Sometimes he would be sent for to headquarters to translate to Captain Buller, the head of the intelligence department, the statements of prisoners brought in by the scouts, who, under Lord Gifford, had penetrated many miles beyond the Prah.
Everywhere these found dead bodies by the side of the road, showing the state to which the Ashanti army was reduced in its retreat.

The prisoners brought in were unanimous in saying that great uneasiness had been produced at Coomassie by the news of the advance of the British to the Prah.

The king had written to Ammon Quatia, severely blaming him for his conduct of the campaign, and for the great loss of life among his army.
All sorts of portents were happening at Coomassie, to the great disturbance of the mind of the people.

Some of those related singularly resembled those said to have occurred before the capture of Rome by the Goths.

An aerolite had fallen in the marketplace of Coomassie, and, still more strange, a child was born which was at once able to converse fluently.