74 Origin of the. Aahantces, 



ancestors had adopted from the Egyptian emigration, to retire 

 still more westward, from the first alarm of his approach, the 

 the fear of a second invasion, or the apprehension of being 

 spoiled of the half of their possessions, as he records some of 

 the nations he subdued, to have been. We are to recollect 

 also, that the Egyptians had colonies at Tachompso, Meroe, 

 and Gojam ; that Ptolemy Philadelphus penetrated, with 500 

 horse, into the country of the Ethiopians, and founded the city 

 Ptolemais Theron. 



Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus, both agree in distin- 

 guishing the Ethiopians in some degree civilized, from others 

 who were savages ; speaking of the former as having been of 

 themselves a little advanced, and afterwards perfected, in laws 

 and manners by the deserters and colonists from Egypt. 



Both authors impress that the genuine laws and customs of 

 these Ethiopians (preserved distinctly from those they had re- 

 ceived from the Egyptians,) were very singular, especially as re- 

 garded the succession or royalty. It will be seen that such laws 

 and customs of Ashantee, as cannot be assimilated with the 

 Egyptian, are of a very original and extraordinary character, 

 and especially as regards royalty or the succession. 



Diodorus says of the Ethiopian savages, that some deposit 

 their dead bodies in the water as the most honourable sepul- 

 ture, and others in their own houses. Now it is remarkable, 

 that the Jum Jums, spoken of to Mr. Hutchison, as a cannibal 

 nation, adjoining the Niger, far to the eastward, were particu- 

 larly described as consigning their dead to the river in rude 

 coffins. The Sheekans and Kaylees, and other Anthropophagi, 

 whom T have mentioned and laid down for the first time in the 

 map of Africa, having conversed with individuals of these 

 nations, in the Empoongwa, or Gabon country, bury their dead 

 in their houses under the beds. It will be seen too in my 

 chapter on Geography, that the Jum Jums of Mr. Hutchison, 

 as laid down in a manuscript Arabic chart which he sent to 

 me ; the Yem Yems, the cannibals described to Mr. Horneman 

 as Houth of Cano, and the Niger ; the cannibal nations, behind 

 the river Gabon, (who eat their dead, even their own children. 



