After the dishes of meat were removed, the table was loaded with sweets; namely, an excellent plum-pudding, the materials for which had been supplied from my little travelling store; a pine-apple, papaws, preserved ginger, slices of sugarcane, &c. We told the King that plumpudding was a favourite dish in England, and begged him to take some, to which he readily consented; and on a slice being placed before him, he tasted it, said it was very good, and handed the remainder to his attendants.

After the pudding was removed, we rose and drank His Majesty's health; in the proposing of which I embraced the opportunity of congratulating him on the very pleasing and interesting circumstances under which we were assembled, adverting to the auspicious return of the Princes, and expressing our earnest hopes and prayers, that the English and the Ashantis might become one in spirit, and that all the blessings of Christianity and civilization which England now enjoys, may, in due time, be experienced in Ashanti. He seemed very much pleased, and nodded his assent and thanks.

We then proposed and drank the health of Her Majesty Queen Victoria; after which, Quantamissah proposed the health of President Maclean, and spoke of the kindness which he and his cousin had received, both in England, and at Cape-Coast Castle.

The King then requested us to go and see the Stone-house, built by Osai Tutu Quamina. We kept our seats a few minutes, until the King had arrived there and taken his seat to receive us. We were soon summoned by a messenger, and proceeded to the house. It is built with stone, has a flat roof, and is about the size of many of the small villas in the vicinity of London. We entered a small court-yard, ascended a flight of stone steps, passed through an ante-room into a small hall, in which were tastefully arranged on tables thirtyone gold-handled swords. In the same room were several of the King's calabashes, out of which he drinks palmwine, overlaid with gold. Passing into another room, we found the King seated in company with Osai Kujoh, and attended by Apoko, and other linguists. On tables in different parts of the room was arranged glass of various descriptions, such as candle-shades, beautifully cut-glass tumblers, wine-glasses,&c. ; with time-pieces, covered with glass-cases, &c.; almost every piece of glass was decorated with golden ornaments of all descrip

tions; large pieces of rock-gold, weigh ing several ounces each, and a great number of gold chains. The weight of pure barbaric gold which we saw might amount to from eight hundred to one thousand ounces. Two small boxes, about sixteen inches deep, were pointed out to me as specimens of native workmanship. They were covered with green velvet, and ornamented with large roundheaded tacks, like an English trunk. The nails or tacks on one were solid silver, and those on the other solid gold. While I stood admiring them, the King came up to me, and corroborated the statement already made respecting them.

THE KING NOW CONVINCED OF THE DISINTERESTEDNESS OF THE

MISSIONARIES.

While I was standing examining some of the things in another part of the room, the King again came up and accosted me in the following manner :-" In days that are past, I could hardly believe that the English were so disinterested as to take so much trouble in teaching the natives of Africa; and when you were here before, I could hardly feel satisfied respecting it; but I have no fears now. You paid me a visit some time back; since that time you have been to England, and have returned to Kumasi to see me again, bringing my two nephews with you. I thank you for your kindness; and I am fully satisfied, that your object in coming here is to do good." I answered, "I am very glad your Majesty is satisfied respecting the motives which lead us to come to Kumási; and trust, that the more you know of us, the more you will be convinced that the welfare of Ashanti is our object." After we had looked through the principal rooms in the house, we returned to the dining-table, and took some fruit. The King again took his seat at the head, and conversed with us very freely on various topics for about half an hour, when we thanked him for his kindness, and took our leave of him. When we left, he sent the band and some of his people to conduct us to our quarters. The men had played several English tunes during the afternoon with much more correctness and ease than a stranger would have expected.

When we reached our quarters, I endeavoured to collect my thoughts, and reflect a little on the extraordinary scene which I had witnessed; and the more I thought on it, the more did my astonishment increase. I had seen the proud

and sanguinary Monarch of Ashanti,whose smile is life, and whose frown is death, among his people, dressed in European clothes, surrounded by some of his warlike Chieftains, sitting at table, and eating in public with several Europeans, some of whom were Christian Missionaries; persons of whom they had no knowledge until the year 1839, and whom then superstition would naturally lead them at first to fear and avoid; persons whom in March, 1839, they were almost disposed to pronounce as the greatest enemies of their country. And the finishing touch was given to the splendid picture, by the presence of two native Princes, enjoying all the advantages of a liberal and religious education, and under the influence of feelings favourable to the introduction of Christianity into their

country.

29th.-Busy writing, &c. Mr. Smith, Mr. Brooking, and the Princes, visited the King. He was very familiar. Mr. Brooking directed the carpenter in hanging some of the King's pictures. Mr. Smith started for Cape-Coast.

AFFECTING REMINISCENCES.

31st. The last day of an eventful year, during which I have enjoyed greater happiness, and greater trials, than at any former period of my chequered life. At the commencement of the year, I was in possession of one of the most amiable and best of wives. At the end of the year, I mourn her early death, and am again left a widower in a foreign land. How powerfully does she, being dead, yet speak to me, and put me on my guard, that I may be "also ready" to meet my Judge! Amidst all these poignant sufferings, the loss of my dearest Lucy, and the loss of some of my brethren who fought with me in the same field, I rejoice that I can say from the heart, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his

holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

January 1st, 1842.-I am spared to see the commencement of the new year. O my God, thy mercies are boundless! I bless and praise thy name for the numerous manifestations of thy mercy which I have experienced during the year that is past; and humbly believe, that the severe trials I have had were sent in great mercy both to me and my dearest Lucy. Lord, help me to trust thee where I cannot trace thee, and to confide in thy infinite and eternal good. ness! Graciously comfort and support, preserve and direct me, as long as I continue in the vale of tears. And O

make me a blessing to my Christian and Pagan fellow-creatures. Pardon the sins of the past, and give me grace to live more fully and entirely devoted to thee than I have ever yet done. Grant that in my experience this year, should my life be spared, I may realize more abundant spiritual joys; and that my progress may be marked by more selfdenial, more holy zeal in my Master's work, more of that unconquerable mind that was in Christ my Head." Be with me, O my Lord, in my pursuits, studies, duties, and engagements. Strengthen my weak mind in the walks of science and useful learning; and, above all, illuminate it on the sublime subject of Christian theology. Let its great and glorious doctrines be better understood, and more deeply felt and enjoyed, by me; and let this year be a year of more widely-extended usefulness on my part, than any I have yet lived. Lord, hear my prayer, and grant my request, for thy name's sake! Amen.

Sunday, 2d.-The first Sabbath in the new year. Blessed be God, my mind is this day under the influence of solemn and hallowed feelings. At half-past six A. M. I read prayers, and preached from John xi. 40. Several Ashantis were present, and very attentive. At twenty minutes past four P. M. I again preached, (Mr. Brooking being poorly,) from Isaiah lv. 3: we had a very interesting congregation. Deep attention was paid to the word of salvation. O that thousands of the Ashantis may come to these living waters! At a quarter past seven

F. M. we met to commemorate our Saviour's dying love, and to renew our Covenant with God. Our party was small, consisting chiefly of the Mission-family, including the Princes, and a few pious. friends from the Coast and other places. The Lord was indeed with us, and we felt it to be a hallowed season.

I was

powerfully reminded of our delightful and happy Covenant-Service last year, on board the brig "Osborn." Several of those who were with me then are now in the regions of glory. All hail, ye happy spirits! Drink from the vivifying stream, "pluck the ambrosial fruit," "Walk with God,

High in salvation, and the climes of bliss!" We faintly hear your triumphant shouts, as, for our encouragement, they seem to be wafted down to us on the wings of mercy. We are only divided by "a narrow stream. Taking into consideration our longest possible period in this life, we shall soon, very soon join your illustrious society, and share your happi

3 T

ness and your glory. Lord, keep us to that day!

SINGULAR DOMESTIC SCENE IN THE PALACE.

3d. Early in the afternoon we received intelligence that the King would wish to see us in the course of the afternoon; and about four o'clock messengers came to our quarters, stating, that the King would be glad to see us at his residence. On our arrival, we were ushered into the spacious area where we dined on Tuesday last, and found the King seated in an elevated room, having an open front at the upper end of the yard, under a splendid large silk umbrella, surrounded by his family, many of the Princesses, children of the two former Kings, his sister, and several of his wives. One side of the yard was occupied by a number of females, part of whom were wives of the King, and the others their attendants and children. On the opposite side, in another elevated room with an open front, a number of musicians, with native music, were placed; and down in the yard, in front of the band, sat the King's chief ennuch, and a number of little boys who attended him. The Princes, Mr. Brooking, my Interpreter, and myself, took our seats at the lower end of the yard, and on our right stood twenty little boys, each bearing in his hand a goldhandled sword, and several of them loaded with golden ornaments.

One

wore a cap decorated with eagles' feathers, and a pair of golden rams' horns. Many members of the Royal Family were dressed in rich silk cloths, and their ankles, wrists, breasts, shoulders, and necks were loaded with golden ornaments. The King was dressed in a very handsome cloth, of native manufacture, and a leopard's-skin cap, richly ornamented with gold, with many golden ornaments about his arms and legs. His sandals were also heavily laden with gold and silver.

No adult males of the Royal Family were present, save Quantamissah and Ansah. Not even Osai Kujoh was permitted to witness the scene about to take place. The only men besides ourselves who were suffered to be present, were the eunuchs, their attendants, and the men composing the band. Apoko and the principal Chiefs, linguists, &c., were all excluded, on account of the King's wives; no male Ashanti being permitted to see them. If any of them are at any time walking in the streets, every man is obliged to avoid them, by

turning into another street, getting inte a house out of the way, or retracing his steps; or, should he not have time thus to avoid them, he must then turn his face to the wall, and stop until they have passed by.

Shortly after we had taken our seats, the King rose from his chair, descended into the yard, and came and spoke to us in a very cordial and affectionate manner. He said, no Ashanti Chief or Captain was ever allowed to be present on occasions like these. He never al lowed them the honour of meeting him with his wives; but that he had made these arrangements for meeting us all under such circumstances, as the greatest means he had of testifying his satisfaction at the safe and happy return of the Princes, and at the kindness which had been shown both to them and to himself.

The band then played, and several of the King's wives, and some young women, from fifteen to twenty years of age, members of the Royal Family, laten with golden ornaments, engaged in a kind of dance, by moving round the yard one after the other in rapid and graceful succession. There was nothing in their appearance offensive to the eye, or disgusting to the mind. They were handsomely dressed, and behaved with the greatest decorum. While they were dancing, the King kept his seat. When they rested, he again descended into the yard, and began to dance himself. When he came to us he said, it was not usual for the Kings of Ashanti to dance before their wives in the presence of any one; but that he did so before me in honour of the Queen of England. He then danced away, and took his seat; and several of the females, among whom was the Queen-mother, succecded him in dancing, singing at the same time war-songs in honour of the King and his ancestors, and proclaiming their "stroag

names.

*In singing the praises of their Kings and principal Chiefs, the Ashantis extol the qualities and martial deeds which have acquired for them the characteristic appellations by which they are severally known; and this is termed "proclaiming their strong names." Dupuis, in de scribing a public procession which he witnessed in Kumasi, states that all the Chiefs of the first class were followed by a group of parasites, whose business it was to proclaim in boisterous songs the strong names of their masters" One of the songs commenced, "Where shall we find such a warrior as the strong and beautiful Apaku Kujoh, whose eyes are like the panther in fight?......Who fought the Gamans, and killed their Kabosir Adouai? Apaku Kujoh '* &c., &c. The "strong names" of the Ashant

"The

Again the King came down, and joined in the dance with the females, they still continuing to sing his "strong names," &c.; some of which were, King of Ashanti is the only King in Africa who has fought with the great guns," (alluding to the cannon in the forts on the Coast,)-"The King of Ashanti fought with, and killed, the King of Buntuku.” The latter, the King himself came up to explain as follows: "Osai Tutu Quamina, at the commencement of the Buntuku war, danced with his wives on the eve of his departure for the battle; and, while dancing, he declared that he would conquer and kill the King of Buntuku, and give his body for food to the beasts, and the eagles should eat out his eyes. went, he fought, he conquered; slew the King, as he had said he would; and gave his body to the beasts, and the eagles ate out his eyes.'

He

The King

then took from one of the little boys standing near us his own gold-handled sword, and fastened it to his waist, danced a little, and then took from another of the boys one of his own muskets, highly ornamented with gold and silver, and danced again. He then came up to me, and shook me by the hand, and turned and danced away among his wives, &c. His taking the sword and musket into his hand was to show us, that when they went to war, he himself fought personally. The women then sang,

"The Englishman lives in Sebu Seki.
To-day he has come to visit the King.
The King has danced before him
In the presence of his wives,

Monarch were, on this occasion, "proclaimed " by the tributary King of Banna; who, silencing his own band and sycophants, by an authoritative wave of the hand, snatched a scimitar from a youth in attendance, and, with violent gestures, and flourishing of the weapon, sang, "Ashánti, who is there so great, so good as Sai? Nowhere can you see such a King. He says, Destroy this country,' and it is a desert: the people are killed with his shot and powder. When he makes war, he is like the tiger. Can any one fight the tiger?" &c., &c.-EDIT.

*In this scene, the reader will recognise the perpetuation of an ancient custom. The women of Israel also celebrated the triumph over the Philistines with singing and dancing, and "answered, as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." (1 Sam. xviii. 6, 7.) Dancing is likewise practised by the Africans on sacred as well as other occasions. As David, on the removal of the ark," danced before the Lord with all his might," (2 Sam. vi. 14,) so, among the Ashantis, dancing is connected with the most solemn ceremonies of their religion.-EDIT.

And done what he has never done to An European before. He has walked Up, and shaken hands with him." Some of the King's wives, and some of the other members of the family, were very fine young women. During the time we were sitting, the King sent us some palm-wine, and seemed highly pleased. About seven P. M. we retired to our quarters. As the evening closed in, and the King, his wives, &c., with their rich silk dresses, formed a group in the centre of the yard, the scene was certainly one of the most extraordinary I ever witnessed. The display of gold was immense.

The

4th. In the morning I sent for Apoko, and told him, that I wanted to see the King respecting land for building. Shortly afterwards a messenger came from the King, stating, that a female member of his family was sick at Jabin, and he wished to know if I could send her medicine. I answered, that I could not unless I saw her, and ascertained the nature of the malady under which she was suffering; that to give a person medicine without seeing the patient, was like walking a dangerous road in the dark. The messenger said, she was unable to come to Kumási; and I, consequently, offered to go over and see her. messenger repaired to the King, and soon returned to say, that the King would be thankful if I would go and see her. About a quarter before four P. M. Apoko sent to say, that the King would see me respecting the land, and that we were to go to him directly. We found him seated in one of the rooms in the Stone House. He received us very kindly, and told us that we should have land near the spot where we are now living. We then had a long conversation on the subject of Christianity and civilization: I pointed out to him the advantages resulting therefrom, and answered several interesting questions on these heads. One objection which had been raised in his mind on the subject of Education was, the danger of its making the people rebellious; in which I found he was encouraged by Apoko and other Chiefs. told him, that in education, as well as all other good things, there was a possibility of abuse; and that there would, doubtless, be a few unfavourable exceptions; but that, in general, it had a tendency to make people better, more dutiful, and obedient. He saw the propriety of my remarks, and said he would consult the Chiefs on the subject of sending their children to school. Thus far, all our negotiations are promising. O thou God

I

of Missions! give thine own work success in this benighted land!

"Let the Heathen fall before thee,

Let the isles thy power declare !"

5th. About half-past eight, the King sent to inquire, if I could accompany Mr. Brooking and the Princes to his residence to teach him the use of the magic-lantern. On our arrival, we found him seated in the court-yard of the Stone House, with very few attendants. We fixed the lantern in a kind of pent-house on one side of the yard, and the King took his seat on that side of the yard opposite to it. All our preparations, however, were useless for the present; as we found we could only obtain palm-oil for the lamp, and that would not answer. When we were obliged to desist for want of oil, the King came into the penthouse, and sat down on a couch placed at one end. He directed my attention to the couch, and said it was made in Kumási. At this I was surprised. The frame-work was a kind of ebony, and very neatly inade. The covering was striped silk.

6th. I started the Governor's messenger with letters. Yesterday, preparations were made for a custom," on account of the death of one of the King's daughters, recently deceased; and, early this morning, muskets were fired, and three human victims were sacrificed!

7th. I took a rough sketch of a specimen of a species of ficus, growing in a street near our quarters. This is one of the most splendid specimens of ficus I have ever seen. It is about sixty feet high; its branches cover a considerable space of ground; its leaves are small: its greatest peculiarity is, that of throw ing out roots from the trunk of the tree and the large branches, at a height of from twenty to thirty feet from the ground; something like the true banyan or ficus religiosa of India.

About four P. M. the King came to our residence to pay us a visit. He looked into all our rooms, and examined every thing about him with much interest. He was accompanied by Osai Kujoh, Apoko, his chief eunuch, and a host of messengers.

VISIT TO JABIN.

8th. At a quarter past ten A. M. I started for Jabin, accompanied only by

* A place which has considerable prominence in the history of former negotiations between the British and the King of Ashanti; called by Bowdich "Dwabin," and "Juabin " by Dupuis. As the vowel signs of the Ashánti alphabet have

We

my interpreter, two messengers from the King, my hammock-men, and carriers, and servants.+ We went from Kumasi in a north-east direction, and passed through a country by no means striking in its appearance for several miles. The soil is poor, when compared with that close to Kumasi, and does not produce so many splendid forest-trees. We passed through several small crooms, and stopped to take refreshment at noon at Mampon, a small, but neat little croom, nearly due north from Kumási, about eight miles. At one P. M. we resumed our journey, and travelled at the rate of about four miles an hour, until a quarter to se ven, when we reached Jabin. As night had already closed in, I had no opportu nity of seeing the town this evening; and as I had walked the greater part of the journey, and when night was closing in, knocked my feet severely against the roots of the trees which crossed the path, I felt tired and little disposed to walk about. Shortly after my arrival, I went to see Seiwa, the Queen of Jabin. passed through several court-yards, and found her sitting in a small room, surrounded by her attendants. She received me very kindly, and bade me welcome to Jabin. On my return to my quarters, I found that the men who carried my bed, &c., and the canteen, containing food, had not arrived; the men whom I sent into the forest with torches to look for them, could not find them; and I began to expect that I should have neither food to eat, nor a bed to lie on. While I was making up my mind to this, Seiwa sent me a large dish of savoury soup made with venison, fresh-water fish, and yams. Thus, when I little expected it, I found my craving wants supplied, and a table mercifully furnished in the wilderness, of which I partook under the influence of grateful feelings. Our little family then collected together, and a very strange and extraordinary thing took place in Jabin: an altar was, for the first time, erected to the Lord God of hosts, and the whole of that beautiful hymn, “Jesus, the name high over all," &c., ascended

the same sounds as in Italian, the a in Jabin must be articulated like a in father.

While on the subject of orthography, it may be further remarked, that, although we retain the aspirate and the initial A in Ashanti, they are scarcely sounded by the natives, who pronounce the name of their country very nearly as the English would express S-a-n-t-y.-EDIT.

†The occasion of this journey to Jabin is stated in the entry under date of Jan. 4th, which the reader will find in the preceding page of this Journal.-EDIT.