Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-10-10
A Nation of Pigmies in Africa.

no the south OF Kaha and Susa there is
a very sultry and humid climate, With ma
ny bamboo woods, inhabited by the race
called Dokos, who are no larger than
boys of ten years Of age that is only four
feet high. They have a dark, oliye-color-
ed complexion, and live in completely
savage state, like the beasts having nei
ther houses temples, nor holy trees like
theGal,as,yet possessing something like an
idea OF a higher being called Yer, and to
whom, in moments OF anxiety and wretch
edness they pray-not in an erect position
but reversed with the head to the ground,
and feet supported upright against tree
or stone. In prayer they say: "lf thou
really dost exist, why dost thou allow us
TO be slain We do not ask thee for food
and clothing, for we live on serpents, ants
and mice. Thou hast made US, and WHY
dost thou permit US TO be trodden under>
foot 2" Tue Dokos have no chief, no
laws, no weapons, they do not hunt or
! till the ground, but live solely on fruits,
roots, mice, serpents, ants, honey, and the
like, climbing trees, and gathering the
fruits like monkeys, and both sexes 90
completely naked. They have thick pro.
trudlug lips, Hat noses and small eyes the
hair Is not wUolly and worn 10y the women
over the shoulders. The nails on the
hands and feet are allowed 10 grow like
the talons OF vultures and are used in dig
gIng to- ants, and in tearing to pieces tho
serpents, which they deyour raw, being
uuacqualnted with fire. The spine of the
snake being the only ornament worn a
round the neck, but they pierce the ear
with a sharp pointed piece ofwood.
The Dokos multiply very rapidly, but
have no regular marriages. no settled
home, each in perfect Independence, GO
ing whittier fancy leads. The mother
nurses her child only for a short time, ac-
customing it as soon as possible TO the
eating OF ants and serpeuts and as con
as the child can take care of itself the
mothor lets it run wherever it pleases -
Although these people live in thick. woods
and conceal themselves amongst the trees
yet they become the prey of the slave
hunters OF Susa, katfa Dumbaro and Kul
la; for the whole regions OF their WOODS
are enclrcled by the hunters, so that the
Eokos cannot easily escape. When the
slave hunters come in sight of the poor
creatures they hold up right colors, sing
ing and dancing, upon winch the Dokos
allow themselves to be captured without
resistance, knowing from experience that
such resistance IS trultless, and can onlY
lead to their destruction. In this way
thousands can be captured by small
band OF hunters, and once captured they
become quite docile. In slavery they re-
tain their prediction for feeding on
mice, serpents and ants, although often
ou that account punished by their masters
who in Other respects are attached to
them, as they are dOcle and Ubedient,
have few wants, aud enjoy good health,
tor which reasons they are never sold be-
yond EnaTea As diseases are not known
among them, they die only of CID age. or
through the assaults of their enemies.
1t cannot be decided whether these Do
kos or pgmies who, according to Herodis
tbs, were discovered near great river in
Central Africa by two youths dispatched
by Etearch, King of the Oasis of Ammon,
yet can bear witness that heard these
little people not only in Shoe, but also in
Ukambani, two degrees in the south, and
in Baravia, a degree and a half to the
north Of the equator. In Blravia slave
was shown to me who accorded complete
ly with the description ofthe Dokcs. He
was four feet high, very thick set, dark
complexioned, and lively, and the people
Of the place assured me he was of the pig
my race Of the interior 1t is not impos,
sible too that continued rains from My
until January, and other means may con-
tribute to produces dimnutivc people Of
stunted deyelopomenti in the interior of
Africa A priOrl therefore, the repOrts
collected from different and mutually in-
dependent points of Africa cannot be dir
eoLly couuadicted only care must be tao
ken to examine with caution the fabulous
element mixed up with what may be true
by native reporters. In the Snahil dia
leot "dogo" means small, and in that of
Anarea "doko" is indicative of an ignor-
ant and stupid person