The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-04-09
THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA.

Land. IN Dickens Phantom Ohlp, ana
would like to know something more of this
almost unknown country The establish
ment Of the Republic Of Liberia in Africa,
will in time iamiliarize the world with the
wonders of the interior, and the Liberia
Advocate furnishes some interesting in
formation derived from the. report of one
OF the Liberia missionaries. who had re-
turned from an exploring tour OF two hun
dred and fiy-three miles on foot into the
country. He passed through thirty villages
ofthe Goulas. Deys. Queaks, and Condoes.
In his report he says: te
'Such country. as we passed through
in that missionary tour have not seen
surpassed in either the fifteen West India
Islands. which | have visited. from Trini-
dad to Torola and the Virgin Island. II
is an elevated mountainous country. Ran
ges Of mountains, running most generally
parallel with the line of coast-from north
west to southwest-rise up before the de-
lighted eye of the traveller, convincing him
that he is no longer in the land Of burning
sands and deleterious swamps. such as
are encountered in proximity with the
shores, but in quite another region. And
such are the gradual undulations ofits sur
face, as would greatly facilitate the objects
of agriculture. There few, if any, very
steep notwithstanding like the bold
precipitous mountains of our Eastern
States. Beautiful and extensive valleys lie
at the base ofthese mountains, which gent
ly slope down 10 the level country lying
between Them.
"lt is well-watered country. During
the eight hours travel which we we're fire.
quently obliged to perform in day, we
never walked more than two hours, or two
and half at one time, without coming to
some beautiful stream of cool and very
pure water, either tributary of the St.
Paul's or some Of the smaller rivers which
intersect that African Canaan. And here
ii may be proper TO add, that my attention
was directed 10 an examination Of the
adaptation Of these streams to the purpose
of machinery, sites Tor mills. &C., and
hesitate not to affirm that, within the Gau'
lah country especially, any number Of the
most eligible situations may be found,
where at any time during the year good
water power may be obtained for any oI
The purposes which an enterprising COM
munity or agriculturalists and mechanics
may require. My journey was performed
in the very middle of the dry season, and
yet we found plenty Of water in the differ
ent streams.
at is we'll timbered land. Through, an
extensive forest Of acres, of miles which
lay in our return route, was so struck
with the gigantic trees of immense height
which reared their towering heads and
united their luxuriant foliage in forming
above us one dense and rich canopy. thai
called the attention Of the colored minis.
ters Of the Liberia Annual Methodist Con.
ference, who accompanied me, to this evi'
dence of the richness OF the country which
God had given to the Africans. and to
which their exiled brethern were invited by
so many powerful considerations. | mea'
sured several trees. and my journal, kept
at the time with scrupulous exactness. re.
cords twenty-three, twenty-four. and twen-
ty-tive feet, as the circumference Of many
of them six feet from the ground. Let me
remark that the variety and superior quail.
ity of the wood found in these forests, and
indeed all along the borders and around
the settlement Of Liberia, from Grand Cape
Mount to Cape Palmas. or Maryland, can.
not be excelled anywhere within the torrid
zone. From species of poplar. soft and
adapted 10 all the purposes for which the
white pine is used in America, up to the
teak, variety of mahogany. beautiful
species of hickory. very abundant at Cape
Palmas, the iron wood, the birthstone. sus'
ceptible of polish for furniture of sur
passing beauty, and many others. an al
most endless supply may be found.
1t is an exceedingly fertile soil. The
immense underground Of shrub and vine
ini,,rwoven around the giants OF the forest
so thick, so impenetrable. without much
effort. and through which iootpath only
conducts the traveller, is the best proof o
this. But the grains, roots, fruits vines o
the tropics all concentrate here and may
be raised WIFI ueSioo ~
ease, a rapidity of growth, and an aoun
dance almost Incredible. have stoot
erect under the branches of COTTON tree
in the Goulah village, as they spread iortf
from the main trunk, laden with bols ano
supported by forked sticks to prevent theil
being broken down by their own weight
and found, on measuring that the tree Gov
cred a space Of ten feet in diameter. ~On
examing the staple. as the ripened boil;
burst into maturity, it was found as good
and equal in ineness of its fibre to the
cotton of any country. As 10 coffee,
will only borrow the words of the report as
a comment on themselves: "Coffee OF q
quality superior 10 the best Java or Mocha
| is raised in Liberia, and can be cultivated
to any extent" 1t is country where to
bacco, that great article Of commerce
may be cultivated in any quantity will
great success. fe M 9
| "But the region in the vicinity Of Libe