Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-03-08
Correspondence Of the Ne,o York Express
LETTER FROM SIERRA
LEONE
FREETowN, SIERRA LEONE, 1S4l

FREETowN, SIERRA LEONE, 1S4l.
To give you description of Sierra Leone, would
be 10 present you a Babylon and the confusion of
tongues with its immortality and RIGHTEOUSNESS,
and without its grandeur. 1t is populated by Afri-
of all tribes, who have been released from the
shareholders by Mandingos Tlmmarees, Joliss and
Joulahs from the adjoining territories, who all
Mahometans and In the depths of ignorance and
uncIvlllZanon. The greater part 60 naked, with
no more than small cloth to their waists
They live upon rice, cassada, yams, palm oil, nuts,
and fruit, which is plentiful here of all kinds and
grows spontaneously Their nightly dances and
amusements are rude and unharmonious, and any
thing but decent In GESTURE but they appear not to
be aware OF such outrageS to decency, and | am
sorry to say that white men do not discourage it..
paid visit short time since to OF the native
kings living on the Bullion shore, called Nooder,
opposite Sierra Leone, and was Hospitality enter
tanned IN the strangers house three days He is a
Mahometan, has 200 wives, and sons and daugh-
tiers without end. He made his wives wait upon
US; serve up our meals in the English fashion; and
both fetched and brought back in his canoe,
rOwed by ten of his own sons. The houses are
built of mud and matched with straw, of conica
shape, with piaZzas all round and he has mosque
OF the same materials near which there is large
wood tre where the boys sit In a circle around TO
repeat the Koran. He speaks good English and is
on good terms with the Colonial Government who
occasionally send him presents
In speaking of Africa, 1t cannot be of any other
than the of characters as regards health and
comfort. Money is made quick, but health and
life is sacrificed ALSO Death, by the fever Of the
country sweeps away its victims and leaves no time
for atonement This year our Governor, Sir John
Jeremie, died. who had spent the last 10 years of
his life In tropical cline. The COmmissarlat died,
and lnnumerable others 1t is awful to witness
such mortality in this place, justly termed painted
sepulchre, the white mans grave. Every new
conner must have a seasoning which, If he sur
mounts, he stands chance. Three years is as long
any man endure here without change to
recruit. When person is seasoned he Is sure to
do well if he have continued health as profits upon
goods brought for trade are enormous.
The rainy season commences in June, and lasts
till November, when sickness prevails to alarm
ing extent. The rains come In with violent lorna
dos thunder and lightning, and cease In the same
manner.
Our dress here consists of white trousers and
jacket, straw hat, &c.-but on public occasionswe
wear European coats, hats, NC In the rains we
wear thick and warm woolens, or blanket trousers
and jackets. 1t is most tremendous raln-SWeep-
ing all before it, and actually batering through the
shingles of the houses
The exports of this coast consists of gold, in
rings and dust, ivory, camwood, palm oil, hides,
skins, ground nuts, Coffee ginger, country cloths,
teak, timber, arrow root, peppers, gum, wax, &c,
and the imports are Manchester goods, paints, arms,
ammunition, spirits, tobacco, salt, bread, coral,
hardware, crockery ware, and all sorts of provl-
sions and stores We have three or four vessels
trading from British North America who are laden
entirely with provisions, which here always meet
a quick sale. Vessels, rigging and sails to be
purchased at less than halt price by auction, which
have been condemned as engaged in the slave
trade, many of which quite new.