ormed on parade, and, at his command, gave three cheers for Her Majesty
the Queen.

The town was full of armed men, but not a shot was fired. The brigadier
had so placed the artillery that it could sweep the streets leading to
the market-place, and had thrown out the necessary pickets. A party was
sent down to the palace, under the guidance of an Englishman who had
long been a resident at Coomassie; but the king, queen-mother, and
prince, with all other persons of distinction, had fled. Due
arrangements were made to preserve order. The major-general issued a
proclamation, threatening with the punishment of death any person caught
plundering. The troops were exposed to much danger, flames bursting out
in several directions, the work of the Fanti prisoners who had been
released. The great palace of the king was entered,--a building far
superior to the ordinary habitations of the natives,--and was found to
contain treasures of all sorts, and evidence also of the fearful
atrocities committed within it; while close to it was seen the dreadful
pit into which the bodies of those slaughtered almost daily by the
king's command were thrown.

In vain Sir Garnet Wolseley waited for the king to fulfil his promise;
neither any part of the sum demanded, nor the hostages, had been
delivered. To remain longer at Coomassie was hazardous in the extreme.
The rains had already commenced, and the rivers, which had been crossed
with ease, were now much swollen.

For the sake of the health of the troops, the major-general resolved,
therefore, having destroyed the town and palace, to retreat. That the
enemy might not be aware of his intentions, a report was circulated that
the army would advance in pursuit of the king, and that any Ashantee
found in the town after six o'clock would be shot. This effectually
cleared out the natives.

Prize agents were appointed to take charge of the riches in the palace.
Arrangements were made for destroying it on the following morning, and
setting the whole town on fire.

Early the next morning the return march began. The rear company of the
42nd Highlanders remained at the south end of the market-place while the
guard was removed from the palace. The city was then set on fire, and
the mines for the destruction of the palace exploded,--the dense columns
of smoke which curled up in the sky showing the King of Ashantee and all
his subjects that the white man had not failed to keep his word.
Galla