BROTHER KUHNE SET AT LIBERTY. 
271 
tlie morning of the l7th. We begged the chief to sum- 
mon Bosommuru Dwira and Mensa Kiikua, when Dawson 
explained the state of affairs, and set all before them in a 
clear light. Showing them how the patience ol the English 
government was exhausted by four years and a half of 
waiting, and hope being held out which was never 
realized. One course only could avert Ashantee's fall, the 
immediate setting at liberty of all the prisoners. " Do not 
believe," said he, " that it is possible to push back the 
English. If you destroy those who are on this side the 
Prah, you will only have defended yourselves from the 
vanguard, but not from the real army. The English will 
not rest until they have succeeded in obtaining compen- 
sation, even if they have to fight ten years for it." 
The three gentlemen listened attentively, assured them- 
selves that ive were of the same opinion, and perfectly 
understood that Dawson was remaining as a surety for 
the carrying out of the governor's word. We, on our 
part, made it clear to them that the governor was not 
coming from any desire to conquer, and that if they agreed 
to his three demands, they would have as much liberty 
left them as they had previously enjoyed. 
To the question why the governor would not even see 
Owusu Kokoo, we replied by referring them to the part he 
had played only a short time before in Cape Coast. But 
strangely enough it now dawned upon us that they had 
anticipated so much from Owusu Kokoo's mission, because 
he was armed with a wonderful mohammedan charm, 
which with a mere shake of the hand was to have the 
effect of causing the governor to go back. The king's 
nephew was only considered so far as he was entrusted 
with a most holy secret. 
We parted, yet not without hope that we had made 
some impression, for the trio pledged themselves to confer 
at once with the king and his mother, and afterwards to 
