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The Gold ofGuineais mostly traded for at theGold Coast(thence denominated) and is eitherin Fetish, in Lump, or in Dust.
TheFetish-Goldis that which theNegroescast into various Shapes, and wear as Ornaments at their Ears, Arms, and Legs, but chiefly at their Head, entangled very dextrously in the Wool; it is so called, from some Superstition (we do not well understand) in the Form, or in their Application and Use, commonly mixed with some baserMetal, to be judged of by the Touch-Stone, and skill of the Buyer you employ.
TheLump, or Rock Gold, is in pieces of different weights, pretended to be brought our of Mines. I saw one of these which Mr.Phipshad at CapeCorso, weighing thirty Ounces, they are always suspected to be artificial, and by the cunning Fellows in Trade, cast so, to hide some baser mixture of Silver, Copper or Brass: wherefore it is not safe trusting to the antique, dirty look, but to cut or run it for satisfaction.
DustGold is the common Traffick, the best comes hither from the neighbouring inland Kingdoms ofDinkira,Akim, andArcana, and is got (we are told) out of the River-Sands.TagusinPortugalwas once so famed;
Omnis arena Tagi, quodque in mare volvitur aurum.Juvenal. Satir. 3.
Omnis arena Tagi, quodque in mare volvitur aurum.Juvenal. Satir. 3.
Omnis arena Tagi, quodque in mare volvitur aurum.
Juvenal. Satir. 3.
The Natives dig Pits nigh the Water-falls of Mountains abounding with this Metal; the Ponderosity of their Particles sinking them there: and then with incredible Pains and Industry, they wash the Earth and Sand in Trays and Vessels till it all swims off, and they espy at bottom now and then two or three shining Grains of Gold that pays them (without great Fortune) only as Labourers.
This is the most probable Account, how they come by their Gold on this Coast: For if it were through Mines, and from Kingdoms so nearly bordering on our Factories asArcana(whence the best and purest) it would long since, I imagine, have tempted us, or theDutchto have dispossessed the Natives, and worked them solely to our own use.
Gold Dust is not gathered atanypart of the same River, it’s said, but at convenient Spots nearest the Mountains; because when too distant from the Floods that wash through Mines, their Weight buries them too deep, or disperses their Particles too widely, to answer the Labour of Searching.
Masters of Ships customarily hire a Native, at so muchpermonth, for this part of the Trade; he has a quicker sight at knowing, and by Practice, readier at separating the drossy and false Gold, with which the true has ever some Mixture, to impose on unskilful People. This impure Stuff is calledCrackra, a Pin or brass Dust, current upon the Gold Coast among themselves, but is a gross Cheat in Traffick, some of it is very bad.
The way to separate, is by copper Blow-pans, shaped like Fire-Shovels; into this your Gold-taker throws three or four Ounces at a time, and by gently tossing, and blowing upon it, the lightest being the false, flies off: the larger Grains he discriminates by his sight,and separates by his Fingers with a wonderful dexterity.
Their way of counting Gold at the Factories, is by Ounces, Bendees, and Marks, lesser are Dumbays, and Doccys, or Toccus; 12 of this, or 24 of that, make anAccy, (about 5s.)
All reserve it in Leather Pouches, and atLondon, the Gold-Smith runs it down in a[36]Crucible at two penceperOunce; it’s kept dissolved for the Evaporation of Dross, (perhaps one Ounce in a hundred) and then cast into a solid Bar; a Chip from it he sends to the Assay-master in theTower, who by his Office is Judge, and on a small Fee, signs back a Note of it’s Value, that is, how much above, or under Sterling; and so amounts to a Shilling or two over or under 4l.aTroyOunce.