KROOMEN AND FISIIMEN. 33 



required, and I was much struck by the simpli- 

 city and manliness of their answers. ** English- 

 man go to debil, Krooman go with him/' was their 

 general reply ; a proof not only of the inherent 

 bravery of the people, but of their confidence in 

 the character of an Englishman, and, let me add, 

 also a tacit admonition to their employers of the 

 responsibility they are under to treat them well, 

 and, by setting them a proper example, to pre- 

 serve their good opinion. As I consider myself 

 under great obligations to this class of men, I 

 may be excused for adding a short account of 

 their country, their habits, and pursuits. 



The Kroo country extends from Simon River 

 along the coast to Cape Palmas, and from 

 thence to Cape Lahoo. The inhabitants of 

 that district consist of two distinct classes, 

 namely, Kroomen and Fishmen ; the former be- 

 ing the best axemen and servants on shore, and 

 the latter excelling as boatmen and sailors. The 

 dexterity of the Fishmen in the water is quite 

 astonishing. They avail themselves of their su- 

 perior skill in this respect to waylay the Kroo- 

 men on their return from Sierra Leone in the 

 small canoes in which they are accustomed to 

 make the passage along the coast laden with 



VOL. I. D 



