head, I fell senseless into the arms of Jowdie my faithful slave."*

The perpetual witnessing of such revolting scenes and the constant perpetration of such atrocious deeds, as have been detailed in the foregoing pages, keep the African population in a state of callous barbarity, which can only be effectually counteracted by Christian civilization-to impart which to them, the recital of such horrors may well animate our desires, and quicken our endeavors. In the meantime, it appears our duty to protest against them in all our official transactions, and to make the Africans aware, that they can only obtain the advantages of a connection with Europeans, by renouncing practices which outrage the feelings of civilized men. And, as a more extended intercourse is opening between us and them, now is the time to establish this principle. That many of the Africans have a regard for European opinions, and that they are already aware that their bloody rites are offensive to Christians, is, I think, fully demonstrated by several facts which have been stated in this chapter. For this reason it is that those of them who live on coasts frequented by our traders, have betaken to the practice of perpetrating their sanguinary orgies under the shades of night; for this reason did the king of Ashantee endeavor to hide some of his butcheries from the British Envoy, that "he might not have to report that the sovereign of Ashantee delighted in spilling human blood." It was for the same cause that a friendly chief, who visited Sir Charles M'Carthy in the Ashantee war,* had hung pieces of tartan round his war drums, to hide the jaw-bones and skulls with which they were ornamented, "being fearful from what he had heard of the character of his Excellency, that they should give offence;" and that King Dinkera desisted from the murder he was about to commit on the occasion of his sister's death, on hearing that the British Government disapproved of such practices.

As this portion of my work tends to exhibit the state of Africa under a new and most melancholy aspect, I did not feel justified in omitting it; but it was my intention and desire to make it as brief as possible. I find myself, however, under the necessity of extending it. I have received from the secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society the following narrative, which I have somewhat abbreviated. It gives a picture, the accuracy of which no one will doubt, seeing the quarter from which it comes, of events which have occurred during the current year, in a town not more than 150 miles distant from the British settlement of Cape Coast Castle :

Extracts from the Letters and Journal of the Rev. THOMAS B. FREEMAN, Wesleyan Missionary, containing an account of his visit to Ashantee in 1839.

REVEREND AND DEAR SIRS,

Ever since my arrival on this station, (Cape Coast Castle,) I had felt deeply anxious to visit Coomassie. The tales of horror, wretchedness, and cruelty which

I had often heard respecting the Ashantees wrought in my mind a constant restlessness to commence missionary operations among them.

Feb. 2. At half past 3 P. M. I reached the town of Mansue, and was very kindly received by the chief and his captains.

Before I retired to rest, Gabrea (the chief) sent me a present, consisting of a good sheep, some plantains, and pine apples. His mother also sent me some yams and plantains.

3d, Sunday.-At 4 P. M. I preached the word of life to the chief and his captains, and many of the people.

Considering their ignorant condition, they behaved very well. I do not remember that I ever witnessed a more interesting scene than that which took place at the close of the sermon. The sublime truths concerning the mysterious plan of human redemption, made such an impression on the minds of the chief and his captains, that they could no longer contain themselves, but spreading abroad their hands, and lifting up their voices, they acknowledged the lovingkindness of God, and declared, before many of their people, that they would worship God; and I verily believe they would, if they could be watched over by a missionary or a teacher.

6th. At 64 A. M. I started from Berracoe for the river Prah,* which I reached nine minutes before 9 A. M. The river, the largest I have yet seen in Africa, with its thickly-wooded banks abounding in palm trees and mimosa, presented a beautifully picturesque scene. When the river is at its greatest height, its

* Boosemprah of Bowditch.

depth may be about thirty or forty feet, and its breadth about ninety yards. Near the crossing place its bed is very rocky; as it was very low, I could see many large pieces of granite above the surface of the water. The river Prah forms the boundary between Fantee and the dominions of the king of Ashantee. On the Fantee side of the river is a small town called Prahshoo.

The whole of the Fantee country through which I passed, from within a mile or two of Cape Coast Castle up to the river Prah, a distance of about eightyfive miles, is covered with luxuriant vegetation, consisting of plaintains, bananas, palins, bamboos, pines, many large forest trees, covered with climbers, " Epiphitical Archidacea," and ferns.

Immediately before entering Quissah, I passed over a hill of considerable height. Its soil is very rich, consisting of a mixture of yellow loam and clay. A spring of the most delicious water I ever tasted, rises above half way up the hill [from what I could judge], and after tumbling down its rocky bed of granite, bubbles by the small town of Quissah. The Assin country, though consisting of a very rich and fertile soil, covered with luxuriant vegetation, presents one unbroken scene of desolation,* except here and there a few huts occupied by Ashantees, whom the king sends to take care of the path.

9th. This morning the chief informed me that Co

+ If this brief account of Fantee and Assin is compared with that given by Bowditch, p. 23-24, it will be perceived that the Fantee country is rapidly improving under the fostering care of the local government of Cape Coast, while the Assin country, aban. doned by its rightful owners, is in ruins.

rintchie, the chief of Fomunnah, had sent over for him to converse with him respecting me. Shortly afterwards, a messenger arrived from Corintchie, requesting me to go over and visit him, which I immediately prepared to do. When I entered the town, Corintchie was sitting before the front of his house under his large umbrella, waiting to receive me, his captains and people occupying the ground on his right and left. After the usual compliments on meeting, he asked me what object I had in view in wishing to pass up the Coomassie. I told him I had nothing to do with trade or palavers, but was come into the country to promote the best interests of the king of Ashantee and his people, by directing them in the way of peace and happiness through the preaching of the gospel. He then said he should like to hear the gospel in his town, before I proceeded any further into the country. I hereupon proceeded to speak to him and all present on the being of a God, and the nature of the Christian religion. They readily gave their assent to all I said, and Corintchie requested me to pay them a visit on the morrow, that they might hear more from me concerning the Christian religion. On my remarking, that as I was a minister of the gospel, I could not prudently make them presents according to custom, it being beneath the dignity of Christianity, which is so truly excellent in itself that it requires no recommendation except a consciousness of its value, he answered, "We do not desire any of the customary presents from you, but wish rather to become acquainted with Christianity."

There were about 500 persons present.

10th, Sunday. At 3 P. M. I again went over to Fo