"Eisenschmid's Report for the Third Quarter 1866"

Includes a sketchy description of his wife surrounded by the girls they have in the house sewing while she tells them stories perhaps from Europe, or they sing together. One important happening in the quarter was Ata’s serious illness - at one time Christaller and Eisenschmid had little hope he would survive. They were asked for medecine, and during his period of weakness sent him each day a bowl of nourishing soup. When he began to recover he called the fetish priests of Akim together to find out from what the illness had stemmed - their reply was that the ancestors were displeased with the harshness with which he had dealt with Asase (still at that time in the block). He was released, but forbidden to leave Kibi without king Ata's permission, Eisenschmid saw other customs being performed to assist in Ata's recovery - 100 women bringing water from the Berem to pour it out on the street, and a few days later a similar crowd of women took the rubbish from the streets and poured it into the Berem. Eisenschmid still had the entry to Ata, and once when he found a white hen impaled on a stick outside the palace he chided him for superstition which made the air foul, when he could have had the hen turned into a strengthening soup. Ata had said since his illness how much he valued the display of love in the bringing of soup etc., but Eisenschmid writes that he is sadly no nearer the Christian faith through his illness. The five recent baptisms (all schoolboys): Kodjo Amaku (Nathaniel) a son of a slave of a sister of Ata's. Eisenschmid describes a change from a wild boy (he was 14 at time of baptism) who ran away from school several times but was brought back every time by his mistress to someone who is no longer proud, has done them small pleasing things of his own volition, and is modest and friendly. The elder (Jacobo) described him as having had a dream following which he was heartened about becoming a Christian. Kwame Antwi, 12 years old from Kwabeng, entered the school at the beginning of 1864. A warm-hearted and obedient chap, of satisfactory conduct (Christian name Timotheo). (Daniel) Adu Kwabenai, c13 years old, son of a Kibi elder. Not very gifted, but has a good grasp of Christian truth and prays for himself. (David) Apenkese, c11 years old, from the house of a Kibi elder. (Wilhelm) Apanwia, 9-10 years old, a son of Ata. Very open and friendly. Eisenschmid clearly feels that these are a very hopeful bunch of boys.

29.09.1866

29.09.1866

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