night, but generally they are of short duration. Slight tornadoes also generally appear in this month. The sun may usually be seen a part of every day in the month, andfrequently he is not obscured by clouds during the whole of the time in which he is above the horizon.

13. December is also generally a very pleasant month. Occasional slight showers of rain fall during this month, sometimes several sprinklings in one day, but seldom for more than a few minutes at a time. The mornings in this month are peculiarly delightful. The sun usually rises with brilliancy and beauty, and the hills and groves, teeming with the verdure of perpetual spring, are enriched by the mingled melody of a thousand cheerful songsters. Nothing that I have ever witnessed in the United States exceeds the loveliness of a December morning in Liberia.

14. On the whole, I regard the climate of Liberia as decidedly pleasant, notwithstanding the scorching rays of the tropical sun, and the "abundance of rain" which falls during the year, especially in the months of June, July, September, and October. So far as the pleasantness of the climate and weather is concerned, I would decidedly prefer a residence in Liberia to one in any part of the United States.

15. The extremes of the thermometrical state of the atmosphere may be set down at 65° and 90°. I have never heard of the mercury in a good thermométer having sunk below the former, nor arisen above the latter point in the shade. The average height of the mercury during the rainy season may be set down at about 76°, and during the dry season at 84°. The mean temperature for the

year is about 80°.

16. In regard to the comparative healthiness of the two seasons, I may state that my observations fully convinced me that the rainy season is more conducive to health than the dry season, in both new-comers and old settlers. In reference, however, to the acclimating process, I think that, no great advantage can be gained by arriving at any par

ticular time of the year more than at any other time. Unnecessary exposure to the heat of the sun in the dry season, and to the rain in the wet season, should alike be avoided. Care and prudence should be exercised by newcomers at all times during the year.

CHAPTER VIII.

PRODUCTIONS.

1. NEARLY all the different kinds of grain, roots, and fruits, peculiar to intertropical climates, thrive well in Liberia; and many garden vegetables that belong more properly to temperate climates may be raised, in quality not much inferior to the same kind of articles produced in climates peculiarly adapted to their growth and ma

turation.

2. The only kind of grain, however, that has yet been cultivated to any considerable extent is rice, which is the great staple of intertropical Africa, and the principal article of food of the numerous aboriginal inhabitants. It is also used extensively by the Liberians; and it is undoubtedly the most wholesome article of food which can be used in that country. It is not cultivated very extensively by the Liberians, in consequence of their being able generally to purchase it more cheaply from the natives than the cultivation of it would cost. In consequence, however, of the increasing demand, it has of late years commanded a better price than formerly, which has induced some of the citizens to engage in raising it.

3. Until within the last few years, scarcely any persons attempted to raise it, but at present this valuable grain may be seen growing in the neighborhood of several of the settlements in Liberia. Although it grows much bet

ter in low, wet land, yet it thrives very well in land more elevated, such as will produce most other articles usually cultivated. It is generally sowed in April and harvested in August. Sometimes two crops may be made in one year, but generally only one is made. It yields so abundantly, that, notwithstanding the extreme indolence of the natives, who do not work on their farms three months in the year, they usually raise much more than they require.

4. Indian corn, or maize, will grow very well on some lands in Liberia; and although it does not thrive so well as in some parts of the United States, yet I am quite satisfied that it might be cultivated much more extensively in Liberia than it ever yet has been. I have seen some fine, large ears of corn that were raised on the St. Paul's River. The small-grained corn, usually called Guinea-corn, no doubt will grow well in Liberia (Guinea, whence its name), but strange to say, I seldom saw it growing there. The natives in the vicinity of the settlements seldom, if ever, raise it.

5. A variety of esculent roots may be raised in Liberia ; the most common of which are the sweet potato, cassada, yam, and tania. Sweet potatoes may be raised in great abundance with very little labor, on almost every kind of land, at any time during the year. I have seen them growing freely in the sandy soil within fifty yards of the ocean. The poorest persons may easily have a sufficiency of this nutritious vegetable. Those raised in some parts of Liberia are very fine. They generally thrive better in the rainy season, especially on the high lands; but in some places they thrive very well in the dry season, especially on the flat land bordering on the rivers; and in many places they may be gathered during every month in the year from the same piece of land.

6. The cassada (as it is usually called, but perhaps more properly cassava) is a shrub which grows from four to eight feet in height, having several white fleshy roots covered with a coarse, rough skin. The stem of the shrub is

round and jointed, having numerous branches, which are furnished at the upper part with alternate leaves, divided into three, five, or seven acute lobes. The root, which is the only part that is used, arrives at perfection in from nine to fifteen months. The roots vary in size from six to eighteen inches in length, and from three to eight in circumference. In taste, when not cooked, it very much resembles that of a fresh chestnut.

7. This vegetable may be raised abundantly on any kind of soil. It is the only vegetable, except rice, that is cultivated to any extent by the natives. It is usually prepared for use by being boiled, after the skin or rind has been removed, or by being roasted in ashes; and when properly cooked it is very palatable and nutritious. The tapioca of the shops is the fecula of the root of the cassada.

8. The yam is a slender, herbaceous vine, having large tuberous roots, sometimes nearly round, but generally elongated, like the cassada, but much larger. The roots of the yam are sometimes three feet long, and weigh twenty or thirty pounds. They usually arrive at perfection in four or five months, and yield very abundantly. The root of the yam is more farinaceous or mealy, when cooked, than that of the cassada-almost as much so as the Irish potato. They are more digestible than the cassada, and I think more palatable. The yam is one of the most wholesome and nutritious esculent roots of any country, and it may be produced in any desired quantity in Liberia.

9. Tania is a delicate, broad-leafed plant, about two feet in height, having a bulbous root, which, when prepared like Irish potatoes, resembles those excellent vegetables very nearly in taste; and it is a very wholesome and nutritious article of food. It may be raised easily and abundantly.

CHAPTER IX.

PRODUCTIONS.-Continued.

1. THERE are other esculent roots, peculiar to tropical climates, which have not yet been introduced, but which, no doubt, would thrive well in Liberia. I have alluded particularly to those only which have been introduced and which are cultivated there-those which I have seen and eaten myself. And in addition to those articles to which I have alluded, I may name a few other garden vegetables that I have seen growing in Liberia, the most common of which are-Lima or butter beans, snap beans, black-eyed peas, cabbages, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, pumpkins, muskmelons, cantelopes, beets, radishes, and carrots.

2. Lima beans may be raised abundantly at any time during the year. In consequence of the absence of frost, the vines live and bear for several years; and as the beans are being continually reproduced, they may be gathered from the same vines during every month in the year, and for three, four, five, or more successive years. The vines yield in a few months after the planting of the bean, so that no family ought ever to be without this excellent vegetable. They are equal to those raised in any part of the United States.

3. Black-eyed peas may be raised in any necessary quantities. They come to maturity in about six weeks from the time of planting, and they may be raised at any time during the year. Cabbages do not thrive so well in Liberia as they generally do in the United States—that is, they do not produce so fine heads. They grow very rapidly, and sometimes the stalk attains the height of several feet. They do not generally go to seed. When, however, good seed can be procured from other countries, and proper attention is given to the cultivation of