^ The Founding of Liberia 



left the poor bewildered colonists under Elijah Johnson's 

 leadership. Only twenty-one among them (and they were 

 scarcely eighty in number) were capable of bearing arms as 

 fighting men. 



Yet Elijah Johnson was a host in himself. Determined 

 not to pass the rainy season on the unhealthy little "Persever- 

 ance " Island in the lagoon, he carried on Wiltberger's idea, 



-*.- mm^mmm^m 



44. I'kOVIDllNCK OR PERSEVERANCE ISLAND ON MESURADO LAGOON (THE ISLET WITH 

 TREES AND A HOUSE JUST BEYOND THE ROOFS. FARTHER AWAY IS BUSHROD ISLAND) 



and in spite of the natives' opposition, he with his band of 

 soldier workers cleared the site of the future Monrovia. The 

 natives " sniped " the labourers from the shelter of the dense 

 forest, and their attacks grew fiercer and more determined, 

 when suddenly a British gun-vessel appeared off Cape 

 Mesurado. The commander inquired into the troubles, and 

 ofl^sred to punish the natives if Johnson would cede a small 

 piece of land to the British Government and hoist the British 



131 



