Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/295

 INHABITANTS OF THE GOLD COAST. 241 But even these primitive contrasts are gradually being effaced by crossings, a common civilisation, and the spread of Islam on the one hand, and of English and Protestant influences on the other. Besides the more closely allied Ashanti dialects, there are several others which, although belonging to the same group, are mutually unintelligible. Such are the Obutu of the Fanti district, and especially of the town of Aguna, a name formerly applied to the whole region now known as the Gold Coast ; the Kyerepong of the Akwapem uplands, and the Akra (Inkram) with its two dialects, the Ga and Adamfi, spoken by over one hundred thousand persons on the Accra Coast and throughout the province of Adamfi, that is, the triangular space limited east and north by the Yolta, and west by the Akwapem hills. The Banda, Gyaraan, and Kong, current north of Ashanti, also belong to the same linguistic family, which is distinguished by monosyllabic roots and the use both of suffixes and prefixes. In Ga and Adamfi the roots are so few that the different tenses have to be distinguished by tones, as in the Indo-Chinese system. The figurative expressions employed by the Ashantis reveal a vivid fancy and considerable poetic sentiment. The ethnical group of the Oji peoples, including the Ashantis (Asante), Dankiras, Wassaws, Akims, Assins, and Fantis, is by far the most powerful in the mountainous country bounded west and east by the Tanwe and the Yolta. The kingdom founded by the Ashantis, who till lately ruled over nearly all the other states in this region, dates only from the end of the seventeenth century, when the conquering tribe advanced from the land of Inta to the north or north-east. But this migratory movement seawards has been going on for countless ages all along the seaboard from the Senegal to the Congo, successive streams of migration flowing continuously from some common centre in the interior towards the coast. It is even now proceeding in the Ashanti country, where the intruding Moham- medan Mandingans are already numerous in the chief towns, and where several petty states have been brought under the preponderating influence of Islam. The Ashantis are physically one of the finest peoples on the African continent, the men tall and well-proportioned, the women graceful, with regular features. The complexion is very black and the hair kinky, but the nose is thin, while the lips protrude very little ; hence in their original homes the Ashantis may perhaps have intermingled with the Arabs and Berbers. They have a quick intelligence and excellent memory, and readily adapt themselves to their surroundings. On the river banks they are husbandmen, in the steppes stock-breeders, on the lagoons and seacoast fishers and boatmen, in the towns eager traders and skilful craftsmen. They weave cotton fabrics, turn and glaze earthenware, forge iron, fabricate instruments and arms, embroider rugs and carpets, set gold and precious stones. Their language, variously known as the Oji, Ochi, Chi, Twi, &c., is one of the most harmonious in Africa, and has also been one of the most carefully studied, sufficient materials having already been collected for a comparative study of its various dialects during an evolution of two centuries. The best suited for literature appears to be, not the Akan, or court language, but that of Akwapem, into which the Bible, prayers, and hymns, have been translated. It scarcely