The mountains of Guinea, as far as they have been cx amined, are in general granitic and schistous, and are filled with mines of gold and iron. The latter of these metals is little known to the natives, and Europeans have not thought it their interest to instruct them in the subject ; but the first has been sought from time immemorial, and is likely to become a still more extensive object of traffic, in proportion as the exportation of human beings shall cease. Gold found in these mountains in a primitive state, between two layers of a granite, liner, more solid, and more highly coloured than the rest or the rock ; but the natives, unacquainted with the art of mining, and un provided with proper tools for the purpose, have never attempted to work it in these places. They confine their operations to digging at the base of the mountains, where the schistous beds and banks of granite are more friable, and washing the sands in the beds of rivers and water courses at the bottom of the hills, when the rain water has run off. In digging, they work downwards, as if forming a well ; or sometimes make a ditch about 20 or 30 feet deep, till they become alarmed for the crumbling down of the earth. They generally begin to find the gold at the depth of three feet; and, as they advance in the work, put the lumps of the metal into pouches which are fixed round their waists. Pieces are sometimes found of a considerable size, and the king of Ashantee is said to possess a lump of native gold, so large that four men are required to lift it. The earth, which is thrown out in the course of the digging, is laid in heaps at the side of the pit, and is carried by other labourers, chiefly women and children, to the nearest river, where it is washed in bags or wooden bowls, and the particles of gold afterwards separated from the heavier parts which remain in the vessel. This ore is sometimes so rich, that apiece of it, weighing four or five ounces, has been known, when pounded and washed, to produce about four pennyweights of gold dust ; and the general fertility of the mines may be estimated, from the circumstance of the slaves employed by the king of Ashantee in 1790 en gaging to supply him with half an ounce a•day for each labourer. The gold-finders, who wash the sands on the banks of rivers, and the sea-shore, are less successful in their researches, and it is generally the women only who are thus employed ; but this precious metal, it is suffici ently ascertained, is very abundant in the interior of the country, and the mines may be considered as still virgin mines.
The animals of Guinea arc numerous, hut only such as are common to the western coast of Africa. The ordi nary domestic animals, dogs, cats, sheep, goats, and hogs, are plentiful in most places; and poultry, particularly is found in great abundance. There are horned cattle in some parts of the coast, especially in Apollonia, hut only in the posse'ssion of the chiefs. The wild animals am buffa loes, tiger cats, leopards, hyamas, jackals, ant-bears, por cupines, monkeys, deer, hares, squirrels, musk-cats, alli gators, lizards, land-crabs, chameleons, guanos, scorpi ons, centipedes, and a variety of snakes. The hippopota mus is occasionally seen on the banks of the river Volta. The feathered tribe in a wild state are extremely various ; and the smaller birds, particularly, arc remarkable for the beauty of their plumage. The lakes and rivers abound with mullet and other kinds of fish ; oysters and prawns are plentiful in sonic places ; and turtles are not uncom mon. There is a variety of excellent fish on the coast, which is .procured in abundance during the dry season, when the surf is least violent.
There are several distinct nations along the coast of Guinea ; but their general customs are so extremely simi lar, that they may be described as one people. The most powerful tribes are found in the interior of the country, and they are, in many respects, superior to those who in habit the maritime districts. The two most extensive of these kingdoms are Dahomy (see Danomy) and Ashantee, both of which have made their power at times severely felt on the coast. The former is described in a preceding article ; but very little was known of the latter, till its king appeared on the coast, in a war against the Fantees in 1807 ; when the discipline and bravery of the army, and the order and regularity of the court, evinced a considera ble degree of civilization. The following account of an in terview between the governor of the British fort at Anna maboe and the king may furnish some idea of this people. " The governor was obliged to visit each man of rank, be fore he could be received by the king ; a ceremony that could not be prudently denied, and which occupied some time; for those men had their several courts, and collec tively had formed an extensive circle. Every one of them
was seated under a huge umbrella, surrounded by atten dants and guards, with young persons employed in fanning the air, and dispersing the flies." " After the .ceremony of visiting those persons was over, the governor was con ducted towards the king, who was surrounded by a num ber of attendants, whose appearance bore evident marks of riches and authority. Chairs, stools, axes, swords, flutes, message-canes, &c. were either of solid gold, or richly adorned with that metal. Those dazzling appear ances, added to damask, taffety, and other rich dresses, gave a splendour to the scene, highly interesting. When the governor approached the king, and when an inter change of compliments had passed, the air resounded with the noise of musical instruments, such as drums, horns, and flutes. After some conversation, during which much politeness was observed in the behaviour of the king, the governor wished this ceremonial visit to be returned, &c.—The king was of the middle size, well-formed; and perfectly black, with regular features, and an open and pleasing countenance. His manner indicated understand ing, and was adorned with gracefulness ; and in all spects he exceeded the expectations of every person. Ilis dress was plain; it consisted of a piece of silk wrapt loosely about him ; a wreath of green silk ornamented his head; his sandals were neatly made, and curiously studded with gold. He was not distinguished by any gold ornaments, as his attendants were." The kingdoms along the coast are considerably differ ent in respect of government. Among some tribes, as in Apollonia and the Slave Coast, it is absolute monarchy ; in others, as in the Ahanta country, a kind of aristocracy ; and in others, as among the Fantces, it consists of a va riety of forms, according to some of which the power is lodged in the hands of the community at large, as in a democracy ; and in others, as in Acra, it is a mixture of aristocracy and democracy. In this last mentioned country, the inhabitants of different states are hanwn to unite oc casionally for general safety, under the absolute command of individuals, as in a dictatorship ; and, when the dan ger is past, to revert to their accustomed forms of go vernment. The laws consequently differ considerably in the form of administration, according to the nature of the government ; but, during the continuance of the slave trade, the most trifling offences was evety where exa mined with the utmost strictness, and almost every pun- ishment was commuted into slavery. The prevailing penalties are fines, or servitude, which are almost the same punishment, as every convict, if unable to pay his fine, becomes a slave. Even murder, though by law generally punishable with death, may be compensated by the pay ment of seven slaves, or their value; but if the person murdered should have been of any consequence or audio rity,the law of retaliation is enforced, and much blood shed ensues. In the Fantee country the laws are more ri gorous than in any other part of the coast. If any person be detected in the act of committing the most trifling theft, he forfeits his freedom ; and if the article stolen should be valuable, his family becomes involved in his fate. If any one, either by accident or design, should kill a hog, a goat, even a hen, or any other animal which is the pro perty of another, he loses his liberty, unless he can soften the injured party by presents. The law against witch craft is peculiarly severe, and extends to all under the same roof with the offender, as they are supposed to pos sess some portion of the evil influence ; but, since the abo lition of the slave traffic, few convictions of this kind have taken place, and the rigour of the laws respecting trifling offences has begun to relax. Another oppressive law, peculiar to the Fantee country, deserves to be noticed, chiefly as demonstrating the baneful effects of the same odious trade in human beings. If a person become in volved in debt, and was either unable or unwilling to pay, the creditor was at liberty to " panyar," that is, to seize and confine any person or persons belonging to the family, or the town, or even the country of the debtor ; and these captives, if opportunity offered, were sold as slaves, with out any delay or ceremony. During the time of the slave trade, this custom was often practised, under false pre texts of debts or offences, and many innocent persons forcibly seized, and instantly sold by private individuals, without any possibility of redress.