Akkrah and Adampe, Gold Coast, Africa, 293 



other opulent personages, substitute in Ifcfu of the latter a series of 

 silver links or chains, to denote their higher degree of gentility. A 

 third sort of bead not so frequently seen, but more worthy of atten- 

 tion from the antiquity of its origin, and the universal repute in 

 which it was held long prior to the adoption of the articles in modern 

 use, is the one termed Fufuah. Constructed out of the smooth sur- 

 faces of bivalvular shells, in a circular form of attenuated dimensions, 

 and with flattened sides that admit of their easy perforation through 

 the centre, for the vegetable fibres on which they are densely strung, 

 they furnish an interesting example of primitive art in connection 

 with other instances of native ingenuity, that observation has recorded 

 in these countries. They are now chiefly procured from the Adampe 

 and Kreepe traders, who in days antecedent to those of European 

 supervention, reaped a much more lucrative harvest than they do at 

 present. They appear to be identical both in substance and design, 

 with a similar species of ornament in common wear among the 

 Boobies of Fernando Po, which however differ from them in their ruder 



manufacture and irregjular circumference. Notwithstandins their de- 

 cs _ o 



preciation in public esteem, they are still expressly valued for peculiar 

 objects. Women after death, are seldom interred until bedecked with 

 a zone of these shells, in order 'to ensure the recognition of their 

 friends and ancestors in the next world, who are supposed not to be 

 acquainted with the adjuncts of a later introduction. 



A remarkable appendage which usually excites the surprise of 

 the European on his first sojourn, is a protruding pad or cushion of 

 compressed cloth, placed posteriorly within the curvature of the loins, 

 and entitled in vulgar parlance a kankie, from its similarity towards 

 one in shape, but better understood by its local designation of 

 atuffo. The purport of this strange appliance would seem to be 

 rather problematical, from the inference produced by a confliction of 

 sentiments on the subject. For some remark that it can only be 

 fixed in this position with the obvious intent of supporting the off- 

 spring carried by the mothers behind, after the prevalent habit, 

 while others affirm that it is more with the view of facilitating a 

 convenient arrangement of their dress. So far as the evidence is at- 

 tainable, the popular interpretation is in favour of its appropriation to 

 those significant purposes which render an analogous appendage es- 

 sential to the contour of the fashionable dames in Europe. Its as- 

 sumption was originally restricted to those who had attained the age 

 of puberty, but innovations of a licentious growth have greatly inter- 

 fered with this limitation. The custom, however, is more systemati- 

 cally enforced in Prampram, Ningo, and the circumjacent territory, 

 where girls habitually wander forth, in this scanty garb, the only one 

 they are licensed to assume, until the expiration of their prescrip- 

 tive probation. This garb is simply confined to a narrow strip of 

 ramal passed beneath the pubes behind, and kept in its situation by 

 the above-mentioned cincture, which leaves both of its ends in pen- 

 dant freedom. To this circumstance is attributed the deductive 



