Accra is famous for the quantity and fineness of its gold-dust. Many pretty rings are made here of the purest gold. Ivory is also to be obtained. Adjoining, and to the eastward is Dutch Accra, with the remains of a fort, destroyed in 1821 by the English, which the Dutch Governor told me had been washed down by the sea. Two miles further is a Danish fort and town, all three flags flying within range of each other’s guns. Accra has an odd appearance from the sea. I rode over to Danish Accra to call on the Governor, and was received with a guard and salute. The natives are much the same in appearance as at Cape Coast, and equally superstitious; among many other absurdities, the untamable hyena is here fetish. These animals come into the town at night and commit depredations with impunity. They imitate the noises of the different animals, and particularly the crying of a child. A hyena a few nights back dropped two cubs in the street; the following night she returned and took them away. One of the merchants having shot a hyena while he was employed at night in digging up the remains of a favourite horse, was obliged to make a large _dash_ of rum and tobacco to appease the natives, who fancied that all sorts of calamities would occur in consequence. No work is done until a _dash_ is given. When the Ashantis bring in gold they stop within a mile of the town and send a messenger, waiting his return with a _dash_. Both men and women drink the rum neat. The cowry shell is used as money, twenty to a penny. Good shooting may be had: partridges, hares, and snipe close to the town, and at a short distance deer. Stock of all sorts to be obtained at moderate prices, as well as beef and mutton. Turtle may be picked up on a sandy beach. [Sidenote: Oct. 30.] Gray parrots might be bought alongside, four for a dollar, bamboo cage and all. The last day at Accra we were most sumptuously entertained by the Danish Governor. He had served as a Lieutenant in the French Navy, and had met Goldsmith at Marseilles, who, being very anxious to sketch one of the native women in full costume, the Governor good-naturedly got one of the wives of the chiefs of the town. She made her appearance after dinner, almost covered with finery, which she liked being sketched. Her thighs and hips were covered with silver beads, which, again, were covered by a red cotton dress--a sort of covering wound round her body, all above her hips being left bare, as well as below her knees. She had upwards of a thousand dollars’ worth of gold ornaments on her. After this took our departure. Under way just before sunset, and saluted the Danish flag in passing. During a fortnight’s cruise in search of the senior officer we fell in with _Saracen_, _Viper_, and _Waterwitch_. The latter is one of Symonds’ beautiful brigs; she beat us to windward during half an hour’s trial. [Sidenote: Nov. 15.]