The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-19
HOME FROM LIBERIA.

HOME FROM LIBERIA.
RETURN OF EIGHTEEN SOUTHERN NEGROES WHO
SAILED ON THE AzoR LAST YEAR-HARD-
SHIPS IN AFRICA.
The bark Monrovia. Captain Richardson, which
arrived fromLiberia last week. having left Monrovia
September 81. brought eighteen coored passengers
They part Of the illstarred ship load OF emf
grants which left Charleston, s. c.. for the Liberian
Republic on Easter Sunday. 1873 in the bark Azor.
AS the returning pilgrims arrived in New,
York they transferred to the and started
at for their old homes in South Carolina.
Yesterday Captain Richardson gave reporter many
details Of their long story Of suffering and unhappi
ness. only the opening chapters Of which have been
published in this country. The returning party in
cluded three families and several single adults Their
friends in this country sent them money with which
pay their passage back to their old homes. They
say there's not of the Azors party that would
not gladly come back If they could raise funda
for the journey. more Disconnected miserable LOT
Of people can hardly be imagined than those
fortunates, who have found many more graves than
homes in the young colored Republic.
1t will be remembered that Of the $40 exodists who
started on the Azor twenty nine died for lack OF
they reached MonroviA. Some thirty forty have
been able to return to this country. OF the three
about sixty persons alive. The climatic fever.
which attacks all strangers in the country.
It's ssaSm .ns ;ss patient sapp h:s Sss
the essentials Of comfort But these poor wretchea
were most Of them paupers when they landed in
except what inadoquately doled out by the gov
ernment or by the poor settlers OF Monrovia The
result Is that they have persisted by until
only u remnant OF the band remains The survivors
are now Injured to the climate and the most OF them
ut last self-supporting. But not Of them 10
earning moro than the scantiest subsistence.
PLANS ABANDONED.
Their troubles have been incessant and over.
powering that they have had no strength nor means
to carry the plans with which they left America.
They expected to go to Bapora. settlement on the
ST. Paus River some twenty miles in the interior.
farms. But when they reached MonrOvia they
and probable criminality OF the agents who
had them in charge. wholly dependent upon
been able to stir outside of Monrovia. although
tho residents OF the capital would gladly have baen
thu q E,odns of ths
swindled them and. justly or not they lay most ot
their misfortunes At the door Of this They
say that every passenger Of the Azor paid beside his
voyage and for SIX months provisions after landing
in Liberia. The money was paid to the associa-
ton before the emigrants embarked NJ Charleston.
and they still show receipts for it. When they
landed Ut Monrova the provisions were distributed
and there was found to be only scant three weeks
supply. The unfortunate strangers. in q far-off
land have been too poor aud miserable to trumpet
their wrongs to make investigation. and none has
been attempted by their friends on this side the
water But they claim that there has been foul play
somewhere aud that their money has been mis-
appropriated. They we're promised shelter for
six months and they had paid for six months food.
effects Of the climate and have accustomed Them
selves to their surroundings aud found steady
thrown. in the bad season Of the year upon the
charity Of the residents. who had only few days
notice sS sSo%ns and wao I nsve @
out grumbling loudly account Of the
irksomeness of the burden. The Azor's party
season. No shelter had been prepared for them.
aud so the three hundred and forty odd souls were
of necessity crowded into lot Of dilapidatsd and
abandoned houses the beach. The Liberian
government. contrary to its practice. took some
for their relief and some money was taken
from the treasury to buy them food and medicines.
The only aid which the government
ruio. extends to immigrants is to give
twenty-five acres Of land to every head of family
and every male adult ten Captain Richard
says this government grant has been to most
some capital to improve the land and very few OF
the new corners have money enough to buy imple-
ments with which to develop the smallest coffee
farm.
LITTLE CHANCE or ExrLoYMExr
Captain Richardson says that immigrants fresh
from this country have little chance OF en-
ployment in Monrovia. Four-hfths Of the resident
populace laborcrs themselves and the town has
need to import manual labor Besides this the
Kroos, native tribe who, the Captain says, lack
only civilization to make them much sharper and
average Of their imported brethren EN- will vii
work well for shilling day. which
ic less than the American negro with three
provide for. requires. The American emigrants
have not been able to 90 TO the country. and the
able-bodied among them have supplied no element
OF strength that the town needed. There very
few artisans in their number. and the most were
drawn from the commonest ranks OF Southern field
hands. Thcy have done nothing yet to identify
thcm with the country the interests OF ITS
people, and the only hope they cherish Is
that some happy chance will enable them
to come back to America. There are quite number
of women and children. widowed and orphaned.
who still dependent for the little they have upon
the kind Offices OF thoir ncghbors. a Few men arc
employed by the Liberian government, others
work with the unloading the few vessels that
now and then anchor OF the Shore and others make
the scantiest sort OF living hired mon on tho
coffee farms within few miles OF town. Naturally
enough they no bright side to Liberia, and
their onstant repinngs and helpessness have made
them no friends among the people. VINO have about
ALI thew can do take OF themselves. The emf
grants which the American Colonization Society
have sent out within tho past two years are doing
better although there Is considerable discontent
the interior. the original purpose OF the
jority. They hang about Monrovia or work on the
farms few miles from the town.
ANOTHER
The Monrovia, which has been lying ct the Empire
Stores, in Brooklyn, will be placed In . dry dock
this week and thoroughly ovcrhauled. She will
then be loaded for another voyage ana will start
Liberia December Is. The Colonization Society has
already applied for accommodations for sixty emil
to eighty one hundred before the day of sailing.
clergyman viii 20 out to Join the Episcopal mis-
sion.