The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-10-26

points like needles; the reeds are tall
and tough A. bamboo; in those pretty
looking bushes are thorns truly the
thorns are hooks Of steel; the crown IL
that Wonder low hill with such a gentle
slope II all but inaccessible. See that
glorious crop ~ crimson flowers on that
low bush in the middle Of the lawn
green. Pause, my friend, before YOU
venture TO pluck them. First. that
lawn Is u deception; II Is forest of tall
trees YOU see, and that beautiful, gor-
geous poison bush Is nearly thirty feet
high, and those green banks Of vcgeta-
ton in those hollows are almost impen-
etrable forest belts
THE FOREST DErTHs.
Let me show you specimen Of
forest in Manyema. You will, no doubt,
remember that our friend Livingstone
was enthusiastic about the woods Of
Manyema You would fear to be alone
in these mighty solitudcs at night. |
made ramble--a very short one--into
forest once In search Of a rice cane.
There are plenty Of canes In these
woods. Just like Malacca. crawled
first through something like hazel
copse, then through brake, wherein
thorns and palmettas were very con-
spicuous, then through a strip Of morass
out of which shot upwards dense
growth Of tall grasses and stiff water
cane. Crushing my way through this
obstacle, came to the edge of the for
est, where lines Of tall, straight young
giants stood foremost, extended like
skirmishers i'm front Of the dense masses
of Titans, which solemnly stood behind
The Young giants offered no impeachment,
and proceeded further in, feeling nv
ewes open wider and wider with aston
ishmcnt at sight Of the enormous thick
ness, height, number and close array Of
the forest monarchs.
ETERNAL STIFFNESS.
But | went TO look for canes, and af-
ter a quarter of an hours search for
one Of the desired size at last found it,
and pointed IL out 10 my gun-bearer,
who cut il. As was leisurely peeling
it perceived that my mind. not satisti-
ed with the transient impression made
on it by the massiveness and great
height Of the trees, felt overwhelmed BY
the scene liz seemed 10 receive sol
emn or pensive repose from IL; and my
hands. acted upon by the mind, ceased
their labor, and my eyes were instantly
uplifted. gradually felt myself affect
ed more strongly than can be described
at the deathly stiffness, in the middle Of
which appeared those majestic, lofty,
naked and gray figures, like 50 many IL
lent apparitions. looked AT them with
the same feeling have often felt IN
looking at very ancient ruins; for these
were also venerable monuments, wit
nesses of the ancienfness Of time, all
the more impressive because abne was
thus surrounded by them.
MAJESTIC TREES.
Looked above or around, north or
south, east or west, 1 saw only the silent
gray shafts Of these majestic trees. The
atmosphere seemed weighted with an
eloquent, though dumb, history, where
in read, heard, saw and inhaled the
record Of lost years and lands. For the
time dropped all remembrance Of self
and identity perception Of other
scenes and reposes- / seemed TO hear
proclaimed their antiquity. their grand
old age, their superiority and their inn
perturbablity- They appeared 20 say
sCenturies ago were we sown silent,
serene and undisturbed we grew. We
know no strife, contention or passion "a
vour world. Though born Of the earth,
led and nurturcd bv il, vet are we un-
affected with the things on the earth
We are 800 years old Where was thou.
atom Of reckless humanity, when We
were born? What art thou but brief
accident. slight as the dead leaves under
thy feefg Go and tell your kind YOU
have seen silencc."
pwARFs AND CIIMrA>ZEFs.
, But really Manyema woods are eN-
cecdingly solemn shall probably see
more Of them as | travel west am
! told by those who have penetrated some
distance into them that they contain any
number Of sokos fgorillaS). Living
stone informed me that these sokos are
gorillas. have not seen any yet; !
, have only heard their hoarse cries ln ihe
woods: but from the descriptions given
Of them BY the Arabs and natives ! am
inclined "a think they ore chimpanzeeS.
: Other singular creatures Of these Tor
!, ests are said 10 be the dwarfs, whose
! heights have been variously given from
X thirty inches 10 four feet. They are ev-
y identity nomads, and they must have ~
I exceedingly wide range. They are said
7 to be exceedingly fond Of meat, all crea'
: lures furnishing them with the means
2 Of existence, from an elephant 70 rat
= They are more attached 70 the pursuit p
the elephant than any other, probably
Y because Of the abundance Of meat those
= animals supply. Their weapons ar
y poisoned arrows, whose deadly effect y
:, 50 feared BY the Wanguana that theN
y have renounced all intention to moles
!, them any more. While in the new r.
q gion TO which am bound shall en-
I deavor to obtain personal knowledge Q
y the sokos and the dwsrfs.
, M. " IL a widower. Since "
y time he lost his wife, whom he adorca
q Eve wears ago, he has not left on loon