PENSILE NESTS OF WEAVER-BIRDS. 
135 
native town, with its chief and a population of about six 
thousand, is quite as much under the influence of 
the Governor of the Castle as if subject to it. With 
the exception of a few English houses, the town 
consists of straggling lines of mud-huts, to which little 
clusters of Palm trees and an occasional Tamarind, 
add a look of coolness, even under the burning sun of 
that coast. Suspended from the graceful leaf of the 
former, we noticed some of the curious and interesting 
nests of the Ploceus teactor, or Weaver-bird ; formed 
principally of little shreds of dried grass and palm- 
leaf, neatly interwoven into an oval-shape, and having 
a rounded aperture at the upper part ; they are fastened 
by several long grassy filaments to the palm branch, and 
have a beautiful effect, while their chattering occupants, 
decorated in their rufous-brown and rich yellow plumage, 
flitted about as if fearful of our intmsive visit. We 
must admire the provident instinct evinced in this 
arrangement of the nests ; ensuring protection for the 
eggs and young, which, in the breeding season, would 
otherwise be destroyed by the numerous snakes. 
On entering several of the huts, the men were 
found lying about as if there was no possible occasion 
for working, while the women were employed in some 
of their simple household duties. The Fantis are 
thoroughly superstitious; near most of the dwellings 
could be observed some rude clay or wooden objects, 
intended for Fetiche worship, and they have their lucky 
and unlucky days ; on the latter, of course, no work is 
done, from a belief that it would be unsuccessful. 
