VOYAGE TO THE NIGER. 6'S3 



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 also some prepared 

 heads of animals, as he told me, 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 Liberia being on good terms with the 

 natives, it is always at war with them. The last war ended 

 about six months ago. The inhabitants allege the destruc- 

 tion of the slave factories as the cause. 



The rainy season had now fairly set in, and my cabin being 

 so damp that I could not dry either plants or paper, to form 

 a collection became impossible, and I carried away but a few 

 single specimens. 



Near Monrovia, is a Kroo town, whence fishermen, in their 

 small canoes and with angling lines, came paddling about our 

 ship. Except a slight covering on the head, they were quite 

 naked ; and in warm weather, this was probably the fittest 

 attire for them. 



Towards the evening of Tuesday, July 6th, we left Mon- 

 rovia, and until Thursday evening, were in tow of the Albert. 

 We then proceeded, by ourselves to Grand Bassa, where we 

 anchored on Friday morning, for the purpose of taking in 

 fuel. We stayed several days, not one of which passed 

 without rain, sometimes most violent throughout the entire 

 day. This and other circumstances, limited my researches to 

 the immediate vicinity of the shore, where, however, I found 

 more plants than I was able to preserve. I made a collection 



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.) 



VOL. V, AAA 



