292 
MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASHANTEE. 
Another reminder was sent to the king from Fomana 
(January 25th), to the effect that he was to set aZZ his 
prisoners free (Mr. Dawson excepted), to send the half of 
the 50,000 ounces of gold, and to give up as hostages 
prince Mensa, the queen mother, and the heirs of the 
princes of Dwaben, Kokofu, Mampong, and Bekwae ; upon 
which the general would come himself to Coomassie with 
a small escort, and there conclude peace. To give the 
king time he promised to approach very slowly during 
the following days. This promise, by the way, was an 
easy one, because of the ever-recurring difficulty of pro- 
curing necessary provisions, and a convenient halt could 
be made in the healthy district of Fomana. 
Here the general heard a wonderful story from M. Bonnat. 
On the 6th of January the great Fetish tree in Coomassie 
suddenly fell, and the king then sought to learn from the 
priests what were the prospects of this war. Two men 
being pierced through the cheek with knives, were bound 
to trees in the wood and left to die. The priests declared 
that if their death soon ensued, Ashantee would be 
victorious. But the poor creatures lived long ; one five, 
the other nine days I 
Amankwa had stationed himself on the heights between 
Bekwae and Amoaforo, about twenty-four miles south of 
Coomassie, whilst a second army under the prince of 
Adanse held the towns of Adobiase and Bor borase. These 
latter were taken on the 29th with little loss, and the 
chief commander's umbrella was captured. The British 
had not known till then how near they were to this 
general, Asamoa Kwanta, an old man, who was considered 
a great master in the art of war, in which he is said to 
have instructed Amankwa Tia. It was still hoped that the 
king might wish for peace ; and thus in each encounter 
the English troops waited for the lire of the Ashantees 
before commencing proceedings on their own account. 
