MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE ASHANTEES 
21 
with no other supply than this meal and a little water, before the 
enemy has shewn himself. There is always a distinct body of recruits 
with the army, to despatch those with their knives whom the musket 
has only wounded, and they are all expected to return well armed 
from despoiling the enemy. 
“ It is the invariable policy of the Ash^ntees to make the contingents 
of the power last subdued, the revolters recently quelled, or the allies 
last accepted, the van of their army throughout the campaign, and 
very frequently there are no Ashantees but captains, with the army.” 
Speaking of the military forces, Mr. Bow'dich says, I can only 
calculate the population of the kingdom of Ashantee from its mili- 
tary force, which amounts to 204,000 ; this appears an extravagant 
force, until we recollect that it is probably one-lifth of the whole 
population. Barbot heard of the Ashantees losing 50,001) in two 
actions ; an exaggeration which, nevertheless, serves to argue great 
military resources. Since the Ashantee invasion, their disposable force 
has been estimated by old residents, in public reports, at upwards 
of 150,000.” 
In Mr. Hutchison’s diary, wliich is quoted by Mr. Bowdich, the 
following statement is made : — 
“ When any public execution or sacrifice is to take place, the ivory 
horns of the king proclaim at the palace door, Wow ! wow ! wow ! 
death 1 death ! death ! and as they cut off their heads, the bands 
play a peculiar strain till the operation is finished. 
“ On a particular occasion a message was sent to one chief, to say 
that the king was going to his mother’s house to talk a palaver; 
and shortly after, his majesty arose >and proceeded thither, ordering 
the attendants to conduct me out by another door. 
“ This sacrifice was in consequence of _ the king imagining that if 
he washed the hones of his mother and sisters, who died while he was 
on the throne, it would propitiate the Fetish, and make the war suc- 
cessful. — Those who had done any thing to displease the king, were 
then sent for in succession, and immolated as they entered, ‘that 
their blood might water the graves.’ The whole of the night the 
king’s executioners traversed the streets, and dragged every one they 
found to the palace, where they were put in irons (which is often the 
case;) some one had disclosed the secret, and almost every one had 
fled, and the king was disappointed of most of his distinguished vic- 
tims. The sacrifice was continued until the next Adai custom, seven- 
teen days, at the end of which time the chiefs came from their con- 
cealment, and paraded the streets, rejoicing that they had escaped 
death, although a few days might put them in the same fear.” 
The power of the king of Ashantee is. liable to some check from 
the authority and influence of his chiefs, and the prejudices and 
superstitions to which savages are always enslaved ; he is highly 
despotic ; and the indifference with which the lives of the subjects 
are sacrificed, merely for the gratification of his caprices, is such as 
is scarcely conceivable. Neither he nor any of his family can be 
put to death except by being drowned, in order that the royal blood 
may not he shed. He inherits all the gold in his dominions ; and 
whatever is accidentally found is his perquisite, hence if his subjects 
