VOYAGE TO THE NIGER. 33 
cultivated; Bananas and Oil Palms occurred of ‘course. 
The plantations were no doubt extensive, but during my 
short stay, I could not see more than those of Cotton and 
Sugar. Anona muricata is much eaten, both here and at 
Sierra Leone, under the name of Soursop ; and I was assured 
that it is considered the finest fruit of all; but I could not 
taste it without disgust: altogether I cannot join in the 
praise of African fruit. The land was not very rich. On 
the shore there is the same iron clay as at Sierra Leone, and 
somewhat higher up to the Cape it also prevails (according 
to Rosher), only finer-grained and firm. In several places 
water (rain?) has percolated, and caused it to assume singular 
shapes, almost models of mountain ridges. 
Monrovia Town has a pleasing appearance, many of the 
houses are large. Few white people are seen. The coloured 
population, with hardly any of whom I had intercourse, ap- 
peared inquisitive, obtrusive, and fond of idleness: no traces 
of hospitality, but an eagerness to make money, and a desire 
to affect importance. The connection* between Liberia and 
the United States I could not make out very clearly. There 
is but one flag flying in Monrovia, that of the United 
States, viz: on the house of the Governor; professedly 
because he is the American Consul. The school-house is a 
large hall, hung with maps of Africa and America; there 
were also near the raised desk some philosophical instru- 
ments, used by the missionary, who had some prepared heads 
of animals, as he told me, to exhibit during his lectures. The 
boys and girls are taught in the same room ; but as I was 
there only during the free hours, I could not witness the 
method of instruction practised. It is singular, that instead, 
as we hear, of Liberi: being on good terms with the 
Natives, it is always at war with them. The last war ended 
Xir 
: * The settlement of Liberia is under the control of a Society, in the 
. United States: the Superintendent being appointed by the Society and 
not by the United States’ government. By the laws of the United States, 
the Federal Union cannot possess colonies beyond the seas.—(H. D. 
Trotter.) -~ : 
D 
