J 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA: 
 
 COMPRISING 
 
 A BRIEF ACCOUNT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 AND DISEASES, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA, 
 
 SECOND EDITION— REVISED. 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF LIBERIA, AND A 
 SUCCINCT ACCOUNT OF THE CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS OF 
 THE CONTIGUOUS NATIVE TRIBES. 
 
 BY J. W. LUGSNBEEL, 
 
 Late Colonial Physician and U. S. Agent in Liberia 
 
 WASHINGTON : 
 
 C. ALEXANDER, PRINTER, 
 
 1853 . 
 
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 GEOGRAPHY, CLIMATE, PRODUCTIONS, j 
 
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SKETCHES OF LIBERIA 
 
 COMPRISING 
 
 A BRIEF ACCOUNT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 GEOGRAPHY, CLIMATE, PRODUCTIONS, 
 
 AND DISEASES, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA. 
 
 SECOND EDITION— REVISED. 
 
 70 WHICH IS ADDED A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF LIBERIA, AND A 
 SUCCINCT ACCOUNT OF THE CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS OF 
 THE CONTIGUOUS NATIVE TRIBES. 
 
 BY J. W. LUGENBEEL, 
 
 Late Colonial Physician and IT. S. Agent in Liberia. 
 
 WASHINGTON : 
 
 C. ALEXANDER, PRINTER 
 
 1853 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 A decided conviction of the necessity of 
 a work in which the earnest inquirer may 
 find the principal topics of information 
 that he may desire, respecting the Re- 
 public of Liberia, is the motive which has 
 induced the author of these sketches to 
 consent to their publication. His long 
 residence in Liberia, and the great care 
 with which he endeavored to make obser- 
 vations, and to acquire information from 
 the most authentic sources, embolden him 
 to believe that these Sketches, presented as 
 they are with the utmost ingenuousness, 
 are worthy the candid consideration of all 
 who desire a knowledge of the truth, re- 
 specting the condition and prospects of the 
 little Africaji Republic. Though they may 
 possibly contain some slight inaccuracies, 
 yet the author believes that a more truth- 
 ful, comprehensive, and impartial account 
 of matters and things as they really exist 
 in Liberia, has not been given to the pub- 
 lic. And with no other motive in view 
 than a desire to impart needful and correct 
 information, he leaves this little work to 
 
 the candid persual of the unbiassed reader; 
 in the hope that some good may result 
 from this part of his labors in the cause of 
 humanity. 
 
 Washington, 1850. 
 
 Preface to the Second Edition . 
 
 The first edition of these Sketches hav- 
 ing met with general approbation, and 
 the necessity for an additional supply 
 seeming to exist, the author has carefully 
 revised the work — omitting some unimpor- 
 tant portions, for the sake of brevity, and 
 making such corrections and additions as 
 he deemed necessary. 
 
 The presentation of a simple and con- 
 cise account of Liberia, as it is, for the in- 
 formation of all earnest inquirers, and no 
 consideration of pecuniary advantage, has 
 prompted the Author to the publication of 
 these Sketches. Copies of the work will, 
 therefore, as heretofore, be furnished gratui- 
 tously on application to the Secretary of the 
 American Colonization Society in this city. 
 
 Washington, June, 1853. 
 
 CHAPTER 1. 
 
 GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 That portion of the western coast of 
 Africa, which has received the appellation 
 of Liberia embraces a tract of country 
 included between the parallels of 40 20' and 
 7° 20' north latitude, extending from the 
 Sherbro river on the north (near the 
 southern boundary of the British Colony 
 of Sierra Leone) to the Pedro river on 
 
 the south ; a distance along the coast of 
 about six hundred miles. The political 
 jurisdiction of the Republic of Liberia em- 
 braces about five hundred miles of this ter- 
 ritory : that of the Cojony of “Maryland 
 in Liberia” embraces about one hundred 
 miles, to the north and east of Cape Pal- 
 mas. All the territory which lies between 
 
4 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 Appearance of the Country— Water— Soil. 
 
 these two points (except two or three 
 small tracts,) has been purchased from the 
 original proprietors and rightful owners of 
 the soil. The first tract was purchased 
 in the early part of 1822, embracing a 
 small extent of territory in the vicinity of 
 Cape Mesurado. Other portions have, at 
 different times, been purchased — the great- 
 er part within the last few years. The | 
 interior boundaries of the purchased tracts 
 extend from about ten to forty miles 
 from the coast. These boundaries may 
 readily be extended as far as may be de- 
 sirable, as the interior tribes are generally 
 very willing, and some of them anxious 
 to sell their territories. 
 
 In no instance have the natives, from 
 whom the land was purchased, been re- 
 quired to remove their residences, or to 
 abandon their usual customs, except that 
 of trading in slaves, and the practice of 
 such superstitious rites or ceremonies as 
 tend to deprive any of their fellows beings 
 of life. And, in all the written contracts 
 which have been entered into between the 
 Agents of the Colonization Society, or the 
 authorities of the Republic, and the native 
 chiefs, the latter have invariably obligated 
 themselves, in behalf of the people over 
 whom they presided, to conform to the 
 laws and regulations of the Liberian Gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 As in most other countries, similarly 
 situated, the land in the immediate vicini- 
 ty of the ocean in Liberia, is generally 
 low; and, in some places, it is very marshy. 
 There are some elevated spots, how- 
 ever ; such as those on which the towns 
 of Monrovia and Harper are located. The 
 land generally becomes more elevated to- 
 wards the interior; and, in some places, 
 within fifty miles of the coast, it is quite 
 mountainous. 
 
 Far as the eye can reach from the high- 
 est points of land in the vicinity of the 
 ocean, the whole country presents the ap- 
 
 j pearance of a deep, unbroken forest, with 
 hill-top rising ?.bove hill-top towards the 
 vast interior; the country consisting, not 
 as is supposed by some persons, of arid 
 plains and burning sands, but of hills and 
 valleys, covered with the verdure of per- 
 j petual spring. The country is well wa- 
 | tered : — many beautiful streams may be 
 I seen winding their way amidst blooming 
 S flowers and wild shrubbery; and many 
 | cooling springs of clear, sparkling water, 
 i invite the weary traveler to linger and 
 j quench his thirst. In all the settlements 
 ! in Liberia, good water can be procured 
 J without much difficulty ; and though in 
 the dry season, as in this country after a 
 long dry spell in summer, some of the 
 ! springs fail, for a time; yet, as good water 
 | can always be obtained by digging wells; 
 and as many of the springs never fail, there 
 | need not be any fear about getting plenty 
 of good water at any time in the year. 
 
 Soil. The soil of Liberia, like that of 
 other countries, varies in appearance, 
 quality, and productiveness. That of the 
 uplands, though generally much inferior 
 to that of the lowlands, is better adapted 
 to some articles. The upland soil usually 
 consists of a reddish clay, more or less 
 mixed with soft rocks and stones, contain- 
 ing considerable quantities of iron. That 
 of the lowlands, in the immediate vicinity 
 of the ocean, consists principally of sand. 
 Besides this sandy soil, there are two other 
 varieties of lowland soil; one of which is that 
 on the banks of the rivers, within a few 
 miles of the sea : this consists of a loose, 
 deep, black mould ; which is peculiarly 
 adapted to the growth of those kinds of 
 vegetables that thrive best during the dry 
 season. The other variety is that which 
 is generally found extending back from 
 the banks of the rivers, farther from the 
 sea than the last named : this consists of a 
 light colored clay, more or less tempered 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 5 
 
 Rivers — St. Paul’s — St. John’s and Junk. 
 
 with sand; and it is well adapted to almost 
 every kind of vegetables that will thrive 
 in tropical climates. 
 
 Rivers. There are no very large rivers 
 in Liberia; and, although some of them 
 are from one-fourth to three-fourths of a 
 mile wide, for fifty miles or more from 
 their entrance into the ocean; yet none of 
 them are navigable to a greater distance 
 than twenty miles; the navigation being 
 obstructed by rapids. The St. Paul’s, the 
 St. John’s, and the Junk, are the largest; 
 and, indeed, they are the only rivers of 
 any considerable length or width. The 
 other principal rivers are the Gallinas, the 
 Cape Mount, the Mechlin, the New Cess, 
 the Grand Cess, the Sanguin, the Sinou, 
 and the Grand Sesters. Some of these 
 present a bold appearance at their mouths ; 
 but they are all comparatively short; and 
 none of them are navigable for boats, or 
 even for canoes, more than twenty or thirty 
 miles, without obstruction by rocks or 
 rapids. 
 
 The St. Paul’s river is a beautiful stream 
 of water. It is three-fourths of a mile wide 
 at the widest part, (at Caldwell,) and 
 about three-eighths of a mile wide at Mills- 
 burg, about fourteen miles from its mouth. 
 
 The banks of this river rise from ten t© 
 twenty feet above the water ; and, except 
 in places that have been cleared, they are 
 covered with large forest trees; among 
 which may be seen the graceful palm, 
 rearing aloft its green -tufted head, and 
 standing in all its pride and beauty, the 
 ornament and the glory of its native land. 
 The St. Paul’s is perhaps the longestriver 
 in Liberia. It is studded with many 
 beautiful islands, abounding in camwood, ' 
 palm, and many other valuable forest 
 trees ; and its banks furnish many beauti- 
 ful sites for residences. Many native ham- 
 lets may be seen on the banks of this love- 
 ly river — the homes of the untutored chil- 
 
 dren of the forest — the benighted sons and 
 daughters of Africa. The St Paul’s bifur- 
 cates about three miles from its mouth : 
 the principal stream rolls on towards the 
 ocean, while the other fork flows in a 
 south-easterly direction, almost parallel 
 with the beach, and unites with the little 
 Mesurado river near its mouth; and thus 
 an island is formed, about eight miles long 
 and from one to two in width, called Bush- 
 rod Island. This latter fork of the river 
 is called Stockton Creek , in honor of Com. 
 Stockton, who kindly aided in effecting 
 the first purchase of territory. 
 
 The St. John’s river is also a beautiful 
 stream. It is about sixty miles south-east 
 of the St. Paul’s; and it flows through that 
 part of Liberia known as the Grand 
 Bassa country. At the widest point, it is 
 nearly or quite a mile wide. Its length, 
 however, is supposed to be less than that 
 of the St Paul’s. The St John’s is also 
 studded with numerous islands; the largest 
 of which is Factory Island, about three 
 miles from its mouth. The banks of this 
 river also rise considerably above the wa- 
 ter ; and the land bordering on it is also 
 very productive. 
 
 The Junk river, which is about equidis- 
 tant from the other two named rivers, is 
 the third in size and importance. The 
 main branch is supposed to be equal in 
 length to the St. John’s. The northern 
 branch, which is only about forty miles 
 long, is noted as a thoroughfare between 
 Monrovia and Marshall. At the place of 
 embarkation, a few miles below its source, 
 it is not more than five yards wide ; but it 
 gradually expands to the width of more 
 than half a mile. 
 
 The appearance of the country along the 
 banks of these rivers, and of the numer- 
 ous little islands which they form, is high- 
 ly picturesque. 
 
 The banks of the St. Paul’s and the St. 
 John’s, in many places, present encourag- 
 
6 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA, 
 
 Settlements— Monrovia. 
 
 ing scenes of agricultural industry; show- 
 ing the handiwork of a people* whose so- 
 cial condition is vastly superior to that of 
 their aboriginal neighbors; and who are 
 thus placing before the indolent and im- 
 provident natives, illustrations of the great 
 superiority of the habits of civilized people 
 to their own degrading customs ; examples 
 which must eventually exert a powerful 
 influence on the minds and practice of the 
 contiguous native tribes. 
 
 And thus, while the mind of the travel- 
 ler is oppressed by the melancholy consid- 
 eration of the moral and intellectual dark- 
 ness of the scattered tribes of human be- 
 ings, whose desolate-looking hamlets fre- 
 quently meet his view, as he wends his 
 way amidst the dense forests of the uncul- 
 tivated hills and dales of Africa; he is en- 
 couraged to believe that the time will come 
 when this extensive “wilderness shall be 
 made glad” by the labors of industrious 
 agriculturists, and when this vast desert of 
 intellectual and moral degradation “shall 
 rejoice, and blossom as the rose.” 
 
 Settlements. — The principal settle- 
 ments in the Republic of Liberia are-— 
 Monrovia, New Georgia, Caldwell, Vir- 
 ginia, Kentucky, Millsburg, Marshall, 
 Edina, Buchanan, Bexley, Greenville, 
 Readsville, Lexington, and Louisiana. — 
 Besides these, there are a few other locali- 
 ties, which are sometimes called by one 
 name and sometimes by another. 
 
 Monrovia is the largest and oldest of all 
 the settlements ; and it is the metropolis, 
 and the seat of government of the Repub- 
 lic. It is located near the mouth of the 
 Mesurado river, (a small stream about fif- 
 teen miles long,) about four miles southeast 
 of the entrance of the St, Paul’s river into 
 the ocean, on an elevated site, immediate- 
 ly in the rear of Cape Mesurado, in lati- 
 tude 6° 19' north. The highest part of 
 the hill on which the town stands, and 
 which is near its centre, is about eighty 
 
 feet above the level of the ocean, and 
 about three-fourths of a mile from the sum- 
 mit of the Cape, which is about two hun- 
 dred and fifty feet above the sea. Cape 
 Mesurado is a bold promontory, covered 
 with massive forest trees and dense un- 
 dergrowth ; except in places that have 
 been cleared. On the summit of the Cape 
 is a light-house and a fort; and along the 
 sloping declivity, towards the town, there 
 are several cleared lots, on which small 
 houses have been erected; in some places 
 affording very pleasant places ofresidence. 
 The greater part of the promontory, how- 
 ever, is very rocky. The course of the 
 coast north of the Cape, forms a kind of 
 bay, which generally affords safe anchor- 
 age for vessels; and the cove, near the 
 base of the Cape, affords as good a landing 
 on the beach as can be found on almost 
 any other part of the coast. 
 
 The town of Monrovia, although more 
 compact than any of the other settlements 
 in Liberia, occupies a considerable extent 
 of ground; being about three-fourths of a 
 mile in length. It is laid off with as much 
 regularity as the location will allow; and 
 the streets, of which there are about fifteen 
 in number, have received regular names. 
 The town is divided into lots of one-fourth 
 of an acre, and most of the dwelling-houses 
 have a lot attached to each of them. 
 Most of the lots, and several of the streets, 
 are adorned with various tropical fruit 
 trees; and some of the gardens present a 
 handsome appearance. The houses are 
 generally one story or a story and a half 
 high : some are two full stories. Many of 
 them are substantially built of stone or 
 brick and some of the best houses are 
 built partly of both these materials. The 
 state-house is a large stone building, which 
 was erected in 1843. In the rear of this 
 building, is a substantial stone prison. 
 There are three commodious stone houses 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 7 
 
 New Georgia— Caldwell— Virginia— Kentucky and Millsburg. 
 
 for public worship in the town — Metho- j 
 dist, Baptist and Presbyterian; nearly all i 
 of the professing Christians in the place 
 being attached to one of these religious de- ■ 
 nominations. 
 
 At the base of the hill on which stand i 
 the principal dwelling houses, there are j 
 several large stone buildings, which are 
 occupied as stores and warehouses. The 
 dwellings of many of the citizens of Mon- 
 rovia are not only comfortably, but ele- 
 gantly, and some of them richly furnish- 
 ed ; and some of the residents of this little i 
 bustling metropolis live in a style of ease 
 and affluence, which does not comport J 
 with the contracted views of those per- I 
 sons who regard a residence in Africa as | 
 necessarily associated with the almost en- 
 tire privation of the good things of this 
 life. The population is about fifteen hun- 
 dred, exclusive of native children and 
 youths who reside in the families of the 
 citizens. 
 
 New Georgia is a small township, loca- 
 ted on the eastern side of Stockton Creek, 
 about five miles from Monrovia. It is oc- 
 cupied principally by native Africans, who ! 
 were formerly slaves. Upwards of two 
 hundred of the liberated Africans who 
 have been, or who now are, residents of 
 New Georgia, were sent to Liberia by the 
 United States Government, at different j 
 times. Many of these have married per- 
 sons who were born in the United States; 
 and have thereby become more strongly 
 identified with the Liberians, as citizens 
 of the Republic. Some of them are par- 
 tially educated; and, a few years ago, one 
 of them occupied a seat in the Legislature. 
 As most of the citizens of New Georgia 
 have taken the oath of allegiance, they are 
 permitted to enjoy equal immunities with 
 other citizens. 
 
 Caldwell is situated on the southern side 
 of the St. Paul’s river. The whole settle- 
 
 ment, which is divided forconvemence into 
 Upper and Lower Caldwell, is about six 
 miles in length, extending along the bank 
 of the river; the nearest part to Monrovia 
 being about nine miles distant. The 
 houses are from one hundred yards to a 
 quarter of a mile, or more, apart; and, of 
 course, this settlement has not much the 
 appearance of a town. Some of the most 
 enterprising farmers in Liberia reside at 
 this place. The land about Caldwell is 
 generally remarkably productive. 
 
 Virginia, or New Virginia, as it is some- 
 times called, is a new settlement, com- 
 menced in the early part of 1846. It is also 
 on the St. Paul’s river, opposite Caldwell. 
 This is the site of the United States Recep- 
 tacle for liberated Africans, erected in 1847. 
 
 Kentucky is an agricultural settlement be- 
 tween Virginia and Millsburg, on the 
 northern bank of the St. Paul’s river, com- 
 menced a few years ago. 
 
 Millsburg is the farthest settlement from 
 the sea-coast of any in Liberia. It is sit- 
 uated on the northern bank of the St Paul’s 
 river, about fourteen miles from its mouth 
 ! and about twenty miles from Monrovia. 
 Like the other farming settlements, the 
 houses generally are separated at a con- 
 siderable distance from one another; so 
 that the whole township extends about a 
 | mile and a half along the bank of the river. 
 Millsburg is perhaps the most beautiful, 
 and one of the most healthy locations in 
 Liberia. The land is remarkably good, 
 and of easy cultivation. A flourishing Fe- 
 male Academy is in operation at this place, 
 under the care of Mrs. Wilkins, missiona- 
 ry of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 And, on the opposite side of the river is 
 White Plains, a mission station of the same 
 Church. 
 
 Besides these settlements, there are nu- 
 merous other points along the St. Paul’s 
 river, which are occupied by farmers; so 
 
8 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 Marshall — Edina — Buchanan— Bexley — Greenville, &c. 
 
 that the banks of this beautiful stream pre- 
 sent, in many places, the appearance of ag- 
 ricultural industry and comfort. 
 
 Marshall is situated at the mouth of the 
 Junk river, about thirty -five miles south of 
 Monrovia. Most of the houses in this 
 place are built along the sea-shore. This 
 place is particularly noted for the manu- 
 facture of lime; which is obtained altogeth- 
 er from oyster and other shells. Most of 
 the lime that is used in Liberia is made in 
 the vicinity of Marshall. The river at 
 this place abounds in oysters. And though 
 they are not quite equal to those procured in 
 some parts of the United States, yet they are 
 quite palatable, when properly served up. 
 
 Edina is located on the northern bank 
 of the St. John’s river, about half a mile 
 from its mouth. It is handsomely situated; 
 and, in reference to the healthiness of the 
 location, it is perhaps equal to most others 
 in Liberia. Some of the citizens of Edina 
 ire engaged in the cultivation of exporta- 
 ble articles of produce. 
 
 Buchanan is located at the junction of 
 the Benson river (a small stream) with the 
 St.John’s, nearly opposite Edina. Several 
 of the citizens of this place also have given 
 considerable attention to the cultivation of 
 coffee, arrow-root, and ginger, during the 
 last few years. A steam saw-mill intro- 
 duced in 1851, is in successful operation 
 at this place. 
 
 A new settlement has recently been form- 
 ed at the site of the one destroyed by Gran- 
 do, a native chief, and his allies, in No- 
 vember, 1851, near Fish Town, a native 
 village, about three miles below the mouth 
 of the St. John’s river. 
 
 Bexley is situated on the northern side of 
 the St. John’s river, about six miles from 
 its mouth. This place, like the settlements 
 on the St. Paul’s river, occupies a consid- 
 erable extent of territory. It is divided 
 into Upper and. Lower Bexley; both to- 
 
 [ gether extending about four miles along 
 the river. Bexley is a fine farming settle- 
 ment; the land is excellent; and the loca- 
 tion is comparatively healthy. Several 
 of the citizens of this place are pretty ac- 
 tively engaged in cultivating articles for 
 exportation. This is certainly one of the 
 most interesting settlements in Liberia. 
 The mission of the Baptist Board of For- 
 eign Missions is located at this place; also 
 the head-quarters of the Southern Baptist 
 Mission. 
 
 Greenville is situated at the mouth of 
 the Sinou river, about one hundred and 
 thirty miles by -sea southeast of Monrovia. 
 Like the settlement of Marshall, most of 
 the houses are located along the sea-shore. 
 Greenville presents a handsome appear- 
 ance from the anchorage. It is one of the 
 most healthy settlements in Liberia. The 
 land in the immediate vicinity of Green- 
 ville, and indeed of all the other settle- 
 ments near the sea-shore, is much inferior 
 to that on the banks of the rivers several 
 miles from their entrance into the ocean. 
 Consequently, those persons who expect 
 to live by “the sweat of their brow,” in 
 the cultivation of the soil, will find itgreat- 
 ly to their advantage to locate beyond the 
 sound of the breaking surf of the ocean. A 
 steam saw-mill is in operation at this set- 
 tlement — the first one introduced into Li- 
 beria. 
 
 Readsville, Lexington, and Louisiana, are 
 farming settlements on or near the Sinou 
 river, from two to five miles above Green- 
 ville. 
 
 In every settlement, there is one place, 
 or more, of public worship, in which reli- 
 gious services are regularly held. And, 
 in nearly every settlement, there is one 
 regular day and Sunday school, or more. 
 The principal deficiency in the system of 
 education in Liberia, consists in the ina- 
 bility to procure the services of a sufficient 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 9 
 
 Maryland in Liberia — Climate and seasons — rainy and dry seasons. 
 
 number of competent teachers. There 
 are several very good schools at Monro* 
 via, and some of the other settlements ; 
 but the facilities tor thorough intellectual 
 training are not commensurate with the 
 wants of the people in all the settle- 
 ments. 
 
 As the census has not been taken for 
 several years, I cannot give the exact pop- 
 ulation of the different settlements, and the 
 exact aggregate population of the Repub- 
 lic. The whole number of inhabitants of 
 the Republic, exclusive of the natives, is 
 probably at present, about seven thousand. 
 The native population is probably about 
 two hundred thousand; many of whom 
 have adopted habits of civilized life; and 
 many of the youth of both sexes have 
 enjoyed, or are enjoying, advantages of 
 education. 
 
 Maryland in Liberia. 
 
 The Colony of “Maryland in Liberia,” 
 which has always maintained a distinctive 
 character, and which has always been un- 
 der a different government from the Re- 
 public of Liberia, was established in the 
 early part of the year 1834. Ever since 
 that period, it has continued to progress in 
 interest and importance; and, at present, it 
 occupies a prominent position, as an asy- 
 lum for the proscribed descendants ofHam; 
 to whom the siren song of “My native 
 
 land” loses its mellowing cadence in the 
 thrilling, patriotic sound of “Sweet land of 
 liberty. ” 
 
 This interesting Colony is located about 
 two hundred and fifty miles by sea south- 
 east from Monrovia. Harper , the princi- 
 pal town or settlement, is situated near the 
 point of the Cape, (Cape Palmas, a bold 
 projecting promontory, which is one of the 
 most prominent points or land-marks on the 
 western coast of Africa;) and, from the 
 anchorage, it presents a handsome appear- 
 ance. At the distance of about half a mile 
 from Harper is the town of East Harper; 
 in which are several beautiful sites for 
 I residences, commanding a fine view of the 
 ocean, and of the adjacent hills and vales. 
 
 | Between these two villages, there are two 
 ! large native towns, comprising several 
 j! hundred houses, which present a marked 
 contrast with the comfortable-looking dwel- 
 j lings of the colonists. At the distance of 
 about two and a half miles beyond East 
 Harper is another settlement, called Tub- 
 mantown. Most of the land near the road 
 between these two villages is occupied by 
 the colonists; so that on both sides of this 
 highway, many neat little cottages maybe 
 seen, and many handsome gardens and 
 small farms. 
 
 The whole population of Maryland in Li- 
 beria, exclusive of aborigines, is about 
 | 1 , 000 . 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 CLIMATE AN 
 
 The territory of Liberia being within j 
 a few degrees of the equator, of course j 
 the nature of the climate is essential- j 
 Iy different from that of the United 
 ►States, the vicissitudes of spring, sum- 1 
 mer, autumn, and winter not being ex- i 
 perienced in the equatorial regions of 
 the earth; there being continued sum- 
 mer weather throughout the year; in- 
 
 D SEASONS. 
 
 terrupted only by occasional slight varia- 
 tions in the thermometrical state of the at- 
 mosphere; caused by the greater strength 
 of the ordinary breezes, and by clouds and 
 rain; which latter prevail so much more 
 during one half of the year than during 
 the other half, as to give rise to the usual- 
 ly recognized division of the year into two 
 seasons — the wet or rainy season , and the 
 
10 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 January — harmattan wind. 
 
 dry season; or, in common parlance, “the I 
 rains” and “the dries;” the former of j 
 which answers nearly to summer and au- | 
 tumn, and the latter to winter and spring, | 
 in temperate latitudes. 
 
 This unqualified and somewhat arbitrary j 
 division of the year, however, has led j 
 many persons into error, respecting the j 
 real state of the weather, during these two 
 seasons; some supposing that during the ! 
 rainy season, more or less rain falls every 
 day; and, on the other hand, during the 
 dry season, an uninterrupted spell of hot 
 and dry weather prevails for six successive 
 months. This is so far from being the 
 case, that, as a general rule, it may be 
 stated, that some rain falls in every month 
 in the year; and, in every month, there is 
 some fine, clear, pleasant weather. During 
 my residence in Liberia, I seldom ob- 
 served a deviation from this general rule. 
 Much more rain, however, falls, during 
 the six months beginning with May, than 
 during the remaining six months beginning 
 with November. It is difficult, however, 
 to determine at what time each of the two 
 seasons actually commences and closes. 
 As a general rule, I think the middle of 
 May may be set down as the beginning of 
 the rainy season, and the middle of No- 
 vember that of the dry season. In order, 
 however, to give an accurate and compre- 
 hensive statement of the character of the 
 climate and seasons of Liberia, it may be 
 the best plan to note the vicissitudes of 
 each month in the year, as they are usual- 
 ly presented. 
 
 January is usually the driest, and one of 
 the warmest months in the year. Some- 
 times, during this month, no rain at all 
 falls; but generally there are occasional 
 slight showers, particularly at night. 
 Were it not for the sea-breeze, which pre- 
 vails with almost uninterrupted regularity, 
 through the greater part of the day, on al- 
 most every day throughout the year, the 
 
 weather would be exceedingly oppressive, 
 during the first three or four months of the 
 year. As it is, the oppressiveness of the 
 rays of the tropical sun, is greatly mitiga- 
 ted by the cooling breezes from the ocean ; 
 which usually blow from about 10 o’clock 
 A. M. to about JO P. M., the land-breeze 
 occupying the remainder of the night and 
 morning; except for an hour or two about 
 the middle of the night, and about an hour 
 in the forenoon. During these intervals, 
 the atmosphere is sometimes very oppres- 
 sive. The regularity of the sea-breeze, 
 especially in the month of January , is some- 
 times interrupted by the longer contin- 
 ance of the land-breeze, which occasional- 
 ly does not cease blowing until 2 or 3 
 o’clock P. M. This is what is called the 
 harmattan wind ; about which a great deal 
 has been written ; but which does not 
 generally fully accord with the forced de- 
 scriptions of hasty observers or copyists. 
 
 The principal peculiarity of the harmat- 
 tan wind consists in its drying properties, 
 and its very sensible coolness, especially 
 early in the morning. It seldom, perhaps 
 never, continues the whole day ; and usu- 
 ally not much longer than the ordinary 
 land-breeze, at other times in the year. 
 When this wind blows pretty strongly, 
 the leaves and covers of books sometimes 
 curl, as if they had been placed near a 
 fire ; the seams of furniture, and of wooden 
 vessels, sometimes open considerably, and 
 the skin of persons sometimes feels pecu- 
 liarly dry and unpleasant, in consequence 
 of the rapid evaporation of both the sen- 
 sible and the insensible perspiration. But 
 these effects are usually by no means so 
 great as they have been represented to be. 
 What is generally called the harmattan 
 season usually commences about the mid- 
 dle of December, and continues until the 
 latter part of February. During this time, 
 especially in the month of January, the 
 atmosphere has a smoky appearance, sim- 
 
SKETCHES OP LIBERIA. 
 
 11 
 
 February, March, and April — Tornadoes. 
 
 ilar to what is termed Indian summer in 
 the United States, but generally more 
 hazy. 
 
 The average height of the mercury in 
 the thermometer, during the month of 
 January, is about 85°. It seldom varies 
 more than ten degrees during the twenty- 
 four hours of the day ; and usually it does 
 not vary more than four degrees between 
 the hours of 10 A. M. and 10 P. M. In 
 this month, however, 1 have seen the 
 mercury stand at the lowest mark, at 
 which I ever observed it in Liberia, that 
 is, at 68°. This was early in the morn- 
 ing, during the prevalence of a strong 
 and very cool land-breeze. In this month 
 I have also seen the mercury stand at the 
 highest mark, at which I ever observed 
 it — that is, at 90°. The air is sometimes 
 uncomfortably cool before 8 o’clock A. 
 M., during this month. 
 
 During the month of February, the 
 weather is generally similar to that of Jan- 
 uary. There are, however, usually more 
 frequent showers of rain ; and sometimes, 
 towards the close of this month, slight 
 tornadoes are experienced. The harmat- 
 tan haze generally disappears about the 
 last of this month ; and the atmosphere 
 becomes clear. The range of the ther- 
 mometer is about the same as in January. 
 
 March is perhaps the most trying month 
 in Ihe year to the constitutions of new- 
 comers. The atmosphere is usually very 
 oppressive during this month, the sun be- 
 ing nearly vertical. The occasional show- 
 ers of rain, and the slight tornadoes, which 
 occur in this month, do not usually miti- 
 gate the oppressiveness of the atmosphere, 
 as might be supposed. The variation in 
 the state of the atmosphere, as indicated 
 by the thermometer, seldom exceeds 6° 
 during the whole of this month. The av- 
 erage height of the mercury is about 85°. 
 
 April is significantly called the “ tornado 
 month,” the most numerous and most 
 
 violent tornadoes usually occurring during 
 this month. The ordinary state of the 
 weather, in reference to the degree of heat, 
 and its influence on the system, is not very 
 different from that of the three preceding 
 months. The showers of rain are usually 
 more frequent, however; and the visitations 
 of those peculiar gusts, called tornadoes, 
 are much more common in April, than in 
 any other month. These are sudden, and 
 sometimes violent gusts, which occur much 
 more frequently at night, than during the 
 day. Although they usually approach 
 suddenly and rapidly, yet certain premoni- 
 tory evidences of their approach are almost 
 always presented, which are generally 
 easily recognized by persons who have 
 frequently observed them. They generally 
 commence from northeast, or east-n ortheast, 
 and rapidly shift around to nearly south- 
 east ; by which time the storm is at its 
 height. 
 
 At the commencement of a tornado, dark 
 clouds appear above the eastern horizon, 
 which rapidly ascend, until a dense lurid- 
 looking mass spreads over the whole hemi- 
 sphere As the heavy mass of clouds as- 
 cends and spreads, the roaring sound of 
 the wind becomes stronger and louder, 
 until suddenly it bursts forth in its fury 
 sometimes seeming as if it would sweep 
 away every opposing object. Very seldom, 
 however, is any material injury sustained 
 from these violent gusts. The scene is 
 sometimes awfully grand, for fifteen or 
 twenty minutes, during the formation and 
 continuance of a heavy tornado. Some- 
 times the whole hemisphere presents a scene 
 of the deepest gloom ; the darkness of which 
 is momentarily illuminated by vivid flashes 
 of lightning-, in rapid succession ; and some- 
 times tremendous peals of thunder burst 
 upon the solemn stillness of the scene. 
 The rain seldom falls, until the violence of 
 the gust begins to subside ; when a torrent 
 usually pours down for a short time, seldom 
 
12 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 May— June— July — August — September— October — November. 
 
 more than half an hour ; after which, the 
 wind shifts around towards the west ; and 
 generally, in about an hour from the com- 
 mencement of the tornado, the sky be- 
 comes serene, and sometimes almost cloud- 
 less. 
 
 The weather during the month of May is 
 usually more pleasant, than in the two 
 preceding months. The atmosphere is gene- 
 rally not quite so warm and oppressive. 
 Sometimes copious and protracted showers 
 of rain fall, during the latter half of this 
 month. Tornadoes also occasionally ap- 
 pear in the month of May. The average 
 height of the mercury in the thermo- 
 meter is usually two or three degrees 
 less than during the four preceding 
 months. 
 
 June is perhaps the most rainy month in 
 the year. More or less rain usually falls 
 nearly every day or night in this month. 
 Although there are sometimes clear and 
 pleasant days in June ; yet there are seldom 
 twenty -four successive hours of entire free- 
 dom from rain. The sun is, however, 
 seldom entirely obscured for a week at a 
 time ; and he frequently shines out brightly 
 and pleasantly, in the interstices between 
 the floating clouds, several times during the 
 day ; occasionally for several hours at a 
 time. During this month, as in all the 
 other rainy months, more rain always falls 
 at night than in the day time ; and, indeed, 
 there are very few days in the year, in 
 which the use of an umbrella may not be 
 dispensed with some time during the ordi- 
 nary business hours. In the month of 
 June, the atmosphere is always consider- 
 ably cooler than in the preceding months ; 
 and I generally found it necessary to wear 
 woolen outer as well as under garments ; 
 and to sleep beneath thick covering at 
 night, in order to be comfortably warm. 
 The sensible perspiration is always much 
 less, during this month, and the five suc- 
 ceeding months, than during the other 
 
 six months in the year. The mercury in 
 the thermometer seldom rises above 800 i n 
 this month ; the average height being about 
 750. 
 
 During the months of July and August , 
 a great deal of rain also generally falls ; but 
 perhaps less in both these months than in 
 the preceding one. There is always a short 
 season of comparatively dry, and very 
 pleasant weather, in one or both of these 
 months. This season usually continues 
 from three to five weeks ; and generally 
 commences about the 20th or 25th of July. 
 Sometimes, for several successive days, the 
 sun shines brilliantly and pleasantly all day ; 
 and no rain falls at night. The air, how- 
 ever, is always refreshingly cool and agree- 
 able. This is perhaps the most pleasant 
 time in the year. This is what is commonly 
 called “the middle dries.” It seems as if 
 Providence has specially ordered this tempo- 
 rary cessation of the rains, for the purpose of 
 permitting the ripening and gathering of the 
 crops of rice, which are generally harvested 
 in August. 
 
 September and October are also generally 
 very rainy months ; especially the former. 
 Sometimes more rain falls in September, 
 than in any other month in the year. To- 
 wards the close of October, the rains begin 
 to be less copious ; and sometimes slight 
 tornadoes appear, indicative of the cessation 
 of the rainy season. The sea- breezes are 
 usually very strong, during these two 
 months ; and the atmosphere is generally 
 uniformly cool, and invigorating to the 
 physical system. 
 
 During the month of November, the 
 weather is generally very pleasant, the 
 temperature of theatmosphere beingagree- 
 able to the feelings — not so cool as during 
 the five preceding months, and not so warm 
 as during the five or six succeeding ones ; 
 the average height of the mercury in the 
 thermometer being about 82°. Frequent 
 showers of rain usually fall in this month. 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 13 
 
 December— Extremes of heat and cold.— Productions— Rice. 
 
 both in the day and at night ; but general- 
 ly they are of short duration. Slight tor- 
 nadoes also generally appear in this month. 
 The sun may usually be seen a part of 
 every day in the month ; and frequently 
 he is not obscured by clouds during the 
 whole of the time in which he is above the 
 horizon. 
 
 December is also generally a very pleasant 
 month. Occasional slight showers of rain 
 fall during this month, sometimes several 
 sprinklings in one day, but seldom for 
 more than a few minutes at a time. The 
 mornings in this month are peculiarly de- 
 lightful. The sun usually rises with bril- 
 liancy and beauty ; and the hills and groves, 
 teeming with the verdure of perpetual 
 spring, are enriched by the mingled melody 
 of a thousand cheerful songsters. Nothing 
 that I have ever witnessed in the United 
 States exceeds the loveliness of a Decem- 
 ber morning in Liberia. 
 
 On the whole, I regard the climate of Li- 
 beria as decidedly pleasant ; notwithstanding 
 the scorching rays of the tropical sun, and 
 the ‘ ‘ abundance of rain ” which falls during 
 the year, especially in the months of June, 
 July, September and October. So far as j 
 the pleasantness of the climate and weather j 
 
 is concerned, 1 would decidedly prefer a 
 residence in Liberia, to one in any part ot' 
 the United States. 
 
 The extremes of the thermometrical state 
 of the atmosphere may be set down at 65° 
 and 90°. I have never heard of the mercury 
 in a good thermometer having sunk below 
 the former, nor arisen above the latter point , 
 in the shade. The average height of the 
 mercury, during the rainy season, may be 
 set down at about 76°, and during the dry 
 season at 84°. The mean temperature for 
 the year is about 80°. 
 
 In regard to the comparative healthiness 
 of the two seasons, 1 may state, that my 
 observations fully convinced me, that the 
 rainy season is more conducive to health 
 than the dry season, in both new-comers 
 and old settlers. In reference, however, 
 to the acclimating process, I think that no 
 great advantage can be gained by arriving 
 at any particular time of the year, more 
 than at any other time. Unnecessary ex- 
 posure to the heat of the sun in the dry 
 season, and to the rain in the wet season, 
 should alike be avoided. Care and pru- 
 dence should be exercised by new-comers 
 at all times during the year. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 PRODUCTIONS. 
 
 Nearly all the different kinds of grain, 
 roots, and fruits, peculiar to intertropi- 
 cal climates, thrive well in Liberia; and 
 many garden vegetables that belong more 
 properly to temperate climates, may be 
 raised, in quality not much inferior to 
 the same kind of articles produced in cli- 
 mates peculiarly adapted to their growth 
 and maturation. 
 
 The only kind of grain, however, 
 that has yet been cultivated to any con- 
 siderable extent, is Rice, which is the great 
 
 staple of intertropical Africa, and the prin- 
 cipal article of food of the numerous ab- 
 original inhabitants. It is also used exten- 
 sively by the Liberians. And it is un- 
 doubtedly the most wholesome article of 
 food which can be used in that country. 
 It is not cultivated very extensively by the 
 Liberians , in consequence of their being able 
 generally to purchase it more cheaply from 
 the natives, than the cultivation of it would 
 cost. In consequence, however, of the in- 
 creasing demand, it has, of late years, 
 
24 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 Indian Corn— Sweet Potatoes— Cassada— Yam. 
 
 commanded a better price than formerly ; 
 which has induced some of the citizens to 
 engage in raising it. Until within the last 
 few years, scarcely any persons attempted 
 to raise it ; but at present this valuable grain 
 may be seen growing in the neighborhood 
 of several of the settlements in Liberia. 
 Although it grows much better in low, wet 
 land ; yet it thrives very well in land more 
 elevated ; such as will produce most other 
 articles usually cultivated. It is generally 
 sowed in April, and harvested in August. 
 Sometimes two crops may be made in one 
 year ; but generally only one is made. It 
 yields so abundantly, that, notwithstanding 
 the extreme indolence of the natives, who 
 do not work on their farms three months 
 in the year, they usually raise much more 
 than they require. 
 
 Indian corn , or maize, will grow very 
 well on some lands in Liberia ; and al- 
 though it does not thrive so well as in 
 some parts of the United States ; yet 1 am 
 quite satisfied that it might be cultivated 
 much more extensively in Liberia than it 
 ever yet has been. I have seen some fine, 
 large ears of corn, that were raised on the 
 St. Paul’s river. The small-grained corn, 
 usually called Guinea-corn, no doubt will 
 grow well in Liberia (Guinea, whence its 
 name ;) but strange to say, 1 seldom saw 
 it growing there. Tire natives in the 
 vicinity of the settlements seldom, if ever, 
 raise it. 
 
 A variety of esculent roots may be raised 
 in Liberia ; themost common of which are, 
 the sweet potato , cassctda, yam> and tania. 
 
 Sweet potatoes may be raised in great 
 abundance, with very little labor, on al- 
 most every kind of land, at any time 
 during the year. I have seen them grow- 
 ing freely in the sandy soil, within fifty 
 yards of the ocean. The poorest persons 
 may easily have a sufficiency of this nu- 
 tritious vegetable. Those raised in some 
 parts of Liberia are very fine. They gen- 
 
 j erally thrive better in the rainy season, 
 especially on the high lands ; but in some- 
 places, they thrive very well in the dry 
 season, especially on the flat land bordering 
 j on the rivers ; and, in many places, they 
 j may be gathered during every month in the 
 ! year, from the same piece of land. 
 
 The Cassada (as it is usually called, but 
 I perhaps more properly cassava) is a shrub,. 
 
 | which grows from four to eight feet in 
 | height, having several white fleshy roots, 
 covered with a coarse, rough skin. The 
 stem of the shrub is round and jointed, 
 | having numerous branches, which are fur- 
 nished at the upper part with alternate 
 leaves, divided into three, five, or seven 
 j acute lobes. The root, which is the only 
 part that is used, arrives at perfection in 
 from nine to fifteen months. The roots vary 
 in size, from six to eighteen inches in length, 
 and from three to eight in circumference. 
 In taste, when not cooked, it very much 
 ' resembles the taste of a fresh chestnut. 
 This vegetable may be raised abundantly, 
 
 J on any kind of soil. It is the only vege- 
 table, except rice, that is cultivated to 
 ; any extent by the natives. It is usually 
 ' prepared for use by being boiled, after the- 
 i skin or rind has been removed, or by 
 ; being roasted in ashes*, and, when 
 i properly cooked, it is very palatable and 
 nutritious. The tapioca of the shops is 
 the fecula of the root of the cassada. 
 
 I The Yam is a slender, herbaceous vine, 
 having large tuberous roots, sometimes 
 i nearly round, but generally elongated, like 
 the cassada, but much larger. The roots 
 i of the yam are sometimes three feet long, 
 I and weigh twenty or thirty pounds. They 
 ' usually arrive at perfection in four or five 
 months ; and they yield very abundantly. 
 
 | The root of the yam is more farinaceous 
 I or mealy, when cooked, than that of the 
 jj cassada — almost as much so as the Irish 
 : potato. They are more digestible than 
 ! ; the cassada ; and I think more palatable. 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 15 
 
 Tania — Beans — Peas— Cabbages — Tomatoes— Cucumbers— Watermelons, &c. 
 
 The yam is one of the most wholesome 
 and nutritious esculent roots of any coun- 
 try ; and it may be produced in any desired 
 quantity in Liberia. 
 
 Tania is a delicate, broad-leafed plant, 
 about two feet in height, having a bulbous 
 root, which, when prepared like Irish po- 
 tatoes, resembles those excellent vegetables 
 very nearly in taste ; and it is a very whole- 
 some and nutritious article of food. It 
 may be raised easily and abundantly. 
 
 There are other esculent roots, peculiar 
 to tropical climates, which have not yet 
 been introduced ; but which, no doubt, 
 would thrive well in Liberia. I have al- 
 luded particularly to those only which 
 have been introduced, and which are cul- 
 tivated there — those which I have seen and 
 eaten myself. And, in addition to those 
 articles to which I have alluded, I may 
 name a few other garden vegetables, that 
 I have seen growing in Liberia : the most 
 common of which are, Lima or butter beans , 
 snap beans , black-eyed peas, cabbages, toma- 
 toes, cucumbers, watermelons, pumpkins, 
 muskmelons , cantelopes, beets, radishes, and 
 carrots. 
 
 Lima beans may be raised abundantly, 
 at any time during the year. In conse- 
 quence of the absence of frost, the vines 
 live and bear for several years ; and as the 
 beans are being continually reproduced, 
 they may be gathered from the same vines, 
 during every month in the year, and for 
 three, four, five, or more, successive 
 years. The vines yield in a few months 
 after the planting of the bean, so that no 
 family ought ever to be without this excel- 
 lent vegetable. They are equal to those 
 raised in any part of the United States. 
 
 Black-eyed peas may be raised in any 
 necessary quantities. They come to ma- 
 turity in about six weeks from the time of 
 planting ; and they may be raised at any 
 time during the year. 
 
 Cabbages do not thrive so well in Liberia 
 
 as they generally do in the United States 
 --that is, they do not produce so fine heads. 
 They grow very rapidly ; and sometimes 
 the stalk attains the height of several feet. 
 They do not generally go to seed. When, 
 however, good seed can be procured from 
 other countries, and proper attention is 
 given to the cultivation of the cabbage, 
 fine, large, tender heads may sometimes 
 be produced. 
 
 Tomatoes may be easily raised ; and 
 when the seed are procured from abroad, 
 the fruit is large and well flavored — equal 
 to the produce of most other countries. 
 
 Cucumbers will perhaps thrive as well 
 in Liberia as in any other country. 
 
 Watermelons thrive as well in some 
 parts of Liberia, as in most parts of the 
 United States ; especially when good seed 
 can be procured from abroad. Some as 
 fine watermelons as I ever saw were rais- 
 ed in the vicinity of Monrovia. So far 
 as I could learn, the best time to plant the 
 seed is in March or April. N 
 
 All the other articles that I have enu- 
 merated, and several other garden vege- 
 tables, that seem to belong more properly 
 to temperate climates, may be raised in 
 Liberia without any difficulty, if the seed 
 can be obtained from those countries to 
 which these vegetables seem to be pecu- 
 liarly adapted. Hence, the necessity of 
 importing seeds, if persons wish to have 
 American vegetables on African tables. 
 And here I would particularly recommend 
 to persons who intend to emigrate to Li- 
 beria, to take with them a variety of gar- 
 den seeds. And, in order to protect them 
 from being injured by the salt air of the 
 ocean, I would advise that they should be 
 sealed up in vials or bottles ; or wrapped 
 in paper, and packed away in saw-dust. 
 
 A great variety of fruits is raised in 
 Liberia; many of which are indigenous. 
 The principal fruits are, the orange, lime, 
 lemon, pine-apple, guava, mango, plantain, 
 
 1 
 
16 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 Oranges — Limes — Pine Apples— Guavas — Mango — Plantain. 
 
 banana , okra, papaw, cocoanut, tamarind, II 
 pomegranate , granadilla, African cherry, 
 African peach, soursop, sweetsop, sorrel, ca- \ 
 cao, rose apple, and cHota. 
 
 The Orange tree thrives as well perhaps, 
 and bears as fine fruit in Liberia as in any j 
 other part of the world. The tree, when 1 1 
 full-grown, is about the size of ordinary j! 
 apple-trees in the United States, but much I! 
 more handsome. One tree usually bears jj 
 as many oranges as an apple-tree of the 
 same size bears apples. Although ripe 
 oranges may be procurtd at anytime ofjj 
 the year, yet there are two seasons at 1 ! 
 which they are more plentiful than at 
 other times. One season is about the mid- 
 die of the year, and the other about the 
 close of the year. ]U is not uncommon to ii 
 see blossoms, buds, young fruit, and full- u 
 grown fruit, on the same tree, at the same 
 time ; so that while some of the oranges 
 are ripening, others are being produced. 
 In the town of Monrovia, many orange' 
 trees may be seen adorning the sides of the 
 streets, as well as in the yards and gardens 
 of the citizens. 
 
 Limes and lemons are in superabund- 
 ance, in nearly every settlement in Li- | 
 beria. 
 
 Pine-apples grow wild in the woods, in 
 great abundance; and when allowed to ri- 
 pen, before being pulled, they are very 
 finely flavored. The apple grows out of 
 the centre of a small stalk, one or two feet 
 high, and it is surrounded by prickly, 
 pointed leaves or branches. I have seen 
 thousands of them, in half an hour’s 
 walk. They are considerably improved 
 by cultivation in good, rich land. They j 
 are not, however, a wholesome fruit, al- i 
 
 though very palatable; and many persons 
 have made themselves sick by eating 
 them too freely. 
 
 Guavas grow very abundantly, on trees 
 about the size of ordinary peach trees. 
 This fruit resembles the apricot in appear- 
 ance, but notin taste. It is not very pal- 
 
 
 
 
 atable, when uncooked ; though some 
 persons are very fond of it. [t, however, 
 makes the best preserves, and the best 
 pies of any fruit with which I am acquaint- 
 ed. The guava jelly, which is almost 
 universally regarded as a very delicious 
 article is made from this fruit. Though 
 I believe the guava tree is not indigenous 
 to Liberia, yet it grows so luxuriantly as 
 to become a source of much inconve- 
 nience in some places. 
 
 The Man go, (or mango-plum, as it is 
 usually called in Liberia,) also thrives 
 well. It is the product of a handsome 
 tree, about the size of an ordinary apple- 
 tree. The fruit is about the size of an or- 
 dinary apple, but oval, or egg-shaped. In 
 taste, it approaches more nearly to the 
 American peach, than any other tropical 
 fruit I ever ate. The mango makes very 
 superior preserves. 
 
 The Plantain is a beautiful, broad-leafed, 
 tender, fibrous stalk, that grows to the 
 height of from eight to fourteen feet. The 
 leaves, which are the continuation of the 
 fibrous layers of the soft, herbaceous 
 stalk, are generally about six feet long, 
 and from one to three feet broad. The 
 fruit-stem proceeds from the heart of the 
 stalk ; and, when full-grown, it is about 
 three feet long, and beautifully curved, 
 extending about two feet beyond the 
 cluster of fruit, and terminating in a singu- 
 lar and beautiful purple bulb, formed of 
 numerous tender layers, that can be easily 
 separated. One stalk produces only one 
 cluster or bunch of fruit; and, when this 
 is removed, by cutting the stem, the stalk 
 dies; but cions spring up from the origi- 
 nal root, around the old stock, and in a 
 few months, these also bear fruit, and then 
 die, giving place to other new stalks. So 
 that, in two or three years from the time 
 of the first planting, the number of stalks 
 and bunches of fruit will be increased 
 six-fold, or more. The venerable parent- 
 stock, as if loth to leave her rising pro» 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 17 
 
 Banana — Okra— Papaw— Cocoanut. 
 
 geny unsheltered from the sweeping tor- ! 
 nado, generally continues to spread her 
 broad leaves over them, until they shall 
 have attained a sufficient size to stand 
 firmly before the destroying blast of the 
 storm-king; and then, one by one, the ex- 
 pansive leaves or branches wither, and 
 fall to the ground, leaving the aged, worn- 
 out stalk to be prostrated by the passing 
 breeze. The fruit of the plantain is cyl- 
 indrical and slightly curved, somewhat 
 tapering towards the end. It is usually 
 from six to nine inches long, and one to 
 two in diameter. At first, it is of a pale 
 green color; but, when fully ripe, it is 
 yellow. It arrives at maturity m about 
 eight months. Most persons in Liberia 
 cut the bunches before the fruit has ripen- 
 ed; but, it is much better when it is al- 
 lowed to ripen before being separated from 
 the stalk. It is usually prepared for the 
 table by being boiled, baked, or fried; and 
 it is perhaps the most luscious and whole- 
 some vegetable of tropical climates, and 
 one of the most valuable fruits in the veg- 
 etable kingdom. It may be produced at 
 any time in the year; and, with a little ju- 
 dicious management, every family may 
 have this excellent and nutritious article 
 every day in the year. 
 
 The Banana is so much like the plan- 
 tain, in every respect, except in the taste, 
 and a slight difference in the appearance 
 of the fruit, that the description of one 
 will answer for both. Indeed, it is diffi- 
 cult to distinguish one from the other, 
 when they are growing. The fruit of the 
 banana is only about half the length of the 
 plantain; and not so much curved. It is 
 also much softer when ripe, and is more 
 frequently eaten uncooked ; although it 
 may be prepared in the same manner as 
 the plantain. The taste of the plantain 
 very much resembles the taste of apples 
 cooked in the same way; while that of the 
 banana is sui generis — unlike any fruit of 
 2 
 
 the United States. The plantain and ba- 
 nana trees or shrubs are among the most 
 beautiful vegetable growths of tropica] cli- 
 mates. 
 
 Okra is the fruit of a small tree, ten or 
 twelve feet high. It is a soft, pulpy, and 
 very mucilagenous fruit; which, when 
 boiled, forms a thick, semi-fluid, pleasant 
 and nutritious article of food — an excel- 
 lent adjuvant to rice. It may be raised 
 easily and abundantly in Liberia. 
 
 The Papaw is a tall, slender, herbaceous 
 tree, of very rapid growth, sometimes at- 
 taining the height of thirty feet. The body 
 of the tree is usually naked to within 
 two or three feet of the top, and is mark- 
 ed with the cicatrices of the fallen leaves, 
 which wither and fall as the tree continues 
 to grow, giving place to others above 
 them. Sometimes, however, there are 
 several branches attached to the upper part 
 of the body of the tree; each of which 
 branches produces a cluster of fruit. The 
 leaves are very large, have long footstalks, 
 and are divided into numerous lobes. 
 The fruit is nearly round, of a pale-green 
 color, becoming yellowish as it ripens, 
 and is about the size of the head of a 
 young infant. One variety of the papaw, 
 however, bears fruit of an elongated shape 
 somewhat like a pear; but considerably 
 larger than the other variety. The fruit 
 of the papaw has a sweetish taste. It is 
 very soft; and, when fully ripe, and stew- 
 ed, it resembles in both appearance and 
 taste the best pumpkins of the United 
 States; — when stewed, before it has ripen- 
 ed, and made into pie, it so much resem- 
 bles the green-apple pie, in taste as well 
 as appearance, that the most fastidious 
 epicure might be deceived by it, if he did 
 not stop to think that apples do not grow 
 in Liberia. 
 
 The Cocoanut is perhaps the most beau- 
 tiful tree of tropical climates. It has long, 
 curved leaves or branches ; that hang 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 18 
 
 Tamarind— African Peach— Sour-sop— Sweet sop, &c. 
 
 gracefully from the upper part of the body, 
 which rises sometimes to the height of 
 thirty feet, or more. The fruit grows in 
 clusters near the base of the stalks of the 
 leaves. The cocoanut tree is seldom rais- 
 ed in Liberia, except as an ornament. A 
 sew of these stately and beautiful trees 
 may be seen in some of the settle- 
 ments. 
 
 The Tamarind is a large, spreading tree, 
 having very small, deep-green leaves. 
 The fruit grows in elongated pods, similar 
 so the butter-bean. Although the tama- 
 rind is indigenous, and thrives as well per- 
 haps in Liberia as in any other part of 
 he world; yet the people do not give any 
 attention to the gathering of the fruit, ex- 
 cept for their own use; and, indeed, very 
 few seem to care any thing about it. I 
 hink r however, it might be made a profit- 
 able article of exportation. 
 
 The Pomegranate is a dense, spiny 
 shrub ten or twelve feet high. It pro- 
 duces beautiful brilliant large red flowers ; 
 and the fruit is about the size of a large 
 tpple, and covered with a thick coriaceous 
 ri-nd. It is filled with a multitude of 
 small seeds; and the pulp is slightly acid 
 and astringent. This fruit is seldom cul- 
 tivated in Liberia; although I presume it 
 will thrive as well as in most other parts 
 >f the world. 
 
 Tne African Cherry (so called in Libe- 
 ria) is a very peculiar fruit. It is about 
 he size of the ordinary morello cherry of 
 the United States ; but, in taste, it more 
 resembles the cranberry. The tree is usu- 
 ally about fifteen feet high. The great 
 peculiarity in the growth of this fruit, 
 consists in the manner in which the short 
 ,; l ems are attached to the tree — not to the 
 twigs of the branches, but to the body and 
 larger limbs of the tree; the stems of the 
 fruit being about one-third of an inch 
 long. This fruit makes very fme tarts — 
 espial to the cranberry. 
 
 The African Peach, of which there are 
 several varieties, is a large, round, acid 
 fruit— one variety being about twice the 
 size of the largest peaches in the United 
 States. These trees, some of which are 
 very large, grow abundantly in the for- 
 ests of Liberia. The fruit is used only 
 for making preserves; which, when pro- 
 perly made, are surpassed only by the 
 guava. 
 
 The Sour-sop is a large, pulpy, acidu- 
 lous fruit, which grows on a tree about 
 the size of an ordinary apple-tree. The 
 fruit is nearly pear-shaped, and is about 
 as large as an ordinary cantelope. It is 
 covered with a thick, knotty rind. When 
 perfectly ripe, it is a very pleasant fruit ; 
 especially when a little sugar is sprinkled 
 over the pulp. It is also very good when 
 fried in slices; in which state it some- 
 what resembles in taste fried sour ap- 
 ples. 
 
 The Sweet-sop is a fruit somewhat simi- 
 lar to the sour-sop, but not so acidulous, 
 nor so pleasant to the taste. It is seldom 
 used. 
 
 The Cacao , from which chocolate is pro- 
 duced, though not yet extensively culti - 
 vated, thrives well in Liberia, and doubt- 
 less might be made a very profitable arti - 
 cle of cultivation. 
 
 The Rose-apple is a small round fruit, 
 which takes its name from its delightful 
 fragrance. It is not very palatable, how - 
 ever, and is seldom eaten. 
 
 The Granadilla is a large fruit that 
 grows on a vine. It is about as large as 
 a moderate-sized cantelope. Nc part of 
 the fruit is eaten, except the seeds and the 
 mucilagenous substance by which they 
 are surrounded. These are loosely con- 
 fined in the centre of the fruit. The taste 
 of this mucilage resembles the American 
 strawberry more than any other fruit with 
 which I am acquainted. 
 
 The Sorrel is a large shrub, having 
 deep-red blossoms; w r hich are often used 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 19 
 
 Productions continued — Exportable articles— Coffee. 
 
 for making tarts. It grows freely in Li- 
 beria, and it is a very handsome orna- 
 ment to a yard or garden. 
 
 The Chiota is the fruit of a vine. It is 
 about as large as an ordinary pear. When 
 properly prepared, by stewing, it affords 
 a wholesome, palatable, and nutritious ar- 
 ticle of food; and it may be easily raised 
 in Liberia. 
 
 The celebrated bread-fruit, of the island 
 of Tahiti, which was introduced into the 
 British West-India Islands, by order of 
 the government, will grow well in Liberia. 
 But, as there are so many other articles 
 
 of a somewhat similar kind that are pre- 
 ferable to it, it is seldom used. 
 
 I have seen several other indigenous 
 fruits in Liberia; some of which are very 
 palatable ; some very fragrant, but not 
 very acceptable to the palate ; and others 
 not possessing any good qualities to re- 
 commend them. And there are many 
 other kinds of fruits, peculiar to tropical 
 climates, which, no doubt, would thrive 
 well in Liberia ; but which have not yet 
 been introduced. I have alluded to those 
 only that I have seen growing there, and 
 of which I have eaten. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 production s — continued. 
 
 Exportable Articles. — In addition 
 to the vegetable productions of Liberia, 
 to which I have alluded, there are some 
 others that are worthy of particular no- 
 tice; especially as they are the principal 
 exportable articles, some of which may be 
 rendered very profitable articles of com- 
 merce. These are, Coffee, Ginger, Pepper, 
 Sugar, Ground-nuts, Indigo, Colton, and 
 .lrrow-root. 
 
 In reference to Coffee, I am quite satis- 
 fied that the soil and climate of Liberia 
 are as well adapted to the cultivation of 
 ibis article, as the soil and climate of any 
 other part of the world. I believe that as 
 good coffee can be raised in Liberia as in 
 any other coffee-growing country ; and I 
 have no doubt that, by proper attention, it 
 may be raised as plentifully as in any 
 other part of the world. These opinions 
 are not hastily formed, but are founded on 
 personal observations in some of the 
 West-India Islands, as well as in Liberia, 
 and on frequent convesrations with persons 
 who have visited various other parts of i 
 the world in which coffee is cultivated, j 
 I have frequently seen isolated trees grow- i 
 ing in different parts of Liberia, which ; 
 
 have yielded from ten to twenty pounds 
 of clean dry coffee at one picking ; and, 
 however incredible it may appear, it is a 
 fact, that one tree in Monrovia yielded 
 four and a half bushels of coffee, in the 
 hull, at one time; which, on being shelled 
 and dried, weighed thirtij-one pounds. This 
 is the largest quantity of which 1 ever 
 heard, as having been gathered from one 
 tree; and it was the largest coffee tree I 
 ever saw, being upwards of twenty 
 feet high, and of proportionate dimen- 
 sions. 
 
 I have given particular attention to ob- 
 servations and investigations, respecting 
 the cultivation of coffee in Liberia ; and 
 I think I may safely set down the average 
 quantity that may be raised, by proper 
 cultivation, at four pounds to each tree — 
 that is, each tree of six years old and up- 
 wards. The coffee tree will begin to bear 
 in three years from the time at which the 
 seeds are planted. At the end of the 
 fourth year, the average quantity may be 
 I set down at one pound to each tree; at the 
 j end of the fifth year, two and a half 
 ! pounds; and, at the end of the sixth year, 
 j four pounds. About three hundred trees 
 
20 
 
 SKETCHES OP LIBERIA. 
 
 Estimates of the quantity and value of Coffee. 
 
 can be planted in one acre of ground, al- 
 lowing the trees to be twelve feet apart. 
 Therefore, in four years from the time the 
 seeds are planted in the nursery, 300 
 pounds of coffee may be gathered, w'hich, 
 at ten cents a pound, (a very moderate 
 rate for Liberia coffee, which has fre- 
 quently been sold for twenty cents a pound 
 in this country,) would be worth $30. At 
 the end of the fifth year, 750 pounds may 
 be gathered — worth $75; and at the end of 
 the sixth year, 1,200 pounds — worth 
 $120. So that, in six years from the 
 time of the planting of the seeds, agreeably 
 to this calculation, 2,250 poun ds of coffee 
 may be produced on one acre of ground — 
 worth $225. And, accordingly, ten acres, 
 properly cultivated, will yield during the 
 first six years, an income of $2,250 ; and 
 at least $1,200 during each succeeding 
 year. 
 
 This calculation I regard as pretty near- 
 ly correct; but even admitting that I have 
 set down the quantities and the value at 
 one-fourth more than they should be, it 
 will still appear, that the cultivation of 
 coffee may be rendered a source of wealth 
 in Liberia, even supposing that nothing 
 else could be raised for exportation, which 
 is by no means the case. I am quite sat- 
 isfied that at least $100 a year maybe re- 
 alized, by proper management, from the 
 produce of one acre of ground cultivated 
 in coffee, after the sixth year from the 
 time of planting of the grains in the nur- 
 sery. And, as it does not require much 
 labor, one person may easily cultivate 
 three acres, with a little hired assistance 
 in clearing the land, and may devote one- 
 half of his time, or more, to the cultivation 
 of other articles, for the use of himself and 
 family, and for sale;, and he need not work 
 more than five or six hours a day. So 
 that, by industry, prudence, and econo- 
 my, any man may realize at least $300 a 
 
 year for his labor, over and above the 
 necessary expenditures of himself and 
 family; the other articles which he may 
 raise being quite sufficient for the com- 
 fortable support of his household. I am 
 aware that th e truthfulness of this state- 
 ment has seldom been exhibited in the ag- 
 ricultural operations of the citizens of Li- 
 beria ; but this fact does not necessarily 
 confute the truth of the statement, nor 
 does it sufficiently exhibit the impractica- 
 bility of its being fully and easily carried 
 out. And I might add, that it does not 
 require the exercise of profound wisdom, 
 even in a cursory observer, to discover 
 the real cause why the feasibility of the 
 result of the foregoing calculation is not 
 more frequently exhibited. 
 
 Coffee is indigenous to Liberia. It may 
 frequently be seen wild in the woods. It 
 is, however, much improved by cultiva- 
 tion. The most approved method of 
 raising it, is to plant the grains in a nur- 
 sery, and to transplant when the tree has 
 attained the height of a foot and a half. 
 Some trees arrive at their full growth in 
 five or six years ; while others continue 
 to grow more than 'double that length of 
 time. The grains grow in pairs, covered 
 with a hull, from which they can be easi- 
 ly separated when dry. The coffee 
 blossom is a beautiful and highly fragrant 
 little white flower, and the berry, when 
 fully ripe, is of a pale red color. The av- 
 erage height of full grown trees is about 
 eight feet. They continue to bear from 
 ten to twenty years. I have seen some 
 fine flourishing trees, which were up- 
 wards of twenty years old. As the coffee 
 tree is easily cultivated, and as the fruit 
 is easily cured, the cultivation of this pro- 
 fitable and useful article should occupy a 
 portion of the time of every family in 
 Liberia. 
 
 Next to coffee, perhaps Ginger may be 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 21 
 
 Ginger— Pepper— Sugar-cane. 
 
 made the most profitable article of culture, I 
 for exportation. The superio r quality of 
 this article, and the peculiar adaptation of 
 almost every kind of soil in Liberia to 
 its abundant growth, justifies the opinion 
 that it may be rendered a profitable article 
 of commerce. It will certainly grow as 
 well in Liberia as in any other part of the 
 world; and, in quality, it is scarcely infe- 
 rior to the best that is produced in any 
 other country. I have no certain data 
 from which I can determine the average 
 quantity of ginger that may be raised on 
 a given quantity of land ; but, from what 
 I have seen, I am quite satisfied that it 
 may be raised in great abundance, with 
 very little labor. The average increase is 
 at least twenty-fold, when properly culti- 
 vated. From six to eight months is the 
 time usually required for its growth and 
 maturation. 
 
 Bird, Pepper , which is known in the 
 United States as “ African Cayenne Pep- 
 per,” is an indigenous article, that may 
 be found almost every where throughout 
 Liberia. I have frequently seen great 
 quantities of it growing wild in the woods. 
 And if a little attention were given to the 
 cultivation of it, thousands of pounds 
 might be annually exported. It grows on 
 bushes about four feet high. The pods 
 are generally about half an inch long, and 
 one thir^ of an inch in circumference. I 
 One species, however, is four or five times 
 this size. The smaller kind is generally 
 preferred. In quality, it is perhaps not 
 equalled by that raised in any other coun- 
 try. The cultivation of it requires scarce- 
 ly any attention; and the only preparation 
 of it for the market, consists in picking 
 the pods and spreading them out to dry. 
 The shrub grows very rapidly, and the 
 fruit arrives at maturity in six or eight 
 months from the time of planting. It 
 yields more abundantly about the begin- 
 ning of the year; but as the fruit contin- ; 
 
 I ues to be reproduced throughout the year, 
 it may be collected at any time. The na- 
 tives use it very freely. It is not un- 
 common to see them with a bunch of 
 pepper in one hand and a roasted cassada 
 in the other, taking, with each bite of the 
 latter, one of the pods of the former, one 
 of which pods would serve to pepper a 
 j full meal for a person not so accustomed 
 to its use. Perhaps the reader of this may 
 wonder why pepper is not more freely 
 gathered and exported, as it grows so 
 abundantly in the wild state, and as it 
 may be so very easily cultivated. To 
 this I can only respond, echo answers, 
 why ? 
 
 Sugar-cane will, perhaps, thrive as well 
 in Liberia, as in any other country. I 
 have seen stalks more than fifteen feet 
 high, and two or three inches in diameter. 
 The average size of the stalks is consider- 
 ably larger than those raised in the island 
 of Barbadoes, and the juice is equally 
 sweet, and proportionably more abundant. 
 This I have tested, by personal observa- 
 tions. Sugar, however, probably will not 
 soon become a profitable article of ex- 
 portation, in consequence of the inability 
 of the Liberians to compete with the 
 West-India planters. Liberia, however, 
 may be, and ought to be, independent of 
 all the rest of the world for this luxury. 
 Every farmer ought to raise, not only 
 enough of this article for the use of his 
 own family, but some to dispose of to 
 his mercantile, mechanical, and profes- 
 sional neighbors. And, even if he cannot 
 conveniently manufacture the sugar, in 
 any considerable quantity, he can cer- 
 tainly express enough of the juice in a 
 few hours, with his own hands, in a mill 
 of his own construction, to make several 
 gallons of syrup, (not molasses, but a 
 much better article,) which answers very 
 well for every practical or necessary pur- 
 l pose. 
 
22 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 G roun d - n uts— C otton— Arrow-root. 
 
 Ground-nuts, or pea-nuts, may be rais- 
 ed in great abundance, in Liberia. And, 
 as these nuts generally find a ready mar- 
 ket in the United States, and in Europe, 
 they certainly will richly repay the Libe- 
 rian farmer for the little trouble and labor 
 which their cultivation requires. I do not 
 know w'hat quantity may be raised on a 
 given portion of land, but I do know that 
 they yield very abundantly. 
 
 Although the cultivation of Indigo has 
 not met with much attention in Liberia — 
 comparatively few persons having given 
 any attention at all to it — yet, as the in- 
 digo plant grows so luxuriantly, and may 
 be raised so easily, the manufacture of 
 indigo is certainly worthy of particular 
 notice. The plan,t grows so abundantly 
 in Liberia, that it constitutes one of the 
 most troublesome weeds in the gardens, 
 and even in the streets of the settlements. 
 And, with a little skill and industry in 
 preparing the indigo, it may be rendered 
 one of the most profitable crops that can 
 be produced in tropical climates. The 
 plant arrives at maturity in three or four 
 months from the time of planting the 
 seed ; and as it springs up again, in a few 
 weeks after having been cut, one crop 
 will yield five or six cuttings in the course 
 of the year. Several varieties of the in- 
 digo plant may be found growing wild in 
 Liberia, all of which yield very fine indigo, 
 some of which is perhaps equal to that pro- 
 duced in any other part of the world. The 
 preparation of indigo requires a little more 
 patience and industry than the Liberians 
 generally are in the habit of bestowing on 
 any one article of agriculture ; which is 
 the principal cause why it has not been 
 more extensively manufactured. 
 
 Cotton has not yet been cultivated to a 
 sufficient extent to enable me to determine 
 from observation whether it may be made 
 a very profitable article of agriculture. 
 Several old cotton planters, who had 
 
 grown grey in raising cotton in Georgia, 
 Mississippi, and other Southern States, 
 before they went to Liberia, have repeat- 
 edly told me, that the cotton-tree or shrub 
 will grow as well, and yield as abundant- 
 ly in Liberia as in any part of the United 
 States. The natives in the interior manu- 
 facture cotton goods pretty extensively 
 from the indigenous growth, of which 
 there are several varieties. The best 
 grows on trees or shrubs eight or ten feet 
 high — similar to those raised in the United 
 States, but larger in the average size. 
 And, as the trees are not injured by frosts, 
 of course they continue to bear for several 
 years. 1 doubt not that Liberia might 
 become one of the most important cotton- 
 growing countries in the world. 
 
 Arrow-root probably thrives as well in 
 Liberia as in any other part of the world. 
 This is a tender plant, which usually 
 grows to the height of two or three feet. 
 The stems, of which several rise from the 
 same root, are round, branched, jointed, 
 and leafy. The leaves resemble the com- 
 mon sword-grass. They are alternate ; 
 and are from three to six inches in length. 
 The root, which is the only part used, is 
 beautifully cylindrical, straight, and taper- 
 ing, (hence the name of the plant,) fleshy, 
 scaly, and furnished with numerous long, 
 white fibres; and is usually from three to 
 eight inches in length. This plant is one 
 of the most luxuriant growths in Liberia, 
 ft is easily propagated, and it arrives at 
 maturity in about five months. In pre- 
 paring it for use, the roots are washed, 
 and then beat into a pulp, which is thrown 
 into a tub of water, and agitated, so as to 
 separate the fibres from the amylaceous 
 part; the latter of which remains suspend- 
 ed in the water, while the former is re- 
 moved. The milky fluid, thus formed, is 
 strained, and allowed to stand several 
 hours, until the fecula, or starch, shall 
 have settled at the bottom of the vessel, it 
 
SKETCHES OP LIBERIA. 
 
 23 
 
 Arrow-root — a substitute for flour. 
 
 is then washed with a fresh portion of 
 water, strained again, and allowed to sub- 
 side again; this process sometimes being 
 performed three or four times; after which, 
 it is spread out, and dried in the sun. 
 About eight pounds of the pure powder 
 or flour may be produced from a bushel of 
 the roots. 
 
 As arrow-root may be produced so 
 abundantly in Liberia ; and as it is one of 
 the most important exportable articles, as 
 well as one of the most valuable articles of 
 food, it deserves particular notice. The 
 cultivation of the plant requires so little 
 labor or attention, and the process of man- 
 ufacturing the fecula from the roots is so 
 very simple and so easily performed, that 
 I am quite certain this article may be ren- 
 dered a source of wealth by exportation. 
 From having frequently seen it growing, 
 and having seen the quantity which a very 
 small piece of ground produced, I think 
 the average quantity that may be raised 
 on almost every kind of soil in Liberia, 
 may be safely and truly set down at one 
 hundred bushels to the acre; that is, eight 
 hundred pounds of pure manufactured 
 arrow-root, or fecula. An old gentleman 
 at Monrovia, who has raised a consider- 
 able quantity of it, stated to me, that, from 
 the quantity he has made from a certain 
 portion of land, he was quite satisfied that 
 one acre, properly cultivated, will yield 
 two thousand pounds. And a farmer at 
 Caldwell assured me that he made one 
 hundred and thirty pounds from the pro- 
 duce of one-sixteenth of an acre of ground. 
 But, as it will be perceived, I have placed 
 the average quantity at less than one-half 
 of the proportionate quantity that has actu- 
 ally been raised ; and this, I think, is not 
 beyond a fair estimate. Assuming there- 
 fore, that one- half an acre will produce 
 four hundred pounds, (a quantity which 
 almost any family may easily raise and 
 manufacture,) and allowing the average 
 
 net price to be only fifteen cents a pound 
 it will appear that $60 may be realized frotu 
 this small quantity of land ; with compara- 
 tively little labor. 
 
 During the last few years, arrow-root 
 has been used pretty extensively in Liberia; 
 as a substitute for wheat-flour ; and, as I 
 have frequently eaten it, in various forrm: 
 of bread, I hesitate not to say, that I be- 
 lieve it to be not only a good substitute for 
 flour, but much more suitable and whole- 
 some for persons residing in tropical cli- 
 mates. It makes very fine biscuits, either 
 alone or when mixed with a small quantity 
 of sweet potatoes. It also makes very 
 good pie-crust ; and I have seen light or 
 leavened bread, made of arrow-root, which 
 so much resembled wheat-flour bread, in 
 both appearance and taste, as to deceiv* 
 professed judges. Besides these, I hav< 
 eaten the nicest kind of pound and other 
 sweet cakes, made of this article, instead 
 of flour, with the ordinary adjuvants. 
 
 The foregoing named articles constitute 
 the principal exportable articles of agricul- 
 ture, that may be raised in Liberia. And 
 I have endeavored to give faithful and 
 truthful statements, in reference to each of 
 them. And, while I regret that greater a'. 
 tention has not yet been given to the culti- 
 vation of these articles, I cherish the hope 
 that the period will arrive at which all of 
 them will be cultivated extensively ; ifnot 
 by the present inhabitants, by others who 
 may emigrate thither, having more energy, 
 industry, and perseverance. I candidly 
 believe, that a man may acquire more 
 wealth in Liberia by judicious manage- 
 ment in the cultivation of the soil, than he 
 could acquire in any part of the United 
 States with double the quantity of land, 
 double the amount of labor, and in double 
 the length of time ; even allowing for all 
 the disadvantages under which he may 
 have to labor in Liberia, and all the facili- 
 ties which he might have in the United 
 
24 
 
 SKETCHES OP LIBERIA. 
 
 Productions continued— Palm— Camwood, &c. 
 
 States. I am quite certain, that, by pur- 
 suing a regular, systematic, and persever- 
 ing course of agricultural industry and 
 frugality, the citizens of Liberia may, with 
 no other means than those which every 
 individual can readily procure, produce 
 not only enough of those articles that are 
 peculiar to tropical climates, for their own 
 
 use, but a large surplus for exportation. 
 And, any man in Liberia, who enjoys a 
 tolerable degree of health, and who does 
 not live comfortably and independently, 
 may, without any violation of the princi - 
 pies of truth or justice, charge the defi- 
 ciency to his own account. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 production s — continued. 
 
 One of the most important and valuable 
 indigenous articles of the vegetable kingdom 
 in intertropical Africa, is the Palm ; which is 
 one of the most remarkable and useful trees 
 in the world. There are two or three varieties 
 of the palm in Liberia ; one of which , by its 
 towering height and graceful appearance, 
 attracts particular attention. The tree that 
 yields the nuts from which oil is extracted, 
 seldom grows to the height of more than 
 twenty -five feet. It resembles the cocoanut 
 tree, having, like that, long leaves or 
 branches, attached to the upper part of the 
 body of the tree, and which hang in grace- 
 ful curves. The fruit grows in clusters 
 or bunches, near the base of the stalks of 
 the leaves. The nut is oval, about an inch 
 long; and, when ripe, is of a deep red 
 color. The oil is extracted from the pulp 
 of the nut, which yields very abundantly. 
 It is manufactured by the natives ; and sev- 
 eral hundred thousand gallons are annually 
 exported from Liberia. Palm trees may 
 be seen in every part of Liberia, adorning I 
 the hills and valleys ; and furnishing not 
 only great quantities of oil for exportation, 
 as well as for domestic uses, but yielding a 
 variety of other useful substances ; — a pe- 
 culiar beverage called “ palm wine,” pro- 
 cured by tapping the tree, and which in 
 taste very much resembles wine-whey ; 
 also a substance that grows at the top of 
 the tree, called “palm-cabbage;” and 
 which, when boiled, has an agreeable 
 
 taste ; — and from the fibres of the leaves 
 the natives get materials for making baskets, 
 hats, &c. Palm oil is extensively used by 
 the Liberians as a substitute for sperm oil 
 and candles ; and also in culinary opera- 
 tions, as a substitute for lard and butter. 
 And, for all needful purposes, to which 
 those articles are applied, it answers very 
 well. The average price of palm oil in 
 Liberia is about thirty-three cents a gallon. 
 
 Another valuable tree, which is indi- 
 genous and peculiar to intertropical Africa, 
 is the Camwood ; which grows abundantly 
 in the forests, about a hundred miles from 
 the coast. This is one of the most valu- 
 able dye-woods in the world ; and hun- 
 dreds of tons are annually exported from 
 Liberia. 
 
 The Palma-christi, the seeds of which 
 yield Castor oil r is also indigenous to Libe- 
 ria ; and I have no doubt that the regular 
 cultivation of this valuable shrub would 
 richly repay the laborer for the little 
 trouble that it would require. 
 
 The tree which yields the medicinal bal- 
 sam, called Copavva, may also be seen oc- 
 casionally growing wild in the forests of 
 Liberia ; and I doubt not that the juice 
 might be collected in sufficient quantities 
 to become a valuable article of exportation. 
 
 Several varieties of the Acacia (Gum 
 Arabic tree) grow in Liberia ; and some 
 of the gum is of superior quality. 
 
 I have seen some specimens of Olibanum 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA 
 
 25 
 
 Animals. Elephants — Leopards — Hippopotami — Crocodiles — Deer — Monkeys, &c. 
 
 (Frankincense,) which, as the natives in- 
 formed me, were collected from large trees 
 that grow abundantly in the forest. 
 
 f have frequently seen the Caoutchouc , or 
 guiu-elastic tree, growing in Liberia ; some 
 of which are forty feet, or more, in height. 
 
 The forests of Liberia also furnish many 
 different kinds of valuable timber, well 
 suited for ship or boat building, cabinet 
 work, and all the various operations in car- 
 pentry ; the principal of which are Wist- 
 more, Brimstone, Rose-wood, Mulberry, 
 Bastard Mahogany, Saffron, Mangrove, 
 African Oak, Hickory, Poplar, Persim- 
 mon and Sassa-wood. Some of these 
 make very beautiful cabinetwork. 
 
 A considerable variety of medicinal 
 plants, besides those to which I have al- 
 luded, may be found in Liberia ; among 
 which is the Croton Tiglium , a small tree 
 or shrub, with spreading branches, yield- 
 ing a capsular fruit, from the seeds of 
 which croton oil is extracted. 
 
 Animals. — The principal wild animals 
 which infest the forests or rivers of Libe- 
 ria, are the Elephant, Leopard, Hippopot- 
 amus, Crocodile, Porcupine, Wild Hog, 
 Boa Constrictor, several varieties of the 
 Deer, and several of the Ape. 
 
 Elephants are quite numerous about a 
 hundred miles back in the interior ; and 
 tlve natives make a regular business of 
 hunting and killing them, for the ivory of 
 which their tusks are composed. These 
 animals were formerly frequently seen in 
 the vicinity of some of the settlements ; 
 but they are now seldom seen within fifty 
 miles of the sea-coast. 
 
 Leopards are occasionally seen prowling 
 about the outskirts of some of the settle- 
 ments ; and they sometimes carry away ! 
 small domesticated animals at night. But ; 
 they are much less numerous and trouble- 
 some, than formerly. They never attack a 
 person, except after having been wounded. 
 
 Hippopotami are occasionally seen on the 
 
 banks of the rivers, some of them of im- 
 mense size — weighing a thousand pounds,, 
 or more. They are sometimes killed by 
 the natives. They are harmless animals ; 
 and they always endeavor to escape, when 
 interrupted, by plunging into the water. 
 
 Crocodiles, (erroneously called Alliga- 
 tors) are frequently seen basking in the 
 sunshine on the banks of the rivers, or on 
 the little rocky islands. They always 
 make their escape into the water, when 
 approached by a person on shore, or in a 
 boat or canoe. 
 
 Boa Constrictors are sometimes killed in 
 the forests in Liberia. The largest lever 
 saw was fifteen feet long, and fifteen inches 
 in circumference. Much larger ones have 
 been killed. I never heard of their attack- 
 ing an individual. Serpents, however, are 
 much less numerous in Liberia than is 
 generally supposed ; and poisonous snakes 
 are perhaps less common than in many 
 parts of the United States. 
 
 Deer are very numerous, and they af- 
 ford excellent vension. 
 
 Monkeys are found in great numbers in 
 the forests. 1 have seen a dozen, or more, 
 at one time, jumping from tree to tree, 
 with great dexterity. Several species of 
 the ape tribe are occasionally caught by 
 the natives ; among which is the Chimpan- 
 zee, so remarkable for its near approxima- 
 tion in appearance to the human race. — 
 Some of these “wild men of the woojds’ 5 ' 
 have been seen as large as an ordinary 
 sized man. The largest that I ever saw 
 was about the size of a child two or three 
 years old. The old ones are never 
 caught, and are seldom killed. They are 
 very powerful, as well as very active. 
 
 Besides these, the Guana, the Ichneumon , 
 the Sloth, the beautiful and ever-changing 
 Cliametion, many varieties of Lizards, and 
 several species of Ants, may frequently be 
 seen. 
 
 One variety or species of ants is very re- 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 *26 
 
 Ants — Drivers— Domesticated Animals. 
 
 markable, in consequence of the immense |j 
 conical mounds of earth which they rear, jj 
 and in which they make their nests. — 
 These mounds are sometimes ten or twelve 
 feet high, and eight or ten feet in diameter jj 
 at the base. These ants are about the 1 1 
 size of the large black ant in the United 
 States. The queen, however, is much 
 larger — some of them two inches in length 
 and nearly two inches in circumference. — 
 In the interior of the mound, about half- 
 way from the bottom, is a large vaulted 
 chamber, the floor of which is very hard 
 and smooth. In the centre of the floor is 
 the nest, in the inmost recess of which, 
 lives the queen in luxurious ease, accom- 
 panied by the king, whose size does not 
 vary much from the ordinary ant, but who 
 is easily recognized by a striking difference 
 in physical conformation. When the 
 queen dies, or is captured, all the ants de- 
 sert the hill, which is left to “ crumble into 
 dust again.” Many of these deserted 
 mounds may be seen in almost every part 
 of Liberia. 
 
 Another species of ants (familiarly 
 known by the name of Drivers) is still 
 more remarkable. They are about the 
 size of the black ant of America — that is, 
 about one-fourth to one-half of an inch in 
 length. They may frequently be seen 
 marching along, in the most systematic or- 
 der and regularity of movement. They 
 move in a solid compact column of great 
 length ; and they appear to be under the 
 direction of able leaders and rigid disci- 
 plinarians. No common obstacle turns 
 them out of then- course ; and whoever is 
 so unfortunate as to come in their line of 
 march will have to pay for his temerity ; 
 and will be reminded to be more careful in 
 future. Hundreds seize fiercely on the in- 
 truding foot, and the unwary object of 
 their vengeance is compelled to retreat 
 from the scene of attack. These tiny 
 
 warriors are very troublesome ; but 
 they are exceedingly useful in expelling 
 noxious vermin from every place into 
 which they may enter in the course of their 
 perambulations. Whenever a battalion of 
 drivers entersa dwellinghouse, the inmates 
 are obliged, for the time, to yield undis- 
 puted possession, at least of that part of 
 the house which the little warriors maybe 
 searching. They are not, however, al- 
 ways unwelcome visitors ; for they never 
 fail to expel rats, mice, and every species 
 of vermin — making a clean sweep as they 
 go. Whenever they come to a small wa- 
 ter-course, the larger and stronger ones 
 dexterously form themselves into an arch, 
 by clinging to each other ; thus making a 
 bridge, over which the smaller ones pass 
 dry-shod. Even in their ordinary march 
 over level ground, they seem to cling to 
 , each other in a solid phalanx ; the strong- 
 er ones occupying the flanks, and arching 
 , themselves over the weaker ones, who of - 
 j cupy the centre, and who are thus pro- 
 i tected by the others. 
 
 j All kinds of animals, both large and 
 jl small, are afraid of drivers ; nor have they 
 jj any regard to size in the objects of their 
 j| warfare. They are very useful in chasing 
 jl away or killing snakes, lizards, scorpions, 
 j centipedes, &c., which, were it not for the 
 j| drivers, would be exceedingly troublesome, 
 II and even dangerous. Whenever they visit 
 i a house, they search it all over, and expel 
 It every living, moving thing, that they find : 
 j after which, they retire peaceably, and 
 1 1 yield possession to the former occupants, 
 j They make their nests beneath the sur- 
 I face of the ground ; and I presume they 
 i| sally forth from their quarters only in 
 j search of food ; at which times the line of 
 j march is sometimes a hundred yards, or 
 j more, in length. 
 
 The principal domesticated animals in Li- 
 beria, are Bullocks or Beeves, Cows. 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 27 
 
 Beeves — Cows — Sheep —Goats— Horses, &c. — Diseases. 
 
 Sheep, Goats, Swine, Geese, Turkeys, 
 Ducks, and Chickens. 
 
 Beeves are frequently brought into the 
 settlements for sale by the natives, and 
 they are sometimes raised by the citizens. 
 They may be raised easily in any desira- 
 ble quantity. 
 
 Cows are numerous, but they do not 
 give much milk. Some of the cows which 
 are brought from the interior, one or two 
 hundred miles from the coast, are as large 
 as ordinary cows in the United States ; 
 but they do not give half so much milk. If 
 properly attended to, however, I think they 
 would afford milk much more plenti- 
 fully. 
 
 Sheep and Goats can be very easily raised 
 in Liberia — as easily, perhaps, as in any 
 other part of the world ; and they both af- 
 ford good wholesome animal food. The 
 sheep are covered with hair instead of 
 wool. The goats furnish very good 
 milk. 
 
 Swine do not thrive so well in Liberia 
 as in some parts of the United States ; but 
 they can be raised in sufficient abundance 
 for the wants of the people. 
 
 Geese and Ducks may be raised without 
 any more difficulty than in the United 
 States ; and within a few years past, 
 
 
 li 
 
 Turkeys have become much more plentiful 
 than they formerly were. 
 
 Perhaps in no other part of the world 
 can Chickens be raised more easily and 
 more plentifully, than in Liberia. With 
 very little trouble, every family may al- 
 ways have a sufficient supply of chickens. 
 
 Horses are plentiful in the interior, with- 
 in three hundred miles of the coast, but 
 they do not thrive well in the settlements : 
 perhaps in consequence principally of the 
 Want of proper management. They are 
 occasionally brought down by the natives, 
 and some of them are very beautiful. — 
 They are small — seldom more than twelve 
 hands high. I am quite satisfied that they 
 never can be used to much advantage, as 
 draft animals, in the present settlements of 
 Liberia. But for all necessary purposes, 
 the native oxen can be used as a substitute 
 for horses. I have seen some of the small 
 bullocks broken to the yoke, and working 
 steadily and effectually. The Liberians, 
 however, have not yet given much atten- 
 tion to the breaking and working of oxen 
 — by no means as much as they ought to 
 give. 1 trust that the time may not be 
 distant, when the plough and the cart will 
 be much more extensively used, than at 
 present. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 DISEASES. 
 
 The physical system of every in- 
 dividual who removes from a tempe- j 
 rate to a tropical climate must undergo 
 some change — must experience some pro- 1 
 cess of acclimation, which may or may j 
 not be attended with much fever, accord- j 
 ing to circumstances — to the constitutional !j 
 peculiarities of the individual, the nature jj 
 of the surrounding country, the previous I 
 habits of life, the situation at the time | 
 with respect to regimen, comforts, &c.; j 
 and by no means the least, the state of the j 
 
 mind with respect to calmness and patience, 
 or irritability and disquietude, together 
 with other imaginable circumstances ; so 
 that the developments of fever are gener- 
 ally various, requiring various methods 
 of treatment — each method to be adapted 
 to the individual case, as circumstances 
 may require. Hence, the impossibility of 
 furnishing an exact or complete treatise on 
 the subject — of setting down any charac- 
 teristic marks of the Acclimating Fever , or of 
 adopting any particular mode of treatment. 
 
28 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 Character of the acclimating fever. 
 
 Some persons, in passing through the 
 physical change, or process of acclima- 
 tion, have so little fever that they do 
 not require medical treatment at all. And 
 I have no douht that many persons might 
 pass safely through the acclimating pro- 
 cess without taking a grain of medicine, 
 if they could or would exercise the neces- 
 sary precautions in the preservation of 
 health — such as proper attention to their 
 habits, diet and clothing, to the extent of 
 exposure to the heat of the day, as well 
 as to the damp and chilling night-air, and 
 especially to the avoidance of all sources 
 of mental inquietude. 
 
 In some cases the physical system be- 
 comes sufficiently adapted to the climate to 
 resist the surrounding deleterious influ- 
 ences, in two or three months. In other 
 cases, a year or more elapses before this 
 desirable point is reached. And in some 
 cases, the physical system and the climate 
 seem to be at variance for several years. 
 
 In the course of my observations in the 
 
 treatment of the acclimating fever, I fre- 
 quently noticed that persons who had pre- 
 viously suffered from local inflammatory 
 affections were extremely liable to have a 
 recurrence of some or all of the symptoms 
 of the old disorder, in consequence of the 
 previously inflamed organ or tissue being 
 the “weak point” in the system. And 
 in some cases, persons who might have 
 enjoyed tolerable health in the United ! 
 States die very soon after their arrival in i 
 Liberia, in consequence of the physical 1 
 system not being sufficiently vigorous to 
 undergo the necessary change, in order to 
 become adapted to the climate. Hence 
 the impropriety of persons emigrating to j 
 
 Liberia whose constitutions have become ; 
 
 much impaired by previous disease, by 
 intemperance, or otherwise. And hence 
 the necessity of Missionary Societies be- 
 ing careful in regard to the physical as 
 well as to the moral qualifications of those 
 
 [ persons who offer themselves as missiona- 
 ! lies to Africa. 
 
 I The majority of persons from the United 
 ; States who take up their residence in Li- 
 j beria have some development of fever, in 
 some form or other, within the first two 
 I months after their arrival. The most com- 
 i mon form, perhaps, is that which medical 
 i writers generally call “ Bilious Remittent 
 ' Fever,” which is usually simple in its 
 j character, and which generally yields 
 | readily, in a few days, to simple, mild, 
 
 ! appropriate treatment. The first attack, 
 
 | however, is generally followed, within a 
 ! few days or weeks, by a second similar, 
 
 | or nearly similar, attack, or, which is more 
 ! common, by one or other of the varieties 
 of the intermittent form of fever ; and to 
 this latter kind of fever the individual is 
 ; more or less subject until his system shall 
 have become sufficiently adapted to the 
 j climate and to the local influences of the 
 i country to resist their peculiar effects. Not 
 un frequently the first attack, as well as the 
 j subsequent ones, assumes the intermittent 
 
 I form ; in most cases, however, attended 
 
 i 
 
 l with considerable biliary derangement. — 
 The fever seldom assumes a strictly con- 
 tinued form, is seldom inflammatory, and 
 it seldom terminates in permanent conges- 
 tion of any internal organ. The conges- 
 tive and inflammatory forms are perhaps 
 never exhibited, except in cases in which 
 there is some striking constitutional pecu- 
 liarity. Bilious vomiting frequently oc- 
 curs, in both the remittent and intermit- 
 tent forms ; and sometimes gastric irrita- 
 bility prevails to a considerable extent, and 
 renders the proper management of the 
 case rather difficult. In all cases, the 
 tongue is considerably furred, and in many 
 cases, headache, more or less violent, con- 
 tinues during ihe continuance of the fever. 
 Temporary delirium is sometimes present, 
 during high febrile excitement ; but it 
 usually subsides with the remission or in- 
 termission of the fever. 
 
Treatment of the acclimating fever. 
 
 In reference to the most successful mode 
 of treatment, it is impossible to furnish any 
 statement that will be sufficiently intelli- 
 gible and comprehensive to justify the ap- 
 plication of remedial medicinal means, 
 without the judicious exercise of an en- 
 lightened judgment. I may, however, 
 point out a few land-marks, and a few 
 rocks and shoals, by which the untutored 
 medical mariner may be able to steer his 
 course with more safety than if he were 
 entirely destitute of such information. — 
 And first, I would remark that there are 
 two points of essential importance, which 
 cannot be too strongly impressed on the 
 consideration of all persons who expect 
 to reside in Liberia : The first is, the great 
 advantage of mental as well as physical 
 quietude, and patient resignation ; which 
 necessarily imply the avoidance, as much 
 as possible, of both mental and physical 
 irritability, of despondency or gloomy 
 forebodings, and of distrust in Divine 
 Providence. Whoever goes to Africa, 
 ought to go with the expectation of living; 
 and if he should get sick, he ought to try to 
 get well again — to avoid all excitement, and 
 to endeavor to be cheerful and contented. 
 The greatest difficulty with which I gene- 
 rally had to contend, in the treatment of 
 the acclimating fever, was to prevent mental 
 depression or despondency in my patients. 
 And I have invariably found, in cases in 
 which patients obstinately and pertina- 
 ciously yielded to despondency, and aban- 
 doned all hope of getting well, that sooner 
 or later their expectations were realized, 
 and death closed the scene. The other 
 point to which I would direct particular 
 attention is, the danger of using medicinal 
 agents too freely— of relying too much on 
 the curative virtues of medicines, and not 
 giving due attention to auxiliary means ; 
 which indeed are often of much more im- 
 portance than all the pills and powders of 
 the doctor or the druggist. I am quite 
 
 | satisfied that the lives of many persons 
 i have been sacrificed in Liberia by the 
 too free or injudicious use of medicines, 
 especially calomel and drastic cathartics, 
 In reference to the use of calomel, I may 
 state, that although I generally found the 
 i necessity for its use in the majority of 
 cases of the acclimating fever w r hich came 
 1 under my treatment, yet I used it much 
 f more cautiously and sparingly than it is 
 generally used by medical practitioners in 
 the United States. I never gave more 
 !j than eight grains at a time, and seldom 
 ! gave more than fifteen grains during one 
 attack of sickness. Whenever I found 
 ' the necessity for its administration, in any 
 ! case, I sometimes gave it in about two 
 | grain doses, at intervals of about two 
 j hours, usually in combination with some 
 diaphoretic or sweating medicine, especial- 
 ly James’ powder. After threer or fourof 
 1 these doses had been taken, 1 usually di- 
 | rected a moderate dose of castor oil to be 
 taken, within ten or twelve hours after the 
 | first dose. In the beginning of an attack 
 I of fever, especially in those cases in which 
 i the tongue was much coated, and the pa- 
 I tient complained of nausea, without free 
 vomiting, I frequently gave a dose of cal- 
 omel and ipecacuanha, in the proportion 
 ; of six or eight grains of the former to 
 ! about twenty of the latter. This dose 
 I usually produced sufficient action on the 
 ! bowels, as well as vomiting. If it failed 
 j to move the bowels, I always directed 
 : some mild laxative afterwards — generally 
 { castor oil or rhubarb. In some cases l 
 had no occasion to give any other medi- 
 cine, during the attack, than the dose of 
 calomel and ipecac ; except generally, in 
 j the intermittent form, quinine to break up 
 j the periodicity of the attack. I never gave 
 calomel with the intention of producing 
 salivation ; — this result I always endeavor- 
 ed to guard against ; and, of the hundreds 
 of cases which I treated, very few ever 
 
30 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 Medicines used in treating the acclimating fever. 
 
 complained of the slightest soreness of the | j 
 mouth. In the few cases, in which sali- jj 
 vation resulted from the administration of Ij 
 calomel, in consequence of a strong con- jj 
 stitutional tendency in the patients, I al- j; 
 ways observed that convalescence was 
 more tedious — the patient requiring a long- 
 er time to regain his health and strength. 
 
 My favorite diaphoretics were, James’ 
 powder and sweet spirits of nitre ; both of 
 which I used frequently and freely. I 
 generally found the latter of these two 
 medicines very beneficial in producing 
 perspiration, when given during the febrile j 
 excitement, in the dose of about a teaspoon- j 
 ful, at intervals of an hour or two. I ; 
 sometimes found it necessary to be more jj 
 cautious in the administration of the for- ji 
 mer, especially in cases in which much jl 
 tendency to gastric irritability existed. I jl 
 seldom used nitrate of potash (a favorite Jj 
 diaphoretic with some physicians in this jj 
 country,) in consequence of the tendency, j 
 in many cases, to irritability of the sto- jj 
 mach. 
 
 In reference to the use of opiates, I may j 
 s ate, that, although I frequently found ! 
 them highly beneficial, under circumstan- j 
 ces which peculiarly indicated the neces- jj 
 sity of their being administered ; yet, I jj 
 always endeavored to avoid the use of 
 them as much as possible, in consequence 
 especially of their general astringent and 
 constipating effects. Whenever the case 
 seemed to demand the use of any opiate, jj 
 and the bowels were not constipated, es- jj 
 pecially if they were looser than desirable, j| 
 
 1 generally gave free doses — seldom less Jj 
 than fifty drops of laudanum, or one-fourth jj 
 of a grain of morphine. In some cases, in J 
 which the general system was in a highly j 
 irritable condition — quick and feeble pulse, j 
 dry skin, and sometimes violent headache, I 
 and sleeplessness, with or without delirium , 
 
 I sometimes gave about one-third of a 
 grain of morphine, in combination with j 
 
 five or six grains of James’ powder, at 
 night ; and generally the patient was de- 
 cidedly better on the following morning ; 
 after having enjoyed refreshing sleep du- 
 ring the night. A teaspoonful of paregoric, 
 under similar circumstances, sometimes 
 also produces very beneficial effects. But 
 the judicious administration of opiate med- 
 icines, requires the exercise of more skill 
 and judgment, than most persons possess, 
 who have not given particular attention to 
 the study of the animal economy, and the 
 effects of medicinal agents. 
 
 I would strongly discourage the use of 
 Epsom salts, as a cathartic : the only way 
 in which it ought to be given, (if at all,) is 
 in broken doses — not more than a tea- 
 spoonful at a time : in some cases of erup- 
 tive diseases, it may be beneficially used 
 in this way ; but it should never be given 
 in active purgative doses. This remark is 
 applicable to all other hydrogogue and 
 drastic cathartic medicines. A favorite 
 combination with me was three grains of 
 calomel, one-sixth of a grain of tartar 
 emetic, and six grains of compound ex- 
 tract of colocynth, made into two pills ; 
 I sometimes added one grain of gamboge ; 
 but 1 generally found the pills sufficiently 
 active without the gamboge, if the medi- 
 cines were good. This dose I used fre- 
 quently to give, as an anti-bilious cathar- 
 tic, and as a preparative for the adminis- 
 tration of quinine, during an attack of in- 
 termittent fever. I have several times 
 taken this combination myself, and always 
 with decided benefit. As a mild, certain, 
 and safe laxative, in cases in which the 
 principal object was to produce action of 
 the bowels, I never found anything to 
 answer so well as castor oil. Rhubarb, 
 either alone or in combination with cal- 
 cined magnesia, will sometimes answer 
 very well. 
 
 1 frequently found great advantage from 
 the application of blistering plasters ; es- 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA 
 
 31 
 
 Leeches— Quinine— how administered— Stimulants. 
 
 pecially to the pit of the stomach, in cases 
 attended with much irritability of that or- 
 gan. I generally found that the vomiting 
 ceased as soon as the plaster began to pro- 
 duce its peculiar effects. I sometimes al- 
 so applied a blister plaster to the back of 
 the neck, in violent headache, with deci- 
 ded advantage. In cases attended with 
 marked inflammatory action in the stomach 
 — great tenderness to pressure, irritability, 
 and other prominent symptoms, I some- 
 times resorted to local depletion, by cup- 
 ping ; and I sometimes applied cups to 
 the temples, to relieve the head. I, how- 
 ever, more frequently resorted to the free 
 application of leeches in such cases. These 
 little animals are very plentiful in Liberia, 
 and they can be easily procured, at any 
 time. They are about one-third the size ! 
 of the ordinary foreign leeches, which are 
 used in the United States, and they draw 
 much less blood. I have had nearly a hun- 
 dred of them applied to myself at one 
 time. 
 
 In the intermittent form of fever, qui- 
 nine is the remedium magnum. I seldom 
 failed to break up the attack, in a few days, 
 by the judicious use of this medicine ; 
 which, perhaps, approaches more nearly 
 to a specific than any other medicinal ar- 
 ticle. Although I had frequent attacks of i 
 intermittent fever during my residence in 
 Liberia ; yet I never had more than three 
 / paroxysms, during any one attack ; and I | 
 was generally able to prevent the third j 
 by the use of this valuable remedy. My j 
 usual mode of taking or administering it j 
 was in doses of about two grains, at in- 
 tervals of two hours, commencing about 
 eight hours before the time of the expected 
 chill or ague ; whenever circumstances j 
 would admit of its administration in this j 
 way. Sometimes I gave it at intervals of j 
 one hour, commencing four or five hours i 
 before the time of the expected paroxysm. i 
 1 generally found eight or ten grains to be j 
 
 j sufficient. In cases in which the chill or 
 ague came on early in the forenoon — say 
 7 or 8 o’clock — l generally gave a single 
 dose of about five grains, within an hour 
 of the time at which the paroxysm was 
 expected. In most cases, I believe one 
 such dose would prevent an ague, if taken 
 within an hour of the expected attack. — 
 But, in consequence of more or less irreg- 
 ularity respecting the time at which a 
 paroxysm might be expected, I generally 
 found it necessary to commence the use of 
 the quinine several hours previous to the 
 time at which the preceding paroxysm 
 made its appearance. It is best to con- 
 tinue the use of quinine two or three days 
 after the the chill or ague has been 
 stopped, in two grain doses taken several 
 times during the day. 
 
 I have but little confidence in the habit- 
 ual use of wine, brandy, porter, ale, or any 
 thing else of the kind, either as preven- 
 lives of fever, or as tonics during conva- 
 lescence, after an attack. The climate it- 
 self is too exciting and stimulating to the 
 systems of new-comers, generally ; and 
 consequently I always found it better to 
 avoid the use of stimulating beverages, 
 except in cases of great physical prostra- 
 tion by disease, in which some stimulating 
 draught was imperatively demanded. — 
 During the first six months of my resi- 
 dence in Liberia, I always found the use 
 ! of wine injurious, at any time, in my own 
 j case. And I am decidedly of opinion, 
 
 | that cold water is the best beverage, in 
 S Liberia as well as in the United States. — 
 The moderate use of wine or porter, or even 
 brandy, may sometimes be advantageous, 
 in those cases in which the system has 
 become greatly enfeebled, by frequent at- 
 | tacks of fever, and by the protracted en- 
 ervating influences of the climate ; but in 
 the majority of cases, I think the use of 
 such beverages ought to be entirely dis- 
 pensed with. 
 
n 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 Diseases continued— Dysentery— Diarrhea— Rheumatism— Dropsy. 
 
 1 frequently found the use of various 
 domestic remedies highly beneficial in the 
 treatment of fevers in Liberia, particularly 
 herb-teas, and the pepper cataplasm. The 
 latter is almost universally used, instead of 
 mustard ; in consequence of pepper being 
 more convenient, as well as more active in 
 its effects. The pepper pods, whether green 
 or red, are cut into small pieces, and mixed 
 with corn or rice meal, or wheat-flour, and 
 water, and made into a poultice or plaster, 
 in the same manner as mustard plasters are 
 usually made. The burning effects of this 
 poultice will be experienced in a few min- 
 utes. I have frequently found it to be very 
 
 beneficial in relieving nausea or vomiting, 
 and also colic pains, when applied over the 
 stomach or abdomen. It is also a powerful 
 revulsive agent, when applied to the ankles, 
 wrists, bottom of the feet, or calves of the 
 legs ; and it is peculiarly beneficial in some 
 cases, in which the use of such an agent js> 
 indicated. The infusion of an herb called 
 “ fever tea,” is generally very beneficial, 
 as a diaphoretic, when taken warm, and as 
 an agreeable beverage when taken cold, 
 instead of water. Various other vegetable 
 substances, which abound in Liberia, may 
 be advantageously used, in making inno- 
 cent and useful medicinal infusions. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Disease s — continued . 
 
 In addition to the ordinary remittent and 
 intermittent fevers, to which I have partic- 
 ularly alluded, I occasionally met with cases 
 bearing some resemblance to other kinds 
 of fever, that are usually described in 
 medical books ; but they were generally 
 not sufficiently marked to justify the dis- 
 tinctive appellations of nosological arrange- 
 ment. I never saw a well-marked case of 
 yellow fever in Liberia; although this 
 disease is sometimes experienced at Sierra 
 Leone, especially among European resi- 
 dents. Acute inflammatory diseases are 
 not common in Liberia. I seldom met 
 with distinctly marked cases of pleurisy, 
 or of any other violent or active inflam- 
 matory disease. It is very fortunate that 
 such affections are not common ; for they 
 are generally almost necessarily fatal in 
 their termination. 
 
 Dysentery and diarrhoea are by no means 
 so common, as might be supposed. I 
 seldom met with very obstinate cases of 
 either of these diseases. Slight attacks of 
 diarrhoea are occasionally brought on by the 
 intemperate use of some kinds of fruits ; 
 and occasionally, in new-comers, by the 
 
 i too free use of some kinds of animal food, 
 
 ; particularly fresh pork, beef, or fish. I 
 met -with a few cases of chronic dysentery : 
 and I experienced two or three attacks mv- 
 ! self. Rheumatism , both acute and chronic, 
 jj occasionally occurs, never very violent, 
 
 | however, in either form. Dropsical affec- 
 ! tions are rather frequent ; especially local 
 I anasarca, or dropsy of the cellular mem- 
 brane beneath the skin — a consequence of 
 j general debility, produced by frequent a(- 
 ! tacks of fever, inattention to diet and cloth- 
 j ing, and undue exposure. It is not uncom- 
 mon for the feet and legs of persons to swell 
 ; more or less, during the acclimating pro- 
 | cess ; especially white persons and bright 
 ji mulattoes. This swelling generally grad- 
 ually subsides, as the system becomes bel- 
 li ter adapted to the climate. Ascites, or 
 ! dropsy of the abdomen, sometimes occurs, 
 j as a consequence of chronic affections of the 
 !| liver or spleen, especially enlargement of 
 I one or both of these organs, after a long 
 | residence in the country. Such cases, 
 i however, are not so common as might be 
 j supposed. I never met with more than a 
 dozen cases, during my residence in Line- 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 33 
 
 Cutaneous affections — Leprosy — Ulcers. 
 
 ria. No course of treatment which I ever 
 pursued, in such cases, seemed to produce i 
 any decidedly beneficial effects. 
 
 Cutaneous affections are quite common; 
 some of which are peculiar to the country 
 or climate. Among the common eruptive |j 
 diseases, measles and erysipelas are most 
 frequently observed. The former of these jj 
 diseases prevailed very extensively through- h 
 out Liberia, in the early part of 1845 ; but 
 it was generally milder than it usually is in [J 
 the United States. The latter generally |j 
 appears in a mild form, with very little or 
 no febrile action in the system. In the j 
 early part of 1848, small-pox prevailed ! 
 pretty extensively in one of the settle- j 
 ments ; but, in nearly every case, it was { 
 in the modified form, called varioloid, j 1 
 This form of small-pox has several times j 
 prevailed, epidemically, in one or other j 
 of the settlements ; but it seldom proved 
 fatal. I never saw but one case of genuine I 
 variola in Liberia ; although, in some 
 cases, the small-pox contagion results in 
 the exhibition of this form of the disease, 
 during the epidemical prevalence of vario- 
 loid. 
 
 A peculiar endemical pustulous affection, 
 
 called “ craw-craw,” or “kru-kru,” some- 
 times attacks persons who are not very 
 careful in regard to cleanliness. It is a very 
 common disease among the natives, and 
 it is generally regarded as being contagious. 
 It is sometimes very painful and trouble- 
 some. Another disease of the skin, which 
 is common among the natives, and which 
 is occasionally observed among the Libe- 
 rians, is the “ yaws which consists of 
 elevated excrescences, usually appearing in 
 continuous clusters, and discharging a thin 
 corrosive ichor. Sometimes the yaws ap- 
 pear on the soles of the feet, and prevent 
 the patient from walking. Both these dis- 
 eases are tedious and perplexing to both 
 the patient and the doctor. 
 
 Lepra, or leprosy, is occasionally seen in 
 
 3 
 
 
 ; 
 
 Liberia ; especially among the aborigines. 
 This distressing disease usually appears 
 in brownish blotches scattered over the 
 body ; from which a corrosive serous fluid 
 is discharged. The toes and fingers fre- 
 quently become ulcerated ; and sometimes 
 the unfortunate invalid loses all the fingers 
 on one hand or both, or all the toes on the 
 feet ; and the soles of the feet are sometimes 
 marked with deep fissures, or scooped out 
 into ugly sores. The blotches on different 
 parts of the body sometimes degenerate 
 into foul and fetid ulcers of an irregular 
 jagged appearance. This miserable disease 
 sometimes continues to harass the individ- 
 ual for years ; and it frequently results in 
 death. I have, however, frequently seen 
 native persons who had recovered, with the 
 loss of a portion of their hands or feet, or 
 of both, after having suffered excruciatingly 
 for months or years. I never saw but one 
 well-marked case among the Liberians, 
 and that was in a very old man. 
 
 The most common and troublesome cu- 
 taneous affections, (if they may be so class- 
 ed,) that occur in Liberia, are indolent 
 ulcers ; which sometimes appear spontane- 
 ously ; but which generally result from 
 injuries, by which the skin is broken. The 
 texture of the cutaneous and the muscular 
 fibre seems to be more lax in tropical than 
 intemperate climates ; and slight scratches, 
 or abrasions of the skin, are much more 
 liable to degenerate into ulcers , — the de- 
 gree of liability depending on the constitu- 
 tional temperament of individuals, their 
 habits, mode of living, &c. White persons 
 and mulattoes are more subject to ulcerous 
 affections as well as to most other diseases, 
 than black persons ; in consequence, I pre- 
 sume, of their physical systems being less 
 adapted to the peculiarities of the climate ; 
 a fact which must be admitted by ah. 
 These ulcers, though not generally very 
 painful, are exceedingly annoying, especi- 
 ally when they occur on the feet ; and they 
 
34 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 Flatulent colic — Intestinal worms— Enlargement of Spleen, &c. 
 
 do not generally heal readily, sometimes [ 
 continuing for several months. If persons 
 would be sufficiently careful to avoid inju- 
 ries of the skin, they would not be very 
 liable to these troublesome affections. 
 
 Chronic nervous diseases are not very i 
 common in Liberia. I occasionally met 
 with hysteria in females ; and I saw one 
 or two cases of epilepsy, and one case of 
 tetanus, or locked-jaw. Convulsive affec- 
 tions are very rarely met with , in either in- 
 fants or adults. Paralytic affections are 
 occasionally, though seldom, seen. 1 
 never saw a distinctly marked case of 
 whooping-cough in Liberia ; nor did I ever 
 hear of its having prevailed epidemically. 
 
 Flatulent colic frequently demands' the 
 attention of the physician. It is gene- 
 rally the result of the imprudent use of 
 •some indigestible article of food ; and it 
 occurs more frequently in persons daring 
 the first few months of their residence, than 
 in old settlers. Sometimes the stomach 
 and bowels become greatly distended with 
 gas ; and the patient suffers very violent 
 pain in the abdomen. I had several attacks 
 of this painful affection, during the first 
 year of my residence in Liberia ; the most 
 violent of which was caused by the eating 
 of a small piece of cheese. I was generally 
 able to relieve the patient, afflicted with this 
 disease, by the administration of a large 
 dose of laudanum, folio-wed by a full dose 
 of castor oil ; the operation of which was 
 sometimes assisted by an active injection ; 
 together with the application of a large 
 pepper poultice over the abdomen. In 
 some cases, especially when attended with 
 a tendency to diarrhoea, I gave nothing but 
 
 I 
 
 the laudanum ; or, what sometimes had a 
 
 among children, is that of intestinal tcorms. 
 The most common kind of worms which 
 infest the alimentary canal, is the ascares 
 lumbricoides, or common round worm. 
 All the other varieties, however, are some- 
 times observed. I have seen several cases, 
 in which the individuals voided detached 
 portions of the tenia, or tape-worm. In pre- 
 scribing for patients having worms, I de- 
 pended more on the free use of spiritsof tur- 
 pentine, combined with, or followed by, 
 castor oil, than any other vermifuge, in all 
 the varieties. Sometimes I gave a few 
 grains of calomel, followed in three or four 
 hours by a free dose of oil and turpentine. 
 
 In Liberia, as in other malarious coun- 
 tries or districts, cases of enlargement of the 
 spleen — vulgarly called “fever- cake ’’-—are 
 frequently observed — the result of repeated 
 attacks of intermittent fever. This is much 
 more common in white than in colored resi- 
 dents : very few white persons, indeed, 
 are able to live five years in Liberia, with- 
 out having more or less enlargement of the 
 spleen. It is more frequently met with in 
 mulattoes than in black persons: indeed, 1 
 do not remember a single case which came 
 under my observation, in a person of una- 
 dulterated African extraction ; although I 
 have no doubt that such persons are some- 
 times thus affected. The principal diffi- 
 culty that usually arises from this affection, 
 is, that it predisposes to dropsical affec- 
 tions.. In many cases, however, dropsical 
 effusions do not follow enlargement of the 
 spleen; except occasional swelling of the 
 lower extremities. A protracted sea-voy- 
 age, or a change of climate, is the only 
 means with which I am acquainted, that 
 will effect a reduction of this burdensome 
 
 better effect, a pill composed of one-sixth 
 or one-fourth of a grain of morphine and 
 two grains of camphor. Persons cannot be 
 too careful in avoiding the use of such ar- 
 ticles of food as are not easily digestible. 
 
 A very common affection, especially 
 
 appendage. 
 
 Slight catarrhal affections, (influenza,) 
 are occasionally experienced in Liberia; 
 especially during the harmattan season; 
 but these generally pass off in a few days, 
 without any serious injury. I never knew 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 35 
 
 Catarrhal affections, &c. — “ Sleepy Disease.” 
 
 a case to result in active inflammation of 
 any part of the respiratory apparatus. 
 
 Some other diseases which are common 
 to most countries, may be occasionally 
 observed in Liberia; but the variety is 
 much less than in the United States; and, 
 except in some old chronic affections, in 
 broken-down constitutions, convalescence 
 is generally much more rapid, in conse- 
 quence of the less violence of the attack. 
 Among the many attacks of fever that I 
 experienced, I never was obliged to re- 
 main in my room more than a week, at any 
 one time; and I very seldom w*as confined 
 to my bed longer than twenty-four hours 
 at a time. The danger in new-comers gene- 
 rally consists more in the frequency, than 
 in the violence, of the attacks of sickness. 
 And the majority of colored immigrants, 
 who have sufficient prudence to use such 
 means for the preservation of their health 
 in Liberia, as an enlightened judgment 
 would dictate, usually enjoy as good health, 
 after the first year of their residence, as 
 they formerly enjoyed in theUnited States. 
 In some cases, indeed, the state of the 
 health of immigrants is decidedly improved 
 by the change of residence from America 
 to Africa. The large majority of cases of 
 sickness that came under my observation, 
 among those persons who had resided a 
 year or more in Liberia, was in indolent, 
 and consequently indigent persons, whose 
 prudence was commensurate with their 
 improvidence. Indeed, in view of the 
 heedlessness, carelessness, and indolence 
 of some persons, who were scarcely ever 
 sick, I was astonished at their continued 
 •exemption from disease. 
 
 I will conclude this brief medical history 
 of Liberia with a short notice of a peculiar 
 endemic affection, which may be termed 
 Lethargus, but which is commonly called 
 the “ Sleepy Disease.” I have seen eight 
 or ten cases of this somniferous malady; 
 five or six of which were among persons 
 
 who had emigrated from the United States. 
 It is, however, much more frequently ex- 
 hibited among the aborigines than among 
 the Liberians. The only characteristic 
 
 I 
 
 mark of this affection, is an irresistible 
 tendency to sleep — the patient frequently 
 falling asleep, even while eating. He can 
 generally be easily aroused; but he almost 
 immediately relapses into a state of pro- 
 found slumber. The patient scarcely ever 
 experiences the slightest pain; and no feb- 
 rile symptoms are usually exhibited, until 
 near the fatal close of the incurable malady. 
 The appetite is usually voracious, and the 
 bowels obstinately constipated. The food 
 taken does not seem to nourish the system; 
 in consequence of the disordered state of 
 the organs of digestion and nutrition; the 
 difficulty existing principally, perhaps, in 
 the mesenteric glands. Indeed, the whole 
 glandular system, including the lymphatic 
 and the lacteal glands, seems to be in a 
 torpid state, in this affection. No peculiar 
 marks of disease are usually exhibited, on 
 examination after death. In all cases of 
 which I have heard, the brain especially 
 appeared to be in a healthy condition — at 
 least, that organ exhibited no perceptible 
 evidence of disease; and no other part of 
 the body exhibited any peculiar organical 
 affection; except some of the lymphatic 
 glands, which presented an enlarged and 
 inflamed appearance. Those about the 
 neck generally appear considerably swell- 
 ed; and the natives sometimes extirpate 
 | those enlarged glands, under the impres- 
 sion that they are the source of the affec- 
 tion; with what success in removing the 
 disease may be readily imagined by any 
 intelligent person, in whom the bump of 
 credulity is not too largely developed. 
 
 Among the various causes of this strange 
 affection, which have been assigned, per- 
 haps no particular one can be fully relied 
 on. Indolent habits, unwholesome and 
 indigestible vegetable diet, together with 
 
36 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA 
 
 “ Conclusion.” 
 
 some peculiar influence of the climate, 
 associated with the prolonged action of 
 miasmata or malaria, operating on a sys- 
 tem peculiarly predisposed to lethargy, 
 may be regarded as the exciting cause, by 
 which functional derangement of the ner- 
 vous system is produced, resulting in a 
 lost balance of the circulation, and a gene- 
 ral functional impairment of the whole 
 glandular apparatus of the body. The 
 disease (if disease it may be called) al- 
 ways approaches gradually; sometimes 
 several months elapsing before it is fully 
 developed. And, although I have had 
 pretty fair opportunities of testing the vir- 
 tues of various medicinal agents, in differ- 
 ent stages of the disease; yet I never was 
 able to effect more than a temporary ces- 
 sation of it, in the beginning, or a tem- 
 porary mitigation of it, after its full de- 
 velopment. 
 
 The most graphic notice of this lazy di- 
 sease, with which 1 have met, is that given 
 in the “ Journal of an African Cruiser;” 
 and, as I saw the patient in company with 
 the author, I will subjoin an extract from 
 that interesting little book: “We entered 
 
 the hut without ceremony, and looked 
 about us for old Mamma’s beautiful grand- 
 daughter. But, on beholding the object of 
 our search, a kind of remorse or dread 
 came over us; such as often affects those 
 who intrude upon the awfulness of slum- 
 ber. The girl lay asleep in the adjoining 
 apartment, on a mat that was spread over 
 the hard ground; and with no pillow be- 
 neath her cheek. She slept so quietly, and 
 dnew such imperceptible breath, that I 
 scarcely thought her alive. With some 
 
 ii 
 
 | 
 
 ii 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 difficulty she was aroused, and she awoke 
 with a frightened cry — a strange and bro- 
 ken murmur, as if she were looking dimly 
 out of her sleep, and knew not whether 
 our figures were real, or only the phan- 
 tasies of a dream. Her eyes were wild 
 and glassy, and she seemed to be in pain. 
 While awake, there was a nervous twitch- 
 ing about her mouth and in her fingers; 
 but, being again extended on the mat, and 
 left to herself, these symptoms of disquie- 
 tude passed away; and she almost imme- 
 diately sank again into the deep and 
 heavy sleep, in which we found her. This 
 poor girl had been suffering — no, not suffer- 
 ing, for, except when forcibly aroused, 
 there appears to be no uneasiness, but she 
 had been lingering two months in a disease 
 peculiar to Africa — commonly called the 
 ‘ sleepy disease.’ Her aspect was incon- 
 ceivably affecting. It was strange to be- 
 hold her so quietly involved in sleep; from 
 which it might be supposed she would 
 awake so full of youthful life — and yet to 
 know that this was no refreshing slumber; 
 but a spell in which she was fast fading 
 away from the eyes of those that loved 
 her. Whatever might chance, be it grief 
 or joy, the effect would be the same. 
 Whoever should shake her by the arm — 
 whether the accents of a friend fell feebly 
 on her ear, or those of strangers, like 
 ourselves, the only response would be 
 that troubled cry, as of a spirit that hover- 
 ed on the confines of both worlds, and 
 could have sympathy with neither. The 
 peal of the last trumpet only will summon 
 her out of that mysterious sleep.” 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Had 1 not been apprehensive that I 
 might unnecessarily swell the size of this 
 little work, by details which may be easily 
 obtained from other sources, I might have 
 
 dwelt, at considerable length, on the con- 
 sideration of the nature of the civil govern- 
 ment, and of the political institutions of 
 Liberia. 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 • 37 
 
 Civil government, &c. 
 
 I might also have made particular allu- | 
 sion to the results of missionary opera- i 
 lions in Liberia, and its vicinity. But as i 
 tiiere are various sources whence informa- ! 
 tion may be derived on this subject ; and 
 as such allusions and details do not come 
 within the scope of the prescribed design 
 of this work, it being intended particularly 
 for the information of those persons who 
 may be in search of truth, with the view 
 of making Liberia the place of their future | 
 residence; I do not deem it necessary or 
 proper for me to dwell on the detail of 
 particulars, relative to the operations of 
 missionary societies; especially as I do 
 not regard myself as altogether competent 
 to present full and faithful statements on 
 this subject; and as I feel disposed to write 
 only what I do know, and testify what I 
 have seen. 
 
 In reference to the civil government of 
 Liberia, I may here simply state, that it 
 is based on the principles of republicanism; 
 and, in every essential particular, it may 
 be regarded as a miniature representation 
 of the Government of the United States; 
 the only particular points of difference be- 
 ing in the name of the national assembly, 
 which is styled Legislature instead of Con- 
 gress; and in the time of service of the 
 principal officers of the Government. The 
 President is elected by the popular vote, for j 
 two years, and he is eligible to re-election. 
 The Senators, of whom there are two from > 
 each county — six in all — are elected for 
 four years, and the Representatives, of i 
 whom there are eight in all, are elected for | 
 two years. The only cabinet officers who ! 
 have yet been commissioned are, the i 
 Secretaries of Slate and of the Treasury, j 
 and the Attorney General. All the officers j 
 of justice are appointed by the President, j 
 with the consent of the Senate. The ju- I 
 dicial power of the Republic is vested in a ! 
 supreme court, a court of quarter sessions I 
 an each county, and magistrate’s courts, j 
 
 which meet monthly. No white person is 
 allowed to become a citizen; consequently, 
 white residents cannot hold any office in 
 the Government. 
 
 The Government of Liberia is now al- 
 together in the hands, and under the entire 
 management of the citizens of Liberia; no 
 white person, on either side of the Atlantic, 
 being, in any way, connected with its ope- 
 rations. And if the disputed question has 
 not yet been fully settled, whether colored 
 persons are capable of self-government or 
 not, a few years will decide the point. The 
 people of Liberia are now fairly “self- 
 poised;” and feeling confident, as I do, of 
 the clemency and forbearance of all fo- 
 reign nations towards this infant Repub- 
 lic, so long as the Government shall be 
 maintained on the principles of national 
 rectitude, (without which no government 
 is worthy of encouragement,) I am quite 
 satisfied that if the Republic of Liberia 
 shall ingloriously fall, and her institutions 
 be demolished, or if those institutions 
 shall be voluntarily transferred to the con- 
 trol and management of any foreign power, 
 the result will indubitably exhibit the mel- 
 ancholy fact, that the maintenance of an in- 
 dependent government by the colored race 
 is at least a subject of doubtful practica- 
 bility. I confidently hope, however, that 
 the “ lone star” of the Republic of Li- 
 beria, which is now culminating over a 
 portion of the western coast of benighted 
 Africa, will continue to shine, not like the 
 brilliant meteor, or the erratic comet, but 
 like the effulgent orb of day, which sheds 
 his enlivening beams with increasing splen- 
 dor as he ascends above the fleecy clouds 
 that overhang the eastern sky. 
 
 In addition to the brief reflections which 
 have been thrown out in the different parts 
 of this work, I would here make a few 
 suggestions which may be worthy the par- 
 ticular attention of those persons who may 
 
38 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 Cultivation of the Soil — the chief source of wealth ami independence. 
 
 emigrate to Liberia. The reader will, no 
 doubt, be fully convinced, if he believes 
 the statements herein exhibited, of the 
 practicability of a comfortable competency 
 being realized in Liberia, as the reward of 
 industry and frugality. And the intelli- 
 gent man of color, who is accustomed to 
 observation and reflection cannot but be 
 convinced that he may enjoy the privileges 
 of a freeman in the full import of the term, 
 of which he is virtually deprived in every 
 part of the United States, by the conven- 
 tional rules of society among the domi- 
 nant inheritors of a fairer complexion. 
 But while I do not hesitate, in view of the 
 facts set forth in this work, to recom- 
 mend Liberia as an inviting field for enter- 
 prise, and a desirable place of residence; 
 
 I may here state that, during my residence 
 there, my eyes were not too frequently 
 dazzled by captivating sights of agricul- 
 tural industry, and of mechanical enter- 
 prise, to blind me to the conviction that 
 much remains to be done before the little 
 African Republic can be regarded as an 
 earthly paradise. 
 
 In reference to the cultivation of the soil, 
 especially, which is the true road to inde- 
 pendence in any country, I may remark, 
 that comparatively few of the present citi- 
 zens of Liberia are regularly and syste- 
 matically engaged in this branch of practi- 
 cal industry. Unfortunately for the pros- 
 perity of Liberia, many of the earlier set- 
 tlers fancied that they had found a more 
 easy and more speedy highway to wealth, 
 in the wholesale, retail, and demoralizing 
 system of barter with their ignorant ab- i 
 original neighbors; and many of their sue- | 
 cessors, lured on by this apparently ac- 
 commodating means of ease and comfort, , 
 started their little crafts in the wakes of 
 those of their predecessors; and not a few J 
 of them, in their eagerness to become rich, j 
 have failed to be warned by the disasters 
 which attended many of those who pre- 
 
 J ceded them. But happily for Liberia, 
 the traffic in cam-wood and palm oil is be- 
 I coming so unprofitable, in consequence of 
 i excess of competition, not only among the 
 | Liberians themselves, but among foreign 
 traders, that it must soon occupy a station, 
 as a source of wealth, inferior to that of 
 the cultivation of the soil: the siren song 
 of commercial experiment must give place 
 j to the cheerful hum of agricultural in- 
 dustry. 1 trust that the citizens of Li- 
 j beria are generally becoming aroused to a 
 j consciousness of this important truth, and 
 ! indeed during the last few years more at- 
 j tention has been given to agriculture than 
 j previously. Yet much remains to be ac- 
 | complished, to demonstrate to distant na- 
 tions the fact that Liberia is one of the most 
 productive countries in the world; a fact, 
 which I believe may, and I hope will be 
 clearly demonstrated by the quantity and 
 quality of agricultural products that may- 
 be exported, and by the comfort and in- 
 dependence of a respectable yeomanry. 
 
 A more regular , systematic and persever- 
 I ing course of farming operations must, 
 j however, be introduced. Greater atten- 
 I tion ought also to be given to agricultural 
 | experiments, to develope the resources of 
 the soil; and to ascertain the most appro- 
 priate periods of the year for the planting 
 of different vegetable substances. Much 
 I more attention should also be given to the 
 raising of different kinds of stock; and to 
 the introduction of various mechanical in- 
 ventions, in carrying on agricultural opera- 
 tions. 
 
 One very important thing which has re- 
 ceived very limited attention in Liberia, is 
 that of fencing, or the enclosing of lots and 
 fields; by the neglect of which, many per- 
 sons have frequently lost the principal part 
 of the fruits of their labor, in the tilling of 
 the soil. Undoubtedly, the best fences 
 that can be made in Liberia are those that 
 are commonly called “ growing fences,”" 
 
SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 39 
 
 Concluding remarks. 
 
 made by planting certain shrubs closely 
 together, and trimming them occasionally. 
 Several different kinds of shrubs may be 
 easily and abundantly procured, for making 
 these fences. And, with proper attention, 
 a piece of land may, in two or three 
 years, be thus securely and substantially 
 enclosed with a fence that will last many 
 years. 
 
 Hitherto, the people of Liberia general- 
 ly have been too easily intimidated or dis- 
 couraged by comparatively small obsta- 
 cles; some of which have been more imag- 
 inary than real. Difficulties, however, do 
 realiy exist; but these difficulties are gene- 
 rally far less than those which exist in 
 carrying on farming operations in any part 
 of the United States. And I am quite 
 satisfied that every thing which is really 
 necessary for human subsistence and com- 
 fort, together with many luxuries, can be 
 raised in Liberia, with much less labor 
 than would be required to procure the 
 necessaries of life in the United States. 
 
 Let the cultivation of the soil, then, re- 
 ceive that attention which it should receive, 
 as the principal means of wealth — let a 
 regular, systematic, and persevering course 
 of agricultural operations be carried on; 
 and the citizens of Liberia may live in ease 
 and comfort and independence. 
 
 In tracing the various events connected 
 with the rise and progress of the Repub- 
 lic of Liberia, no unprejudiced individual 
 can for a moment doubt that the smiles of 
 Heaven have rested upon it; and that the 
 sheltering wings of a kind Providence 
 iiave been spread over it for good — not only 
 to the immigrants from this country, but 
 to the benighted and degraded aborigines 
 of Africa — a land which has so long been 
 enveloped in the darkness of heathenism. 
 And, in view of the social and political 
 position and relations of colored persons 
 in the United States, contrasted with the 
 
 position and relations of the free and inde- 
 pendent citizens of that young Republic, 
 it must be admitted by all candid persons, 
 that the condition of those people iu Li- 
 beria who are disposed to use the necessary 
 appliances for making themselves truly in- 
 dependent, is vastly superior to that of free 
 people of color in any part of this country. 
 
 Though many difficulties have been en- 
 countered in the progressive exaltation of 
 the infant Colony to the present interest- 
 ing and flourishing Republic, and though 
 many obstacles will necessarily be pre- 
 sented to its onward progress; yet it is 
 clearly evident that the experiment has 
 been fairly tried — the experiment of estab- 
 lishing on the coast of Africa a community 
 and government of colored immigrants 
 from this country — and has been crowned 
 with complete success; a success even be- 
 yond the most sanguine expectations of the 
 benevolent founders of the Colonization 
 Society; who amidst difficulties which 
 seemed almost insurmountable, determined 
 to try what could be done towards the es- 
 tablishment on the coast of Africa of an 
 asylum and a home for the people of color 
 of the United States; who, in the language 
 of a public journalist, “ are here restricted 
 in the exercise of the very elementary 
 principles of existence best calculated to 
 expand and exalt the heart and mind,” 
 and who, in every part of this country, 
 must continue to labor under political and 
 social disadvantages; from which they can 
 be fully rescued in no other way than by 
 voluntarily emigrating to a country in 
 which the restrictions that are here thrown 
 around them cannot operate — a country in 
 which they may enjoy the benefits of free 
 government, with all the blessings of civil 
 and religious liberty. 
 
 In the providence of God, by the efforts 
 of those who have been “laborers to- 
 gether with him,” such an asylum has 
 been established : difficulties which at first 
 
40 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 Concluding remarks. 
 
 appeared almost insuperable have been 
 overcome; and Liberia now presents an 
 inviting field for commercial enterprise and 
 agricultural industry, and a desirable home 
 for all persons of color who wish to realize 
 the privileges of freedom and the blessings 
 of independence. 
 
 But while I would heartily recommend 
 Liberia as a desirable place of residence 
 for colored persons who are disposed to 
 appreciate the advantages and to improve 
 the privileges there afforded, I would not 
 advise any person to emigrate thither, who 
 will not go cheerfully, and with a deter- 
 mination to try to overcome every obstacle 
 that may be presented. 1 am decidedly of 
 opinion, that, with a cheerful, contented 
 mind, and industrious habits, colored per- 
 sons may live more easily, more comforta- 
 bly, and more independently than they can 
 in the United States. In Liberia, how- 
 ever, as in all other new countries, indus- 
 try and perseverance are necessary ; and 
 while to the man of enterprise and frugali- 
 ty it affords a desirable home, and promi- 
 ses a rich reward to his labors, it offers 
 no encouragement to those who expect to 
 live in luxurious ease and pampered in- 
 dolence. 
 
 In conclusion, I would repeat, that I 
 firmly believe that the hand of an overrul- 
 ing Providence has been extended over 
 the progressive course of that little Repub- 
 lic. And, whatever may be said in op- 
 position to the wise and benevolent scheme 
 of Colonization ; and however apparently 
 plausible may be the objections of persons 
 who are unfriendly to the cause ; it is 
 clearly evident to any individual whose 
 mind is unprejudiced, especially to those 
 who have had opportunities for personal 
 observation and investigation as to the re- 
 sults of that enterprise, that it is one of 
 the instruments in the hands of the Al- 
 mighty Ruler of the universe for carrying 
 
 out his wise designs with reference to 
 Africa. And in view of what has already 
 been accomplished, and of the incalculable 
 amount of good which may yet be accom- 
 plished, through the instrumentality of the 
 Colonization Society, and of the Republic 
 of Liberia ; surely no true friend of the 
 colored race can consistently oppose the 
 operations of the former, or withhold the 
 expression or exhibition of a sincere de- 
 sire for the continued prosperity of the 
 latter. 
 
 Through the instrumentality of the 
 Government of Liberia, much has been 
 done towards the suppression of the nefa- 
 rious traffic in slaves. Within the juris- 
 diction of that miniature Republic, whence, 
 a few years ago, hundreds and thousands 
 of miserable beings were transported, like 
 inanimate objects of merchandize, to the 
 western world, the slave-trade has been 
 entirely abolished ; and many of the con- 
 tiguous native tribes have laid down their 
 weapons of warfare, and have sought the 
 protection of that Government. And I 
 verily believe that God intends that the 
 mental illumination of the degraded ab‘ 
 origines of Africa, is to be effected chiefly 
 by her own returning civilized and Chris- 
 tian children — by the influence and exam- 
 ple of colored immigrants and teachers 
 from this side of the Atlantic ; carrying 
 with them and introducing among the ig- 
 norant natives, habits of civilized life, and 
 the blessings of the gospel of peace and 
 salvation ; and by the missionary labors 
 of enlightened and converted native inhab- 
 itants. Thus shall the belligerent hordes 
 of Afx-ica be induced to convert their in- 
 struments of warfare into agricultural im- 
 plements ; thus shall the slave-trade be 
 effectually and forever suppressed ; and 
 thus shall Ethiopia be taught to stretch 
 out her hands unto God. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 Sketch of the History of Liberia. 
 
 On the 21st December, 1816, a meeting ! 
 of citizens of various parts of the United j 
 States was held in the city of Washington, ! 
 “for the purpose of considering the ex- ! 
 pediency and practicability of ameliorating j 
 the condition of the free people of color in 
 the United States, by providing a colonial 
 retreat, either on this continent, or that of 
 Africa.” The Hon. Henry Clay was I 
 called to thechair, and Thos. Dougherty, 
 Esq., appointed Secretary of the meeting. ! 
 At this meeting, it was “ Resolved , That 
 an association or society be formed for 
 the purpose of collecting information, and 
 to assist in the formation and execution of 
 a plan for the colonization of the free 
 people of color, with their consent, in Af- 
 rica, or elsewhere, as may be thought j 
 most advisable by the constituted authori- | 
 ties of the countr)' - . ” A committee was 
 appointed to prepare a constitution, and j 
 rules for the government of the associa- j 
 tion or society. At an adjourned meeting ! 
 held in the Hall of the House of Repre- 1 1 
 sentatives, on the 28th of the same month, 
 
 “ a constitution was reported by the com- 
 mittee appointed for that purpose ; and l| 
 having been discussed and amended, was |l 
 unanimously adopted by the meeting.” — I 
 And, on motion, it was “ Resolved , That | 
 the first election of officers of the Society j 
 shall be held on Wednesday, the 1st day 
 of January, 1817 :” on which day the j 
 American Colonization Society (originally 
 called “ the American Society for colon- 
 izing the free people of color of the United 
 States”) was fully organized by the elec- 
 tion of the Hon. Bushrod Washington as 
 President, the Hon. Henry Clay, and I 
 twelve other gentlemen, as Vice Presi- 
 dents, Elias B. Caldwell as Secretary, W. 
 G. D. Worthington as Recorder, David 
 English as Treasurer, and twelve gentle- 
 men as a Board of Managers. 
 
 The interest in the objects or designs i 
 of the Society continued to increase during 
 the year ; and in the month of November, j 
 1817, the Rev. Samuel J. Mills and the 
 Rev. Ebenezer Burgess, who had been j 
 commissioned by the Society, sailed for ! 
 the western coast of Africa, by way of ! 
 England, for the purpose of acquiring in- } 
 formation, and of making observations, 
 preparatory to the establishment of a 
 colony. From the Report of Mr. Bur- 
 gess, on his return to the United States, | 
 
 (Mr. Mills having died on the homeward 
 voyage,) the Society was encouraged to 
 proceed in its benevolent enterprise. 
 
 In the month of February, 1820, the 
 first company of emigrants, under the au- 
 spices of the American Colonization So- 
 ciety, embarked at New York, for Africa, 
 in the ship Elizabeth, which was char- 
 tered by the United States Government. 
 This expedition, consisting of eighty-six 
 colored emigrants, was accompanied by 
 three white persons, the Rev. Samuel Ba- 
 con, Mr. John P. Bankson, and Dr. Sam- 
 uel A. Crozer. They proceeded by way of 
 Sierra Leone to the Island of Sherbro,at^ 
 which place they had obtained permission 
 to reside, until an eligible site could be 
 purchased on the main land. But as this 
 was a very unhealthy location, and as 
 these pioneers of African Colonization 
 were necessarily deprived of many of the 
 necessaries, as well as comforts of life, 
 many of them were soon seized with fe- 
 ver ; and within a few months, all of the 
 white men, and about one-fourth of the 
 emigrants, died. The remainder sought 
 and obtained permission of the authorities 
 of Sierra Leone to locate temporarily in 
 that colony, until a better site than Sher- 
 bro could be procured. 
 
 In the early part of the year 1821, the 
 second company, consisting of thirty- 
 three emigrants, and four white persons 
 as agents of the Society and the United 
 States Government, sailed from Norfolk 
 for the coast of Africa. This expedition 
 reached Sierra Leone on the 9th of March, 
 and joined the survivors of the first com- 
 pany. In the latter part of this year, 
 through the efforts of Dr. Eli Ayres and 
 Lieutenant (now Commodore) R. F. 
 Stockton, a valuable tract of land was 
 purchased from the chiefs of the Dey 
 tribe ; and in the months of January and 
 February, 1822, the little band were re- 
 moved from Sierra Leone to a small 
 island near the mouth of the Mesurado 
 river, (called by them Perseverance Island) 
 which they occupied until arrangements 
 could be made for the occupancy of a part 
 of the main land that had been purchased. 
 On the 25th of April, 1822, the American 
 flag was first hoisted on Cape Mesurado ; 
 the site of the present handsome and 
 flourishing town of Monrovia ; the colo- 
 nists having all removed from the little 
 
42 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 Sketch of the History of Liberia. 
 
 island, and fixed themselves as comfort- 
 ably as circumstances would admit at 
 their new home — the nucleus of what is 
 now the sovereign and independent Re- 
 public of Liberia. 
 
 Such was the beginning of the practical 
 operations of the African Colonization en- 
 terprise. 
 
 The colonists, however, were not long 
 permitted to remain in the peaceful pos- 
 session of their new home It soon be- 
 came evident that the surrounding native 
 tribes contemplated an attack on the in- 
 fant colony. And on the arrival of Mr. 
 Ashmun, in August, 1822, he soon per- 
 ceived the necessity of some vigorous 
 means being adopted to afford security 
 against the dangers to which the settlers 
 were exposed from the treachery and 
 cruelty of the hostile native tribes around | 
 »them ; and he immediately commenced a j 
 system of operations to improve the con- i 
 dition of the little colony. The emigrants 
 remained in a state of anxiety, watchful- j 
 ness, suffering, and uncertainty, until i 
 early in the morning of the 11th Novem- j 
 ber, when a large body of armed natives 
 made their appearance, and commenced 
 the deadly assault. After a fierce contest 
 of about two hours, the assailants were 
 forced to retreat, with the loss of about j 
 150 men. Notwithstanding their repul- ! 
 sion and loss, they did not abandon their j 
 design of endeavoring to exterminate the I 
 colonists. And on the morning of the 2d 
 December, they renewed the attack, with j 
 a much larger force. But in this, as in 
 the former battle, they were repulsed, and 
 forced to retire, with considerable loss. — 
 During these two assaults, which were 
 met by the colonists with that bravery 
 and determination that were inspired by j 
 the consciousness of total destruction, in 
 case of defeat, four men and one woman 
 were killed, and four men and two wo- 
 men severely wounded; and seven chil- 
 dren captured, all of whom were after- 
 wards returned. The last battle fully sat- 
 isfied the surrounding natives of the su- 
 periority of their new neighbors, not- 
 withstanding their extremely small num- 
 ber, (not over thirty-five men ;) and the 
 time of this battle has ever since been re- 
 garded as the epoch of the full establish- 
 ment of the colony (now the Republic) of 
 Liberia on the western coast of Africa. 
 As such, its anniversary is kept as a day 
 of public thanksgiving. 
 
 Since that time, though the colonists 
 have met with various reverses, and have 
 been obliged in a few instances to take 
 
 up arms against some of the contiguous 
 native tribes ; yet, during most of the time, 
 the dove of peace has hovered over them, 
 and the sun of prosperity has shone upon 
 their pathway, with but few intervening 
 clouds. And in a little more than a quar- 
 ter of a century from the time when the 
 stars and stripes were first hoisted on that 
 forest-clad Cape, by a little company of 
 daring adventurers, the voice of a new- 
 born Republic was heard asking admis- 
 sion into the family of nations ; five of 
 which (Great Britain, France, Prussia, 
 Belgium and Brazil,) have freely and fully 
 acknowledged her sovereignty and inde- 
 pendence. And there, on the coast of 
 that benighted land, the fires of civil and 
 religious liberty, which have thus been 
 lighted, will no doubt continue to blaze 
 out in attractive loveliness, until their in- 
 fluences shall be felt throughout the length 
 and breadth of that vast peninsula. 
 
 Under the administration of the self- 
 sacrificing and indefatigable Ashmun, who 
 presided over the destinies of the infant 
 colony, with a few brief intervals of re- 
 laxation, until the spring of 1828, (nearly 
 six years,) the condition of the first settle- 
 ment greatly improved, and other settle- 
 ments were commenced ; additional terri- 
 tory was procured by purchase from the 
 native chiefs ; and the number of the col- 
 onists was considerably increased by ac- 
 cessions from the United States — about 
 eight hundred new immigrants having ar- 
 rived. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Ashmun, who had so 
 long labored and suffered for the good of 
 Liberia, at last sunk under the weight of 
 his burdens : his physical system became 
 entirely prostrated ; and as the only pos- 
 sibility of recovery, he resolved to sail 
 for the United States. Accordingly, on 
 the 25th of March, 1828, he embarked for 
 the home of his childhood, after having 
 taken an affectionate leave of the weeping 
 and sorrowful companions of his exile. — 
 A few days after his arrival in this coun- 
 try, his wearied, worn-out body found a 
 resting place in the silent grave-yard, and 
 his freed spirit a home in heaven. On the 
 departure of Mr. Ashmun, the superin- 
 tendence of affairs devolved on the Rev. 
 Lott Cary, one of the early immigrants, 
 who had already proved himself to be 
 eminently useful to his fellow pioneers ; 
 but whose career of usefulness was ter- 
 minated by death, on the evening of the 
 8th of November, 1828, by the accidental 
 explosion of a quantity of powder, in 
 the old agency house, in which he and 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 43 
 
 Sketch of the History of Liberia. 
 
 others were engaged in making cart- 
 ridges. 
 
 The successor of Mr Ashmun, Doctor 
 Richard Randal!, arrived at Monrovia on 
 the 22d December, 1828, accompanied by 
 Dr. Joseph Mechlin, Jr., as Colonial 
 Physician and Surgeon. Dr. Randall en- 
 tered on the performance of the duties of 
 his station with a zeal and enthusiasm 
 which soon proved that his mental en- 
 ergies, and his enterprising spirit were 
 too ardent for his physical system, while 
 exposed to the debilitating influences of 
 the climate, and the local accessory agents 
 of disease, of intertropical Africa. He 
 was removed by death from the scene of 
 his labors and sufferings, after a residence 
 of less than four months in the Colony. — 
 The duties of the agency, as well as those 
 of the medical department, thus devolved 
 on Dr. Mechlin, who was afterwards ap- 
 pointed to that station by the Society ; and 
 who remained in charge of the agency 
 until the latter part of the year 1833, when 
 he returned to the United States, and re- 
 signed his office. During his agency, the 
 accession of immigrants from the United 
 States was very considerable ; and among 
 the various evidences of progress, was the 
 purchase of a fine tract of territory on the 
 St. John ’s river, and the commencement 
 of the settlement of Edina, near the mouth 
 of that river. Several mission stations, 
 under the auspices of different societies in 
 Eurdpe and the United States, were es- 
 tablished in the Colony ; and the progress 
 of civilization and Christianity among the 
 contiguous native tribes was very en- 
 couraging. 
 
 Dr. Mechlin was succeeded in the 
 agency by the Rev. J. B Pir.ney, who 
 performed the duties pertaining to that 
 important station, until about the middle 
 of the year 1835, when, in consequence of 
 ill-health, he returned to the United States. 
 The Rev. Ezekiel Skinner, M. D., was 
 his successor. 
 
 In the early part of 1834, the Colony of 
 “ Maryland in Liberia,” located at Cape 
 Palmas, under the auspices of the Mary- 
 land State Colonization Society, was com- 
 menced under the direction and superin- 
 tendence of Dr. James Hall, who had pre- 
 viously resided at Monrovia as assistant 
 physician, and who remained in charge of 
 the new Colony about two years. 
 
 In the early part of the following year, 
 (1835,) a new settlement was commenced 
 at Bassa Cove, under the auspices of the 
 Pennsylvania Colonization Society. — 
 Shortly after its establishment, it was at- 
 
 tacked by a native chief, named Jo Har- 
 ris, in command of a body of men, who 
 rushed upon the defenceless settlers, and 
 massacred about twenty of them. Those 
 who succeeded in escaping, afterwards lo- 
 cated on the St. John’s river, opposite 
 j Edina, where there is a flourishing com- 
 l mercial town. 
 
 During the year 1836, the settlement of 
 j| Marshal], at the mouth of Junk river was 
 j commenced ; and during the same year, 
 
 I j an important tract of land was purchased 
 on the Sinou river, and a settlement com- 
 | menced, under the auspices of the Mis- 
 I sissippi Colonization Society. In the month 
 j of September of this year, Dr. Skinner 
 was obliged to leave the Colony, in con- 
 j sequence of the impaired state of his 
 health, brought on principally by his ar- 
 I duous and multifarious duties ; and the 
 | duties of the agency again devolved on 
 ! the Rev. A. D. Williams, a colonist, who 
 I had occupied the position of agent during 
 i j the absence of Dr Mechlin, while on a 
 j visit to the United States in 1830 ; and 
 | who continued to fill the office until the 
 ! arrival of Thomas Buchanan, Esq., as 
 | Governor of the “ Commonwealth,” on 
 the 1st of April, 1839 ; which event marks 
 a new epoch in the history of Liberia. — 
 During the latter part of the preceding 
 year (1838) all the State Colonization So- 
 cieties, except the Maryland Society, be- 
 I came more intimately united as auxiliaries 
 | to the parent Society ; and, by agreement, 
 the different colonies in Liberia, except 
 the Maryland Colony, were consolidated 
 under one Government, to be called the 
 Commonwealth of Liberia ; and Thomas 
 Buchanan, Esq., who had spent one year 
 at Bassa Cove as agent for the New York 
 and Pennsylvania Societies, was appointed 
 Governor of the Commonwealth ; which 
 office he filled with dignity and g^eat use- 
 fulness about two years and a half, when 
 l (on the 3d September, 1841,) Liberia and 
 j the American Colonization Society were 
 deprived by death of his valuable services 
 — a loss that was keenly felt and deeply 
 lamented by all who felt interested in the 
 prosperity of Liberia, on both sides of the 
 Atlantic. 
 
 During the administration of Governor 
 Buchanan, the foundation of the Liberian 
 enterprise was more firmly established than 
 it had ever been before ; and general pros- 
 perity prevailed throughout the different 
 settlements. The several departments of 
 the government were more systematically 
 arranged, and more attention was given to 
 agriculture and education than in former 
 
44 
 
 SKETCHES OF LIBERIA. 
 
 Native Africans in Liberia. 
 
 years. The citizens of Liberia were thus 
 better prepared to assume the entire re- 
 sponsibilities of self-government. 
 
 By the death of Governor Buchanan, 
 the management of the Government de- 
 volved on General Joseph J. Roberts, the 
 Lieutenant Governor, who was appointed 
 Governor of the Commonwealth by the 
 Colonization Society, soon after the melan- 
 choly tidings of the death of Governor 
 Buchanan reached the United States ; and 
 who continued to dll the office with dignity 
 and acceptability, under the auspices of 
 the Society, until the establishment of the 
 Republic, and the consequent new organi- I 
 
 zation of the Government. In the month 
 of July, 1847, a Convention of delegates, 
 elected by the people, met at Monrovia, 
 and formed the Constitution of the Repub- 
 lic of Liberia, which, with a Declaration 
 of Independence, was adopted by the 
 people, and published to the world. In 
 the month of October of that year, Go- 
 vernor Roberts was elected, and on the 
 3d of January, 1848, was regularly in- 
 stalled, the first President of the Republic ; 
 to which responsible position he has been 
 several times re-elected ; and the duties of 
 which he has performed with patriotic de- 
 votion to the interests of the country. 
 
 Native Africans in Liberia. — Their Customs and Superstitions. 
 
 Like the aborigines of our own country, 
 those of Africa are divided into numerous 
 tribes, each tribe having a dialect differing 
 to a greater or less extent from those of 
 the contiguous tribes, and each being 
 characterized by some national peculiari- 
 ties ; the difference, however, in appear- 
 ance, customs, and superstitions, not be- 
 ing very great among the different tribes 
 within the territory of Liberia. 
 
 The principal tribes in Liberia and its 
 immediate vicinity, are, the Dey, Vey, 
 Bassa, Gueah, Golah, Pessah, Kroo, 
 Fish, and Grebo ; the last named being 
 that tribe in the immediate vicinity of 
 Cape Palmas. 
 
 The government among the different 
 tribes may be regarded as a kind of com- 
 pound of the patriarchal, the oligarchal, 
 and the monarchical. In every tribe, 
 there is one man who is recognised as the 
 head king, to whom all the other kings 
 and chiefs of the tribe are nominally sub- 
 ordinate. African kings, however, are 
 very numerous. Indeed, in almost every 
 community, there is one man who is re- 
 garded as a king : his jurisdiction extend- 
 ing over a single hamlet, or a small tract 
 of country, including within its limits 
 several small hamlets. 
 
 As in European monarchical Govern- 
 ments, so among the native tribes of 
 Africa, royalty and governmental author- 
 ity are usually hereditary. — The legal 
 successor of a departed king, however, 
 cannot assume his royal station and au- 
 t hority without the concurrence of all the 
 other kings of the tribe: and not un fre- 
 quently some other individual, not of the 
 royal family, is appointed by the other 
 kings, with the concurrence of the people 
 over whom he is to preside, in conse- 
 
 quence of the minority of the rightful suc- 
 cessor — though he may be a man of thir- 
 ty years of age, or more — or of some 
 other difficulty either imaginary or real. 
 The kingly succession is not so scrupu- 
 lously observed in Africa, as in Europe. 
 And not unfrequently, like Bonaparte and 
 Cromwell, some daring adventurer, some- 
 times of another and distant tribe, will 
 usurp the power and authority rightly 
 belonging to another, and set up a domin- 
 ion or kingdom for himself, vi et armbi , 
 as in the case of the celebrated Boatswain, 
 who rendered valuable assistance to the 
 early settlers of Liberia. 
 
 In most cases, the title is the only thing 
 of which African kings can boast. None 
 of them are ever burdened with wealth. 
 
 , Indeed, most of them are miserably poor. 
 
 ! I have seen half a dozen kings, and as 
 many chiefs and headmen, at one time, 
 sitting on the ground, as humble mendi- 
 cants, in submissive patience, awaiting to 
 receive a “ dash” (present) of a few 
 pounds of tobacco, from a gentleman in 
 
 ! Liberia, at whose place of residence they 
 had assembled. 
 
 In addition to those persons who are 
 dignified with the honorable appellation 
 of king, there are others of subordinate 
 authority, who are generally called head- 
 men. In each hamlet, however small, 
 there is a headman, who has more or less 
 control over all the other residents of the 
 place, and who is responsible for their 
 conduct. The principal mark of distinc- 
 tion between the kings, or the headmen, 
 and the rest of the people, usually con- 
 sists in the size of the garments which 
 they respectively wear ; those of the for- 
 mer generally being rather more extensive 
 than those of the latter. Their style of 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 45 
 
 Native Africans in Liberia. 
 
 living does not differ materially from that j 
 of any of their subjects, and their palaces 
 cannot generally be distinguished from the 
 residences of their untitled subordinates. 
 
 The natives about Liberia invariably 
 reside in towns, or hamlets, few of which 
 contain more than five hundred inhabi- 
 tants, and most of them less than two 
 hundred. The whole country, except in 
 the immediate vicinity of these towns or 
 hamlets, which are very numerous, pre- 
 sents a deep unbroken forest, the solemn 
 silence of which is seldom disturbed, save 
 by the footsteps and voices of travelers, 
 and the noise of wild animals. The 
 houses or huts in which they reside are 
 generally rudely constructed of sticks, 
 usually lined with strong bamboo mats, ; 
 with which the dirt floors are also some- j 
 times covered. They are always covered 
 with thatch, and sometimes they are 
 daubed outside with mud. Some of their 
 huts are constructed with a little regard to 
 taste and convenience, some are pretty 
 substantially built, but most of them are 
 filthy, smoky, ugly, disagreeable hovels, 
 presenting indubitable evidence of extreme 
 indolence and improvidence on the part 
 of the inmates. 
 
 Their almost universal style of dress 
 consists simply of a piece of cotton cloth, 
 or a cotton handkerchief, fastened loosely 
 about their loins ; in addition to which, a 
 kind of hat is sometimes (not generally) 
 worn, composed of the fibres of some one 
 of the numerous indigenous vegetable 
 substances, or of a kind of grass. In ad- 
 dition to the ordinary “ girdle about the 
 loins,” some of the natives, particularly 
 the kings and headmen, wear a kind of 
 robe, loosely thrown across one shoulder, 
 and wrapped around the body. These 
 robes are generally manufactured in the 
 country, from the native cotton, which 
 they spin by a very simple though tedious 
 process, and weave into narrow strips, 
 never more than six inches wide, by a 
 process exhibiting a little ingenuity, but 
 not less tedious than that of the spinning. 
 
 A great deal of their time is occupied 
 in dancing and singing, and in a variety 
 of nonsensical plays. These plays are 
 frequently kept up, day and night, for 
 several successive days, and sometimes 
 for several weeks. I have frequently heard 
 the sound of their rudely-constructed 
 drums, and other instruments of music, 
 at neaily all hours of both day and night. 
 Some of their musical instruments are 
 quite fanciful in appearance ; but none 
 that I ever saw exhibited much ingenuity 
 
 J in their construction. They have various 
 systems of gambling ; and many of them 
 are very expert in some of their games. 
 It is not uncommon to see half a dozen, 
 or more, strong, healthy natives, sitting 
 on the ground, busily engaged in gam- 
 bling, the amount at stoke being a pipe 
 full of tobacco. 
 
 Several of the tribes have national marks, 
 by which the members of a particular 
 tribe may be distinguished from those of 
 any other tribe ; in addition to which, the 
 bodies of some are variously, and some- 
 times very fantastically, tattooed, partic- 
 ularly the breast, back, and arms. Their 
 process of tattooing consists in making 
 numerous small incisions in the skin, 
 over which they rub a kind of paste, usu- 
 j ally made of the ashes of a particular 
 j shrub, mixed with palm-oil, which leaves 
 ! an. indelible impression, somewhat darker 
 | than the contiguous surface, 
 j Domestic slavery is very common 
 among all the tribes to which I have allu- 
 ; ded, and, I presume, among all the nu- 
 merous tribes throughout the whole of 
 Africa. So far as 1 was able to learn, the 
 Kroomen and the Fishmen are the only 
 tribes on that part of the western coast 
 who do not enslave persons of their tribe, 
 they never enslave each other, and they 
 i are seldom enslaved by others. They, 
 
 I however, frequently possess slaves of other 
 | tribes ; and they are the most active 
 j “ aiders and abettors” of the nefarious 
 traffic on that part of the coast. They 
 are generally employed in conducting the 
 slaves from the marts on the coast to the 
 slave ships ; and from them principally is 
 derived the information relative to the state 
 j of the trade. 
 
 | In most cases the slaves owned by 
 individuals of any tribe are of some 
 other tribe. Those who are captured 
 in the wars, and thus reduced to sla- 
 very, are generally sold to foreigners; 
 i while many of those who are purchased 
 are kept for years by the individuals to 
 whom they belong. It is not uncommon 
 for one man to own several scores of 
 slaves ; and in some cases, among the 
 wealthy sons of the forest, several hun- 
 dreds of their fellow-beings submit in 
 humble obedience to the authority of their 
 princely master. It is not improbable, in- 
 deed, that at least five-sixths of the whole 
 population of Africa are slaves. In visit- 
 ing an African hamlet, however, a stran- 
 ger would be at a loss to distinguish slaves 
 from free men, or even from their mas- 
 ters. But, though they are of similar 
 
46 
 
 SKETCHES OP LIBERIA. 
 
 Native Africans in Liberia. 
 
 complexion, and though no prominent 
 mark or badge of distinction can be seen 
 by strangers, yet slaves are easily recog- 
 nised by other members of the same com- 
 munity , and by members of other comma- j 
 nities of the same tribes, and enven by indi- 
 viduals of contiguous tribes. In many ca- 
 ses, however, they live as well as their mas- 
 ters do : and in some cases the state of 
 bondage is apparently only nominal. But, 
 like slaves in other countries, they are al- 
 ways deprived of certain' civil and politi- 
 cal immunities, which deprivation of course 
 tends to degrade them in the estimation of 
 their more highly favored neighbors. On 
 some parts of the coast, however, as in 
 the vicinity of the Gaboon river, and per- I 
 haps in many other parts of Africa, slaves 
 are generally treated with the utmost se- | 
 verity, and are regarded by the free peo- 
 ple with the utmost detestation. I have 
 been informed that, among some tribes, 
 they are held in so little estimation that ! 
 the master may take their lives (which is j 
 not unfrequently done) for the most tri- j 
 fling offence, with perfect impunity, no le- ! 
 gal process ever being instituted to pun- 
 ish the inhuman master in any way ; and j| 
 the only punishment which any other free 
 man would have to endure, for a similar 
 offence, would be the payment of the val- 
 uation of the slave to his master. 
 
 In many communities the number of! 1 
 slaves is much greater than that of the free 
 persons ; and it might be supposed that 
 insurrections would be common. This, 
 however, is not the case. It might also be j j 
 supposed that slaves would frequently run 
 away, inasmuch as the recognized mark j 
 of distinction — the difference in cutaneous ! 
 hue — which exists in the United States 
 between masters and slaves does not exist i 
 in Africa, and no other particular mark by 
 which they could be known as slaves. — 
 But they seldom resort to this expedient to I 
 obtain their freedom, knowing as they do J 
 that such a course (to use a familiar simile) j 
 would be a jump from the frying-pan i 
 into the fire, inasmuch as they would be j 
 doomed to slavery by the people among j 
 whom they had fled ; and very probably j 
 their situation would be worse than before, j 
 
 The ordinary valuation of an able-bodied j 
 slave is about thirty dollars, in goods ; | 
 being from fifteen to twenty dollars in j 
 money. Young females generally sell for j 
 a few dollars more than males. Very of- ! 
 ten the wives, or some of them, of African 
 “ gentlemen,” are their purchased slaves, j 
 And sometimes when they get tired of ! 
 their “ better halves,” they do not hesitate 1 
 to sell them to the highest bidder. The I 
 
 custom of fathers selling their children, 
 which is not, I think, so common as it is 
 usually represented in written accounts of 
 the horrors of the African slave trade, 
 arises from the circumstance of the moth- 
 ers of those children being slaves, and their 
 offspring being so regarded, notwithstand- 
 ing, as in some instances in other coun- 
 tries, father and master are terms of 
 synonymous applicability. 
 
 In regard to the various superstitious 
 notions of the ignorant and degraded 
 aborigines of Africa, it would be difficult 
 to measure their extent in any community, 
 or to fathom the depth of degradation and 
 misery thus handed down from one gen- 
 eration to another. 
 
 Among the numerous absurd opinions 
 of a superstitious character which prevail 
 in Western Africa, and which lead to the 
 most foolish practices, the universal belief 
 in witchcraft occupies the most prominent 
 position. And, associated with this belief, 
 and arising from it, are many of the most 
 nonsensical practices of which the mind 
 can conceive. So grossly absurd, indeed, 
 are the incoherent views of the uneducated 
 native African, in reference to the magical 
 influences of witchcraft, that it is next to 
 impossible to witness their foolish prac- 
 tices, resulting from this belief, even after 
 making every allowance for their want of 
 facilities of intellectual culture, without ar- 
 riving at the conclusion that there is a natu- 
 ral obliquity of the African mind, unpar- 
 alleled in all other countries. This pre- 
 vailing and settled belief in the influences 
 of witchcraft often leads to murderous 
 practices, by which thousands of these 
 poor, degraded beings are hurried into 
 eternity. A most absurd superstition, 
 common among them, is, that no person 
 (except very old and wornout people) 
 dies, unless by the agency of some other 
 person, who, according to their notions, 
 “ made witch ” for the deceased individ- 
 ual ; no matter what may be the circum- 
 stances attending his death — whether by 
 protracted disease, or by accident. Sus- 
 picion generally rests on one individual, 
 or more, who was known to have been at 
 enmity with the deceased ; or the family of 
 the dead person are consulted, and they 
 seldom fail to accuse some one of having 
 “ made witch ” for their dead relative. 
 It sometimes happens, however, that no 
 particular person is accused; in which case 
 it is incumbent on the “ gree-gree man,” or 
 doctor, (a very important and influential 
 personage in every community,) to point 
 out the culprit. The accused person is 
 obliged to undergo the infallible ordeal of 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 47 
 
 Native Africans in Liberia. 
 
 “ drinking sassa-wood ;” especially if the 
 deceased had been a person of conse- 
 quence. This drinking of sassa-wood, 
 which is a universal test of witchcraft, 
 consists in swallowing large quantities of 
 an infusion of the bark of the sassa-wood 
 tree — gulping it down until the distended 
 stomach will not receive any more. If 
 the person rejects from his stomach this 
 poisonous infusion, and lives; his inno- 
 cence is established ; but if he retains it, 
 and consequently dies, his cruel tormen- 
 tors are satisfied of his guilt. 
 
 Any person is liable to be accused of 
 witchcraft, or of having caused the death 
 of a deceased person ; but generally some 
 old person is fixed on — one whom they 
 wish to get out of the way ; or some per- 
 son with whom the relatives of the de- 
 ceased are at variance, and on whom they 
 wish to take revenge, for some imaginary 
 or real injury. This is a very common 
 way of being revenged. Sometimes the 
 individual who dies points out, before 
 death, the person who is accused ; and, in 
 some cases, it is for some injury done j 
 many years before^by the accused person 1 
 himself, or by one of the same family, | 
 who may already have died. The natives I 
 of Africa generally are very revengeful 
 They harbor such feelings for a long time ; j 
 nor are they very particular as to the indi- 
 vidual on whom they take revenge : if he j 
 or she belongs to the same family, it is j 
 enough. Although the drinking of sassa- 
 wood is professedly regarded as a test of 
 witchcraft, yet perhaps, in most cases, the 
 death of the unfortunate individual who j 
 falls a victim to this murderous practice is 
 previously concerted ; and in those cases 
 in which the death of the accused person j 
 is not desired by the principal operators In | 
 this tragical ordeal, the infusion is made so i 
 weak as not to produce death. In some I 
 cases the victim is unceremoniously beat I 
 to death, after having swallowed the liquid. 
 So that, in some cases, the result of this j 
 operation of drinking sassa-wood is preme- 
 ditated. And, though a considerable num- 
 ber recover, after having submitted to this 
 absurd ordeal, yet thousands, perhaps mil- 
 lions, have been immolated on this altar 
 of African superstition. 
 
 Most of the natives carry something 
 about them, which they call “gree-gree,’ 
 the object of which is to protect them from 
 the various ills to which “ flesh is heir.” 
 Each of these gree-grees is carried for 
 some specific purpose — to protect them from 
 some particular danger. They are gener- 
 ally suspended around their necks, and 
 are made of various substances, in all 
 
 imaginable shapes. They all are conse- 
 crated by the gree-gree man, or doctor. 
 Some are made of the end of a ram ’shorn, 
 filled with a mysterious charm by the 
 gree-gree man; others are more complex 
 in their workmanship, and of course more 
 various in their potency. Some persons 
 are literally loaded with these foolish amu- 
 lets. They have gun gree-grees, water, 
 fire, poison, war, and 1 know not how 
 many other kinds, to protect them from 
 different kinds of danger. And it is very 
 difficult to induce any of them to sell any 
 of these foolish appendages. 
 
 The prevailing form of worship among 
 the aborigines in the vicinity of Liberia, 
 (if indeed, it can be said that they really 
 worship anything,) is what may be em- 
 phatically called Devil Worship — a kind of 
 superstitious reverence and dread of his 
 | Satanic Majesty — which consists not in 
 | public acts of solemn worship, but in 
 | undefined conceptions of the power and 
 : agency of the Devil, in all their affairs ; 
 
 | and in various nonsensical methods to 
 ! court his favor or to avoid his displeasure. 
 
 In the vicinity of many of the towns, a 
 i small place is set apart in the dense forest, 
 which is called the “ devil-bush.” At a 
 certain age, or sometime during boyhood 
 or adolescence, the male youths are ad- 
 mitted formally into the privileges and du- 
 ties of manhood, by being brought into 
 the vicinity of the devil-bush, and receiv- 
 ing certain mysterious instructions from 
 the “ devil-man,” who remains concealed 
 from view. Previous to this important 
 period in the life of the young neophyte, 
 he is not permitted to take any part in 
 the affairs of state, or even to know any- 
 thing of the judicial proceedings — a pro- 
 scription which extends not only to the 
 young, but to all who have not been 
 initiated into the wonderful mysteries of 
 this chartered university. The mysterious, 
 mighty devil-man is none other than one 
 of their own people, who, at certain pe- 
 riods, emerges from his temporary conceal- 
 ment, dressed in the most fantastical man- 
 ner, and presenting a most frightful ap- 
 pearance. While he is entering the town, 
 in order to engage in the “ devil-plays,” 
 he blows a huge horn ; at the sound of 
 which the women and children are obliged 
 to fly for their lives. The principal ob- 
 ject of the ceremonies of the “ devil-bush” 
 seems to be to keep the women under sub- 
 jection. In Africa, as well as in every 
 other uncivilized country, women are 
 made “hewers of wood and drawers of 
 water ;” they are compelled to perform a 
 great part of the labor necessary to the 
 
48 
 
 SKETCHE3 OF LIBERIA. 
 
 Native Africans in Liberia. 
 
 subsistence of their lordly spouses : they 
 sow the rice, plant the cassadas, and at- 
 tend to the principal duties of husbandry ; 
 and, in all things, they are obliged to yield 
 submissively to the will of the men. They 
 are not permitted to be present, or even 
 to be within sight or hearing, under pen- 
 alty of death, during the ceremonies of the 
 “ devil-play nor are they allowed, at 
 any time, under any circumstances, to 
 enter or to come near the place of residence 
 of the vicegerent of the arch -deceiver. 
 They are kept profoundly ignorant of all 
 these proceedings, and of everything else 
 which would tend to place them on an 
 equality with their tyrannical rulers — the 
 men. 
 
 A place similar to the devil-bush is set 
 apart in the vicinity of most of the towns, 
 as a seminary for young females. This 
 is called the “ gree-gree bush.” A small 
 spot of ground is cleared, in the midst of 
 a dense piece of forest ; a few huts are 
 erected on this cleared spot ; and in this 
 sacred retreat, consecrated to female chas- 
 tity, the young and innocent damsels are 
 placed, and kept under the direction and 
 instructions of an old woman , whose busi- 
 ness is to instruct them in all the duties 
 pertaining to their condition, as maidens, 
 and to the connubial state. Those girls 
 who are placed in this female seminary are 
 generally, perhaps always, betrothed, or 
 rather sold, by their parents, before their 
 entrance — sometimes, indeed, from their 
 infancy. And here they are generallly 
 kept until the time of celebration of the 
 nuptials with their previously-affianced 
 lords. Males are never permitted to enter 
 the abode of these innocent creatures, 
 under any circumstances whatever — not j 
 even their fathers or brothers. Nor are | 
 the girls allowed to leave their allotted J 
 place, except when accompanied by their j 
 aged preceptress. And even on occasions ; 
 when they are brought out of their place ! 
 of confinement, they are not permitted to 
 say any thing to any individual of the 
 other sex. I 
 
 The natives in the vicinity of Liberia uni- 
 versally believe in the existence of a Su- ! 
 preme Being ; but they never offer any I 
 kind of religious worship to him ; and j 
 their conceptions of his character are ex- I 
 ceedingly grovelling and undefined. They ( 
 also believe in the existence of a principle j 
 within the body, which must survive its j 
 dissolution ; but they have no definite | 
 
 j ideas respecting the future state of exis- 
 ! tence. Indeed, in all that relates to the 
 I nature of the human soul, and to its 
 future destiny, their views are exceeding- 
 1 ly indefinite, and they abound in contradic- 
 tions and absurdities. To reduce the dis- 
 cordant elements of the native African’s 
 creed to anything like the unity and 
 lj consistency of a system, would require a 
 || heavy draught on the imagination of the 
 j! compiler. 
 
 In reference to the moral and intellectual 
 i condition of the native tribes in the vicinity 
 !\ of Liberia, and, I may add, throughout 
 | the greater part of Western and Southern 
 J Africa, a picture sad and gloomy meets 
 the eye of the observer, and causes the 
 Christian philanthropist to mourn over the 
 j moral desolation of these degraded beings. 
 
 ■ For centuries they have been utterly desti- 
 tute of the restraints of morality, as well 
 as of the benign influences of Christianity; 
 and from one depth of degradation to a 
 deeper still, they have been sinking, until, 
 among many of the tribes, the last vestiges 
 of humanity almost seem to be merging 
 into an allied proximity with the wild 
 beasts of the forest. 
 
 In energy and activity of mind, they 
 are inferior to most other portions or class- 
 es of the human race. In the language 
 of one who well understands the African 
 character : “ A few local associations ; 
 
 a limited number of acquaintances among 
 their own people, (all equally ignorant,) 
 some knowledge of raising the bare neces- 
 saries of life ; a few traditionary stories, 
 handed down from father to son, and 
 rehearsed in their social groups, as pastime, 
 
 . and a superficial knowledge of the suoer- 
 I stitions of their forefathers, comprise about 
 I the sum total of their stores of knowledge. 
 They saunter through life, conscious that 
 they shall exist hereafter, but strangely 
 indifferent as to the nature or conditions 
 of that existence.” And, in reference to 
 the mental imbecility and the indifference 
 to intellectual improvement among these 
 degraded sons and daughters of Ham, I 
 may add, in the language of the same 
 careful and experienced observer, (Rev. J. 
 L. Wilson,) “ In whatever point of light 
 we contemplate the African mind, it pres- 
 ents little else than an inextricable maze 
 of ignorance, credulity, and superstition, 
 from which it can never be disengaged 
 except by the life-giving and light-impart- 
 ing influences of Christianity.” 
 


 
 
 
 
 
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