The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-01-30
Special to The CAUCAsIAN.l
LAGOS, NEST AFRICA,
Nnu III 1897.

IsACOs, ~ '
Nov.4th, 1885,.
Mr.. Marion Butler,
Editor Caucasian,
Dear Friend-We were de-
lighted to receive a letter from
you recently informing rs that
The CAUCASIAN would make
weekly visits to us in Lagos. 1t
is pleasant to know that one is
remembered ly friends at home
when he is far away in strange
land. We wish to retdrn thanks
to that unknown Sampson friend
who so kindly paid for and had
THE CAUCASIAN sent to us. My
mind often runs back to my ma
tive county. the scenes Of my
childhood, the friends of my
boyhood, the companions Of sol
dier days and to my faithful
cO-workers in the Masters vine
yard. But [ wandering from the
line on which you asked me to
drop you line, viz: "Something
about my surroundings"
Well to begin with we are sur
rounded by water. The city
Of Lagos in which | live is on
an island, about six miles long
and two miles wide on the west
coast of Africa, in a lagoon or
bay called by Englishmen Cra-
doc but by natives Ausa. 1t has
a. population OF near $4,000, of
which 5000 are christians and
adherents to christianity and
the rest are Mohamadans and
Pagans. Lagos is a colony of
Great Britain, by whom its civil
officers are appointed and d
standing army is kept. The
commander of the troops resides
just across the street from US,
the colonial surgeon, a square
above us on the same side Of he
street, the governor on the street
in front Of us, the marine and
other officers not far away.
These gentlemen are all clever,
and have put us under personal
obligation by many kindnesses.
We are more impressed with the
glory Of England as we learn Of
it's doi?gs and enjoy its protec-
ton. Of course England is not
entirely unselfish in all she does
here, for the exports aud imports
of Lagos are many millions a
year and nearly all Of it's
trade is with England. Lagos
is called the Liverpool of West
Africa because of it's immense
shipping trade. Its leading ex-
ports are berry-seed, ground
nuts, palm kernels, palm oil and
ivory.
Many of the people Of Lagos
and other African cities live by
trading, farming, &c. They
farm and do everything else as
differently from what people at
home do as you can we'll imagine
The tools OF a farmer are an axe,
bill-hook and hoe. The axe
with a blade three inches wide
is used for cutting down trees.
! / did not recognize one as an
axe. If | had been looking for
Ian axe ana come across one
| | should not have picked it mp
| / did not believe it was one. A
| bill-hook is used for cutting
bushes and an oval hoe with a
a handle two feet long il used
| for digging up the soil. PIoughs
are entirely unknown and it has
never occurred to a native that
a horse or an OK could in any
way be used about a farm. Ok
en- are never employed for labor
. and horses, except Immediately
in the city of Lagos, are usec
: only for the saddle. Some o.
the farms of Africa are ten an(
even twenty miles from thu
cities, but the crops that art
; grown are brought in on th'
, heads Of tie peopl In a tril
: | made to the interior, twenty
six persons were along and al
the baggage was carried on tn
J head. Traders carry their good
+. in this way.
3 A woman with her babe strap
= ped to her back will carry owe
2 two hundred pounds IN he
z head with apparent ease. 1t
9 not considered reputable for
| woman to labor on the farm, bu
t in the pursuit of their bushes
2 as traders they bring the pro
). duce which they have bougb
: from the farms to the market
Many women make a living b
selling fire-wood, which the
= sometimes take to the ci Y,
: distance of six or eight mile
9 Oh their heads. Some gathe
v large leaves which they sell I
) the N arket women for wrappin
y paper. The other employment
of women are honsework, spil
ming (nen do the we.ving) was
h ing, soap-making, and the MAJ
T ufacture of earthenware.
I am making my letter tt