Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-08-11
DIR. LIvINasToNE's EXPLORATIONS.

DIR. Livingstones researches in Africa con-
tinue to develop many exceedingly interesting
facts concerning the people and productions Of
that long benighted continent. A paper from
him was recently read before the British Asso-
citation for the Advancement of Science. The
Doctor states that in the upper part of the
Lower Shire and in the valley of the Upper
Shire there is a somewhat numerous population,
living in villages. Each village has its chief,
while the chiefs of given territory have head
chief to whom they render allegiance. In one
case he found this paramount chief to be a wom-
an. Nearly every village is surrounded by
thick hedge of the poisonous cuphorbia The
inhabitants poison their arrows with the Juice
Of its leaves by shooting them through the
hedges, and the constant dripping of he bruised
branches prevents an enemy forcing passage
through, as it destroys the sight. Many of the
men are very intelligent looking, with high
foreheads and well shaped heads. They show
singular taste in dressing their hair-which is
arranged in a great variety of styles-have
handsome necklaces, wear rings in their ears
and on their fingers and bracelets on their
arms and legs. These ornaments are of brass,
iron and copper, and are often deliberately figured
Many have their front teeth notched, and same
file them till they resemble the teeth of q saw
The upper-lip ring of the women gives them a
revolving appearance. Some are very large
One, which the Doctor measured caused the
lip to project two inches beyond the tip of the
nose when the lady smiled the contraction of
do the women wear these things ?" the venera-
bic chief, Chinsurdi was asked. Evidently
surprised at such a stupid question, he replied,
FOR beauty! They the only beautiful
things women have men have boards women
have none. What kind of person would she
be without the pelcle? She woule not be a
woman ut ALL with q mouth like q man, but no
beard
They seem to be an industrious race. Iron is
dug out of the hills, and every village has one
or two smelling houses and from their own
native iron they make excellent hoes, axes,
spears, knives, arrow heads, &c. They make al
so round baskets of various sizes, and earthen
pots, which they ornament with plumbago. In
almost every village men are to be seen clean
ing and spinning cotton, while others were
weaving it into cloth by exceedingly slow pro-
cesses. 1t is great cotton growing country.
The cotton is of two kinds native and foreign.
The foreign cotton is of good quality and re-
quires to be planted only once in three years.
The natveisan annual plant, and feels more like
wool than cotton, but Notwithstanding the ex-
ira labor required to produce it the natives pre-
fer it, because it makes stronger cloth. Every
family seems to own a cotton patch, which is
sometimes two or three acres in extent, though
usually uOHl QudIlcl W IL iIull all Lie
natives say the country is full of cotton, and it
was to be seen everywhere. There are extern
sive tracts on the level plains ofboth the Low
er and Upper Shire, where salt exudes from
the soil. Sea Island cotton might grow well
there, as on these the foreign cotton becomes
longer in the staple. The cotton growers new
er have their crops cut off by the frosts. There
are none Both kinds of cotton require but
little labor, none of that severe and killing toll
requisite in the United States The people are
great cultivators of the soil, and it repays them
well. They raise maize, rice two kinds of mill
let, beans, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, yams,
ground nuts, pumpkin, tobacco and Indian
hemp. Near lake Nyassa, indigo seven feet
high ives seen.
Large quantities of beer ore made, and the
explorers found whole villages engaged in
"sprees." The people Notwithstanding attain
great age, is evident from the large number
of old, grey-headed persons to be seen. This
seemed oindicate healthy climate. For their
long lives they are not the least indebted to
selvesp onr men never do," said some women
at Chinsurdi. An old man said he remembered
having washed himself once when boy, but
never repeated it and from his appearance the
truth of his statement could hardly be doubted.
One fellow, who followed the party and pes
tered them very much, could not be shaken off
till threat was made to put him in the river
and wash him. The castor oil with which they
lubricate themselves and the dirt serve as ad-
ditional clothing, and to wash themselves is
like throwing away the only upper garment
they possess They feel cold and uncomforta-
BILE after wash. They have an idea of Su-
preme Being, whom they name Prambe, and
also of future state of existence.-B0ston
Journal