THEIR PHYSICAL CHARACTER. 
155 
in twelve tribes or families, each having a symbol of its 
own, and which yet connects the scattered members of 
each to one another. 
In general, the Fantis on the sea-coast have an 
appearance of height somewhat above the middle size, 
but which, in reality, is not so ; the too frequent lean- 
ness of the body and meagreness of the extremities 
causing this. The joints are large and bony, as also the 
hands and feet, which are quite African in shape. The 
head is round, rather than oval, and rises to such an 
extent as to present much of what is styled the pyra- 
midal form of cranium. The face is long, and the 
chin prognathous, or protruding forward, more than in 
any other race we have met with ; the nose frequently 
flat, the lips thick, and ears large. The skin is brownish- 
black ; in many of them dry, and inclined to be harsh ; it 
has little gloss. The females, although not much better 
featured, are often in better condition, their skin softer, 
and their appearance generally more prepossessing than 
the other sex. We looked in vain to realize any of the 
descriptions given by Barbot of the physical charac- 
ters of these people. Skin affections and country 
fevers are the most common diseases, with sometimes 
dysentery. 
They are under the nominal dominion of chiefs or 
caboceers, of whom King Agry, at Cape Coast, is one of 
the most influential. Each of the different towns or 
krooms, has a pynim or chief magistrate. Since the 
Ashanti wars, they have been more or less tributary to 
