GEOGRAPHY. 
167 
twentieth part of the plants found here are the same as those on 
the Coast. With regard to natural history, I was less happy in 
making discoveries. The elephant, so abundantly inhabiting the 
environs of Fidah, (Whydah) and other wild beasts, are here very- 
rare, which may be attributed to the scarcity of grass, the growth 
of which is prevented by the almost impenetrable forests. Several 
sorts of birds are here seen, principally paroquets, of which I knew 
six species, Psittacus, Erythaeus and Pullarius (Linn.) the others 
seem to be new, and 1 also saw a great number of insects of new 
species. The mineral kingdom would perhaps be richer if they 
had mines here. The rocks are solely composed of rough stones 
like granite and grens, and their species ; dry quartz and slate 
stones are often found ; on the other hand I could not discover 
calcareous earth. The soil is varied, but consists in general of a 
rich aluminous earth, traced in different colours, and of a rich 
black earth with which sand is never mixed. The atmosphere 
seemed more salubrious than on the sea coast, though physicians 
generally deny this quality to exist near the forests which grow in 
warm climates. I believe the elevated situation of the country 
contributes much to it. The Europeans who inhabit the Coast in 
forts, would do well to establish an hospital and a garden here. 
The Arum Esculentum, the Banana (Musa sapientum) the Ananas 
(Bromelia Ananas) the Carica Papaia and Citron all abound here." 
The Assin path is that described in the route from Annamaboe 
to Coomassie, it branches off at Foosoo to Ensabra, two journies 
from Winnebah, through Anissoo, Asoidroo (the head quarters of 
the King of Ashantee in the invasion of 1807) and Atoaperrim, 
which means " to fire a gun."' The principal town of Assin is 
Ansa, through which we passed, Akrofroom, apparently larger, is 
called the second. A range of stony hills is the boundary of Assin 
and Akim. 
