Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-06-19
THE AJETAs OR NEGRITOs

The people with whom had come to amigamlte for
several days appearedto me rather in the light of large
family Of apes than OF human beings Even their voices
rescubled the small cries OF those animals, aud their
gestures identical. The only difference found con
sisted in their knowledge OF the use the aud lance
and in being able 10 make fire; but in order depict
them WELL will commence by describing their forms aud
physioguomics. The Aetas NcgritoS bony black
ike the negroes Of Aiica Their stature is four
feet and half the hair is woody, anl they take no
pains III clearing II, ana do not know how 10 arrange it,
forms OF crown around the head, which gives them
exceedingly fantastic aspect, and makes the head ap
pea-, when seen irOma distance if surrounded with
SORT OF oureole. The eyes rather yellow, but OF
Sivacy aud OrilAnry comparable that OF the eagle
The necessity OF living by the chase aud Of pursuing the
without CESSATION exercises this organ it,
when gives IL '"'- remarkable vvacity The features OF
the jetas somewhat resemble t.-.".1 nm nom ,s, y,
the African blacks the lips however are less ptou--,
While st! young they are neatly formed but the life they
lead in the woods sleeping always in the open air without
shelter eating large quantity one day. and often nothing
the next, and prolonged fsts follow the repasts eaten
with the gluiony OF wild beasts, produce large stomach
aud render the eXIremies meagre and lauk. They
wear clothing, with the exception of a Ettle
belt OF the bark of trees, eight ten inches wide
which cncrcles the waist Their consist OF a lance
0 bamboo bow of palm wood, and poisoned arrows
rhcy live upon roots fruits aud the produce OF the chase
They devour their almost raw, and live together Ia
tribes consisting OF ty or sixty individuals During the
lay the old ps1ple, the nfrM, and the Children Assem-
ne around large fire. while the others hunting
woods; and when they obtain prey that will last for
days they all remain around the fire. At ngat they all
sleep pe!e-mee among the ashes o! the lire. Ii is
trcmey curious fifty OF these of all aga.
and or less defomcd thus collected together The
old women, especially hdeou.; their decrepit limbs
large stomich and extraordinary head hair give them
tn appearance OF fures old witches. The Ajeas have
religion and adore star. 1t appears, however that
they have Transmitted to the Tanguiues "a brown race
nhabng the neig1borhooi) have learned from the
Latter, the practice of worshippng for day rock
ruuk OF tree, in which they hnd resemblance
animal OF other. They then leave it, aud they think no
more about idols until they with other o.ec,
Of equally frivolous worship. The Ajetis has an in
credible agility aud a!ress in all hs movements. lie as
cenis the highest Ike the monkeys eizing the trunk
with both hands and applying the solcs his feet lie
ike deer when in the pursuit OF large gamc-hi,
ayortc occupation. 1t extremely curious to see these
people departing on hunting excursion; men, women,
aud Children all go together, like troop o: ourang gu.
iangs apluuderns expedition. They are always ac-
cpmpnuied by one or two small dogs of singular breed
which aid them ia pursuing the prey alter it has been
wounded Etmoloyied Librdry, No. /.