Page:The land of fetish.pdf/320

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meant war he should have given the Government of the Gold Coast notice, as he hopes the Government of the Gold Coast would do to him. I bring a thousand bendas[A] for the Government."

(Prince Ansah here began talking to Buaki.)

Rowe (to the Interpreter). "What is Ansah saying to Buaki?"

Ansah. "Buaki has left out part of the message, and a most important part."

Rowe. "Does not Buaki come direct from the king with a message to me?"

Ansah. "Yes."

Rowe. "How then do you know his message better than he does himself? I think your interruption is very unseemly."

Ansah. "Buaki told me his message when he first arrived at Prahsu. He has now omitted something he then told me."

Buaki. "It is true what Prince Ansah says. I have, through my old age, forgotten a part of my message. It is about the golden axe. The axe belongs to the fetish: it is a sign of the fetish. In the time of Governor Maclean there was a dispute concerning a man: the axe was sent, and the end was peace. Under Colonel Torrane a difference arose and the axe was again sent. The matter was settled