Hi) ri;< ><];]: i >IN<;S OF THK ANATOMICAL AND A.vniuoroi.o<;i< AI, 



spirits at large against both ; good ,s])irits, for the most part ancestral, 

 protecting from evil spirits and helping them on words through life. 

 They can be propitiated, and in certain cases they must be propitiated 

 even though it cost human life. 



Sheep are used for sacrificial purposes, and if there is a hill near 

 a village, with large rocks and stones on the top, then this is used for 

 an altar, and is called the Ju Ju mount. I know and have visited 

 two such places. A sheep is sacrificed once a year and oftener if the 

 chief has any special reason for doing so. For that reason large stones 

 are always considered sacred. 



Ancestor worship enters a great deal into the religion of the 

 Ashantis. In some cases bodies have been [(reserved for generations, 

 and annually feted and meat and drink brought to them. A well- 

 known example of this is the preservation of the remains of the 

 former kings of Kumasi, who were premier kings of Ashanti and 

 occupants of the great Ju Ju stool. 



Places selected for religious sites (public) are at road sides, that 

 is to say 10 or 20 yards off the forest path. They are circular in 

 shape (circular clearings), with a palm tree in the centre. From 

 the groves paths lead to the bnrying-groiuid of the village. In con- 

 nection with burying-grounds I ought to have mentioned that they 

 are divided into sections for young men and young women (the ages of 

 these would range from twelve to sixteen), then sections for older 

 men and women. Women who die in childbirth are in many cases 

 buried at the roadside, a short distance from the village, as are also 

 young children. Women who die during actual labour are thrown 

 into the bush. When a woman dies all her belongings, such as beads 

 and household utensils, are placed on her grave. Everything in the 

 shape of clothing is buried with her. When a man or woman dies, 

 guns are fired at intervals during the night or day, as the case may 

 be, also chanting, wailing by women, and beating of drums, all this 

 to frighten away evil spirits and to enable the spirit of the departed 

 to safely join those of his ancestors. 



As regards animals, natives have got peculiar notions. In many 



