Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-01-21

the COWS and donkeys, who of course
need protection also.
Her apron of skin is heavily fringed
with iron rings, bells, beads and such
| things, and her costume is completed by
| heavy iron rings on her ankles, which
are fastened on, and which clank as she
walks. a person of wealth sometimes
wears as much as fifty pounds weight of
iron all the time So you see riches have
their burdens in Africa as well as in
| America.
Every Dinka man carries a club a
yard long, with a knob on the end,
which makes it look like an immense
| nail.
The house of this curious couple is
made of bamboo, daubed with clay, and
the pointed roof of layers of straw, sup
ported by branches of tree. This man
sion-as you may magnets not very
| strong and will last but few years.
The great wealth of the Dinkas con-
| sists of COWS. They collect great num-
bers of them and take the best care of
| them, with the sole desire of possessing
great herds. But, strange to say, they
never kill one to eat, though they like
beef we'll enough to eat them if they die
by accident or disease. 1t is wonderful
how attached Dinka is to his cattle.
He provides large hospital for the sick
ones and attends them with the greatest
care. If one dies, he is inconsolable,
much more so than if he had lost wife
or child. When asked the use of many
cattle, he replies that it is enough to see
them do we'll and look fat.
As a sign of grief going into mourn
ing, in fact, Dinka wears cord
around his neck, which l should think
must be hard to endure, in addition to
the stuff already there.
Like most savages, the Dinka thinks
a II disease is caused by evil spirits, and
their doctors are in fact sort of wizard
Their way of proceeding is exceedingly
curious. 1t is at night, to make it more
imposing. First the doctor begins with
great noise, something like the cack-
up for an hour or two, for the purpose of
frightening the evil spirit supposed to be
in the sick person, and compelling it to
answer his questions. When it is thought
to be sufficiently alarmed, the doctor
commences his talk with the spirit, who
meekly answers all questions, or at least
appears to, for the cunning doctor is
ventriloquist, and can bring an answer
out Of post if he likes. He asks the
spirit his name, how long he has
been in his present quarters, and why he
has chosen them. When the doctor has
exhausted these important questions he
proceeds to pry into the family affairs of
the scared spirit, asking about his friends
and family. Having thus " interviewed"
the unhappy one as long as he thinks
roots which are to drive out the intruder
and cure the patient.
Don't laugh at the pranks Of the poor
Dinka doctor Quacks-to become
known or famous-must make a great
noise in Africa as well as in America,
and you must remember he has positively
no newspaper or fence corner in which
to puff himself into fame.
But haven't told you about the goats
which climb trees. They are really
Ethiopian goats, but are so fond of the
young shoots of trees that they will
stand upon their hind legs toreach them,
and even climb into the lower branches
and hang there sprawled out in very
awkward way. A traveller tells of see
ing groups of them standing around a
tree on their hind legs and looking like
party of nen.-OJ60e I7hogne, III Christian
Union.