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A Dutch account of Liberia in the Seventeenth Century: Chevalier des Marchais |
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The People The king who reigned in 1726 was called Captain Peter, a name which had long been common to the kings of Mesurado. When dealing with the Dutch and English, both parties took every precaution against roguery. They were armed, hostages were exchanged, and mutual caution observed. The French1, on the contrary, traded there without the least suspicion. The natives put themselves in their power, went on board French ships without fear, and on all occasions manifested the most friendly disposition towards them. The French dealt with them as with old and faithful friends, went on shore unarmed, committed their persons and effects to the safeguard of the natives, and never had any reason to repent of this confidence. “The religion of the natives of Mesurado is a kind of idolatry, ill
understood, and blended with a number of superstitions, to which, however, few
of them are bigoted. They easily change the object of their worship, and
consider their fetishes only as a kind of household furniture. The sun is the
most general object of their adoration; but it is a voluntary worship, and
attended with no magnificent ceremonies.”
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[1] The French, through the Senegal Company, began a renewed intercourse with Northern Liberia at the close of the seventeenth century.
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© fpm van der kraaij |