The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-04-16
Fernando Po.

LbludhuO GO
The island Of Fernando Po is situated
on the western coast in Africa, in the
Blight of Biaira, which is the extreme end
Of the Gulf of Guinea. Its southern ex-
tremity is situated at three degrees twenty
five minutes north of the equator, and its
longitude is eight degrees thirty-fvc min
utes east of Greenwich. It's nearest point
to the mainland is about iorty-fve miles.
The highest point of the island is a little
more than II 600 feet, while its rival, the
CAMERON Mountains, situated four degrees
north, is more than 10000 feet The
CAMERON Mountains were ascended by
Captain Burton, the distinguished dis.
coverer Of Lake Tanganica, few years
ago.
The CAMERON and Fernando are de-
cidedly of volcanic origin, and so are two
islands OF Princess and St. Thomas, which
are not far distant.
The Island of Fernando Po was dis
covered by the Portuguese in the year
147l, who ceded it to Spain in the year
l77S. No European settlement was ever
made on the island till the year 1882, and
this was made by the English, who at that
time knew not that that the Spaniaids had
the right of possession.
In the year 1927 the English established
on the island coaing station so that their
war steamers, which were engaged in
prosecution Of the prevention Of the slave
trade in the Blight OF Biofra might cool
there aud get provisions The settlement
was called Clearance, and the bay was
called by the same name Part of the
liberated slaves captured from slavers, and
were brought there, and when | visited the
island the first time the pcpua-
tion of Clarence might have been thous
and. There was good deal of sickness
among the negroes. A few traders made
the headquarters of the establishment
there, fer Clarence is au excellent port for
shipping palm oil, the water being deep
aud well sheltered from tornadoes Vessels
can almost touch the shore, Clarence was
at that time considered kind Of entreport
to store palm oil till it was shipped home.
One of the traders was named Governor Of
the colony by the English.
The freed slaves began to plant orange
and lemon trees and other fruit trees, which
were brought from the West Indies, and
they made living by selling them to the
numerous men of>war which came to coal
at the island and bananas, pineeappes,
sweet potatoes, ground, nuts and yams were
also products which met a steady sale.
The colony went on the blacks were some-
what prosperous, at any rate far more so
than the natives living on the continent.
The Spanards, some ten years ago
thinking that the English were doing well,
claimed the island, took possession of it,
signalling their appearance by bringing
large number OF monks and sisters of
different orders, who began to die very
shortly after their arrival. Soldiers were
also sent and Spanish Governor then a
penal settlement was formed. The lib.
Grated Africans, who had been somcw hat
Christanized by Protestant missionaries,
began to perceive that they could not
worship God according to their own consci.
ences. Their meetings in their churches
were forbidden, though they were allowed
to retain their Bibles and meet in their
houses.
The .convicts are employed to make
roads, cut trees, work hard in the hot sun,
and of course the climate makes short work
Of them Nothing can be more picturesque
and beautiful than the island of Fernando
Po. Hills after hills are covered to the
very summit with magnificent trees,
which come down to the sea, and the little
streams Of most delightful water pour down
from the mountains, and Fernado Pc would
be most charming island to live in if it
was not on account of the deadly climate.
The natives of the island number about
five thousand, and are called Boobies. The
malaria causes fever, and many die of it
The rains are heavy and continuous, the
heat is very great, dysentery and liver
complaints are also common, and the ne.
.groes will be able to live on the island Tor
long time to come The great number of
graves testify TO the great mortality among
the whites, and the transportation of these
political prisoners to Fernando Po is an
outrage against humanity and disgrace
10 n;,,;l;,ot;on