Gold Coast

Gold Coast, a stretch of sea-board on the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa, about 300 miles in extent, having the Ivory Coast on the west, and Dahomey on the east. It derives its name from the gold-dust brought by the Ashantis from the interior and sold to traders. The climate is unhealthy, and the coast dangerous owing to the heavy surf. Besides gold, palm-oil, cocoa-nuts, and ivory are objects of barter. The inhabitants consist almost entirely of negroes, governed by their own chiefs; but the whole territory is under the protection of a British Governor residing at Christiansborg.