From its being the custom among the Ashantees for their great men to be seated on stools, some of them take much pride and pains in having them highly carved or ornamented.  The pattern is generally the same, being a very low concave seat; the only difference is the manner of ornamenting them.  Bowdich relates, that in one of the grand processions at Coomassie, the stools of the great men were carried on the heads of favourites, and he observes that they were laboriously carved, with two bells attached to each.  He also describes the King’s stool as being entirely cased with gold.  The word stool also signifies a high place of office in the King’s council, to which his captains are occasionally raised for any distinguished act of bravery; but this promotion is attended by a heavy fee to the King’s household, being no less than eight ounces of gold.  When a rich man dies, the person that succeeds to his fortune is said to succeed to his stool.  I will conclude the subject of stools with an observation relating to cushions, which is, that no subject can sit in public with a cushion on his stool, unless it has been presented to him by the King, or one of his four principal captains.

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[20] Nine miles to the westward of the mouth of this river, is the
rock Cestus, where there is a settlement of about seventy Fishmen,
who have run away from their own country, to avoid the penalty of the
law.  They are principally from Niffon, Baddon, and Pickaninny Cess.

CHAP.  VII.

Recollections of the Ashantee War—­Battle of Essamacow—­Accession of Osay Aquatoo to the Throne—­Battle of Affatoo—­Investment of Cape Coast—­Flight of the Ashantees—­Martial Law proclaimed—­Battle of Dodowah—­Ashantee Mode of Fighting—­Death of Captain Hutchison

I cannot sufficiently express my sense of the uniform kindness I experienced from the residents at this station.  My excellent friend, Capt.  Hutchison, lodged me in a good stone house, which was entirely appropriated to my own use, and I had also apartments allotted to me at the castle, so that I passed my time as agreeably as I could possibly desire.  The interesting conversations in which I had the good fortune to participate, afforded me a variety of curious and valuable particulars respecting the natives; and, when it is remembered that the gentlemen from whom I derived those anecdotes and descriptions, had mingled personally in the scenes to which they referred, they acquire an enhanced value, from so unequivocal a proof of their authenticity.  Many incidents, connected with the Ashantee war, were related to me with all the fire and energy which the soldier exhibits when he enumerates the dangers he has escaped, and the victories in which he has shared; I wish I could transfer to my pages the spirit which inspired my informants; but I must leave the imagination of the reader to supply the strong feelings of personal interest involved in the details, contenting myself with a plain recital of a few short reminiscences.