New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-19

br"ws the n0sris ana frequently '"o o""'
head. Many have q "trip of hair from the tors
head, over the crown Of the head, dowo I" Tue
back of the neck. The MahOmetans have a'so q
Iii lie tuft of bar on the chin. The margin OF
tho G, elds ia blackened with antimony, which
every native carries about with him for the pnr-
pose. The women dye the palms oil the hands'
6nger-Dails, and feet with ground camwood.
Sometimes when about to participate IN religious
obscrvauces, their entire person ia colored III
this way. They pay great attention TO the teeth,
usi the chewed ends Of certain roots for the
purpose of brushes. Except the youngest ch'l-
dreD everybody uses tobacco. 1t is taken IN
the form Of stuff, no. into the nostrIls, but ON
the tongue. A email quantity of benln-seed'
aud of kind Of native soda, is ground with the
snuff. There are but few who are SMOKERS
and they are chiefly emigrants. The use oil
ardent spirits is very common, yet the natives
seldom drink TO int"xicatiOu. Cola nuts, bitter
and slightly astringent vegetable, are in general
USE although in some places expensive. n pres
ent OF cola nuts is regarded us one oil the
strongest proofs of respect aud affection.
The natives are siogularly courteous in their
manners. Their scrupulous attention to polite
ness is scarcely surpassed even by the French
Two persons, although entire strangers never
pass each other without exchanging sautatots,
and the utmost defereuce is paid to the relative
social position of the parties. The style Of adj
dress varies with the rank OF the Individuals.
The superior usually gives the first salutatIon,
and when the disparity of position is great, the
inferior prostitutes himself on the ground. The
young always PROSTATE themselves to the aged
Women only kueel, but sons, without reference
TO age or rank prostitute themselves before their
mothers or senior female relatives.
Except with the few Africans who have been
brough. under the influence Of Christianity,
pol,gamy is universal. Wealth and bravery in
war re the principal conditions of socal rank;
and the former is estimated by the number of
wives, children, and slaves, which on individual
possesses Wives are commonly engaged at an
early period, frequently before SIX or seven years
old. A stipulated sum is paid to the parents,
aud occasionally presents are given both 10 them
and to the betrcthed. The engagement is ndi-
Gated by placing bracelet about the wrist. The
tdluetl Win uCi PdicuhS uhsh VI o.
to be taken home to her husband. II her char
aetsr is free from reproach, size is received with
brilliant honors; she is adorned with costly
Jewels; walks in procession with large company
OF nmdens Through thc city; and is loaded with
pIcscnis aud congratulations by her friends. In
souc instances, n mh goes TO The slave maFts,
cash in hand, and makes his choice. In pro-
portion 20 their wealth. men possess from
single wife to two or three hundred; except tho
chiefs, however, few have more than twenty.
Slavery, as well as it's kindred vice polygamy,
exists throughout this portion of Africa, bat it is
found in a greatly mtigated form. There is
little difference between the condition of the
master and of his slave, sinee the one possesses
almost every advantage accessible to the other.
Slaves often fill the highest positions. At Abbeo-
kuta, the Kings chief officers are slaves. On
certain state occasions, one Of them Ia often per-
mittcd to assume IN public the position Of the
King, and receive the homage which belongs 10
his master Slaves are procured cfie0y BY con-
quest Not few are brought into Slavery rs
penalty for crime. Some are sold for debt. Chill
dren are frequently kidnapped and sold into die
tant parts.
The medical profession is held in high esteem,
and the members Of it are as strenuous in their
mutual competition. as if they practiced under
regular diPloma'.
There are many doctors--physicisns, might have
said-throughout the Aku country; aid they arc ar
Jealous OF their proetsOn, and opposed 10 innoya-
tion in practice, as the most oytbodox disciple pi
Fseulal Jus among ne csn lie. Shortly after TIE re-
turn of Mr.. s. CrOwther, jr from London, where he
received the training OF surgeon, several OF these
dOcto, bearing that lie was prescribing iof nant who
were before tLeir Patients asocn ,c en- "GSSe IN Inc
market. place and after doe debeiatiOn issued an IN
junction that he should forthwith abandon hls pac
tice. Some of the foremost OF them were deputed TO
communicate the decree Of the faculty. They were
cordially received, and heard win patience Alter
some conversation Mr. G. informed them that be was
willing to obey, but only after trial on both sides
should prove him be- the less skilled III The mysteries
OF the profession To this they consented Tune was
given for prepafsO Oh both rides. La tue afternoon
the Yegap hppeaIed clothed la ear most oOety gar
meuts and well provided with orishas or charlus ~
tached to all parts Of their persons and dress In TIE
meantime Sir. Crowtber had afro prepared 10 receive
them. 4 able was PLACED in the middle Of the room
and on i a dsh in which were u few drops Of sui
phuric aid, 20 placed that slight motion # the table
would cause il 10 iow into mixture o, clloTatc OF
poasiA aud white sugar. A clock Was alt0 IN TIE
room from which email bird issned every hour, and
announced the time by cooling This was arranged 10
~ 70 COO while they were present Mr. Crowther
then made brief harsDgue, and reque.ted them to
s!y who ihould lead off in the contest This privilege
they a. corded TO hin. TIE door closed, The cur
tans drawn d0~n Al waited IN breathless eNpecia-
ton Presently the bird 'rne out and 20 Their aston
jnhrent cooed twelve times, aud suddenly from The
midst OF the dish burst forth haJe and terrible e@-
plosiop The scene that folio wed WAS ndcecfbabe:
one fellow rushed through the " indow and scam
pered another, in his conformation, oyerIuiniDg
chair tables and everything in lie way took refuge
l.. Ioir urdsr he ed W IL WA