Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/316

 260 WEST APRICA. Steamers already ply for a distance of about 40 miles between Badagry and Lagos, and in 1876 one of these ascended to the neighbourhood of Abomey, by the river Whemi (Owo), which has a mean depth of 13 feet, and falls into Lake Denham north of the Kotonu channel. In its flora and fauna the Slave Coast forms a simple continuation of the Gold Coast. Its climate, with a mean temperature of about 78^ F. and two dry and two wet seasons, is regarded as the most salubrious on the whole seaboard between the Senegal and the Congo. Europeans have hitherto escaped the attacks of such epidemics as yellow fever, small-pox, or typhus ; but they have still to dread the marsh fevers, especially during the early days of their residence in the country. The most dangerous period is the close of the heavy rainy season, when the ground reeks and the atmosphere is charged with miasmatic exhalations. Inhabitants. Notwithstanding certain dialectic differences, the natives of the Slave Coast present marked affinities to their Fanti and Ashanti neighbours. Apart from the Minas, who dwelt formerly west of the Yolta, all the populations between that river and the Ogun belong to the Ewe (Ewhe, Azighe) family, from whom the whole region takes the name of Eweme, or " Land of the Ewe." The land west of the Ogun is held by the Yorubas (Yaribas), here collectively known as Nagos. The Ewe appear to form five distinct linguistic groups ; the Anlo (Anglo or Anglawa) on the Gold Coast frontier ; the Krepi, of Anfwe speech, north and north-east of the Anglo ; the Jeji, of Ajuda speech, east of the Anglo and Krepi ; the natives of Dahomey, in the interior ; lastly, in the extreme north, the tribes speaking the Mahi or Makhi, purest of all the Ewe languages. All the Ewe peoples are of tall stature and well-proportioned, with more regular features and fairer complexion than the Wolofs. Many of the natives of the interior are noted for their yellowish colour and red hair, probably a sort of albinoism rather than the result of crossings with Europeans. Others again on the west coast, collectively known as Minas, are descended from Negroes and half- castes imported from Brazil, and in the public estimation these take the foremost rank for physical strength, moral qualities, and love of freedom. They are also active traders, who compete successfully with Europeans, and who by their family alliances with the natives are steadily acquiring a numerical preponderance over all other foreigners. Under the influence of this new element the old ethnical divisions are gradually disappearing. The family names of Souza, Almeida, Andrada, and Albuquerque have become very common, and Portuguese has already become a rival of English as the current language for international relations. Near the Gold Coast English prevails, but Portuguese is chiefly spoken at Ajuda and taught in the local schools. The most powerful branch of the Ewe group are the Fons, now known as Dauraas or Dahomej^s, from the kingdom founded by them to the north of Ajuda in the first half of the seventeenth century. Although proud of their warlike