328 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
Hope, is known in Inta bj the same name.* Where the beds 
were not an accumulation of cushions, the skin of the gnoo was 
nailed to a large wooden frame, raised on legs about a foot from 
the ground, and stretched as we would sacking. It was a revered 
custom that no virgin of either sex should sleep on this kind of 
bed. Another animal, called otrum, was described by the inha- 
bitants of the eastern frontier as having one very long horn on one 
side of the head and a short one on the other ; it is much larger 
than the gnoo. We met with a spotted animal of the cat kind 
(gahin, F. A. B.,) very common, and allied to the leopard or pan- 
ther, but whether referable to either of those species, or to be con- 
sidered as distinct, we could not determine, owing to the very 
vague and unsatisfactory character by which naturalists have 
attempted to distinguish them, the kind and number of the rows of 
spots ; which we have observed in individuals of the same decided 
species, to present almost an infinity of variation. 
The vulture (pittay, F. A. epraykee, B.,) which I have before 
mentioned to be venerated by the natives, for the same reason 
which the Egyptians venerated the Vulturus Percnopterus, is the 
Vulturus Monachus, figured by Le Vaiilant. Green pigeons 
(assam) are found, and crows with a white ring round their 
necks, probably the corvus scapularis figured by Le Vaiilant. 
There were several small birds of beautiful plumage, which sung 
melodiously; two in particular, the one like a blackbird, and the 
other of the same colour as the English thrush, but larger. Also 
a variety of parrots beautifully spangled with different colours. 
M. Cuvier was misinformed when he wrote (Regne animal, torn, i. 
p. 108) " Macaque est le nom g6nerique des singes h la cote de 
Guinee.'' The name is unknown there as well as in the interior. 
* C €St probablement lui qui a donne lieu a leur catohlepas. Voyez Pline, lib. 8, c. 32, 
et iElien, lib. 7? c. 5, Cuvier. The gnoo is almost always looking down. 
