Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-16
Some Things You Want to Know
Liberia.

practiced and that RIGHTEOUSNESS Is on the
increase. There once Sabbath observance
was as rigid as in the sternest OF New
England towns, a wide open day Is the
order now. Miss Mahoney declares that
once a hundred civilized men OF Liberia
could meet and defeat 1000 bushmen in a
Jungle fight. but that now odds are about
even. She says that once the LIberians
could build as good boats as were to be
bought from England or Germany, but that
now few competent boat builders are TO be
found.
with the contempt the natives feel for
the civilized element, It Is little wonder
that the tribes are not enthusiastic in
embracing the Christian religion.
On the other hand. Moslemism appeals 70
them. as it does not carry With Il such a
strict code Of morals. Many OF the tribes
are falling In with Recommendation, and
this portion OF Africa will become a spirit
uAl battle-ground between the Cross.and the
Crescent. one advantage Of the missionary
is that the ambition Of the natives to learn
to read and write brings their children into
the mission school and thus under Chris
tian Influence.
Among the dozen or more native tribes
the Kroos are perhaps the best known.
They are the most muscular Of all African
tribes. for generations they have served
as sailors on the vessels engaged in the
African coast trade and enjoy the reputa-
ton OF always possessing a steady nerve
and a cool head. They are passionately
fond Of freedom and while slave trading
was going on in Africa they successfully
resisted all attempts to take them. When
an individual was captured, he Invariably
took his life rather than go into servitude,
consequently the Kroos soon we're found
to be Improbable as slaves. They have a
sort Of hereditary chief, who conducts their
business with other tribes and the Liberlan
government. He is a sort Of minister Of
foreign relations. The actual government
of the tribe is in the hands of the elders,
whose badge Of office is an iron ring worn
about the leg. They meet and make the
laws governing the tribe, and act as judges
in the few cases that cannot be settled by
the individuals themselves.
Another tribal officer is the president.
who keeps the symbols and seals Of the
government and uses them in accordance
with established regulations. He also con-
ducts a sort of twentieth century edition Of
the ancient city OF refuge. Any trlbesman
accused Of q crime may flee to his house
for protection, and his security is assured
until he has been proved guilty. Land is
held by the tribe as a whole, but is par
celed out to actual tillers to be held by
them so long as cultivation continues.
Once this ceases the tract reverts to the
government.
One who lands at Monrovla, the capital
Of Liberia, on a gala occasion may see all
sorts and conditions of negroes from the
Breechcloth bushman to the polished uni
versity graduate. Some will be dressed a
la mode, others may have a discarded silk
hat and hickory cotton shirt, and still 9TH
ers a threadbare Prince Albert coat and
bare legs. When the natives come to town
they usually bring enough palm oil and
other commodities to pay the expenses Of
the trip.
Each tribe has its W peculiar dialect
and customs. but one thing that is common
to all Is the welcome extended to \the
periodical visitation E, of the driver ant.
Tropical weather and tropical habits are
not conducive to extreme cleanliness in
household affairs, and nearly all of the
nuts which constitute the homes of the
poorer classes of Liberia sbecome infested
with verrnin. Periodically the driver ants
set out on big ~foraging expeditions, great
hordes of them visiting every place that
promises a juicy bug or other toothsome
insect. Therefore house cleaning IN the
wildH of Liberia consists OF no more trouble
than giving the driver ant access to every
nook and Granny.
The man who is now president Of Liberia
Is the first one ever elected who was not
a preacher. He Is Arthur Barclay, a full
blooded West India negro. Fighting Bob
Evans tells an amusing story of a cere-
monial visit he made to a LIberian ruler
when he was a captain in the navy. While
talking with the president the swish OF
silk skirts was heard and the ALTAR old
sea-dog instinctively arose. A dusky wo-
man came in and was presented as the
first lady OF Liberia Fighting Bob. &C
knowledging the Introduction, said
'Howdy, Auntie how are your" The Ii
berian president was amused and laugh
ingly inquired: What part Of the south
are you rom" Evans acknowledged ia
having been born in Floyd county, Vir-
ginia. well, that's a coincidence" re-
marked the president, I'm from the Old
Dominion myself. l was born In Dinwiddie
county"
BX RR8DEBI0 J. KAsKxN.