Akkrah and Adampe, Gold Coasts Africa. 299 



period of my service at this station, repeated investigations into the 

 currency and correctness of the report, has demonstrated that such 

 a custom is unknown and unfoUowed by the females. A popular 

 usage of quite an opposite character is, however, inculcated by the 

 Adampe women, living in the mountainous districts of Crobo, which 

 apparently resembles the one so much in vogue at Whydah, and in 

 the powerful kingdom of Dahomey, viz., nymphcd elongatio artifi- 

 cialis. Tho development of puberty in the girl is not promulgated 

 by any public parade or ceremony, nor is a custom enjoined, yet 

 such manifestations are frequently to be noticed in English and the 

 other Akkrahs, but they will upon inquiry be found to proceed more 

 decidedly from those Fante inhabitants who have immigrated from the 

 circumjacent countries, and located themselves within the town. 

 Its institution has never been supported by the people of this part 

 of the coast. 



Marriages, Sfc. — Polygamy, as might be naturally expected, is 

 carried on to an unbounded extent, the only restriction to the num- 

 ber of wives each man may possess being based on the resources he 

 has of maintaining them. Many females are betrothed in their 

 childhood to partners of a corresponding age, a bottle of rum and a 

 fathom of cloth being annually paid by the parents of the latter, as 

 a token of their sincerity and a continuous desire to confirm the 

 conditional engagement previously entered into. When the parties 

 have arrived at the proper state of maturity, the ratification of the 

 contract is demanded, and, if no obstacle intervenes, the nuptial rite, 

 if it can be so termed, is solemnised by a series of rejoicings which 

 have been appropriately designated the " Marriage Custom." This 

 social tie, however, is not connected with any religious formalities, 

 and can only be viewed under the aspect of a purchase, since the 

 woman, after the payment of the stipulated sum to her family, vir- 

 tually becomes the property of her husband, who, invested with a 

 legalised power, may allot her such duties or employment as he may 

 deem fit. The dowry usually given to the family of the woman on 

 these occasions amounts to the sum of two ounces of gold, or thirty- 

 two dollars, two-thirds of which are uniformly set apart towards 

 satisfying the domestic wants of the bride, being applied to the pur- 

 chase of various articles of dress, household utensils, and other mer- 

 cantile commodities. Detailed in the subjoined list is a variety of 

 merchandise required for this object, which, as it was furnished by 

 one of my own attendants on the solemnisation of his marriage, 

 may be taken as a general estimate with reference to others. 



6 Cloths of chintz, 4 yards each, . $6 



6 Heads of cowries, . . ♦ . 5 



1 Brass pan for washing, . . 2 



2 Fathoms of cloth for the mother, . 1 

 2 Fathoms of cloth for wife, . 1 

 1 Comb and pot of pomatum, . 1 



