New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-04

and the interview was over.
CENTRAL AFRICAN PIGMIES.
The Khedive spoke of a race of pigmies which had
been discovered in the very heart of Central Africa
beyond the land of the Nyam-Nyams, and advised
us TO look at two natives of the tribe which had re-
Gently reached Cairo. On leaving the Palace OF
Abdeen, therefore, we drove Immediately TO the
Palace of the Nile, Boulak, where they are now
kept On making inquiry, the soldiers in the inner
court Immediately pointed out two small boys lap
parently). wearing the fez and dressed in jackets
and trowsers of white wool. Lshould have taken
them for children of some Ethiopian tribe at the
first glance and was not satisfied until after close
inspection, that one of them was full-grOwn man.
Dr. Schweinfurth saw some natives of the tribe
among the Nyam-Nyams but did not reach their
country, which lies beyond that Of the latter, and
therefore south of the Equator-prObably from 300
TO 500 miles west of the central part of Albert Ny
anza But after Schwenfmth's return the veteran
Italian traveller Miami, whose name, carved upon
tree Fatiko will be remembered by all readers
of Spekes and Bakers narratives, started on new
journey of exploration from which he was destined
never to return. On the 9th of November last some
boats reached Khartoum with the journals and col
lectons Of Miami who died in country called Mon
bootoo. These were taken by the Governor of Khar-
toum, and three pignies, who supposed to be
telligence reached Cairo, the Khedive ordered
Mians papers and collections to be given to the
Italian Consul and the pigmies TO be sent to him.
One of them, woman, died on the way; the other
two reached here a few weeks ago. They are the
first Of their race which have ever been seen outside
Of Central Africa. Tho Khedive, who gave me these
particulars seemed much interested in the people,
and probably intends TO use them, if they survive,
as a medium of future intercourse with their tribe.
The soldiers brought the pGmies forward for our
inspection. They camo half willingly half with an
ar of defiance. of protest against the superior
strength which surrounded them. A tall Dinka,
from the White Nile blacker than charcoal. who ac-
companied them, was one of MIani's men, He spoke
little Arabic and was thus able to get little adj
ditional information through him. He assured me
that tho pigmies were called Mann; that their
country was journey of year and half from
khartoum probably the time occupied by trading
expedition in going thther and returning, and that
the place from which thoy came had the name of
Takkatikat The taller of the two pigmies, Tubbul
10y name was 20 years old; the younger Karal, only
10 OF u.
The little fellows looked at me with bright. ques-
tiOning steady eyes, while Iexaminedand measured
them Tubbul was &c inches in hight the legs being
% inches, and the body with the head a. which is
somewhat better proportion than usual in savage
tribes. Head and arms were quite symmetrical, but
the spine curved in remarkably from the shoulders
TO the hipjont, throwing ont the abdomen, which
was already much distended probably from their
diet of beans and bananas. Yet the head was erect
the shoulders Cd the line of gravity, and there
no st0Op in the posture Of the body, in the South
African bushmen. Tubbul measured &c inches
around the breast and % around the abdomen; his
hands and feet coarsely formed, but not large
only the lInee-iOnts being disprOpOrtiOnately thick
and clumsy. The facial angle was fully up to the
average there was good development of brain,
fine inte gent eyes, and flattened that, in
looking down the forehead from above, one saw
only the lips projecting beyond it. The nostrs were
astonishngly wide and square; the complexion was
that Of dark mulattO.
The boy Karal was 20 inches high, with the same
general proportions. Both had wOolly hair cut
short in front but covering the with a circu
lar cap Of crisp little rolls Tubbuls age showed it
SELF on nearer examination, in his hands, feet, and
Joints as well rs his face. He had beard, but
evidently of virile years. / lifted him from the
ground and should not estimate his weight at more
than 6j pounds The soldiers stated that neither of
the two had learned more than few words of
Arabic, but that they talked great deal to each
other in their own language However, when or
dered to speak Tubbul turned and walked away
soldier seized and drew him back whereupon he
recent meeting of the Egyptian Institute it was
stated that the language of these pigmes has no
semblance to that of any other IN Central Africa.
The country of Mann or Takkatikat, or whatever
may be its correct name. is reported TO be equaO
rial table-land covered with low, dense thickcts in
which the pigmes hide. The Khedive told me that
they are quite warlike, and by no means despicable
foes to their larger negro neghbors, since they
active as apes and difficult TO find among their ma
tive iungles DR.. SchwcinfuTth supposes them to be
the pigmies mentioned by HerOdOtus. The Darwin
ians will hardly find an intermediate race between
man and moukey in them. Their curious physical pc
cuarties especially the curvature of the spne the
wide mouth with fat but distinctly marked lips and
a simian character. In fact they look less like the
chmpanzee than several Of the tall aud athletic
negro tribes.
When was on the White Nile, in 1852 the Nyam
Nyams were spoken Of by the people a frightful
race of cannibals, with tails No one had ever
them the very name was a terror to the natives Of
Soudan and an obstacle to the traveller. Now their
country has been reached and partially explored
and specimens of the have ventured even as far
as KhartOum. The pigmiies prove to be far more in
terestug than they, from an chronological point of
view, and we shall certainly soon learn more of
them l am not aware that any account of the race
has vet been published in Europe or America. b. 1.
----------
THE INQUISITION FORTY YEARS AGO.
DIR. ADAMS Defends THE HISTORIC ACCURACY OF
HIS STATEMENT.