84 
LIBERATED AFRICANS. 
to expect. The soil is a close clay saturated with 
iron, and therefore cannot be fertile. Such, indeed, 
having soon been ascertained by the early settlers, 
their attention was directed to other localities in the 
vicinity ; whether, with greater success, we had not 
o])portunity to ascertain. But it must appear a matter 
of surprise that this thickly-peopled colony should not 
produce anything fit for exportation. The trade in 
African oak, and cam-wood seems to be a wanton 
neglect of the rich capabilities with which this region 
is endowed by nature. This surely is a subject for 
deep consideration. The Africans collected here, in 
such multitudes, ought to furnish abundant and cheap 
laboiu’, and yet there is no cultivation on a grand 
scale, such as to create a staple in the colony. Much 
diligence is excited in converting and educating, to a 
certain extent, the liberated Africans, but without any 
beneficial influence on the mass, nor on the neighbour- 
ing tribes. This is not very satisfactory, and it proves 
that the original and main object contemplated on the 
formation of the colony, namely, to form a nucleus of 
Civilization, and to rear a body of free labourers, whence 
they might be diffused to the surrounding nations, has 
not been advanced.’’ 
The liberated Africans on their arrival are appren- 
ticed to a planter till their twentieth year, after that a 
])iece of land is apportioned to them, which procures 
a maintenance, scanty it is true, but sufficient for 
