THE SETTLEMENT OF CAPE COAST. 51 



through Boussa and the Ashantee country. The 

 Bornou kafilas bring to the eastern and northern 

 borders of Ashantee ivory and slaves, receiving 

 in return a few British and Portuguese goods, 

 but principally goora nuts. Its chief export, 

 however, is gold dust, the whole country being 

 impregnated more or less with that precious 

 metal, and many of the natives may continually 

 be seen washing and sifting the gravel at the sea- 

 side in search of it. This abundance of gold is 

 one principal cause of the dissipated, worthless 

 character of the people, who are, gamblers in their 

 business, notorious liars, cowards, and thieves. 

 Mr. M'Lean had made several efforts to induce 

 the idle surplus population to apply themselves to 

 agriculture, but in vain ; the fascinating uncer- 

 tainty of their favourite pursuit always prevailing 

 over the sober realities of a legitimate and ra- 

 tional occupation. I was much interested with 

 the account which I received of the Ashantee 

 character : it appears to be very far superior to 

 that of the Fantee or coast people, and it is to be 

 regretted that we were ever drawn into the ridi- 

 culous and useless war which embroiled us with 

 that nation. 



As some proof of the musical talent of the 



E 2 



