Maryland State Archives
Maryland Colonization Journal Collection
MSA SC 4303

msa_sc4303_scm11070-0034

   Enlarge and print image (5M)     
 Jump to  
  << PREVIOUS   NEXT >>
clear space clear space clear space white space


 

Maryland State Archives
Maryland Colonization Journal Collection
MSA SC 4303

msa_sc4303_scm11070-0034

   Enlarge and print image (5M)     
 Jump to  
  << PREVIOUS   NEXT >>
36 COLONIZATION JOURNAL. 1 1 (ORIGINAL.) FAREWELL OF THE EMIGRANT Conic on, come on, bold hearts, firm hauds! That fear not to brave the sea; Come on,—we are bound to the distant lands, Where we'll live, the untrammelled free. Some sail for wealth on the heaving deep; Some sail for the warrior's gear; But we, when the billows'crest we sweep, For the*home of our fathers steer. What matters it, whether the oak or palm Is our shade Irolii the mid-day e.lun ; What matters it, whether 'tis storm or calm, If Liberty's home is there? Though we'll owe our bread to our weary toil, Where the winds round L'ape I'almas play, Vet the Kroouian's hut is on Freedom's soil, And His far from the white man's sway. Come on, let tin; cravens stay behind, As comrades none such we claim: Farewell, farewell, to the willful Mind, In the land where ihev live iit shame. They think the breath Bra master's power Less keen than the ILirinattan; And that freedom's self is a clitV-boru flower, Beyond their contracted span. But we,—bold hearts, firm hands shall prove, We can win what we nobly dare, And though upon palm-girt shores we rove, We shall crouch to no masters there: And the Hag, on whose broad and azure tielJ, The Liberian cross we sec, Shall wave o'er our heads, a nation's shield, When borne by the slave made free. From the Missionary Herald. WESTERN AFRICA. Journal and Letters from Mr. Wilson, written at Cape Palmas. DIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES—SCHOOLS—CUSTOMS OPPOSED TO CHRISTIANITY. Under date of April 1st, 1836, after re- marking on the difficulty to be encountered in acquiring u knowledge of the language, arising principally from the want of intelligent interpreters, and mentioning that the school of Mrs. Strobel, the coloured assistant, con- nected wilh the mission, contained forty pupils, Mr- Wilson adds— 'Two of our boy* speak a dialect different from that of the tribe among whom we live. Th:s will not surprise you, however, when it is remembered liovv numerous are the lan- guages of this country. The people of this settlement cannot go more than twenty miles in any direction, without meeting a language that they cannot understand. And there are within thirty-live miles of this place, along the windward beach, three distinct dialects. One village has its own language, the inhabitants of which do not speak that of either of the two neighbouring settlements, although one- is within ten and the other twelve miles of it, on opposite sides How nearly these lan- guages are allied I am not sufficiently ac- quainted with them to determine. The simi- larity, if considerable, consists in structure, and not in individual words; for these, except a few of common use along the coast, are quite dissimilar. We have commenced an exercise in our schools which promises much good. It is to teach our American boys the native language, and the native boys the English. Our mode is to assemble both classes in our house every evening, and devote about one hour to the ex- ercise. The American boys are required to speak n sentence in (lie country language, and each of the natives one in English. Every sentence t- analyzed and understood by all present. We are by this amused us well us instructed; and I trust that this acquisition will be devoted to the glory o!' God. We could, if it were desirable, enlarge our school almost to any extent. But we cannot at present attend to more than threo or four, in addition to the number we have ; and we shall be compelled no doubt to refuse many who will apply. Had Mrs. Wilson any one to assist her in her domestic affairs, she might teach a greater number; but she has not, and there is no probability that she will have such aid, until one comes from America. We have been trying ever since we came to Africa to get an American woman that would suit, but have failed, and wo have now a native man who cooks for us and the boys, and does much better than any one we have previously had. We have five boys whom we think of setting off next year as teachers. Two of them will be fully grown and the other three in one year will be near the size of manhood. They will be capable of teaching reading, writing, arith- metic, and somo of them geography. My wife exercises thetn on the Lancastenun plan at times, with reference to this object. The peculiar customs and laws of native society here will interpose serious obstacles to the practical operation of Christianity. 1 might enumerate a variety of examples, but will confine myself at present to one or two. And first, the marriage contract will present a weighty difficulty. Were it simply poly- gamy, the evil would be materially less; but it is polygamy in a most unfortunate form. Females become wives by purchase from the age of four to twelve year*; and it would be difficult to find a single girl of the age often, who has not been sold. Fathers purchase them at this early period for their sons of a corresponding age, so that the feelings of neither party are ordinarily consulted. In- deed the task of procuring and distributing wives is not so much the duty of one man, as of a family or tribe. Each tribe embraces several families, and one individual is selected from it by unanimous consent, as the head, and distinguished in a political sense as head- man. He is also an important officer in the general government. In his hands are depo- sited all, or nearly all, of the disposable pro- perty that belongs to the individual members of the family, however numerous it may be. No matter how long any member may have been absent, or how fortunate ho limy have been in amassing money, when he returns home, he faithfully deposites it with the head of the family, and is allowed to retain nothing more than a piece of cloth to wear, corres- ponding with his age. The head of the family, on the other hand, is amenable to the community at large for all the misdemeanors of tin family. If any one is fined, (and this is the most common punishment.) the head-man i-i compelled to pay it, though it should amount to every larthiug in his possession. lie is also answerable to the individuals who deposite funds in his hands, und is compelled to give them wives, if there tire any on hand, or purchase lliein, provided the general fund will allow. Should another member be indolent, or contribute nothing to the common stock, he cannot of course prefer any claim. Now the evil which I apprehend is this, such boys as wo receive into our schools, if they con- tinue with us as long as they ought, will con- tribute nothing to their family stock of money, ami when Ihey are men grown, nod ready, if need be, to engage as teachers for the mission, it will be useless for them to apply to their respective head-men for wives. They will wish, as other men do, to have wives; but by the customs of the country they will be de- barred. If it is said they might lay up a suffi- ciency of what they may receive lor their services as teachers, it is replied that they must then go into the ranks of children to find them, and be for ten or twelve years without wives, and all the while exposed to a vice of the most degrading kind, undone more exten- sively prevalent in Africa than any other. NATIVE FUNERAL—BOA CONSTRICTOR—LEOPARD. A few days since I had an opportunity to witness a native funeral. The deceased was a man of rank, and his burial was attended w.th more than ordinary display. The corpse was placed in a canoe of suitable size before the door of the house, where it remained several hours; during which time all the friends and relatives of the deceased, however remotely connected, brought their offerings of cloth, china, beads, or something else, and laid (hem in the canoe, as a final tribute ol regard. This was the first instance in which 1 ever saw the generosity of this people tri- umph over their avarice. More presents were brought than could be deposited in the canoe and the chest that was to accompany it. Se- veral persons were sent away with their offer- ings. The women brought many large jars of boiled rico as their contribution. A bullock, a goat, and several fowls were lulled, and portions of each were carried to the place of interment. During these preparations drums or 'frurnfrums' were beating, and about a dozen men were firing guns. It is consi- dered a great deficiency at a funeral not to fire a large number of guns; and usually they are fired from the time the individual expires until he is buried. When all necessary pre- parations were made, two persons carried the corpse on tluir heads, accompanied by a large number who were to carry his food, to fire guns, etc. W hen the procession had gone about half way, the pall-bearers suddenly wheeled about, and run back to town. 1 in- quired the cause of this unexpected move- ment, and was told that the dead man was not willing to go. Alter renewed exertion, how- ever, he consented, and was taken to the island where all the dead are deposited. No grave is prepared, and the dead arc laid on the ground without any covering, except the canoe which is laid over the body. The presents which are made ore for the use of the deceased, showing a very deep con- viction on the minds of the people, that there is an existence after death. It is remarkable, however, that every article which is taken for the use of the dead is destroyed. If it is a mug, it is broken to pieces; if a piece of cloth, it is torn to rags. The secret intention of this is to prevent them from being stolen. They say that the dead man can make them whole and sound whenever he wishes to use them. The practice of feeding the dead, especially great men, is very common along this part of the const, but not at this settlement; and the people interpret all their dreams as visitations from their departed friends, and are extremely superstitious in this respect. The men seldom if ever shed a tear over a dying friend, and usually appear heartless on such occasions. The women, however, give vent to their grief in the most touching expressions of sorrow. Hotv sincere their pretensions are I do not know, for it is their business to mourn over the dead. When shall life and immortality, us brought to light in the gospel, be compre- hended by them ? When shall they be able by the eye of faith to trace the footsteps of their departed friends to the realms of glory .»' Under date of May 17th, Mr. Wilson writes— 'We are occasionally visited by some of the monsters of Africa. A few months ago we killed a boa constrictor of enormous size. A few evenings since our yard was visited by a leopard, and you may judge of ils size and powers from the circumstance, that it carried off a full-grown sheep, leaping with this load two fences not less than eight feet high. These animals are frequently seen about the settlement, and are sometimes very destructive to domestic animals, but they seldom attack a human being. To kill one of them is esteemed i by the natives a herculean feat, and the man who has the courage and good fortune to do it is raised to distinguished favour. The inci- dent to which I have referred has been the occasion of developing a curious fact in ro'a- tion to the superstitions of the natives about the leopard. His flesh is regarded as a choice dish, yet one family, and that embraces a fourth part of the population of the place, do not taste it, owing to a superstitious tradition handed down for several centuries. One of their distinguished ancestors, who was a great warrior, and regarded as invulnerable for many years, was finally destroyed by a leo- pard. Fetish was made fur the iiiun, and he uttered a command to his posterity to the end of lime never again to taste of this annual ; and it is probable that the injunction has been rigidly observed by the whole family tor inuny centuries. The teeth of a leopur.l are con- sidered by the natives as almo.-t a fortune— they weur them around their necks mid legs; and no pearl whatever would be more highly prized.' On the '23rd of May, Mr. Wilson adds — 'When Mrs. Wilson up, nod school little less than a year ago, the people, to say the least, were very indifferent about sending their children. They with glad enough lo have lis live here, for this they supposed would enable them to sell a little more of their rice, fowls, etc.; but seemed to think that the art of reading and writing could not be acquired by their children, or would require quite too long a period of labour. They have, frequently said that education was a good thuig, and might be advantageous to their children, but before that time they themselves would be dead and could not partake of the advantages; and they would, therefore, ruthcr have their sous to fish and farm. One boy, however, has staid with us ever since, and can now read and write with tolerable cuse. This ha- filled tlio people with no little surprise,especially that he should have acquired the wonderful art of writing. They do not regard educa- tion now as unattainable, but begin to bring their sons of their own accord. We received one boy a lew days since that was brought thirty or forty miles to be taught. And we were not a little affected this morning lo see a mm bringing his Utile sou, just washed and his head neatly shaved, and telling us that we might have linn for ourselves, if we would only teach him (in his own word ) to 'sabh, book.' Closing his communication on the 14th of June, Mr. Wilson subjoins the following para- graph on the same subject. 'We have recently been compelled to re- fuse several applications for the want of time and assistants lo attend to more. The king was here yesterday fo intercede for his bro- ther's sun, whom we had turned away (br had conduct ; and us there were several other important men present, I embraced the oppor- tunity to set forth the advantages of educa- tion. The king appeared particularly in- terested, and went immediately J......- - and brought his favourite son and put Ima in our charge. We know the fickleness of these people, however, und do not indulge any un- due anticipations.' Two weeks later Mr. Wilson gives the following account of the— DAILY LABOURS OF THE MISSION—SCHOOLS AND DESRIRE FOR INSTRUCTION. For the last two months both Mrs. W. and myself have enjoyed very good general health, and been enabled to prosecute mi r respective de- partments of la hour wilh little or no interruption, l'erliaps it may not be amiss to give you a sum- mary sketch of our situation and daily employ- ment. The morning, until breakfast, which is at an early hour,we appropriate to private devo- tion and lamily worship, After breakfast und until nine o'clock, Mrs. Wilson is attending to her domestic concerns and I lo bodily exercise. From nine to twelve o'clock she is in her school, and I with my native boy poring over the country lunguuge. From twelve to two o'clock we spend in reading together, at dinner, etc. From two until four or half alter four, Mrs. W. is again in her school, and I am either writing or attending to secular business connected with our establishment. From four to six we are generally walking or taking exercise in some other way. We have tea ut an early hour, immediately afler which the boys are assembled in our room fur evening prayers, and for reciting English and native sentences. Sabbath morning previous to preaching Mrs. W. instructs the American boys on religious subjects; and the natives between forenoon and afternoon service; and the evening is usually spent m social worship. Afy evenings, excepting Sabbath, are devoted to the study of the native language. This is the line of engagements that wo have marked out and ordinarily pursue, but we are liable to numberless interruptions. It may be thought that we are bestowing an undue portion of our attention upon education, but it would not, I think, if our situation was thoroughly understood. I have not yet suffi- ciently mastered the native tongue to be able by it to preach to the people; and the scanty knowledge which my instructor has of English does not fit him to be a safe interpreter. The liability to mislead the people on the great principles of Christianity through such u medium, is very considerable; and very few who are acquainted with our situation would recommend such a course. Besides it ourrht to be remembered that schools and education (I mean the elements of reading and writing) have special claims upon the attention of a missionary in a country like this. If they are. not regarded as indispensables to the introduc- tion ol Christianity, they must be so regarded in respect to its extension and perpetuity. Had the people a written language of their own and schools, then our most obvious duty would be to preach, to translate the Bible, tracts, etc. into that language, and circulato them among the people. Hut the condition of this people is vastly different. Tim mis- sionary has, in the first place, to form n lan- guage, or to reduce an existing barbarism to some kind of system ; erect schools, and leach people to write and read Iheir own tongue. Besides, the hesitancy which is felt by white men about coming to this part of Africa ren- ders the duty of training native teachers as speedily as possible very obvious. Our school now bonMStl often native, boys, two native girl-', five American boys, and two America:! girls—in all nineteen ; lo which we expect soon to add four nam native girls. To this number we shall be compelled to hunt ourselves until we have more assistance from Americii as the whole of I hem, except the two American girls, live With U», and cuiisu no small amount of cure. Our school has be- come very pipnI ir, and in such a maimer as frcq ie:itly to tiHorl our h'-arts. Wo have been compelled wiiliin a I'rw days past to de- cline ¦ half • doien or more appiicationi, and I have been affected to*(earn when I have seen (hn.-o heathenish parents loading their re- luctant sons from our booea because we could not receive them. yesterday afternoon about dusk one of our biys was hailed by nnotlier of his country lads, who stood without, the gate, and requested to go und 'ask Wilson if hu would not take another buy into his yard to learn book.' He was called in, and upon in- quiry it was found that he had come, being about eight or ten years of age, by himself", und with the consent of his father, from a neighbouring village to plead his own cause for a place m our schools. When 1 told him that we could not now take him. his disap- pointment was indescribably touching; and it was with no little hesitancy that lie consented to return, notwithstanding I promoted that at some future li:nu I would uduiit him to our school. The people arc not so willing to BiSCa their daughters in our charge, being regarded by their parent* ai marketable proporty, and they being rewind by us to gtva a pledge that th ly never will afterwards evil them or dispose of then) in any way contrary lo their personal wishes. Even on theee ground*, however, wo can procure as many as wv can Well tako care of. In a subsequent filer, dated July tOth, Mr. Wilson mikes somo additional remarks on the same subject. 'Our favourite boy anil my principal teacher, Wast r, Ciine to my study this morning lead- ing ¦ naked native girl about eight years of age, und aSCoeted, ma In his broken English by saying, 'Missor Wilson, how you hkodisher gal?' I told him very well; but asked him at the fame time what he mount. lie ex- plained by saying, that her father wished to betroth her to bun, and that if we would take her 'and learn her book ami all AKrica fash, my heart be very glad for dat palavar; for,' said he, 'bymby 1 bo proper Meriea mini my- self, den 1 no want Oeau here woman fur my wife, cause he no sabhy ay thing but for bring Water and woo.'.' J lohl him we would take her if her tiitlnr Would request it ; but that wo would not recognize any right on Ins part to control her, nod would allow no connection between him and her until sho became mar- riageable according to American ueagef] and he must ulso pledge htm«elf never to have more llian one wife. To nil of which ho assented, and wo shall probably take the girl into our family. We have two other* bearing the same relation and under similar obliga- tions. We are always gratified to get both the sexes into our family, when we find such a relationship existing! and we never fail to interpose our influence, when wo can do it judiciously, to prevent these early negotia- tions, though we think it wis.', when such is in existence, to train both parties, that they may be mutual helps to each other. Although 1 regard it as injudicious to preach to the people with my slender knowledge of their language, or through such interpreters as I can command, we nevertheless use vari- ous means to impart the truths of the Bible to our boys and girls; and we arc rewarded by seeing them generally favourable to religion, iii somu cases decidedly affected by its truths. One of our little giris sometimes evinces an anxious interest on the subject ; and though sin.' lias not as yet given us evidence that her beatt has been renovated, we cannot but hope that God will perfect what we hope he has begun, Mrs. Strobel's school will commence in two weeks and 1 have already had twelve or fifteen applications for that, Wit well under- stand the fickleness of fins people, however, and do not expect that a day-school, without furnishing board, will be sustained without a vigorous ami persevering effort on our part. The native people of this settlement will bo very decidedly opposed to our establishing a school at ftocktown, because they bear in heart a grudge of longstanding against that people. But their feelings will of course be disregarded in such a matter. The Lord is blessing us with good health and contented minds; ami we hope soon to bo cheered by the arrival of our associates. We feel that we have been excluded from all society that was congenial, for the last two years ; but in this God seems to be regarding us with a favourable eye. JOHN D. TOY, PRINTER, CORNER OF MARKET AND ST. PAUL STREETS.