The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-11-22
The Truth About Liberia.

" hASulNGlON, NOV. ID.
The department Of State has received
information from Liberia on the subject
of the condition of tha. country and
its adaptability for colonization II is
represented that the frequently repeated
statements as to the fertility of the soil
and the beauty of the ,untry are correct,
but that The climate OH the seacoast is
very dangerous to all but the natives.
Horses, mules and donkeys cannot live
there. Horses are found in the interior,
but when brought to the scacoast sicken
and die. Although as to temperature
constant summer prevails yet the MAS.
matte inilunce caused by tho heavy rains
alternating with hot sunshine causes
sickness during six month of the year,
and during the remaining six mouths the
power of the sun is such .hat it ia almost
impossible for any but natives to work.
The mean temperature is about eigty. five
degrees, but on account of the dampness
OF the climate the heat is sultry, depress.
ing and weakening. There is still very
little civilization, and very little agricul-
tural enterprise.
Liberia has never produced sufficient
food for her own consumption, md nj.
though she should be great rice grow
ing country, rice is imported from Eng
land and other countries, and sold at four
dollars bushel-twice the cost at which
better rice could be grown and sold there.
Flour is fourteen dollars barrel, butter
one dollar a pound. and hams from five
dollars TO eight dollars each. Other pro-
visions are proportionately high. There
is not plow in use in Liberia, and the
agricultural implements are Of the most
primitive character, such US cutlasses, hoes,
billhooks. &c There are no nublic
schools. The immigrant has to compete
with the native labor. The natives are
strong and hardy, and one of them will
do the work of u horse Mt fifty cents q
day.
The settlers wanted in Liberia, as
thoughtful and prominent Liberians ra-
cognizc, are those who can afford and
would prefer to pay their expenses of
voyage and settlement.
The hack hilly country is said to be
fine and healthy, but it il penetrnble only
by the foot-paths which have been cut
by the natives through the almost i'm
penetrable forests, and everything must
be borne on the heads or backs of native
carriers. as there arc no ronds. The fact
is that the settlers cannot go to the "high
hills and undulating plains" said TO be in
the interior Of Africa without means to
provide themselves with roads, and with
out treaties of commerce ard friendship
:"::a ::;o ':3";o7oas petty li.ig=, who are
i'll many instances cithr. openly or
coycriiy hustle. ii wlnid frequently
be necessary to enforce such treaties by
means Of an armed force, as England and
other European poaers which have
African possessions have found from ex-
pcrience.
An interesting account Of the plan of
African development carried out by the
British ut Sierra Leone is given. At
first young AfrcAas from the c0lGny were
educated in Europe, with the view of
qualifying them 10 train and lead their
education somewhat untitled them for
their life in Africa, and, therefore,
schools and a college were established at
Sierra Leone Cor the education Of yo.:ng
Africans, hundreds Of whom nre now ed
ucated yearly and prepared to take an
active part in the development Of their
country. So far rs YET seen this plan of
the evnngeiization and civilization of
Africa by the indigenous peoples with
the aid of foreign nations seems practi-
cable and likely to succeed. The estab-
lishmeDt Of manual labor schonls in Lii
beria is suggested. Some of the native
tribes, especially the Vel tribe, forty
miles from Monrovia, are of remarkable
intelligence, and could be made use OF in
the development of Liberia.