The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-01-04
PEOPLES ON THE GOLD COAST
Their Savagery Equals that of ANY Known
Community.
London FIELD


Although great portion of the Tshi-
speaking peoples have for two centuries
been under our rule, we know compare
lively little about them-a fact which is,
no doubt, attributable to the deadly cli-
mate and impenetrable forests in which
they live. Msjor Ellis tells Us much con-
corning these peoples which will be found
interesting; but he has gone so completely
into the grosser customs of native life that
his book is more suited to the authropolo-
Rlst than the general reader. The low con-
dition which they occupy in the intel
lectusl scale is, we are told, probably oW-
ing to the elervsting influences OF the eli
mate, which renders any great amount of
mental labor out Of the question, and to
the readiness with which the necessities OF
lite can be produced. That the climate is
unhealthy even to them there can be no
| doubt, as it is the cause Of diseases IN
| known elsewhere.
Their religion is not allied with any
moral ideas, sin being limited to insults
! offered to or neglect of the gods; murder,
theft, ETC., are merely offenses against the
| person, and in which the gods take no in
terest. The deities may be divided into
four classes, viz: 1. General, those wor-
SHIPPED by a whole tribe or several tribes.
2. Local, those worshiped by the inhabi-
tants of certain towns or districts. 8 Fam.
lily. 4. The tutelary detSies of individuals.
The priesthood forms large and powerful
class, without whose aid nobody can hold
any intercourse with deities of the first
second, or third class, large sums bsing
| frequently paid for their services; theV
have to take care, however, to make their
communications ambiguous, as, in case Of
tEeu predictions being falslfed, they are
not infrequently put to death.
In chapter II it is stated that the prac-
tice OF sacrificing human beings at funerals
does not arise from the bloodthirstiness of
the peopld, but rather from affection of
the dead. This may be true; but the fright
full cruelty shown in their executions
seems to contradict this theory. We quote
the following as an example,:
''On June murderer, with his hands
bound behind him, knife through his
cheeks, ana two forks piercing his back, was
dragged past our rooms. Commencing at
midday, the punishment increased In in
tensity till O'Clock, when the poor wretch
vas gashed all over, his arms cut of, and
b imself compelled 10 dance for the amuse-
10 ent of the King before being taken to
th place of execution. II he could not or
wo. aid not dance, lighted torches were sp.
pile TO his wounds. To escape this ex-
to mt We until the drum was beaten and
the he I'D cut off,"
6tran 'ge to say, in spite Of the frightful
punish Oent, murder is more frequent in
Ashanti than in the British protectorate.
The ceremonies at birth, marriaZs and
death are, we think, rather too fully gone
into. The C1milal laws appear to be OK.
tremely severe. and the following ridicu-
lousy trivial Ofenses are punishable by
death: Whistiing 10 C)omassie; suffering
an egg TO be broken in the town; looking
at the Kings wives. or not hiding when
the Kings eunEchs call to announce their
approach, and pieRiOg up gold that b2s
been dropped in the market-pIace. From
this it will be seen that every day life in
COOmassie must have It's drawbacks.
The three concluding chapters are on the
language, music and traditions, cash OF
which is trested at length. This work is
evidently written by one whose knowledge
of his subject is not merely superficial, and
who must have devoted considerable time
and attention to the matters of which he
treats, though, as we Esve before limited, it
is not the sort of book to be placed in tae
hands OF ladies or young people.