Liberia <4- 



The belief in mineral wealth in Liberia then (and perhaps 

 one may add now) was persistent but hypothetical. Benjamin 

 Anderson had written a great deal that was alluring about 

 mines of fabulous wealth in the vicinity of Musadu, which, 

 however, he had not been allowed to visit. He had tried to reach 

 these regions in 1874, but had failed. Although the French 

 have since occupied this country and presumably have explored 

 it, the wonderful gold-mines of Buley Q Bula) have not been 

 discovered, or if they have been found by the French they have 

 been kept absolutely secret. But after the diamond discoveries 

 in South Africa in 1869 and the revival of the gold-mining 

 industry on the Gold Coast following on Burton and Cameron's 

 journey and report, it was believed that any part of Africa must 

 of necessity be packed with precious stones or minerals of great 

 value. ^ 



Between 1886 and 1888 the writer of this book, then 

 Acting Consul in the Niger Delta, had drawn attention to the 

 existence in that region and in the adjoining Cameroons 

 of enormous quantities of rubber-producing vines and trees. 

 Various French travellers had done the same in regard to 

 Senegambia, and by the end of the 'eighties the great rubber trade 

 of West Africa had begun. Long before this it had been realised 

 that the Liberian forests down almost to the sea coast were 

 equally well provided with rubber-bearing lianas and trees. 

 These and other sources of wealth had been pointed out by 

 the celebrated Swiss traveller, Professor J. Biittikofer, and the 

 question of a rubber concession had been suggested either by 

 a Liverpool or a Hamburg firm. Finally this resulted in the 

 granting of a concession to export rubber (subject to a royalty 

 to the Liberian Government) and to work exclusively all the 



' As to Liberian diamonds the cautious remarks of Professor Biittikofer on 

 p. 426 of vol. i. of his Travels in Liberia should be read. 



288 



