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manners and customs of the ashantees. 
peculiar insignia, gold canes, were elevated in all directions, tied in 
bundles like fasces. 
A delay of some minutes, while we severally approached to 
receive the king’s hand, afforded us a thorough view of him; his 
deportment first excited my attention ; his manners were majestic, 
yet courteous, and he did not allow his surprise to beguile him for a 
moment of the composure of the monarch : he appeared to be about 
thirty-eight years of age, inclined to corpulence, and of a benevolent 
countenance.” 
In describing the customs of the Ashantees, Mr. Bowdich thus 
proceeds : — 
A general is appointed to the command of an army by receiving 
a gold-handled sword of the king’s from his hand, (who strikes him 
gently with it three times on the head,) swearing to return it encrusted 
with the blood of his conquered enemies. One of the king’s linguists 
always accompanies an army of any consequence, to whom all the 
politics of the war are intrusted. The Ashantees are superior in 
discipline as in courage to the people of the water side, though their 
discipline is limited to the following precautions. They never pur- 
sue when it is near sun-set; the general is ahvays'in the rear ; the 
secondary captains lead the soldiers on, whilst those in command, 
with a few chosen individuals, urge them forward with their heavy 
swords, and cut any man down who retreats until the case is despe- 
rate. The first object of the Ashantees in close fight, is to spring 
upon the throat of his enemy ; to advance every time he fires, he 
feels to be imperative, if his commander thinks it possible; who would 
otherwise, if he escaped death in the action, inflict it on him directly 
it was over. The general has his umbrella spread in the rear, and 
besides his guard has several muskets ready loaded, for those 
soldiers who may be driven to him in case of reverse. His band 
plays all the time, and in his assumed contempt for the enemy, it is 
his etiquette to divert himself at some game, while the heads of the 
slain, of any rank in the hostile army, are sent to him to put his foot 
on. When the result of an important action is expected, the king 
is always seated, in public, with his golden worra before him, playing 
with some dignitary, and thus receives the news, in order to impress " 
the people with confidence by his affected indifference to victory 
or defeat. 
“ Several of the hearts of the enemy are cut out by the Fetish men 
who follow the army, and the blood and small pieces being mixed 
with various consecrated herbs, all those w'ho had never killecf an 
enemy before, eat a portion, for it is believed if they did not, their 
vigour and courage would be secretly w'asted by the taunting spirit 
of the deceased. It was said that the king and all the dignitaries 
partook of the heart of any celebrated enemy. 
“ The army is prohibited during the active parts of the campaign 
from all food but meal, which each man carries in a small bag at his 
side, and mixes in his hand with the first water he comes to : this, 
they allege, is to prevent cooking-fires from betraying their posi- 
tion, or anticipating a surprise. Ashantee spies have been stationed 
two or three days in the high trees overlooking Cape Coast Castle, 
