296 William F. Daniell, Esq., on the Ethnography of 



with English or native soap, and, by its harsh friction, conduces 

 greatly to soften and remove the excrementitious depositions on the 

 skin. The cutaneous surface is subsequently anointed with palm 

 oil, lard, or shea-butter, brought from the interior, and known by 

 its familiar appellation of JJnkxh or Ashante grease, triturated with 

 the fragrant powder of a bark called Teufan, and other aromatic 

 perfumes, including those purchased from the merchants. Poma- 

 tum, chalk, limes, and other available accessories essential to the 

 toilet of the native beauty, also lend their aid to increase the lustre 

 of her charms, and towards the embellishment of her person, 

 whose natural fascinations no efforts are spared to heighten. To 

 secure the adulation of her lovers, and the supremacy over other 

 rivals, is always the first consideration in African coteries, since 

 it not only administers to the gratification of their self-esteem, but 

 the amelioration or advancement of their existing condition. 



Births. — The birth of any child, whether male or female, is not 

 considered an event of such importance as to demand the institution 

 of any religious or other rites. The offspring, like the Fante and 

 Mandingo tribes, receives its name on the eighth day, and a family 

 custom is specially ordained for the purpose. On such occasions the 

 infant is exhibited to its relatives and other connections which have 

 congregated beneath the roof of the parents to offer their congratu- 

 lations for its safe delivery, and to partake of the welcome hospita- 

 lity of the house, which has been duly provided with rum and other 

 intoxicating liquors, of which copious draughts are quaffed. On the 

 other hand, each guest who attends the meeting usually contributes 

 a few cowries towards defraying the expense of the ceremonial, while 

 others, in addition, bestow a few articles of dress or some appropriate 

 gift for the child itself. Thus, amidst a scene of homely festivity, 

 it acquires its first dedication to humanity, and after this public ac- 

 knowledgment of its rights of citizenship, is launched into the world 

 within whose narrow vortex of toil and trouble it has to encounter 

 the doom that inevitably attends upon all the chequered ordeals of 

 life. Among the great and wealthy this custom is accompanied 

 with protracted rejoicings and demonstrations of a careless liberality. 

 In the selection of the name to be given they are mostly guided by 

 certain ancient formulae, which, having been faithfully adhered to 

 by their progenitors, has descended to them as hereditary heir- 

 looms from an almost primeval age. Identical with similar rites so 

 commonly practised by the Inta races, they perhaps are coeval in 

 date, and have collaterally descended from one radiating source, and, 

 if not, the most probable explanation would be, that the Akkrahs 

 procured them from the former, and engrafted such a portion upon 

 their own social codes at some subsequent period, as would serve to sup- 

 ply any apparent deficiencies that might have then existed. Their titles 

 are taken from the day of the week on which the infant is born, and 

 are said to be mere modifications of the country terms by which they 

 are known to the Fantes. Each day, therefore, has its own especial 



