National Baptist world., 1894-10-12
FIFTY DAYS In AFRICA.
LIBERIA AS SEEN BY REV. W. E
GLADDEN. IN 1889.

Mr.. Editor seen so man,
rumors in the papers concerning Africa
[ hope you will allow me little space
in yrur valuable paper to say few
words to your many readers concerning
my trip to that distant land five year;
ago.
Left Ct. Bend, Kansas February 28
1889 via Santa Fe for Africa, arriving
in the city of New York on the morn.
ing of March 4. After taking in the
sights Of the greatest city OH the Amer
can continent, purchasing the necessary
farming implements that l was told
would need to farm with in Africa :
plow, ak, hoes, harness, set Of carpen-
ter's tools, grindstone etc.,-I next
purchased a supply of seed corn, beans,
cabbage seed, beet seed and many other
kinds Of garden seeds that found out
later would not grow in Africa, [ en-
barked on the good ship Monrovia,
owned by Yates & Paterfield Of New
York city, for Africa March 9th, and
after being thirty-three days out from
New York, being driven by the fierce
winds, suffering sickness, drenced with
sea water and treated like dogs we hove
in Sight Of Monrovia. Oh! how glad
we were to once more place our feet on
terra firma, and how greatful to God
did we feel for being granted the privi-
lege of seeing the land Of our ancestors.
Through the kindness Of the captain
we were allowed to GO on shore imme-
diatly upon anchoring althoug it was
We were met at the wharf-if the de-
lapidated landing may be termed such
by gentleman we had formerly known
in America who escorted me to the
house of the mayor of the city OF Mon
rovia, capital of Liberia, and learning
shat he could not at that time receive
callers, we came out and began to stroll
about the city with its tall palm trees
hanging full of cocoannts and palm ker-
nels, clusters Of orange, lime and lemon
bushes, banana trees, mangoes and
other tropical fruits. 1t was pleasing
sight. After walking up and down
some of the streets, noticed groups of
men standing around and seemingly
discussing something Of much impor-
tance; from their conversations soon
learned that it was election day, and
two men had just been shot in street
row; then noticing more closely, soon
perceived that rum was plentiful and
distributed to the voters gratuiously,
Holland gin being sold ut one dollar a
gallon. 1t reminded me OF the election
days in America; men swearing, fight |
ing, drinking and each man asserting
that the candidate Of his choice would
be the victorious man. After shaking
hands and forming the acquaintance OF
a few, | noticed a company OF men
coming up the street carrying heavy
leads Of something on their backs; these
men wele naked with the exception of
the 'sbreachclouts" they wore, and |
was Informed upon asking, that these
men were called auw boys, and the
loads they carried was palm kernels.
After seeing them relieved of their bur-
dens I asked bystander why it was
they did not carry these heavy burdens
in wagons drawn by horses, mules or
oxen and was Informed that these ami
mails would not live in that country |
and that all the work had to be done by |
the natives on account of Americans
being unable to stand the intense heat.
It was after hearing this that the scales
began to fall from my eyes, and began
to see and understand as | had never
before.
Monrovio being only one degree from
the equator, the days do not vary but
twcnty minutes in length the year
round, and there is no twilight there,
darkness coming on Immediately after
sunset. No business is carried OH there
after dark, and as soon as the sun begins
to GO down, the business men begin to
bar and lock their doors, and | noticed
that q Watchman was stationed at each
door, seeing the doors locked and the
guards statiand before each place of
business astonished me somewhat for L
had been informed that locks were not
needed there on account of everybody
having plenty Of everything. There be-
ing no hotel in the city / went back to
the snip, once more to be rocked to
sleep by the restless waves.
Continued next week.
NnrrnE