The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-07-06
A NeaRo,s STORY.
via Dsaeouras'nw Experiences In Liberia.
the Color Il Mans African Republic.

SiA Diacouragsnw Experience In Liberia
the Color Il Mans African Republic.
Anderson Jones (colored) returned
TO this city from Liberia. In Africa,
where he went in the spring of 1883.
Tie Is now at home In Montgomery.
snd says he is here TO stay. He ls
stopping ut his fathers. out beyond
tho Wonieu's Home, In the eastern
oOrtion OF the city. A reporter went
,ut to see him the other day, and from
his own lips heard the story OF the
travels an trials and stay in the
land that does not dow with milk and
honey.
II left Montgomery ON February "a.
1898, for New York, accompanied by
my wife aud two children. We sailed
from New York for Liberia on the last
lay of February. In our party there
we're fifty migrants. including men.
women and chi dren. We had very
pleasant voyage. ana landed ut Mon
'ovia, Liberia. on April 4. We went 10
Iberia under direction OF the Coloni-
alton Society of Washington. The
ociety furn she'd us, accord ng To
rom Sc with provisions to last IA six
months. After we reached our desti-
iatioa we had our land surveyed, and
set about TO build houses and settle.
: for my part. | sopa found that tho
Amy season was too close at hand.
lhd | did not have time to settle
IN the land set apart for me.
ihen got two acres from another
man i'm the settlement, and
built little house ia which l
lived while there. Iplanted aud raised
a few potatoes. and we ate them aud
enjoyed them, Tha house built was
tea by fifteen feet. built il with small
20 es and covered il with bamboo The
rainy season set in about May and
continued until along some time in
November. Sometimes the rainfall
would be steady for week or two. and
then il would slack up an hour or day
and then commence again. But for
I;x months we aad no sunshine and dry
weather, and during all that time we
were confined indoors. and could not
DO any thing I'm the way of outdoor
work TO cam a living. In the fall the
rainy spell ends. and then there is
nothing bat drought and hot sunshine
for six months We had no winter.
AID the only cool weather came dur ng
aumuAer months here.
There are many things that must
make an American feel very much out
II plSce in Africa. Continuing the ale
# his bitter experience. Anderson said:
In cu.tivat 'ng the soil the settlers.
as we'll rs the natives. have to do all
;he work with hoes. There are no horses
or mules or cattle in that country. In
some of the Oldest ,ttlem rnts they have
few cattle. but they are very small
nd dwarfish. A full grown cow N
Africa is no larger than year-old cali
this country. IN the settlement;
where we lived never saw but the one
poor little calf. and not s,ng'e horse
mule in the country. | was sick
About three months, and was greatly
roubled with bloodth r,ty little insect
Known as iggers. They are smaller
shAn Il "a ami far more troublesOm :,
They alta K victim on the feet while
ne sleeps AMI work their way into the
| .sh. forming bad sores. | saw many
Dropie with several Of their toes fairly
-ateu of by the little pests. In my sick
tess had no medicine and no phys :
ian. There was no doctor in the set
lemgnt except herb doctors. who make
cir owa med cine People IN that
iant-y can't make money. and il takes
tard gging u make a tile something
20 eat. | had a little money when
vent there. but everyth ne was so high
nat il was soon gone. The maa who
emaloved by the Colon Zation
'oeiety to issue provisions 10 the SET
tiers Swindled us out Of supplies for
twenty ,lays. and just at a time when
we ne sded help most. The people over
.lere don't much like for settlers To
ONE away. But they can't raise
,ny objections. and the natives are all
peaceable. When \ man decides to
cave he has to post written notice of
intentions in public place for ten
avs and get passport from the Gov
.rnment wrote letters to my people
iere and received replies. The letters
70 and come around by English steam
RS. | was bent on coming back TO
Alabama. though | had no money angl
means of making it. Nv relatives
ere and IN Texas sent us 500. and we
sold our best clothes to raise S25. We
Id not have to pay fare for our tito
.irl. and only S25 for the boy and SO
zach sor myself an wife. l had no
.ause to leave tn $ country. and now
,ince | am home in Alabama once more
VIII not bother about g ng oil again
To go anywhere"
Anderson Jones is th;rty-six years
Id Anderson is above the average OF
his race in point of intelligence. Hi,
( wife is ght mulatto woman. They
( have two children. They bad one child
( , rn in Africa, which d ed early and
was buried there. And srs IN says thai
/ Liberia is mighty poor country to live
/ il. and there are many other American
negroes there who would come back i
! hey could. He thinks this is God:
/ country AMI Is willing to live his life
/ )at and be buried here. He come
\ tome sick with fever and is getting
veil slowly.-Moa gonIery (AlG.J Id
I srtiSeT.