88 
VEGETATION AND SOIL. 
There are schools, provided with maps, and some 
physical instruments, but it is to be feared a small 
amount of useful instruction ; and there is a printing 
press, from which emanate two newspapers, wherein 
party spirit seems to run as high as inmiore extensive 
communities. Lastly, their mission is of peace, yet 
they have almost always been at war with the adjoining 
nations. 
‘‘ The vegetation of this part of Africa is very similar 
to that of Sierra Leone. Sarcocephelus esculentus 
grows abundantly, and the fruit called Pomme granate 
by Don ; a Poivreay with beautiful red flowers, seems 
new; Cassia occiclentalis, and a herbaceous Phyllan- 
thus were found in abundance. Around the dwellings, 
coflue trees have been planted, but are left to grow too 
freely ; limes, figs, curcas, ananas, Sour sop or Anona 
muricata, Cytisus cajan, and arrow-root are cultivated. 
Bananas and the oil palm occur of course, and the 
guava, recently introduced, has become a weed.” 
The land is not very rich ; on the shore is the same 
iron-clay as at Sierra Leone, and somewhat higher up 
towards the Cape Mesurado, the same diallage accord- 
ing to Mr. Roscher, only it is of a finer grain, and 
firmer. In several places the percolation of water has 
produced singular forms, almost models of mountain 
ranges. Although the neighbourhood of Monrovia is so 
densely covered with thick underwood, is intersected by 
rivers with their accompanying swamps, a clay soil, and 
other causes likely to induce disease ; the colonists are 
