THE WESTERN COAST. 
ent opinions prevail ; for, besides those who attri- 
bute his creation to the Deity, there are some who 
believe that he was formed by Anansie, an enor- 
mous spider, and others who pretend that he 
emerged from caves and holes in the earth. Their 
notions fluctuate in the same uncertain manner 
with respect to a future state, which the majority 
believe, though some admit their ignorance con- 
cerning it. Others suppose, that the deceased are 
immediately conveyed to a famous river, named 
Bosmanque, in the interior of Africa, where God 
examines their past lives, and inquires whether 
they have observed the religious festivals, abstained 
from forbidden food, and kept their oaths inviola- 
bly ? If the result of this examination be favour- 
able, they are gently wafted over the river to a 
land of pure happiness, resembling the Paradise of 
Mahomet ; if unfavourable, the Deity plunges them 
into the river, where they are drowned, and buried 
in eternal oblivion. This is obviously an imperfect 
representation of the Mahometan doctrine. Others 
believe in the transmigration of souls. The idea of 
ghosts is extremely common ; and, like the vulgar 
opinion in Britain, the inexpiated crimes of the de- 
ceased are supposed to cause their souls to wander af- 
ter death. Atkins relates, that it is a common saying 
among the negroes, who are able to speak English, 
that, " after death, the honest goodee man go to 
" Godee, livee very well, have a goodee wife, goodee 
