THE AFRICAN REPOSITORY, AND COLONIAL JOURNAL. Published semi-monthly, at $1 50 in advance, when sent by mail, or $200 if not paid till after the expiration of six months, or when delivered to subscribers in cities. VOL. XVIII.] WASHINGTON, AUGUST 1, 1841. [No. 15. FROM THE LIBERIA HERALD. THIS place was settled in the year 1832, during the administration of Governor MECHLIN. The site, for years, had been looked upon by the merchants, as a place of considerable commercial importance, and so early as the year 1826, factories for the purchase of camwood, ivory, palm oil and rice, had been established in its environs upon Factory Island, and subsequently up Benson's river, and upon what is now sometimes called Hawkin's point. But all those were for temporary convenience of traders, there being nothing done with a view to permanently settling in the neighborhood, or making it the home of any colonist, until about the above mentioned time. And after the determination was formed to colonize the place, the strength of opposing tribes of natives, the design of treachery imputed to those that pretended friendship, and the difficulty of obtaining succor in case of invasion, presented obstacles that for a long time none but the most daring were disposed to encounter. The Government beat up for volunteers-represented the advantage which effecting a settlement would ensure-added bounty to farm lands-spread forth in the spirit of patriotic enterprise the inviting charter of the rights and privileges of Liberians, with renewed promises of attention and supply. In 1832, nine years ago, thirty-three were first sent down from Monrovia and the other settlements as pioneers, to take possession, clear a spot for a settlement, and prepare the way for the families they had left behind, and such others as might be disposed to follow. They began by opening a small place in the thick underwood, erecting their houses of rather rude construction, facing the opposite sides a square, and then with considerable care and labor, barricading their little village with a strong high fence, the nucleus of greater numbers and a mightier effort. For several months, they employed themselves in clearing the site upon which the town of Edina now stands, and prosecuting such other work as a pure regard to public good and common safety suggested. Contrary to all the apprehensions which their suspicions had raised, the natives who in the first instance befriended them, firmly adhered to their interests in every subsequent difficulty and peril. Had they been disposed, il.ev might have joined with the powerful tribes inimical to this junior member of the commonwealth of Liberia--have cut it off with a stroke, or strewed its future path with obstacles of such magnitude as to cause it to linger out a very useless existence, and place its growth and maturity upon grounds altogether too questionable for any experiment, beyond the urgent necessities of the present hour. But a wise and overruling Providence, in mercy, prevented any such disaster. They might have taken neutral ground, and when the savage yell and the sound of the appalling war-horn were heard, cultivated their fields and enjoyed their domestic quiet; but no, when the lives and liberties of the colonists were assailed, they promptly took the field in their defence.This is particularly true of BOB GRAY, an active and powerful chief in this neighborhood. The kind offices of this man have been coeval with the earliest difficulties of these Colonies, with the surrounding natives, and no effort of opposing tribes has hitherto been effectual in lessening his unflinching regard for the cause of the settlers. During the first struggles to maintain their ground against their enemies, he lived in the vicinity of Messurado-was present in the native councils of war-was accurately informed of all their movements gave immediate intelligence of the time and intended mode of attack; and on one occasion, during an embargo, when provisions were scarce in the Colony, secretly conveyed to the colonists nearly a hundred croos of rice to sustain them during the war. At that time, among the natives, he was no very conspicuous character; but since, having collected around him a number of his countrymen, who look up to him as a head-man, he moved into the neighborhood of Edina, where individuals from other tribes are frequently resorting to him for protection from the murderous influence of saucy-wood laws, and other barbarous customs. He can now at pleasure send into the field quite a respectable force. At the time of the massacre of the emigrants at Port Cresson, he seemed indignant at the atrocious conduct of JOE HARRIS, and took the field against him with a spirit that would have done honor to a more cultivated mind. In the more recent conflict with the Fishmen, Вов GRAY showed himself the friend of the colonists, by a ready tender of his own and the services of his men ; and we do think that Liberia would be acting consistently with the dignity of its councils, and the true interests of the Colony to settle upon that man a pension to be annually paid him, as a remuneration for past services. But there is another thought of some importance to a christianized mind, and that is, the influence of the Christian religion and civilized society is much more perceptible upon GRAY's people, than any of the other contiguous tribes. A great many of his people speak English tolerably well. From long association with the colonists, and the opportunities they have had of comparing their own and the habits of those under the elevating power of christianity and corrected moral principle, they seem desirous of a more full acquaintance with these great safety valves of civil society.— That this desire is sincere, appears from their giving up some of the most odious features of their mythology. We do not say that the desire is intensely strong, but sufficiently so for a more full display of christian benevolence than has hitherto been exercised with reference to GRAY's people. He claims to be thought the friend of the Americans, and of the sincerity of his friendship, he has given the most incontestable evidence. That something has been done, no one disputes; but GRAY wants at his town a school, his children clothed and boarded. He thinks this is due to him. A strong hold would be taken in the conversion of his people ;— through him a very effectual door would be opened widely to other tribes, speaking the same language, and pioneers made ready for immediate service. Whether it would be in the eye of christian benevolence, sound policy to embrace this opportunity, is for those to judge to whom the supervision of its means and operations are committed. But to return to our history. The little town Edina, which we left in the barricade, soon began to enlarge. The hardy pioneers, joined by the families they had left behind, one after another ventured out of their little circumvallation, and erected as a more permanent place of residence, upon the lots drawn from the Government, such buildings in kind and size, as best suited their means and convenience. Thus house has been added to house, and one thatched building after another has given place to the framed dwelling with shingle roof, until now, according to the best information, there are upwards of a hundred framed houses in this town, and about three hundred inhabitants; besides the very flourishing settlement of Bassa Cove, upon the opposite side of the St. John's river, and the little town of Bexley, lying five miles up the St. John's. Edina is situated on a tongue of land between the Atlantic ocean and the confluent waters of the St. John's, Mechlin's, and Benson's rivers. As a town, from natural causes, it must remain circumscribed. The ocean on one side, and the waters of the above named rivers on the other, forbid much enlargement in width; and being brought to an angle towards the southeast by the meeting waters of the ocean and river, on the northwest skirted by lowlands, (though now effectually ditched and drained,) prevent great extension lengthwise. But the natural position of these two sister settlements, Edina and Bassa Cove, at the confluence of these three rivers, seem clearly enough to predict their destiny and relative importance to the adjacent country. These streams, coming from different directions, and of different degrees of navigableness, are destined from far and near to bear upon their bosoms, to these markets upon the ocean's shore, the valued products of an inexhaustably rich interior. Here will be the residence of the merchant, the mechanic, and the man of business; while the fertile lands that line the elevated banks of the St. John's and Mechlin, will at tract the industrious, gratify the taste of the farmer and ruralist, and form the delightful retreat of the man grown gray and weary in the service of his country. And what is of great importance to the christian philosopher is, that from these settlements, as above hinted, the lines of christianity can, and we sincerely hope will, radiate in as many directions as from any other seat of civilization on the coast. In building here, on this little neck of land, one important post of the enemies of Christ has been stormed and taken. A devil's-bush, in which is concocted and set on foot almost every fell and degrading custom that characterises the natives of this coast, not long since, had its growth on the honored spot more recently consecrated by our Baptist brethren to the worship of the true God. At the roots of a tree that now shades that house of worship, many a poor victim has paid with his blood the debt due to the violated laws of his country, for revealing the secrets of the devil'sbush, or dispelling from the mind of some poor female, the illusions constantly practiced upon that sex, by the cunning and address of the other; and a most insufferable stench has been exhaled from the human flesh that hung and putrified in its waving branches. Thus the cause of Christ is triumphing over that of the wicked one-a circumstance that ought to encourage the faith and arouse the energies of every christian in these Colonies. It should be, and we believe is, borne in mind by most of the intelligent people of this commonwealth, that Liberia is of consequence, chiefly so far as it serves to elevate the mind and morals of the natives of Africa, and forms a suitable home for the man of color. Every thing ought to be done to promote christian feeling, and encourage christian effort. It is "righteousness that exalteth a nation." By this we stand. Without it we fall. PROBITAS. Edina, March 14, 1841. TREATY WITH THE FISHMEN. We are happy to announce to our readers, the successful termination of the long pending difficulties between this Government and the Fishmen of Bassa Cove. Below will be found a treaty of peace concluded by His Excellency, with the chiefs and head-men of that tribe, on the 29th ultimo; the faithful performance of which, on their part is guarranted by all the neighboring kings, chiefs, and head-men. It will be remembered that immediately after the arrival of Governor BuCHANAN, in this country, in April, 1839, he made a formal demand upon the Fishmen for the surrender of the only surviving murderer of Governor FINLEY, which after considerable opposition was acceded to. On this agreement a conditional peace was granted them; but until its fulfilment they were forbidden any kind of intercourse with the Colony, and it was stipulated that if within a given period they should fail to deliver up the murderer, they should be treated as enemies and expelled from the territory of the Colony on which they resided. On the expiration of the time specified, they applied for an extension of time, on the ground that the criminal having fled the country it had been impossible to apprehend him. Desirous of avoiding a resort to arms, and deeply solicitous to bring the murderer to justice, the Governor granted this request, and extended the time for several months longer, the chiefs again solemnly pledging themselves to use every exertion in fulfilling the agreement. Whether sincere in this, is doubtful, but a considerable show of zeal was manifested in the business; canoes were despatched to Grand Sesters, and several of the chiefs were long absent ostensibly in pursuit of the culprit. In the mean time the Governor, not trusting entirely to the honesty of the men employed, secretly secured the servics of other agents, and at one time there was good reason to believe that PRINCE, of Trade Town, would succeed in catching the murderer. But every effort failed, and at last the chiefs declared it was utterly impossible to fulfil their agreement, as the man was either dead or had gone "to some long country," where he could not be found. As no reasonable hope remained of accomplishing his first chief purpose, and, as the people of Bassa were subjected to considerable inconvenience from the existing state of things, he consented to change the conditions proposed to the Fishman, and gave them peace, on suitable indemnity being made for aggressions committed on the Colony, and satisfactory assurances being given for their future good conduct. After repeated visits to Bassa Cove, and frequent long and wearisome palavers, a treaty was finally concluded on this basis, which fully vindicates the authority of the Government, and establishes its jurisdiction over the Fishmen, and the whole country occupied by them.-Liberia Herald. ARTICLES OF A TREATY CF PEACE. ARTICLES of a Treaty of Peace made on the 29th day of March, anno domini 1841, between His Excellency THOMAS BUCHANAN, Governor of the Commonwealth of Liberia, and the Fishmen residing at Bissa Cove. ARTICLE 1. BLACK WILL, GRANDO, JACK SAVAGE, BOTTLE OF BEER, and JUMBO, chiefs and head-men of the Fishmen, do agree for themselves and their people, to pay, as an indemnity for their aggressions and spoliations made upon the people of the Colony during the recent hostility, to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Liberia, the sum of one thousand dollars-viz. to pay down the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, and the residue in three yearly and equal instalments of two hundred and fifty dollars each, commencing with the date of the articles. ARTICLE 2. The above named chiefs, for themselves and their people, do further agree, and solemnly bind themselves, always to recognize and maintain the lawful rights of the American Colonization Society, to all the land lying between the present colonial settlement of Bassa Cove and Tabacconee, said tract of land having been formerly ceded by the rightful owners, to said Society, in the year 1836. And they, the said chiefs, while living on any part of the aforesaid territory, agree at all times to be subject to the laws and authority of the Colony, and to perform all such duties as may be legally required of them by the constituted authority of the Colony. It is expressly understood that the slave trade is forbidden by the laws of the Colony, and that death is the penalty of either buying or selling a slave. The chiefs aforesaid, solemnly bind themselves, in case any of their people should be guilty of buying or selling slaves, to deliver them up to the authorities of the Colony. ARTICLE 3. In consideration of the foregoing stipulations on the part of the Fishmen of Bassa, the Governor of Liberia hereby agrees to give them peace and to allow them to continue as residents at Bassa Cove, so long as they faithfully fulfil the obligations of this treaty. ARTICLE 4. Duke WILLIAMS, YOUNG RUSER, YELLOW WILL, JUMBO CESAR, Prince JAHWAY, SOFTLY JOHN, King JOE HARRIS, King BOB GRAY, King PEGRAY, alias BIG BEN, and WE SOLDIER, do hereby agree to guaranty the faithful performance of the articles of this treaty, and to respect the rights of the aforesaid Society, to the territory described between the colonial settlements and Tabacconee. ARTICLE 5. The commerce of the country shall no longer be carried on by bars, but in the proper currency of the Colony. Given under our hands this twenty-ninth day of March, it the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fort¬ one. THOMAS BUCHANAN, Governor of Liberia. Black WILL, his X mark. JACK SAVAGE, his X mark. BOTTLE OF BEER, his X mark. JUMBO CESAR, his X mark. Prince JAHWAY, his X mark. SOFTLY JOHN, his X mark. Kings and Headmen of the Fishmen at Bassa Cove. Signed, sealed and delivered, in the presence of PETER HARRIS, jr., YOUNG PRINCE, his X mark, (natives.) LOUIS SHERIDEN. |