SOCIETY OF THK UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN. 117 



planes monkeys arc sacred. To see a chameleon on a branch means 

 that a brother or relative is dead or will die soon. No native Ashanti 

 will touch a chameleon. There is a squirrel which is the doctor to 

 all the .smaller bush animals, and natives believe all sick animals go 

 to this squirrel for advice and medicine. The tail of this squirrel is 

 suspended over the door of houses to keep away sickness, just as a 

 horseshoe is used at home to keep away witches. Both are fetish. 



The Ashanti shaves his or her head on the anniversary of a death 

 or on the death of a relative, also upon the occasion of any special 

 agreement, taking an oath or the like. 



Native Ashanti law is very complicated, and takes note of what 

 to us would appear of the most trifling significance. To make a man 

 appear ridiculous before his fellows is punished by a fine. To call a 

 man a fool is the same. A man who tells a woman she is dirty 

 endangers his life by the hand of a relative of the woman. A man 

 may be fined for cursing a neighbour, also for calling a man a slave. 

 In most cases the chief decides those cases and takes half the fine 

 imposed, the other half going to the injured party. 



If a man does not wish to have the case tried before the local 

 chief, he may take the king's oath that he is innocent of any offence. 

 Then the case is tried before the king of the district. If a man swears 

 the king's oath that he is innocent, and is then found guilty, he is 

 liable to a fine of 20. 



I have known the King of Jaulim collect no less than 200 

 during a fortnight's visit to one of his big villages, hearing and 

 passing judgment on disputes and palavers. 



The sentence of death is not allowed to be passed by kings 

 or chiefs by the British Government. But in those isolated districts 

 away from the seat of Government many things happen, and will 

 happen for some time to come, which are not allowed. 



Kingship and chieftainships and property appertaining thereto 

 descends in the female line, e.<j., it is not the king's eldest son who 

 reigns in his father's stead but the king's sister's son. At Obananasi 

 the chief has no nephew but several sons ; none of these inherit. 



