240 
MISSIONARY LIFE IiY ASHANTEE. 
had gained his living by trading, hut as he earned more than 
the Ashantees he was avoided by them, and at last resolved 
to escape. On the road to Akem he was seized near Dwaben, 
and brought back a prisoner. He professed to be going to 
reclaim a debt, but as he had taken all his goods with him 
he was pronounced guilty, and delivered to Kwantabisa, 
the chief of the wood-bearers, to be watched over. 
Kwantabisa did all he could to save* his life; he re- 
moved him to a neighbouring house, and six times dis- 
missed the hangman who was sent to fetch him, declaring 
he did not know what had become of him. He hoped 
that the king would repent of the step he had taken, 
for he did not always know who had been led to the 
block. But when the odumfos came the seventh time, 
and said that if this man were not forthcoming another 
would be taken in his stead, Kwantabisa was obliged 
to give him up. This execution naturally enraged the 
Fantees, although they hoped that on reflection the king 
would acknowledge that he had committed a rash act. 
In October we set to work vigorously on the second 
floor of the house, which wonderfully pleased the king. 
Still our entreaty for salt was neglected. Happily, my 
wife continued well, though occasionally rather nervous 
and excited by trifles. Poor Kuhne was no better, and 
his cough was very trying, though he sometimes man- 
aged to visit the building carried in a hammock. 
The chief of Aguogo was now accused to the king as 
not having sufiiciently guarded the border against Akem, 
and was sentenced to lose his head. He however 
escaped to Boakje Tenteng, who succeeded in eflecting a 
mitigation of the capital sentence to the payment of a 
heavy fine (ninety peredwanes). We pitied this man, 
who was a simple-hearted friendly fellow, with but few 
Ashantee characteristics. We heard at that time that 
the Ashantees had suffered a defeat, and lost several 
