AMID THE FLUCTUATIONS OF WAR. 
211 
tage as long as you keep the white men, who are constantly 
crying to God, — prisoners ; let them go, and you wiU con- 
^ quer." It was in consequence reported that we were to 
be given over to the ambassador of Akwamu, who was 
in Coomassie, and to return through his land. 
As the people believed that we were the cause of their 
troubles, we discontinued street preaching, and only held 
our service at home, where our friend Mr. Dawson and 
some Fantee and Elmina christians joined us, and several 
boys came in the afternoon. 
It was not until some time afterwards that we heard 
how on Kidjo Monday, both the ambassadors were 
summoned to the palace for examination before Akjam- 
pong and his followers. By the king's desire the chief 
stood up and explained that Dawson was a most danger- 
ous man, inasmuch as he constantly travelled about brib- 
ing the Coast tribes to submit to Queen Victoria ; and had 
even gone to Apollonia, there to alienate the people of 
Ashantee, and to extol the protectorate of the English.*" 
" Thus," continued he, " this mulatto landed one day with 
a European in Apollonia, and informed me that by the 
command of the governor he had brought me my men 
from Elmina. Whilst I was rejoicing at the news, they 
suddenly informed me that I must accompany them, and 
even refused to allow me to bathe and eat before starting. 
Some soldiers seized and bound me and my servants, 
*Mr. Joseph Dawson, formerly in the employ of the Wesleyan 
Missionary Society, came into public notice in 1872, by taking up the 
idea of self-government. This was repeatedly brought before the people 
of the Gold Coast by the British government, and Mr. D. endeavoured 
to form a confederation of all the Fantee chiefs. The minor princes 
were to unite in protecting and guarding the country. Thirty-one of 
them signed the agreement on November 24th, but the government 
withheld its approval. Mr. Dawson nevertheless succeeded in persuad- 
ing the chiefs of Wasa to promise that in their land human sacrifices 
should cease. 
