^ Maniijachires of the Kingdovi of Aslianlee. 29 



chiefly of corn, yams, ground-nuts, terraboys and encnima ; the 

 yams and ground-nuts are planteil with much regularity in tri- 

 angular beds, with small drains around e:ich and carefully cleared 

 from weeds. They use no implement but the hoe. Thev have 

 two crops of corn a year, plant their yams at Christmas, and dig 

 them early in September. The latter plantations had much the 

 appearance of a hop-garden well fenced in and regularly planted 

 in lines, with a broad walk around, and a hut at each wicker gate 

 where a slave and his family resided to protect the plantation. 



All the fruits mentioned as sold in the market grew in spon- 

 taneous abundance, as did the sugar-cane ; the oranges were of 

 a large size and exc)uisite flavour. I believe this fruit has hi- 

 therto been considered as indigenous to India only. We saw no 

 cocoa-nut trees, nor was that fruit in the market. Mr^ Park's 

 route was through a very different country. In the marshy ground 

 a large species of fern is very abundant ; there are four varieties - 

 of it : in sliady places that have been cultivated, various tribes of 

 urtica; and the leontodon grows abundant to the north of Coomas- 

 sie. The miraculous berry which gives acids the flavour of sweets, 

 making limes taste like honev, is common*. Tl)o castor oil 

 {Riciniis cormrmnh) rises to a large tree; I have only seen it as a 

 bush about three feet high on the coast ; and the wild fig is abun- 

 dant, though neither of them is used by the natives. The cot- 

 ton plant is very plentiful, but little cultivated. The only use to 

 which they apply the silk cotton is to the stuffing of cushions 

 or pillows f. Mr. Park observed the tobacco-plant which grows 

 luxuriantly in Inta and Dagwumba, and is called poah. The 

 visitors from those countries recognised it in a botanical work. 

 They first dry the leaves in the sun ; tnen, having rubbed them 

 well between their hands, mix them with water irito oval masses. 

 The Ashanlees, however, never use this tobacco when Portuguese 

 tobacco can be got from the coast even at the most extravagant 

 rate. They will sometimes give two ounces of gold for the roll 

 of Portuguese tobacco. The Dutch governor-general has been 

 known to receive eighty ounces of gold from the Ashantees for 

 tobacco alone. 



Lions are numerous on the northern frontiers of Inta; elephants 

 are remarkably numerous in Kong, and they are also found in 



• The c\n-ious fruit to wliich I have ^}vcn the name of oxvi^hjms, I find, 

 was known to De Marchais, who describes it as a little red fruit, wliicli be- 

 ing chewed gives a sweet taste to the most sour and bitter things. — Dalzel's 

 Dahommj. 



■y Cotton of the cotton tree (or silk cotton) Bomhux pcnUtndrhtm, Linn. 

 This cotton is not used for thread, but is made into |)iliows and beds. It is 

 also, from its catching fire so easily, rommoniy put into tindcr-hoxes and 

 employed in tlie jjreparation of fire-works. — .Vinslie's Materia Medira of 

 Jliwhitan. 



Ashantco 



