The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-08-14

4 cannot be seen from Santa Cruz.
The next morning being fine walk to
Laguna was taken, this trip being
about the only one of interest that can
be taken on the island. The road is
rather pretty, being lined on both sides
with fields of cactus. These plants
are used in the culture of cochineal,
their thick leaves giving nourishment
and shelter to the small insects. This
industry is rather extensive in the
Canary Islands. Just stopping long
enough to coal the ship and to bury
one of the crew who had ed at sea,
we left Santa Cruz with a fine trade
wind for the Afr. can coast. The nights
ut sea were beautiful in br ght moon
Eight, and as balmy here in February
rs in, June at home, We were there
fore not over oyful when after ten
days sail we ran into the. warm en-
braces of Freetown, the chief settle
ment in the English colony of Sierra
Leone. White clothes were the order
of the day.
Freetown, at the mouth of the Sierra
Leone River, is prettily situated on
high ground and backed by beautiful
pied by detachment of West Inuia
colored troops, hold commanding
position on the highest hill in the
town. The natives, except the Man
dingoes profess Christianity and are
TO all appearances very religious. We
landed on Sunday and tried to get
some bananas or cocoanuts. Our
guide, very fresh English darky,
told us that everything could be gotten
here-that it was a regular Paradise;
But this being Sunday we could get
nothing, not even hire boy to climb
4 tree and knock down some cocoa
nuts. All hands were out towards
evening promenading in their store
clothes along the road around the
barracks; colored ladies in bright, gay
calico dresses and spring hats; young
dudes in black broadcloth suits of an
ancient cut, Sketch No. y and young
children of both sexes with and with
out clothes. The little children here,
rs in every African port we Wis ted,
have abnormally large abdomens,
called rice belles," and it |
is wonder how they manage to keep
themselye upright The watercarri-
ers, chiefly girls, seem to do most of
lhe work, and their task is not an easy
ene. The calabashes in which the
water is carried from the public hy-
Grants to the houses are very large and
are skillfully balanced on the head.
The most interesting part of Free
town is the Mandingo quarter, where
most of the small trading is done.
The Mandingoes are Mohammedan
rather numeI Gus, who occupy
most of the country south of the Sa-
hara Desert and north of the Guinea
and Ivory coasts. They are the arti-
sans and traders of this part of the
world and possess probably all the in
telligence. They are better dressed
than the other negroes, their long blue
or white cotton gowns. skull caps and
slippers giving them a substantial
They wear, suspended
around their necks, fetiches in the
shape of leather bags in which are
verses from the Koran. The gold To-
diacal rings and scarf rings (made also
at Cape Palmas), the cur Gus red and
black leather work, chiefly seen on
pear handles, covers for bottles, and
'n the oddly-shaped scabbards of the
native swords, are the principal things
made by them which are bought as
Grass hammocks. in white
nd yellow, are also made here. Fruits :
re plentiful and good here in season.
fangoes were not yet ripe, so we
Missed luscious fruit, but the alliga-
or pears, which are very good here,
1ake up for their absence. Provisions !
re scarce and very dear. Taking
Terra Leone as a whele-and it con-
;dered one of the best places on the s
rest coast--not much can be sad for j
=