Louisiana capitolian., 1879-12-20
A QUEER PEOPLE.
COMMANDER CAMERON's ACCOUNT or
TIE MOST CIVILIZED RACE IN CEN
TRIAL AMERICA.
ilNndon Times.)


TRIAL AMERICA.
il1ondon Times.
At the meeting Of the British Asso-
citation ut Sheffield, on August p, the
well-known African explorer, Com'r
Cameron, who was received with ap-
plause, apologized for not having his
paper prepared, buthe did not believe
In not detailing the manners and GUS
toms Of the people in Urua, IN Central
Africa; this would he a drawback.
Urua was one Of the largest native
States of Africa. 1t was bounded on
the east by Tanganylka, on the north
by independent tribes in Manguema,
on the west by Urunda, and on tho
south by the mountains south Of the
Luke BaDgaeda. The great chief was
Kasongn, and the race was perhaps
the most civilized in Central Africa.
The chief claimed divine i'onors. On
his death al his wives but ono was
slaughtered at the grave, and the one
whose life was not taken was
handed over to the chiefs successor.
The centre of the religion Of the pco-
ple was m idol, which was held in
great reverence.
: The idol was placed in the midst Of
n dense iunole. and 1t had for wife
one of the sisters Of the reigning SOW
ereigu. Under principal chief were
smaller chiefs, who had collected and
paid over to the sovereign tribute.
He had seen this tribute come in, and
some Of it must have come from dis
tant parts Of the country. There was
u numerous class of wizards in the
country who did a large trade in idols
and charms. Many Of the wizards
were veutriloqnists, and in this way
the idols were made to give answers
to the questions put to them. Caste
was very clearly defined in the race.
No one dare SIT down in the presence
of the chief without permission, which
was very seldom granted. In one
case where, in the travellers presence,
a native had neglected etiquette, &C.
we're punishment was about to be in
ltlicted, but the traveller saved the Of
fender. r.a d
Authority was maintained by mu-
tilation. Hands, feet, ears, noses were
lnutiiated, and the natives did not
seem to mind it much. One woman
had cut off her own ears. This wO-
man was one Of Kasonga's wives; he
had about 1900 Of them. She asked
permission to mutilate herself, and
did it ut once. The body guard Of the
chief was composed to a great extent
of mutilated people, whose rffection
for the chief seemed in no way de-
creased; Indeed it would appear that
tnutilation strengthened their regard
for their chief, The name Of the idol
was Kunge Il Banza, and profound
reverence was shown to it. Fire was
obtained by friction from afre block,
and in one case the chief used the
shin bone of one Of the other chiefs
whom he had conquered. The dress
of the people was very simple, con-
sisting Of an apron. Members Of the
royal family wore three large skins,
and iuniOr members of the family
wore aprons Of green monkey skins.
The hair dressing Of this people was
curious, varying more with districts
than with rank. In some cases it was
worked up into four ring plaits tross.
ing at the top of the head like q crown,
and surrounded ut the bottom by q
band of cowries or other shells. Skew
ers were inserted in the hair, one end
of which could be used IN tattooing.
The people were not hairy race, but
they managed to grow their boards
long, and plated them liked a China
mans pigtail, usually putting at the
end OF each a lump of mud to weight
it. Some of the boards reached to the
waists. The women not having
boards to amnse themselves with, were
tattooed extensively. TattoOinggen-
orally commenced at the age Of seven,
and might be completed at the age Of
twelve or fourteen, which was the
age Of marriage. Beautiful patterns
were used, and the tattooing was done
in raised cuts. Sometimes a husband
when he was displeased with his wife,
cut off all these raised pieces, and the
woman could not appear again in
public; she was not received again in
society until she was retattOoed.
He saw one Of their weddings, which
was very curious. The festivities
lasted several days. A ring was
formed Of the natives, two men with
big drums being in the centre. The
drums were played and the people
round danced. The bride was brought
out, dressed in feathers and other
fincry, on the shoulders Of the women.
The bride threw shells and beads
about, for which there was q scram-
BILE, as the possession Of them was
supposed to confer good luck. Ulti-
lnately the husband came into the
ring, and putting the bride under his
arm carried her off. The means OF
communication was by drum signals
They call on the drum everybody's
name, and they could ask questions
and convey intelligence over hun.
dreds of miles and receive answers
almost Immediately. In war mes.
sages were constantly sent enormon,
distances to bring up reinforcements
or to stop their coming. The mass O
the people lived in huts or on dry
land, but there was one or two ex'
ceptions tn this. He saw two lakes
on which the people were living j,
huts. In one case the people ha(
covered the long grass growing in th'
water with earth, and on that hat
| hnilt heir hutA: in tlle other the hut