Liberia 



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lagoon, is a large triangle of mangrove and pandanus swam{>, 

 known as Bali Island. 



Monrovia ^ itself is built on the western end of a broad 

 promontory or tableland nearly insulated by the creeks of the 

 Mesurado River on the west and north, and by the Junk 

 River on the east. But for the narrow isthmus between 

 Paynesville and the westernmost branch of the Junk River the 

 Monrovian or Cape Mesurado promontory would be a long island, 

 about thirty miles in length and an average three miles in breadth, 

 surrounded by the sea, the Mesurado and the Junk creeks. If 

 this narrow isthmus could be canalised and the Junk River con- 

 nected with the Mesurado lagoon, it would give Monrovia not 

 only safe water communication with the St. Paul's River on the 

 one hand, but with the Dukwia and Farmington Rivers on the 

 east. This would enable an enormous quantity of produce to be 

 brought cheaply, safely, and quickly to Monrovia for shipment 

 by ocean-going steamers. As it is, steam-launches and canoes 

 can penetrate a considerable distance to the east of Monrovia. 



The streets and blocks of Monrovia are rectangular. The 

 town has been laid down with mathematical accuracy ; but the 

 broad streets are merely the surface of the ground in its natural 

 formation : they have never been turned into roads of even 

 surface suitable for wheeled traffic. Abrupt fragments of rock 

 break their surface, which is mostly covered with a fine turf. 

 This turf is the ramification of various herbs mixed with a little 

 grass. It presents a lawn-like appearance from being constantly 

 browsed on by the small cattle which pasture on these roads 

 and give a pretty, almost Arcadian appearance to the capital. 

 In addition to cattle, however, there are pigs of a less pleasing 

 aspect that play the part of scavengers, a part unfortunately 



1 Native name " Duko." The Liberian name is derived from President Mor.rce, 

 U.S.A. 



446 



