The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-18

INTERESTING LETTER FROM SIERRA
] ZONE.
EnrrrnwN SIrar

FREETowN, SIERRA LEONE, lS4l
To give you a description Of Sierra Leone, would
be to present you Babylon and the confusion Of
tongues, with its immortality and RIGHTEOUSNESS and
without its grandeur. II is populated by Africans
of all tribes, who have been released from the slave
holders by Mandngos, Tmmarees, Jolss and Jou-
labs from the adjoining territories, who are all Ma
hometans and in the depths of ignorance and uncivi'
lzation. The greater part go naked, with no more
than a small cloth to cover their waists They live
upon rice, cassada yams palm oil, nuts, ana ruit,
which is plentiful here of all kinds, and grows spon
taneousy. Their nightly dances and amusements
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 white
men do not discourage it. paid visit, a short
time since to one Of the native kings living the
Bullion shore, called Mooder, opposite Sierra Leone,
and was Hospitality entertained in the strangers
house three days. He is Mahometan, has 200
wives, and daughters and sons without end. lie
made his wives wait upon US; serve up our
meals in the English fashion and both fetched
and brought us back in his canoe, rowed by ten
of his The houses are built of mud and
matched with straw, of comical shape, with piaz-
zas all round and he has mosque OF the same ma
terias near which there is large wood fire where
the boys sit in 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, it cannot be of any other
than the worst of characters as regards health and
comfort. Money is made quick, but health and life
is sacrificed also Death, by the fever of the coun-
try sweeps away its victims and leaves no time for
atonement. This year our Governor, Sir John Jere-
ME, died, who had spent the last l6 years Of his life
in a tropical cline. The Commssariat died, and in
Vulnerable others. 1t is awful to witness such NOR
tally in this place, justly termed painted sepulchre,
the white mans grave. Every new conner must have
seasoning, which, if he surmounts, he stands
chance. Three years is as long as amy man can en-
dure here without a change to recruit. When per-
is seasoned he is to do well if he have con-
tnued health, profits upon goods brought for trade
enormous
The rainy season commences in June, and lasts
till November, when sickness prevails to an alarm
ing extent The rains come in with violent toina-
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 occasions we wear
European coats, hats, &c. In the rains we wear
thick and warm woollens, OF blanket trousers and
JAG kets 1t is most tremendous rain--sweepng all
before it, and actually batterng through the shingles
of the houses
The exports from this coast consist 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 Sc
and the imports Manchester goods paints, arms
ammunition spirits, tobacco, salt breads coral hard
ware, crockes, ware, and all sorts of provisions and
stores. We have three or four vessels trading from
British North America, who are laden entirely with
provisions, which here always meet quick sale
than half price by auction, which have been con-
demned as engaged in the slave trade, many of which
are quite new.