Duke Town, Or Ephraim Town, As It Is Known By Both Of These Appellations, Is Situated On Rather Elevated Ground, On The Left Or East Bank Of The River, And Is Of Considerable Size, Extending Principally Along It.

From the appearance of it, it may be concluded that its inhabitants amount to at least six thousand people.

The houses are generally built of clay, like those of the Eboe people. The breadth of the river opposite to it, is not quite so wide as the Thames at Waterloo Bridge, and the opposite bank is not so high as that on which the town stands. The houses are built in an irregular manner, leaving very little room for the road between them, which at that time was exceedingly wet and dirty. The duke's house is situate in the middle of the town, and like the rest is built of clay. It consists of several squares, round each of which is a verandah, similar to the houses in Yarriba. The centre square is occupied by the duke and his wives, the others being the abode of his servants and attendants, which altogether amount to a considerable number. Immediately opposite to the first square, which forms the entrance to his residence, stands a small tree, profusely decorated with human skulls and bones. This tree is considered by the people as fetish or sacred, and is supposed to possess the virtue of preventing the evil spirit from entering the duke's residence. Near the tree stands the house, which is inhabited by their priests, a class of beings, certainly in the most savage condition of nature that it is possible to imagine.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 1069 of 1124
Words from 294086 to 294362 of 309561