The Lump, or Rock Gold, is in pieces of different weights, pretended to be brought our of Mines. I saw one of these which Mr. Phips had at Cape Corso, 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.
Dust Gold is the common Traffick, the best comes hither from the neighbouring inland Kingdoms of Dinkira, Akim, and Arcana, and is got (we are told) out of the River-Sands. Tagus in Portugal was once so famed;
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 as Arcana (whence the best and purest) it would long since, I imagine, have tempted us, or the Dutch to have dispossessed the Natives, and worked them solely to our own use.
Gold Dust is not gathered at any part 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 much per month, 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 called Crackra, 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.