The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-08-07

the degree of care they take of them
selves, and also much depends on the
constitution of the person. Some per-
sons have told me that they were sick
only one day, and that slightly, while
others Il speak Of old settlers) had il
one week, and some have had it from
six months to a year or more. A person
is seldom sick more than from one day
to three weeks at one time. | have
been in the country little more than
four months, and have had several at
tacks of the fever. The longest time
that | was confined to my bed was
one day and half The symptoms in
my case were a slight chill followed by
a very slight fever. ! felt no pain
whatever during the continuance of
the fever, but always after it would
have slight pain in the back, which
soon wore off would sometimes be
sick in the morning, and well in the
afternoon. once had the fever in the
forenoon and was well enough by night
to attend tea party. | am told that
all children born here, even the natives
not excepted, have the fever while
very young. This | have been told by
mothers, and | have seen children with
the fever since | have been here who
were born here The general health
Of the place seems to be very good. A
person coming here will not find large
cities, with splendid buildings and
large bustling populations, but we have
only small villages and corresponding
populations; you will not hear the sound
of numerous carts, drays, &c, but all
the carrying is done by native laborers,
for the people have not yet begun TO
use horses and oxen for such purposes.
Both may be had in any numbers from
the interior. Ballpcks are sent down
from the interior, but only to kill
There are a present onl ly three horses
in Monrovia. and they are only used for
riding. | have ridden several times
myself The buildings are generally
quite plain, built of wood, stone or
brick. There are, however, some very
neat brick buildings in Monrovia, and
along the banks of the St. PauPs river.
| made an excursion up this river few
weeks ago, aud never did | enjoy a
trip more than | did this one. The
waters OF the ST. Paul's are delicious to
the taste. The river is about half a
mile wide. its banks are from about
ten to about fifteen feet high, and lined
with fine large trees, with a thick
underground. Among the other trees
may be seen the bamboo, and that most
graceful of all trees, the palm. This is
the most useful tree in Liberia. have
drank the wine made from this tree, and
| have swung on hammoUks mauufac-
tured from ii, and have seen very good
fishing lines made from it; besides
numerous other uses are made of this
tree. There are four villages on this
river: Virginia, Caldwell, Kentucky,
and Millsburgh. | saw in many places
people making bricks, and busily en-
gagged on their farms of coffee, sugar
cane, &c. must now come to close,
as have but little more space to write.
| will remark that advise no man to
come here unless he has little money
TO begin with. A single man should
have at least one'or two hundred dol
lars, although many come here without
a cent, and yet do well but it is gener-
ally difficult 10 get start in this coun-
try without little means. For my own
part, you may infer from what | have
said that like my new home.