where I am quartered intensely hot, I sent my people into the forest to get materials for erecting a bower, to protect me from the burning rays of the sun.

HUMAN SACRIFICES IN COOMASSIE.

a

THIS morning I received information that the King had lost one of his relations by death, and that, in consequence thereof, four human victims were already sacrificed, and their mangled bodies lying in the streets. I therefore concluded that I should not have an opportunity of seeing the King for a day or two. Shortly afterwards I saw Apoko, the chief linguist, and told him that I was aware that there was bloody work going on today, as I saw a number of large hawks and turkey-buzzards hovering over certain spot, where I judged these poor victims were lying. "Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." He said it was even so, and, in consequence thereof, I should not have an opportunity of seeing the King to-day, and perhaps not to-morrow. I told him that I did not like the being confined at one small place, in a low, unhealthy part of the town; and that I must walk out and take exercise, otherwise my health would suffer. I also told him that I was anxious to commence my journey home to the coast on Monday next. On hearing this, he went immediately to the King, and informed him of what I said; shortly after which he returned, accompanied by two messengers, (one of them bearing in his hand an immense gold sword, to which was fastened a golden decanter, which would hold about a pint,) stating, that His Majesty begged of me not to go out into the town to-day, as he was making a Custom for a departed relative, and he knew Europeans did not like to see human sacrifices; but, that he did not wish to keep me from seeing his ca

*My lodgings were very small, containing about ten small sheds of the average size of six feet by seven, each having only one opening, and that into a small yard, about nine or ten feet square, in which no breeze could be felt. Surrounding one of these small yards, there are generally from two to four of these small sheds, the whole premises being connected by small doors leading out of one yard into another. In this small place I had about twenty persons; such as carriers, hammock-men, &c. And what increased the heat was, that they were here obliged to make their fires for dressing their food. This place, bad as it was, was one of the best that could be procured for me, unless I had gone up into the very heart of the town, which, for many reasons, would not have been prudent.

pital; that he was fully satisfied my object was to do good; and that he would see me as soon as the Custom was over. I, of course, complied with his wishes, and made up my mind to wait patiently.

Throughout the day I heard the horrid sound of the death-drum, and was informed in the evening, that about twenty-five human victims had been sacrificed; some in the town, and some in the surrounding villages, the heads of those killed in the villages being brought into the town in baskets. I fear there will be more of this awful work to-morrow.

Saturday, 6th.-This morning I again talked of walking out into the town, when Apoko informed me that more sacrifices would be made during the day, and that I must not go out until tomorrow. I therefore remained in my quarters until the afternoon, when, on finding myself in rather dangerous state for want of exercise, I insisted upon walking out at one end of the town for half an hour. In the evening I learned that several more human victims had been sacrificed during the day, but could not ascertain the exact number. most accurate account I could obtain was, that fifteen more had suffered, making a total of FORTY IN TWO DAYS!!

The

While speaking to Apoko, I did not fail to remind him that the law of God forbids this awful practice; and that they were under a great error in supposing that the persons sacrificed would attend on the deceased relative of the King in some other state of existence.

These poor victims were allowed to lie naked and exposed in the street, until they began to swell like dead dogs; and such is the callous state of mind in which the people live, that many were walking about among the putrefying bodies, smoking their pipes, with astonishing in

difference.

Sunday, 7th.-At nine A. M. I conducted divine service at my quarters; many Ashantees were present, and some of them paid deep attention. At four P. M. I again commenced the worship of God, but was compelled abruptly to close the service by a tornado.

Monday, 8th. This morning His Majesty sent me a handsome present, consisting of a cow, a sheep, a pig, a quantity of palm-nuts, yams, and plantains, and one ounce and four ackies of gold dust, (£5 currency,) also three ackies for my interpreter, and five ackies for my other attendants. The gold was brought in a golden blow-pan, weighing several ounces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN OF

COOMASSIE.

HAVING asked His Majesty to allow me to see the town to-day, he readily gave me liberty to go wherever I pleased. I therefore embraced the opportunity of looking over it, which occupied about one hour. The streets are large, and more clean and uniform than any I have seen in any other native town since my arrival in Africa. The breadth of some of them is at least thirty yards, and the average length from three hundred to six hundred yards. The town is situated on a led of granite; fragments of which are: trewed in abundance over the finest streets; the average size of them being about twenty inches square (cube). A row of splendid banyan-trees, planted at a consic erable distance from each other, occupies some of the largest streets, affording a most delightful shade from the burning rays of the sun. The streets differ also in appearance from those of any other town which I have seen in the interior, by the houses on each side having open fronts, the floor being raised from two to three feet above the level of the ground. The space between the ground and the level of the floor, and in some houses a foot or two above the level of the floor, presents a front of carved work beautifully polished with red ochre. In some, the carved work is continued up to the roof; and where that is the case, it is covered with white clay, which has the appearance of a lime white-wash. The roofs are made chiefly with bamboo-poles, or sticks, with the bark stripped off, and thatched with palm-leaves.

Behind each of these open fronts are a number of small houses, or rather, open sheds, in which the people dwell, (the room open to the street being more of a public seat than a private room,) at an average number of from thirty to forty to each open front. These small dwellings in the back-ground are in many cases entirely hidden from the observation of any one passing along the streets; the only indication of them being a small door on the left or right of the open front. The houses are all built on the same plan, from that of the King down to the lowest rank of Captains; and these are, with a few exceptions, the only persons who are allowed to build in any public situation. The rocky bed on which the town is built is, in many parts, very irregular and unlevel. Some of the streets are so full of holes, occasioned by the heavy rains washing the earth out of

the fissures of the rocks during the rainy season, that any one attempting to walk through them in the dark would place his neck in danger.

There is only one stone-built house in the town, which stands on the royal premises, and is called the "Castle." All the other buildings are of wood and swish, and by no means durable.

The market-place is a large open space, about three-quarters of a mile in circumference. There is no regularity in its form, but it approaches nearest to that of a parallelogram. On one side of it is an extensive dell, surrounded by large trees and high grass, into which they throw at last the dead bodies of sacrificed human victims. As I passed by this dell, I smelt a most intolerable stench, proceeding from the poor creatures who were thrown there on Saturday last. My feelings would not permit me to look into this horrid receptacle of the dead; but the very idea of it is dreadful. Yet even "there the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor."

There are no regularly-built stalls in the market-place. Many articles of merchandise were placed on the ground, and others on little temporary railings, which might be put up or taken down in a few moments. Among the commodities exposed for sale, I saw Manchester cloths, silks, muslins; roll tobacco from the interior; large cakes of a kind of pomatum, made from the fruit of a tree found in the depth of the interior, and used by the Ashantees for anointing their bodies, to give a polish to their skins; native tobacco-pipes, of very neat manufac ture; cakes of a kind of whiting, used by the natives for marking their bodies; kankie, (native bread,) yams, plantains, bananas, pines, ground-nuts, fish, and the flesh of monkeys and elephants.

BANTAMA. HEATHEN JEALOUSIES. IN the afternoon I asked His Majesty to allow me to visit Bantama, or the "Back Town;" to which he readily consented. I found it to be a small town, nearly one mile distant from Coomassie, and connected with it by a long street, which runs from one town into the other. The only difference between the two towns is, that the streets of Ban tama are much more noiseless than those of Coomassie; which difference arises from

There is a kind of grass in the immediate neighbourhood of Coomassie, which grows to the enormous height of twenty feet, the stalk of which is about three-quarters of an inch in diameter.

me

the former being looked upon as sacred, on account of the Fetish-house, which contains the bones of the former Kings, being in it. Very few Europeans, or even Ashantees, are allowed to visit Bantama. Some of Apoko's men, who conducted me thither, informed that I am the only European who has been permitted to visit it during the reign of His present Majesty; and that the people of Coomassie are only allowed to go there when the King himself goes (which he does every forty days) to visit the tombs of his ancestors. Several splendid banyan-trees are luxuriating in the centre of the main street; on one of which I saw a pretty variety of epiphitical orchidea, in full bloom.

Before I left Bantama, I visited the Chief, (one of the greatest men in the kingdom,) who received me very kindly, and regaled me with some palm-wine.

As we were proceeding homewards, two or three men belonging to the Chief came running after us, requesting us to stop. As soon as they came up with us, I learnt that they had been watching us, to see if we gathered any thing from the banyan-trees as we passed under them; and, on seeing my interpreter (who was riding in a palanquin) raise his hand to protect his face from the leaves, &c., they thought he had plucked some by my direction, and that I intended to make a medicine from them for the purpose of poisoning the King! They seemed fully satisfied, however, from an explanation on the part of my interpreter, that they were under a mistake. I be lieve their jealousy was excited by seeing me look up into one of the trees, where a variety of the orchidea was flowering; and as they have scarcely any idea of the beauty of a flower, they thought I must have some sinister intention in thus closely examining the tree.

As I passed by the King's residence on my way home, a small group of physic-nut trees, thirteen in number, was pointed out to me as being the memorials of the former Kings; an additional tree being planted at the decease of every Monarch.

On my arrival at my quarters, which are on Apoko's premises, I told him of the affair at Bantama, concerning the banyan-leaves, &c., and asked him if they saw anything in my conduct, which authorized them to suspect me of any evil motive in visiting Bantama? He answered, "No;" and seemed to pay very little attention to the matter. However, to convince him more fully, I showed him some drawings of different

varieties of orchidee in flower, and told him that the English are very fond of cultivating flowers from all parts of the world, and that I was very fond of studying their nature, character, &c. Apoko seemed much pleased with the plates, as they were laid open before him.

Tuesday, 9th. The sudden change of temperature on Sunday last being very great, (from 91° Fahrenheit, in the shade, to about 74°, or 75°,) accompanied with heavy rain, I caught a violent cold, although I took the precaution to cover myself partially with a cloak, as soon as the change took place. I began to feel the evil effects of this cold this morning.

INTERVIEW WITH THE KING: PRE-
PARATIONS FOR RETURN ΤΟ

THE COAST: APOKO, THE CHIEF
LINGUIST.

ABOUT half-past nine this morning I went to the King's residence, to thank him for the handsome present which he made me yesterday. He appears to be about thirty-six years of age. He is of middle stature; his complexion is not so dark as that of many of his subjects; his manners are pleasing and agreeable. He has an aversion to drinking and smoking, a quality this quite unusual among the Ashantees.

Thursday, 11th.-Feeling better today, I walked out into the town for air and exercise. As I passed the end of one of the streets, I saw a group of persons surrounding a large Cabooceer's umbrella. A band of music was playing, and a human victim was lying on the ground before them, exposed to public view. I turned from the disgusting and awful sight with painful feelings. Coming round to the further end of the same street, I saw it crowded with people, and numbers more joining them in rapid succession. The King was seated in the street under his umbrellas, to drink palm-wine with his Chiefs, &c., previous to a week's partial seclusion in his palace, immediately after the conclusion of the Custom for his relation, who died on the fourth instant; this being the last day of the Custom.

In the course of the day, I reminded Apoko of my anxiety to obtain an answer from His Majesty, respecting the establishment of Schools, &c., in Ashan

* While I was staying at Fomunnah, I once reproved Corintchie for drunkenness; when he said, that the King had checked him for it once, and since I also had done it, which was the second reproof he had received, he would endeavour to avoid it for the future.

tee; who answered, "The King will speed ily give you an answer; and we hope you will come to Coomassie again and pay us another visit, as we shall be always glad to see you. The King believes that you wish to do him and the people good."

Saturday, 13th.—I again reminded Apoko, that I must speedily return to the coast, as the rains were becoming frequent and very heavy. He immediately went to tell the King; and returned to inform me, that His Majesty had been so busily engaged throughout the morning, that he could not see me and make me ready to start to-day, but that he would do so to-morrow.

From the general aspect of things, I became sensible that though I should not meet with any thing to discourage me, yet it would cost me another journey to Coomassie, before the confidence of the King would be fully secured; as his jealous disposition is of such a nature, as to require a considerable length of time, and much patience and perseverance, to overcome it.

Sunday, 14th. At half-past seven A. M. I conducted divine service at my quarters, and found it to be a time of spiritual refreshment. I continued in anxious expectation of a message from the King until about eleven o'clock, when I found, upon inquiry, that Apoko had not reminded His Majesty of seeing me to-day, because he thought I would not like to transact any kind of business on the Sabbath-day. (This idea was the result of a previous consultation with Apoko; during which, I explained to him the nature and claims of the Christian Sabbath.) I told him that my business with His Majesty was of a purely religious nature; and that I had, therefore, no objection to seeing him immediately. It was then too late, however, to hope for an interview to-day.

Early this evening I held a prayermeeting, which was no sooner concluded, than the rain, which had been threatening for several hours, commenced with an awful violence. In a few minutes, the small yard in the centre of my residence was covered with water, to the depth of twelve or fifteen inches; and as the thatch of my sleeping-shed (I cannot call it a room) was in bad repair, the rain poured in, almost in a stream, on my pillow. I soon began to feel the evil effects of the damps, and felt some fears as to the consequences; which fears were heightened by the consideration that my provisions were nearly exhausted, so that I could not make myself a cup of tea or

coffee, having no sugar left; neither had I any flour, bread, or biscuit. Trusting, however, in the mercy of God, I partook of some native food, to satisfy the cravings of hunger, and slept in peace.

Monday, 15th. I arose from my bed, determined to make an attempt to commence my journey back to the coast today, if possible; the commencement of the rains, of the violence of which, a stranger to a tropical climate can form but a faint idea, together with the sickly state of several of my people, and the pressing claims of nearly seven hundred members of our society on the coast, rendering my speedy return imperative. I therefore began to pack up my things, while Apoko, (whose attachment to me has daily increased,) true to the promise which he made me yesterday, repaired to His Majesty's residence, to remind him of the necessity of allowing me to leave to-day.

In about two hours Apoko returned, accompanied by a host of attendants, linguists, and messengers, with a present from His Majesty consisting of two ounces and four ackies of gold-dust, (£9 currency,) and a slave for myself,+ also eight ackies (£2 currency) for my interpreter and other attendants. He also gave me the following message from the King: -"His Majesty knows that you cannot stop longer on account of the rains; and as the thing which you have mentioned to him requires much consideration, he cannot answer you in so short a time: but if you will come up again, or send a messenger, after the rains are over, he will be prepared to answer you." With this message I was pleased; and said, that I would certainly either come up again, or send a messenger at the time mentioned. I then repaired to His Majesty's residence, to take my leave, and found him seated in one of his apartments, surrounded by an immense number of attendants: when he requested me, with a courtesy which one could scarcely expect from a person in his circumstances, to present his compliments to His Excellency President Maclean, and take a message to him.

* Apoko is the only person who is allowed to visit the King at any time he wishes. I therefore enjoyed many advantages from being placed by the King under his care. I was informed that, had it not been so, I should have had much greater difficulties to contend with in holding intercourse with the King. Apoko is a fine-looking man, about thirty-six years of age, and seems to have great influence with the King.

This slave, it will be seen in the sequel, Mr. Freeman had the pleasure of emancipating very Boon.-[Editor of Miss. Not.]