The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-11-15
A Curiosity.
THE GHILADES-NEw RACE OF MEN.

Colonel Du Couret, who has travelled
extensively in Africa, making new explo-
rations in hitherto unfrequented regions,
has recently made report to the French
Academy of Sciences, in reference to
singular race of men, inhabiting the in
terror, ,cho are furnished Nth tails. The
following extract from the report we take
from the Paris Correspondence of the
Journal OF Commerce.:
81 inhabited Mecca in 1912" says
NJ. Du Couret, d" and being often at the
house Of an Emir with whom was init
mate, spoke to him of the GhilaDe race,
and told him how much the Europeans
doubted of the existence of men with
tails, that is TO say, the vertebral column
elongated externally. In order to con-
vince me of the reality of the species,
the Emir ordered before me one of his
slaves called Bsllal, Tko had tail, and
who belonged to this tribe. On survey
ing this man, was thoroughly convinced.
He spoke Arabic well, and appeared
rather intelligent. He told me that, in
his country, far beyond the Seminar,
which he had crossed, they spoke DIFF
ferent language; this, for want of prac-
tice, he had entirely forgotten: that of
his compatriots, whom he estimated at
thirty OF forty thousand, some Worship
ers the serpent, and the sources Of an
immense river, in which they inundated
their victims-(probably the SOURCES Of
the Nile); that they ate with delight raw
flesh, as bloody as possible; and that
they loved human flesh above all things;
that, after their battles with the neigh
boring tribes, they slaughtered and de-
voured their prisoners without distinction
of age or sex; but that the women and
children were preferable, the flesh being
more delicate. This Ghilane had be-
come deVout Mussulman, and had iiy-
ed fifteen years in the Holy City.
The fondness, the necessity, even, for
raw flesh lit really was a want for HIM
did not fail to return upon him; and his
master, therefore, by precaution, ney-
er failed, when this fit was or him, TO
provide him with an enormous piece OF
raw mutton, which he consumed raven
ously before everybody. This desire for
raw flesh showed itself periodically ;
sometimes twice week. Being ash ed
why he DID not try TO correct such hab-
it, he answered with great irankness. Il
have often tried to overcome this appe-
tite, which | received from my father and
mother. la my country, great anc
small, young and old, live In this manner
besides eating fish, fruits and vegetables
If my master neglected to supply thu:
requirement of my nature, | am sure
could not resist the desire which posses
ses me of devouring something, and
should cause great sorrow by falling OF
some person too weak to contend witt
me, an infant, for example HAVING
asked him to allow me to see him make i
(ior wished to sketch him) he resisted
for long time, but finally yielded, OF
receiving the promise Of an entirely new
dress, which | was to send him; he CAM
privately TO my house, where he took OF
the scanty shirt of coarse blue lineI
which he wore. was thus enabled t
contemplate HIM quite at my ease, an
: to paint his portrait without exposing hin
| to the punishment which would have bee
inflicted on him, if he had been detecte
by his fanatical and superstitious mas
0 ter The drawing made under thes
. circumstances has been placed under tn
j eyes of the Academy"
Here is the portrait of Bellal, th
name Of the parsonage the author en-
> countered at Mecca:
4 * He was thin and dry, but nervou
;. and strong. His skin was black bror
= zed, shining, soft to the touch like veIve
His feet were fiat; his arms and legs az
# peared feeble, but well supplied wit
n muscles. His ribs could be easily eou5
ted. His face was repulsively ugly
: His mouth was enormous, his lips thicl
= his teeth strong, sharp, and very white
Il his nose broad and fiat; his ears lon
- and deformed; his forehead low and r,
= ceding; his hair not very woody nc
is thick, but nevertheless curly. He ha
o. no beard, and his body was not hairy. :
e He was very active and handy. Fl
!. height was about five feet. His tail wa
d more hcn three inches long, and almost ;
flexible as that of monkey. His disp'
So sition, setting aside the oddly of b
ct tastes and habits, was good, and his I
n deity was above all praise