Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-07-11


gus, and derived from the Narrative of
Mr.. Wilson, a missionary in Africa, we
learn that ne has discovered a nation Of
Ethiopians never before seen or des-
cribed by any white man. Mr. Wilson
is stationed on the Gaboon River, which
emptIes in the Atlantic, about twenty
miles north OF the Equator.
The mission is at the mouth Of the RI
yer, but having a fine opportunity, Mr..
Wilson accompanied Toko,a distinguish
cd negro merchant, uP the GabDon and
ITS tributary the BIG Orombo, to koban-
Iais town,fifty miles from the ocean, on
the Bawke,a branch Of the Big Orombo.
This was as far up the river as he us
crnded. While there, nc met with q
new nation Of Africans, "some Of whom
were said 10 come five days journey and
Others ten or twelve days journey from
the interiorH-that is from 200 to 400
miles from the sea coast. lie calls them
The PANGwE people, because they came
from the direction in which a country
oftnat name lies. The distance from
the coast indicates that they came from
Ethiopia; and possibly that this pie
may spread over that vas unknown re,
gion of Africa.
The existence and use Of iron ofthnir
own manufa cture, seems very remarka
bic, and philosophers would say, indi-
Gates an advanced state Of civilization.
tor II is known that ba;barous or saw.
age people never have iron Of their own
manufacture until il has been first intro
duced BY the whites. The non existence
of slavery and The slave trade amJnO
them, shows a feature still more distinc,
live from the ord nary African.
We are furnished by the Argus with
the following passage from the journal
nf ar Wilson.
'1)uring our short soiourn i'm this
o place, we met with a number Of men en-
tlrely different in their features and gen
eral appearance from those in this part
of the country, some OF whom were said
10 come live, and others ten or twel We
days journey from The interior They
were known by the name Of the Pangwe
people. they were on visit 10 this
part OF the country, which is as near 10
the sea coast as they have ventured -
Hearing OF US al this place, they came in
considerable numbers TO see "A white man
and cd Ioko,one Of whom was as much
an object OF curiosity as the other.
Those Of whom we saw, both mon
and women,were vastly superior in their
personal appearance 10 the maritime
Tribes and ifthey may be regarded as
fair specimen OF their people, should
have no hesitation in prJnouncinr them
the finest Africans whom have ever
met with. They wear no clothing. ey.
cnpt piece ofcioth made Of the inner
bark Of tree This is drawn belw.eo
the legs and fastened around the loins
by cord. Nor do they covet cloth
On the other hand they ieer The hush
men OF THIS region, by telling them that
they wear cloth to conceal their person
al defects, and their external disea ses. -
10th men and women braid their hair
with great deal Of taste The women
braid the hsJ on the forepart Of the head
in two rows, which lie over the fore.
head not unlike the fr,ll ola cap. That
on the back part is plated into five or
SIX braids which reach below the shout /
ders.
The men are Of medium stature, re-
markab'y well formed, healthy in their
appearance, and manly in their deport-
ment. They had knives, spears, travel
ling bags and other articles Of curious
and ingenious workmanship, specimens
OF which we procured for very small !
quantity Of beaIs. All Of heir impIe- .
ments arc made Of iron Of their own .
which is considered vastly superior to
any brought to the country by trading
vessels. They Sc: no value upon cloth
and as yet have never acquired a taste
for tobacco or rum. Beads, powder end
brass they prize very highly, and were
willing 10 give away any thing they had
Tor the smallest quantities Of either of /
these. They represent their country ns
mountainous and healthful, and affirm .
that cutaneods and other diseases COM |
mon to the maritime regions are un. |
known among them They have never /
participated ia the slave trade, and re-. !
gard II, rs is by no means unnatural in
their circumstances, with the utmost alb.
hoTrence.
One or two instances are known where
they have visited attempts TO enslave
their people with signal vengeance. Il /
- difficult TO define the limits and extent
OF their country. Perhaps the most
westerly border Of what is know as the
Pangwc territory was within one humid j
red ans hiiy mi es Of the coast and from
thence II may extend many hundred
miles into the interior, aud possiblv I
sPreed itself over large portion Of the
south side Of the Mountains Of the Moon
Their country is represented as i'm
mensely populous, but | could not learn