Journal of an African Cruiser | Page 8

draw a
moral from the story, and say that all, who ride on the shoulders of the
African race, deserve nothing better than a similar overthrow. Sailed
from Porto Praya. The bay of this port is a good one, except in
south-east gales, when the anchorage is dangerous. The town, called

Villa de Praya, contains about two thousand inhabitants of every shade,
the dark greatly predominating. Many vessels from Europe and the
United States, bound to India, Brazil, or Africa, find this a convenient
place to procure water and fresh provisions, and bring, in return, much
money into the city. There are three hundred troops here, nearly all
black, and commanded by forty Portuguese officers. The men are under
severe discipline, are tolerably well dressed, and make a soldierly
appearance. It is said that a St. Jago soldier formerly wore only a
cocked hat, being otherwise in a state of nature; but I cannot pretend to
have seen any instance of this extreme scantiness of equipment.
23.--Saw a large green turtle asleep on the surface of the water. One of
our boats went alongside of him, and two men attempted to turn him
over with boat-hooks. He struggled successfully, however, to keep
himself "right side up," and, in a few moments, plunged beneath the
surface. Once upon his back, he would have been powerless and a
prisoner, and we might have hoped for the advantage of his presence at
our mess-table.
24.--At noon, the first rain came. It continued heavy and unremitting,
for twenty-four hours, after which there was a glimpse of the blue sky.
Two startling thunder-claps burst over the ship, at about 9 o'clock, A.M.
Last night, at 10, a heavy plunge carried away both our chain bobstays
at once, and all hands were turned up in the rain, to secure the bowsprit.
The sanitary regulations of the squadron, induced by the
commencement of the rainy season, cause considerable mirth and some
growling. One rule is, that every man shall protect himself with flannel
next his person, and at night shall also wear a cloth-jacket and trowsers.
Stoves are placed on the berth-deck, to dry the atmosphere below. It is
a curious fact, that, in March last, at Portsmouth, N. H., with the
thermometer at zero, we were deprived of stoves the moment the
powder came on board; while now in the month of July, on the coast of
Africa, sweltering at eighty degrees of Fahrenheit, the fires are lighted
throughout the ship.
27.--Continual rain for the last three days. All miserable, but getting
used to it.

29.--A clear day, and comfortably cool. Wind fair.
30.--Made land, and saw an English brig of war. Commander Oakes, of
the Ferret, came on board.
31.--Made Cape Mount.
August 1.--At 12, meridian, anchored at Cape Mesurado, off the town
of Monrovia. We find at anchor here the U. S. brig Porpoise, and a
French barque, as well as a small schooner, bearing the Liberian flag.
This consists of stripes and a cross, and may be regarded as
emblematical of the American origin of the colony, and of the Christian
philanthropy to which it owes its existence. Thirty or forty Kroomen
came alongside. Three officers of the Porpoise visited us. All are
anxious to get back to the United States. They coincide, however, in
saying that, with simple precautions, the health of this station is as good
as that of any other. They have had only a single case of fever on board;
and, in that instance, the patient was a man who ran away, and spent a
night ashore.
My old acquaintance, Captain Cooper, came on board, and is to be
employed as pilot.

CHAPTER III.
Visit of Governor Roberts, &c.--Arrival at Cape Palmas--American
Missionaries--Prosperity of the Catholic Mission--King Freeman, and
his royal robe--Customs of the Kroo-people--Condition of native
women.
August 2.--We were visited by Governor Roberts, Doctor Day, and
General Lewis, the latter being colonial secretary, and military chief of
the settlement. They looked well, and welcomed me back to Liberia
with the cordiality of old friendship. The Governor was received by the
commodore, captain, and officers, and saluted with eleven guns. He
and his suite dined in the cabin, and some of the officers of the

Porpoise in the ward-room. In the evening, we brought out all our
forces for the amusement of our distinguished guests. First, the negro
band sang "Old Dan Tucker," "Jim along Josey," and other ditties of the
same class, accompanied by violin and tambourine. Then Othello
played monkey, and gave a series of recitations. The French cook sang
with great spirit and skill. The entertainments of the evening, as the
theatrical bills expressed it, concluded with Ma Normandie and other
beautiful songs and airs well executed by the French cook,
accompanied by Symmes on the violin,