State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-11-29
STARVATION AND DISTRESS HE
SLAVE TRADE IN LIBERIA.

deluded with the story, that great pros !
perity was prevailing at Liberia. To show
the untruth OF these presentations, III de-
tail, would take up too much OF Our time
We offer once for all, the following letter.
copied from the Baptist Missionary Maya
zine for the present month.
ErirGct orn Letter from .Nr Cr0cker, daicd
Edna, June q, 1886.
We have Just received your letter. dated
the 9Th Feb, accompanied by several
communications from other friends, and n
quantity of provisions, sent out by brother
G. The letters ard periodicals have been
very refreshing TO u.s. The provisions were
also very acceptable, as they arc very
scarce, at the present time, in the colony.
Some, no doubt, are now actually suffer-
ing from hunger. We received letter
from Millsburg, day or two since, which
stated that the inhabitants were in state
of starvation that they could not got cas-
sadas their last rcsort.) TO eat. We have
had similar report from Caldwell The
Colonsts are almost altogether dependant
upon the natives for their sustenancc.
When, therefore, the natives DO not have
sufficient supply of food to sell, the co To-
nists suffer. When wars rage among the
various tribes, and prevent them from cuI-
tivating their ground, the colony artci-
pates with the natives IN the privation of
food. If they make war upon the natives
and destroy their rice fields, as in the last
war at Bussa Cove, they cut Off their own
supplies. This state of things arises from
the mistaken policy of the colonists, in
ncglecting agriculture for the sake of trade.
Those who had any capital when they
IN inn with 1o
natives, and in n vast majority OF instances
have run through with their property in
this way. Those who have done any thing
in agriculture, have been in general too
poor to purchase cattle for working, and
have therefore been able to do nothing
very extensively in cultvating the soil.
The land, it is true, is fertile, bur its fertility
is chiefly seen in the rank growth of weeds,
grass and bushes. To keep these down,
merely with hoe and cutlass, requires no
small degree of labor. If the new colony
at Bnssa Cove go on as they have begun,
we think they may be able, after while,
TO render themselves in n great measure, If
not altogether independent Of the natives
for their supplies Of food. We hope this
will be the case. Their present agent has
done much to promote this object; but his
health is so much impaired at the present
time, that we fear he will soon be compel
led to leave the country for America
When he leaves, an agent OF similar quail
ficalions will be much needed, to carry
forward what he has began.
When we wrote you last, | was lust
recovering from severe attack of the fe-
yer. Since then | have had no attack of
t.''ygsr, and with the exception of cutane.
Gus affection pecuia: to this country, have
been remarkably well. The health OF 81.
NJ. is, in general, better than it was in
America.
At the time of my last letter, we were
contemplating school for the natives, to
be located in. the colony. We had the
promise from king Will Gray, and Santc
Will, and sevefai head men, that they
would send their children. Soon after l
wrote, j went back into the country about
twenty miles, TO Sante Wills town, to see
what they intended to do. found quite
on apathy among the natives in regard 10
the school. AS they find it difficult, if
not impossible, to conceive of any person
being actuated by higher motive than pure
selfishness, they seemed TO look upon the
object with suspicious eye. They how
ever declared that the reason why they did
not send their children, was scarcity of
food They said that when the crops of
rice came in, they would send them. As
our means would not admit Of our estab-
fishing school-roOm within the limits of
The colony flor the natives woud not send
their children unless we supplied them
food) and believing il very important to ac-
qure the confidence of the natives in our
oblect--also being exceedingly DESTROYS Of
becoming acquainted, ms soon rs possible,
with their language, concluded to 20 and
take up my residence with them. ] am
row on visit at Edna, having come
down to attend the dedication of our new
baptist meeting house at BasSa Cove.
shall, II Providence permit, return to-
morrow to Santc Wits town. | have had
lew children under my instruction, and
expect few more from other towns as
Foon as the rice comes in. This will be
the case in few weeks. Having instruct
ed the children under the eye of Sante
viii, from day to day, his suspicious seem
ed to be removed, and lie is very DESTROYS
of my staying at his town. told him
some days since that the people of MOnro-
via wished me to have school there. lie
said, You must not'go; God sent you
here " Although he has no fear of God
before his eyes, yet his remarks tended to
confirm me in the belief that was in the
path OF duty. live in a Bamboo house,
about six feet by eight on the ground, and
about four feet from the ground to the
caves. This is occupied by my interpreter
and myself Our bed is the ground, with
two or three mats spread on it. have Il
fire on that part ofthe ground not occupied
as bed, every evening, and the smoke
finds its way ont as it can. The king
promises to build me larger house, if
will take up my abode there. If was
satisfied that this house would he the hes,
location of some considerable length OF
Time, ] womb get q cnmlnrtnhln nnlivn Inn