The Dickinson press., 1897-04-17
pEposEp KING pREMpEH.
Has Plenty Of Gold and Begs Hard to
A. ma. ~..~%vw

steamship Bakana, which has reached
Liverpool, called specially at Elmfna
to take the ex-King Prempeh and his
chiefs down to Sierra Leone. says the
London Standard. She arrived on the
1st inst. With the ex-king were two
Of his wives. his mother. father. brother
and ten chiefs, each of whom had two
wives. OF the ten chiefs six had been
princes of Ashanti. Prince Kofh Ente
was sent by the government with the
king as interpreter. Prince Kofa Ente
is son Of the late King Kofh. Prem
peh was sent in surf-boat to the
Bakana in charge of Commissioner
Kelly and Capt. Parmenter. The king.
when he knew he was going to be de-
ported from his country. expressed his
intention to commit suicide rather than
suffer such an indignity. He had
threatened to jump into the sea. but
was we'll guarded when taken to the
ship, and he made no attempt to take
his life. Once on board the steamer
he was very quiet and made himself
comfortable. His Interpreter said the
king was not aware that o steamship
was SO large and that people could be
made SO comfortable on board. He
took great interest in the fittings Of
the vessel and particularly in the en-
gines and electric light. Prempeh
begged hard to be allowed to go back
to his country and promised never to
do anything against the English, or.
as he expressed 1t, against the "Great
White Queen" He had no idea that
the white men could do such great
things as they did. In speaking of
this he said he now believed the white
man could bring the top to the bottom.
meaning that he could bring down the
sky to touch the earth. He said he
was sure, II he got back to his country,
he would be very obedient and would
make everybody open up the country
to British trade. He was also willing
to pay the indemnity the British want
ed. The king and his people were in
charge Of superintendent of civil po-
lice, with a Houssa sergeant and six
Houssas. One of the chiefs gave 1t
out that there was plenty of gold buried
in Coorassie, but it could never be
found, he said. except by themselves.
They certainly had plenty Of gold with
them. The king went ashore at Sierra
Leone in most gorgeous costume. The
gold ornaments, anklets, bracelets and
other articles displayed about him were
estimated to be worth f1,000. He also
wore a number of charms, the chief
Of these being suspended round his
neck. Probably for the first time in
his life he wore trousers. These were
of yellow brocaded satin. A white anG
blue mantle-like cloth was thrown over
his shoulders, and he wore leather san.
dals. He was very cheerful ON board
the steamer and seemed sorry to leave
it. A house has been appointed for
the residence of the late king and his
followers in Freetown. 1t Is under.
stood that he will have more freedom
than he had in Elmina, but he will he
under the daily observation of the au.
thorities. Prempeh was received al
Sierra Leone by the inspector of police
and conveyed to his new quarters, g
very large house. Little notice was
taken of the king on his arrival at
Freetown. Altogether there were about
thirty people in the party. King Prem.
peh while on the Bakana showed he
appreciated good wines, but his prefer
ence was decidedly for benedictine.