Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-05-03
THE INTERIOR OF LIBERIA.
FROM THE LIBERIA ADVOCATE.

One OF the Missionaries to Liberia lately made
an exploring tour of two hundred ard iifty.three
miles on foo. into the Interior He passed through
thirty villages Of the Goulas, Deys, Queaks, and
Condoes. In his report he says:
"Such country passed through in tat missionary
tour have surpassed in either of the fifteen West
India Islands which have visited from Trinidad to ToroIa
and the Virgin Islands. 1t is elevated mountainous
try Ranges OF mountains running most generally parallel
with the line Of coast from northwes, to southwest up
before the delighted eye Of the traveller, convincing him that
he longer the land OF burning sands and deeterous
swamps, such as are encountered in proximity with the
shores, but in quite another region And such the gra
dual unduations Of its surface would greatly facilitate the
objects of agriculture There few, If any, very steep
Notwithstanding like the bold precpous mountains Of our
Eastern States. Beautiful and extensive valleys lie the
base Of these mountains which gently slope down to the level
country lying between them.
"I is a wel-watered country. During the eight hours
travel which frequently obliged to perform in day.
walked than two hours aud half at
time, without coming beautiful Of cool and
very pure water, either tributary Of the ST. Paus
other Of the many smaller rivers which inersect that African
Canaan And here may be proper to add, that my
ton directed to examination Of the adaptation these
streams to the purposes Of machinery sites for mills &c. and
hesitate not to affirm that within the Gouah country espe.
cialy any number Of tie most eligible situations may be
found where at any time during the year good water power
may be obtained for any OF the purposes which enepsing
community of agriculturss and mechanics may require.
My journey performed in the very middle Of the dry
season. and yet we found plenty Of water in the different
streams.
g" is we'll tmbered land. Through an extensive ores,
OF many miles which lay in our return route was struck
with the gigantic of immense height which reared their
towering heads and united he uxurant foliage and forming
above dense and rich canopy, that called the attention
OF the coored ministers OF the Liberia Annual Methodist
Conference who accompanied me- this evidence of the
richness OF the country which God had given the Africans
and to which their exed brethren invited by many
powerful considerations measured several trees aud my
Journal kept at the time with scrupuous exactness records
twenty hree four and twenty five feet as the cir
cumference Of many Of them within six feet Of the ground
Let remark that the variety and superior quality 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, Maryland be exceed any where
within the tord zone. From species of poplar, soft and
adapted to all the purposes for which the white pine used
in America up to the teak variety Of mahogany beautiful
species of hickory very abundant at Cape Pamas, the iron
wood the brmstone susceptible Of polish for furniture Of
passing beauty, and many Others almost endless supply
may be found.
"It is exceedingly fertile SOIL The immense under
growth Of shrub and vne interviewer around the giants of
the forest thick, mpenetrable, and through which
footpa,h only conducts the travellers is the best proof
OF this But the gains roots fruits vines of the tropics
all concentre here, and may be raised with degree Of
comparative case, rapidy Of growth, and abundance
almost incredible have stood under the branches
cotton tree in Goulah village, they spread fo tn from
the main trunk laden with bols and supported by forked
and ound on measuring that the covered space Of
feet in diameter On examining the staple as the pened
bos burst into maturity found good and equal in
the neness OF its fibre to the cotton Of any country. As to
the coffee, will only borrow the words Of the report
comment on themselves Coffee Of quality superior to the
best Java or Mocha raised in Liberia and be cultivated
with great ease TO any extent It is country where tobacco
that great article commerce. may be cultivated in any
tity with great success
But the region in the vicinity of Liberia Of great
mineral wealth. This remains for science fully to develop
but may confidently arrive the conclusion from what
has been discovered Of the Gold Coast your COMMITTEES
say right when they assert that England has received alto
getbe $500 0G0 600 Of gold from Africa Liberia is adjacent
to the Gold Coast But would speak of what is better
than god-iron And such is the purity of the iron ore
obtained BY the natives Of Africa Immediately in the vicinity
Of Lbe which they describe being abundant that they
have no furnaces they need All their rude agricul
tura and warke instrument. made by them Of ore
pure that when heated becomes at sufficiently maeable
to admit Of being wrought into any shape or FORM They
make knives, bill hooks, cuassss spears axes hoes
&C., out Of this ore without the process of smelling"