pick up a few trifling silver pieces for their pains. The rower sits squatting, with his legs drawn up beneath him, in the centre and bottom of his long, narrow, light, high-bowed dug-out,' and with his little paddle makes his buoyant canoe walk the water like a thing of life. Sometimes a shocking bad straw hat adorns his woolly pate, the only approach to civilized costume; but generally the perpendicular rays of the orb of day find his skull unprotected save by that covering which Nature has endowed the Kroo savage with, for use, and not, most assuredly, by way of ornament. Their meals, while

in this crouching attitude, they take from their thighs, placing the biscuits and frui's they manage to pick up on this convenient and natural table. These singular people, their strange-looking boats, and queer way of eating, form quite an important feature in our every-day's sights and observations.

THE PRESIDENT AND SUITE ON BOARD.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29. The weather to-day is showery and menacing; a heavy rain caught our boats, despatched about ten A. M. for the use of the pres dent and suite, who were to partake of a collation with the commodore The Liberian dignitary came off, the party pretty well sprinkled on the way, in a couple of hours, the weather having improved in the mean time, attended by three gentlemen of color-Colonel Forbes, his aid; the Rev. Mr. Payne, a Methodist missionary, his pastor; and a Mr. James, by profession a shoemaker. The captain of the 'Liberia Packet' had preceded the official deputation. The president and suite having been received with all due honor and ceremony, several of the officers were invited to join the party in the cabin, and your humble servant among the number. After some time consumed in showing the ship and in conversation, the collation was announced as ready, and the guests distributed at the well-filled board. Again were ducks, hams and chickens carved for our sable visitors, and healths drank and recipro cated, while white waiters attended on the new republicans; and though our gubernatorial banquet ashore, last Thursday, went some way toward accustoming us to the novelty of such particolored company, still I for one could not feel myself quite at ease under the circumstances of the case. I cannot wholly control the effect of southern education and habits, and do not believe that any amount of practice will reconcile me to such piebald association. Yet did the president and friends conduct themselves with great dignity and propriety, and prove by their remarks and answers that they were men of intelligence and observation. Indeed, the conduct of these people generally, so far as I have had an opportunity of observing, in their social intercourse with each other and with strangers would put many a white man, with better gifts and opportunities, to the blush. Toward the close of the collation the commodore requested that the company should be prepared to respond and do honor to the

sentiment he was about to propose, prefacing it with the remark that the flag of Liberia was then waving at the fore, and offered the health of President Roberts, and his sincere wishes that the republic might be prosperous and happy; to which the governor responded by proposing that of the president of the United States, and his own thanks and those of his fellow citizens for the compliments paid and the kind reception they had enjoyed. The entertainment was soon brought to an end, the boat was presently manned, and our visitors departed, well satisfied and pleased with their excursion to the Jamestown.

We were informed by the President that he had just succeeded in purchasing for two hundred dollars, from the natives at Little Sesters, a tract of land some twenty miles down the coast, which now gives them nearly all the territory to Cape Palmas, with the exception of Great Sesters. There is a large slave factory at Little Sesters, owned by the Portuguese, and he intends to notify them at once of the sale, and to order them to remove. If they resist he will use force. The Government is anxious to complete the purchase of the entire line of coast from Cape Mount to Cape Palmas, and is in negotiation for that purpose with the natives of the former place and Great Sesters. British and French claims clog the matter. It seems that these sales by the native tribes transfer political as well as territorial rights, and that the Liberian Government exercise political sway over their new subjects who choose to remain on the purchased tract and retain their customs and habits. When these customs and habits conflict with Christian laws and usages, the Government try to do away with such of them as are superstitious and cruel, as administering sassywood, and other death-dealing, judicial ordeals, etc.

It is said that the English intend to destroy the great slave factory at the Gallinas next month, which, with the acts and declarations of the Liberians, and with other national inteference, may contribute somewhat toward suppressing the infamous traffic in human flesh. It is by striking at the root of the evil, and after excluding slave factories, by establishing orderly and reputable settlements on their ruins, that the trade is to be crippled and suppressed, more than by armed cruizing, however active and zealous.

I had some interesting conversation with Messrs. Payne and James on the subject of education, and am induced to infer, if their accounts be correct that the schooling of the children and natives is pretty well provided for. But as I am to procure more detailed information on this point, and about all other interesting matters which concern the republic upon our return, I will not now enter on the subject.

One of the subjects of conversation at table was the Chimpanzees, a kind of orang-outang, found some twenty miles in the interior from Monrovia, and particularly in the neighborhood of Cape l'almas. They vary in size from that of a small dog, to four or five feet in height, bear a ludicrous resemblance to the human family, and are even domesticated, and educated after a fashion. Sometimes they are dangerous. A story is told of a settler being killed by a very large one, which got hold of the man's gun while he was resting him

self at the foot of a tree, and after a struggle between them, the latter was so much injured as to survive but a few hours. The man's companion came to his aid too late to save him, but time enough to kill the animal. The natives believe that the Chimpanzee was their great progenitor, the first of the human family in Africa. Probably he lost the faculty of speech at the Tower of Babel. No tradition or authentic history has therefore come down to us on the subject.

I was somewhat amused after supper with the operation of paying off the Kroomen, who had been attached to our ship while in port. Gathered around the Purser, and their movements watched by many of the officers and men, Ben Johnson, Ben Coffee, Frying Pan, Wee Peter, Jack Rope-yarn, Half Dollar, etc., when their euphonious names were called, stepped forth and touched, with evident satisfaction, the small silver pittance allowed for their services. Not having about them the luxury of purse or pocket, the greasy fellows stowed the silver away in dirty cotton rags carried in their hats. It was not until the 'first' had given Captain Ben Johnson, head krooman, a couple of manof-war books,' or recommendations for honesty and hard work, which they well deserved, that our sable acquaintances took their leave, to return to their lowly huts and many dames, provided with the means to buy more fine woman,' and profiting by the select and prized advantages of the 'Griggre Bush, and their careful superintendents, the old Duennas. I really feel a great interest in these poor Kroomen, and am sorry we do not take them with us on our cruise. I hope we shall get them again, or as good, on our return.

I regret that occupations on board, and the inconvenience of landing through the surf, at times very heavy, have prevented me from learning more about Monrovia and its people. My means of observation have been irregular and scanty, and I have been obliged to put down such information and impressions as I considered worthy of preservation, in a very desultory and superficial manner. I suspend my opinion of place and people until I get a better insight into matters, and content myself with merely observing, that I have for the most part been gratified, edified and instructed. But it is nothing more than fair to say that many unfavorable reports and opinions have been freely expressed about the people and their prospects How far they are correct or false, I cannot at present venture to discuss. 'Sub judice lis est.'

UNDER WAY.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30.- Although I heard the well-known hoarse call of the boatswain and his mates this morning, before five o'clock, for all hands up anchor,' knowing that as an idler I would be in the way, and better therefore where I was, I kept my room, and only sallied forth to breakfast, to find ourselves once more under way, with a fine, calm day, and but a gentle breeze, within a few miles of the Cape, and a sail, believed to be a French man-of-war, in sight. We are heading nor'west, to look after the schooner that dodged about Mesurado roads in so queer a manner, and of whom so much

suspicion was entertained. If she be a slaver, and hovering about the Gallinas, I hope we may be so lucky as to catch her.

Cape Mount is about thirty five miles from Cape Mesurado, and on a clear day these eminences may be seen from each other. The coast between is low, forming a large and regular curve, so that both these points become good land-marks to the navigator. Cape Mount is somewhat over eleven hundred feet in height, and to those approaching it in front, presents a conical shape, and is visible a considerable distance out at sea. Canot's slave factory was established in this neighborhood, but is now broken up. The nearest slave dépôt is at the Gallinas, and is known as Pedro Blanco's. Cape Mesurado rises to an elevation of about six hundred feet, possesses the great requisites of good water at its base, and a light house on its summit, which, though feeble and badly attended to, still lights and directs the mariner some distance off into the roadstead. Both these Capes are well wooded and prominent objects in the prospect. A signal staff is erected alongside the light-house on Cape Mesurado, and vessels in the offing are promptly telegraphed.

THOUGHTS OF HOME.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1.- We begin the new month, a few miles off Cape Mount, with a temperature of S0°, a pleasant little breeze to give us motion and a hazy atmosphere. I am thinking about home, and fancy folks gathered around the winter fire, and wrapping themselves up snugly before venturing out into the cold rain and chilly atmosphere, while we, in these hot latitudes are hunt. ing for cool places, and wearing as light garments as the climate renders safe and prudent. People at home are now laying in their winter supplies and preparing for the celebration of Christmas, and all the domestic, comfortable fire-side enjoyments of the season; while we, wanderers on the deep, have naught to look forward to, for the next ten months, but the same almost unvaried succession of summer days and nights, and monotonous existence; and yet it is pleasant to ponder on past scenes and occupations, and by the contrast between former and present position, extract salutary food for reflection and excitement from by gone joys and sorrows. So far I take things as they are, and make myself comfortable and easy. If time goes by with muffled oar on this broad ocean, he does not often shake the nerves and startle the imagination by abrupt and violent movements; and though monotony and an enervating climate may imperceptibly deaden the fancy, and undermine the constitution, still the changes come on so gradual and gently, that we know not, feel not the operation.

While we were gliding past the Cape, the breeze still very light, a boat with three men aboard ventured out, and after dinner I went on deck to see them They turned out to be fish-men, and were dressed a little better than our friends the Kroomen, with their faces painted, flannel-shirts on, and those none of the cleanest. One of

sure.

them wore a Scotch-cap, no doubt considered an ornament and treaThe fellow who paddled the canoe, and kept up with us without much effort, was in still scantier costume, and more negro-looking than the two rather comely men who boarded us; he had the back of his head shaved, and his lower jaw and lips projected in a remarkable degree. They brought off some fruit and fish for sale and barter. These fellows must be expert and fearless navigators, for they had pulled out some four miles from shore in a very slight boat, which leaked so fast as to keep one of the crew constantly bailing. They were just going over the side as I got on deck, so I had no time to converse with them. Both spoke a little English, and belong farther down the coast, being only on a visit to this neighborhood.

A CHASE.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2.- A sail having been reported in sight early this morning, and her appearance and movements being decidedly suspicious, we are now busy giving chase. The schooner, supposed to be our New-York pilot-boat after slaves at the Gallinas, off which we now are, is about seven miles distant, (eleven, A. M.,) and we gain little or nothing upon her. We are making as much as possible out of our sails, keeping them wet and well trimmed, and watching, to profit by them, any change in the very light breeze, which prolongs the excitement and baffles our impatience to overhaul our light-footed fugitive. He seems unwilling to make a nearer acquaintance with us and wait to exchange compliments with a manof-war brig, also in chase on our starboard quarter, a boat from which is likewise pulling in hot pursuit, evidently doing better than either the stranger or ourselves in this calm sea and gentle breeze.

Half-past one. P. M.- Excitement still high. The breeze, having lulled into something very much like a calm, has again increased a little, and we are going ahead under a cloud of canvass, but not as fleetly as we would desire. The schooner is still several miles ahead, hull down, and has gained upon us somewhat since the lull came on. She is working with a zeal worthy of a better cause, and seems disposed to show us a clean pair of heels. Clapping on shinsails and trimming ship with thirty two-pound shot, carried forward and anon aft by the crew, seem to bring us no nearer to the suspi cious craft, and we are even fearful of being beaten by the British, also in full chase, and now so near us that with a spy-glass we can distinguish her guns and crew. She overtook the boat which she had sent out in the forenoon, a half-hour ago, and is crowding all sail, like ourselves, in hopes of overhauling the stranger before night

sets in.

Now that I have witnessed a chase at sea, I can realize, to a considerable extent, the interest of the occasion. Here, in sight of the low, desolate coast of Africa, are three well provided vessels; straining to the utmost limit their faculty of sailing. Skill, seamanship, a fine day, with a good breeze at times, to excite and encourage, all