Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-04-25
An Odd Set Of People
BY OLIVE THORNE.

y ~ u.
1t didn't grow on him, you know. It
was taken from some animal killed in
hunting. and fastened on by himself as
IS i'm OF great dignity; aud when he
had his head ornamented with mon
keys tails, his neck covered by the skin
"t Wild Cat, and his square of scarlet
cloth over his shoulders, he was a very
gorg'ous-looking man indeed. Espec-
tally as all these gay colors contrasted
50 finely with his black skin, for he was
block "a negro. That's not very
strange though, for he aras negro, liv-
ing III the very centre of Africa, where
few white people ever go.
Perhaps You think monkeys tails
would make funny head dress. but
what would you say to a round piece of
zebra skin. with the long hairs sticking
ont all round the head, like the rays
round picture of the sun? Or if that
don't suit vrnr taste, how would you
like an OK ta;' stuck straight up over
your forehead
These people have curious ways of
adding to their beauty. They pull out
their evelashcs, for one thing, and the
men III the same way get rid of their
whiskers. Then they wear earrings SO
heavy that their ears are pulled horri-
bly, out Of shape.
Those are not all the comical things
they do, They are fond of tobacco.
but they neither smoke nor chew it.
They take snuff, mix it with water, and
sniif it into the nose. OF course the
precious fluid would fall out and be
LOST, but for an ingenious little pair of
pln"l'ers. which every man-and wom-
en-. too. I'm sorry to say-wears on a
string around the neck. When they
get !: good noseful of the horrid stuff.
they inst slip on the pinchers, and that
holds the nose tight.
What would you guess su':h droll
people would have for fire engines E?
The "nly house worth saving In the
whole kingdom belongs to the king, or
Chief, and it is very liable to take fire.
" len it does, the warriors are expect
ell to come and put out the fire by roll
ing orCr it!
How would you boys like to be SOL
dlers IN that country Their way of
taking the census, or counting the ar
my. IS rs funny as their other customs.
every soldier as he reports to the chief,
hringsa an egg. 1 suppose it is easier to |
count eggs than people, and think the
chiefs pantry-if he has one-must be |
we'll supplied, for he has three hundred
Thousand soldiers.
He has very dignifed way of ap
Dear:ng in public on grand occasions.
It IS on the back of his chief man, in
the position We call pick-a-back
This same chief has cunning way of
getting money. He inst marches into
one of his own towns, kills all the prin.
clpal men, aud sells all the rest into
slavery.
they needn't say any more about |
Young America" for in that country
boys of ten set up in life for themselves,
build themselves hut and live alone.
Girls too, as soon as they are grown up,
leave home and live in huts with other |
girls till they are married.
There are some horrible customs among
these people, as among all savages. II
great man is taken sick, they think
he is bewitched, and the doctor or med
icine man, proceeds to find out by
witchcraft, who did it. The unfortun-
ate man whom he selects is tortured. to
make him confess. If he won't confess.
he is killed, and if he does confess, of
course he is killed. So either way he
has to die, and every day some one must
die. till the great man gets we'll or dies
himself.
It isn't very comfortable place for
white man to be in, for the ignorant
savages think all white people are
witches. Of course if any one is sick,
the White man is held to be the mis-.
chief maker.
In many things these negroes are like
children. No matter what they are do
ing, if an unfortunate rabbit happens
to cross the path, every man in sight
will drop his work or his lead, and tear
after the poor little thing. If they
catch him, and they always do, they
tear him to pieces. and eat him at
once
They have no beasts of burden. like
our horses, and of course no wagons
SO the only way of carrying goods is on
mems shoulders. They walk in long
strings, called caravans. When two
caravans meet, the leaders side up to
Gael. other like pair of ROSTERS, and
snd'enly put down their heads, and
butt each other like two rams. That is
their sort of fun. Fancy your father
aud one OF his gentlemen friends run.
ming 1T each other in that way.
Ii they think white people are WITCH
"s, they are even worse In their treat
III III OF very fat men. A story is told
III o'e who was travelling through the
ro'':try. The delighted natives would
:"t 't' convinced that such a wonder
full fat man was not G I'd, and as they
nes"it'l rain, they insisted on his pro-
during it. When the unhappy man
could not do it--as of course he
20, "nt-they were so angry, they
'''.'. t'"'st to ill him, but luckily for
i!l"- RAIN came on aud saved his life.
i.""n tic animals of this country
don ct like other animals. One Of
th''n, tn" fiji, kind of wolf, steals up
5' man when asleep, and snatcl"s
1n"3:'';':l from the face. It doesn' kill
In, hnt lake, horrible looking
flc"
,\l' t'!jngs considered, don't believe
'H'!' nA, would like to go among the
v' tribes Of Central Africa.