry tones his love of peace, 
and commissioned the ambassador to write to the gover- 
nor that veiy night, stating that if it was a case of 
necessity, £1000 would be sufficient as ransom, but it 
must be paid immediately. The letter was to be dated 
October 1st, but the messenger, Owusu Kokoo, was not to 
deliver it until the governor had really refused the 
demanded £2000. Mr. Flange conceded so far as to draw 
up the letter, but piivately communicated its contents to 
the fifovernor, throuo'h a bearer. To us it seemed as if the 
Ashantees would be satisfied with any sum that might 
enable them at once to declare war. * 
* This letter may serve as characteristic cf the s'yle of the Ashantee 
courts : — 
*'It is the pressing wish of my great chiefs that I should communi- 
cate to your excellency, t-.vat with regi^rd to the ransom for the white 
men who are here, which has 1 : cen valued in my letter sent by my chief 
Owusu Kokoo Kuma at £2000, my views have now undergone a change, 
viz., that your excellency has now only £1000 to pay, which is promised 
to me and my chiefs, for, considering the now firmly establ'shed peace, 
it seems imneces.sary to me to enlighten your excellency far cher upon it. 
1 have done all that I could in this matter, also your excel'ency's 
messenger, Mr. Plange, has exerted himself extraordina-ily with my 
chiefs, and I have endeavoured to foster good feeling towards your ex- 
