The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-22

o'i-ANi 1LidGEsCER found them in their
ietreas. Just as an introduction had been
enecteo between the reporter and the mis-
sionary the little child ran into the room
ana asked for her sun bonnet, saying in the
most artiess manner that she did not wish
70 ges nes face sunburned!
MISS Mcneil said yesterday that in order
20 get the right to take away the child with
nei 70 America when she started from
LIBERIA, 1T was absolutely necessary for her
10 ouy the little one. AS soon as q girl is
porn into family in that country she be-
comes common prcperty-that is to say,
e en, boy has living interest in her.
Inc girls are sold, and with the proceeds
wives are purchased for the boys, 50 that
every boy In the family has an interest in
each girl Little Bralah, who not only
speaks good English but who can also
speak In her native tongue, cost $50.
MISS Mcneil is a very intelligent and in
.eresting woman. She is TALL has kind
~ face and has used her four years in
Liberia to good advantage. She will re-
turn there next March, as she intends to
spend the remainder of her life in work
ing among the natives of Africa.
Liueria has about 5000, 900 native Afri-
cans and 10000 civilized persons among
Its inhabitants. The majority of the
latter are Afro-Americans The country
Is republic, operated on much the same
lines as the United States. The country
Is divided into FIVE counties and has q
lower and upper house of congress. They
have their political parties as do all
other nations. Three great parties now
are battling for the mastery, the Wings,
which now are in control, the Republic
cans and the Peoples party Congress
meets every year at Monrovia, the capital,
ana Miss Mcneil says that in ability it
compares favorably with similar bodies in
other parts Of the world. The principal
exports OF the country are COTE and rubber.
An English trust recently paid the
government $4,000 for the exclusive rub
Der right of the country. The coffee goes
mainly to England and Germany, and the
missionary says that the only thing which
America sells to Liberia is New England
rum, and that no effort whatsoever is be-
ing made to stop the pernicious traffic.
The principal article of native food is
fish and rice, and these are obtained at
home, so that the natives need to import
but little to keep life in their bodies. None
OF them grow rich. Even the chiefs of
tribes are not permitted to grow richer
than any of the common natives. If he
dld, the balance would soon grow jealous
ana put him out of the way. The only
thing chief does is generally to acquire
many more wives than his subjects. They
all drink and smoke. If they cannot get
rum OF the imported kind they imbibe
native juice called palm wine. which,
though Intoxicating, is not so bad as the
mean liquor that is sent over to the saw
ages.
The people live by tribes and each tribe
has its hundreds of villages made up
of innumerable small mud and matched
cottages. They have an idea of religion
and generally have some sort of image be-
tore each palaver house. They admit a
superior power, but instead of praying to
the God of Love they are constantly seek
ing to propitiate an evil one, who, accord
ing to their idea, is constantly seeking to
ensnare them into some terrible danger.
They have sense enough to have a separate
hut for each wife. Some of the more in
terror tribes gain portion of their food by
hunting, and there is a great trade in guns
and ammunition. Everybody smokes,
and among the natives tobacco is about
the only well recognized currency.
The climate is SO hot that the only dress
for both men and women is q cloth around
the loins, but they deck themselves out
with all sorts of ornaments of gold and
ivory. This latter material they secure in
trade from the interior nations in
whose countries the elephant abounds.
1t is said that formerly the huge animals
were common in Liberia, but they have
been driven back into the interior jungles.
1t is said also that some Of the tribes pos
sess the secret of several vast gold mines,
but this they guard from the knowledge
of the whites with great care.
These tribes have their laws and tradi-
tons. but no written history. They have
every one of the Ten Commandments
covered except that one in which reverence
is enioined for God. When a law is broken
and the offender is caught he is immed-
diately put to death.
Miss Mcneil states that the tribe IN
which she works is called the Grebos, and
it numbers about 1900 souls. They treat
the white missionaries kindly. and well
come them for the educational facilities
which they bring, even if not for the sake
of religion. She says, however, that when
they are converted they seem TO be greatly
inspired, and most of them Immediately
begin TO do missionary work themselves.
The work in Africa is under the super
vision of Bishop William Taylor. and an
nually the sum of about 900 is being
expended in the work. In the special field
of Miss Mcneil there are 800 converts and
80 scholars in the schools, and this has
been accomplished in four years.
Miss Mcneil SAYS that in the whole Of
Liberia, with its 1000 civilized and 8. 000,-
OOo native population, there is not a single
mile of railroad nor a single newspaper of
any kind. She says that there is a system
of public education. but that it is very
poor as yet, and exceedingly imperfect,
owing 10 the low state Of the country's
finances. Wages are very low. being 81
for boys and 81 for men per month. The
mail steamers come but once month TO
the country, and are cordially welcomed.
Miss Mcneil works at Cape Palmos, about
30 miles south of the capital OF the
country.
She will endeayor while here TO interest
the people in the mission cause, and being
thoroughly in earnest and both entertain
ing and bright, she will undoubtedly Sue
coed.
Sermon on the Bible.
The Rev. Trevor orion preached yester-
dav in the Madison street Methodist