218 
enlarging their knowledge and exciting 
their industry; and, above all, in esta- 
blishing such a government and police 
as shall secure them in the enjoyment 
of what they may acquire by their exer- 
tions. 
The government, political institutions, 
and laws of Agoona, resemble, in a great 
degree, those which are described in the - 
account of the Fantees. Jn some cases 
he caboceers, or chiefs of petty districts, 
are hereditary, in others they are elected 
by the people. Those chief$ occasion- 
aliy asume a despotic power, but in ge- 
neral they do not retain it long; the peo- 
ple frequently revolting in such cases, 
and expelling, or otherwise punishing, the 
usurper. The chiefs are assisted in the 
Description of the Agoona Country, 
administration of the Jaws by a kind of - 
judicial senate; the members of which, 
called Pynins, are chosen by the people 
from among the elders of the district; 
and it is their office to hear and decide 
causes, and pronounce the sentence of 
the law. They ‘must be considered as 
having an interest in condemning persons 
who are accused, as they have a share of 
all fines and forfeitures. The-Pynins are 
the only depositaries of the laws ; and in 
order to preserve and transmit the me- 
mory of them, they hold frequent meet- 
ings, at which the laws are promulged, or 
rather rehearsed. 
Almosi all crimes, great and smalh, are 
punishable by fine or slavery, which, in- 
deed, are almost the same punishment ; 
for if the convict cannct pay his fine, he 
becomes by law a slave, Even murder 
(A crime of rare occurrence), though the 
law says it shall be punished wih death, 
may be compensated by seven slaves. 
All criminal charges are tried by the 
Pynins, who: hear and weigh the evi- 
dence produced. But if there be ho 
dividual; but this is unusual. 
evidence, the cause is decided by a spe- 
cies of ordeal called Doom, which con. 
sists in admisistering to the person accu- 
sed a certain quantity of the bark of a 
tree deenied poisonous. ‘Ifhe retain it 
on his stomach, he 1s pronounced guilty ; 
if otherwise, innocent. .The refusal to 
sibn it.to this ordeal is considered’as a_ 
decisive proof of guilt, and the judges - 
. 7 = 5 i“ “4 
proceed accordingly. “The Pynins, who 
combine the ‘offices both of judge and 
jary, are sapposed to be very accessible 
te-bribes; and no person:.who is liberal.’ 
in ‘his gifts, -is likely -to be found guilty,’ 
Iti -some cases, however, where partia- 
lity is strongly suspected, the cause is 
ao 
tried by the Pynins of another district, 
aM 
[Oct. 1, 
or referred to the decision of the governor 
of the fort. j 
In the case of convictions for witch- 
craft, the family of the convict is in- 
volved in his punishment: it even ex- 
tends to all persons residing under his 
roof, on pretence that all in any way cons 
nected with him must possess a certain 
portion of his malign influence. Since 
the abolition of the slave-trade, how- 
ever, no convictions of this sort have 
taken place. ~ ; 
Hereditary feuds are common among 
this people; and the way in which they 
usually proceed in the prosecution of 
hostilities is, to seize by surprise, and 
‘carry off, persons belonging to the state 
or district with which they are at enmity, - 
or to any state in alhance with it; for 
they seldom engage in’ enterprises of a 
daring kind; nor is personal courage a 
striking feature in their character. Als 
most all their wars are of this predatory 
description; and the prisoners taken 
become the slaves of the captors, and 
are completely at their disposal. They 
are sometimes killed in the heat of pas- 
sion, but generally are preserved, with a 
view to profit. Prisoners are seldom’ 
exchanged. Sometimes two or more 
slaves are given for the ransom of an in- 
The people of this country are black, 
of the middle’ stature, in general well- 
made, vigorous, and capable of under- - 
going great labour. For the most part, 
they have a pleasing and open expression’ 
of countenance, and are of a gay and 
cheerful turn. They manifest a certain 
slowness of comprehension when new 
subjects are brought before them: and” 
yet this is’ hardly to be ascribed to any 
peculiar dullness or stupidity, as they | 
shew a sufficient degree of quickness in 
matters with which they are conversant. - 
They cannot be said to be warm in their 
affections; and though occasionally vio- 
lént and impetuous in their temper, yet 
they are more commonly show and delis 
berate in their proceedings. Tlospitality 
is carried among them to a great exfent: 
all strangers and travellers are admitted 
freely to partake of whatever the family ~ 
board affords... i 
_ The natives of Agoona may be consi- 
dered, on the whole, as an industrious” 
people; particularly these who are ene 
gased in fishing. With respect to those 
engaged in agriculture, as all their wants 
are supplied with little labour, it caunot: 
be expected that, in the existing state 
of 
