426 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
and three small islands, Soombea, Ningahinga, and Ompoongee, 
are just beyond it, where the water becomes fresh. About twa 
miles further, is a larger island called Cheendue, inhabited, and 
the women of which are constantly employed in fishing for white 
mullet, being abundant. They dress them with a kind of choco- 
late, which I shall notice presently. Several large trees grow out 
of the water, one, eminently high, is directly in the middle of the 
river; they are called Intinga, or the iron tree. The eastern banks 
of this arm are inhabited by the Sheekans, who, with all the na- 
tions of the interior, are called Boolas by the Gaboons, a term sy- 
nonymous with Dunko in Ashantee. Adjoining Sheekan are the 
Jomays, who speak a dialect of the same language. The Shee- 
kans bury their dead within the house, under their beds. The 
Gaboons prohibit these people from visiting the coast, lest they 
should deprive them of their profits, as the medium between the 
interior and shipping, whether for slaves or manufactures. 
The Sheekans, like their neighbours, only reckon from 1 to 5^ 
conjoining these numerals afterwards, as Mr. Park has shewn the 
Feloops and the JalofFs to do. 
One - - - Ilwawtoe 
Two - - - Ibba 
Three - - - Bittach 
Four - - - Binnay 
Five _ _ - Bittah 
Ten - - - Ducoom 
Twenty - ~ - Eboomebba 
Hundred - - Kama 
The source of the north-eastern arm is unknown, it probably 
flows from the River Danger, called by the natives Moohnda, 
which flows very far from the interior; and, though not so wide, is 
considerably deeper than the Aroongo or Gabon. There is a creek 
passing Quaw Ben's town in the River Gabon, which runs inland 3 
