The river system of the Colony consists of a series of rivers origina- 

 ting in the Ashanti plateau and range, and running in a south-westerly 

 direction to the coast. From the west the principal rivers are the 

 Bia, which early passes into the Ivory Coast ; the Tano, which 

 leaves the colony a short distance from the coast and flows into the 

 Tendo lagoon in the Ivory Coast ; the Ancobra ; the Prah, formed 

 by the Ofin, Adra, Anum, Prah and Birrim ; the Nakwa ; and the 

 Densu. 



Owing to rapids the biggest rivers only are partially navigable, 

 and these only for small craft. 



In the south-west and south-east of the Colony are large salt- 

 water lagoons, due to the coastal current having deposited a bar of 

 sand across the old river deltas. 



In central Ashanti there is one freshwater lake, Bosumptwi, about 

 25 miles in circumference. 



To the above general summary may be added the following notes 

 of Mr. Kitson.* 



" The coast-line varies very much in its character from west to 

 east. Between Newton and Axim there are strips of beach sand, 

 backed by swampy country, extending in places to about 20 miles 

 from the coast. From Axim eastward to beyond Appam, the greater 

 portion of the coast-line consists of massive rocky cliffs, some of them 

 rising as sheer walls to upwards of 200 feet above sea-level. Where 

 streams reach the ocean there are usually brackish or freshwater swamps 

 or lagoons, separated from the sea by fringes of sea sand. From near 

 Appam eastward to the limit of the colony there is an alternation of 

 lagoon and coastal plain, with or without cliffs. The land is steadily 

 encroaching on the sea. The coast-line is undoubtedly rising, a fact 

 evidenced by the occurrence of several well-marked marine terraces or 

 platforms, one of which is from 70 to 100 feet above present sea level, 

 and at least two others of more recent age, of 20 feet and 8 to 10 feet 

 above it. Three distinct marine terraces are visible in the Winnebah 

 District. The last uplift of 8 feet was partly the cause of the occun"ence 

 of the fringing and landlocked lagoons to be seen now along many parts 

 of the coast. In some places shells of existing marine species can be 

 seen in the clay and mud of the banks of channels several feet above 

 present sea-level. Owing to the uplift the shallow estuaries in in- 

 dentations of the coast at the mouths of streams were converted into 

 lagoons. The strong west-south-west Guinea current, and the pre- 

 vailing south-west wind acting on the sea formed a great swell which 

 persistently swept and is still sweeping along the coast, transporting 

 landward large quantities of sand along the sea-floor. Continued action 

 of this kind has resulted in the formation first of a shoal, then of a tidal 



*Mr. A. E. Kitson, C.B.E., "The Gold Coast, Some Considerations of its Structure, People 

 and Natural History." — The Geographical Journal, Nov., 1916. 



