The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-05
EQUATORIAL AFRICA.


Mr. Paul B. Du Chailu the celebrated traveller, the
first and as yet known the only explorer Of Equato-
rial Africa delivered one OF his popular lectures
last evening at the rooms OF the American Geo
graphical and Statistical Society," Cooper Institute
before a very large audience, the lecture
room beng filed to overlooking and
the ante-room having many occupants
straining to hear the words Of the lecturer. The
occasion was the monthly meeting OF the society,
Mr. Du Chaillu. at the invitation Of the society,
having specially travelled from Boston, where he Is
engaged in delivering course of lectures. to be
present to read before the society his paper on
Equatorial Africa"
Judge Daily, the president Of the society. presided
The subject OF the lecture was Equatorial Africa,
with an Account OF the Race OF Pigmes and OF the
Cannbal Tribes" Mr. Du Chaillu gave brief de-
scrpton OF hts early desires to travel and his first
start towards their accomplishment After some
time he reached the country OF the Ashmangoes, an
extensive and well peoped country IN Equatorial
Africa. Here he became very intimate with the
King who was exceedingly friendly to the young
European, the first who had visited his country in
the memory Of the Oldest inhabitant. This
was was his point pdpDM. from whence ne
made frequent excursions into the surrounding
country. Far to the eastward he came upon the
Bonganboes-a people of very diminutive stature.
and the berries OF the forest These people lived apart
from all communication with the surrounding
tribes, marrying within themselves, and moving
from place to place as within and fancy directed.
They are most expert trappers Of the wild
animals that roanled In vast numbers
through the impenetrable forests that stretched
UNEMPLOYED distances to the eastward. On the ap-
pearance at any time OF tho people OF other tribes
these pgmies immediately fled to the Businesses and
nft yy H.
gerous to pursue them on account or the innu-
merable number OF traps set by them for the
wild boar. He was very anxious to learn
something OF those people. and though his friend
the King or the Ashmangoes had done everything to
dissuade him from the attempt he was not to be led
from accomplishing his purpose. Seeing this the
King furnished him with some guides and, attended
by his seven followers from the coast, he started
on his journey. After some time travelling TO
the eastward from the country OF the Ash
temporary settlements OF the Bonganboe pigmies.
Upon the approach of himself and party, however,
the whole settlement fed, he pursuing. But they
too close proximity to their safe and impenetrabe
retreats In the dense forest, into which ne could not
nately, however. a party OF seven women
and man were not so quick as the rest
in time, and before these could reach the forest
they were 0vertaken and captured. From these
specimens = was very easy to Judge OF the WHOLE ole
branches OF trees, one end OF a branch not more
than six feet long being stuck in the ground, and
then bent over till the other end could be
stuck In the ground In the same way.
Other branches were fixed in the same way. and
over these were laid branches, and this formed their
| huts. He measured the women who had failed to
escape and he found their height to be four feet
feet aiantess among them, measured 1--WE feet and
quarter. Their heads measured from twenty-one
and quarter inches to TWENTY-FIVE and quarter
inches around. These people were not at all as he
l expected they would be, apish in form and make.
ON the contrary they all presented the appearance
such life as theirs--the lives or gypsies Their
heads and parts of their bodies were covered with
tufts Of hair IN spots here and there with no spread
nuts and berries of the Forest and the game they sold
to the Ashangoes. They knew nothing OF the marriage
| being entirely independent and untrammecd in
their choice or fancy. They had curious custom
with relation TO the inrerment Of their dead. When
ever they buried any Of the tribe they would 70 to
stream, divert IL from its course for short dis
lance Dig FRA, grave deep IN The bed OF the
course. He did not remain long among these
people, for he found IL impossible TO lure them back
great tribe people OF cannlbals to the north
ward he determined on visiting them. Here he
fonnd race &c q very tail mem As ne entered their
mounted with skulls, and as he entered the VIII
lage the street was covered with skulls. The
and from . mile to a mile ana hall in
length. These people we're great warriors, but
| their ravenous nav IL was not considered right
among them 10 eat the dead OF their own family, but
little subterfuge was resorted TO by them to get
this little restriction. The living having dead
relative would go To q neighbor and agree 10
leave their dead friend on tho table II the
party would agree to return the favor the
FIRST time one OF their friends died. These
manufactured the most splendid weapons-spears,
arrows knives, axes and tomahawks, sharpened
like razors. They were q very formidable people
and terror to the tribes the most remote from them
and the most difficult to reach.
Mr.. Du Chaillu kept the interest OF hrs hearers
alive TO the end. and when he had concluded vote
OF thanks through the president Was awarded HIM.