Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-10-09

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE.
Commander Camerons Account OF the Ssost
Civilized Race in teatral ATrcs
From The London Times.

Af"A+NN-i
AZ the meeting OF the British asso-
citation at Sheffield on August go,
the well known African explorer,
Commander Cameron, who was ne
ceived with applause, apologized. tor
not having his paper prepared, but
he did not believe, in detailing The
manners ana customs Of the people
of Urn1, in Central Africa, this would
he drawback Urna was one Of
the largest native states 10 Africa II
was bounded on the east by Tragan
yika, or the north by Independent
tribes IL Mauguema, on the west bq
Uldn3a, and on the south BY noun
tains south Of the lake of Bangeolo.
The great chief was Kasongo, aud
the race was perhaps the most civil
lied in Central Africa The chef
claimed Divine honors Ga his death
all his wives save one were slauch-
tered at the grave, aud the one whose
life was a not iakesp wa. han d4d AZ 4g E
of the deceased prince was supposed
to pass into the body of the successor.
The center Of Ike religion Of the peo.
pie was 40 idol, which was hell in
great reverence
The idol was placed in tie midst
Of dense Jungle, ana il had for wife
one OF the sisters Of tie reignina soy.
ereign. Under the principal chief
were smaller chiefs, who collected
and paid over 10 the sovereign .rlb.
ute. He had seen this tribute come
in, and some Of ii must have come
from distant parts Of the country -
There was a numerous class Of viz
ards in the country who did a large
trade in idols aud charms. Many Of
the wizards were ventrilgqnists, and
in this way the idols were made TO
give answers to the questions put to
them. Caste was very clearly de-
fined in the race. No one dare sit
down in the presence OF the chlei
without permission, which WAS very
seldom granted la one case where,
in the travellers presence, a native
neglected etiquette, severe punish
ment vas about to be inflicted, hut
.oe traveller saved the offender.
Authority was maintained By ma
tilation Hands. feet, ears, noses
were mutllated, and the natives did
not seem TO mind 1t much One
woman had cut Of Der own ears. -
This woman was one Of Kasoneo's
wives; he had about 900 81 them.
She asked permission to mutilate her
self, aud she did it at once The
body guard OF the ehief was com
posed to q great extent Of INITIATED
people, whose affection foi &c chief
! seemed in no way decreased III
deed, it would appear that mutIla.j6n
strengthened their regard Tor the
chief. 4 laugh. The name qi the
idol was Kuugwe a Banza, and pro
found reverence was shown to it
Fire was obtained By friction from q
+ FIRE block, and in one case a chi6l
used the shin hone OF one Of the other
chiefs who had been conquered Tbs
dress OF the people was very simple,
consisting OF an apron Members o.
the royal family wore three largr
skins, and junior members OF tn
family wore aprons Of green monkey
skins
The hair dressing Of this reonl,
wa. curious, varying more eilh dis
tricts than with rank. Ii some case.
it was worked up into four ring plai6
crossed at the top Of the beat Ike 2
crown, and surrounded al the bot
tom with bard oi cowrIes or othgi
shells Skewers we're inserted in III
hair, one end Of which eonld be used
IN tattooiag TIE people we're not
hairy race. bat they managed 4
grow their boards Tong, and platte
them like a Chinaman's pig;ail asa
ally putting at the emf Of each luD!
~ mad to weigh 1t Some IF tii
boards reach to the wsfsis Th'
women. not having boards to anus,
themselves with, were tattooed exfeB
sively. Tattooing usually Commenced
at the age OF seven, and might b.
completed about the age Of twelvt
or fourteen, which was the time 70
marriage. Beautiful patterns yer
used, and the tattooing was done Il
raised cnts. Sometimes husband
when he was displeased With a wife
cnt off ali these raised pieces, aud III
woman could not appear 10 pgt'i
again; she was rot received 10 soc
ETY. until she was re -TaItooed.
: lie saw one Of their wedding,
which was very curious THE fe,
tiYi,ies lasted several days 4 I'm
was formed OF the natives, two me
with big drums being in the middle
The drums were played and the pee
: pie round danced. The bride wa