336 William F. Daniell, Esq., on the Ethnography of 



is only to be gained by means of a solitary entrance or doorway, 

 sheltered by a porch fitted with wooden benches for the accommodation 

 of those servitors who are attached to the demesne. Although of 

 regular occurrence at Cape Coast, where the aboriginal tenements 

 rise to the altitude of two storeys, here they seldom advance beyond 

 the ground floor, save in a few instances which are to be noticed as 

 exceptions to the general rule. Their compartments are mostly of 

 limited dimensions, and are more or less filthy, from neglect and the 

 accumulation of impurities. 



In proximity to Jamestown, Christianburg, aud Prampram, may 

 be observed separate salt water lakes, each of which are distinguished 

 by certain appellations ; those in the environs of the first two towns 

 are recognised by the terms of Kuale and Clorte, and from super- 

 stitious motives are deemed sacred. Of the three, that of James- 

 town or English Akkrah is the most extensive. All teem with an 



o 



abundance of crabs, shell-fish, and a species of small round fish ex- 

 tremely prolific, the young fry of which are eaten with avidity ; and 

 from their rapid reproduction, compensate the poorer classes for that 

 deficiency in similar kind of food to which their poverty subjects 

 them. To each of these towns is also appended a reservoir of fresh 

 water, which, during the prevalence of the rains, is always filled to 

 its full extent ; but from subsequent use and constant evaporation, 

 the fluid eventually becomes diminished to one half, and for the 

 greater part of the year remains in a stagnant and impure state ; 

 nevertheless it is exclusively retained, from the facility it affords for 

 personal ablutions and purification. 



Forming a direct communication between the three Akkrahs and 

 the rural hamlet of Fredericksburg, are roads, maintained in excellent 

 order chiefly through the exertions of the European residents. Por- 

 tions of them are fringed at intervals by the tamarind, chashew, and 

 other ornamental trees ; while in several of the suburban avenues are 

 planted rows of the Hibiscus populneus and a species of Ficus or 

 umbrella tree, so designated from the umbrageous canopy which its 

 leaves produce. On the verge of the footpaths that radiate from 

 the outskirts on different sides may be met the indigo, castor- oil, 

 and cotton shrubs, with fences of Cacti and Euphorbce even as the 

 magnificent Bombay flourishes amid the masses of human habitations, 

 in conjuction with the tapering coco-nut tree, that waves its feather- 

 like branches o'er the precincts of the same dwellings, as if in grateful 

 acknowledgment of the tender nature which their protection yielded 

 to its early growth. The streets and thoroughfares of the Adampe 

 town and villages are stated to be much superior to those of Akkrah, 

 being more cleanly, spacious, and of uniform width. 



Markets. — Markets are held on every day of the week, save on 

 such as are dedicated to religious observances. The situations 

 usually adopted are either at the entrance or termination of one of 

 the principal streets adjoining some cleared space of ground, or in 



