Liberia ^ 



great as often mentioned in round numbers by contemporary 

 and later writers : the official census, as already stated, made 

 it out at 2,247, to which might be added about four hundred 

 in Maryland. But attached to these Negroes and Mulattos 

 of America were already large bands of freed slaves and 

 a good following of friendly natives. A lighthouse had been 

 built on Cape Mesurado ; the slave trade had been practically 

 abolished along the St. Paul's River and on the Basa and 

 Kru coasts, and very nearly done away with at Cape Mount 

 and in the Vai country. Twenty churches had been built, 

 ten schools, and four printing presses. The Liberia Herald 

 commenced its issue as a newspaper in 1824, with Russwurm 

 (afterwards Governor of Maryland) as editor, and was 

 followed later on by the African Luminary. A system of paper 

 money had been adopted to facilitate trade with the natives. 

 These first notes were of a most original nature. Writing, 

 which would have been unintelligible to the natives, was replaced 

 by pictures, generally of natural objects akin to the value of 

 the note, which was also transcribed in figures. A constant 

 service of sailing vessels kept up communication between Liberia 

 and Baltimore. 



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