194 
MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
The two messengers arrived on the 7th : we could get no 
intelligence from them, but were told by a Fantee that 
Mr. Dawson, the governor's interpreter, was on his way, 
and we hoped that he might be the bearer of our ransom. 
He arrived the same evening, and handed us an official 
letter in the presence of the chief, whom he saluted. 
The £1000 had been weighed out before the Ashantee 
ambassadors, and was then to be sealed and given into 
the charge of Mr. F. Grant, a merchant, who would hold 
it until our arrival at the Coast. We were hardly allowed 
to speak to Mr. Dawson, but found that he was going on 
to Coomassie, at the request of the king, and had per- 
mission to remain as a hostage for us, lest the king might 
doubt whether the governor had really sent the money. 
Owusu Kokoo was also on his way back to Coomassie. 
Sunday the 8th was a painful day to us. The two am- 
bassadors paraded the village with ominous looks. Owusu 
Kokoo saluted us on his arrival in his usual friendly 
manner, but made no communication. I held a service 
in the street with great enjoyment, but noticed that the 
Fomanians kept aloof, and after closing, a christian from 
Elmina told me that he and his companions feared they 
would not be allowed to return to the Coast. One of them 
who had tried to start for the Coast was sent back with 
an intimation that, as the priests were " making fetish " 
all along the road that Sunday, all strangers must be for- 
bidden to pass. I tried to comfort him by reminding him 
how little we could rely on such reports ; nevertheless, I 
could not divest myself of grave fears. 
In the evening, whilst bathing in the river, Palm came 
with the news that messengers from Coomassie were 
waiting for us, and that they were accompanied by 
hammock-bearers. I was at once convinced we were to 
be carried back, and on entering the house of the chief 
Obeng, I saw these same bearers behind Afirifa and an 
