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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0147 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0147 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
| MARYLAND COLONIZATION JOURNAL. 161 "Country Fash," Or, Native Mode of Feeding Children. Mr. Editor.—Thinking that the following brief description of the manner in which the native fe- males feed their children, may not be uninte- resting to some of your readers, I send it to you for insertion in your paper, should it be thought proper. Respectfully yours, Monrovia, July 10, 1839. Lawret. As several of us, some time since, were on our return from a bathing excursion, (a very healthy exercise to those living in a climate like tins. I and were passing through a little town called Kroo- town.our attention was arrested by the cries of a child as if in great distress. We turned aside, went toward the place from whence the cries pro- ceeded, and found that it was one of the native females feeding her infant. The mother sat on a log at the back side of one of the huts with her child in her lap, and by her side a little pot con- taining its food. She held it in her lap in a hori- zontal position, with its head partially between her knees, and its feet passing by her left side. In this position she held its head with her left hand, and its feet by pressing them against her side with her left elbow. The child being thus pinioned, she would take from the pot a handful of its lood, composed ol rice, palm-oil. &c. well boiled and mashed, and unceremoniously cram it into its mouth and nostrils. just as it happened— if she did not take the usual precaution of holding its nose, (as mothers often do when administering medicine to an obstinate child,)—completely suf-. focating, for a while, the little sufferer; and what remained on its face, around its mouth, was press- ed into it, and there kept until it could swallow it and recover its breath. White the child was undergoing the painful operation of disposing of one mouthful, it evi- dently suffered much; not only in being obliged to submit to having its food literally crammed down its throat, but from being deprived of breath for so long a time. As it had opportunity, it mani- fested its misery by its affecting cries and groans. Nor was it allowed but little respite or time for crying; for ere it was aware, another handful was ready, and came slapdash, filling its mouth and nose again, suddenly putting a stop to its shrieks and cries. Thus, after a considerable time has been spent in this manner of feeding, during which perhaps from a pint to a quart has been administered, the mother ascertains whether it has had enough, the snapping with her thunib and finger on the child a stomach (as one would a watermellon to ascer- tain whether it is ripe) to see whether the disten- sion of the belly indicates a sufficiency ; and if so, it is then taken and oiled all over with palm-oil, and laid out on a mat in the sun. It appeared as if the mother would certainly suffocate the child to death in the operation; and one of our party asked her if she would not kill it in feeding it in such a manner. A shake of the head, meaning no, was the reply. The only reasons they give for feeding their children so much, and in this manner, are, as they say, ' want dem hab plenty rice,'— 'it be country fash.' (From Africa's Luminary ) Liberia Conference Seminary. The next term of this Institution will com- mence on the first Monday in July. All who de- sign entering as pupils, are requested to present themselves at the Seminary, at 9 o'clock, A. M. of that day. The instructors are : Jabez A. Burton, A. B. Principal. Mrs. Ann Wilkins, Assistants Mrs. Eunice Moore, The following is the Course of Study, for six years : 6th Class—Spelling, Reading, and Geography, Mental Arithmetic. 5th " Geography, Spelling, and Grammar, Arithmetic to Fractions. 4th " History and Antiquities, Eng. Gram- mar, Arithmetic completed. 3d " Botany and Conchology, Derivations and Definitions of words, Eng. Gram- mar, Algebra. 2d " Evidences of Christianity. Political Economy, Composition, Derivations and Definitions, Algebra, Geometry. 1st " Mental Philosophy. Moral Science, Natural Theology. Composition. Rhe- toric, Chemistry, Experimental Philo- sophy. Monday afternoon—General Exercise in Writing. Tuesday " " Drawing. Wednesday " " Spelling. Thursday " girls, " Needle-work boys, " " Gymnastics. Friday Declamation. The following classical course may he added, at the option of the pupil : 3d Class—Latin Grammar, Historia Sacra. Virgil. 2d " Greek Grammar, Greek Testament, Virgil. 1st " Greek Testament, Graeca Minora, Cicero. A scripture lesson to be prepared by each class weekly. Pupils wishing to be promoted more rapidly than by regular graduation of classes, can be ac- commodated by perfecting themselves in the in- termediate studies. The year is divided into two terms of five months each. The first commences on the first Monday in January—the second, on the first Mon- day in July—admitting a vacation of four weeks between the close of each and the commencement of the next. All the pupils are subject to a public examina- tion in their studies, at the close of each term. The system of government adopted, is that which recognizes the omnipresent Deity as its supreme bead, which refers to his Wold as its standard, and presents the love of God and man as its motives of action ; the whole tendency of which system is, to elevate the character, to -op- press every wrong motive, to strengthen every good principle, and to prepare the subjects of it for every sphere of action, during even stage of their existence. Hence, the ollorts of the in- stiuctois are especially directed to promote Dm love ot order, diligence, and morality ; by appro- priate, kind, and at the same time earnest and energetic representations and instruction; by a * I have since learned that instances sometimes do occur, that when feeding their children they have actu- ally been strangled to death. When they first commence feeding a child, and when it receives its food willingly, they are not particular to hold its nose. But when it be- gins to refuse, in order to oblige it to swallow the more readily, or rather to cram it down its throat with more facility, the nostrils are then held. --[Africa's Luminary good example; by firm, consistent, ami impartial treatment, with a proper application of external motives ami encouragements. As all do not seem to understand the specific character of this institution, we will briefly remind them of its origin. As it lias ever been the policy of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as far as pos-ihle, to educate the youth under its care, whenever such educa- tion has been neglected by the state, it provides I": schools in these colonies simultaneously with its appointment of christian missionaries. In the course of time it was found that, after its youth had passed through these schools, tiny had no op- portunities of receiving farther instruction; and at that epoch the church said, ' means shall he provided. 'The result may be seen in the institu- tion now under consideration. That institution is not a 'high school,' technically so called, neither is it a 'common school,' nor mi an 'infant school.' It is Intended, as far as possible, to answer the three-fold purpose of all these—one in which children can be taught, young persons receive in- struction, and all be aided in their endeavours, the better to serve heir God and their country— one established for the special benefit of the youth of the M.K. Church, bat whose doors are open to all. Terms of Membership.-- A good mora] charac- ter, and compliance with the regulations of the school. It is aim expected that the older pupils will at all times make special effort! to set a good example before the yoosger, and thus not only materially aid in the general establishment of virtue and order, but gain lasting honour to them- selves. Jabez. A. Burton, Monrovia, June 18, 1839. Principal From Africa. By the arrival yesterday of the packet ship Sa- luda, Capl. Waters, from Monrovia, whence she sailed on the I lib November, we learn that the health of the colony was good at the time of her departure. The Saluda bungs home a cargo of Camwood, palm-oil, ivory, foe, We regret to learn that the slave trade on the coast of Africa is carried on as brisk as ever, in spite of the untiring vigilance of toe British cruiz- ers; and it is still mora painful to know, that the piiates engaged in the trallic are American citi- zens, and their vessels built in this country. Wc are informed that the schooner My-Roy, Harvey, master, of New Orleans, was seized in September last, at British Accia, by H. B. M. brig Lynx, Lieat. Boadhead, ami taken to Biem Leone, where she was duly condemned as a sla- ver, and the captain detained a prisoner. From the 1st Nov. to tin' time when the Saluda sailed limn Siena Lcouc, there had been twenty vessels under Portuguese, Spanish, and Brazilian odours, brought in by the British cruizers and condemned., The arrival of the Saluda has placed many let" ters in the hands of the friends of the colony, ad- dressed to them by the settlers, as well as by per- sons in ollice. The following is an extract Iroin a letter written hy Governor Buchanan, daterl Monrovia, Sept. 26 1839: 'Things are generally going on well in the co- lony, and 1 am much encouraged in my work, though it is really and truly herculean. Our co- lonial legislature has just closed its first session under the new constitution. We got through a large amount of business, with the greatest har- mony anil good feeling. The session held about three weeks, dining which time we revised the statute laws of the colony, re-organized and adapted to the new plan of government the whole state of tilings in this ami the colony of Bassa, and passed a number of laws of great importance, a copy of which 1 will try and send you. Hut lest they should not be ready in time, I must in- form you of one or two here. In the first place, we have prohibited the introduction of ardent spirits alter the 1st of December next. In the next place, we have put an end to the piactice of country trading, which has so long exerted a bane- ful inltiieuce on our domestic interests; anil we have added some salutary provisions to former law- against the slave trade. ' By the way, I am exceedingly anxious to learn the fate of my prise, the Euphrates, which has doubtless arrived at Philadelphia before this. The elfect here of her capture ami of her successful expedition to Little Bassa, is of the most happy kind. The natives in every quarter are much more respectful ami friendly, while the slavers have entirely disappeared from this part of the coast. At New Cross and Gallinas the greatest consternation prevails, as it is generally under- stood that my purpose is to attack every (slave) factory along the coast in detail. Would to God 1 bad the power I There are at this time at the two placs Bamed above, about 2,000 slaves in chains, ready to be shipped to the Havana by the fust vessels.' The expedition to Little Bassa, alluded to above, was undertaken by Governoi Buchanan, with the intention of breaking up entirely the slave factory at that place, lie was eminently successful, ha- ving destroyed the factory ami liberated some slaves, who had not been hunieil away into the interior by their barbarous captors.—Norfolk Bea- con, Jan. 16. Liberia and the Mandigoes. Among the interesting communications lately received at the colonization ollice from Governor Buchanan, of Liberia, is a letter ill Arabic, from a Mandiiigo trader, who wai on a visit to the co- lony from his country. There was no person in the colony who could read this letter. A trans- lation of it has been made at the department of state, and we are happy to present it to the public, as a paper Involving considerations of much inte- rest to the negro colony of Liberia. Ibrahim, the writer of the paper, went to Liberia on a trading expedition, and while there, being retptested by Governor Buchanan to (give him a specimen of Arabic writing, he wrote the paper of which we present the following translation. Governor Bu- chanan and Ibrahim had conversed frequently upon the humble slave trade in which the Mau- iliiignes are known to participate;— 'Oh God! The Meanings of God be upon Mo- hammed, and the family of Mohammed, with peace. 'Many salutations from the country of Kokoro, Sultan Mok.m. A vessel came to the laud of Soudan (Negroland) with a prosperous and hap- py voyage. Many vessels have come, anil many people, wishing to sweep the whole country, and to take many men. The people do not wish to sell slaves ; the strong in heart do not wish to sell slaves; they low justice and shun what is evil. This they will do, if it please God There is no power nor strength, but in God alone, the great. As he has said in his word, (the Koran.) How many small armies have completed great ones hy the pi amission of God > Ami God is with those who do food. 'Peace he to him who follows the right path. 'lbrahim wrote this.' This letter, we understand, is very Correctly written in the Koranic Arabic. The letters of the manuscript are Mauritanic, or Mogrebin, and are well written, under the disadvantage of their being made by a pen instead of the calamus, or teed The country occupied by the Mandingo negroes is watered by the Joliba, Quarra, or Niger The tributary streams of the Senegal rise in the Man- dingo country, of which Kokoro is the principal. The geographic distance of the Kokoro from Liberia is about four hundred miles. The Mandingoes constitute the must populous and commercial tribe of Soudan or Negioland. These people ami the I'oolalis form a link be- tween the Moors, or Arabs, of the desert of Sa- hara, and the true negro. According t" .Mr Bryant Edwards, they hate not the thick lips and tlat noses of the more southern tribes, and their hair, though busby and crisped, is not wooly, but suit and silky to the touch. The Mandingoes are, for the most pait, Mo- bammedaM, They read anil write the Arabic of the Koran, and to this superiority over the idobv trious tribes of fetichism, they add that of greater natural sagacity and intelligence. Their govern- ment is republican in its hum, while that if the negro tribes, generally, is monarchical and des- potic. They frequently war with each other, and with those tribes regarded by them as the enemiea of their faith. Indeed, the propagation of the Ko- ran by the sword is an article of Mohammedan faith and precept. The commerce of the interior is chiefly in the hands of the Mandingoes, and they are the factors of the slave traders. It cites lis much pleasure to And, from Ihra- hiins's tetter, that the slave tiade is regarded by Mohammedans as opposed to humanity ami to the pniepts of the Koran. Liberia is destined, by its moral influence upon the neighbouring nations, to exercise a powerful control over the slave trade of the interior, and we hope lor its entile sup- pression. The Mandiiigo traders, returning to their homes, will extern! the knowledge of this free colony of negroes, poeseaaing the aits and the science of the white in in, whose superiority the negro tribes of the coast have so long been accus- tomed to dread. If Africa shall ever receive ci- vilization, it will come from the colony of Liberia. [National Intelligencer. 'Honour To whom honour.'—We were struck with the respect and attteution which were recently paid to the remains of a native. Tebboh. a young man from Jlat/o, went down with the colonists from Monrovia to the scene of the late war, and was mortally wounded in the light. He was brought up with the other wound- ed men, and every assistance rendered, but he died of his wounds. On Sunday, the till, by or- der of Governor Buchanan, his remains, decently shrouded anil placed in a cotlin, were billowed by a respectable concourse of citizens, the governor accompanying them, to the burying-ground. where he was interred with military honours. We re- ceived a polite note of invitation from his excel- lency to join the procession, and would Cheerfully have done so, but we were in the sacred desk at the time, engaged in ministerial duties, and could not leave. A day or two after Tebboh's inter- ment, as we were passing through Krootown, we met Prince Walker, the guardian and 'daddy' of the deceased. 'Well, Piince,' we observed, 'so you lost one of your young men in the war,—we are sorry for you.' 'Yes,' he replied, 'he die, true, but Gubner do him proper, he bury him fine.' [Africa's Luminary. New Enterprise to Liberia.—The aboli- tionists propose to semi out ships to bring home such colonists from Africa as 'are anxious to es- cape from their present miserable circumstances.' Moved by the representations of Louis Sheridan's letter to Mr. L. Tappan, Mr. Genii Smith, of Peterboro' offers $300 out of his private putse to defray the expenses of an agent—'an intelligent, trust-worthy gentleman'—to Liberia, 'to ascertain what persons, if any, are desirous, and at the same time unable, on account of their deep poverty, to get back to the United States !' Such an expedi- tion would doubtless place the practicability of African colonization beyond all question, and we therefore decidedly hope it will be effected. There is not, we venture to say, a sober minded man in either of the colonies, who would be induced to forego the social, civil, and religious blessings of that laud of promise, for 'the leeks ami onions of Egypt:' ami Mr. Sheridan himself would proba- bly be among the most reluctant to leave.* [Newark Daily Advertiser. An Example.—We present an extract from a letter received u short time since, which Speaks more eloquently than we can speak, of the affection with which colonization is begining to lie cherish- ed. The letter was written by Elijah Paine, Esq. of Williainstown, Vermont—a veteran of the re- volution, and a living monument of the patriotism of other and purer days. Judge Paine says : •yesterday I gratified a wish l have for many years entertained, of doing some- thing more tor the colonization society than I have heretofore felt myself able to do. 1 handed to my son, who will be in New York in about leu days, one thousand dollars, lor Ihe use of the American Colonization Society. I was desirous of executing this trust myself, rather than to leave it to my executors. 'There are tens of thousands in the lr. States. who profess to he warm friends to the cause, much more able to give this sum, than I am.' The above needs no comment. Such an ex- ample cannot be unavailing.—African Repository. Granville Sharp, confessedly a genuine phi- lanthropist, and one of the most devoted friends of the negro race, was the chief instrument in locating the first colony at Siena Leone, and sent supplies at his own expense. About I.toil per- sons ol colour, who had been slates in the .Ame- rican colonies and went over to the British during the revolution, and who were subsequently loca- ted in Nova Scotia, petitioned the English go. vernmeiit to he transferred to Sierra Leone, which was done *We think so too. Nay, we know so. Mr She- ridan, since the arrival of Governor Buchanan has signed the new constitution — taken the oath of alle- giance — and become a citizen of the commonwealth of Liberia.—Eds. Lum. Poetry. Hymn by Mrs. Sigourney, on the sailing of the Ninus with one hundred and twenty-six manumit- ted slaves to Bassa Cove. A ship came o'er the ocean Worn this Western World was young. And the forest's solemn shallow O'er hill and valley hung,— It came:—o'er trackless hillows, The Man of Peace to hear, Anil the savage din Itain eyed him Like lion in his Inn But 'neath the o'er-aichinj; Kim tree An oalhlcss truce was made, Anil the ainhusli wihl no more sprari" 1'roin nut the leafy j;|ade; Nor the ilreail war-whoop startled I.one midnight's sliiinucriiu; hand, For red men took the law Of love, As from a brother*! hand ; Ami they blessed him while he founded This City of our love, Wher......w we slrike the lyre of praise, To ilim who rules above. A ship its sail is spreading, Eor that for tropic clime, Where, niiis'd by fiery sun-beams, The palm.tree towers sublime. It seeks that trampled nation, To every ill a prey. Whom lion,, have turn'd aside to heal, When crush'd in dust she lay:__ It seeks that mourning mother, Whose exil'd children sigh, In many a stranger region, 'Neath many a foreign sky:— It bring! them, fraught with blessings, Back to her breeding breast, Heaven's peace, and Christ's salvation, And Freedom's holy rest. Haste, haste, on snowy pinion, Thou messenger of hue, l-'or those who sow the seed thou bcar'st Shall reap the fruit above. Broken Ties By James Montgomery. The broken ties of happier days, How often do they seem To come before our"mental gaze, Like a remembered dresas. Around us each dissevered chain In sparkling ruin lies; And earthly hand can ne'er again Unite those broken ties. The parent of our youthful home, _ The kindred that we loved, Far from our arms perchance may roam. To desert seas removed. Or we have watched their parting breath, And closed their weary eyes, And sighed to think how sadly death Can sever human ties. The friends, the loved ones of our youth, They too are gone, or changed, Or worse than all, their love and truth Is darkened or estranged. They meet us in the glittering throng, \V itli cold averted eyes, And wonder that we weep their wrong, And mourn our broken ties. Oh ! who in such a world as this Could bear their lot of pain, Did not one radiant hope of bliss Unclouded yet remain I That hope the sovereign Lord has given, Who reigns above the skies ; Hope that unites our souls to Heaven, By faith's enduring ties. Each care, each ill of mortal birth, Is sent in pitying love. To lilt the lingering heart from earth, And speed its flight above. And every pang that wrings the breast, And every joy that dies, Tells us to seek a purer rest, Atrd trust to holier ties. (From the Southern Churchman.) 'I have no Influence.' What if the little rain should say. So small a drop as 1 Can ne'er refresh those thirsty fields— I'll tarry in the sky ! What if a shining beam of noon Should in its fountain stay, Because its feeble light alone Cannot create a day ! Doth not each rain drop help to form The cool, refreshing shower; And er'ry ray of light lo warm And beautify the flower J Captain Paul Cuffee, a coloured man of great respectability, and of wealth acquired by his own industry and enterprize, deeply sympathised with the free people of colour of the U. States, and perceived that their elevation could never he effected among the white population. As evi- dence of the soundness of ids judgment, as Well as the benevolence of his heart, he transferred from the United Stab's to Sierra Leone at an ex- pense of $3,000, in his own vessel commanded by himself, thirty-nine free persons of colour, and located tin in there. Western Africa.— A brief letter has been received from a member of the mission at Cape Palinas, dated October JO, nearly three months later than previous advices. General health had been vouchsafed. Mr. and Mrs. l"ayne, were soon to remove to Cavally. The Saluda sailed from Norfolk on the 15th of February flor Africa, having on board the Rev. Mr. Minor and wife, and the Rev Mr. Smith. They are accompanied by 120 emigrants, to whose spiritual comfoit it will be their privilege to min- ister hy the way. Phaiseworthy.—We understand the female. members of the M. E. Church in Monrovia, have recently organized a Dorcas Society, lor the pur- po.....I making up garments for our native con- verts at Heddington.— Africa's Luminary |