from the natives on their first going to re

side amongst them, is not the most pleasant, although well intended. A considerable number of them collect on the beach, ready to receive their visitor, when he first puts his foot on the shore. The ceremony of shaking hands with the principal men, and akio brinny, which means, how do you do white man, or, we are glad to see you, once over, the procession moves slowly on to the town, during which period, a constant discharge of musketry takes place; and the nearer one of the persons so employed, can fire his musket to his visitor's face, the greater honour he conceives he confers on him; so that while he moves his head quickly to the right in consequence of the stunning noise of a musket discharged close to his left ear, one of his hospitable friends, singes the whiskers of his right cheek. On arriving in the town, he is shown into a house, which is to be his future residence; and little presents, con

sisting of vegetables, poultry, and fruit, are brought to him by the women, for which a handsome return is expected. Brandy, pipes, and tobacco, are then distributed to the crowd, which soon afterwards disperse, except a few of the principal men, who remain in a group, and speculate on the probable benefits their new guest is likely to

confer on them.

Suicide is held here in such abhorrence, that a family considers it one of the greatest misfortunes that can happen to it, when one of its members is guilty of the crime. The eldest son of John Adoo, a wealthy native of Annamaboo, hung himself; which caused the principal members of his family to shut themselves up in their houses for some time. When they appeared in public, shame and grief seemed to cover, and afflict them; and it was remarked, that their townsmen were cautious never to mention the name of the deceased in their presence, which evinced a degree of feeling,

and respect for a distressed family, that could scarcely have been expected from those, who could sacrifice human beings in so cruel, and wanton a manner, as we have described. When I inquired why he had hanged himself, they answered, abuddam, he was a madınan.

Attah is the Fantee name for twin, and all twins born in Fantee, bear that name, the mothers of whom, are held in much estimation for being thus prolific. In Bonny, the reverse takes place; for there the mothers of twins are compared to goats, and they, as well as their offspring, are not unfrequently destroyed.

The Fantees and Asshantees may be classed together as one nation, the former occupying the sea-shore, and the country extending a few miles from it into the interior, and the latter a great extent of territory north of it.

The Fantees are black as jet, muscular, and well-formed, and those that are en

gaged in fishing and employed as canoemen, can endure much bodily fatigue, although they often make excuses to abridge their labour, however well they may be paid for it; for they are anxious to have the labour of the day concluded by noon, in order that they may wash and dress, and gossip with their neighbours the remainder of the day.

Their national mark is three small perpendicular incisions on each temple, and on the nape of the neck.

In the construction of their dwellings and canoes, they exhibit much superiority and skill over other African tribes; the former being substantially built, and not unfrequently having apartments over those on the basement story, and the latter having a form which renders them less liable to upset, or, to speak in a sailor's phrase, not so crank.

The Fantee women are well formed, and many of them are not wanting in personal beauty, as their features are small, their

limbs finely rounded, their hands and feet small, and their teeth uniformly white and even. The toilette of one of these females consists of a large calabash, containing a small mirror, paint (generally white), teethbrushes made of a very fibrous tough wood, a bark which has a powerful musky smell, grease, and soap. She has also a large brass pan, in which she generally washes herself from head to foot every day. She often consumes an hour or two in adorning her person; and in the application of her paint, the management of her hair, and the scenting of her person, discovers no inconsiderable degree of skill,

Young females, on arriving at the age of puberty, are dressed in their best garments, and have their persons adorned with the gold belonging to their families and acquaintances. In this garb they are paraded through the town by a number of their own sex. This ceremony is intended to acquaint the men that the lady is marriageable.