Manufactures of the Kingdom of Jshanlee. 33 



which stands a pot of water; a flat stick is dipped into this, with 

 which the wax is made of a proper softness ; it takes about a 

 quarter of an hour to make enough for a ring. When the model 

 is finished, it is inclosed in a composition of wet clay and char- 

 coal (which being closely pressed around it forms a mould), dried 

 in the sun, and having a small cup of the same materials at- 

 tached to it, (to contain the gold for fusion,) communicating with 

 the model by a small perforation. When the whole model is fi- 

 nished, and the gold carefully inclosed in the cup, it is put in a 

 charcoal fire with the cup undermost. When the gold is sup- 

 posed to be fused, the cup is turned uppermost, that it may run 

 into the place of the melted wax; when cool the clay is broken, 

 and if the article is not perfect it goes through the whole process 

 again. To give the gold its proper colour, they put a layer of 

 finely-ground red ochre (which thev call jtichuma) all over it, 

 nnd immerge it in boiling water mixed with the same substance 

 and a little salt ; after it has boiled half an hour, it is taken out 

 and thoroughly cleanseJ from any clay that may adhere to it. 

 Their bellows are imitations of ours; but the sheep skin they use 

 being tied to the wood with leather thongs, the wind escapes 

 through the crevices; therefore when much gold is on the fire they 

 are obliged to use two or three pair at the same time. Their anvils 

 are generally a large stone, or a piece of iron placed on the 

 ground. Their stoves are built of sursh (about three or four feet 

 high) in a circular form, and are open about one-fifth of the cir- 

 cumference ; a hole is made through tlie closed part, level with 

 the ground, for the nozzle of the bellows. Their weights are very 

 neat brass casts of almost every animal, fruit, or regetable, known 

 in the country. The king's scales, blow-pan, boxes and weights, 

 and even the tongs which hold the cinder to light his pipe, were 

 neativ made of the purest gold that could be manufactured. 



Their blacksmiths' work is performed with the same sort of 

 forge as the above ; but thev have no idea of making iron from 

 ore, as their interior neighbours do. Their swords are generally 

 perforated in patterns like fish trowels ; frequently they make two 

 blades springing j)ara!lel from one handle which evince very fine 

 workmanship. The needles and castanets will only give some 

 idea of their progress. The iron-stone is of a dark-red colour, 

 spotted with gr.'iy and intermixed with what has all tbe appear- 

 ance of lava ; they cut bullets out of it for the army when lead is 

 scarce. I have brought some arrows of native iron. They have 

 no idea of making a lock like the people of Iloussa and Mar- 

 rowa. 



They tan or dress leather in Ashantee, but they do this and dye 

 it in a very superior maimer in Houssa and Dagwumba ; — see the 

 sandals and cushion in the British Museum, the former varied 



Vol. 54. No. 25 r>. July 1819. C and 



