The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-03-08
Our Africa Letter.
CAPE MOUNT, AFRICA, |
December 18th, 1859. (

December 18th, 1859.
EDITOR COURIER: 1t hardly seems in the
natural course of things to date letter the
middle Of December, with the thermometer
standing at IS in the shade, but in this
case ii is even so. For me to be comfortable
in writing this letter 1 have to select the
coolest place on board ship, and lay aside
coat, vest, &c. For your comfort in writing
you would have to be near good fire, or else
have your overcoat and mittens on. But I
am now 5000 miles from Iowa, and that ought
to make great change. Let me try and
give you some idea how got here.
As you are already aware from former
letter, the ship NJ. c. Stevens left Baltimore
Nov. fst, fos Liberia. 1t was not Gptil the
evening of the 10th that we passed Cape
Henry and got out to sea. We ran off the
American coast with good breeze, so that
on the 18th we were in comfortable weather.
The stoves in the cabin were taken down,
overcoats and mufflers were laid aside to be
used no more until we get near the American
coast again next March. My only object in
travelling at this time being the hope of i'm
proving nay health, wished .otake the "trip
that would be the most likely to avoid rough
weather. This voyage to the African coast
quiry, as one in which there was no proba-
bility Of enconntering anything more disa-
greeabie than a dead calm. Gales of wind
were not looked for. / do not think there
was any willful Misrepresentation on their
part but it was great mistake. We have
had an exceedingly rough passage. For
twenty days, with occasionally a short inter-
val of comparative quiet, it was a constant
roll, pitch aud tumble. This being my first
experience on salt water, assure you it was
anything but pleasant. / could fully en-
dorse the saying of an old sea captain, who
on being told of a party of gentlemen that
had chartered vessel to take a pleasure
trip, said ''any man who would go to sea for
pleasure, ought to go to hell for comfort
1t was much more pleasant after we got into
the N. Z. Trade winds, which was on the 29tl,
of Nov. This wind blew steady but very
strong until it carried us down to latitude Sc
north. Here it was very calm, so much SO
that we were five days making the last SOC
miles. This to me was the most pleasant
part of the voyage. There were plenty OF
sea fish around the ship, all of which were
new to me. The extreme range of the Their
mometer at noon Of each day, from Nov. 18th
to Dec 7th was from 70o to 76o Since then
it has been growing warmer, and now range.
at about $50, which will be the average hea
during our stay on the coast.
Iexpected to have chance to see the Cap,
de Verde Islands, as our direct route wa.
close to them, but the wind was so strong
from the eastward that we passed about l0i
miles west of them. While in the lati,ud,
of these islands | saw large quantities o
| flying fish. One of them flew on board, ant
| have it saved to take to Iowa.
The greatest curiosity have seen yet wer'
two large water spouts. They were not mor'
than two miles from the ship, so we had
fair view of them. They were very beauti
full. This was about 100 miles from the AT
| rican coast.
! The health on board ship has been unusu
ally good. No deaths, and scarcely dose o
medicine has been needed. Sea sickness no
counted in. There has been plenty of that
There was one birth on board, and the new
conner received the name of Oceanus.
| At | o'clock A. NJ, Dec. 18th, the ship cam,
to anchor off Cape Mount This is the mos
northern settlement in Liberia. 1t is ais,
the highest land in the country, being 1O6(
feet above the sea. This place has only beer
settled two or three years, and it contain.
about 300 inhabitants l was on shore ont
day, but there is not much of interest to bt
seen. 1t will eventually be place of i'm.
portance, as it is very healthy. K.
Hon. Abraham Lincoln delivered master