250 
MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
camp, accompanied by numerous soldiers. They were 
ceremoniously received (December 6tli) on the Bogyawee 
place, when the king and all his chiefs danced about the 
streets, painted white, to express their joy ; glorious news 
having been brought to the king. " Kwakje Fram the 
Denkjera prince had fallen, together with his nephew, 
seven Fantee officers, and one European ! Amankwa Tia 
had killed many Fantees and chased the rest into the 
sea, besides punishing the other Coast tribes, and because 
a fellow on the Akem side had annoyed the king, this 
glorious captain had returned to punish him." Then 
came grand bursts of hurrahs ! It seemed incredible that 
the king could so misrepresent matters to his people ; but 
such was the fact. 
This message was delivered in the open air, so that it 
was immediately made public. Whether the king thought 
that his subjects were so completely in subjection as to be- 
lieve those statements, we could not decide ; but we were 
pretty sure every one knew how matters really stood. 
Perhaps he thought it right to avoid all outward signs of de- 
spair and mourning that he might give new life and courage. 
In a more restricted circle he testified his sympathy 
with the army in another way. He had sworn the great 
oath before his chiefs, that whoever dared to make game 
of a soldier, or even to hint that the army had achieved 
nothing, should be put to death. Besides this he sent 
the troops forty small casks of powder, and gave the 
mohammedans ten peredwanes for using sorcery to hinder 
the white men from rising. He even took one of our 
porters, who had said he was a Fetish priest (no doubt by 
way of obtaining food) into his service, and gave him a 
new house ; but the poor fellow always went about guarded,, 
thus paying dearly for his folly. 
On December the 7th, the king with his followers again 
danced throu.2:h the streets, but ceased long before daylight. 
