5
Tropical World—Geography of Liberia.
the temperate regions, the seasons are of equal length, of summer and winter, spring and autumn. This is the region in which you now live. The soil produces many kinds of grains, fruits and vegetables; and animals both wild and domestic abound in great variety. This region is considered most favorable to the progress and perfection of the human race, and in it, around the whole earth, the white man is predominant and master. It embraces most parts of the civilized world of which you have heard or read in ancient or modern times.
The third region is denominated the Tropics, or warmer region, where Summer always prevails, and frost, ice and snow are unknown. This embraces the East and West India Islands, Central America and a greater part of Africa. In the Tropics are found fewer domestic animals and grains than in the Temperate regions, but vegetables and fruits in much greater abundance and variety, and of superior qualities; also, the great luxuries of mankind, sugar, coffee, spices, gums, &c. The Tropics are the most extensive regions of the earth, and in natural productions, animals, vegetables and minerals, richer than all the others. In Temperate regions, near one-half of man's life is spent in providing against the rigors of the seasons, warm houses, warm clothing and food for the winter. In the Tropics, necessity only requires that the dwellings should shelter from sun and rain; few garments and of the lightest materials are required, and there is scarce a month in the year, but food can be gathered from the earth It is alledged, and undoubtedly true, that the delightful temperature of the Tropics, and the almost spontaneous bountiful supply of food from the earth, found in them, has tended much to deteriorate the races of men inhabiting this region of the globe—hence, the enslavement of your forefathers, and your present condition in this land.
The noble men who first projected the plan of providing a home for the free people of color of these United States, where they could exercise the functions and privileges so dear to all men, after much deliberation, wisely fixed upon the West Coast of Africa, where but a few generations back, your forefathers were born; in the rich Tropical world, and far removed from the influence of the white man. The country purchased, and now inhabited and governed by men of your own race, was named Liberia, or Land of the Free.
Of its position and extent, it is enough to say that it embraces some five hundred miles of seaboard, and extends inland from fifty to one hundred miles, or to any desirable extent; that not less than twenty thousand square miles are now under the jurisdiction of the Republic—say twice as much as is included within the limits of the State of Maryland. The country around it has a population of some hundred thousands of natives, who generally live on terms of friendship and good will with the American settlers, and are ready for annexation and submission to the Government; so that Liberia may be considered large enough to contain the entire free colored population of the United States, in addition to its present inhabitants.
