"After taking breakfast at Yankumasi, we proceeded to Mansu, which place we reached at 2 P. M. Gabri, the Chief of Mansu, another Assin refugee, was out in the street ready to receive me, accompanied by his Captains and many of his people.

"Shortly after our arrival at Mansu, Chibbu came up from Yankumasi, having followed me a distance of about sixteen miles, by way of testifying his good-will.

"Mansu is well situated near a small river, and surrounded by a fine fertile tract of country; it has a population of about 500 souls.

"At Mansu, the Wesleyan Missionary Society have a small school establishment, containing twelve children as boarders. I took up my quarters in the school-house, which is a convenient recent building, containing several rooms and a small chapel.

"October 1st, Sunday.-At 10, 30 A.M. I attended divine worship in the little chapel in the Mission-house.

"October 2d, Monday.-At 2 P. M. we reached Fusuwhye, and took up quarters for the night. Here I was kindly received by the Chief.

"This village is one of the most extensive of any on the road, though of very recent origin; for Mr. Freeman informs me, that when he first visited Kumasi in 1839, this village did not exist. Its population cannot be less than one thousand. The existence of this fine large village on a spot which in 1839 was covered with forest, is not the only proof of a rapidly-increasing population: for, within the range of the last forty miles over which we travelled before reaching Fusuwhye, Mr. Freeman pointed out several villages of considerable extent, which had no existence in 1839; and these are all built by the Assin refugees, who occupy all the country betwixt Yankumasi and the River Prah, taking in a range of about sixtysix miles.

"October 4th, Wednesday.-At 6 A. M. we commenced crossing the river, and in about an hour, the people having all passed over by several trips of a large canoe, we began our journey in the territories of the King of Ashantee.

"October 9th, Monday.-At 5, 20 A. M. we proceeded on our way; and about 7, 30 A. M. I received a message from the King, begging that I would rest awhile at the next village, (Karsi,) about five miles distant from Kumasi, that he might have time to prepare for my public reception early in the afternoon.

"At 8 A. M. we reached Karsi; and, after breakfast, prepared for our entry into the capital. Here I was waited on by the King's messengers, who were sent to conduct us into the town.

"At noon we proceeded in full preparation for our entry; and at a distance of about a mile from the town, a party of messengers with gold-handled swords of office, arrived with the King's compliments.

"After halting for a short time, we proceeded to the entrance of the first street, and then formed in order of procession. After a brief delay of about twenty minutes, during which a large party of the King's soldiers fired a salute about one hundred yards distant from us, we moved on to the market-place, where the King and his Chiefs were seated under their large umbrellas, according to the custom of the country on the reception of strangers of distinction. They, with their numerous Captains and attendants, occupied three sides of a large square, and formed a continuous line of heads, extending about six hundred yards, and about ten yards in depth. After we had passed along about three-fourths of the line, we found the King surrounded by about twenty officers of his household, and a large number of messengers, with their goldhandled swords and canes of office. Several very large umbrellas, some consisting of silk velvet of different colours, shaded him and his suite from the rays of the sun. The King's chair was richly decorated with gold; and the display of golden ornaments about his own person and those of his suite was most magnificent.

"The King of Ashantee is about six feet high, stout, and strong-built, and appears to be about from fifty two to fifty-six years of age. He is a man of mild and pleasing countenance, and quite free from any of those shades of native ferocity which are so disgusting to the taste and feelings of an European.

"We occupied about an hour in moving in procession from under the banyan-tree, where we had rested on entering the town, over a space of about a mile and a half in length, to the end of the line formed for our reception; after which we proceeded to an eligible situation in an open space at some distance from the market-place, and there took our seats, according to the etiquette of the country, to receive the complimentary salute of the King and his Chiefs in return. At 3, 15 P. M. they commenced moving parties, in procession, and occu

pied the ground before us from five to ten deep, until 6 P M., a period of two hours and three quarters.

"The King was preceded by many of the officers of his household, and his messengers with the gold-handled swords, &c., and other officers of the household followed him: some of his favourite wives also passed in procession.

"When the King came opposite me he approached me, and I took him cordially by the hand.

"After the King other Chiefs, and a large body of troops, passed in due order, and at 6 P. M. the ceremony closed.

"During the whole of the day the greatest excitement prevailed in the town, the population of which was swellel by strangers called in by the King, or detained after the close of the recent Yam-Custom, on account of my visit, from the usual amount of about twentyfive thousand, to upwards of eighty thousand.

"Immediately after the procession had closed, we repaired to the Wesleyan Mission-house, where we found comfortable arrangements made by the Rev. Mr. Hillard, the Missionary resident in Kumasi, for convenient quarters during our stay.

"Greatly as I had been interested with the manner in which the King received me, the appearance of such a vast number of uncivilized men under such entire control, the new style of building exhibited, and its pretty contrast with the ever fresh and pleasing green of the bany an-trees, I was equally interested and excited at the appearance of the Wesleyan Mission-house, a neat cottage, built chiefly with the teak or edoom wood of the country, containing, on the second floor, a large hall and two airy bed-rooms, entirely surrounded by a spacious verandah; and, on the first floor, a store-room and a small chapel or preaching-room; in the front, looking into one of the finest and most open streets in the town, is a little garden, planted with orange, lime, bread-fruit, and fig-trees, (the two latter having been recently introduced from the coast,) and behind the house, a spacious court-yard, planted with the sour-sop-tree, and surrounded by rooms consisting of servants' and workmen's apartments, so simply constructed, and yet so spacious, as to afford room, without any inconvenience, for quarters for the whole of the men consisting of the guard of honour.

"As I sat down in the airy spacious hall in the cool of the evening, after all the toils and excitement of the day, and

contemplated this little European establishment, planted in the midst of barbarism, two hundred miles into the interior of Africa, exhibiting to thousands of untutored Pagans the comforts and conveniences of civilized life, and the worship of the true God, I could not but think deeply and feelingly on the great triumph thus achieved by Christianity and civilization.

"October 11th, Wednesday.-Felt desirous to enter into business with the King, but found that he was bound to attend to some superstitious observances, which hindered him from gratifying his wish to see me.

"October 12th, Thursday.-Sent Her Majesty's presents over to the King, with which he was much pleased; and for which he requested me to return his sincere thanks.

"October 14th, Saturday.-At 11 A. M. I went to the palace, attended by the Rev. Messrs. Freeman and Hillard, to pay a short visit to the King. We found him in one of the court-yards of the palace, attended by the officers of his household, and shaded by some large umbrellas; we entered into no business on this occasion; he expressed his delight at seeing an English Governor in his capital, and his gratification at the receipt of the handsome present which Her Majesty had sent him, for which he begged, through me, to return to Her Majesty his best thanks. During the interview, he expressed a wish that I could spend forty days with him; and on my observing that I could not possibly make so long a stay, he seemed very anxious that I should delay my depart ure to the latest hour that I could consistently with my convenience. He seemed deeply interested in my comfort and welfare, and also in that of the gentlemen accompanying me.

"October 15th, Sunday.-At 7, 39 A. M. divine service was performed by the Rev. Mr. Hillard. Our congrega. tion consisted of the troops, many of our hammock-men and servants, and some of the natives of Kumasi. I was pleased with the steady attention observed by the people.

"At 2 P. M. messengers came from the King, to inform me that he was preparing to send me a present; and to avoid confusion by the entrance of too many persons on the Mission-premises on the Sabbath, I went out and took my seat under the shade of some banyan-trees in the street, near the Mission-house.

"Shortly after we had taken our seats, a party of linguists and messengers ar

rived, with the King's compliments, and with a request that I would, for myself and suite, accept of a most bountiful present of various provisions.

"This magnificent present was brought before me by five hundred and fifty men, every one of whom had some share in the work of conveyance. These were accompanied by several officers of the King's household and their retinue, amounting to not less than three hundred men: thus about eight hundred and fifty men were employed in presenting to me this token of the King's goodwill.

"October 19th, Thursday.-At 3 P. M. I went to the palace, attended by Captain Powell and the Rev. Messrs. Freeman and Hillard, to have an interview with the King, for the transaction of business.

"On our arrival we found the King seated in one of the squares of the palace, surrounded by many Chiefs and officers of his household. We soon entered into conversation; and I told him that my visit was one of pure friendship, for the purpose of promoting good intelligence betwixt him and Her Majesty's Government. On this head I made many remarks, with which he seemed much pleased; and expressed his great satisfaction at the kind feelings manifested by Her Majesty in authorizing me to visit, and in sending him so valuable a present as that which had been delivered to, him. Another subject which occupied us for some little time was, the best means of communication betwixt his and my Governments; and I embraced the opportunity of thanking him for the kind protection which he had afforded the Christian Missionaries who had visited his country, and also of expressing my hopes that he would still continue to do so.

"The interview lasted about an hour. "October 20th, Friday.-At 3 P.M. the King paid me a visit at the Missionhouse, attended by the officers of his household, and many of his children. He stopped with us about an hour, during which time we sat in the front verandah of the house, and conversed in a very unrestrained manner. During this unrestrained conversation, the King inquired how many Queens had at different periods occupied the British throne; the age of Her present Majesty; and whether the Prince of Wales was the heir to the Crown.

"When the King took his departure, he seemed greatly pleased with his visit. "October 21st, Saturday.—At 4 F. M.

the King came into the street in which the Mission-house is situated, and took his seat on the opposite side of the street, immediately before the house, to drink palm-wine. He was, as usual, attended by many of the officers and people of his household.

"When I was informed that this act on the part of the King was a kind token of his respect to me, I went down and sat near him, and ordered the band to play a few tunes, by way of returning the compliment. He came to the street in the beautiful little phaeton presented to him by the Wesleyan Missionary Society in 1841; and I was pleased to observe, from the excellent condition of the phaeton, the great care which he has taken of so valuable and appropriate a present.

During this singular visit on the part of the King, the street was occupied by from five to six thousand of his people; and though this number of persons, in a street of no great length, may appear large, yet there was plenty of room for them, for the street must be nearly two hundred yards in width.

"October 22d, Sunday.-Attended divine service in the morning at seven.

"At eight the King sent us an invitation to dine with him in the afternoon; but thinking that such a step on our part would lead to much confusion on the Sabbath-day, and produce a bad effect on the minds of the people, we declined the invitation, explaining our reasons for so doing.

"October 24th, Tuesday.-At 8 P.M. the King sent messengers to the Mission-house, to acquaint me that he had returned to town, and to request that we would go down to the palace, and spend an hour with him: to this I readily consented, and was much gratified, on our arrival at the palace, to find him almost alone, and quite disposed for friendly conversation. Ossai

Kujo, the heir-apparent to the throne, and three or four of the King's principal linguists, were the only persons present.

"We immediately entered into conversation; and, after briefly adverting to the kindly feelings of Her Majesty's Government towards him, I embraced the favourable opportunity thus offered for speaking to him on the subject of human sacrifices. I told him of the anxious desire on the part of Her Majesty, that these sanguinary rites should be abolished, and begged his serious attention to a question so important to the cause of humanity.

"In answer to these remarks, he inquired whether I had seen any instances of human sacrifice taking place since I had entered his dominions. I certainly had not seen or heard of any, and therefore expressed myself to that effect; and he then observed, that although human sacrifices were the custom of his forefathers, he was reducing their number and extent in his kingdom, and that the wishes of Her Majesty should not be forgotten. He then adverted to the refugee Assins, who took shelter under the British flag in 1826, and observed, that as permanent peace was now established and confirmed by my coming up to pay him so friendly a visit, he hoped I would allow some of the Assins to come up to Kumasi, and visit him; and that, should any of them wish to return and settle under his government, I would consent to their doing so. Matters relative to the Wesleyan Mission in Kumasi were then referred to, and I was much gratified to find how completely the Mission has secured his confidence and esteem.

"After conversing with the King for nearly an hour, we returned to the Mission-house, greatly delighted with all the pleasing circumstances of the day.

"October 26th, Thursday. At 7 A. M. we visited the King, to take our leave of him previous to our departure. On our arrival at the palace, we found the King ready to receive us at this early hour.

"The interview was quite private, like that of Tuesday evening; and the same persons were also in attendance on him. I again adverted to human sacrifices, and expressed my satisfaction at the remarks he had made on the subject during our last interview. He then observed, that the number of human sacrifices made in Kumasi had been greatly exaggerated, and that attempts had thus been made to spoil his name. He wished me to understand that human sacrifices were not so numerous in Kumasi as they had been represented, and expressed a hope that mere reports relative to such a subject, flying about the country, would not be listened to; and he then observed,

I remember that, when I was a little boy, I heard that the English came to the coast of Africa with their ships, for cargoes of slaves, for the purpose of taking them to their own country and eating them; but I have long since known that the report was false: and so it will be proved in reference to many reports which have gone forth against me.' answered, that I believed him; and that

I

I hoped he would not forget that, in every life which he saved from sacrifice, he would be considered as conferring a favour upon the Queen of England and the British nation.

"After conversing with him thus in the most unrestrained manner for about half an hour, we took cur leave of him by shaking him cordially by the hand, and then returned to the Mission-house.

"At 8 A. M. we took breakfast, and at 9, 30 A. M. started for Cape-Coast. Some of the officers of the King's household conducted us from the Mission-house to the extreme end of the street leading to Cape-Coast, preceded by a large body of native soldiers firing a salute as they advanced. As we passed the palace, the King was seated under a large umbrella, on the flat roof of the old stone house built in the time of Ossai Tutu Quamina, and under the direction of Dupuis, to see us pass, and bid me a last farewell; and Ossai Kujo was at the palace for the same purpose.

"When we reached the extreme end of the street, the native soldiers drew up on one side, and gave us a parting recognition, and we then proceeded on our journey.

"From these records, your Lordship will, I am sure, perceive that the reception given me by the King of Ashanti, and the nature of my intercourse with him during my stay in his capital, were of the most gratifying description, and that his conduct, from first to last, tended to show his strong desire to honour me as the representative of Her Majesty, and to cultivate the friendship of Her Majesty's Government.

"When assured of my intention to visit him, he sent orders for the clearing of the road from Kumasi to Prah, a distance of about one hundred miles, that I might travel with the greater ease; and although the Chiefs resident on or near the path were all in Kumasi, as I advanced along the road, I was saluted by a party of men firing muskets, at the entrance of almost every village on the path; and on our departure from Kumasi, one of the members of his family, attended by a small party of men, was sent to accompany me, not only to the Prah, the boundary of the Ashanti dominions, but quite down to the castle.

"The Chiefs were also very attentive and respectful in all their conduct towards me; there was scarcely a day during my stay in Kumasi that I did not receive from some of them presents of sheep, fowls, eggs, yams, or plantains. I men