JUDGMENT APPROACHES. 
245 
After long consideration, I resolved to recommence my 
street preaching, but very few Ashantees came, and I did 
not ultimately pursue it, feeling uncertain if the king ap- 
proved; if he did, I thought he would soon let me 
know. I prayed that I might have a heart to testify 
warmly of a Saviour's love to the lost, and a ready tongue 
to proclaim it faithfully, and that the bread cast upon the 
waters might be found after many days. 
Four messengers having arrived from Akwamu, the 
chiefs were hurriedly summoned to the palace (November 
18th), and later in the evening Mr. D. was called. The 
dialogue began thus : — 
" You were sent here respecting the ransom." 
" No," answered D. 
" Have you brought the money with you ? " 
" Certainly not : How could I have kept it here a whole 
year ? " 
" Has the money been handed over to Owusu Kokoo." 
"It was weighed before my eyes, and given to a 
mulatto (Mr. Grant) in charge, but as I left before Owusu 
Kokoo, I cannot know what occurred in Cape Coast after- 
wards." 
To the king's last question as to whether the money 
would be paid out in Cape Coast if we were all sent back, 
Dawson could only repeat, " I do not know." 
On the evening of the 20th he was again summoned to 
the palace to read two letters from the governor to the 
king, of October 3rd and November 1st. The first con- 
tained the only direct news we had heard from the Coast 
for a year. The second referred to another which must 
have miscarried, Amankwa Tia being closely surrounded 
by the enemy. The governor sent a copy of the missing 
letter by an Ashantee captive, and required an answer to 
three points contained in it in twenty days (while twenty- 
two had already elapsed). The king had broken the 
