The Washington times., 1904-11-13
Eza0azn9o@S 5yayIn9 Tie Koran

finds himself swinging TO and fro. sus-
pended from a horizontal bar whose
ends rest on the shoulders Of two stall
wart natives. who rush him at break
neck speed through narrow and uneven
paths. over dangerous ravines and huge
loES which block the way Sometimes
the unequal height Of the carriers occa-
sions much suffering 10 the victim.
which the native enjoys richly.
THE absence Of railroads and OF
every other vehicular convenience for
travel in Liberia is a serious drawback
TO the development and prosperity OF the
republic. For this reason very few Ii
berians venture into the interior Elk
ceDt soldiers and traders, the LIberians
are absolutely ignorant Of the interior
or their country. They prefer TO 20 to
Europe for pleasure and recreation. al
though the interior OF Liberia is said 10
be rich In products. beautiful IN seen
cry and healthful In location. Only the
foreigner ventures. Because OF his will
ingness 10 assume the difficulties OF the
Journey he becomes at once the object
Of curious wonder.
our route took AS up TO the head OF
the 81. Paul River and thence 10 Harris
burg. the base Of operations for DOH
blees Island. Here we calculated ,,no,,
securing a sufficient number OF natives
10 accompany as as carriers: but this he
Ing the season for planting. we found
II impossible 10 hire anyone. and were
compelled 70 walk 10 and from Kpondia
Hill. distance Of more than 200 miles
Natives Hate Immigrants.
After leaving Harrisburg. a I.iberlap
town inhabited by civilized people. we
found no roads entitled 10 be called
such leading into the interior. either ia
or from native towns They are AN
crooked and labyrinthine, They are
made crooked to mislead the enemy and
10 render his approach 70 a town diff
hcult during a tribal war The aborlg-
ines gave themselves no concern about
obstacles in the road. They cut down "A
tree and leave part OF the huge branches
lying across the path. They never think
OF removing them except when com
PEELED to do so by a Liberian commits
sioner They prefer either 10 climb over
or go around. and 10 swim a creek rath-
CT than 10 take the trouble TO cross Il
by bridge. When an old road Is aban-
doned It is tagged by placing a branch
as an obstruction at the fork of the
path. The native knows what this
means and takes the new road. The
reason given by the natives for leaving
distractions ia the road, and for max
ing them narrow and winding is not
only 10 pewilder the tribal zoe, but also
10 render II dimcuit for the America
Liberian to find them in their native
II IS strange that more at
tention IS not given TO the building Of
roads and 10 the bridging OF creeks. es-
Decially those which lead 10 important
centers which are so essential 10 the
OF Liberian independence.
THE way to Kpondia Hin lies through
native towns and half
towns. having each from 100 10 600 in
habitants. They are built largely ia the
midst OF dense forests or upon the TOP
Of steep hills. The distance from one
native town 10 another of the same tribe
hardly ever exceeds three miles. and the
population Is never more than 1000. The
houses are constructed OF mud and
,hatch. No marked improvement is
visible In this section on the primitive
style Of house builders. Although
soodly number of the men in these
towns speak and understand English,
some few reading and writing Il with