Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-06-03
The Heart of Africa.
THE LAND OF THE PYGMY AND GORILLA.


The Heart of Africa.
THE LAND OF THE PYGMY AND GORILLA.
No traveller ever ventured into the in
terror of Africa better equipped for the
task of exploration than Schweinfurth. lie
was abundantly furnished with money,
supplies, and appliances for scientific re-
search, and he had, moreover, the benefit
of many years of studious and intelligent
preparation for the work. While yet a
lad his reading awakened in his mind an
intense interest in the vast regions ofCen-
tral Africa of which little is known beyond
uncertain conjecture, and even at that
early age he resolved to become an explor
er. . The whole course of his education
was directed towards this object. He mas
tered all that was known of Africa and its
peoples: acquired several of the native
languages and dialects; became an adept
in science and in all other branches of
study which would further the grand pur-
pose of his life No explorer ever set out
with more thorough preparation. The
results of this severe training are evident
on every page of his work. lie possessed
the advantage over many equally energetic
and enterprising explorers that he knew
what was known, and occupied himself
only with the task. of fresh discovery.
Hence his work is one of the most valua-
bic contributions of the day to our knowl-
edge of Central Africa.
The chief features of DR.. Schweinfurth's
book are his rediscovery of the Pygmies;
the light he throws on the system ofslave-
hunting. and the efforts made for its ex-
IL flN,rrIA 10 hn
hvdrooraphv of Central Africa. In regard
to the vOXed question of the Nile sources,
DR.. Sehweinfurth contributes some very
interesting and important data. He cross
ed the western watershed of that river,
and having arrived where the Lualaba
must come, ifit flows northward at all, and
not into the Nyanza, he found the Wellie,
the Keebaly. the Gadda, and all the streams
of that part of Africa running in a westerly
direction. This fact, while it does not
entirely dispose of the Lualaba, proves the
existence ofa separate river system, where
Livingston thought there might be found
the continuous channel of the Bahr- Cha
eel.
As regards the natives of Central Africa,
DIR. Schweinfurth resided for long time
among various tribes, and became init
matelv acquainted with their habits and
characteristics. Some OF the tribes are
ouite advanced in the ruder element of civ
ilization and the mechanical arts, while
others are nearly on a level with the brute
creation. The Monbuttoes and the Miami
MANS practice cannibalism; and it is Curl
Gus to note that this horrible custom ap-
pears to be not incompatible with many
: pleasant traits and good qualities. The
Mann MANS for example, are naturally
affectionate and kind-hearted. The men
treat their wives and children kindly, and
will part with their most cherished posses
sions to ransom friend or relative from
bondage if captured by slave-hunters or :
hostile tribe: vet they will slay and eat q
captive with the greatest zest Theil
r name signifies great caters They di
vile their time between war, hunting
and the cultivation of the soil. and, fol
savages, they are very good farmers
Sweet potatoes, yams and tobacco are thei
principal crops. OF tobacco they rais'
large quantities, and it is said to be of excel
f lent quality. The Niam-niams have no
= yet advanced to the practice of chewin:
+ tobacco; but they are inordinate smoker
Y of the fragrant weed. using neat little ella.
y pipes of their own manufacture. DR.
!. Schweinfurth remarks it as a curious cir
cumStaIlcc IIldt stll bllc VI teIltId
, Africa cultivate the tobacco plant, and tina
Y its foreign origin is indicated by the fac
:. that but one tribe, from the Niger to tn
Y Nile, has a native word of its own to dc
note it. Throughout all the districts owe
q which Dr.. Schweinfurth travelled the MAN
q MANS formed the solitary exception t
V this rule. They call the plant :" gundeh
q but the Monbuttoos know it by the nam
# of q" e-taboo,n while other tribes ring ever
d change upon the root rs s. tabb, ~ :" tabba,
d or tabdeet." Although the Europea
II traveller NAV not be able to eat the foo
n prepared by his African entertainers, nc
J., drink their curious decoction of the herb
Is he can sit down and smoke with then
and in this way, at least, enjoy II sense
the universal brotherhood of man.
The Niam-niams wear but little clothin:
spending all their energy and ingenuit
\ on their head-dress. One favorite and T.
lo lo markable style of coiffure is made with
20 hoop fastened to the outer rim of stra
20 hat. Single tresses of hair are taken fro
VI all round the head and stretched tight
oc ~ over the hoop, producing an effect, sa,,
u DR.. Schweinfurth, like the rays of glol
" " seen in engravings round the head of
~ y saint. From the picture of their singul
u u head-dress given in the book we shou
Is Il Judge the allusion to the "ray of glory
H. to be rather far-fetched. Whenever
y Niam-niam has lost near friend, the fiji
~ ~ token of sorrow is the total destruction
~ this elaborate head-dress, which has be-
GO the pride of his life and the labor Of dev'
ed conjugal hands. The tufts, the brait
the tresses are torn away, and the fra
ments scattered to the winds.
of There is among the Niam-niams IA 4
ol- tinct class of professional musicians, W
an seem to be grotesque counterpart of
he wandering troubadours of olden tin
m, Their appearance is remarkable. Deck
,ot out in the most fantastic manner w
Is feathers, bits of wood, leaves, shells, cla'
of beaks and teeth, they wander from villa
M to village, reciting in a monotonous, dra
ing chant, the adventures of ancient nat