Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1837-04-03

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RIO Dt lNNfiun. 9TH JIuuary, l.

RIO Dt l,Nflga. 9TH lIuuary Isl.
SIR-l have the lo1ur to inform YOU that We arm
we'd at Cape Mc,u.3a ON tn Goth November,
whence We sailed io the BI,sl Cove on the eth,
and make the following report ol its state, as ian as
| could ascertain from M own observation, the re
ports of the authorize II Nomo,a, and the lnior-
nation derived from The officers OF the ship
Its elevated location M, selected with Judgment :;
it NAV be ciieciually fortified. and II, anchorage Is
good. The population Is about one thousand, and
their exports amount to seventy five Thousand dollars
annually, in camwond, IVORY, palm OIL, and a ic"
hides but at present then uldr much depressed
in consequence OF the var, among the natives. The
forests abound with medicinal herbs, gums, and Nau-
able wood of almost every descriptions About sew
eny five vessels touch here annually, OF winch one
shifd are Americans. Their AT culture appcafs TO
have been neglected lng they say to the pecunia-
r. embarrassment OF the people 1ud the want OF cat
tie and agricultural Instruments. Cotton, coffee
and the richest sugar canc arr indigenous TO iht
soil. and with encouragement and industry, could bf
produced in any quantities. he salnbutS OF the
climate is found to increase, the forests clear
ed away. Vegetables oimauN kinds NAY be raised IA
plenty and hogs, sheep, goats and CONS appear Il
thrive. Fish IN abundance are found IN the stream
and is it generally admitted hat very comfortable
subsistence can be procured hy any man OF inodert'c
~ industrious habits. Bnl tiny COM lam that the
waste of capital prevent, 'hc lauurr tom raising
t4rpluS.
The slave trade within the three last wears has Sc
riously injured the COLONY. Not oaly has It diver
Ted the industry Of the natives, but has eiccuail
cut off the commuu e1uon with the lnlcnor. TIN
war parties heinz Ia the habit of pundcrus aud KID
mapping for slaves all ham y'mcei, whether paruc
TO the Mar rot, tn daring ol the SLAYER Increase
with the demand Tor Slaves which could not oi lat
be supplied by thr Usual means. The SEHera have
therefore, excited this natives 10 WA, by the dlsuhu
ton Of their goods appeal ID their aFancc whlc
is but too successful and within year four sla'
factories have been established almost within sigh
of the Colony But the colonsls say they arc dctenc
from marching to destroy them by the certain rcNeng
to which their helpless trading vessels are exposed
II the slayers were keptrom the coast, which, am IN
formed, could be effected, if the colony possessed
armed vessel, be manned by their own people, thi
cause OF four-hfth of the wars would be owed
and the natives would return 10 their peaceful pur
suits.
1t is complained, that many Of the emigrauts ar
forced to expend what little capital they may have
erecting their bindings &c., and TO resort 10 pctt
traffic for immediate subsistence, 10 the neglect
slower returns OF agriculture; aud that the dram
the inhabitants OF Monroya TO form the other settle
nents has been serious obstacle to its growtl
Some OF the officers who have been here before te
me that It evidently is not prosperous as ii was
their former visit, which would ascribe to the nee
lect of agriculture for the pursuit Of trade which b,
my cut off BY the native wars has left them with
out resources. The traders, too, who arrive upo
the coast, fearing competition, and knowing the
necessities, demand eXorbitaut profits, which A
again increased by the traders on shore before I'll
articles reach the consumers, whose earnings al
thus absorbed. 1t appears to me that it would
advantageous TO all parties if the Society shou
place their public store such footing as wou
enable the agents to issue at moderate profit to IL
colonists the groceries aud clothing for which the
now pay so dearly. without. however, preudicine Il
interest oflhe fair trader. The monopollst could
then take advantage Of their uecesstes and their ca
nings might be saved 10 them for the improvement
their lands
II is important tina, i greater portion OF farmers
sent among them, for on The products of the soil
their Own labor must the co,ouIsts mainly depend.
Doctor Dodd, the surgeon of this ship,who asce
ded the river, informs me- that about four miles fro
Monrovia on the Stockton river is the settlement
NEW GEoRGIA; it contains about Two hundred a
fifty Inhabitants, re-captured Africans, who dey
ssd to agriculture, which amply repays the labor