Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-03-18
From tho Liberia Advocate
Exploration Gf the Interior Of Africa.

ONE of the missionaries OF Liberia larel,
made an exploring tour Of 255 miles or foo
into the interior. He passed through thtft,
villages of the EQUALS, Deys, Queaks. ant
Condoes. la this report he says:
Such country as we passed through il
that miusionary tour. ] have not seen sur
passed in either Of the fifteen West Indi'
| Islands which ! have visited from Trinidad
TO Portola and the Virgin Island. |, is ar
elevated mountainous country. Ranges o.
mountains running most generally parable
with the line of coast, iise up befoIc the dc.
lighted eye Of the traveller, convincing him
that he is no longer in the land Of surning G
sands, and deleterious swamps, such as are
encountered in proximity with the shore, but
| IN quite another region. And such are the
gradual undulaticns OF its surface, as would
greatly facilitate the objects OF agriculture.
Beautiful and extensive valleys lie at the
base of these mountains which gently slope
down 10 the level country lying between
them.
During the eight hours navel which we
were frequently obliged to perform in day,
we rever walked more than two hours, or
two and half at one time, without coming
10 some beautiful stream OF cool and very
pure water, either tributary OF the ST.
PauPs OF some other OF the many smaller
rivers which intersect that African Canaan.
My journey was performed 10 the very mid
die Of the dry season. and yet we found plen-
~ OF wafer in the different streams.
Through an extensive forest Of miles
which lay on our return route, | was struck
with the gigantic trees of immense height
which reared their towering heads, and uni
ted their luxuiiant foliage in forming above
US one dense and rich canopy.
Let me remark, that The variety and supe
rior quality OF the wood found in these for
ests. and indeed all along the borders aud at
ound Liberia. from Grand Cape Mount 10
Cape Palmos, or Maryland, cannot be ex-
celIed any where within the torrid zone.
The Immense underground Of shrubs and
vines interwovon around the giants of the for
est, so thick, so impenetrable, without much
effort, and through which loot path only
conducts the traveller, is the best proof OF
this. Bot the grains, roots, fruits, vines Of
the tropics, all concentrate here aud may be
raised with degree OF comparative ease, a
raPidity Of growth and an abundance almost
incredible. | have stood erect under the
branches OF cotton Tree in a Goulah village,
as they spread forth from the main trunk,
laden with bolls, aud supported by forked
sticks TO prevent their being broken down by
their own weight. and found on measuring,
that the tree covered a space of ten feet ia
diameter. On examining The staple, and tho
ripened bolls burst into maturity, 1t was found
as good and equal in the fneuess Of its fibre
TO the cotton of any country.
But the region in the vicinity of Liberia.
is one Of great mineral wealth. This re-
mains for science fully to develope, but we
may confidently arrive at this conclusion from
what has been discovered. OF the gold coast
your committee say right, when they assert
that England has received altogether $780,
100000 Of gold from Africa. would speak
Of what is better than gold--irou. And such
is the purity Of the iron ore obtained by the
natives Of Africa, Immediately in the vicinity
OF Liberia, which they describe as being a.
bundsnt, that they have no furnaces; they
need none. All their rude agricultural and
wsrike Instruments arc made by them OF ore.
so pure. tina; when heated IL becomes At once
sufficiently malleabls 90 admit Of being wro't
into any shape or form
Mining l.,!.G G2F..ak25 have resumed