Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-24

therefore thorougn acquaintance with the
people and condition of the land of civilized
negroes, and is also well acquainted with the
surrounding native tribes. He is at present
residing in New. York, and has Just been
visited by reporter of the ITi6use, which
paper gives the following particulars of his
statements: The native tribes in the part Of
Africa near Liberia have different prevalent
occupations; one is great farming people,
another. engage in trading between the head
waters OF the Niger and the coast. 1t is the
most Intelligent of the tribes; their religion
Is Mahommedanism, aud the Arabic Ian
guage Is used in their schools and mosques
Another tribe has invented language and
syllable characters 70 write it. Another
tribe, the Uell-known Krooe, are sailors,
and are necessary on foreign ships traversiug
the malarious coast. Another are engaged
IN producing palm oil. All these except the
aforementioned are pagans, but they believe
IN supreme being. Sgch are the people in
whose neighborhood the colony of American
negroes known as Liberia, which extends 200
miles into the interior and 600 along the
coest, is situated. A million of these people
reside IL the territory. They cultivate the
soil, raise cattle, make cloth and trinkets Of
gold, produce palm oil, csmwood, ivory,
gold-dust, rubber, gum-cepal, hides and
beeswax, most Of which go 10 England, Ger
many and Holland. The Liberian colonists
have control. The tribes are represented in
the Liberian Legislature by their chiefs. The
first colonists settled in 1920, and sailed
there from New York. Massachusetts, granted
charter for the College Of Liberia in 1850,
and it has now fifty students and four pro-
fessors. The present number of colonists is
between 10000 aud 25,CO0. In 1S47 the COL
ony declared itself independent, and was so
recognized by Great Britain and other ma
tions. A false impression has pre-
vailed that the colony was not doing
we'll, bat the people have increased
their productions, and two English and
German line of steamers visit the cosst al
frequent intervals, bringing European pro-
ducts and taking away products of the coun-
try; the interior trade is exclusively in the
hands Of the settlers, who, in the high lands
Of the interior, cultivate coffee, cocoa and
sugar, and the country is increasing in ma
tionsl prosperity. The settlers are nearly
all Southern negroes, and many of them
have gained a competence. The example of
natives who can read and write has stimu-
lated many of them TO learn 10 read and
write also. There is no desire among the
people to return to America; they would
refuse 10 do go. These Southern immigrants
have been transformed TO new men by the
encouragement TO energy. What they learned
in this country they put to practical use in
building up the new country. They con-
struc. bridges and roads, make brick, build
houses, have habits of self-reliance, exercise
the industry to which they were trained
from childhood; their houses are comfort
ably and often nicely furnished; they bave
parties, balls and dinners, but no coru-shuck-
ipgs and shouting at revival meetings, as
here-there is a sort of pressure upon them
from the digni6ed and sober worship of the
neighboring Mohammedans. Every immi-
grant has ten acres of land given him,
twenty-five if he be married, and the colon
ization society support them for six months.
The natives bring their children, who are
trained as servants; these then take some
occupation, and are succeeded by other chill
dren. Four large steam sugar-milIs are
owned and run by negroes. AS Liberia &C.
quires civilization and numerical strength,
the republic will gain large socessions from
the interior, and TO hasten this there is a
great desire for new immigrants from the
south of American negroes. There is more
refine ment among those who have done we'll
than among the negroes here, and they speak
the English language much purer. Labor is
chesp; natives will work for 81 month.
There is sometimes trouble with the natives,
but the interest taken by foreign powers, and
the occasional calling of war vessel,
keeps them quiet. Northern American
negroes are not wanted; they are BARRIERS
or walters, and do not do well. They are of
no use, and they are the persons who spread
i'll reports about distress and failure in
Liberia. Negroes from the South are
accustomed 10 the work that succeeds in Lii
beris, and they are more disposed TO bear
trials and fatigues TO gain home than
those from the North. They are the stuff to
build up civilization in Africa. Southern
negroes are wanted; they know how TO work.
The Arkansas negroes who came are doing
nobIy; each has his own farm and cultivates
it industriously. Their leader has twelve |
men under him. With 100000 good |
Southern immigrants, says DR.. BlydeD, we |
,ould take possession of the Soudan and |
Keep away the French.