THE SETTLEMENT OF CAPE COAST. 53 



by European troops, of six hundred men, two hun- 

 dred and ninety-five fell victims to the climate ; 

 and in 1825 and 1826, of three hundred and 

 twenty-nine Europeans admitted into the hospi- 

 tal, only thirty-two died. I am inclined to think 

 that the decrease in the mortality arose more 

 from the survivors being seasoned to the climate, 

 than from any decrease of the poisonous miasma. 



The Fantees, as well as the Ashantees, ma- 

 nufacture gold into a variety of beautiful trin- 

 kets : their chains especially are highly valued, 

 in consequence of the purity of the metal. Mr. 

 M*Lean showed me an Ashantee " cable-laid" 

 chain of the most perfect manufacture, and a 

 snuff-box which a native had made, that, with 

 the exception of the hinges, would not have 

 disgraced a London artist. The usual way of 

 getting a ring or any article made, is to weigh 

 out the gold dust to the workman, who returns 

 with the article completed, being less in weight 

 by one fifth, which repays him for his workman- 

 ship and waste of metal. 



The quantity of gold produced on the Gold 

 Coast varies from forty thousand to fifty thou- 

 sand ounces, and is all collected by washing. 



