Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/290

 on the Gold Coast. Its name is a corruption of the Portuguese Rio da Cobra, or "Snake River," so called from its numerous meanderings.

East of Cape Three Points flows the Boosum Prah (Bussam Pra), that is, "Holy River," so named because it served a sort of Via Sacra for the Ashantis, who followed its course on their marauding expeditions to the south of their territory. Its formidable bar once crossed, the Prah, or "River," as it is now commonly — called, may be ascended in large craft for a distance of about 100 miles, while higher up the Ashanti country may be reached in canoes through its western affluents.

Towards its eastern frontier the Gold Coast is traversed by the great river Volta, or Amu, probably the most copious on the African seaboard between the Gambia and the Niger. For five months in the year it is accessible to vessels drawing seven feet as far as Medica (Amedica), 55 miles from its mouth; and Bonnat ascended in a canoe beyond the rapids to Yeghyi, the port of Salaga, 240 miles from the coast. The floods, lasting from July to October, rise at Medica 46 feet and beyond the Krakye Gorge 65 feet above low water, and at Akwamu, 62 miles from the coast, the current is confined to a rocky channel little over 80 feet wide. Mere five dangerous rapids follow within a space of half a mile, but above this point the stream flows placid as a lake in a broad bed 60 feet deep.