IN WESTERN LIBERIA. 133 



Plains , while the sources of some of them , as is told by 

 the Mandingoes, are to be sought for in the ravines of 

 the Kong Mountains. 



In a swift course , repeatedly interrupted and rendered 

 innavigable by rapids and falls , they cross the thickly 

 wooded mountainous region, where innumerable branches 

 with excellent water and larger tributaries join the main 

 river. After having reached the low lands , they flow calmly 

 on to the sea, forming navigable ways for canoes and 

 rowing boats which are , with the exception of the native 

 carriers, the only means of transportation throughout the 

 whole of Liberia. 



The extent to which the rivers are fit for navigation is 

 very different. While the last rapids of the St. Pauls River 

 are not farther than 20 miles from the coast, some other 

 rivers , as the St. John and the Cavallo R. , are navigable 

 for canoes for 50 miles and more towards the interior. 



Like other countries of Western Africa , Liberia has its 

 dry and its rainy season. The former is during our win- 

 ter, the latter during our summer months. They are se- 

 parated from each other by short transitional periods with 

 storms and thunder-showers , the so-called tornadoes , occur- 

 ring in this district about the time of the equinoxes. 

 Notwithstanding there are no distinct limits to the diflerent 

 seasons, it is accepted by the Liberians as a rule that the 

 dry season begins in the latter half of November or in the 

 beginning of December and closes about the end of April. 

 During the months of December, January and February 

 there blows at night a cold dry landwind, the so-called 

 harmattan , and no rain falls. The lower parts of the 

 forests and plains, inundated during the wet season, be- 

 come dry, the rivulets smaller, the rivers retreat within 

 their banks and their water, during the rains thick and yel- 

 low, becomes as clear as cristal The wet ground produ- 

 ces , on account of the high temperature , an immense 

 quantity of vapor, which especially during the night is 

 condensed by the cold harmattan in the form of mist and 



Notes from the Leyden IVEuseum, Vol. VII. 



