The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-05
THE WHITE MAN A CURIOSITY.

LudicrOus Scene mong the Natire AfricanS-
There are whole districts in many European
countries where a black man has never been
seen, and there are districts in Africa where
the people have never seen white man. The
Rev. Mr.. Seys Presiding Elder of the Metho-
dist Mission in Liberia, accompanied Gov. Russ
wurm and party of colored friends, from Cape
Palmas to the native tribes and town in the In
terror, during the summer, taking along ma
tive interpreter, who had acquired the name of
Sunday, from his Christian character Mounted
on donkeys, they travelled some eleven miles
through extensive rice fields, belonging to King
Freeman's people, to Gilliboh, a large native
town, the king of which, a tall, fne-looking Afri-
can named Quih, received them most cordially.
Here a colored Methodist school had been re-
Gently established The reception of the par
ty, and the scenes which followed, form an
amusing passage in Mr.. Seyss journal. 1t will
be seen that white man was as great curl
osity there as an Ourang- outang in this country.
Reader, they had rarely seen member OF
the pale faced race at Gilliboh, some doubtless
neuer, until they set eyes on your humble SER
want The consequence you may Judge. was
regularly beset, and that too with fearless de-
gree of curiosity far ahead of the Queahs or
Geulahs. Men, women, and children, crowded
around me with suffocating ofhciousness and
familiarity They felt my skin, examined my
hair, pulled up my sleeves, watched every move
ment, followed me from place to place, and IN
deed rendered their curiosity most oppressive
The boys of the school, ten in number, were
perfectly delighted Brother Lewis had told
them who it was he expected. And now that
this head man had come, every little fellow must
get chance to hold his hand, one on one side,
another on the other some behind, others be-
fore, walking sometimes backwards, the more
readily to observe every gesture OF the strange
being as he moved about the premises. This
coming so frequently in contact would be at
tended with serious consequences, where cuta-
neous diseases and filth are so common. But
was no nelU man for thiS country SIDE, and SO
ever and anon, unperceived by them, would re
sort to n thorough ablution of the hands and
arms face, neck, and head.
1--WE had preaching in the evening but the
people behaved exceedingly disorderly They
were little accustomed to religious worship, and
talked and laughed, and acted the uncOuth saw
age to the life. As soon as gave ont the first
hymn, after remark or two explanatory of the
character Of the exercises we were commencing
and brother Herring had pitched tune, and the
few of us Christians began to sing, why, they
thought they must sing too, and such another
yelling never heard. 1t required some time,
much perseverance, and yet more patience, to
make them understand that this was part Of
the God pdidUer which we did not expect them
to join in. Something like order and silence
being restored, we continued the exercises, but
with little faith, must confess, as to much good
being the result What added to the disorder
and interruption was piece of stupidity on the
part of one of our native boys. Not being able
to find shelter for our jacks, the fellow had con-
ctudcd there was no harm in tying one donkey
in corner of the chapel. The house was badly
lighted, only one little palm oil lamp on the ia
bic Mt which the speaker stood. Of course, the
other end of the room was all but enveloped in
darkness and as the benches did not reach the
whole length of the house, the donkey corner
was altogether unnoticed. In the midst of the
exercises, Jack concluded he would try the
character of the bed he was to occupy, and lad
himself down, commencing a series of gymnas-
ties that made the dust fly in clouds around u.s.
This was too much for the natives, and the scene
was ndescribable"