244 MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
neighbourhood of Coomassie, and if positively necessary, 
the white men and the Fantees would be set free. 
We made a last attempt to secure the release of our 
poor invalid, Kiihne, by sending his own written state- 
ment of his increasing illness to the king, and pleading 
for his prompt removal to a dry mountain air, which he 
had formerly found restorative, and where he would have 
suitable nursing and nourishment. We hinted that thus 
the king might at once open communications with the 
Coast without in any way compromising his dignity. But 
we received in reply only this message (Oct. 20th), " Cool 
your heart, I will see what can be done, and send you 
word in a short time ;" which time never arrived ! Thus 
our last hope, that this application might give an oppor- 
tunity for D. to speak to the king, was cruelly disappointed. 
The poor king still clung to the belief, that as water 
never went up the mountains, so the British could 
never come to Ashantee. But if this should happen, his 
heart would certainly fail him, he was much too weak to 
hold out against the united Coast tribes, especially with 
the added assistance of the governor, and in the event of 
their success, nothing but the influence of the governor 
could restrain them from wreaking their vengence upon 
Ashantee until he and his people would have to sue 
for mercy. The governor however would make no treaty 
until we were set free ; thus we felt assured no violence 
would.be offered by the king for fear of retaliation upon 
himself, and this led us to believe he would yield. 
Meanwhile his wives sang the old national songs to him 
every night, praising the deeds of his forefathers, in wild 
plaintive tones which moved him greatly. Many a one did 
he send to these same forefathers through the cruel hands 
of the executioners during those hours, and in the moining 
visit his building with a smiling face, striving to hide by 
a great effort, the uneasy state of his mind. 
