Liberia «4- 



friendly disposition towards them. The French dealt with 

 them as with old and faithful friends, went on shore unarmed, 

 committed their persons and effects to the safeguard of the 

 natives, and never had any reason to repent of this confidence. 



" The rehgion of the natives of Mesurado is a kind of 

 idolatry, ill understood, and blended with a number of. super- 

 stitions, to which, however, few of them are bigoted. They 

 easily change the object of their worship, and consider their 

 fetishes only as a kind of household furniture. The sun is the 

 most general object of their adoration ; but it is a voluntary 

 worship, and attended with no magnificent ceremonies." 



" In the space of a few leagues are many villages swarming 

 with children. They practise polygamy, and their women are 

 very prolific. Besides, as those people deal no further in slaves 

 than by selling their convicted criminals to the Europeans, the 

 country is not depopulated like those in which the princes 

 continually traffic in their subjects. The purity of the air, the 

 goodness of the water, and the abundance of every necessary 

 of life all contribute to people this country. 



" The natives are of large size, strong, and well proportioned. 

 Their mien is bold and martial, and their neighbours have 

 often experienced their intrepidity, as well as those Europeans 

 who attempted to injure them. They possess genius, think 

 justly, speak correctly, perfectly know their own interests, and, 

 like their ancient friends the Normans, recommend themselves 

 with address and even with politeness. Their lands are carefully 

 cultivated, they do everything with order and regularity, and 

 they labour vigorously when they choose, which, unfortunately, 

 is not so often as could be wished. Interest stimulates them 

 strongly, and they are fond of gain without appearing so. 

 Their friendship is constant ; yet their friends must beware 

 of making free with their wives, of whom they are very jealous. 



98 



