Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-08-03
Letter From Lovcjoy.


This river is supposed to be (for it
has never been explored) the most
southern of the many mouths of the
great river Niger. There are about
twenty old hulks laying here at the
mouth of the river Each one of them
is the Wholesale warehouse of trad
ing company. The amount of goods
received here, weekly, and the bust
ness transacted, is really astonishing
From one to two hundred hogsheads
OF palm oil, which is now selling in
Liverpool at E32, or about $3.50 per
hogshead, are sold here annually, and
the natives are paid for this oil in all
kinds of English goods and manufac-
lures, of which rum is, perhaps, the
most eagerly sought for, and on which
the largest profit is made. There are
two steamers here, one taking in the
oil and the other discharging goods
We passed large steamer as we came
in, and fourth is expected in the
morning to receive her cargo. There
does not seem to. be any land here,
but the brush, and Millions, and mango
grow out C f the water The few large
trees must have some soil, but the en-
tire country seems below the level of
the ocean. No wonder that the trad
ers live in old ships. Yet the natives
swarm out of these low, bushy places,
in their canoes, like fiocks of ducks.
Here, few years ago, there was a
large idol temple where human sacri-
fees were made iD large numbers
| They are devil worshipers, that is, they
worship evil spirits, to whom they
make presents, lest they are tormented
by them. They make houses for these
evil spirits, and bring them food and
clothing, which are eaten and destroy
ed by the reptiles und wild animals.
There is one missionary here, from
Sierra Leone, native, black man. He
seems quite intelligent and has invited
us to visit his school, which we prom
ised to do this afternoon.
The English Consul, Capt. Hopkin s
| (who is acting in the absence of Liv
ingstone, the brother of the explorer J
has invited our party to dine with him
to-day. He was telling us of a jour
ney up the river a few days ago, and
some of his adventures with the ma
tives and wild animals He told us of
a native king who had eighty slaves
more than he wanted, and not being
able to sell them and being scarce Of
food, deliberately killed them all. ''Tt
thou forbearest to deliver them that
are drawn unto death, and those
that are ready to be slain; if thou
sayest, Behold, we knew it not, doth
not He that pondereth the heart con-
slider it and He that keepeth thy soul,
doth not He know it And will he not
render to every man according to his
works ?''-Prov. 24-I1. II.
1t is the middle of the rainy season
now, and we have heavy showers two
or three times day. 1t is so cold at
times as to require an overcoat, and
yet the natives are entirely naked, ex-
cept the dress Adam and Eve invent
ed. AS I lift my eyes from the paper
i see hundreds of them in their ca
noes around the ship and padding to
and fro over the river These poor
people arc much improved in their out
ward circumstances, excepting the in
huence of rum, by their intercourse
with even these cruel tradesmen and
ungodly sailors.
The Kroomcn here, in the service
OF the traders, arc fat and sleek, with
jaunty, red caps, and as far above those
we brought down on our vessel, as a
merchant is above an ignorant back
woodsmaD. Whatever wicked and cruel
designs white men have in fulfilling the
curse Ham received from his father, it
IS undoubtedly great blessing to the
black man to make him a slave, free.
ing him from a far more cruel bond
age. How great is the blessing of that
liberty which the Gospel brings to the
dsrk haathGn LovBJoE