, where many people watched our dismal
procession, we came to the grove whence issued the terrible smell which
caused travellers to describe Kumassi as a vast charnel-house; we,
however, did not halt there, but passed onward to the palace of Prempeh,
situated about three hundred yards away and occupying a level area in the
valley dividing the two eminences on which the town is situated. The
first view of what was designated as the palace was a number of houses
with steep thatched roofs clustered together and fenced around with split
bamboo stakes, while at one corner rose a square two-storeyed stone
building. The lower part of the lofty walls of stucco was stained deep
red, probably by blood, and the upper part whitewashed.

Presumably our captors had received a commission from Prempeh to supply
him with slaves for the sacrifice, for we were marched into a small
courtyard of the palace itself and there allowed to rest until next day,
being given a plentiful supply of well-cooked _cankie_, or maize pudding
wrapped in plantain leaves. Our position was, we knew, extremely
critical. Attired in the merest remnant of a waist cloth, with a thick
noose of grass-rope securely knotted around our necks, we lay in the open
court with the stars shining brilliantly above us, unable to sleep from
the intensity of our feelings. In the next court there were more than a
hundred unfortunates like ourselves huddled together, ready to be
sacrificed on the morrow.

Soon after sunrise, while moodily awaiting our fate, we were made to
stand up for inspection by one of the King's Ocras. These men were of
three classes; the first being relatives of the King and entrusted with
State secrets, were never sacrificed, the second were certain soldiers
appointed by the king, and the third slaves. All, on account of their
distinguished services, were exempt from taxes, palavers and military
services, and were kept in splendid style by the Royal exchequer, those
of the inferior classes being expected to sacrifice themselves upon the
tomb of the king when he died.

The tall, rather handsome, man who inspected us was an Ocra of the first
class, for he wore a massive gold circle like a quoit suspended around
his neck by golden chains, and, walking beneath an enormous,
gaudily-coloured silken umbrella bearing the crude device of a crouching
leopard, was attended by a numerous retinue, who paid him the greatest
respect.

The Arabs who had brought us there