268 
MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASH ANT EE. 
hardly have sufficed to prepare for a fresh encounter. 
Their plans were however all uncertain, the king alone 
knew what he was going to do. 
But most assuredly on Thursday and Friday affairs 
with us looked very threatening, for both in Coomassie 
and the neighbouring villages an order was given that all 
Fantees should be put in the stocks, and it was said that 
we were to share their fate. At this critical juncture 
came a letter, directinof the kinof's thouo^hts into another 
channel, and instead of our usual preaching, we had an hour 
of prayer that we might be resigned to God's will. We 
were all much impressed by the seriousness of the posi- 
tion, and by God's help our courage was sustained through- 
out that trying day. We felt that we ought to be thank- 
ful if our captivity should serve in any degree to bring 
about a new era for Ashantee, and we did not doubt that 
the year 1874 would mark the dawning of a brighter 
day for this unhappy country. 
Mr. D. paid a visit to the chiefs of Mampong and 
Asamoa Kwanta, to beg these influential men to refrain 
from giving dangerous advice to the king, at the same 
time representing to them the serious nature of the pre- 
sent crisis. Both seemed glad to listen to him, and both 
made the same enquiry as to what effect the last royal 
letter would probably have on the English general. Of 
course the same answer was returned to each by D., viz., 
that he did not know. 
On the 12th and 13th of January, reports were con- 
stantly circulated as to the progress of the war. The 
brother of Owusu Kokoo had sold many slaves for the 
king, and was on that day sent to Kwantiabo to buy 
powder. The continual excitement was very injurious to 
my poor wife, for though the town itself was perfectly 
quiet, troops were constantly starting to guard the road 
from Daso. We now felt quite sure that the dismissal of 
