a town on the Gold coast of Africa, situated, according to Artus, on the brow of an eminence, raising itself by a gentle ascent to a considerable height, and defended by rocks, against which the waves beat with the utmost violence, the noise of which is heard at a great distance.

Barbot affirms, that Oegwa contains above 500 houses disposed by narrow crooked streets; and that from the sea it has the appearance of an amphitheatre. Des Marchias reduces the number of houses to 200, in the centre of which stands a large square building, the repository of their gold dust and other commodities. The houses are built of earth and clay, but convenient, and well furnished with chairs, stools, mats, carpets, earthen pots, and even looking glasses, which they purchase from the Europeans. No part of the coast is better provided with all kinds of eatables, which are sent in from the adjacent cantons, and sold in public markets. Everything is bought and sold with gold dust, which is the standard of all other commodities, and brought hither in great abundance from all quarters of Feitu, Abrambo, Affeito, and Mandingo. The gold is sold by weight, and the quantity determined by nice scales, made in the country before it was frequented by the Europeans: a proof that those negroes are not wholly ignorant of the more refined principles of mechanics. Next to gold, the chief commerce of the place consists in the sale of fish, of which they catch prodigious quantities on the coast. Although the natives are brave and warlike, yet in time of peace no people are more industrious, their whole time being employed in catching fish or cultivating the fruits of the earth. They are extremely expert in throwing the line, and fishing by the hook; nor is their intrepidity in combating the elements, and pursuing their employments in all kinds of weather, less astonishing. Every day in the week, except Wednesday, which is sacred to the Fetiches, they employ in their several occupations, and no season of the year is exempted from fishing. Their canoes weather storms which would endanger the largest shipping; and the negroes have the dexterity of making their advantage of those seas, which oblige others to discontinue their labours, by throwing their lines with the same success in tempestuous as in calm weather.