The native American., 1838-12-01
AFRICAN SKETCHES.
Ndtire Population in the vicinity Of Liberia
Character and relations TO the Colony.
No. A..

1HufUEttF ana TetGttoitS ~ tNe CotoHJ'
The colony Of Liberia is understood to COM
prehend that portion OF the western coast OF Airl
ca reaching from Cape Mount to Cape Palmas, a
distance Of near 400 miles, and extending iniaho
from fifty 10 sixty miles from the sea. Not that
the COLONIZATION Societies have any claim by Pur-
chase 10 the whole of that territory, or exercise
anv Immediate Jurisdiction over all its numerous
tribes: but merely claim that no other nation shall
purchase territory within their limits, without the
consent Of the Society. An implied agreement,
which il is hoped no Christian nation would wish
10 disregard in consda daration of the benevolent OBJ
iects OF the Society.
The native tribes more Immediately inhabting
the sea-coast throughout the extent of this terrific
ry are, therefore, in various degrees of proximity
with the colonial settlements, and upon them its
first influences are to he looked for. From their
long and continued intercourse with the vessels
of civilized nations, they have obtained more re-
quired information, but they have also, from the
same source and to much greater extent, be-
come vitiated and icpraved by the degrading traf
fc in slaves and ardent spirits; the bad effects of
which must be removed before elevating moral
influences will be at all strongly effective and ap.
preciahle.
The first tribe inhabing and occupying the
immediate vicinity Of Cape Mount, is the Vey
tribe. numbering about twenty thousand. They
are represented by the colonsts, who carry on
considerable trade in camwood and ivory with
them at Cape Mount. as being very active,
shrewd, warike people, possessing much more
determined courage and intelligence. than any 9TH
er tribe near the colony; very expert at making a
bargain. and conducting their exchanges not in
bars consisting of a definite amount of goods like
the Bassas and other tribes, but valuing their ar
IN thatr we nd yau in Ipl
lars and cents, showing in manys instances as
much correctness of arithmetic in their calculations
most of the colanists themselves. They are
treacherous and decciNul, often robbing the acto-
res of the coonsts after they have been establish
cd there by their permission, and with promise of
protection. Their chief cmploymens are slave
traffic and predatory warfare. Slyor seven ofth
prncipal Spanish slave factories on the coast are
placed within the limits of this tribe, between Cape
Mount and the river Gallinas. There are also liv-
ing among them number of the descendants of
European slave merchants and native women,
who, after having received an excellent cduca-
ton in England, have returned adopted the ma
tive costume and habits, and have thereby become
more accomplished rogues. and inveterate slave
dealers. TO their influence. | understand, it was
chiefly owing. that Cape Mount could not be OBJ
tained for settlement. Their intercourse with the
whites has been great and long continued some
of them speak very yoJd English. They have
been engaged for several Years in war with a
number Of their domestic slaves, who took pos
session Of fortified town, and set all attempts
to subduc them At defiance. ....
The space between Cape Mount and Messura-
do is occupied bv tie tribe ext to the last, call
ed the Views. They are less warike more given
TO agriculurc hut still equally deceitful and cruel
n trnr ,,,o rll i,
with the Vevs, and with less force of character.
Both these tribes, however, have more inventive
and mechanical genius than the tribes more i'm
mediate to the settlements. They make cloth
from their own cotton and dve it; also mats and
figures and cocrs. Their domestic and warlike
instruments are more neatly, well as skiully
shaped and executed. than those of the Bassa
tribe, for instance. They also trade to consid-
erabe extent in hides and gold dust as the Veys.
The next tribe is the Bassas, commences at the |
Measurable river, and extends as far South as the
Kreo Seura. beyond Sinou. All the Colonial set
Elements with the exception Of that at Cape Pal
mas, are within the territories of this tribe. With
this tribe, therefore the coonsts are best acqualn-
ted, having daily and hourly intercourse with
them, nearly all the resident natives in the settle
ments being members of this large tribe, which
cannot number less than one hundred thousand,
all speaking the same language. win out very
little variation,--ther physical coniormatons.
pursuits, manners, architecture. superstitlons and
productions of the country, presenting striking
uniformity. This tribe like the others, is divi-
ded into great many small subdivisions, under
petty chiefs, Of from fifteen to 90 miles square,
but forming combinations to moro or less extent,
by general customs and supcrstous laws, con-
tinually hartassing each other by family quarrels
and petty icalonsies. They are nevertheless, We
rv peaceful and Industrious in their habits. not fond
of wandering far from their homes, initiative, and
dpsirous of improvement. Wars occasionally
take place between two more Of the subdiv-
sions, but when they do occur the slave trade is
generally the exciting cause. They are, upon
the whole. more likely to be rapidly improved
by missionary an; moral influence, than any other
tribe known to the colony. The Dey and Vey
languages appear - have a strong affinity between
them: but litl'c none at all with the neighbor-
ing dialects Every town and village has its head
man. who is subject 10 a king, as he is termed
and styles himself in English, who is generally
AL old man, TO whom they pay great respect and
reverence, rs they would do to age ceneralIv.-l
They do notapp2Ar % exercise any despotic autho-
ritv; any one accused is tried hv the ordeal ofI
drinking sapwoo water, or by general paavar,