BIRD'S EYE VIEW.
OF A
TRIP TO WEST AFRICA.
• Ikr5
By Rev. W. H. Heard, D. D.
Formerly Minister Resident and Consul-General to Liberia, West Africa.
V. P. SISSON, PRINTER,
4 SOUTH BROAD STREET, ATLANTA, OA.
1905.
Rev. William. H. Heard, D. D.
This sketch of the author of this pamphlet is the history of
an ex-slave. Dr. Heard was born in Elbert county, Georgia,
more than fifty years ago. His maternal and paternal parents
were both slaves ; he, therefore, shared a like condition2 and as it
was against the law for slaves to be educated he was not permitted
to slake his thirst at the spring of knowledge until 1865. No,
he dared not even touch its cooling waters to his lips until this
date, but when once he tasted the limpid stream, he drank deeply
and successfully. His education has been varied and experimental.
No young man born since the war need have any excuse when he
reads this life. He has also been a successful politician, and
Minister of the Gospel. From a railway postal clerk he rose to
the eminent position of Minister Resident and Consul General to
Liberia. His diplomatic career was no less renowned than that of
his ministerial. In the A. M. E. Church, from an exhorter and
a mission preacher, without a member to that of a general officer,
every step has been steady and successful ; no up and down, but
always upward. This sketch is printed to inspire the young.
W. B. R.
The Opportunity of the American Negro
to Visit West Africa.
Part I.
LIBERIA.
Liberia, the land of negro opportunity, is a free republic on the west coast
of Africa. It lies south of Sierra Leone, an English colony that is highly
civilized, north of the French Irony coast. This colony is not so much civil¬
ized, but it is a very rich country—so rich that France claimed twenty miles
which formerly was ceded to Liberia. Heretofore the Liberian Republic
extended to the San Pedro river on the south, to the Manna river on the north,
504 miles ; but the French claimed that their survey extended as far south as
the Cavalla river, and, after much diplomatic controversy, the line was settled
at that point, France paying fifty miles of interior land and twenty thousand
dollars for improvements made on the twenty miles, and establishing ooe port
of entry. This exchange was considered fair. England also claimed the Port
Manna on the north, and this was also conceded to her by Liberia. Thus
Liberia has been permanently fixed between two friendly powers and her
boundaries indisputably fixed by treaty—giving her fifty thousand square
miles—sufficient territory for ten millions civilized inhabitants. Now she only
has about thirty thousand civilized people, and one and one-half millions of
natives, or aborigines.
The Krooman is found in Liberia and no where else in Africa. He is the
easiest civilized, and the most successful navigator. His tribe takes charge of
all vessels coming into African waters and manages them without trouble,
handling cargoes, and arranging for the same. They are to be trusted, and
will always do you a faithful day's work for what they consider a full day's
pay ; and plenty of rice, salt-fish and palm oil, or cassada in place of rice.
They will sit around their calla-basbs, a bowl-looking vessel made of the trunk
of a tree, and eat with their hands instead of knives and forks or spoons. If
allowed to do this twice a day, and receive thirty-six or forty-eight cents addi¬
tional, i. e. 1 1-6 or 2, a Krooman will do as much work as au American long¬
shoreman who receives from two and a half to three and a half dollars. But
this is not all that can be said of Liberia, for she produces the best rubber,
cotton, coffee, ginger, and sugarscane in the world.
4 West Africa and the American Negro.
*-
The merchant kings of no country are superior to the Attiers, Crusoes, Den¬
nis, Coopers, Grants, Houstons, Hills and Moores, of Montsurrada and Bassa
counties. Sine.o has her Roberts, Fraziers, Raynes, and Ross, and others just
as important, while Maryland presents an array of merchants, headed by the
Tubmans, who are second to none in any country ; and what these have done
in Liberia any thrifty young man of America, with but two hundred dollars
to start with, may do.
The leading farmers, such as Jackson, Washington, Paynes, Sliarpes, Hog-
gards, Mills, Wyles, and Decorseys, are but samples of what any young man
in America may do in ten years. The professional men grow rich much sooner,
as here they have a wide field, while uncultivated yet inviting. A good law¬
yer, a competent physician, first class dentist, a botanist, and mineralogist,
would find unlimited fields in Liberia—especially the young Africo-American,
as the Liberian government ever stands ready to assist such persons.
The motto of the Liberian Republic is "The love of liberty brought us here."
There could be no higher sense of men's rights thfm is expressed in this motto,
and the Liberian fully enjoys the cause for leaving a country where his liberties
are curtailed, and going to one where they are recognized and respected. All
civilized countries have treaty relations with Liberia, so it is no mean thing to
be a Liberian citizen, as the same protection is given to a Liberian as to an
Englishman, Frenchman, German, or an American. The color of his skin does
not curtail his international rights and privileges. Then to be a Liberian would
stop the lyncher and the assassin to a greater degree than is now.
The Liberian government sustains a diplomatic relation unbroken. Her
bonded warehouses afford her a revenue, so that she is able as other small
nations to pay the interest on her bonded debt, while she is not a high tariffed
nation, charging only twelve and one-half per cent, ad valorem and a specific
tax on such luxuries as whiskey and tobacco—the merchant is not burdened
paying duties.
Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, has about six thousand inhabitants, and i-s
regularly laid out, the streets crossing at right angles, running north and south,
east and west. Her public buildings, churches and schools are magnificent in
their appearance.
It is governed by a mayor and council, as is any regularly incorporated city
in America.
The state-house stands on the southeast corner of the public square. Facing
this square on the east is the white house—the mansion where the President
lives.
In this city the national government is located, with a President, Vice-Presi¬
dent, Secretary of State, Attorney-General, Postmaster-General, Secretary»of
Treasury, Secretary of the Interior, Commissioner of Education, and Secretary
of War and Navy.
The President is a gentleman of wide national experience; has dealt with
some of the most knotty diplomatic questions that have confronted any nation.
The Yice-President is a young man born and bred at Edina, Grand Bassa
West Africa and the American Negro.
5
county. He lias had wide national experience, and will preside over the Senate
with dignity and grace. The Slate and local government of Liberia are fash¬
ioned after our government. Her judiciary is intelligently and rigidly admin¬
istered. The county court is in the bonds of Judge Matthews, a native
African, and a man of rare attainments. He is a Grand Master of the Masonic
fraternity of Liberia.
The court of Quarterly Sessions meets once in three months—a superior
court. Judge Hillary W. Travis presides at Monrovia, while there are similar
courts in each county. The Supreme Court of Liberia is like our Supreme
Court at Washington. The Chief Justice is Z. B. Roberts, L.L.D. The first
Associate Justice is Dr. R. B. Richardson, D.D. The second Associate Justice
is Attorney J. J. Dorsen, who is one of the most talented young men of Li¬
beria, and a progressive scientist.
We have spoken particularly of Monrovia because of its prominence, but we
could enumerate many beautiful towns, seaport and inland, that are regularly
laid out, incorporated, and have municipal government; but suffice it to say,
that any one desiring to return to our Fatherland will find a home and a wel¬
come to that home Perhaps Harpers, of Cape Pal mas, is the most beautiful
and progressive town in Liberia, and it is due to Bishop Ferguson, one of the
most progressive, thrifty, consecrated men we ever met. His whole lite has
been devoted to the uplift of Liberia. Like Bishop Turner, while not a full-
blooded negro, he loves the necro better than he loves himself.
Liberia has an army and a navy, and she is well equipped to protect herself
against internal wars. The Secretary of War and Navy show what the negro
can do to manage his own affairs. The arm) is divided into companies, regi¬
ments and brigades.
The territory of Liberia would accommodate ten millions civilized farmers
and merchants, besides professional men and men of leisure. It has about
fifty thousand square miles, and a sea ( >ast of more than three hundred mil< s,
with interior territory fully two hundred and fifty miles. Her rivers are ntivi-
gable, and add greatly to her exporting and importing facilities. Hard wood,
along these rivers, is one of the greatest articles for exportation. Maliogauy
is as plentiful as the American pine; and bamboo, which is no less profitable,
is yet more abundant. This discussion shows the negro's opportunity in Libe¬
ria has no limit materially or nationally. Precious stones and gold are plenti¬
ful, and only needs the skilled American to find them.
6
West Africa and the American Negro.
Part II.
THE VOYAGE TO AFRICA.
One desiring to visit Liberia, had to go to New York or Philadelphia, and
t ake passage to Liverpool or Hamburg, and then change to a West African
steamer ; but now the passagtymay be made, without change, directly from
New Orleans, by Dunster &»(plinpany's steamers ; parties of twenty-five per¬
sons for fiftyYet the pleasure of visiting Liverpool and London
comes in a life-time of a poor man, and the accommodation is all you
w$nt.' Liverpool is the greatest seaport town in the world, having a dockage
of fourteen miles, and never less than from one to five hundred vessels lying
in her waters. No pen can picture the sight. Manchester, only thirty miles
away, is the greatest manufacturing city on earth. It is worth twice the pass¬
age money to see this city alone. Chester, the home of Gladstone, can be
reached for a few shillings. The British Museum, Crystal Palace—a palace of
solid glass—St. Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Mansion House, the
Tower Prison, Haymarket Prison, Trafalgar Square, London Bridge, West¬
minster Abbey, and the Parliament, and a thousand and other places that it is
your privilege to visit, make a voyage via Liverpool and London a life's oppor¬
tunity. But the man who wants to go home, and has nothing 'else in view,
should write Mr. Bulis or Mr. Plummer and arrange for going directly to
Liberia in fourteen or eighteen days, while the other route will take a month.
But should you go by Liverpool, you will take the Elder Demster line of
steamers and be permitted to visit many important and historic places before
reaching Liberia. After a nine days' voyage you will be permitted to stop
from ten to twelve hours at Funchal, Madeira Island. This island is under the
Portuguese government, and highly civilized, and therefore has all the modern
accommodations for a place so far from civilization. Next you would visit
Grand Canary Island, at Las Palmas, a very beautiful city. Here the Spaniard
lives in his grandeur and hospitality—don't know a man for his color, but for
his worth. There is much historic to see here. Passing on we reach Teneriffe,
which is not so highly civilized as the other two islands ; but it is a treat to
visit this island. The great thing to be seen here is the church. After refresh¬
ing ourselves and getting some of the best wine in the world, except that at
Madeira, we pass on and stop at French Africa, Cape Yerde, in Senegambia,
and visit the twin cities of Dakar and Goree. These are beautiful little towns,
Frencliy indeed. Every subordinate office is filled by'native Africans, who
speak Parisian French. It makes the heart of an American negro well up with
pride to see the wooly-headed sons of the soil in uniform—commanding, and
having his commands obeyed. San Louis is an inland town some miles away,
West Africa and the Ameriean Negro.
7
and is reached by railway. Here we heard the iron horse snort, and our hearts
gladdened. Passing from Goree, we stop at Bathurst, Gambia, an English
port. Many natives boarded our steamer—some in the garb of English officers.
After examining our papers and finding all well, allowed us to drop anchor.
Soon we were on shore, and at the post-office could see nothing but black faces ,
and therefore concluded that the parceling out of Africa had not taken it out
of the hand of the African. Walking over to the court-room and meeting
Chief Justice Maxwell confirmed more conclusively this position, for Mr. Max¬
well is a native African. I found many native Africans engaged in mercantile
pursuits. Alongside of the Englishmen, Dutchmen, Frenchmen, Italians and
other nationalities, the negro is at home in Africa, and no where else I have
seen him so ; for the word home means more than a dwelling-place—its
highest meaning is a place of contentment and liappiuess, where none dare
molest or make afraid.
Our steamer is a fast one, therefore we do not call at Isles deLos, nor Con-
acry, and such small ports, but pass on to Freetown, Sierra Leone. Mr. Hanc-e,
harbor master, boards our vessel, examines our papers, and takes leave Dr.
Renner follows, dressed in the garb of an English army officer, examines the
passengers and crew, finds all well on board, bids us drop anchor. Both of
the above-named officers of the British government are Africans. Mr. Hance
has held his position thirty years and will retire on full pay. Give me one
American negro out of ten millions so honored by his government. But we
are in darkest Africa, and a hundred Africans swarm around our steamer with
a half hundred small boats and yachts, jabbering native and English : "Massa
you go ashore" ; "Massa, come for you"; "Go with me, I carry you in Tene-
riftV; "Go with me, I carry you in Duke"; "No, massa, Albert be a better
boat." So, New York is not more thrifty in trying to make a dime than is the
nude African in the heart of Africa. And the little boats : the Duke, Albert,
Tenerilfe, Monrovia, Callabar, and a hundred others, are but evidences of their
thrift. We board the Teneriffe and are landed in short order; our baggage
taken to the custom-house and examined by Mr. Thomas, another native Afri¬
can as black as he is polite. The price of carrying you ashore is sixpence, and
sixpence for each piece of baggage, no matter how large or how small.
A native African, when he dresses, dresses in the gayest colors. Women
depend more upon what God has given them than upon artificiality to make
their beauty—if they have any. Here, as at Bathurst, we found the African hold¬
ing his place in the business world. The markets and small stores are carried
on principally by native women, who can push a trade as closely as a Jew.
To visit Freetown it takes hours to see what is to be seen, from police head¬
quarters to governor's mansion, the native African hold positions while the
principals are white men. The subordinates are Africans, who do their work
as intelligently as Europeans. Many missionary efforts are being put forth in
Freetown. The A. M. E. church, under the leadership of Revs. George D.
Decker, H. M. Steady, Rev.Martin, and others, isdoinga most successful work.
ITer schools are second to none ; her pulpits are filled with Christian gentlemen
8
West Africa and the Ameriean Negro.
who intelligently administer the word. Many foreign governments have con¬
suls and consul-generals at this port. Dr. Williams, of North Carolina, the
American consul, fills his place equal to that of any other diplomat. There
are many wealthy and intelligent Africans in Freetown.
After tarrying at Freetown for some days—and days of enjoyment, as civ¬
ilization has played a part here for a hundred years—we leave for Monrovia,
capital of Liberia, passing many ports without calling ; yet these are ports of
note: such as, Sherbro, Manna, Roberts Port, and Sulama. After thirty-six
hours, we are in sight of Cape Montsurrada, on which is situated the city of
Monrovia. Our hearts thrill as we look upon this beautiful little city and this
Negro Republic. We felt like taking our hats off and doffing them to the
negro enterprise. Here, boat after boat, property of the Liberians, came into
the harbor and wait around until Mr. Melvin, the harbor-master, has examined
the papers of the vessel and bid them board her. Men of rank and wealth
came aboard to greet the American minister. General B. Y. Payne, vice-Con¬
sul of the United States, came into the harbor floating the "Stars and Stripes."
We greeted him in the name of our country, and were soon taken ashore with
"Old Glory" floating o'er us. We called at the custom-house, at the post-office,
at llie State-house, at the president's mansion, and not a white face was to be
seen. Chiefs and subordinates were negroes, and negroes were in authority
from llie president's mansion to the jail house. We saw at once that Bishop
Turner had taken the right course in advocating our people to go to Africa.
In the city of Monrovia alone there is room for teachers, lawyers, dbctors,
preachers and merchants. In Montsurrada county, hundreds of the classes
named above could find employment, and now Liberia can be reached in six¬
teen days and for fifty-two dollars. The young negro who will remain here
and suffer all kinds of discrimination and degradation is less than a coward.
This rich and beautiful land is parcelled out in lots of fifteen and twenty-five
acres to married and single men from America who will settle in Liberia ; a
deed to this land makes every one a full-fledged citizen, the privilege to vote
and to be voted for guaranteed to you.
After reading this sketch it is hoped by the author that Africa will not appear
so far from you, and while there are hardships yet one is fully paid in the
privileges and enjoyments attained.
West Africa and the American Negro.
9
Part III.
OPPORTUNITY TO THOSE WHO MAY GO
TO AFRICA.
The Liberian government takes charge of all persons landing as emigrants,
and looks after their comfort preparatory to their settling ; but if one prefers,
lie may secure board in the best families at a cheap rate until settled. As the
government gives each settler from fifteen to twenty-five acres of land, and
allows him to choose his own land.it takes a little time to settle; locating,
surveying, and building hut. All new-comers built the hut, as it is cheap and
quickly built. From fifteen to fifty dollars will put up a good thatch hut,
which will answer all purposes for at least three years. The land cleared,
coffee, ginger, sugar-cane, edoes, cassada, oranges, limes, plums, bread-fruit,
pawpaws, can be planted. While it takes three years for coffee to yield ; five
to six for oranger, limes, bread-fruit, etc.; edoes, cassadas and such bread-
stuffs yield in three and four months, and ginger and sugar-cane once a year.
From these two commodities an income at once is had. All of the above fruits
and products are obtainable from your neighbors while yours are maturing.
This is the condition of the farmer. But should you go out as a professional
or buMness man, you have a wide field and little competition. Any educated
person will find ready employment by individuals or the government, and a
j-emuneration in keeping with the vocation. Citizenship is the result of a deed
to your land, and this is obtained at your option ; and citizenship means an
election to any office save that of President and Vice-President. It requires a
residence of five years to be elected to one of these offices. Attorney Wright,
Professor Stevens, Rev. Frazier, Dr Faulkner and Brother, Hoc. J. H. Green,
and others, have filled national positions before they were citizens five years.
The government need strong men to assist in running the republic, and such,
if loyal, are always welcomed. The merchant of Liberia receives the greatest
profit of any merchant on the face of the globe—not less than one hundred per
cent, on the purchasing price, and a hundred and fifty per cent, on the selling
price. Rent is cheap, taxes low, and duties moderate ; so that everything is in
favor of the merchant.
The scientists find the widest field imaginable—silver, gold, precious stones,
herbs, coal, iron, and such articles, are as plentiful-as the leaves on the trees—
they never fall. All that is needed is a scientific eye to see these things.
The zoologist could make a fortune in one year catching insects and shipping
them to colleges in America, England, Germany and France.
Why so many of our young people, educated and refined, will don white
aprons and stand behind chairs and watch other people eat is a problem, if
there is one, that needs to be solved. Many of our educated girls, when they
can work on people's heads and feet, presenting a card with some big word on
it, as "chiropodist," which means foot-cleaner, are perfectly satisfied. AH of
10
West Africa and the American Negro.
this must be done, but it does not require a knowledge of Latin, Greek, French,
German, and all the sciences to do this successfully ; yet it is the highest am¬
bition of our young people, while Africa invites them to higher walks.
cotton and coffee.
In America cotton is the staple in many of the Southern States. The farmer
plants and grows this staple to obtain clothing and the necessaries of life, and,
if possible, lay by a dollar f.ir a rainy day. In Liberia, coffee holds the satne
relation to the farmer as cotton in America ; }Tet it is planted like the peach
or apple tree. It takes about five years to yield, but when it begins to yield it
increases yearly, costing about five cents a pound to clean, hull and ship to
market; giving a clear profit of from two to five cents on the pound, while
there is no real profit in cotton growing. Liberia would yield cotton as prolifi-
cally as Arkansas or Mississippi if cultivated. The Englishmen are turning
their attention to cotton growing in West Africa.
cass adas and potatoes.
Oassadas answer the place of the American sweet potato, but is much easier
produced, as the greatest cost is the labor of planting. It produces without
cultivation, and as there is no frost in West Africa, once planted it will produce
for twenty years. It is a root as is the sweet potato.
rice and corn.
The upland rice of West Africa grows any and everywhere it falls upon the
ground. Very little attention is given to cultivation, yet it could be made an
export, which would yield-4he farmer a most valuable income. Corn grows as
prolifically in Africa as in the bottoms of Geoagia and Alabama. Planting is
the hardest task.
palm oil and bacon.
The palm tree grows as the pine in Georgia or North Carolina, and the nut
which it produces is as large or larger than a horse-chestnut. These nuts con¬
tain an oil that answers all the purposes of bacon, lard and butter in America.
The greatest task is to have a boy climb the tree and cut them down. This oil
fries your fish, seasons your greens, shortens your bread, and answers all the
purposes of lard and butter.
There are hogs, cows, sheep and goats, in West Africa, but no meat can be
cured, therefore all bacon is shipped from abroad.
rubber and turpentine.
Rubber farms are much more profitable than turpentine farms, for the reason
that it costs so much less to produce rubber, and the profit is so much greater.
Rubber is produced at from fifteen to twenty cents per pound, and sold at from
seventy five cents to one dollar per pound. While all of these products are
used on the ground, with a few exceptions, yet all of them are profitable com¬
modities for export.
We have presented this array of facts to sustain our position that the negro
will be benefitted by returning home to Africa as fast as he is self-reliant and
independent. But he must be a man ; boys cannot stand the hardships of
pioneer life.
West Africa and the American Negro.
11
Part IV.
OUR NATIVE BRETHREN.
As you reach the* west coast of Africa, at Cape Verde, you come in contact
with a native race of negro Africans, who speak a very connected language.
It is much like Chinese, and they are called Temnies and Mendies people. They
are very dark, well constituted physically, and active and thrifty. These same
tribes are all over Gambia and Senegambia, while in Sierra Leone, we find the
Mandingoes, and also many Temnies and Mendies. This type of the African
is shrewd and clever. The Fullas are also very numerous.
As we reach Liberia, we find a tribe closely related to the Mandingoes—the
Veys. They are all finely featured women and small men, and speak a cor¬
rupted Arabic language. They are warlike, and have a high sense of liberty,
and when civilized make good citizens and pleasant neighbors. They love re¬
ligious ceremony, and are mostly Mohammedans in faith.
Next to this tribe is the Golali, who is hostile and jealous of his right to be
the possessor of the land. The Golali does not quietly sit by and see his land
possessed without a protest. The language of the Golah is gutteral and hard
to speak and often misunderstood. The children do not master it as easily as
they do Bassa and Pessah ; I mean the civilized children of American parents.
The Golalis make good and reliable farm hands.
The Bassa is found near the Krooman country along the coast, and his lan¬
guage is easily picked up. These people make good domestics. They are
quiet, under easy control, and quickly subdued. The Kroos are the navigators,
and manage the vessels that come into West African waters. The tribe under¬
stand the value of money, and does not accept pay in chips and whetstones.
While physically they look unintelligent, yet they are clever in a contract and
can push a bargain for what it is worth. Their language is nasal and full of
signs and hard to speak connectedly by any one not a Krooman.
The Greboes are a shrewd people, living in the Southern part of Liberia-
They are highly intelligent, and feel very much their right to be sons of the
soil. They quickly accept civilized customs and apply these to their benefit.
Many of them are educated, having a written language. They are all fine
orators and fearless in all undertakings.
The Mandingoes and Ashantees are found to be the masters of all others in
industry, in wealth and government. They are found owning slaves and cul¬
tivating the land, and living in regular laid out towns, and conducting schools
and churches They do not accept Christianity, for they are Mohammedans,
and have the strictest code of morals.
They are clothed, while other tribes are partly nude.
12
West Africa and the American Negro.
The native tribes are very numerous : Bassa, Kroo, Hurrah, Pessah, Golah,
Vey, Greboe, Dey, and Mandingo. While many of them have no written lan¬
guage yet they do speak a language. We are now giving you the language of the
Bassa tribe, which is less intelligent than llie Kroo, Golah, Yey, Mandingo, etc.
We give you an idea of their language by presenting a few figures : For one
they say does; for two, say sah; for three, tali; for ten, blabon; for eleven,
b:ibon-say-doe; for fifteen, blabon-say-tah, which is fifteen; and this is similar
to dead and foreign languages now spoken, and they have names so that they
may distinguish one from the other, as Tofoe, Oofah, Mah, Bogie, Kun.
The Pessah name ends with a vowel ; the Golah with a consonant, as Gofah ;
the Kroo with a nasal. So you distinguish their tribes by names as you becoma
familiar with them.
Here the emigrant has a duty to perform in bringing these people to Christ,
and they become your helpers in tilling the soil. They are to West Africa
what the Afro-American has been to the Southern States, for they are the beasts
of burden. A civilized man could do but little in West Africa without the
native. They are docile, obedient, friendly and industrious in proportion as
they are encouraged and helped. God has a work here for us to do; will we
return under so favorable conditions and perform that work ? There is much
remuneration pecuniary and ease of conscience. Go now, go quickly. Go
directly.
The native African needs the contact and education of the American negro
more than that of the European, whiteman or West Indian negro.
Christianity and love of kind should awaken a deeper interest in our African
brethren. Who will go and stay ? Send me.
West Africa and the American Negro.
13
Part V.
MISSIONARY EFFORT IN AFRICA
BY AFRICAN METHODISTS.
The laurels are to the Rt. Rev. Henry McNeal Turner, D.D., D.C.L., senior
bishop of the A. M. E. church, who was the first bishop of the church to brave
all dangers, bear the scorn of those who had no missionary spirit, the back¬
biting of those who are too narrow to carry the Gospel outside of their own
precincts ; but he was not deterred by these, but sought his brethren in darkest
Africa, for which they would weave a chaplet of love, and crown his care-worn
brow. Golah, Yey, Mendi, Bassa and Krooman alike honor and reverence the
man who told them of "a home over there."' This champion of negro man¬
hood, this undying friend of the oppressed negro, was the first in war to liber¬
ate his American brethren, and the first in Africa to civilize and give religious
liberty to the heathen. But not being satisfied with his work in Liberia and
Sierra Leone, he opened the gate in South Africa that others may carry the
good news there also. As England has broken the Boer yoke from the Kaffir,
Coppin with others will point them to Him who will break the yoke of super¬
stition and set the captive free.
While the soil of Liberia has been enriched with tne bones of Geda, Vree-
land, Rigdel and Irons, and that of Sierra Leone with that of Sarah Gorham,
their mantles have fallen on younger men and women, and the heathen has
caught the light and will raise it higher until idols shall disappear and Christ's
name shall be sung from shore to shore. The shrines of wood, stone and fetish
will give way to Jehovah's altar.
Bishops Grant and Shaffer have each taken a part in the missionary work of
West Africa.
There are young men and women coming out of college who sihould go and
spread the truth of a risen and ascended Lord and Master, and by their intelli¬
gence and consecration dissipate darkness, superstition and ignorance, and let
the intellectual and spiritual light shine. But timidity, lack of spiritual fire
want of love for race, they are not constrained, as was Bishop Turner, to carry
the news to the heathen.
Whatever the A. M. E. church may do in Africa, West or South, this man
of God must have the credit of opening the door.
14
West Africa and the American Negro.
Part VI.
EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.
(EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE.)
A country, like a man, is valuable in what it produces and consumes, and in
its relations to others whom it may benefit, more or less. Thus Liberia and
West Africa in general are more beneficial to England, Germany, France and
Spain, because more closely related to them by means of transportation than
to the United States. Yet an established line of steamers between Savannah,
New Orleans, or any seaport, and Monrovia, Liberia, or Freetown, Sierra
Leone, would bring the relations even closer than that of any of the above-
named countries.
The products of Liberia are coffee, cocoa, ginger, rice, sugar-cane, raw
materials—palm nuts and oil, cocoanuts, ivory, fibre, rubber, etc. With the
exception of palm oil and sugar-cane all of these would be most valuable to
the United States, as no oils can compete with that of cotton seed. Palm oil
would be almost valueless save for medicinal purposes. No country in the
world can compete with Louisiana in growing sugar cane ; )Tet, these two
articles would still find a ready market in the east, while the others would find
a better market in the west than they now find in the east.
Sierra Leone, a country adjacent to Liberia, grows the best spices and peppers
in the world. Her animals produce more hides than any country along the
west coast. Thus the same line of steamers, sailing from southern ports in the
United States to Liberia, would call regularly at Freetown, and find valuable
cargoes. These being free ports, the competition would be in favor of the
above line of steamers. There are weekly and almost daily steamers of Ger¬
many, England, France and Spain, lying in the waters of Sierra Leone and
Liberia, with a profit to them that is inconceivable. No merchants in the
world realize such profits as do the merchants who trade on the west coast of
Africa, and yet the United States, seeking to place itself in the front ranks of
exporters in the world, wilfully or ignorantly neglects this prolific field.
We are said to be the greatest coffee consumers in the world. While this is
true that wc do consume more coffee than any other nation, if we would turn
our attention to Liberian coffee the consumption would be one-third less, for it
is the quality we need. There is not a stronger berry produeed than that which
grows on the St. Paul river, in Liberia. This coffee will equal in quantity one
pound to a pound and one-third of Rio or any South American coffee. Its
purity cannot be questioned, as it is a sun-dried instead of kiln-dried.
West Africa and the Ameriean Negro.
15
The ginger of Liberia is no less pure, for the reason stated above, and as it
grows almost spontaneously is a most profitable export.
Thus we could go on enumerating every article named, and the argument
would be in favor of exporting these articles from Africa. Dealers in precious
stones and metals should also turn their attention to West Africa. The gold
can be picked up from the ground, and precious stones in the beds of shallow
streams. As no mineralogists have visited Liberia, God alone knows what her
bowels contain ; but if the negro does not awake, then when he does, his oppor¬
tunity, as heretofore, will be gone. There are negro merchants, Americans as
well as natives, who are receiving large profits trading on the west coast of
Africa. Many of them are merchant princes. I could mention the McCaulys,
Bishops, Oldfields, and others, of Sierra Leone, who are as rich as Croesus.
The Hills and Moores, Dennis, Coopers, Grants, Kings, Attiers, Jolinstones,
Summervilles, Tubmans, Houstons, aud others too numerous to relate, have
grown rich in Liberia trading, as they say in common parlance.
Now this is but one side of the question, for those who give out must take
in. The native African does not consume as the civilized man, but he does
consume, aud no country in the world is producing what he consumes as the
United States. Africa being a warm country, cotton goods are preferred to
any other ; if not from taste nature forces this preference.
Besides, the United States is the greatest oil producing country in the world.
For lighting towns and homes makes oil a most profitable export. Not even
the half civilized can live in the dark. Just think of the profit on a gallon of
oil alone ; in Pennsylvania 3rou can purchase a gallon of oil for six cents. That
same gallon of oil in Liberia is worth forty-eight cents—or sells for that. One
thousand dollars invested in oil in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and shipped to
Liberia at the cost of another thousand dollars, handling, etc., would mean
eight thousand dollars in return. Three shipments a year would mean the
expending of six thousand dollars and an income of twenty-four thousand
dollars; and if this was invested in coffee, ginger, etc., it would cost about
four thousand dollars more to handle it and the receipts would not be less than
fifty thousand dollais, giving a clear profit of forty thousand dollars in one
year. This profit is not only on coffee, ginger, etc., but on everything exported
And as the profits on oil, so would they be on cotton goods, breadstuffs, hard¬
ware, machinery, gunpowder, salt, etc.
The merchants of America, white and colored, are missing the opportunity
of their lives in not turning their eyes towards the setting sun or West Africa.
The subject of exports and imports could be continued "ad infinitum," but
we have said enough to awaken any man or set of men interested in money
getting, and who desire to engage in a legitimate business to get that money.
New companies should be formed among negroes where they can get to¬
gether but five thousand dollars. It would mean to each stockholder a profit
of one hundred per cent, in purchase and one hundred per cent, in sales.
There is a vulgar saying, "Now or never," and so say I. Now is the Ameri¬
can negro's opportunity to engage in a mercantile pursuit to great profit.
16
West Africa and the American Negro.
The lately organized Steamship Company of West Africa, with Col. A. I).
Williams, Mr. Faulkner, and Ex-Secretary 8purgeon as members of the Board
of Directors, means much to the merchant of West Africa in America, also to
those who will visit West Africa.
PROGRESS.
This clipping is taken from a paper that lias always opposed Liberia. It is
the unvarnished truth. It is stronger than anything I have written, and clearly
shows the opportunity of the American negro to benefit himself financially and
politically. This should inspire the negro and make him more hopeful. Self-
government is the highest point reached by any people, and these Amerieo-
Liberians have reached the highest success, and is the garden spot of God's
creation :
The Progress of Lireria.—"Those whose interests or prejudices tie them
to the theory that what are called the inferior races cannot develop civilization
by themselves, are very apt to refer to the Liberian republic a sa failure. This
has been so persistently represented that it has come to be a widespread con¬
viction. It is interesting, therefore, to find that belief very strongly contradicted
by an authority whom it is hard to contradict.
"Sir Harry Johnston is an able and experienced administrator in the British
colonies, of the self-governing stamp. His tendencies are imperialistic. But
his report of an extensive journey through Liberia is laudatory of the black
republic. He finds that the extension of peace and order into the interior has
been steady and the trade of the country is advancing. There are not more
than 12,000 of the negroes that emigrated from this country and the West In¬
dies; but they are stated by Sir Harry Johnston to be an active and intelligent
class, gradually extending their influence over the 2,000,000 natives of the
interior."
It is worth while to remember that Liberia as a colony is a little over eighty
years old, and has had to depend on its own resources and efforts. Its progress
is justly to be compared, therefore, with that of the American colouies when
they had existed for a century. According to Sir Harry Johnston's testimony
it would not suffer by the comparison.