The emigrants by the barque Union, from New Orleans are, for the present located at Monrovia. This was done to place them in a situation convenient for the physician, as there were vacant houses at Millsburg, and he could better attend them here than at any other settlement, Millsburg excepted, where the other emigrants were located. They are doing well, and have passed through the first attack of fever with but little difficulty. Yours, &c. J. J. ROBERTS. Extract of a letter from Dr. M'GILL, of Cape Palmas, in Africa, to Mr. MOSES SHEPPARD, of Baltimore. NATIVE DOCTORS. THESE form a class of individuals of whom very slight accounts have been written by persons residing here, yet they hold a very important and influential rank in every community. The skill with which they manage ** all classes with whom they come in contact, evinces superior shrewdness and intelligence. From the king to the beggar, they sway all; that individual is truly unfortunate who draws on himself the anger of the doctors. These are not isolated individuals, but a regular organized body, every one of whom must have passed through a regular two years' study-bearing the token of his engagements in the shape of a wooden bowl and monkey skin continually on his person, and must show to the world that he has a deadly hatred to the pure element water, for ablutions. Having done all these things, searched for his chicken's head and found it, he finally receives permission direct from the devil to go forth and kill or cure with impunity. This devil, by whom the degree is conferred, leads a wandering kind of life, but when at home, is securely ensconced in a solid bed of rock, somewhere near the head of the Cavally river. He is said to possess extraordinary powers of locomotion, he is everywhere when wanting, but always invisible. The title assumed by this potent dignitary is that of "grand devil," to distinguish him from devils of inferior grade, for it is admitted by the natives, and may be believed, that the emissaries of his highness are as numerous as the sand on the sea shore. Pilgrimages to his shrine up the river Cavally are made by the natives residing on the windward and leeward coasts, all of whom are required to bring some acceptable offering, as an expiation of some offence or to insure his favor. The gift is deposited, and the individual returns the next day to receive an answer to whatever interrogatories he may have made; of course his gift has been by some process or other converted into the same material of which the rock is composed, otherwise the old gentleman must have flown off with it. Very often the pilgrim is advised to retrace his steps homeward, and add a trifle to the value of his offering, before the devil can find his tongue. If the doctors consult him, and are received favorably, they depart loaded with his choicest gifts, consisting principally of pieces of bark, claws of animals, pieces of rock, snakes' teeth, &c. "Eye of newt, and toe of frog, * A fowl is killed, the head cut off and hid beneath some stone; the candidate for medical honors having had eyes well rubbed with Cayenne pepper, is required to seek for and find it-the poor fellow with eyes and nostrils streaming, gropes about, to the amusement of hundreds of spectators. American Missionary Societies.......312 Death of James Forten........... ..156 Arrival from Liberia.. ..327 Donation, Munificent.. ..27 African Mission.. 330 Death of the Rev. Geo. McElroy.....126 Anniversary Hymn. .294 Death of the Rev. Andrew A. Shannon.126 African Trade-Right of Search, etc..241 Dr. Parker's speech. ..185 African Civilization and Manufactures.270 Departure of emigrants. 234 Africa-The great movements. ...129 Departure for Africa.. 263 African slave trade-The Quintuple Departure of the Mariposa... 258 Treaty..... 147 Despatches....... 132 Appeal, Mr. Ellsworth's. Amistad Africans. Additional emigrants for Liberia......159 Expedition for Liberia.. 188 Emigration from Sierra Leone to benevolence. ..97 Badagry.. 293 African Col. meeting at Washington...121 Emancipation in the French colonies..158 Annual meeting of the Md. Col. Soc'y..76 Expedition for Liberia. Communication-"Prize Essay"......142 Letter from Liberia Communication-Cause of Colonization.145 Light dawning.. 66 Mission to England....395 ..360 Great movement for the suppression .388 H. .126 .337 235 265 331 398 327 I. 185 .288 188 66 African papers. ....92 K. |