The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-08-27
An Account of the Most Civilized Race
sn Central Afrlcae


mander Cameron, who was received
with applause, apologized tor not hav-
ing his paper prepared. but did not be-
lieve, IN detailing the manners and
customs OF the people of Urua. in Ce,i-
trail Africa, this would be q drawback
Urna was one OF the largest native
States in Africa. Il was bounded OF,
the east in Tanganyika, on the north by
independent tribes in Manguema, on
the west by Ulunda, and on the south
by mountains south OF the lake OF Ban
gueoio. The great chief was Kasongo,
and the race was perhaps the most civ
iiized in Central Africa. TIE chlet
claimed divine honors. On his 6eath
all his wives except one were slaugh-
tered at the grave. and the one whose
lite was not taken was handed over to
the chiefs successor. The spirit of the
deceased prince was supposed to PASS
into the body o. the successor. The
center of the religion of the people was
an idol, which was held in great rever.
ence. The idol was placed in the
midst of dense jungle. and it had for
wife one OF the sisters of the reigning
sovereign. Under the principal chief
were smaller chiefs, who collected and
paid over to the sovereign tribute. He
had seen tins tribute come in, and some
of it must have come from distant
parts of the country. There was q
numerous class of wizards in the
country who did a large trade in idols
aud charms. Many of the wizards
were vent'iloquists, 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 to sit down in the presence of
the cliet without permission. which
was very seldom granted. In one case,
where, in the travellers presence, a
native had
NEGLECTED ETIQUETTE,
Severe punishment was about to be IT,
tiicte1, but the Traveller saved the of:
tender. Authority was maintained by
mutilation. Hands, feet, ears. noses.
were mutilated, and the natives did not
seem to mind it much. One woman
had cut off her own ears. This woman
was one of Kasongu's wives he had
about one thousand of them, she asked
permission to mufilate herself, and she
did it at once. The body guard of the
chief was composed To great extent of
mutilated people, whose affection for
the chief seemed in no way decreased
indeed, it would appear that mutllation
strengthened their regard for their Chief.
A laugh. The name of the idol was
kungwe a BaDza, and profound rever-
ence was shown TO it. Fire was obtain |
ed by friction from a fire block, and in
one case a chiet used the shin bone of |
one OF tie other chiefs who had been |
conquered. The dress of the people |
was very simple, consisting of an apron |
Members of the royal family wore three |
large skins, and junior 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 il was
worked up into four ring plaits crossed |
at the top of the head like q crown.
and surrounded st the bottom with q |
band ot cowries or other shells. Skew
ers were inserted IN the hair, one end of /
which could be used ia tattooing. The
people were not q harry race, but they
managed to grow tl.eir boards long,
and plated them like Chinaman's pig
tail, usually putting at the end of each
a lump of mud to weight IL. Some of
the boards reached to the waists. The
women, not having boards to amuse
themselves with, were tattooed exten. |
slvely. Tattooing usually commenced |
at the age of seven. and might be COM
pleted about the age OF twelve or four
teen, which was
THE TIME FOR MARRIAGE.
Beautiful patterns were used, and the
iattooing was done in raised cuts. |
Sometimes husband when he was dis. /
pleased with his wife cut off all these
raised pieces, and the woman could no,
appear 10 public again; she was not
received into society until she was re-
tattooed. He saw one OF their wed
dirgs, which was very curious. The
festivities lasted several days. A ring
was formed OF the natives, two men
with big drums being in the middle.
The drums were played and the people
ronud-danced. The bride was brought
out, dressed in feathers and other
finery, on the shoulders of two or three
women she was taken into the middle
of the ring. and was jumped up and
down on the shoulders of the women.
The bride threw shells and beads
about, for which there was scramble,
rs the possession of them was supposed
to confer good luck. Ultimately the
husband came into the ring, and put
ting the BRIDE under his arm carried
her Off Laughter.] The means OF
was by drum signals.
They had call on the drum for every
body name, and could ask questions
and convey iutelIioence over huniTre,ls !,