American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1859-03-04
DESCRIPTION OF LIBERIA.

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Monrovia, says DR.. Rainey, agent
for the rescued slaves of the brig Echo,
is city of three thousand inhabitants;
a population as virtuous, orderly, and
well conducted as can be found in any
country. The city is not healtilhy 10.
Gated, and hence bears but little of
that impress of prosperity which is
every dlsccrnable throughout other
portions of the republic. made a
short visit up the line St. Paul's river.
The first few miles are covered with
a low dense growth of mangroves, from
which the most noxious efiluva arises,
generating intermittcnts, and coupled
with other causes, producing also the
much dreaded malignant African fever.
The statements, however, which we have
regarding those discases,a are ridiculous
ly exaggerated. Generally speaking,
the fever is generally an endemic ma
larious intermittent, of type by no
means as deleteriouA or oflalf so ra Did
a colmination as the congestiyc fever
ofthe Missouri bottoms. Beyond seven
miles, however, the country becomes
high and rolling on both banks, afford
ing good water and drainage, while it
lis covered with rich and very pro.
ductivc soil over a sabs'atum of fer
ruginous sandstone, and in places horne
blend, in nwhich lime largely predomi-
mates. [ inspected the banks closely
for twenty miles, and passed through
some large and flonrishing coffee and
sugar estates, and through fields of
very good coan. Iexamined two large
steam sugar mills, made in Brooklyn.
One of them is erected at the ex-
pense of the government, and grinds
corn and manufactures sugar and molas-
ses, and makes corn meal, on shares
with the people. The cane is of excel
lent quality. The coffee tree bears a
large berry, and far more profusely
than any that have seen in Brazil
One man, Mr.. Hooper, protege Of
our late lamcnted Downing, has eigh-
teen thousand trees in bearing. But
as money, especially specie, is scarce
in the country, he told me that ho
would be able to gather from only five
or six thousand trees, thus losing many
thousand dollars, as the coffee is cx-
ceedingly highly priced, and readily
commands twenty cents per pound in
Monrovia.
The riveris most denscly populated.
The whole district is high and healthy.
Fine brick houses appear all along the
stream, in Caldwell, New Georgia,
Clay, Ashland, Virginia, Louisiana,
and many other hourishing settlements
which passed. The settlers seem to
be thrifty and happy, notwithstanding
several tribes of the colonists complain
of caste, and say that the Virginians
are "most too high,hcaded," and are
all the time claiming that they are the
equality" of Liberia. | saw beyond
these settlements the low ranges of
mountains, stretching away to the
South, and, on the first bench of which
the society have large acclmatins
hospital and farm, called Carysburg,
Scarcely any of the colonists remain
in Monrovia, but nearly all proceed to
this place, or to Robertsport, at Cape
Mount. . ...... ,..
Liberia is evidently advancing and
if she can only be protected by Christ
cndom from the outrages which France
is practising on her, and which cause
ninc.tenths Of the interior wars that
weaken her, she will rapidly assume a
position of interest to us and to the
world in trade, as well as in the pro-
gress Of civilization. have nowhere
else seen a place on the earth so we'll
fitted for the development of the color.
ed man us Liberia. a general remark
to me by colonists was "This, sir, is
a great country for darkies." was
most forcihly impressed with the fact,
especially after leaving the poverty.
stricken and begging population of the
Cape Vcrdes, that but one single soul
asked me for aims during the nine
days that l was on shore. United
Presbyterian.