552 GUINEA. 
Guinea. withstand their influence, or to be guilty of any ne- Europeans, than an interchange of commodities will ad. 
—\—"_glect towards the Fetish. : mit of, are to be viewed in the true light of 
banguages: “Phere are innumerable languages and dialects along traders. When there is a prospect of a bargain © 
the whole of the west coast of Africa; but the most to be obtained, every species of low 7 and mer- 
prevalent in Guinea is the Fantee, which is understood _cenary artifice is practised to acquire it. They accom- 
from Apollonia to Acra, and to a considerable dis- modate themselves with much ity. 
tance inland. It is soft and harmonious ; but has never to our humours and fancies; every attitude, every ex- 
been reduced to writing. The following specimen pression, is carefully recommended by flexibility and 
gives the proper names of men and women, according ‘supplication ; yet they carefully avoid (showing) too 
to the day of the week on which they were born. t a desire of obtaining what would turn out pro« 
; fitable or advantageous to them ; and, when they know 
Days of the week. Men. Women. that their wishes are not to be gratified as easily as was — 
Sunday Quashie Aquishervah expected, Ser aprerenet is carefully concealed, and a 
Monday Cudjoe Adjuah seeming indifference is preserved in their behaviour.”— 
Tuesday Quabino Abinabah “« They may be justly pronounced as possessing all the — 
Wednesday Quacoe Eccoah chicanery inseparable from their calling, and are not 
Thursday Quow Abbah readily outwitted. Those who gain a livelihood by 
Friday Couffee Effuah fishing, are a laborious le ; and our knowledge of 
Saturday Quamina Ambah. them extends a little further of the trader, bes — 
cause they are employed frequently by us as canoes 
Character of The natives of the coast of Guinea are in general ex- men and labourers. When thus employed, they pers — 
the natives: tremely similar in their physical qualities, and in their form their duty with cheerfulness ; and, if encouraged, 
prevailing customs; but differ considerably in their will go h a vast deal of labour ; but they must 
dispositions and morals. The diversity in this respect be treated with exactness and punctuality. When 
is ascribed, with sufficient probability, to their inter- call for any customary allowance, or for payment, 
course with Europeans, ae especially to the degree in do not like to be put off, and expect that their 
which they.engage in the slave trade; but seems also should meet with its instant reward. If they be 
to arise partly From the form and character of the na- punctually attended to, they become neglectful, - 
tive governments. In most of the districts they are tall, inattentive to the interest of their employer. They ar 
well formed, with the usual negro features, thick lips, much addicted to that vice (theft), which prevails in 
and flatnoses. On the Grain Coast, especially in the most every part of the world, and are very expert in 
western parts, they are mild, peaceable, honest, andin- the practice of it, particularly as to small articles: which 
dustrious; but on the-Ivory Coast they have become they can easily conceal. Men who follow an agri 
deceitful and cruel. In Apollonia, they are extremely tural life, and who chiefly inhabit the inland parts, will 
courteous, hospitable, and brave ; but generally reser- ‘be found more uniform in their conduct than the tra- 
ved in their manners, a circumstance which has been ‘ders or fishermen. To consider them in a general 
attributed more to the despotic form of their govern- view, and to make allowances for the failings attached 
ment than their natural disposition. In the Ahantah to the uncivilized part of mankind, they may be consi- 
country, they are friendly in their manners, and more dered a well-meaning set:of men. are divested _ 
free in conversation than the Apollonians, but less hos- of that low cunning and deceitful artifice, known and 
pitable and courteous. The people of Chamah and practised by those who gain a livelihood by a more in- 
Commenda are very turbulent and ferocious, addicted timate connection with Europeans. They possess no 
to frequent quarrels, and much inclined to maltreat small share of honesty, sincerity, and benevolence ; and — 
Europeans.. Those of Elmina have generally been are strangers to the corrupt and licentious conduct 
found to be civil and peaceable ; but some recent in- ‘plainly to be seen among the inhabitants of the water ~ 
stances have occurred of their ferocity when roused by side.’’—“ The natives of the sea coast, from a more im- 
rovocation. The Fantees are generally an indolent, mediate connection with Europeans we should 
erocious, and faithless people; and their petty chiefs are more inclined to industry than those inland ; but 
are extremely avaricious and deceitful, watching every it will be found that real industry prevails more unix 
opportunity to gratify their vicious passions. The formly inland, and vice is less encouraged. Every per- 
natives of the Agonna country, especially around Win- son on the coast appears very diligent in aequiring the 
nebah, have long been noted for every species of licen- profits of his occupation ; but profligacy, drunkenness, 
tiousness, living entirely by ponder and displaymg a and debauchery, are practised to a pernicious extent.” 
degree of ferocity unparalleled in any other part of the Young ns of both sexes generally go naked till | 
coast. In Acra and Adampe. the inhabitants are re- the age of puberty, (which takes place in males at the |, 
markably indolent, addicted to drunkenness, and full age of twelve, and in females at ae — 
of deceit ; but those of Acra have been considerably about the loins, with a small slip of ¢ affixed to it 
improved by their intercourse with the Ashantees,a for the sake of decency. The dress of both sexes is p, 
powerful people in the interior, already mentioned, nearly alike, and consists’in a piece of cloth, about four 
and who manifest a greater attention to the rules of de. yards long and two broad, wrapped loosely around 
cency and morality than any other tribe yet discover- them; but, when engaged in occupation, part of it 
ed in the country. is folded about the loins, and the remainder hanging — 
vs Notwithstanding some years acquaintance with the down, covers the lower part of the body. The more 
natives,” (says Mr Meredith, referring principally to wealthy, especially when travel, are provided with 
the Gold Coast,) “TI find it no easy maticr to lay down hats, arid sometimes with sandals. The women generally 
their true character ; for they appear to us in a variety have their breasts uncovered ; and their garment is fase 
of forms, according to the nature of our intercourse tened round their middle by a girdle or zone called tom- 
with them, and to their employment. Those persons bah, which is supported behind by folds of cloth, forming 
who are indifferent to exceed a further intimacy with a protuberance, in proportion to the age and rank of the 
4 
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828 
