The native American., 1839-10-12
LETTERS FROM AFRICA
FAIR HOPE, CAPE PALMAs, Ocr

My DEAR RorHER-n compliance with your have determined
live aud whose welfare and improvement our abos paru
have learned this that people call themselves the
Gebo tribe though they better known Europeans part of what
what called the Grain reaching from Fertown
the mouth Of Cava and confined almost entirely the
Liberia though they have reserved certain portions OF their land for their
tribe divided into six independent dynes and the entire population is
estimated be between 30 and 10000 The of their
On of largest will the of their chief settle
men viz Fish Rock Cape Cape pma Graway
and the Grain The Grain from the immense
@ M o !" ] from 's al" s ~
sold by the natives The Grain coast extends from Cape Mount go miles
remarkable sslnary the habits and character of the inhabitants
the different parts Of this country but my remarks will be confined chief
others. -
tn, origin of this people, well as the time when they
formed their the somewhat difficult
mand satisfactory information The people themselves have felt
strongly uponho Portuguese
traders who this part Of the coast more than two centuries
people, Called on modern Maadoo from whom tits probable that
the Koo and spread along the beach,
North and South the distance of several hundred miles The Gbo
time of their first settlement this part d the coast there is doubt
fixed himself the site of the that's called Harper with aview
was unsuccessful and soon decamp rhe olers the Grebo
people, peepcd the white would enough trade
began frequent the coast Originally the Gcbo people formed but one
families which keep eme distinct present day.
As their numbers increased they found spread themselves
pr unctona any community among Them
ascendncy the others They entirely independent of other
The they among themselves
feeling though nomed particular bonds
they King
their transactions with foreigners and another they call the Governor
pao They Kings Europe 1e e
the richest in the Go and hence they call their prominent
" for they often puzzled know whether the King Governor
ern Comparatively King They have been influenced
this perhaps s bearing that the Governs European colonies along the
determine few hours before hand who shall be- Kne oo
board any vessel that may anchor their town. they select
stout and good looking and he d in all the extras of ornament
Royalty So remote from that arbitrary depom which pre-
walls in certain of Africa that be regarded the
they govern en- nsGse All proceedings whee, legislative Judicial
abolish and laws whatever No Offices
whatever are hereditary and there is nothing like Kings Cover
getes the affairs life with little
cattle which Craze their meadows Kings think n" daoion from
% with their poorest provided there witness it, who
male line keeps itself entirely distinct from the Others and there always
e the Whn m o "o rse
transact business without tits divided and subordinate heads
except of great The family
responsible every stock lie
required purchase wives for the and is politically
se ne people large 10! me OF an mes winch may De IN
viua be- amassng property he cheeruy deposes the
whole of in the house of the heaman his family
repaid for his toll in having the satisfaction know that he has contributed
largely to the stock.
The old who stand the head respective
reveea ana when they are united particular measure their Influences
believe thing like political organization them
There four Officers State Bodo probably budeho
father and mother lbawah Qhe drum keepe Woaank Che
ta and ibadoThe officers. The
The protection the and the His house different
shape and much larger than generality Of the something
of pantheon and place Of refuge for cop's who fly to If
criminal enter the house and lay his hands the horns of the
but the Bodo In front of Boos
important oahs dmnered and perjury under such
guilt of the deepest dye If the Bodo lay his hands upon individual
who drink wood he free He plain ring
around his ankle the badge his office and that should by
be removed lost he would lose his Office and be
fine He subjected many singular and silly restraints lie
sleep Of his The his