DRESS OF THE FEMALES. 
141 
men, under Captain McLean — the brother of the 
Governor ; who had got them into fair discipline, which 
we can well Imagine to have been no easy matter, con- 
sidering the antipathy these people have to any sort of 
active exercise. 
Everywhere there seemed to be abundance of good 
fruit, Pine-apples, Plantains, Bananas, and some Oranges, 
as well as vegetables • labour is the only requisite to 
produce almost anything from the soil, which is too rich 
for such indolent possessors. 
We observed here, as at several points along the coast, 
that some of the people were more or less daubed with 
3 this is practised by those who are suffering from 
disease ; being one of the principal native methods of 
cure for many disorders, especially head-aches and febrile 
attacks. 
The only clothing worn by them is a waist-cloth of 
blue and white cotton of native manufacture, or hand- 
kerchiefs of Manchester stuff, with strings of beads 
round the neck, waist and ankles. 
The female usually marries, or more properly enters on 
a state of concubinage, at fifteen, when all the gold orna- 
ments and dresses she can muster are displayed on her 
person. At her decease, any of these which may 
actually have been her own property are buried with her; 
but as the body is generally inteiTed within the hut, 
they are not often allowed to remain : the Fantis having 
less compunction than any Africans, we know, about 
disturbing the dead. 
