Native Laws--Roguery of the Natives; White Men fair
Game--Superstition--Fetish-houses--Colour, Habits, &c. of the
Natives--Prevalence of Drunkenness--Disgusting Neglect--Fashion
in Shaving--Tally System--Population--Accra--Mr. Bannerman and
his Hospitality--Danish Accra, partly Demolished--Occasion of
this--Attempt to assassinate the Governor--English Accra, its Trade
much reduced by Competition with Americans--Currency--Merchants’
Houses--Fruits and Flowers--The Coromantine Apple--Natives most
expert Thieves--Population--Circumcision--Mode of Carrying
Children--Sleep in the Open Air--Manufactures--Fish--Difficult
Landing--Salt Lake--Soil--Gaming and Drinking--Population of
English Accra--Stock--Cruel Treatment of Horses--Want of Natural
Affection--Sail for Ahguay--Boarded by an English Brig--Mr. Hutton’s
Factory at Ahguay--A Drunken Caboceer--His Dress and Attendants--A
Principal Fetish-woman, her Dress--Dance performed by Her--Natives
of Ahguay--Slave-merchants--Cotton and Indigo--Markets--Treatment
of Slaves--Characteristics of Africans--Fish--Method of
Dressing the Crab--Alligators--Alligator-hunt--Plants and
Fruits--The Velvet-Tamarind--Popoe--Mr. Lawson, a Native
Merchant--Introduction to his Wives--Merchants, their Mode
of Living--Slave-Trade--Population--Manufactures--Gaming and
Drinking--Kankie--M. De Suza’s Slave Establishment--His House--His
Domestic Slaves--Noisy Reception by the Caboceer--Treatment of Slaves.
The native laws are not severe. Theft is punished by fine,
imprisonment, or flogging, according to the magnitude of the offence.
Adultery is punished by compelling the adulterer to pay the original
price for which the adulteress was purchased by her husband, and the
culprit then takes the woman to himself. But female virtue is held in
so little esteem, that opportunities of infidelity are often afforded
by husbands to some of his less favourite wives for the purpose of
extorting money and getting rid of her. The common price of a wife here
and at Cape Coast is sixteen dollars. A wife is very seldom purchased
when more than twenty years old; but generally when five or six years
younger, so that very old men have frequently ten or a dozen wives much
younger than their own daughters. Not even the appearance of affection
exists between husband and wife, or between parents and children. So
little do they care for their offspring, that many offered to sell me
any of their sons or daughters as slaves. They are, to speak the truth,
in point of parental affection inferior to brutes.
The caboceer is judge and chief magistrate at Winnebah, his captains
forming his council or jury; but a white man who has been robbed seldom
obtains any redress, since the natives consider him as fair game,
and the caboceer, doubtless, receives part of the plunder. Whenever,
therefore, I detected the offenders, I gave the thieves a good sound
flogging myself. There are here, as all along the coast, fetish-houses
in many different parts of the town; and the image worshipped by them
is a rude figure made of clay, in a sitting posture, and as nearly
like a human being as the artist can make it. On certain days they
prostrate themselves and kiss the ground, when they come near any of
their sacred places. Nothing offends them more than showing contempt
for their fetish. This is resented more especially by their fetish-men,
or priests; there are also many fetish-women on this part of the coast.
The natives vary much in colour, owing to the mixture of the different
tribes; those of the purest race have what is called a good black hue,
woolly hair, high forehead, with the upper part narrow and round. The
average height of the men is five feet nine inches; of the women, about
five feet six inches: they are well made. They usually wear only a
cloth round their loins, but the younger of both sexes generally go
entirely naked. They most commonly wash themselves once in twenty-four
hours, but lie on the ground huddled together like pigs. Their food is
chiefly yams, plantains, kankie, fish, and palm-oil. The caboceer and
his captains generally get drunk with palm-wine, peto, and rum, twice
in the twenty-four hours.
Much neglect seems to prevail at the time of the birth of male
children, respecting the separation of the umbilical cord. Many boys,
and even men, may be seen with protruding navels as large as a duck’s
egg, sometimes turned down at the end. They have many different
fashions in shaving their heads: some leave only a small tuft on the
crown; others, a tuft on one side just above the ear; others, narrow
strips from the middle of the forehead to the top of the head; others,
again, from ear to ear, thus dividing the head into four parts. Some
shave their heads only from the forehead to the suture, which is very
observable in the skulls kept in their fetish-houses. Of letters or
cyphers they are wholly ignorant. Their tally is kept in grains of
Indian corn, so many being put in one small bag as an account against
the debtor, and in another as the number due to the creditor. Surnames
are not in use in any part of the Western Coast,[6] except among the
few who have been educated, whose number is very small, considering
the time that missionaries and schools have been established among
them. The town of Winnebah contains about four thousand inhabitants.
February 5th, 1845.--We set sail from Winnebah and landed at Accra.
On the morning of the 6th I went on shore and visited Mr. Bannerman,
whose hospitality and kindness are well known to Europeans. After
breakfasting with him, I went to see some more of my friends in this
place; and with Mr. Gedge, a British merchant established here, I
remained during my stay. He drove me over the Danish Accra, where we
visited the Governor, a very kind and gentlemanly man.
Two days previous to my arrival at Accra, he had been under the
necessity of destroying part of the town, as the inhabitants of the
demolished houses had received and harboured a party of miscreants
who had come down from the Woodlands with the intention of murdering
him. The party, amounting to fifty armed men, had stationed themselves
on the beach to waylay his Excellency when he landed from a Danish
vessel anchored in the roads, on board of which he had gone to visit
the commander; but before the boat came within gunshot of the beach,
a signal from the fort warned them to keep off. His Excellency,
thereupon, returned to the ship, and brought a few marines in another
boat, who soon put these would-be assassins to flight. When he had
ascertained where they had been secreted, his Excellency ordered that
part of the town to be cannonaded. I visited the ruins, and it was
certainly a wretched spectacle to see so many houses in ashes, and
their inhabitants encamped on the outskirts of the town, with such
articles of furniture as they were able to save from destruction.
Fortunately, this being the dry season, they were not so much exposed
as otherwise they might have been.
These people feel the destruction of their abodes the more as their
dwellings are their family sepulchres; every member of the family being
invariably buried under the floor. What rendered their case still more
wretched, was, knowing that they would not be allowed to rebuild their
houses, as the Governor intends to build barracks upon the site of the
ruins.
It may be well to give some information respecting the origin of this
untoward event. The chief of the Aquapim country had a rival in his own
brother, who established his claim upon the grounds, that, although not
the lawful heir, he had been chosen, as was the custom, by the people;
the decision of the matter was therefore referred to the arbitration
of the Governor of the Danish fort at Accra. The rival chiefs, as is
usual in such cases, repaired to Accra, and waited in the market-place
until their arrival was announced to the Governor. During this
interval, one of the parties commenced their palaver; but the lawful
chief declared his determination not to enter into any palaver, except
in the Governor’s presence. High words ensued, and the usurping party
withdrew to the houses where they had deposited their arms, with which
they immediately returned; and, without ceremony, fired upon their
opponents, killing and wounding several of them, as well as several
individuals no way concerned in the affair. This enraged not only the
opposing party, but also the people of Danish Accra, who instantly
attacked and pursued their assailants, who immediately fled. They were,
however, speedily overtaken, and compelled to fight, and several, on
both sides, were killed. Six of the chiefs of the usurping party were
beheaded, with their chief Owoosoo, and their heads were carried back
to Accra, and placed close by the gate of the fort. When the Danish
Governor was informed of this, he ordered the heads to be buried, and,
as soon as he conveniently could, went himself to the Aquapim country,
in order to settle, if possible, their palaver. However, this could not
be done with satisfaction to both parties, consequently the usurping
party (whose chief was killed) determined to kill the Danish Governor.
This, as we have mentioned, was happily prevented. The name of the
rival chiefs were Ahdoom and Owoosoo.
English Accra is well situated on the sea-coast, in 5° 31′ 9″ N.
latitude, and 11′ 5″ W. longitude--Dutch Accra joining it. This place
carries on a considerable trade in gold, palm-oil, and ivory; but
the English trade is now much reduced, on account of the number of
American vessels which visit the whole coast, with goods of a very
inferior description, and, of course, at a very low price. Moreover,
the American captains generally, for a trifle of extra pay, act as
supercargoes, hawking their goods in all seaport towns, as our pedlars
do in England; and as the natives cannot distinguish a good from an
inferior article, the fair trader, or resident merchant (whose expenses
are very great), is much injured. Dollars and cowries are the proper
currency; but oil and ivory, as well as gold, are generally exchanged
for goods suitable for the country, such as cotton, cloths, gun,
gunpowder, and flints.
There are several old-established merchants in Accra, both native and
English. Of the former, several have been educated in England, and
are very respectable men, who have done much for the improvement and
appearance of Accra. Their houses, as far as is consistent with the
climate, where the thermometer ranges from 82° to 87° in the shade,
are built on the English plan, with large gardens and pleasure-grounds,
laid out at an enormous expense, though not very productive, as the
soil in the immediate neighbourhood is chiefly sand or gravel, and very
dry and barren.
Cactus of different kinds, and the prickly pear, grow here in great
abundance; the cashew nut, which produces much fruit, is also common,
as well as oranges, limes, bananas, plantains, and pine-apples, with
another very delicious fruit, not very common on this coast, called the
Coromantine, or Cromantine apple, from the Dutch settlement bearing
that name near Annamaboe. Its native name, however, is Arombobgway.
It is about the size of a hen’s egg, and has nearly the shape of a
pear. Its colour, when ripe, is a dark yellow; its skin smooth, with
an oblong grain. Its sweetness is mixed with a slight acidity. The
natives prize it highly as a preventive against sea-sickness. Its
seeds are four in number, oblong, and about three quarters of an inch
in length, very thin towards the edge, gradually thickening towards
the centre to three-eighths of an inch. In colour it is similar to
the horse-chestnut; the inner part is of a pale yellow, and easily
separated in the middle.
The natives of Accra are allowed, by all other people from Cape Coast
to Benin, to be the greatest and most expert thieves along the whole
coast; but my experience does not enable me to perceive any great
difference in this respect, for I have found them all a great deal
more dexterous than was convenient, white men being always considered
as lawful prey in all cases. Even in the market they will always ask
four times the proper price from an European. The population is much
mixed here as well as at Winnebah; but there are considerably more
mulattoes in proportion to the respective population of the two places.
This, no doubt, arises from their having had more intercourse with
Europeans. Circumcision is practised by a considerable number. This
custom was introduced by some of the slaves brought from the interior;
as I observed the same practice in several towns on the banks of the
Niger when there in 1841. In Accra this operation is performed upon
the children generally at the age of ten or eleven years, after which
a square grass mat, about the thickness of coarse canvass, is worn by
the boy till the wound is healed, by which those who have undergone the
operation are easily distinguished from others.
Many of the natives, both male and female, go entirely naked, till
they are twelve or thirteen years old; and all, when grown up, except
a very few, have the upper part of their bodies entirely naked, as
well as their legs and feet. The women invariably carry their child
upon their back while in the performance of their domestic duties, and
even on their long journeys into the bush to buy provision, either
for their families or for sale in the market. All laborious duties
fall on the wives; fishing, planting corn or manioc, is the only work
performed by the husband. The child, as before stated, is carried on
its mother’s back or hips, resting upon a kankie--a sort of pad in the
shape of a half moon, fixed tightly round the loins, and protruding at
least six inches. The child is seated on this sort of pad or saddle,
with a strip of country cloth round the upper part of its body, as
well as its mother, to keep it in its proper place. When the child
requires the mother’s breast, you will often see it reaching its head
round to the front, and catching hold of the breast with both hands, to
support itself while sucking, the mother continuing her pace unaltered,
with perhaps a hundred-weight of yams and fruit on her head, during a
journey of twelve or fifteen miles. The women’s breasts are generally
much larger and looser than those of an European, and frequently hang
down as low as the waist, which is very convenient for the infant when
seated in its saddle.
During the dry season the natives very seldom sleep in their houses
in any part of the west coast of Africa, but lie on a thin grass mat
outside of their houses, without any covering. Country cloths are
manufactured at Accra, but not extensively. Drip or filter stones are
made from an excellent stone found here, superior to any other for
that purpose. The same stone is also used for building. Fish is very
abundant generally, amongst which is one of a very peculiar flavour,
much esteemed, and not found on any other part of the coast, called by
the natives _pogie_. The fish is generally dried in the same fashion as
at Winnebah. Quantities of these fish are sent into the interior, even
to Ashantee.
The landing is difficult at certain seasons, owing to a great many
ridges of rocks. In the rear of the town is a salt lake of considerable
magnitude, frequently broken in upon by the sea, which washes away
the sand-bank, separating the one from the other. Three or four miles
behind the town is fine land for cultivation, but between that distance
and the town the soil is sandy, mixed with shells and other marine
substances, leaving no doubt that the sea, at a former period, covered
the surface. Gaming and drinking are prevalent here to a great extent.
Cards, and a game called Adjito, are the principal games. Draughts are
also played in Dutch Accra.
English Accra, according to my estimation, contains about seven
thousand inhabitants. Stock of different kinds is abundant; and if any
attention were paid to it, it might be wonderfully improved, but the
Africans pay no attention either to domestic or wild animals; even the
dog or horse, the two most sagacious of all the animal creation, excite
in them no interest whatever. If not driven to it, they will suffer a
horse to stand for days, tied up without food or water. In fact, in
no case do they exhibit any feeling either of regard or affection,
to merit even a comparison with any of the lower animals, being also
selfish in the extreme, in every point where no traces of education are
found.
February 11th.--I sailed from Accra, for Ahguay, accompanied by Mr.
Hutton, on board the _St. Helier_ of Jersey, Master, Deslands. This
vessel being consigned to Mr. Hutton, with goods for his factories on
the leeward coast, gave me a good opportunity of visiting each place
where his factories are established, as well as many of the principal
towns and markets in the neighbourhood.
On the 12th, at ten A.M., we were boarded by the _Cygnet_, brig-of-war,
the same vessel in which I was ordered a passage from England, previous
to my being transferred to the _Prometheus_ steamer. Only a short time
previous, she had run a large Spanish slaver on shore, much larger than
herself, and well armed. She was then on the look-out for a felucca,
which was afterwards taken by the _Hydra_ steamer. On the 13th, we
were boarded by the _Star_, Captain Dunlop, off Popoe, a town of
slave-trading notoriety.
On the same evening we anchored off Ahguay, another of the greatest
slave-marts on the coast of Africa; and on the following morning went
on shore in one of Mr. Hutton’s canoes, which we brought from Cape
Coast, as well as a crew of canoemen, as there is great difficulty at
times when shipping slaves in obtaining them, for they are generally
themselves slaves, and their masters invariably slave-dealers,
Spaniards and Portuguese. In fact, all the natives here who can afford
it are all concerned in this traffic.
After landing, we proceeded to Mr. Hutton’s factory, on the south
side of the town, facing the sea, distant half a mile, over a bed
of loose dry sand, and always very hot. The sea-breeze, however,
renders it less distressing. Upon nearing the factory, we were met
by the caboceer, a tall fat man, with bloodshot eyes. He appeared to
be a complete specimen of the drunken sot, which I found to be truly
the case. He wore a country cloth round his loins, and a light blue
hat, too small for him. On his wrists he had heavy iron bracelets,
rudely manufactured. On this occasion he was attended by his principal
captains, or headmen, but what in any civilized country would be called
a disgusting rabble. About twenty or thirty had old Danish muskets,
with which they kept up an irregular fire when the guns were inclined
to go off, which was seldom the case more than once out of four times.
A great many, however, never broke silence, running round their chief
like so many loose hounds, and performing the most ludicrous and
disgusting gestures, to show, as they imagined, their great superiority
to strangers.
This remarkable cavalcade was accompanied by the principal of the
fetish-women. Her dress or surplice was of the most grotesque
description. On her head was a fore-and-aft hat, in the form of a naval
cocked hat, made of grass or rushes, manufactured like our rush baskets
in England; a number of greegrees, or charms, were suspended round
her neck. Her lower garment, or official costume, was a thick coat of
thatch of the long grass, one end plaited into a band about four feet
long. This band is tied round the body, the loose ends of the grass
hanging downwards in the form of the Highlander’s kilt, but not quite
so good looking. The fetish-woman also wears on these state occasions
a sheep or goat’s skull on her forehead, outside her rush cap. She also
carries two rude wooden batons, one in each hand. She dances to the
music of her two batons, beating on each other, her motion being about
as graceful as a haycock shaken on the top of a haymaker’s pitchfork.
Her body is white-washed with a very fine lime, manufactured from the
oyster-shell, which is here in great abundance.
Nothing of particular interest struck me in Ahguay, the slave-trade
being the principal traffic. Palm-oil and a little ivory are purchased
by Mr. Hutton, the only European factor in the place. The character of
the natives is depraved in the extreme. As in all other slave-dealing
settlements, they are aided by each other in every sort of villany,
murder not excepted. The example set them by the Spaniards and
Portuguese is certainly bad. These are very numerous here. Besides
those actually slave-merchants, a great number of slave crews are
landed here, amongst whom very frequently deadly encounters take place
with the knife or pistol.
Cotton is cultivated by the natives, spun, and woven into cloth. In
spinning, the distaff is the only system or method known. They use
a considerable quantity of lime on their fingers when spinning, to
prevent the perspiration staining the thread. Indigo also grows here,
as well as in all the neighbourhood, and is manufactured rudely by the
natives. The leaves are pounded or beaten on a stone, until they become
one mass. They are afterwards made up into round balls, about the size
of a cricket-ball. They are then exposed in the market for sale.
There are two small markets daily in Ahguay, which are tolerably well
supplied with articles of consumption. Brazilian tobacco is sold in
the market,--no doubt taken in exchange for slaves; yams, manioc root,
plantain and banana, pine-apples, cashew nuts, ginger and pepper;
ground nuts and cotton are also sold in the market, as also country
pots of very fair workmanship, grass bags, and mats of various kinds
and of mixed colours, some displaying considerable taste and skill. The
bush-rat is also dried, and sold in the market. The slaves are let out,
like horses, to work; those selected for exportation work in irons.
The irons are worn round the neck, the length of chain between each
slave being about a yard and a half; but I have never seen any of them
perform half what in England would be considered a day’s work for a boy
of fourteen years of age. The habits of all being naturally indolent,
they never expect half a day’s work from their slaves.
The condition of the domestic is very different to what the people in
England are led to suppose, except those who are exported. They are
considered as part of the family, and are very seldom worked beyond
what is necessary for exercise. They are constantly, as I have already
said, supplied with plenty of food, which is always in great abundance;
and if they are sick they are sure of being provided for. The owner
will always take care of his slaves for his own sake. As I have before
stated, nothing approaching affection, or that regard perceptible in
the civilized world, can be traced in the character of the uncivilized
African; neither can I convince myself that education even will
establish in the breast of an African those fine feelings to be found
in the European. The fox exhibits a treacherous cunning, but can never
be trained to that sagacity and attachment possessed by the spaniel or
Newfoundland dog. I may be considered severe in my remarks, but the
real character of the African has often been sadly mistaken, for want
of actual knowledge.
The African can never be properly appreciated where he has a chance of
obtaining anything by feigning any passion towards you, which may be
deemed most likely to obtain what he desires. But go amongst them poor
enough, as I was, only to pay for what you purchase, without anything
to give away, then you will never be troubled with any of their
importunities or pretended friendship.
The reception experienced by Mr. Hutton and myself from the caboceers
was purely with a view to obtain presents, as in the two following days
we were surrounded by them, begging rum and other articles.
At Ahguay fish are caught in great abundance, as are also crabs, both
land and water. They are converted into a very delicious dish by the
natives. The crab is dismembered, and his claws cracked or broken; all
the fish is taken out, as also that in the main body. The substance is
then finely minced together, seasoned with new palm-oil or suet, and
well seasoned with pepper.[7] This operation is performed after the
crab is parboiled. The whole of the preparation is then packed closely
into the shell of the body of the crab, and put into an oven and baked.
It is brought to the table in the shell. This would, in my opinion,
become a choice dish in England. Immediately behind this town is the
fine Lagoon river, which is navigated by great numbers of canoes from
a considerable distance. The greater part of the fish used in this
country is caught in this lagoon, which abounds with a variety of
fish, and great numbers of alligators, which are often very dangerous
to persons bathing in the river. A short time ago a large party were
bathing, amongst whom was only one man. An alligator seized him, and
of course killed him. In consequence of this, the natives turned,
accompanied by their fetish-men, and determined to hunt alligators
until they found the same one who had killed their companion. After
killing ten or eleven alligators, it was declared by the fetish-man
that they had at last caught the offender; for he informed the party
that his fetish had assured him of it. No doubt the fetish-man was now
tired of the sport.
The river here is about seventy yards wide, in the dry season,
and three and a half feet deep. The current is about one mile per
hour: source from West to East. From the northern bank the land is
very level, and the soil rich black loam and sand. It is partially
cultivated for the growth of yams, cassada or manioc, cotton, and
indigo. I observed some very singular heath at this place, about two
miles from the river; as also fern, which I could not distinguish from
a species I have observed in Great Britain and in Scotland, called
the lady or female fern. The velvet tamarind also grows here in great
abundance. It is a small fruit, about half an inch in diameter,
nearly round; it grows with a pod closely resembling fine black cotton
velvet. The pod is about the thickness of a penny-piece of copper, in
its centre, and has a sweet acid taste, much prized by the natives.
Although small in comparison with the common tamarind of this country,
it is much more delicate and delicious. The tree, at a little distance
from the sea, grows about twenty-five feet high, spreading in a regular
conical form, and forming an agreeable shade from the burning rays of
the sun. Its leaves are small, like the English plum-tree; its fruit
distributed very regularly. Many other delicious fruits are found here,
growing on shrubs of the laurel tribe. Some of the fruit are oblong,
others round, and about the size of a sloe, the colour of all is yellow
when ripe. Some also grow in pods about the size and shape of a large
capsicum, containing a large quantity of seeds. This neighbourhood
would, in my opinion, prove an excellent field for a botanist.
On the morning of the 15th, Mr. Hutton, myself, and a few more of the
people (natives), set out in a canoe to visit Popoe, and call upon
Mr. Lawson and his family. Popoe is about eight miles to the westward
of Ahguay, and is situate, like the latter place, close to the sea,
having the lagoon behind, or to the north of the town. My friend,
Mr. Hutton, had forwarded a communication of his intention to visit
Popoe. Mr. Lawson, as well as most of his family, were born at Accra,
and are consequently Fantees. He is a little old man, much under the
middle size, a jet black, with round shoulders, or bordering more upon
the buffalo or hump-back. He very graciously condescended to introduce
us to two of his favourite wives, of extraordinary dimensions, for
circumference of body is here considered a principal mark of beauty.
They were seated facing us, on the opposite side of the room, the old
man seating himself by our side. With one of his best grins, he pointed
out the two huge flesh mountains as his wives, upon which they seemed
much gratified. Each damsel had on her wrist a pair of large solid
silver bracelets, weighing about half a pound each, very plain, and
similar to those worn by the convicts in the dock-yards in England.
The ladies seemed about twenty-four years of age; while their old
matrimonial partner, very much resembling a monkey, was about seventy.
Mr. Lawson’s two sons are living in the next house to their father,
and carry on a trade in all sorts of goods of British manufacture,
which are exchanged for palm-oil and ivory. Their houses are good,
and in every way arranged to imitate our English style. They also
enjoy every luxury which can be procured from European nations, as
well as those of their own country. They are very kind and hospitable
in their own houses to those with whom they are acquainted, but they
are very deceitful and treacherous in their character. If an English
man-of-war or merchantman is in the offing or in the roads, the old
man acknowledges the British flag, but the moment the flag of another
nation is displayed, he, like the Vicar of Bray, acknowledges that also.
The old man professes great attachment for the English, and even
pretends to give our naval officers information respecting the
slave-trade, _but it is needless to say that it is always false_, as
he is one of the most notorious slave-dealers on the coast himself;
although I believe that it is not generally known in England he is at
all concerned in that traffic. This statement, however, may be relied
upon, as I am writing from ocular demonstration, as well as from
authentic information, to a much greater extent than even fell under
my own observation. I have also obtained information which may very
probably lead to implicate one in this abominable traffic who is little
suspected, and whose duty, according to British law, it is to suppress
this trade. But I shall, after obtaining more information with regard
to the conduct of this individual, write fully upon this subject.
Mr. Lawson, owing to his great trade and wealth acquired by the
slave-trade, is acknowledged by the inhabitants as the leading man in
Popoe, although they have a caboceer, or _dootay_, who is acknowledged
as hereditary chief magistrate or ruler; for when Mr. Lawson
interferes, the opinion or order of the caboceer is disregarded.
Popoe contains about five thousand inhabitants, amongst whom are many
Spaniards and Portuguese, whose numbers are considerably increased
of late, owing to the crews of several captured slave-ships being
landed at Whydah. Cotton is cultivated, and manufactured here to a
considerable extent. Earthen pots and jugs are also manufactured.
Drinking and gaming is becoming more prevalent among the natives.
Their chief drink is rum, and peto, which, if properly managed, would
make good beer. I made ale from the Indian corn a few days ago, which
I expect to prove tolerably good. The games they practise are cards,
draughts (no doubt introduced by Europeans), and the game of adjito,
before-mentioned. Tobacco is also much sought after by the natives.
Their chief food consists of kankie,[8] and fish, which is caught in
great abundance in the lagoon. Manioc-root is much in use for farina
for supplying the slaves while in barracoons, and also for their own
consumption. Yams are not so plentiful as on many other parts of the
coast. Stock of every description is here in abundance, and of a
superior description; but unfortunately little attention is paid to the
improvement of it. They never fatten any of their stock previous to
using them. The soil round this neighbourhood is very good and level.
On a small island, on the opposite side of the lagoon from Popoe, is
a large slave establishment with several barracoons, belonging to
Isidore de Suza, son of M. de Suza of Whydah, who is the greatest
slave-dealer in all Africa, although in other respects a very kind and
generous man. Mr. Hutton and myself visited the island, and called upon
Isidore. We were ushered into a large hall, or principal apartment,
beautifully arranged in the Spanish style, and richly furnished with
European materials. Round this apartment were arranged prints, in
rich gold frames, of Napoleon in his principal battles, as well as
his disinterment at St. Helena, and second funeral in France. In a
few minutes Isidore himself made his appearance, and gave us a hearty
reception. His house is very pleasantly situated, commanding a full
view of the Atlantic Ocean. It is well situated for his trade of
slave-dealing. Isidore is a tall, stout man, of pleasing expression
and agreeable manners. He is kind and generous to all his domestics,
who live in ease and indolence. The greater part of his domestic slaves
are at all times either playing at some game which can be enjoyed
either lying down or sitting, or stretched at full length in the dirt,
like so many pigs. The African does not play any games requiring
exercise of body, but will lie for a whole day scarcely changing his
position, except to eat; and on these occasions he generally eats as
much as three or four Europeans.
On this island I observed the finest cattle I had seen on this part
of the coast. They are properly attended to, having proper sheds, and
slaves appointed to attend to them. I also saw a very handsome pony
here, and in good condition. Isidore is of Portuguese parents.
After crossing the lagoon, we returned to Popoe, where we went
through the same ordeal of reception, by the continued annoyance of
the firing of old muskets close to our heads, as well as several
four-pounders placed on the sand (procured from the wreck of some
of the slave-vessels driven on shore), and fired as quickly as they
could be crammed full of powder, nearly as large as swan-shot. Here
we were followed by at least three or four hundred ragamuffins of
all descriptions, clapping hands, beating tom-toms, firing muskets,
flourishing a sort of bill-hook, which they call a sword, all
declaring their great satisfaction and good feeling at the sight of an
Englishman. They all followed us into Mr. Lawson’s yard, keeping up
the same discordant annoyance for at least two hours, when we found
that their principal good feeling was towards the rum puncheon, which
they emptied in a very short time. They will drink rum as fast as an
Englishman will drink beer. I was very glad when I saw their amusement
changed from such awful discord to the less noisy clamours of their
drinking quarrels. As early as possible I went to bed, but found it
impossible to sleep, owing to the noise of these gentry, which did not
cease until midnight, when the drunken party were too much exhausted to
keep up their clamour any longer. Slaves in barracoons for exportation
are fed twice during the twenty-four hours, morning and evening. They
are let out of their barracoons, and driven like cattle to the river,
eight or sometimes ten on the same chain. The chain is strong, the
links about eight inches long and about two inches wide, the iron about
three-eighths of an inch thick. They are chiefly fed upon farina, a
meal ground from the cassada or manioc-root.
FOOTNOTES:
[6] The natives name their children after the day of the week, and
if more than one child is born on the same day of the week, they are
called _First_, _Second_, and so on according to their seniority.
Sunday Quesera.
Monday Adjuda.
Tuesday Benada.
Wednesday Ewkra.
Thursday Yowda.
Friday Feera.
Saturday Memenda.
Persons born on each day of the week:--
Men. Women.
Sunday Quashie Aquesua.
Monday Kudjo Adjewa.
Tuesday Kobra Aabinaba.
Wednesday Quako Akooa.
Thursday Quaow Yaba.
Friday Kaffee Efwa.
Saturday Quamina Amma.
[7] This dish is called _katoh-kim_. In the Fantee country, _kotah_,
signifies crab, and _kim_, pudding.
[8] _Kankie_ is Indian corn ground, made into dough, wrapped in leaves,
and then baked or boiled in lumps, the size of a man’s fist.