5567. Do they not settle at Fernando Po?--No; no more than they settle in Sierra Leone. 5568. Mr. _G. Wood_.] Do they all retire to their own country in their old age?--Yes. I have known a great many of them; indeed, I was very partial to them, and had a good many in my employ. Governor Doherty rather discouraged their employment, which I thought unwise, but that was one slight point on which I disagreed with him. 5569. _Chairman._] Have you never heard of their being converted at Cape Palmas by American missionaries?--No. 5570. Mr. _G. Wood_.] Are you aware of any persevering and continuous efforts having ever been employed?--No, I cannot say that I am; but they are thrown into our colony very much under the same circumstances that the liberated Africans are, who become Christians, almost universally. 5571. _Chairman._] The liberated Africans are more settled?--Yes. 5572. And are therefore more exposed to the influence of those around them?--Yes; but the Krooman also resides at Sierra Leone, and is never away more than once in three or four years, but the periodical return to his own country, and to his old habits, is I think a great cause why it is so difficult to christianise him. 5573. Mr. _Wortley_.] Is there any mode of accounting for those remarkable peculiarities in the Kroomen?--No; I think they are kept distinct by the habit of the country, never allowing the women to leave the country, and thus inducing the men constantly to return. 5574. Is there any distinction of race to be observed between them and other tribes?--Yes, a most striking difference. 5575. Is there any reason to suppose their origin to have been different from the origin of the rest of the inhabitants of Africa?--One would suppose so from their being totally different in colour and habits. 5576. Mr. _G. Wood_.] Has their language been analysed with a view to see whether that affords any indication of their being from a different stock?--No. An opinion seems to have been expressed by Governor Doherty against allowing Mahomedans to exercise their religion. I differ from him there also; but I think, with those two exceptions, as far as I recollect it, I agree with the remainder of the Report. 5577. Viscount _Courtenay_.] Bearing in mind the remarks which are made in that Report upon the subject of schools, do you concur with him generally in those remarks, or do you wish to add any thing?--I quite concur with him, particularly with regard to the pay of the teachers; I think the pay certainly is on too low a scale at present to secure the services of good teachers. 5578. What is your opinion as to the practice which seems to exist of separating the children of liberated Africans from the Creole children?--I think any separation of that kind is undesirable.