Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-07-19
From the Christian Index.
PRESENT STATE OF LIBERIA.

From the Christian Index.
PRESENT STATE OF LIBERIA.
The following statement is transferred
chiefly from the address of the board of
managers of the Virginia Colonization So
ciety, issued for 1886, with such additions
as are necessary to bring up the history of
the colonies to the present date.
There are now eight American settle
mcnts of free persons of color, upon the
coast of Africa.
l. MoNRovIA, latter the late President
Monroe,) the seat of the colonial govern
ment. 1t is seaport town, and stands
on Cape Montseradc, at the mouth of
river of that name. 1t ltcontains about 500
houses. There are four Churches and
three Sabbath schools, in which almost the
whole population of children are taught,
embracing also number of the children
of the natives. This town was upon its
first settlement, very unhealthy to the
whites, and, to some extent to the coiored
emierants. 1t is now becoming more
healthy, and may be visited by strangers
with as much safety, it is believed, as most
other ports within the tropics. Monrovia
is visited by other ships from all parts of
the world. Aweek seldom passes without
more or less arrivals. A Valuable barter
trade is carried on with the natives of the
inferior. and for some hundreds Of miles
along the coast. Nearly one dozen small
vessels have been built at the wharves of
Monroyia, and at the expense of the enter
prising merchants for the protection of the
coast trade. This trade has proved very
profitable to some commercial houses
The exports cam wood, ivory, hides, tor
toise she'll, and gold dust. The houses of
the settlers are we'll built, well furnished,
and good order, temperance. and industry
generally prevail.
3. New GEORGIA. This is settlement
of recaptured slaves taken by the public
armed ships of the United States and Eng
land. This is both commercial and an
AGRICULTURAL settlement, with an exceeding
" fertile soil. 1t contains more than one
hundred houses, and several hundred in.
babitants, recently hea,hen, are now
RAPIDLY advancing in civilization and
Cristianity. After visiting this isset,lement,
Thomas H. Buchanan, agent for the New
York and Pennsylvania societies, writes:
--"Imagine to yourself level plain, OF
some two or three hundred acres, laid of
into square blocks, with streets interesting
each other at right angels, as smooth and
clean as the best swept sidewalk in Phil
adeIphia, and lined with well planted hedg-
es of cassada and plum; houses surrounded
with gardens, luxnriant with fruits and
vegetables; school house full of orderly
children, neatly dressed, and studiously
engaged; and then say whether was gull
tv of extravaganza in exclaiming, asl did,
after surveying this most lovely scene,
that, had the Colonization Society accom-
plished nothing more than had been done
in the rescue from slavery and savage
habits of these three hundred happy people.
should be we'll satisfied"
3. CALDWELL. This is the largest set
tlement in Liberia. Il extends seven
miles along the St. Parl's River, and is
the most Aogrishing settlement on the coast.
The people are mostly agricultural. A
society exists among them for the improve
ment of stock, " ith which they are pretty
we'll supplied, and of an excellent quality
The situatian is elevated, the country in
great degree cleared, and the soilrenark-
ably rich. Here are schools and churches.
4. MILLsBURG. This town is at the
falls of the St. Paul's River, about twenty
miles from the sea, and boats ascend with
out difficulty to its wharf. The settlement
is beautiful, healthy, occupied by industrl-
Gus farmers, and has soil very produc-
tive.
5. MARSHALL. Marshall stands upon
an open, cleared, and rising plot of ground
between the two rivers Junk and Red
Junk, distant from any Mangrove swamps,
or other sources OF disease, and famed by
the uncontaminated breezes of the ocean
that rolls its waves upon its beach. A
town of more than mile square was laid
off in 392 lots during the last spring, and a
number of the colonists and recaptured
Africans removed thither, and commenced
the construction of houses and the cultIva-
ton of the soil. "Therc cannot be, says
! Dr.. Skinner, "a healthier Sj.na'i'n N any