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 *porters to pay us a visit in our hut. He drank our sole remaining bottle of beer with much gusto, although it was his first experience of malt liquor; and we were getting along very nicely when a slight contretemps occurred which entirely destroyed the harmony of the meeting, and shows how necessary it is that everyone who has anything to do with natives should have some knowledge of their prejudices and modes of thought. Prince Ansah was interpreting, and Buaki had just affably said, in compliment to us, that he was very fond of soldiers, when some one asked:—

"Do you shoot much in Ashanti?"

This was duly interpreted, and Buaki drew himself up and said:—

"How? What do you mean?"

"Do you go out into the bush much to shoot birds and deer?"

This being explained to him, he said to Ansah:—

"Does this white man think that I am a common fellow to have to work for my living?" and got up and went out in great dudgeon.

It is needless to say that the Ashantis have no idea of sport.

We left Yancoomassi Assin early next morning and reached Mansu about 5 p.m. There we found Lieutenant Swinburne, R.M.A., one of the Governor's