state, there are no satisfactory records to determine. But that they were subjected to the kings of Asiantee is certain. They rebelled against the Asiantee government; but not being able to oppose the king's forces, they fled to the sea side, where they settled. During this contest, a certain individual held some station of authority among them; but as they dreaded the resentment of the king of Asiantee, and were fearful lest, on the promise of favour or reward, this person would betray them, they required a most singular proof of his fidelity, and this was, his consenting to lose his left hand. The man hesitating at this extraordinary method of trial, a general murmur arose against him; on which his cane-bearer stepped forward and laid his left arm upon the block, saying, That as his master seemed unwilling to lose a hand for the good of the people, he would.' He lost his left hand, and was appointed their Braffoe, which signifies a captain or leader. The title was to be hereditary, he was vested with many privileges which made him almost absolute, and his offspring were to be provided for, and considered as a kind of nobility. Hence arose the family of the Braffoes. Although the word Braffoe is translated a captain or leader, yet it is difficult to define the real import of the word. In its true and original sense, I suppose it to confer a title of the first distinction, next to that of king, and indeed the power which we found the Braffoes were in the habit of exercising confirms this. They lived separated from the community, in a district which went under the name of the Braffoe country. When they went abroad, they were distinguished by a chain suspended round the neck, which was long or short, according to lineal or collateral descent. The race of Braffoes gradually extended the powers that were given them, till at length they became obnoxious to the people, and for many years back no person in the Fantee country has been permitted to exercise the authority which was vested in the lineal descendants of the first Braffoe. They were, however, allowed considerable privileges, and on many occasions were a burthen on the people. Now there are very few of them in existence.

"The state of Accra was formerly more considerable than it

is at present. The greater part of the inhabitants, in 1680, were driven out of their territories by the Aquamboes, and escaped to Popo. The European traffic which had increased the wealth and arrogance of the Fantees and their neighbours, does not appear to have altered the mild manners of the Accras. The persons and properties of Whites and Blacks appear to have been always more respected at Accra than in any part of the Gold Coast. No oppressions nor impositions were encouraged, and the European trader might reside among them with security. There are some respectable natives here, who have been enlightened by an European education, and who, doubtless, furnish useful examples. This, added to the pleasing disposition of the people in general, renders Accra the most agreeable part of the Gold Coast. The country is open and flat, free from swamps, and consequently salubrious. Behind Accra, and at the distance of fifteen or twenty miles from it, the country loses its flat and open appearance, and is distinguished from the clear and level country about Accra, and to leeward of it, by the name of the Hill Country. Accra is the most considerable place for trade on the Gold Coast, and the only place that is open to the Asiantees. They bring their gold and ivory here without interruption, and it is pleasing to observe the different classes of people occupied in this branch of industry.

According to different accounts, the Asiantee country lies about N. N.W., or N.W., from Accra, and the king's chief place of residence, Accumassay, is about twelve days' journey, which, calculating a day's journey at twenty miles*, will make it 240 miles distance, yet a person may reach Asiantee in six or seven days. We have heard of only one European, a Dane, who has visited the capital of Asiantee; and the advantages that would arise from a knowledge of this country, and a free intercourse with it from the Gold Coast, would be considerable. There is no part of the Gold Coast more favourable for obtaining a knowledge of the interior than

* This is probably too large a calculation by three or four miles.

Acera. From it the traveller would gain a free admission të Asiantee, and, through the power and influence the Asiantee king probably possesses over inland states, the traveller's progress might be much facilitated. Independent of much important knowledge that would thus be obtained, a northeasterly route from Asiantee might decide the controverted question as to the termination of the Niger. A traveller might likewise get acquainted with the kingdom of Byo, a country of which we have heard very favourable reports, both as to its riches and power. We hear that the king maintains a large army of cavalry, and that many king* doms are tributary to him. Eyo is remarkable for a large breed of sheep, but the policy of the country does not permit either the ram or the ewe to leave it, but only the wethers. I have seen a wether that weighed 132 lbs. without the offal."

I.

Extract from a Letter of one of the Missionaries of the Mission Society to Africa and the East.

"FOR a considerable time, I have had a desire to visit John Pearce, Chief at Cakundy, on the Rio Nunez, (a native African) whose two sons are in our school. In April (1811) an opportunity offered, which I embraced. John Pearce received me with great civility, and immediately ordered his people to catch four bulls as a present. Mr. Pearce was extremely happy to hear that his sons were making good progress in

our school, and said that he would send more of his children. I visited the white and black traders in the river, who treated me with the greatest civility; although some of them suspected me to be a spy, rather than to be their friend. The number of traders there is very small: I believe there are only four; and even these have but few goods to trade with. If there was no smuggling, the Slave Trade would get its final blow, and the traders diminish still more.

"The banks of the Rio Nunez are inhabited by three different tribes. The Bagoes possess the sea shore, the Naloes and the Lantamas the other part of the river. The Lantamas were formerly more powerful than the others, but were reduced by the Naloes. At present they agree with each other, and John Pearce is the principal chief among them. The Foolahs have great intercourse with the white and black traders, bringing down slaves, ivory, gold, cattle, &c. and they sometimes assume authority over the Naloes and Lantamas, not hesitating to say: We consider you as our slaves: we spare you only on account of the traders in your river, of whom we can get those articles of which we stand in need.'

"Cultivation seems but little regarded in this quarter. The natives do not plant rice enough, even for their own use; but purchase it from the Foolahs, in exchange for salt. This neglect of cultivation originates, I think, in the Slave Trade. A great number of the natives have been employed in this traffic, either as servants, or as kidnappers, or as petty traders. They were encouraged by the good wages given by the traders, and by the high prices received for slaves. If a native could procure a slave and sell him, the profit would maintain him one year very easily, without planting any thing. This was certainly a great incentive to an idle life: to which many persons, even in Europe, are subject; and much more so in these dark regions. But, thanks be to God, that it hath pleased him to abolish this horrid traffic; and I humbly believe that he will also destroy the smug gling trade in human beings, with all its melancholy conse quences.

Y

"Many of the slave traders begin to ask, 'What shall we do? The Slave Trade is abolished; and the trade for produce will not maintain us: and to go home with little, or a mere nothing, we are ashamed: and how shall we get off, even with what property we have, since it consists of slaves? The men of war are ready to capture us with all that we have, and transportation will then be our lot.'

"Some say, We have resolved what to do. We will wait for smugglers. We purchase the slaves now cheap; and by these purchases we shall make a good bargain with some smuggling vessel.' Smugglers arrive; but the men of war lay hold on them: great discomfort again! In the mean time, the chief pays a visit to the traders, and expects as large a present as in former times, when the Slave Trade was going on briskly. The trader replies, You know that the Slave Trade is going on very miserably, so that I can with difficulty sell a few: the man of war comes for ever into your own rivers to make prizes of every slave vessel; so that in future even the smugglers will not venture to come in: whereby I am unable to make you much presents. The chief, displeased with the trader, and much more so with the man of war, will ask, How can the man of war know every vessel, and hear so soon that she lies in the river? The trader will say, Do you not think that those gentlemen at Bashia (the Missionaries) give information to Sierra Leone, against every slave vessel that they hear of in these rivers? and this will always be the case, so long as they are suffered in that quarter and then this country is ruined.' The chief, knowing that the Missionaries at Bashia have some intercourse with Sierra Leone, becomes somewhat suspicious of them: but he will say, 'I am not chief for Bashia, and have therefore but little power in that quarter; besides, my child is there at school, to learn the book; for which cause I should not like that any body should trouble them.' Such dissatisfactory answers still more vex the traders. They then begin to consult the Mandingoes and Foolahs; who, as being Mohammedans, are bred up in habits of enmity to Missionaries of the Gospel of Christ. Some time ago, they even resolved