commenced under circumstances which cannot easily be obliterated from my memory, and ripened into friendship almost unconsciously.  I speak of him as I knew him, and even my partiality, heightened by my regret, cannot much exaggerate his merits.  He was a brave officer, and an intelligent gentleman.  His mind was practical, prompt, and energetic; and he united to the qualities of a strict disciplinarian, all the kind feelings that embellish the character of social benevolence.  Peace to his ashes, and honour to his name!

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[21] From the colour of his skin.

[22] From “Coom,” to kill, and “assie,” under, meaning under the large Banian, or Indian fig-tree, that stands in the market-place, opposite to the palace.

[23] This was a very splendid tent that had been presented to him some years before by the Dutch Governor, General Daendals.

[24] This extraordinary woman, who displayed unexampled energy throughout the whole of this war, was about five feet three inches in height, and was distinguished by an almost infantine character of face, and a voice low and soft as the tones of a flute.  It was thought that she habituated herself to that style of speaking to conceal her really masculine nature, and to interest her audience.  Her voice, notwithstanding its sweet inflections, was broken, or “cracked,” as singers term it, a circumstance occasioned, perhaps, by the constant use she made of it, for she was not a little remarkable for that volubility which a rude jest attributes to her sex in general.  She was a very successful beggar, too, amongst the rest of her accomplishments, for munition and strong drink.  Just before the battle of Dodowah commenced, she passed along the ranks, encouraging her people with an appropriate harangue, and waving at the same time a gold-hilted sword in one hand, and an elephant’s tail (the emblem of royalty), in the other, with a necklace, well adapted for the occasion, composed of a string of musket halls.  This heroine said to some of our countrymen, who called on her the day before the battle, “Osay has driven me from my country because he thought me weak, but he is mistaken; for, although I have the form of a woman, I have the heart of a man!” an observation which her extraordinary prowess in the fight fully justified.  She was to be seen every where in the heat of the battle, encouraging and exciting her troops; wherever the greatest danger was, there, too, was the energetic Queen of Akim.  Her conduct reminds us of Queen Bess at Tilbury Fort, and perhaps still more of Boadicea herself.

[25] These are the same people who murdered Governor Meredith about fourteen years before.  For that crime, the English blew up their fort.  They have always acted basely in battle, and are notorious for gluttony, cruelty, and cowardice.  The Ashantees said that if they went to Winnebah, they could catch the people like swine.

CHAP.  VIII.