Sunday, 11.—­At half-past one divine service was performed by Captain Owen, when four of the natives attended, and behaved with great decorum; they also made signals to their companions in the canoes to avoid all noises which might disturb us.

Monday, 12.—­A numerous deputation of chiefs, gaily dressed, came to our camp at Clarence, to conclude a definitive arrangement respecting the land we had purchased on Saturday.  Captain Owen accompanied them to the boundary line, and marked an additional number of trees, to define the limits with more accuracy.  He also promised them additional payments:  after which he took four of the principal chiefs on board, drank palm-wine with them, and made them a variety of presents.  Confidence was now fully restored, and great numbers of both sexes visited us before the day terminated.

Tuesday, 13.—­We have additional proofs of the return of confidence on the part of the natives:  a man and a boy insisted on remaining on board to sleep, probably induced by the anticipation of a present.  There never were more harmless, inoffensive, or tractable people:  for, when most troublesome, they may be led in any direction you choose, by taking hold of the hand, or even of a finger.

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[26] Accra is a European corruption of the word Inkran which
means an ant.

[27] The word Fetish is derived, I believe, from the Portuguese word Fatisa, or Phatisa, which means “a charm.”  It is used on all occasions by the natives, when they are asked any question which they do not understand, or which they do not wish to understand, particularly if it relate to their religion.  Thus the sacrifice, the rocks, and the sacred groves where they imagine their deities dwell, are all called Fetish:  also, their priests, or priestesses, when they are going through any antic ceremonies, are said to be making Fetish, and are consequently called Fetish men or Fetish women.  Some have regarded the Fetish as an object of worship to the natives of Africa; it ought, however, more properly to be considered only as a charm, to which a superstitious and reverential feeling is paid; in which an implicit confidence is reposed.  Whether it be intended to exercise a public or a private function, it consists of some body, either animate or inanimate, selected according to fancy, as a dog, cat, tiger, snake, an egg, the bone of a bird, a piece of wood, a feather, or any other substance:  this is rendered sacred or endowed with its supposed virtues by peculiar ceremonies, and afterwards honoured with a species of worship, vows of abstinence from particular or occasional pleasures, and other services; in return, the party to which it belongs looks up to it for protection and assistance on all occasions—­if successful, he attributes it to its intervention; if unlucky, to its displeasure.

[28] In my opinion, no man under thirty years of age, should think of travelling in an unhealthy country; before that age, the constitution is more liable to the infection of the endemic diseases of a hot climate than afterwards.  Perhaps, between forty and fifty would be the best age—­“ceteris paribus.”