Chapter V: Part 5

A NOBLE LADY--Miss Cornelia Barbour, a daughter of the Hon. James
Barbour, of Virginia, formerly Governor of that State, and a Member
of President J. Q. Adams' Cabinet, has resolved to emancipate her
numerous slaves, and locate them in a Free State, where they can
enjoy liberty and (if they will) acquire property.--_New York
Tribune._

_Contributions to the Funds of this Society may be paid to the
Chairman, the Hon. Secretary, or to the Society's account at the
London and Westminster Bank, I, St. James's square. P.O. Orders to
be made payable to the Honorary Secretaries at
Charing-cross._--AUGUST, 1860.

The subjoined paper has been issued by the African Aid Society, London, England, which I give for the benefit of those desirous of going out under its auspices, as it will be seen that the Society is determined on guarding well against aiding such persons as are objectionable to us, and likely to be detrimental to our scheme:

AFRICAN AID SOCIETY

PAPER FOR INTENDING SETTLERS IN AFRICA

1. Are you desirous to leave ---- and go to the Land of your
Forefathers. 2. Name. 3. Age. 4. Married or Single. 5. What
Children (state ages:) Boys ----, aged years; ---- Girls ----, aged
years. 6. How many of these will you take with you? 7. Of what
church are you a member? 8. How long have you been so? 9. Can you
read and write? 10. Will you strive to spread the truths of the
Gospel among the natives? 11. What work are you now doing? 12. What
other work can you do well? 13. Have you worked on a plantation?
14. What did you do there? 15. Will you, in the event of the
African Aid Society sending you and your family to Africa, repay to
it the sum of ---- Dollars, as part of the cost of your passage and
settlement there, ---- as soon as possible, that the same money may
assist others to go there also?

N.B.--It is expected that persons desiring to settle in Africa,
under the auspices of this society, should obtain Certificates from
their Minister, and if possible from their Employer, or other
competent person, as to their respectability, habits, and
character. These certificates should be attached to this paper.

I have every confidence in the sincerity of the Christian gentlemen who compose the African Aid Society, and for the information of those who are unacquainted with the names of those noblemen and gentlemen, would state that the Lord Alfred Churchill is the learned Oriental traveler and Christian philanthropist, brother to His Grace the Duke of Marlborough and son-in-law of Right Hon. Lord Calthorpe; Right Hon. Lord Calthorpe is the great Christian nobleman who does so much for Churches in Great Britain, and member of Her Majesty's Privy Council; Sir Culling Eardley Eardley is the great promoter of the Evangelical Alliance; George Thompson, Esq., is the distinguished traveler and faithful friend of the slave, known in America as a Garrisonian Abolitionist; and J. Lyons Macleod, Esq., the indefatigable British Consul who so praiseworthily exerted himself, and brought the whole of his official power to bear against the slave-trade on the Mozambique Channel. There are other gentlemen of great distinction, whose positions are not explained in the council list, and a want of knowledge prevents my explaining.

Before leaving England for Scotland, I received while at Brighton, the following letter, which indicates somewhat the importance of our project, and shows, in a measure, the superiority of the people in our part of Africa, and what may be expected of them compared with some in other parts; and how the Portuguese influence has ruined them. I may add, that the writer, Mr. Clarence, is a gentleman of respectability, brother-in-law to Edmund Fry, Esq., the distinguished Secretary of the London Peace Society. Mr. Clarence has resided in that part of Africa for twenty-five years, and was then on a visit to his relatives:

DR. DELANEY: Brighton, August 28, 1860

MY DEAR SIR--I am sorry that I am obliged to leave Brighton before
you deliver your lectures, and as we may not meet again, I thought
I would write you a few lines just to revive the subject that was
passing our minds yesterday. I cannot but think, if it were
practicable for a few thousands, or even hundreds, of your West
Coast men to come round to the East Coast, that is, to Port Natal,
an immense amount of good would be derived therefrom; not only in
assisting to abolish the barbarous customs of our natives in
showing them that labor is honorable for man, but that the English
population would appreciate their services and that they would be
able to get good wages. What we want is constant and reliable
laborers; not those who come by fits and starts, just to work for a
month and then be off. They must select their masters, and then
make an engagement for twelve months; or it might be after a month
on approval. Good laborers could get fifteen shillings per month,
and as their services increased in value they would get twenty
shillings, and their allowance of food, which is always abundant.

I have thought that some might work their passage down to the Cape
of Good Hope in some of Her Majesty's Men-of-War, and from there
they might work their passage in some of the coasting vessels that
are continually plying backwards and forwards. My farm is only five
miles from the Port. Should any ever come from your
representations, direct them to me, and should I not require them
myself I will give them such information as may lead them to find
good masters. I have always said that Natal is the key to the
civilization of South Africa; but, however, there are sometimes two
keys to a door, and yours on the West, though a little north of the
Line, may be the other; and, by God's blessing, I trust that the
nations of the East and West may, before long, meet in Central
Africa, not in hostile array, as African nations always have done,
but in the bonds of Christian fellowship. Wishing you every success
in your enterprize.

Believe me, dear Sir, yours most sincerely,
RALPH CLARENCE

NOTE--Mr. Clarence is requesting to be sent some of our industrious
natives from Western Africa, as he informed me that those in the
East think it disreputable to work. The term "master" is simply
English; it means employer. The "fifteen" and "twenty" referred to,
means shillings sterling.

FOOTNOTES:

[8] Now 8 Adolphi Terrace, Strand.

XV

COMMERCIAL RELATIONS IN SCOTLAND

Commercial Relations

I have only to add, as a finality of my doings and mission in Great Britain, that in Scotland I fully succeeded in establishing commercial relations for traffic in all kinds of native African produce, especially cotton, which businesses are to be done directly and immediately between us and them, without the intervention or agencies of any society or association whatever. The only agencies in the case are to be the producers, sellers, and buyers--the Scottish house dealing with us as men, and not children. These arrangements are made to facilitate, and give us the assurance of the best encouragement to prosecute vigorously commercial enterprises--especially, as before stated, the cotton culture--the great source of wealth to any people and all civilized nations.

Business Integrity

The British people have the fullest confidence in our integrity to carry out these enterprises successfully, and now only await our advent there, and commencement to do anything necessary we may desire, or that the circumstances justify. Each individual is regarded as a man in these new relations, and, as such, expected to make his own contracts according to business custom, discharging in like manner his individual obligations. It must here be expressly understood that there are to be nothing but _business relations_ between us, their entire confidence and dependence being in the self-reliant, independent transactions of black men themselves. We are expected, and will be looked for, to create our own ways and means among ourselves as other men do.

Public Endorsement

As an earnest of the estimate set upon our adventure, I subjoin the names of a number of the leading commercial British journals--the two first being English, and all the others Scottish, in the midst of manufacturing districts, and all speaking favorably of the project:

The Leeds Mercury, the Newcastle Daily Chronicle, the Glasgow Herald, the Glasgow Examiner, the Scottish Guardian, the North British Daily Mail, the Glasgow Morning Journal, the Mercantile Advertiser, and others. (For absence of these notices, see author's prefatory note.)

FROM THE DAILY CHRONICLE

_Newcastle-on-Tyne, Monday, September 17th, 1860_

DANGER AND SAFETY.-- ... The cotton of the United States affords
employment to upwards of three millions of people in England, and a
famine of cotton would be far worse than a famine of bread; the
deficiency of the latter could be supplied; but the destruction of
the cotton crop in America would be an evil of unparalleled
magnitude, and against which we have no present protection....
From the district of Lagos on the Gold coast, near the kingdom of
Dahomey, there comes amongst us Dr. Delany with promises of a
deeply interesting exposition of the prospects of Africa, and the
probabilities of the civilization and elevation of the black races.
He is a _bona fide_ descendant of one of the elite families of
Central Africa, a highly educated gentleman, whose presence at the
International Statistical Congress was noticed by Lord Brougham,
and whose remarks in the sanitary section of the Congress upon
epidemics were characterized by a great knowledge of the topic
combined with genuine modesty. He is a physician of African blood,
educated in America, who has revisited the lands of his ancestry,
and proposes a most reasonable and feasible plan to destroy the
slave trade, by creating a _cordon_, or fringe of native
civilization, through which the kidnappers could not penetrate from
without, and through which no slaves could be transported from
within. Dr. Delany is one of the Commissioners sent out by the
convention of the colored people of Canada and the United States.
He has recently returned from the Yoruba country, adjoining the
territory of the King of Dahomey, and desires to elicit a favorable
consideration for the African Aid Society. His explorations have
been productive of the most promising results, his fellow blacks
having everywhere received him with distinguished honors. His
anecdotes are interesting, and his lectures are illustrated by
specimens of native produce and manufactures highly curious. Of his
lectures at Brighton and other places we have read lengthy reports,
which represent the influence these addresses have produced, and
which speak in eulogistic terms of Dr. Delany's matter and manner.
The subject is one of vast importance to England, and we trust that
we may witness ere long a proper appreciation of it.

FROM THE GLASGOW HERALD

All this betokens a considerable degree of intelligence. The towns
had their market-places; in one of these, that of Ijaye Dr. Delany
saw many thousands of persons assembled, and carrying on a busy
traffic. What a field might thus, in the course of time, be opened
for European commerce.

FROM THE LEEDS MERCURY (ENGLAND)

_Published by E. Baines, Esq., M.P., and Sons, December 8th, 1860_

ELEVATION OF THE COLORED RACE, AND OPENING OUT OF THE RESOURCES OF
AFRICA.--An important movement for opening out the resources of a
vast portion of the continent of Africa has been made by some of
the most intelligent colored people of the United States and
Canada. Having formed a society with this object in view, among
others, Dr. Delany and Professor Campbell were commissioned to go
out and explore a considerable portion of Western Africa, near to
the mouths of the Niger, and not far from the equator. A report of
this expedition is in progress by Dr. Delany, who is himself so
fully convinced of the advantages which the rich resources of that
part of Africa offer, that he has concluded to remove his family
there immediately. A meeting of the Leeds Anti-Slavery Committee
was held on Wednesday night, Wm. Scholefield, Esq., in the chair,
when valuable information was communicated by Dr. Delany and
William Howard Day, Esq., M.A., from Canada, who is connected with
this movement. The following summary of their remarks will be
found of deep interest:--

Wm. Howard Day, M.A., having been called upon, pointed out the
necessity for an active anti-slavery organization in this country,
as was so well expressed by the Chairman, to keep the heart of the
English people warm upon the subject of human bondage.... By the
production of cotton slavery began to be a power. So that as the
cotton interest increased the testimony of the Church decreased.
Cotton now is three-fifths of the production of the South. So that
the Hon. Amasa Walker, formerly Republican Secretary of State for
the State of Massachusetts, at the meeting held in London, August
1, 1859, and presided over by Lord Brougham, really expressed the
whole truth when he said--"While cotton is fourteen cents per pound
slavery will never end." Now we propose to break the back of this
monopoly in America by raising in Africa--in the African's own
home--as well as in the West Indies, cotton of the same quality as
the American, and at a cheaper rate. It had been demonstrated by
Mr. Clegg, of Manchester, that cotton of superior quality could be
laid down at Liverpool cheaper from Africa than America. We have
sent my friend, Dr. Delany, to see what Africa is, and he will tell
you the results--so very favorable--of his exploration. Then we
feel that we have in Canada the colored men to pioneer the way--men
reared among the cotton of the United States, and who have found an
asylum among us. The bone and sinew is in Africa--we wish to give
it direction. We wish thereby to save to England millions of pounds
by the difference in price between the two cottons; we wish to ward
off the blow to England which must be felt by four millions of
people interested in the article to be produced if an untimely
frost or an insurrection should take place--and, above all, to lift
up Africa by means of her own children. After speaking of the
organization among the colored people, which sent out Dr. Delany
and of which Mr. Day is president, he said one of the means to
secure these ends was the establishment of a press upon a proper
footing in Canada among the fugitive slaves; and to collect for
that is now his especial work. It would aid powerfully, it was
hoped, in another way. Already American prejudice has rolled in
upon the borders of Canada--so that schoolhouse doors are closed in
the faces of colored children, and colored men denied a place upon
juries merely because of their color. It was with difficulty that
last year even in Canada they were able to secure the freedom of a
kidnapped little boy who was being dragged through the province to
be sold in the slave-mart of St. Louis. In view of all these
points, hastily presented, he asked the good will and active aid of
all the friends of liberty.

Dr. M. R. Delany, whose name has become so celebrated in connection
with the Statistical Congress, was invited to state what he had
contemplated in going to Africa, and if he would kindly do so, what
he had discovered there. Dr. Delany first dwelt upon the
expectation which had been raised in his mind when a young man, and
in the minds of the colored people of the United States, by the
beginning of the anti-slavery work there by William Lloyd Garrison
and his coadjutors. They had found, however, that all the
anti-slavery people were not of the stamp of Mr. Garrison, who, he
was proud to say, believed in giving to colored men just the same
rights and privileges as to others, and that Mr. Garrison's idea
had not, by the professed friends of the black man, been reduced to
practice. And finding that self-reliance was the best dependence,
he and others had struck out a path for themselves. After speaking
of the convention of colored people, which he and others called in
1854, to consider this subject of self-help, and of the general
organization which began then, and in which Mr. Day succeeded him
as president, he said he went to Africa to find a locality suitable
for a select emigration of colored people; if possible, a large
cotton-growing region, and with a situation accessible by
civilization. All this he had found, with, in addition, a
well-disposed and industrious people. The facts which Dr. Delany
grouped together as to the climate and soil; as to productions and
trade; as to the readiness of the people to take hold of these
higher ideas; and as to the anxiety of the people to have him and
his party return, were new and thrilling. An interesting
conversation ensued on the points brought forward, and the
following minute, moved by Mr. Wilson Armistead, and seconded by
the Rev. Dr. Brewer, was unanimously passed:--

That the thanks of this meeting be tendered to Dr. Delany and Wm.
Howard Day, Esq., for the valuable information received from them,
with an ardent desire that their plans for the elevation of their
race may be crowned with success, and it is the opinion of this
meeting that they be made materially to hasten the extinction of
the slave-trade and slavery.

Character of Commercial Relations

The commercial relations entered into in Scotland are with the first business men in the United Kingdom, among whom are Henry Dunlop, Esq., Ex-Lord Provost of Glasgow, one of the largest proprietors in Scotland; Andrew Stevenson, Esq., one of the greatest cotton dealers; and Messrs. Crum, Graham & Co., 111 Virginia Place, Glasgow, one of the heaviest firms in that part of the old world, which is the house with which I have negotiated for an immediate, active and practical prosecution of our enterprise, and whose agency in Europe for any or all of our produce, may be fully relied on. I speak from personal acquaintance with these extensively-known, high-standing gentlemen.

Reliable Arrangements

One of the most important parts of such an adventure as this, is to have reliable Foreign Agencies, and these have been fully secured; as whilst these gentlemen, as should all business men, deal with us only on business terms, yet they have entered into the matter as much as Christians and philanthropists, to see truth and right prevail whereby humanity may be elevated, as for anything else; because they are already wealthy, and had they been seeking after wealth, they certainly could and would have sought some more certainly immediate means.

I left Scotland December 3rd, and sailed from Liverpool the 13th via Londonderry, arriving at Portland the 25th, the epoch of the Christian Era, and in Chatham the 29th.

XVI

THE TIME TO GO TO AFRICA

Caution against Danger

The best time for going to Africa is during "the rainy season," which commences about the middle or last of April, ending near or about the first of November. By going during this period, it will be observed that you have no sudden transition from cold to heat, as would be the case did you leave in cold weather for that country. But the most favorable time to avoid the _heavy surf_ at Lagos, is from the first of October to the first of April, when the surges in the roadstead are comparatively small and not imminently dangerous. And I here advise and caution all persons intending to land there, not to venture over the heavy-rolling surf of the bar in one of those native canoes.

Safety in Landing

Yet persons can land with safety at any season of the year; but for this there must be a proper boat. Any person going there at present ought not to land if the surf is high, without _Captain Davies' large sail-boat_, which is as safe as a tug, and rides the sea like a swan. Send him word to send his _largest boat at the best hour for landing_. The Captain is a native merchant, and most obliging gentleman.

A Tender

So soon as we get a Tender (called in America, steam-tug and tow-boat), which will be one of the first things done so soon as we get to Lagos, landing will be as safe at any and all times there as in the harbor at New York or Liverpool. For the information of many intelligent persons who are not aware of it, I would state that a pilot or tender has to take vessels into both of these great seaports on account of shoal water.[9]

Rainy Season

The rainy season usually thought by foreigners to be "wet, muddy, and disagreeable weather," so far from this, is the most agreeable season of the year. Instead of steady rains for several days incessantly, as is common during "rainy weather" in the temperate zones, there is seldom or never rain during a whole day. But every day to a certainty during this season it rains, sometimes by showers at intervals, and sometimes a heavy rain for one, two, or three hours at a time--but seldom so long as three hours--when it clears up beautifully, leaving an almost cloudless sky. The rains usually come up very suddenly, and as quickly cease when done.

Drizzling Rain, Sudden Showers

There is seldom or never such a thing in this part of Africa as a "drizzling" or mizzling rain, all suddenly coming on and as suddenly passing off; and should one be out and see indications of an approaching rain, they must hurry to a near shelter, so suddenly does the shower come on.

Tornadoes

Tornadoes are sudden gusts or violent storms of wind and rain, which are more or less feared, but which may always be known from other storms on their approach, by the blackness of the clouds above, with the _segment of a circle of lighter cloud_ just beneath the dark, and above the horizon.

Summer

The entire _wet_ season may be justly termed the _summer_ instead of "winter," as the old writers have it; and it is observable that at the commencement of Spring in the temperate zones (March) vegetation starts forth in Africa with renewed vigor.

Winter

_Winter_ is during the _dry_ season, and not the "wet," for the above reason; and it is also worthy of remark, that during autumn in the temperate zone (from October to the last of November) the foliage in Africa begins to fade and fall from the trees in large quantities.

Harmattans

It is during this season that the _harmattans_ prevail, (from two to three weeks in December) which consist of a _dry cold_ and _not_ a "dry hot" wind as we have been taught; when furniture and wooden-ware _dries_ and _cracks_ for want of moisture, and the thermometer frequently rates as low as 54 deg. Fahr. in the evening and early in the morning; when blankets on the bed will not be out of place, and an evening and morning fire may add to your comfort.

FOOTNOTES:

[9] I have received information from London, that an iron steam Tender has already been sent out to Lagos by an English house.

XVII

CONCLUDING SUGGESTIONS

Native Mariners

It may not be generally known as a fact, which is of no little importance in the industrial economy of Africa, that vessels of every class, of all foreign nations, are manned and managed by native Africans, so soon as they enter African waters.

The Krumen are the watermen or marines generally of Africa, going in companies of greater or less numbers, with one in the lead called "headman," who, hiring all the others, makes contracts with a vessel, which is met outside of the roadsteads or harbors, to supply a certain number of men to manage it during her coasting voyage. They usually bring with them the recommendations of all the commanders whose vessels they have managed on the coast. These are generally carried in the hat to prevent getting wet, and sometimes in calabashes, stopped up like a bottle, or in a tin can or case, (when such can be obtained,) suspended by a string like a great square medal around the neck.

So expert have these people become in marine affairs, that, with the exception of navigation, a vessel at sea might be managed entirely by many of those companies of Krumen. Everything that is to be done as the common work of seamen, is done by them during their engagement on the coasting vessels. The agility with which they scale the shrouds and rigging, mounting frequently to the very pinnacle of the main-mast head, or going out to the extreme end of the yard arms, is truly surprising. In these feats, they are far more dextrous than the white civilians.

The Fever--Stages Of

In cases of real intermittent fever--fever and ague or chills and fever--there are usually three distinct stages when the attack comes on--on what is usually termed _fever day_: the _cold_ or shivering stage, the _hot_ or burning stage, succeeded by the _sweating_.

_Cold Stage_

So soon as there are symptoms of a chill, a cup of quite hot ginger or cinnamon tea--not too strong--may be taken, the person keeping out of the sun, and, if inclined, going to bed and covering warmly. He should always undress, putting on a night-shirt or gown, for the convenience of changing when required. A hot cup of tea, of any kind, is better than nothing, when neither cinnamon nor ginger is convenient.

_Kneading or Friction-Bath. Hot Stage_

During the hot stage, the person must be kept as cool as possible, and when the fever is at its height--and, indeed, it is well to commence long before this--the entire person, from head to foot, should be continually bathed by a free application of cold water, used _plentifully_ and _frequently changed_ during the application, with a large sponge, napkin, or cloth of some kind.

_Lime-Bath_

An excellent addition to the water is the juice of limes or lemons, and _less_ of the first (lime) than the last is required, because of the superior strength of the one to the other.

_Soda_

Soda may also be used in the bath as an adjuvant to the water--not with the lime juice, of course, because they would effervesce or disagree. When lime or lemon juice is used, care should be taken, in the use of it, that it be not too strong: say, use two lemons, or one and a half limes if large, to a pail of water--as it will produce irritation on all of the tender parts of the person, and even over the general surface. A lime bath once or twice a week, in the absence of all fever, is said to be an excellent hygeian or prophylactic treatment. But, by all means, don't neglect the cold water application during the hot stage.

_Sweating Stage_

So soon as the sweating commences, the patient must have sufficient covering to prevent taking cold, which is then very readily done, in consequence of the general relaxation of the system and open state of the pores. When the sweating ceases, the shirt or gown must be immediately taken off, the entire person sponged off in clear lukewarm or air-cold water, fresh clean clothes put on, the sheets and wet bed-clothes removed by clean ones supplying their places; and in no case must a person ever be permitted to keep on the same clothes after the sweating stage, as the _virus_ or fever-poison is expelled through the medium of the sweat and pores, and consequently absorbed by the clothing. The clothes should be changed _every day_, whether there be perspiration or not.

_All the stages_

Either of these symptoms is to be treated as advised, independently of the other in the order of arrangement.

Fatigue-Clothes--Caution

Persons should be careful not to sleep in sweaty clothes, especially those in which they have traveled; and they should be cautious not to sleep in the same clothes worn on any day, as before but slightly alluded to. Clean, unsoiled night-clothes should be put on every evening, and those which may be worn again should be well aired and sunned during the day.

Colonization--an Error in Philanthropy

The Colonization Society has committed a great error in its philanthropic arrangements of providing for _six months' passiveness_ after going to Africa. The _provisions, for those who require them_, I do not object to, but the _passiveness_ is fatally injurious.

Activity Conducive to Health

Instead of going to Africa and quietly sitting down in utter idleness, in anticipation _waiting in anxious expectation for the fever to come_--in which cases the person becomes much more susceptible--did they go directly about some active employment, to keep both mind and body properly exercised, I am certain that there would not be one-fourth of the mortality that there is even now, which is comparatively little.

Evidences of the Fact

This will account for the reason that, among the numerous travelers and explorers who visit such countries, there is so much less, nay, so seldom any mortality from disease, compared with the missionaries, whose lives are rather easy and inactive, except the really energetic ones, who generally are they who survive. And I have the testimony of my friends Professor Crummell of Liberia College, late of Mount Vaughn High School, a most industrious, persevering gentleman, and W. Spencer Anderson, Esq., the largest sugar and coffee grower in Liberia, also a most energetic industrious gentleman--who corroborate my opinion on this important subject. Indeed, the people generally seem to have been long conscious of this fact, since among them they have an adage: "The _more_ work, the _less_ fever." But no one should infer that it meant that they should exercise without regard to care and judgment, with all the precautions and observations on health laid down in the preceding pages. I return of course, to Africa, with my family.

* * * * *

CLASSICS IN BLACK STUDIES EDITORIAL BOARD

Norm R. Allen Jr.
Molefi Kete Asante
Toyin Falola

CLASSICS IN BLACK STUDIES

THE CONDITION, ELEVATION,
EMIGRATION, AND DESTINY
OF THE COLORED PEOPLE
OF THE UNITED STATES
_and_ OFFICIAL REPORT
OF THE NIGER VALLEY
EXPLORING PARTY

* * * * *

Martin R. Delany

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY

Toyin Falola

Humanity
Books

an imprint of Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, New York 14228-2197