WIVES SACKED.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 306, 26 December 1924, Page 10

WIVES SACKED.

EX-KING DISCHARGES 699. OXLY OKI-: LEFT. Ex King Prempeh, of Ashanti, who fia- been exiled in the Seychelles l-lands lor 24 years, and has arrived at l.hcrpool nn lii's way back to his native land, had 700 wives," twelve of whom he look into exile with him. When i.e. became a Christian in 1901, !"■ sent his twrlre wives back, and he intends to have only one wife when he eeis luuuc, says tiic Loudon "Evening News." Prempeh wears European dress, of which he is very proud, but he said it was tint true that ho wore a top hat wi.cn he went to church. Captured by a British force in 1596, Prempeh was" deported four years later. Twetil v-nine chiefs went, with him, of whom "only three survive, but when he arrived on the Anchor liner Olympic lie was accompanied by a retinue of 4S relatives and servant*. A picturesque member of the party was General Asafu Boakye, aged 94, who was second in command of the Ashanti army that fought Sir Garnet Wolseley's fore.', in 1874. Tiic ex-monarclt, now aged 54. although returning to Ashanti a free mail, will not ho king and will have no territorial sway. "My father."mother, and brother all died in Seychelles," ho sadly remarked. 'lint, I had nothing to complain of there except, of course, the banishment from mv own country. 1 have had plenty of liberty." During tho voyage Prempeh issued a challenge to passengers and crew to ' engage him at draughts. He remained unconquered to the end, proving an expert, player. While exiled ho and his people have come to speak the Creole language, and all the children, of whom quite a number have, been born in the Seychelles, are being tutored in the same tongue.