142 
CANOE MEN OF CAPE COAST. 
The women always carry their infants about with 
them, seated on a little pad or cushion, called a kanki, 
secured to the mother behind. 
Some nice specimens of ornithology were procured in 
the neighbouring woods, one of these the Crateropus 
Oriolides, or Oriole babbler, possesses a varied and 
pleasing note, and may be ranked as the highest of 
African warblers. It sometimes whistles so truly like a 
person going through a native air, that the sportsman 
is often deterred from firing, under the impression 
that there must be a w'oolly-headed performer in the 
bush, until the anxious specimen-hunter becomes im- 
patient and silences the little songster. 
The surf on embarking was very bad, and brought 
into play all the experience and care of our Fanti 
canoe men. The canoes are of different sizes, most of them 
being suitable for about eight or ten persons, while others 
have as many as thirty or forty in their crew ; they are 
flat-bottomed, and rise a little at each end. The passen- 
gers are placed in the bow', which is surrounded by high 
“ weather-boards,” to “fend off” the spray of the surf. 
Before launching the canoe, they watch for a lull, in 
which they shove off ; but in going through the w'orst 
part of the surf they paddle slowly, chanting a sort of 
solemn dirge, which is intended to propitiate their 
Fetiche, and ensure safety. When past all danger, they 
strike out in good style — if they expect to be w'ell 
paid — using their broken English to sing some subject 
connected with the passengers, and every now and then 
