The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-10-08
fotsign Corrssponbtnte.
LETTER FROM PROF. CAMPBELL.
LAGOS, w. Africa, August 10, 1859.

| LAGOS, w. Africa, August TO- 1859.
Mr.. EDIToR:-You will perceive by this
that | am safe in Africa, and well at pres
ent, although experienced an attack of
bilious fever three days after my arrival,
but, owing, perhaps, to my system being
well fortified with quinine, the attack was
slight, lasting only three days.
DR.. Delany is not yet here. / learned
at Cape Palmas, that the Mendi, in which
he left America, had arrived at Monrovia.
He will probably take the next steamer at
Cape Palmas and be here on the 21st inst.
am at present sojourning with the Con-
sui, Lieut. Lodder, to whom, you know,
both myself and the cause 1 represent
were specially commended by Lord Malmes-
bury, late Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
My intention is, to proceed to the interior
next week, as both the risk to my health
andthe expense would be less at Abeokuta
There, of course, | shall do nothing, except
acquire information, until the Doctors ar
rival.
From my conversation with several ma
tives of education and intelligence, includ-
ing the sons of Rev. Samuel Crowther, who
| are here on visit, / learn that the authori-
ties at Abeokuta would joyfully welcome
our abode in the neighborhood, particularly
| if we settle between Abeokuta and Lagos,
on the Ogu River, which river with little
expense could be made navigable for small
steamboats,, nearly to Abeokuta. The on
| ly objection in the way of our settlement
is the difficulty of crossing the bar at Lagos;
but this, am assured by several officers
and captains of vessels, who full understand
the matter, can be surmounted by having
small steam paddle-boats, drawing four or
five feet of water, to ply between the town
and the shipping roads, instead of the boats
in present use. l am glad to inform you that
efforts are being made now to procure such
| boats.
1t is perfectly natural that people from
America and England should be sick here.
1t is almost impossible to induce them to
adapt their food and living to the require
ments of the country. 1t is perhaps diff
cult for them to do so at first; yet, if they
were disposed, the thing could soon be ma
naged; and, except it is done, it is imposs-
ible to enjoy good health. A too free use
of animal food induces the very common
affections of the spleen. Immoderate use
of fruits, from inducing an excess of bile,
produces hepatic diseases. Unripe or over
ripe fruits frequently cause dysentery, a
very dangerous disease in this climate.
There is no one of these, which, by due
precaution, cannot be successfully warded
off, while in America and similar climates
there are thousand diseases from which
no precaution can exempt one. A very
great fault also with people from these
places is, that they eat toomuch. The ma
tives have but one sumptuous meal per day
In the morning and evening they drink
a preparation of corn, called ageoe, just as
we use coffee or tea. Another custom con-
ducive to health among the natives is, that
they retire early to bed, and rise early.
I have walked for nearly two miles through
the native portion of Lagos and met but
one man, who, was told, was one of the
kings watchmen.
My home shall be in Africa, though / be
the only person from America, and l am
satisfied that any man knowing the circum-
stances, who is not fool, and is solcitous
for his own welfare, having too heart to
labor for the good of bis race. would come
to the same conclusion. Yet there are
difficulties to be overcome. Rich treasures
are sown broadcast over Africa; but no
man must expect to scrape them off the sur
face. They seem designed only to reward
those who are willing to toll for them.
And what a field is here for doing goodl
people almost literally stretching out
their hands to God, meet you at every step
smiling upon you, and blessing you with all
the negro's earnestness, for coming to Their
country to instruct them and make them
like white men. All civilized men with
out regard to complexion are called white
men here ;and even the natives, if they be-
come educated and throw off the native
manners and customs, are so regarded.
was accompanied by a colored America