Author: Marees, Pieter de.
Image Title: About Their Nobility, and How They Make One Another Noblemen, What Kind of Ceremonies They Have for This, and So On
Description: This print presents the elements of the ceremony whereby a member of a community in the Gold Coast is elevated to the position of nobleman, as observed by the Dutch trader and explorer Pieter de Maares (1770-1856 CE). “A” is the cow which the nobleman-elect gives to the community but of which he himself must not partake; “B” is the person being made into a nobleman; “C” is the wife of the nobleman; “D”is the captain or headman who watches the game with his council; “E” represents the women, who go ahead of them; “F”are the womenfolk who beat drums and play other musical instruments; “G” are the warriors who accompany the nobleman and fence and jump with one another; “H” are the women who throw salt and white earth on the wives of the nobleman; and “I” are the spectators who come to watch the ceremony.
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