l deaths, and fourteen remained in the
service. On this subject of mortality, Bishop Payne says,--

"It is now very generally admitted, that Africa must be
evangelized chiefly by her own children. It should be our
object to prepare them, so far as we may, for their great
work. And since colonists afford the most advanced material
for raising up the needed instruments, it becomes us, in
wise co-operation with Providence, to direct our efforts in
the most judicious manner to them. To do this, the most
important points should be occupied, to become in due time
radiating centres of Christian influence to colonists and
natives."[112]

In thirty-three years Liberia gained wonderfully in population, and,
at the breaking-out of the Rebellion in the United States, had about a
hundred thousand souls, besides the three hundred thousand natives in
the vast territory over which her government is recognized. Business
of every kind has grown up. The laws are wholesome; the law-makers
intelligent and upright; the army and navy are creditable, and the
republic is in every sense a grand success. Mr. Wilson says,--

"Trade is the chosen employment of the great mass of the
Liberians, and some of them have been decidedly successful
in this vocation. It consists in the exchange of articles of
American or European manufacture for the natural products of
the country; of which palm oil, cam-wood, and ivory are the
principal articles. Cam-wood is a rich dye-wood, and is
brought to Monrovia on the shoulders of the natives from a
great distance. It is worth in the European and American
markets from sixty to eighty dollars per ton. The ivory of
this region does not form an important item of commerce.
Palm-oil is the main article of export, and is procured
along the seacoast between Monrovia and Cape Palmas. The
Liberian merchants own a number of small vessels, built by
themselves, and varying in size from ten or fifteen to forty
or fifty tons. These are navigated by the Liberian sailors,
and are constantly engaged in bringing palm-oil to Monrovia,
from whence it is again shipped in foreign vessels for
Liverpool or New York. I made inquiry, during a short
sojourn at this place in 1852 on my way to this country,
about the amount of property owned by the wealthiest
merchants of Monrovia, and le