I 



Akkrah and Adampe, Gold Coast, Africa. 295 



The dress of the Mulatto community is fashioned in accordance 

 to the European mode, and is mostly made by native tailors, or 

 transmitted from Europe at their own request. That of the women, 

 on the contrary, partakes more of the country character, and with 

 the exception of a cotton chemisette compactly fitted to the body and 

 united down the front by stellate clasps of gold, there is no percep- 

 tible difference from those of the ordinary population, unless, indeed, 

 it is in the finer quality and richer assortment of apparel and trin- 

 kets. At periods they occasionally conform to the style of the white 

 ladies, but this, however, is less frequently than might be expected. 



The manner in which the hair is trimmed, also furnishes another 

 proof of an hereditary conservancy, though shared in common with 

 many of the Inta races. It is drawn obliquely upwards into a 

 conical mass, by the approximation of its extremities on the summit 

 of the head, where they are tied together and inverted. It is ar- 

 ranged with methodical care and nicety, and when shaved or wholly 

 cut off, is always indicative of affliction and misfortune, and thought 

 to be one of the most degrading penalties that can befal any delin- 

 quent. Its denudation has evidently been viewed in a similar light 

 by the Semitic nations, and has been alluded to in several of the 

 Sacred Writings.* Generally, however, a silk or cotton kerchief is 

 folded tightly round the head, and completely covers the greater part 

 of it. 



Cleanliness, 8fc. — In none of the regions of the coast are the pre- 

 cepts of cleanliness more strenuously advocated than by the popula- 

 tion of Akkrah. The scarcity of fresh water, however, from the 

 brief duration of the rainy season, and the absence of any conti- 

 guous stream or river, somewhat precludes their more regular observ- 

 ance on the part of the poorer inhabitants. To obviate, as far as 

 possible, the inconveniences arising from these drawbacks, large 

 ponds were scooped out on the outskirts of the town for the collec- 

 tion of the rain, and capacious tanks were built of solid masonry, 

 and arched over under ground, for a similar object, within the pre- 

 cincts of the principal mansions, or hewn out of the rocks on which 

 the European factories and forts were erected. By such contri- 

 vances a sufficient quantity was obtained to meet their domestic wants 

 during the continuance of the dry months. They who were desti- 

 tute of these resources were compelled to bring water either from 

 country wells, or from a tributary branch of the Sakkoom, several 

 miles distant. Morninfj and evening the women bathe themselves, 

 either within their houses or in spots set apart for their convenience ; 

 while the men resort towards the close of the day to the afore-men- 

 tionod reservoir, or are reduced to the alternative of washing in sea- 

 water, which, in fact, is the common practice among the labourers 

 and slaves. Sow, a Fante term for the dried ligneous fibres of some 

 root prepared for these ablutions, is constantly used in conjunction 



* Vide Job, i. 20 ; Deut. xxi. 13, kc 



