SUPERSTITIONS. 
267 
after washing, believing that it hastens his growth and maturity. 
When any one denies a theft, an aggry bead is placed in a small 
vessel, with some water, the person holding it puts his right foot 
against the right foot of the accused, who invokes the power of the 
bead to kill him if he is guilty, and then takes it into his mouth 
with a little of the water, the rest being thrown on the ground, and 
crossed as he repeats the invocation : their superstition is generally 
superior to their resolution. I shall be expected to notice these 
aggry beads. 
The natives invariably declare that the aggry beads are found in 
the Dankara, Akim, Warsaw, Ahanta, and Fantee countries, the 
greater number in the former, being the richer in gold ; they say 
they are directed to dig for them by a spiral vapour issuing from 
the ground, and that they rarely lay near the surface ; the finder 
is said to be sure of a series of good fortune. The plain aggry 
beads are blue, yellow, green, or a dull red, the variegated consist 
of every colour and shade. The Fantees prefer the plain yellow 
bead , the Amanaheans the blue and yellow, for which they will 
give double the weight in gold ; those of inferior beauty frequently 
fetch a large price, from having been worn by some royal or 
eminent character. Dr, Ley den, who writes, the aigris is a stone 
of a greenish blue colour, supposed to be a species of jasper, small 
perforated pieces of which, valued at their weight in gold, are used 
for money,'' (which I never heard of,) rather describes the popo 
bead ; though that is semi-transparent, (of a bright blue,) re- 
sembling carnelian, (which is frequently found in these countries) 
and said to be obtained in the same manner as the aggry bead. 
Isert writes, " they are a sort of coral, with inlaid work : the art of 
making beads is entirely lost, or was never known in these parts : 
it is not improbable, that in the golden age of Egypt, she had com- 
munication with the Gold Coast; indeed, it has been thought, and 
