Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-22
THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA.
FROM rnr LIBrRIA ApyocArs.

FROM THE LIBERIA ADVOCATE.
One of the missionaries to liberia lately made
an exploring tour of two hundred and ffly..hree
miles on foot into the interior He passed through
tnir'y villages OF the Goulas, Deys, Queaks, sad
Condoes. In his report he says:
1ucn country As we passed through in that missionary
Jour nave not seen surpassed In either Of the fifteen West
India Islands which have visited from Trinidad to Ttoa
and the Virgin Island is an elevated mountainous co
try Ranges Of mountains, running most generally parallel
WIN me line OF coas-ro northwest to southwestrise up
before the delighted eye Of the traveller convincing him that
ne Is longer in the land of burning sands and deleteous
swamps such encountered in proximity with the shores
but IN quite another region And such are the gradual UNI
dulstons Of its surface as would greatly facilitate the objects
OF agriculture. There few, If any very steep activities
nothing like the bold precptous mountains Of our Eastern
States Beautiful and valleys lie at the base of
these mounsn which gently slope down to the level coun
try lying between them
"It is wellwaered country. During the eight hours
travel which we were frequently obliged perform in day.
walked than hours or two and half at
one time, without coming TO beautiful stream OF cool
and very pure water either tributary Of the 81 Paus
some other Of the many smaller rivers which nterect that
African Canaan And here may be proper to add that my
attention directed to examination Of the adaptation Of
these streams to the purpose Of machinery sites for mills &c.
and hesitate not 70 affirm that within the Ganlah country
especially, any number Of the eligible situations may be
found where time during the year good water power
may be obtained for any Of the purposes which enterprise
ing community Of agricutuss and mechanics may require
n
and found plenty Of in the different streams
"l is well mbered land. Through an extensive forest
OF Of miles which lay route 90 struck
with the gigantic trees OF immense height which reared their
towering heads and united their uxuant foliage in forming
above dense and rich canopy that called the ater-
ton Of the colored ministers Of the Liberia Annual Methodist
Conference, who accompanied me- to this evidence Of the
richness of the country which God had given the Africans
and TO which their exiled brethren invited by 90 many
powerful considerations measured several trees and my
Journal kept at the time with scupuous exacness records
tweny-three twenyou, and twenty five feet The cir
conference Of many Of them within six feet Of the ground
Let remark that the variety and superior quality of the
wood found in these ores and indeed all along the borders
aud around the settlement of Liberia from Grand Cape Mount
Cape Palmas, Maryland cannot be exceled any where
within the orrid From species Of poplar, soft and
adapted to all the purposes for which the white pine used
in America, up the teak, variety Of mahogany beaui
full species of hickory, very abundant Cape Pama the
iron wood, the birthstone, susceptible Of polish for furniture
Of surprising beauty and Others almost endless
supply may be found.
ct is an exceedingly fertile soil The immense UNDER
growth of shrub and vine interviewer around the giants of the
Forest thick, so impenerable without much effort and
through which oopath only conducts the traveller is the
best proof of this But the grains, roots fruits vines Of the
tropics all here and may be raised with degree of
comparative ease rapdy Of growth and abundance al
most Incredible have stood under the branches of
cotton tree in Goulah village, they spread forth from the
main trunk laden with b0s and supported by foked sticks
prevent their being broken down by their own weight and
found measuring that the covered space of feet
IN diameter On examining the staple, the rpened bos
burst into maturity, it found good and equal in the
neness of its fibre to the cotton Of any country As cof
Fee will only borrow the words Of the report comment
on themselves Coffee Of quality superior to the best Java
Mocha raised in Liberia and be cultivated with great
to any extent tits country where tobacco that great
article Of commerce, may be cultivated in any quantity
But the region in the vicinity Of Liberia is Of great
mineral wealth. This remains for science fully develop,
but we may confidently arrive at this conclusion from what
has been discovered Ofthe Gold Coast your committee say
right when they assert that England has received altogether
5000 600 600 Of gold from Africa. Liberia is adjacent the
Gold Coast But Iwoud speak Of what is better than gold
iron And such the purity of the iron obtained by the
natives Of Africa immediately in the vicinity Of Liberia, which
they describe being abundant that they have furnaces
they need All their rude agricultural and wake in
it becomes at sufficiently maeabe admit of being
wrought into any shape form. They make knives, bill
hooks cuasses, spears hoes &c, out of this
without the process of smelling !"