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