256 
MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
Though living at some distance from the market place, 
we were driven almost frantic by the incessant beating of 
drums, accompanied by screams and occasional firing. 
From eight in the morning till seven in the evening the 
army passed in file ; and the streets which opened on the 
market-place were so crowded with soldiers that nothing 
could be seen but a black mass swaying to and fro, whilst 
over it the many coloured umbrellas waved conspicuously. 
We had often been told that the whole Ashantee army 
had gone to the war, which was no doubt true, and on 
that day all Ashantee appeared to be in Coomassie. M. 
B. who made his way unhindered through the crowds, 
reckoned the number of those present at about one 
hundred thousand. 
The losses of the campaign were undoubtedly great. 
Still, about half the army survived, and some of the chiefs 
who had been reported dead returned in safety. Not only 
Sabeng, but another prince, Karapa, was mourned for as 
dead. The Abesui chief had been crushed^with all his ser- 
vants, by the trunk of a tree falling on his tent at the open- 
ing of the campaign. Altogether two hundred and eighty 
chiefs had fallen. The loss of soldiers was announced in 
the following way. Every chief who passed before the 
king threw into a vase as many grains of corn as he had 
lost people. It was said that sixteen battles had been 
fought, and the army had been attacked four times in 
retreat, and sufiered each time terrible loss. 
On Christmas day, after an address from Mr. D., I bap- 
tized our little son, Louis Immanuel. For this purpose 
we all assembled under the mango tree in the mission 
court-yard, and the day was to us as another oasis in the 
desert. We could only offer to our God glory and 
praise for His faithful care over us, although we" were 
deprived of all European comforts. With one of our 
lambs a feast was prepared, to which we invited the 
