tone which savours much of vulgarity, so great stress being improperly placed upon the prefix Mac. Now the Scots say Macbeth; speaking the first short, and placing the stress of the voice upon the last syllable, a practice which we take care to oppose diametrically; insomuch, that having introduced this topic to a Scotch gentleman at Covent Garden Theatre, last year, he assured me he had frequently made the same observation; and that he once, in particular, had remarked an actor mouthing out so broad a Mac, in announcing the play for next evening, that he really thought the man might e'en as well say Mackarel beth, at once, and so make the most of it. grave, and courting the widow in a long speech, before all the procession. It is a capital omission in Fielding, that he the heroine being prepared with a well had not such a scene in Tom Thumb, replenished jordan, from which to rebaptize the ideot infidel who could, in violation of all decency and common sense, so grossly address her. Nor am quite sure that it is in nature or pro bability, for the young princes to revile their powerful uncle in such bold and contemptuous terms, as they are made to do in that play. I know not, that these observations on the above two tragedies have been before made. Alas! it is vain to talk now of improvements, either in our players or our plays. Covent Garden Theatre is again become a prey to the lawless violence of men equally ignorant of their own, and the rights of others, as children, and equally capricious, mischievous, and froward. In short, it will be henceforth vain for the people of this country to look for stability and comfort, or moral institution, in their theatrical entertain ments, until it be discovered that stage players, as well as to have bodies at last secured in consecrated ground, are also, equally with the rest of their fellow-ci tizens, whilst living, entitled to the pro tection of the laws. The pretence of a right in the public, or of a few hundreds of the public, arbitrarily to controul the who arrogate to themselves to be organs business and management of the theatre, however it may be sanctioned by custom, I hold to be a most stupid and degrading absurdity. J. L. Perhaps we of this country, among our many indubitable high claims, may safely enter the lists with any in the world, in point of nationality. I am Consequently well aware of the dangerous ground which surrounds the tomb of our immortal Shakespeare. I am also feelingly alive to his transcendant merits, without at the same time entertaining the smallest particle of spleen against his equal in immortality, Voltaire, for styling Shakespeare his buffoon. Who can object to that word, after reading Troilus and Cressida, the play to which have understood Voltaire, and the French critics, had a peculiar dislike. Macbeth, perhaps, is Shakespeare's greatest performance; and is, beyond all question, one of the noblest monuments existing of tragic fame. Had Shakespeare never written a line beyond, he had earned immortality. There is yet, I think, one very weak and absurd contrivance in that play, in which probability and decency are both ridiculously outraged, It is, where the king is called from a state dinner, at which all his court is assembled, to give audience to two cutthroats, and with whom he holds a confab of considerable length; the spectators of the play beholding, at one view, and in one room, the queen and all the nobles assembled at table, and the king, in a corner at the door, discoursing most im-THE Agoona country, of which Win pressively with a couple of blackguards. This might indeed be meet and appropriate in Tom Thumb, but as to the real tragedy, they manage things better in France." Again, in Shakespeare's Richard III. can any conceivable thing be more unnatural, more gross, more improbable, or more in the veritable style of the burlesque, than Richard stopping the body of the king in its passage to the For the Monthly Magazine. COMMUNICATION made by HENRY MERE» DITH, esq. to the SECRETARY of the AFRICAN INSTITUTION, dated WINNE BAH, 20th December, 1809; and con taining ANSWERS to the "QUERIES relative to AFRICA," as they respect that DISTRICT of the GOLD COAST cal led the AGOONA COUNTRY, in which WINNEBAH is situated. nebah forms a part, extends about twenty miles in length from east to west, and about fifteen miles in breadth; being situated between 5°. and 59. 30. of north latitude. The sea forms its boun dary on the south: on the west, north, and east, it is bounded by the countries of Akron, Adgumakoon, Assin, Akim, and Akra. The aspect of the country varies considerably. In some places it 13 is flat, and rather marshy; in others it rises inte hills: in some it runs into open plains of considerable extent, while in others it is richly covered with wood. The climate is esteemed to be comparatively healthy it certainly is more temperate than that of many other places on the same line of coast. The height of the thermometer is usually from 75°. to 85°. In the rainy season it has been observed as low as 73°. The seasons may be divided into the tornado, the rainy, and the dry. The tornado* season commences in March, and continues about two months. The rainy season begins about the end of May, and ends "Tornarnes are violent gusts of wind which come from the eastward, attended by thunder, lightning, and, in general, heavy zain. The violence of the wind seldom continues longer than half an hour; but the scene during the time it continues may be considered as one of the most awfully sublime in nature. Its approach is foretold by certain appearances, which enable people to be on their guard. A dark cloud, not larger than a man's hand,' is just observed on the verge of the eastern horizon. Faint flashes of lightning, attended sometimes by very distant thunder, are then seen to vibrate in quick succession. The clouds in that quarter become gradually more dense and black; they also increase in bulk, and appear as if heaped on each other. The thunder, which at first was scarcely noticed, or heard only at long intervals, draws nearer by degrees, and becomes more frequent and tremendous. The blackness of the clouds increases, until a great part of the heavens seems wrapped in the darkness of midnight; and it is rendered still more awful, by being contrasted with a gleam of light which generally appears in the western horizon. Immediately before the attack of the tornado, there is either a light breeze, scarcely perceptible, from the west ward, or, as is more common, the air is per fectly calm and unusually still. Men and animals fly for shelter; and, while expectation stands in horror,' the thundering storm in an instant bursts from the clouds. It is impossible for language to convey a just idea of the uproar of the elements which then takes place. The temperature of the air is greatly affected by a tornado. It becomes cool and clear; and it is not unusual for the thermometer to suffer a depression of eight or ten degrees within two or three minutes after the storm has come on. After a tornado, the body feels invigorated and more active, and the mind recovers much of that elasticity which long-continued heat tends to impair."-The above is taken, with two or three slight verbal changes, from Dr. Winterbottom's able and accurate Account of Sierra Leone, p. 24, &c. in August. The dry season follows, and continues, with trifling variations, throughout the remainder of the year: that is to say, from August till March. About the end of December or beginning of January in every year, and sometimes in February, a land wind of a very peculiar nature, called the Harmallan, continues to blow for four, six, or eight days, and sometimes for a fort-night. It is chiefly reinarkable for its cold and chil ling effects on the human frame, and for the very extraordinary degree of dryness which it produces; the process of evapo ration, while it lasts, proceeding with . astonishing rapidity.* Near the sea the soil is in many places light and sandy, and therefore unfavourable to the cultivation of most articles of tropical produce. And where it is of a different description, many plants are found not to thrive, in consequence, as is supposed, partly of the coldness and humidity of the sea-breezes, or southwest winds, which meet with nothing on the shore to mitigate their severity; and partly because the air is there impreg nated with saline particles thrown up by a constant and generally violent surf. About two or three miles from the sca, the soil is found to be much more productive; and it gradually improves as it recedes, till, at the distance of six or eight miles from the shore, it is so fertile as to be well adapted for the growth of almost every article of tropical culture, The climate at this distance is also improved, and so temperate as to favour the cultivation of European plants and seeds. The articles which succeed best near the sea, are rice, sugar-cane, and hares, ant-bears, musk-cats, squirrels, alligators, monkeys, snakes, &c. &c. There is but little timber in this country applicable to ship-building; but there are several kinds well adapted for housebuilding and cabinet ware, and other useful and ornainental purposes; though not in any great abundance. Besides these, its chief vegetable productions are, maize (of which there are two crops in the year), millet, yams, cassada, sweet potatoes, plantanes, bananas, sugarcane, rice, cotton, pepper, and pulse of various kinds, cabbages, ochra, eschallots, &c. besides oranges, pine-apples, and other tropical fruits. All these articles are more or less cultivated by the natives of Agoona. Their land, however, is for the most part capable of producing all other articles usually reared between the tropics. Their present system of agriculture, indeed, is very rude and defective; but it might be greatly improved, by introducing among them horses and horned cattle, and proper implements of husbandry, as well as useful seeds and plants; provided they had at the same time the benefit of the enlightened example and instruction of intelligent Europeans, who might be induced to engage in agricultural pursuits; and provided, also, their industry were excited and encouraged by suitable rewards. At present, all the land in the country forms a common stock, and no part of it can be appropriated by any individual except during the time he actually culti vates it. There are extensive tracts of unoccupied land; not above a tenth part of the whole being in cultivation. Any native of Agoona, who chooses to clear and cultivate any portion of this unoccupied land, becomes the exclusive possessor of it for the time; but if he should afterwards allow it to lie waste, he ccases to have any peculiar claim to it: it may be occupied by any other individual. Among the natives, no such thing is practised as the lease or sale of lands; except in the case of Europeans, who sometimes for five or six pounds may obtain the appropriation of a consider able tract of land. Their title to lands so obtained is not likely to be disturbed; but, in the present state of society, unless they had the means of protecting themselves, if necessary, by force, the produce which they might raise could not be considered as altogether secure. Their best means of protection would be to have a considerable number of hired MONTHLY MAG, No. 204. cultivators in constant pay, who would serve the double purpose of cultivating the soil, and protecting the fruits of their labour from pillage. Labourers may easily be had at the rate of from ten shillings to twelve shillings and sixpence per month. Agoona contains no navigable river; but it is tolerably supplied with fresh water, by means of rivulets which flow through it, and branch off in a variety of directions. The chief towns are Winnebah (or Simpa), Agoona, Bereac, and Fettah. Their present extent and population fall very short of what they were before the late desolating expedition to the coast, which was made by the Asiantees.* Indeed, the whole population of the state cannot now be estimated at more than ten thousand souls, of which number seven thousand may be considered as women and children. The country, however, has begun to recover from the effects of that disastrous war; and its population appears to be on the increase. Immediately on the sea-coast, the people derive their subsistence chiefly from fishing; in the other parts of the country, from hunting and agriculture. A few, and only a few, gain their livelihood by trade. This trade chiefly consists in purchasing from Europeans, in exchange for gold and a few other articles, cowrics, East-India cottons, iron, lead, spirits, tobacco, tobacco-pipes, guns, gunpowder, vessels of brass, and woollen and cotton goods of British manufacture, which they afterwards barter with their countrymen, or with persons from the interior, for gold, provisions of all kinds, palm wine, palm oil, &c. &c. Cowries and gold form the current medium of exchange: forty cowries make a string; fifty strings a head, which is equal to one ackie of gold; and sixteen ackies make an ounce, the value of which is usually estimated at four pounds. They have no fixed standard of weights and measures. As to the means of increasing their trade, they obviously consist in opening a free intercourse with the interior; in introducing an improved system of agri. culture, and the arts of civilized life; in The Asiantees are a powerful people, living in the interior, whose king, being provoked by the conduct of the Fantees, entered their country about three years ago, with an army of not less than fifty or sixtythousand men, and spread ravage and devastation throughout a great part of the Gold Coast, 2 F enlarging of the fort. enlarging their knowledge and exciting or referred to the decision of the "overnor their industry; and, above all, in establishing such a government and police as shall secure them in the enjoyment of what they may acquire by their exertions. The government, political institutions, and laws of Agoona, resemble, in a great degree, those which are described in the account of the Fantees. In some cases the caboceers, or chiefs of petty districts, are hereditary, in others they are elected by the people. Those chiefs occasionally asume a despotic power, but in general they do not retain it long; the people frequently revolting ir such cases, and expelling, or otherwise punishing, the usurper. The chiefs are assisted in the administration of the laws 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 menory of them, they hold frequent meetings, at which the laws are promulged, or rather rehearsed. In the case of convictions for witch craft, the family of the convict is involved in his punishment: it even extends to all persons residing under his roof, on pretence that all in any way con nected with him must possess a certain portion of his malign influence. Since the abolition of the slave-trade, however, no convictions of this sort have taken place. AL 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 alliance with it; for they seldom engage in enterprises of a daring kind; nor is personal courage a striking feature in their character. 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 passion, 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 individual; but this is unusual. The people of this country are black, of the middle stature, in general wellmade, vigorous, and capable of undergoing 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 Almost all crimes, great and small, are punishable by fine or slavery, which, indeed, are almost the same punishment; for if the convict cannot 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 no evidence, the cause is decided by a species of ordeal called Doom, which con. sists in administering to the person accu-affections; and though occasionally viosed a certain quantity of the bark of a tree deemed poisonous. If he retain it on his stomach, he is pronounced guilty; if otherwise, innocent. The refusal to submit to this ordeal is considered as a decisive proof of guilt, and the judges proceed accordingly. The Pynins, who combine the offices both of judge and jury, are supposed to be very accessible to bribes; and no person who is liberal in his gifts, is likely to be found guilty. In some cases, however, where partia lity is strongly suspected, the cause is tried by the Pynins of another district, lent and impetuous in their temper, yet they are more commonly slow and deli berate in their proceedings. Hospitality is carried among them to a great extent: all strangers and travellers are admitted freely to partake of whatever the family board affords. The natives of Agoona may be considered, on the whole, as an industrious people; particularly those who are engaged in fishing. With respect to those engaged in agriculture, as all their wants are supplied with little labour, it cannot be expected that, in the existing state of of things among them, they should make fice of a deer made to the Fetish. any great exertions beyond what is necessary to that object. The moral standard of this people is extremely low. They appear to have no idea of restraint, beyond what their own interests or the dread of punishment imposes; and besides that their laws are both too loosely framed, and too partially executed, to have a very powerful effect in curbing men's passions, it is to be considered that no laws can provide an effectual check for that class of offences which may be comprised under the head of immoralities. They are without any education or discipline of a moral kind; and from their earliest infancy are habituated to examples of inhumanity, fraud, and licentiousness. In short, the moral principle is not cultivated among them: so that there is hardly any act which will attach disgrace or infamy to the individual, or even bring reproach upon him, if he do but pay the penalty of the law. Their religious system has no tendency whatever to improve their morality. It consists almost entirely in a superstitious dread of suffering from some malign influence, and in the faith they repose in the Fetishes, or charms, which are furnished by their Fetishmen or priests, for the purpose of warding off the dreaded evil. The people in general do not appear to engage in any kind of worship; and although on certain days they abstain from their ordinary employments, yet they assign no reason for this, except may be that it has been the custom to do so. The Fetishmen, however, who considered as an order of priests, engage in certain forms of worship and religious ceremonies; and they are supposed to hold communion with the demon, or Fetishe, and to obtain from him the knowledge which is requisite for the exercise of their profession, which is, to solve the doubts and perplexities of their followers, and to furnish them with the means of averting evil, either actual or possible. Their profits arise from the presents made to the Fetish by the votaries; these they appropriate to their own use; and they are often of considerable value. The Fetishmen usually connect themselves with the persons in power, and are often serviceable in strengthening the government, and enforcing obedience to the faws; as they have great influence among the people, and continue to be respected by them even when the governent has fallen into disrepute. At Winnebah there is an annual saçri. Hu man sacrifices take place only when a man of eminence dies. The victims are selected from among the slaves of the deceased, and are generally old and infirm persons. Such sacrifices, however, very seldom occur in Agoona. When a victim has been selected for this purpose, it is believed that he cannot be redeemed. With respect to intellectual capacity, this people do not discover any natural inferiority to Europeans; at the same time their attainments are as low as can be imagined, their minds not being in proved by any kind of culture. They are wholly ignorant of letters; and their language, which is the Fantee, has never been reduced to writing. The language itself is soft and harmonious. The fol lowing short specimen of it gives the proper names of men and women, according to the day of the week on which they are born: Day of the week. Sunday Men. Women Aquieswa Quashie Monday Cudjoe Tuesday Quanino Wedn.sday Quacow Eccoab Thursday Quaw Aboah Estuah Ambah Friday Cuffee The women of this country, as in all countries where polygamy is practised, are in a degraded state. They are hiterally slaves to the men, and perform almost all the laborious offices, as grind ing corn, procuring fire and water; they do every thing, in short, but fish and plant corn. The women also generally act both as physicians and surgeons. The prevailing complaints are fevers, fluxes, rheumatism, and leprosy; for the certain herbs, which are natives of the cure of which they use for the most part country. They sometimes have recourse to bleeding, by means of scarification and cupping; and these operations are performed with much dexterity by the women. The number of persons in a state of |